Mitochondria-Targeted Vitamin E Protects Skin from UVB-Irradiation

Mitochondria-targeted vitamin E (MVE) is designed to accumulate within mitochondria and is applied to decrease mitochondrial oxidative damage. However, the protective effects of MVE in skin cells have not been identified. We investigated the protective effect of MVE against UVB in dermal fibroblasts and immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). In addition, we studied the wound-healing effect of MVE in animal models. We found that MVE increased the proliferation and survival of fibroblasts at low concentration (i.e., nM ranges). In addition, MVE increased collagen production and downregulated matrix metalloproteinase1. MVE also increased the proliferation and survival of HaCaT cells. UVB increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fibroblasts and HaCaT cells, while MVE decreased ROS production at low concentration. In an animal experiment, MVE accelerated wound healing from laser-induced skin damage. These results collectively suggest that low dose MVE protects skin from UVB irradiation. Therefore, MVE can be developed as a cosmetic raw material.

Changes of Medication Usage in Inpatients of Major Depressive Disorder: One University Hospital among Year 2001, 2006 and 2010 / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: Prescription patterns have changed rapidly due to development of new drugs, results of new researches, and increment of clinician's experience. The goal of this study was to examine and compare the trend of prescription patterns for major depressive disorder at a university hospital among year 2001, 2006, and 2010. METHODS: We reviewed the medication usage of inpatients with major depressive disorder in 2001, 2006 and 2010, including antidepressants used as first choice, switching, and combination, and various augmentation agents. And we investigated the time to switching and combination of antidepressant in 2001, 2006 and 2010. RESULTS: The antidepressants used as first line drug were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (49.7%), mirtazapine (24.5%), and tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) (4.9%) in 2001, and SSRI (49.4%), mirtazapine (25.6%) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) (20.2%) in 2006, SSRI (42.7%), mirtazapine (19.5%) and SNRI (18.3%) in 2010 in frequency order. The antidepressants used as switching drug were TCA (33.3%), mirtazapine (25.0%), and nefazodone (16.7%) in 2001, SSRI (35.0%), mirtazapine (35.0%), and SNRI (20.0%) in 2006, and SSRI (50.0%), SNRI (30.0%) and mirtazapine (20.0%) in 2010. As combination treatment, SSRI and TCA combination was used mostly by far in 2001 (51.1%), but in 2006 and 2010, various combination were used. In 2010 year, SNRI and mirtazapine, SSRI and TCA, SSRI and mirtazapine (42.1%, 21.1%, 15.8%, respectively) combination treatment were used in frequency order. The use of typical antipsychotics as augmentation agent decreased and the use of atypical antipsychotics increased significantly in 2010. Most frequently used atypical antipsychotic was quetiapine in 2010. The use of thyroid hormone was significantly decreased after 2006, but the use of mood stabilizer was increased between 2001 and 2010 (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggested that there were lots of change in prescription patterns for major depressive disorder between 2001 and 2010. Especially, these changes could be seen in use of various antidepressants, increment in use of atypical antipsychotics and lamotrigine. It can reflect not only the current progress of psychopharmacology and clinical experience, but also the clinical complexity of treatment of depression.