Increasing demonstration of angiogenic markers in skin neoplastic lesions

Synthesis, in silico modelling, and in vitro biological evaluation of substituted pyrazole derivatives as potential anti-skin cancer, anti-tyrosinase, and antioxidant agents

Twenty-five azole compounds (P1-P25) were synthesised using regioselective base-metal catalysed and microwave-assisted approaches, fully characterised by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and infrared spectra (IR) analyses, and evaluated for anticancer, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-oxidant activities in silico and in vitro. P25 exhibited potent anticancer activity against cells of four skin cancer (SC) lines, with selectivity for melanoma (A375, SK-Mel-28) or non-melanoma (A431, SCC-12) SC cells over non-cancerous HaCaT-keratinocytes. Clonogenic, scratch-wound, and immunoblotting assay data were consistent with anti-proliferative results, expression profiling therewith implicating intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis activation. In a mushroom tyrosinase inhibition assay, P14 was most potent among the compounds (half-maximal inhibitory concentration where 50% of cells are dead, IC50 15.9 μM), with activity greater than arbutin and kojic acid. Also, P6 exhibited noteworthy free radical-scavenging activity. Furthermore, in silico docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) simulations predicted prominent-phenotypic actives to engage diverse cancer/hyperpigmentation-related targets with relatively high affinities. Altogether, promising early-stage hits were identified - some with multiple activities - warranting further hit-to-lead optimisation chemistry with further biological evaluations, towards identifying new skin-cancer and skin-pigmentation renormalising agents.

Actinic Keratosis Color and Its Associations: A Retrospective Photographic, Dermoscopic, and Histologic Evaluation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Actinic keratoses (AKs) have been described with varying color and morphology; however, no reports have demonstrated associations between color, vasculature, and inflammation. In this retrospective study, we analyze the clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic features of AKs to elucidate this relationship.

METHODS

A retrospective search for patients diagnosed with AK between January 2018 and October 2019 was performed. Clinical and dermoscopic photographs and pathology slides for all included subjects were reviewed.

RESULTS

Forty-nine images and histopathology slides were analyzed. Dermoscopy of white AKs demonstrated scale and absence of erythema with corresponding absence of inflammation on histopathology. Dermoscopy of brown AKs revealed pseudonetwork, absent scale, and a variable vessel pattern with pigment incontinence and absence of inflammation on histopathology. Red AKs had a distinct polymorphous vessel pattern and presence of erythema on dermoscopy. On histopathology, about half of samples showed increased vascularity and variable inflammation. Pink AK dermoscopy revealed a presence of erythema with corresponding presence of inflammation on histopathology.

CONCLUSION

This report adds to our understanding of AKs and confirms that, in general, the pinker or redder the AK, the more prominent the inflammatory infiltrate and vasculature, respectively. Dermatologists should continue to use their diagnostic skills to successfully diagnose and triage AKs.

Investigating the efficacy and safety of mineral smectite granules on wound healing

Mineral smectite granules have traditionally been used for diarrhea and gastrointestinal bleeding; however, the wound healing ability of mineral smectite granules has not been investigated in detail. Therefore, the present study explored the efficacy and safety of mineral smectite granules on wound healing. An excision wound rat model was established. The experimental group was treated with smectite granules, the positive control group was treated with starch and the blank control group was left untreated. Wound closure rates, wound healing times and histopathological analysis were compared among the three groups. The mechanism underlying the effects of mineral smectite granules on wound healing was assessed by performing picrosirius red staining and immunohistochemical staining and measuring hydroxyproline content. Based on wound closure rates, wound healing times and histopathological analysis, the results indicated that rats treated with smectite granules displayed increased wound healing efficacy compared with the other two groups. Investigation of the underlying mechanism suggested that mineral smectite granules could promote wound healing by inducing collagen fiber synthesis and increasing the number of neovessels. The present study indicated the efficacy and safety of mineral smectite granules on wound healing and provided a theoretical basis for its application in a clinical setting.