The evaluation of whitening efficacy of cosmetic products using a human skin pigmentation spot model

BACKGROUND

To establish a pigmentation spot model on human skin and to assess whitening efficacy for whitening products by this established pigmentation spot model.

METHODS

Twenty subjects between 20 and 45 years old with skin phototype III or IV were selected. Three consecutive daily UV exposures were performed on buttocks of the subjects as follows: Day 1=1 minimal erythema dose (MED), Day 2=0.5 MED and Day 3=0.5 MED. After the first UV exposure, a selected whitening product was applied to the subjects twice a day on UV exposure area. The application of the whitening product to subjects on the exposed areas was continued till Day 27. CM2500d chromameter, Maxmeter MX18 and visual evaluation were used to assess changes of skin color.

RESULTS

A pigmentation spot model after UV exposure was established. The measurement of the pigment spot showed that L* value declined abruptly at Day 3 and then slowly reached to a lowest point at Day 6. L* value of the pigment spot almost remained at the same level until Day 20, thereafter increased slowly. The a* value showed an abrupt increase at Day 3 and slowly reached to a maximal level at Day 6. The a* value slowly declined toward its baseline level. Likewise, the erythema index also increased significantly at Day 3, and reached to a maximal level at Day 6 and then slowly declined. However, L*, a* and erythema indices did not return to their baseline levels during the 27-day period of this study. On the other hand, b* value started to increase from Day 3 and such increase was observed continuously to Day 27. Melanin index also showed a slow increase during the first 3 days. It started to increase rapidly from Day 3 and a to maximal level at Day 9 and maintain at a plateau till Day 27 (with an exception at Day 13). To assess the whitening product by this pigmentation spot model, DeltaL, Deltab*, and DeltaM values were analyzed. It showed that absolute DeltaL value and Deltab*value of whitening products were lower than those values of the vehicle of the whitening product at each checkpoint, while DeltaM value of the whitening product was lower only at Day 9 and Day 20, although no statistically significant differences was found. The visual results also strongly supported that the whitening product enhanced the decrease of pigmentation.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that repeated UV exposure was able to induce a long extensive period of pigment formation. The resulted pigmentation spot was able to maintain at an elevated level till Day 20. Clinical subjective evaluations together with combined objective instrument measurements were still important to assess whitening and spot-removing ability of a material due to the instrument limitation for color differentiations. This kind of pigmentation spot model can be used to assess whitening efficacy for whitening or spot-removing products. In addition, the combinations of subjective and objective methods were able to serve as advisable references to assess the whitening efficacy of products.

[Primary lung cancer protruding into right main bronchus, successfully treated with endoscopic neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser]

Endoscopic neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser treatment for endobronchial obstruction originating from the tumor provides a favorable outcome. A 67-year-old male patient with a chief complaint of cough and sputum had a primary lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) in the upper lobe of the right lung. The tumor projected into the right main bronchus through the upper lobe bronchus, which completely occluded the lumen of right main bronchus. Middle and lower lobes showed an obstructive pneumonia caused by its obstruction. Firstly, endoscopic Nd-YAG laser treatment for patency of right main bronchus was preoperatively performed with an aim to early improvement of obstructive pneumonia Since the inflammatory findings showed markedly improvement, a right upper sleeve lobectomy could safely be performed. The resected specimen of the tumor in the right upper lobe proved to be a case of complete resection with pathological stage IIIA (T3N1M0). When preoperative lung cancer patient has an obstructive pneumonia causing by the protruding tumor into the central airway, a patency treatment of bronchial airway using endoscopic Nd-YAG laser may lead to decrease a perioperative risk.

Adrenergic mechanism in hyperketonemia in thyrotoxic and starved rats

To evaluate the possible role of the adrenergic mechanism in hyperketonemia in hyperthyroidism and starvation, the plasma concentrations of FFA, acetoacetate (AcAc), and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) were measured in thyrotoxic and starved rats for 96 hours. Thyrotoxemia was induced in rats by a daily subcutaneous thyroxine (100 micrograms/kg/day) injection carried out for 7 days. Some of the thyrotoxic and starved rats were administered subcutaneous phentolamine (2 mg/kg, twice daily) or propranolol (0.1 mg/kg, twice daily). Plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB were significantly increased in thyrotoxic and starved rats compared with the control rats. Phentolamine and propranolol administration did not alter plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB in thyrotoxic rats. In starved rats, propranolol did not alter plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB, however, phentolamine did increase plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB. These results indicate that the adrenergic mechanism may not contribute to the hyperketonemia in thyrotoxic rats, but may have a slight inhibitory effect on ketogenesis in starvation probably due to alpha-antilipolytic action.

Effect of glucagon on glucose output from bivascularly perfused rat liver

Glucose output was investigated in bivascularly perfused rat liver. Flow rate was 1 ml/min/g from hepatic artery and 2 ml/min/g from portal vein. Basal glucose output (130 +/- 30 microM/min) from bivascularly perfused liver was significantly (p less than 0.02) higher than that (80 +/- 20 microM/min) from usual monovascularly perfused (3 ml/min/g from portal vein) liver. However, glucagon-induced (1 ng/ml) increment in glucose output from bivascularly perfused liver 589 +/- 127 microM/30 min) was not significantly different from that (630 +/- 127 microM/30 min) of monovascularly perfused liver. These results suggest that glucagon-dependent glucose output was similar in monovascularly and bivascularly perfused rat liver, and that arterial blood supply may have some role in glycogenolysis in the perfused rat liver.

Bulk shear-mode contribution to thermally generated capillary waves on a room-temperature ionic-liquid surface

In the present work, we show that the autocorrelation function of the capillary-wave displacement is expressed by the sum of the ordinary oscillator and the bulk shear-mode terms. The former is expressed by a simple damped oscillator form or a sum of exponentially damping functions depending on the extent of damping. The latter is also written by superposition of exponentially damping modes, and an analytically exact formulation is obtained. We performed surface dynamic light-scattering experiment for the surface of an ionic liquid, 1-butyl- 3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, and compared the experimental autocorrelation function with the theoretical one. We observed for the first time the bulk shear-mode contribution, and confirmed that the experimental data is well explained by the theoretical autocorrelation function.

Dispersion relation of capillary waves on ionic liquids: observation of the fast overdamped mode

We measured the capillary wave spectra on the surface of ionic liquids using dynamic light scattering techniques. Empirical dispersion relations deduced from the time domain analysis clearly reveal the transition from oscillating to overdamped behavior with changing temperature and the wave vector. In particular, not only slow but also fast modes were observed in the overdamped regime. The empirical dispersion relations coincide with the theoretical dispersion relations deduced from the linearized Navier-Stokes equation when experimentally determined density, viscosity, and surface tension are assigned to the latter.

Interleukin-18 production and pulmonary function in COPD

Interleukin (IL)-18 production and pulmonary function were evaluated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in order to determine the role of IL-18 in COPD. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine IL-18 production in the lungs of patients with very severe COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage IV, n = 16), smokers (n = 27) and nonsmokers (n = 23). Serum cytokine levels and pulmonary function were analysed in patients with GOLD stage I-IV COPD (n = 62), smokers (n = 34) and nonsmokers (n = 47). Persistent and severe small airway inflammation was observed in the lungs of ex-smokers with very severe COPD. IL-18 proteins were strongly expressed in alveolar macrophages, CD8+ T-cells, and both the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelia in the lungs of COPD patients. Serum levels of IL-18 in COPD patients and smokers were significantly higher than those in nonsmokers. Moreover, serum levels of IL-18 in patients with GOLD stage III and IV COPD were significantly higher than in smokers and nonsmokers. There was a significant negative correlation between serum IL-18 level and the predicted forced expiratory volume in one second in patients with COPD. In contrast, serum levels of IL-4, IL-13 and interferon-gamma were not significantly increased in any of the three groups. In conclusion, overproduction of interleukin-18 in the lungs may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cerebral blood oxygenation changes induced by bypass blood flow in moyamoya disease and non-moyamoya cerebral ischaemic disease

BACKGROUND

Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis has been used to prevent stroke in patients with moyamoya disease (MD) and non-moyamoya ischaemic disease (non-MD). However, little is yet known regarding the difference between these groups of patients in the extent to which the bypass contributes to maintaining adequate cerebral blood oxygenation (CBO), or the temporal changes after surgery. In the present study, we evaluated the CBO changes induced by bypass blood flow in patients with MD and non-MD during the peri-operative periods employing optical spectroscopy.

METHODS

We investigated 13 patients who underwent STA-MCA anastomosis, including 5 MD and 8 non-MD patients. We evaluated the effects of STA blood flow on the CBO in the MCA territory on the anastomosis side, employing visual light spectroscopy during surgery and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) at one week after surgery.

FINDINGS

In 4 MD patients and one non-MD patient, the STA blood flow increased the oxyhaemoglobin and cortical oxygen saturation (CoSO2), indicating that the bypass supplied blood flow to the ischaemic brain; the CBO changes were observed more frequently in MD than in non-MD patients (p<0.02). The pre-anastomosis CoSO2 (65.4+/-5.4%) in MD was significantly lower than that (72.8+/-7.6%) in non-MD (p<0.05). Postoperative NIRS demonstrated that the bypass began to supply blood flow to the brain in 5 non-MD patients whose bypass did not supply blood flow during surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Although MD has vessels of small diameter as compared to non-MD, the bypass begins to supply blood flow to the ischaemic brain earlier in MD than in non-MD after anastomosis. The fact that the CoSO2 in MD was lower than that in non-MD suggested that the perfusion pressure in MD was lower than that in non-MD, and this might account for the difference in the bypass blood supply after anastomosis between MD and non-MD. Our data suggest that, even if the bypass does not supply blood to the brain during surgery in non-MD, the bypass blood flow gradually increases after surgery.

Celecoxib upregulates endoplasmic reticulum chaperones that inhibit celecoxib-induced apoptosis in human gastric cells

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce apoptosis in cancer cells and this effect is involved in their antitumor activity. We recently demonstrated that NSAIDs upregulate GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, in gastric mucosal cells in primary culture. In the present study, induction of ER chaperones by NSAIDs and the effect of those chaperones on NSAID-induced apoptosis were examined in human gastric carcinoma cells. Celecoxib, an NSAID, upregulated ER chaperones (GRP78 and its cochaperones ERdj3 and ERdj4) but also C/EBP homologous transcription factor (CHOP), a transcription factor involved in apoptosis. Celecoxib also upregulated GRP78 in xenograft tumors, accompanying with the suppression of tumor growth in nude mice. Celecoxib caused phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 kinase (PERK) and eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha (eIF2alpha) and production of activating transcription factor (ATF)4 mRNA. Suppression of ATF4 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) partially inhibited the celecoxib-dependent upregulation of GRP78. Celecoxib increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, while 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, inhibited the upregulation of GRP78 and ATF4. These results suggest that the Ca2+-dependent activation of the PERK-eIF2alpha-ATF4 pathway is involved in the upregulation of ER chaperones by celecoxib. Overexpression of GRP78 partially suppressed the apoptosis and induction of CHOP in the presence of celecoxib and this suppression was stimulated by coexpression of either ERdj3 or ERdj4. On the other hand, suppression of GRP78 expression by siRNA drastically stimulated cellular apoptosis and production of CHOP in the presence of celecoxib. These results show that upregulation of ER chaperones by celecoxib protects cancer cells from celecoxib-induced apoptosis, thus may decrease the potential antitumor activity of celecoxib.

Semen quality of 324 fertile Japanese men

BACKGROUND

A number of studies have indicated regional differences in semen quality. To examine the current status in Japan, we undertook a cross-sectional study on the semen quality of fertile Japanese men for comparison with recent European results.

METHODS

Semen parameters of 324 fertile men from the Kawasaki/Yokohama area were investigated. The semen parameters were compared with those published for fertile men from four European cities, Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh and Turku.

RESULTS

When adjusting for confounders such as ejaculation abstinence period and age, the lowest sperm concentrations were detected in men from Kawasaki/Yokohama followed by men from Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh and Turku, but only the differences between men from Kawasaki/Yokohama and men from Edinburgh and Turku were significant (P=0.0008 and P<0.0001, respectively). Total sperm count, percentage of motile sperm and percentage of normal sperm observed in Kawasaki/Yokohama were significantly lower than those from all European centres except for motile sperm in men from Paris.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese fertile men had a semen quality at the level of Danish men, who have been reported to have the lowest among investigated men in Europe. The low level of semen quality of the fertile Japanese men may be due to lifestyle or other environmental factors; however, ethnic differences caused by different genetic variation or combinations cannot be ruled out by this study.

Molecular analysis of microbial population transition associated with the start of denitrification in a wastewater treatment process

AIMS

The objective of this study is to determine the bacteria playing an important role in denitrification by monitoring the molecular dynamics accompanying the start of denitrification.

METHODS AND RESULTS

cDNA reverse-transcribed from 16S rRNA was amplified with fluorescent labelled primer for terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and an unlabelled primer for cloning analysis. The terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) that increased in association with the start of denitrification were determined. These T-RFs were identified by in silico analysis of 16S rRNA sequences obtained from cloning. As a result, it was clearly observed that the bacteria belonging to the genera Hydrogenophaga and Acidovorax increased in number after the start of denitrification.

CONCLUSIONS

It was demonstrated that T-RFLP analysis targeting 16S rRNA is appropriate for the daily monitoring of a bacterial community to control wastewater treatment processes. Combination of the results of T-RFLP analysis and 16S rRNA clone library indicated that the bacteria belonging to the genera Hydrogenophaga and Acidovorax play an important role in denitrification.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results of this study provide new insight to the 16S rRNA level of active denitrifying bacteria in wastewater treatment processes.

The alpha-aminoadipate pathway for lysine biosynthesis is widely distributed among Thermus strains

We previously reported that lysine is synthesized through the alpha-aminoadipate pathway in Thermus thermophilus HB27 (T. Kosuge and T. Hoshino, FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 169, 361-367, 1998), which was the first report demonstrating the synthesis of lysine through the alpha-aminoadipate pathway in Bacteria. LYS20 and LYS4, which respectively encode homocitrate synthase and homoaconitate hydratase have already been identified as the lysine biosynthetic genes in T. thermophilus HB27. In the present work, we examined eight other Thermus strains for the existence of genes belonging to the alpha-aminoadipate pathway. BamHI- or BglII-digested total DNAs from the eight strains were analyzed by Southern hybridization using LYS20 or LYS4 as a DNA probe. DNA fragments that hybridized with one or both of the genes were detected in seven of the Thermus strains but not in T. ruber. The sizes of the fragments that hybridized with the LYS20 and LYS4 probes were the same among T. thermophilus HB27, T. thermophilus HB8, "T. caldophilus" GK24, and four "T. flavus" strains. For example, a similar 4.3-kb fragment was detected in each of the above seven strains. In this fragment, four open reading frames were found downstream of the LYS4 gene in T. thermophilus HB27. Gene disruption experiments revealed that three open reading frames are involved in lysine biosynthesis in T. thermophilus HB27. These results strongly suggest that the lysine biosynthetic gene cluster for the alpha-aminoadipate pathway is widely distributed in the genus Thermus.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress response is involved in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced apoptosis

Apoptosis induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is involved not only in the production of NSAID-induced gastric lesions but also in the antitumor activity of these drugs. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is a cellular mechanism that aids in protecting the ER against ER stressors and is involved in ER stressor-induced apoptosis. Here, we examine the relationship between this response and NSAID-induced apoptosis in cultured guinea-pig gastric mucosal cells. Exposure of cells to indomethacin, a commonly used NSAID, induced GRP78 as well as CHOP, a transcription factor involved in apoptosis. Three factors that positively regulate CHOP expression (ATF6, ATF4 and XBP-1) were activated and/or induced by indomethacin. NSAIDs other than indomethacin (diclofenac, ibuprofen and celecoxib) also induced CHOP. Monitoring of the transcriptional activities of ATF6 and CHOP by luciferase assay revealed that both were stimulated in the presence of indomethacin. Furthermore, indomethacin-induced apoptosis was suppressed in cultured guinea-pig gastric mucosal cells by expression of the dominant-negative form of CHOP, or in peritoneal macrophages from CHOP-deficient mice. These results suggest that ER stress response-related proteins, particularly CHOP, are involved in NSAID-induced apoptosis.

Minilaparotomy approach for colonic cancer: initial experience of 54 cases

BACKGROUND

The early outcomes of minilaparotomy for resection of colonic cancer were evaluated.

METHODS

In this study, 54 patients (34 Dukes' A, 15 Dukes' B, and 5 Dukes' C) successfully underwent curative resection of colonic cancer via minilaparotomy (skin incision, > or = 7 cm). The major exclusion criteria for this approach required a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2, a tumor size exceeding 7 cm, a preoperative ileus, and tumor invading the adjacent organs. Patients (n = 54) who had undergone conventional open surgery before the introduction of this technique served as the control group by matching several clinicopathologic factors including body mass index.

RESULTS

The passage of flatus (p < 0.01) and the beginning of oral intake (p = 0.02) were earlier, analgesic requirements were lower (p < 0.01), and postoperative serum C-reactive protein levels were lower in the minilaparotomy group (p < 0.01). The blood loss and frequency of postoperative complications did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSION

A minilaparotomy approach is a feasible, minimally invasive, and attractive alternative to conventional laparotomy for selected patients with colonic cancer.

Computational analysis of the transient movement of helices in sensory rhodopsin II

MD simulation of sensory rhodopsin II was executed for three intermediates (ground-state, K-state, M-state) appearing in its photocycle. We observed a large displacement of the cytoplasmic side of helixF only in M-state among the three intermediates. This displacement was transmitted to TM2, and the cytoplasmic side of TM2 rotated clockwise. These transient movements are in agreement with the results of an EPR experiment. That is, the early stage of signal transduction in a sRII-HtrII complex was successfully reproduced by the in silico MD simulation. By analyzing the structure of the sRII-HtrII complex, the following findings about the photocycle of sRII were obtained: (1) The hydrogen bonds between helixF and other helices determine the direction of the movement of helixF; (2) three amino acids (Arg162, Thr189, Tyr199) are essential for sRII-HtrII binding and contribute to the motion transfer from sRII to HtrII; (3) after the isomerization of retinal, a major conformational change of retinal was caused by proton transfer from Schiff base to Asp75, which, in turn, triggers the steric collision of retinal with Trp171. This is the main reason for the movement of the cytoplasmic side of helixF.

[Esophageal leiomyoma enucleated under the thoracoscopy; report of a case]

We report a case of a 40-year-old male with a posterior mediastinal mass that was 8 cm in size and located behind the trachea. The thoracoscopic surgery was performed. The tumor was located from the level of left brachiocephalic vein to the carina. The mediastinal pleura over the tumor was longitudinally opened by cautery-scissors. The azygos vein lying over the tumor was divided by means of an endoscopic stapler. The muscular layer of the esophagus was also longitudinally opened. The tumor was enucleated. Then, the dissected proper muscle layer of the esophagus was suture-closed. The postoperative course was uneventful. On the first postoperative day Gastrografin was swallowed, showing the absence of leaks. The patient was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. The advantages of the thoracoscopic surgery are as follows: rapid, full recovery of the patient; decreased postoperative pain; short postoperative hospital stay. Esophageal leiomyoma in selected patient was suitable for thoracoscopic enucleation.

Gasless laparoscopic surgery for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis:initial experience of 7 cases

PURPOSE

We evaluated the data on initial experience of gasless laparoscopic surgery for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven patients (male/female = 3:4, median age 23, UC/FAP=5:2) underwent gasless laparoscopic total (procto) colectomy. Our basic surgical procedure involved (1) a 6- to 8-cm incision made at the beginning of the operation, (2) the wound pulled upward and/or laterally by retractors, and (3) conventional surgical instruments used through the wound; occasionally laparoscopic assistance and abdominal lifting were employed. The results were compared to those of 7 patients who had undergone conventional open surgery.

RESULTS

Oral intake started earlier (p = 0.03) and C-reactive protein level on POD 4 was lower (p = 0.03) in the gasless group than in the control group. Duration of surgery, blood loss, requirement of analgesia, and morbidity rate were not significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary results suggest that gasless laparoscopic surgery for UC and FAP is feasible and can be an alternative method for minimally invasive surgery.