Wound Healing Potential of Low Temperature Plasma in Human Primary Epidermal Keratinocytes

BACKGROUND: Low temperature plasma (LTP) was recently shown to be potentially useful for biomedical applications such as bleeding cessation, cancer treatment, and wound healing, among others. Keratinocytes are a major cell type that migrates directionally into the wound bed, and their proliferation leads to complete wound closure during the cutaneous repair/regeneration process. However, the beneficial effects of LTP on human keratinocytes have not been well studied. Therefore, we investigated migration, growth factor production, and cytokine secretion in primary human keratinocytes after LTP treatment.METHODS: Primary cultured keratinocytes were obtained from human skin biopsies. Cell viability was measured with the EZ-Cytox cell viability assay, cell migration was evaluated by an in vitro wound healing assay, gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blotting after LTP treatment.RESULTS: Cell migration, the secretion of several cytokines, and gene and protein levels of angiogenic growth factors increased in LTP-treated human keratinocytes without associated cell toxicity. LTP treatment also significantly induced the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), an upstream regulator of angiogenesis. Further, the inhibition of HIF-1α expression blocked the production of angiogenic growth factors induced by LTP in human keratinocytes.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LTP treatment is an effective approach to modulate wound healing-related molecules in epidermal keratinocytes and might promote angiogenesis, leading to improved wound healing.

Dietary Pattern and Nutrient Intake of Korean Children with Atopic Dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by itching and eczema-like skin lesions, and its symptoms alleviate with age. Recently, the prevalence of AD has increased among adolescents and adults. The increasing prevalence of AD seems to be related to westernized lifestyles and dietary patterns. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary patterns and nutrient intake of patients with AD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 50 children with AD who visited the Department of Dermatology at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea from May 2008 to May 2009. Physical condition and calorie intake were evaluated using the Eczema Area and Severity Index score and Food Record Questionnaire completed by the subjects, and the data were analyzed using the Nutritional Assessment Program Can-pro 3.0 (The Korean Nutrition Society, 2005) program to determine the gap between the actual ingestion and average requirements of 3 major nutrients (i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), vitamins (i.e. A, B, C, and E), niacin, folic acid, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc in all subjects. RESULTS: The intake rate of proteins was 18.02% (recommended dietary allowance [RDA], 7%~20%), of carbohydrates was 67.7% (RDA, 55%~70%), and of lipids was 14.24% (RDA, 15%~30%). Thirty-one subjects (62%) showed deficiency of folic acid, and 21 subjects (42%), of iron supplements. CONCLUSION: Essential nutrient intake tends to be lower in AD patients than in healthy subjects, and this low intake is closely related to the severity of AD.