Project description:Fractional CO2 laser, as a typical ablative laser, has been used to assist in the treatment of many skin diseases, such as photoaging, atrophic scar, hypertrophic scar, superficial pigmentation, vitiligo, and so on. However, the dynamic changes in skin function after fractional CO2 laser treatment are still unclear. This study explored the changes in local skin function and possible regulatory mechanisms after fractional CO2 laser treatment for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days through transcriptome high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that fractional CO2 laser tended to transform the “lesions” into “normal skin”, regulate the skin barrier, coordinate the rearrangement of collagen, enhance the local microvascular circulation, activate the immune system to secrete a large number of cytokines, and act as an auxiliary tool to assist drug transport. According to the basic principle of destruction before reconstruction, fractional CO2 laser plays a key role of balancer in skin reconstruction. In conclusion, the gene expression profiles of fractional CO2 laser-treated skin undergo dynamic changes over time. Skin barrier, collagen arrangement, drug metabolism, immune system and skin defense system all present obvious characteristics of timing change after fractional CO2 laser treatment.
Project description:Micro-plasma is a possible alternative treatment for wound management. The effect of micro-plasma on wound healing depends on its composition and temperature. The authors previously developed a capillary-tube-based micro-plasma system that can generate micro-plasma with a high nitric oxide-containing species composition and mild working temperature. Here, the efficacy of micro-plasma treatment on wound healing in a laser-induced skin wound mouse model was investigated. A partial thickness wound was created in the back skin of each mouse and then treated with micro-plasma. Non-invasive methods, namely wound closure kinetics, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and laser Doppler scanning, were used to measure the healing efficiency in the wound area. Neo-tissue growth and the expressions of matrix metallopeptidase-3 (MMP-3) and laminin in the wound area were assessed using histological and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. The results show that micro-plasma treatment promoted wound healing. Micro-plasma treatment significantly reduced the wound bed region. The OCT images and histological analysis indicates more pronounced tissue regrowth in the wound bed region after micro-plasma treatment. The laser Doppler images shows that micro-plasma treatment promoted blood flow in the wound bed region. The IHC results show that the level of laminin increased in the wound bed region after micro-plasma treatment, whereas the level of MMP-3 decreased. Based on these results, micro-plasma has potential to be used to promote the healing of skin wounds clinically.
Project description:The study aimed to develop the finasteride-loaded proniosome (FLP) to enhance the transfollicular delivery of finasteride (FN). The response surface methodology (RSM) combined with central composite design (CCD) with three independent variables (FN concentrations, total lipid content, and cholesterol content) was used to optimize the FLP preparation. The particles size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading capacity of the FLP were analyzed. The transfollicular delivery of the optimum formulation was investigated in vitro. In vivo hair growth stimulation study was performed on C57BL/6Mlac mice dorsal areas. The Draize primary skin irritation test for erythema and edema was performed in the New Zealand white rabbit skin. The optimum FLP consists of 5.0 mM of FN, 10.1 mM of total lipid content, and 50.0% of the cholesterol in the total lipid. The prepared proniosome delivered the FN significantly (p < 0.05), compared to the naked finasteride solution in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The FLP treatment significantly increases the number and size of hair follicles in a dose-dependent manner. The efficiency of 1% FLP was comparable to the 2% minoxidil solution. The FLP exhibited no skin irritation after 72 h. Therefore, the results demonstrated that the FLP could stimulate hair growth via a transfollicular delivery system.
Project description:IntroductionThis is a presentation of a study protocol in order to evaluate whether the application of CO2 laser can additionally benefit the improvement of the symptoms of overactive bladder in postmenopausal women who have just started mirabegron as a treatment.Materials and methodsThis is a study protocol of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A total of 50 menopausal women will participate in the study. All patients will start treatment with mirabegron 50 mg and will be randomized into two groups. Women in group A (control) will undergo CO2 laser treatments while those in group B (placebo group) will receive placebo CO2 laser treatments. In total, three monthly sessions will be held in both groups. The monitoring and evaluation of the results will be carried out by completing a three-day urination diary, as well as by completing the Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, King's Health Questionnaire, Urinary Distress Inventory, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Improvement, before each session and a month after the last one. Differences between groups will be assessed at baseline and every month following the three laser therapies.ResultsThis is an ongoing study protocol, and we are expecting the analysis of the results in 2024.ConclusionsThe use of laser CO2 in postmenopausal women with overactive bladder syndrome may be a well-tolerated alternative treatment. The goal of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of laser treatment in combination with b3-adrenoreceptor agonist therapy.
Project description:Objective: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell membrane-loaded minoxidil (MXD) nanoparticles (STCM-MXD-NPs) were prepared to investigate their effects on hair growth in C57BL/6J mice. Methods: STCM-MXD-NPs were obtained by freeze-thawing and differential centrifugation, and their effects on hair growth were evaluated using C57BL/6J mice. The mRNA and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Protein expression levels of marker of proliferation Ki-67 (MKI67) and β-catenin (CTNNB) in skin tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: STCM-MXD-NPs improved MXD solubility. They released the drug slowly, increasing its transdermal properties, accumulation in the skin, and content in the hair bulb tissues with a better efficacy than that of ordinary MXD. Moreover, STCM-MXD-NPs significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of VEGF and IGF-1 and promoted the protein expression of MKI67 and CTNNB in mouse skin tissues, promoting mouse hair growth. Conclusion: Stem cell membrane-loaded MXD nanoparticles with slow-release properties increased MXD accumulation in the skin by improving its transdermal properties, increasing VEGF, IGF-1, MKI67, and CTNNB expression levels and promoting hair growth in C57BL/6J mice.
Project description:Hypertrophic scars arise from aberrant wound healing and can lead to functional and aesthetic impairments. One of the common interventions for treating hypertrophic scars is fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, which employs narrow laser beams to stimulate dermal collagen deposition. Recent studies and reports have suggested that combining laser therapy with other interventions such as botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and topical growth factors may enhance treatment outcomes. Here, we examine the efficacy and safety of a sequential combination of BTX-A, fractional CO2 laser, and topical growth factors, referred to as combined therapy, for treating hypertrophic scars compared with only using fractional CO2 laser and topical growth factors, referred to as monotherapy. Our retrospective study includes 128 patients with hypertrophic scars (56 underwent monotherapy and 72 underwent combined therapy), which were followed-up for up to 15 months after the initiation of treatment to collect demographic and clinical data. Our analysis showed that the combined therapy significantly outperformed monotherapy in improving Vancouver scar scale scores (P < 0.05) and in the reduction of scar thickness (P < 0.05), without increasing adverse complications. Repeated treatments further augmented the efficacy of the combined therapy. Subgroup analysis revealed that combined therapy was notably more effective in reducing Vancouver scar scale scores and scar thickness in early-stage scars compared to late-stage (P = 0.023 and P = 0.045, respectively). Our study suggests that including BTX-A treatment before fractional CO2 laser and topical growth factors offers superior efficacy in reducing hypertrophic scars. We encourage early intervention and repeated treatments for optimal treatment outcomes.
Project description:Here we show that intradermal injection of keratin promotes hair growth in mice, which results from extracellular interaction of keratin with hair forming cells. Extracellular application of keratin induces condensation of dermal papilla cells and the generation of a P-cadherin-expressing cell population (hair germ) from outer root sheath cells via keratin-mediated microenvironmental changes. Exogenous keratin-mediated hair growth is reflected by the finding that keratin exposure from transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFβ2)-induced apoptotic outer root sheath cells appears to be critical for dermal papilla cell condensation and P-cadherin-expressing hair germ formation. Immunodepletion or downregulation of keratin released from or expressed in TGFβ2-induced apoptotic outer root sheath cells negatively influences dermal papilla cell condensation and hair germ formation. Our pilot study provides an evidence on initiating hair regeneration and insight into the biological function of keratin exposed from apoptotic epithelial cells in tissue regeneration and development.
Project description:Much research has been conducted to determine how hair regeneration is regulated, as this could provide therapeutic, cosmetic, and even psychological interventions for hair loss. The current study focused on the hair growth effect and effective utilization of fatty oil obtained from Bryde's whales through high-throughput DNA microarray approach in conjunction with immunohistochemical observations. The research also examined the mechanisms and factors involved in hair growth. In an experiment using female C57BL/6J mice, the vehicle control group (VC: propylene glycol: ethanol: water), the positive control group (MXD: 3% minoxidil), and the experimental group (WO: 20% Whale Oil) were topically applied to the back of the mouse. The results showed that 3% MXD and 20% WO were more effective than VC in promoting hair growth, especially 20% WO. Furthermore, in hematoxylin and eosin-stained skin tissue, an increase in the number of hair follicles and subcutaneous tissue thickness was observed with 20% WO. Whole-genome transcriptomic analysis also showed that 20% WO may have lower stress- and inflammation-related responses than 3% MXD. Therefore, whale oil can be expected to be used as a safe hair growth agent.
Project description:Background/Objectives: Alopecia is a hair disorder with a significant impact on quality of life, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Current therapeutic options are limited and may cause adverse side effects, highlighting the need to develop safer and more effective formulations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a formulation based on the bioactive fraction of Bacopa procumbens (BFNB), conjugated with gold nanoparticles, on hair growth through the modulation of apoptosis in C57BL/6 mice. Methods: The potential biological activities of the secondary metabolites of B. procumbens present in BFNB were analyzed in silico. In vivo experiments evaluated the expression of pro-apoptotic markers p53, caspase 3-p11, caspase 9-p10, and Bax, as well as anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2, through Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry further assessed the expression and localization of some of these markers. Additionally, molecular docking and interactomic analyses were performed, complemented by functional enrichment, to explore molecular pathways modulated by the evaluated proteins. Results: In silico analyses suggested that BFNB metabolites are involved in the modulation of hair growth, hair fragility, and apoptosis. This finding was supported by in vivo experiments in mice, where BFNB significantly decreased the expression of p53, caspase 3-p11, caspase 9-p10, and Bax while increasing Bcl-2 levels. Immunohistochemistry showcased a reduction in pro-apoptotic markers in dermal and follicular bulb cells. Furthermore, molecular docking studies identified BFNB metabolites as potential direct modulators of these key proteins, strengthening evidence of their role in apoptotic regulation. The interactomic analysis highlighted 50 proteins associated with apoptosis, and functional enrichment underscored key processes such as p53 signaling, regulation of the apoptosome, and mitochondrial membrane involvement in the intrinsic apoptosis mechanism, among other pathways. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that BFNB effectively modulates apoptosis through key molecular mechanisms, highlighting its potential as an innovative therapy for promoting hair growth.