Reliability and validity of a bioimpedance measurement device in the assessment of UVR damage to the skin

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Improve the Aging Skin of Nude Mice by Promoting Angiogenesis and Reducing Local Tissue Water

BACKGROUND

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are considered promising cells for skin rejuvenation. However, whether the angiogenetic effect of ASCs plays an important role in the treatment of aging skin and its influence on skin tissue remain elusive.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ASCs on angiogenesis and local tissue water (LTW) in the aging skin of nude mice.

METHODS

Twelve nude mice were randomly divided into a UVB-induced photoaging group and a natural aging group. After the mouse model had been established, ASCs and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were then each injected into different sides of the dorsal skin of the mice. Blood perfusion and LTW content were measured. After 7 weeks, mice were killed, and skin samples were collected to measure the thickness of the dermis, the density of the capillaries, and the expression of angiogenic growth factors.

RESULTS

ASC therapy significantly increased the thickness of the dermis, the number of capillaries, and the expression of some angiogenic growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, and epidermal growth factor). At 7 weeks after injection, blood perfusion was significantly higher on the side injected with ASCs than on the side injected with PBS. LTW content was increased in the PBS-injected side, but the ASC-injected side showed no significant changes over time.

CONCLUSIONS

ASCs increased dermal thickness, promoted angiogenesis, and reduced LTW content in the skin of photoaging mice, providing a potential clinical therapy for skin rejuvenation.

A Review of Noninvasive Techniques for Skin Cancer Detection in Dermatology

As a result of increasing melanoma incidence and challenges with clinical and histopathologic evaluation of pigmented lesions, noninvasive techniques to assist in the assessment of skin lesions are highly sought after. This review discusses the methods, benefits, and limitations of adhesive patch biopsy, electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), multispectral imaging, high-frequency ultrasonography (HFUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in the detection of skin cancer. Adhesive patch biopsy provides improved sensitivity and specificity for the detection of melanoma without a trade-off of higher sensitivity for lower specificity seen in other diagnostic tools to aid in skin cancer detection, including EIS and multispectral imaging. EIS and multispectral imaging provide objective information based on computer-assisted diagnosis to assist in the decision to biopsy and/or excise an atypical melanocytic lesion. HFUS may be useful for the determination of skin tumor depth and identification of surgical borders, although further studies are necessary to determine its accuracy in the detection of skin cancer. OCT and RCM provide enhanced resolution of skin tissue and have been applied for improved accuracy in skin cancer diagnosis, as well as monitoring the response of nonsurgical treatments of skin cancers and the determination of tumor margins and recurrences. These novel approaches to skin cancer assessment offer opportunities to dermatologists, but are dependent on the individual dermatologist's comfort, knowledge, and desire to invest in training and implementation of noninvasive techniques. These noninvasive modalities may have a role in the complementary assessment of skin cancers, although histopathologic diagnosis remains the gold standard for the evaluation of skin cancer.

Using therapeutic ultrasound to promote irritated skin recovery after surfactant-induced barrier disruption

BACKGROUND

Surfactant-induced skin barrier disruption can enhance blood flow and water content in the superficial skin. The effect of therapeutic ultrasound on accelerating the recovery of superficial skin after skin barrier disruption has seldom been studied.

OBJECTIVE

To understand the effects of therapeutic ultrasound on barrier recovery, we used the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model and treatment with ultrasound intervention.

METHODS

The study allocated 30 healthy subjects into an ultrasound group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15), each divided into three subgroups (sodium lauryl sulfate at concentrations of 1.0%, 0.5%, and 0%). Pulsed ultrasound (1 MHz, 0.3 W/cm²_SATA) was applied to ultrasound subgroups. The treatment effect was evaluated by the recovery rate of enhanced blood flow and water content.

RESULTS

The results indicated a surfactant dose-dependent effect on blood flow, but not on water content. The recovery rates of enhanced blood flow were higher in the 0.5% and 1.0% ultrasound subgroups than in the control subgroups throughout the experiment. However, recovery rates of water content were higher in the ultrasound subgroups than in the control subgroups only on Day2.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulsed ultrasound accelerated the barrier recovery by reducing the enhanced blood flow and water content after skin barrier disruption.