Urinary tract infection associated with bacteremia caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococcus following continent urinary diversion.

Key Clinical Message: Even in a country where vancomycin-resistant enterococcus is rare, multidrug-resistant organism precautions are necessary when admitting patients with a history of medical exposure in other countries. On admission, screening is necessary and if infection is confirmed, a multidisciplinary approach involving different specialists is required. Abstract: The patient was a 49-year-old Japanese female living in the United States. Total pelvic exenteration for cervical carcinoma, Miami pouch formation, and ileostomy had been performed in the United States. She returned to Japan to undergo postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Fever and abdominal pain occurred 42 days after surgery. She consulted the fever outpatient clinic, and a diagnosis of urinary retention-associated acute renal failure and pyelonephritis was made. We detected vancomycin-resistant enterococcus on urine/blood culture 5 days after admission. Infection control measures were implemented, and the ward was closed for 3 days. We administered linezolid, which was effective for pyelonephritis and bacteremia.

Association of Systemic Adverse Reactions and Serum SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Antibody Levels after Administration of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

Objectives The influential factors for anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein antibody (S-ab) levels were assessed after the administration of BNT162b2 mRNA coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine at short and medium terms. Methods A total of 470 healthcare workers (118 males, mean age 41.0±11.9 years) underwent serum S-ab level measurement at 3 and 8 months after two inoculations of BNT162b2 vaccine given 3 weeks apart, who had no history of COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. The changes and differences after vaccination due to gender and adverse reactions of S-ab were analyzed. Results Systemic adverse reactions incidence (48%) was significantly higher after the second dose than after the first dose (8%). S-ab levels decreased as the age increased (from the 20s to 60s) in both measurements. S-ab level 8 months after the second inoculation [median 476.3 (interquartile range (IQR) 322.4-750.6) U/mL] was significantly lower than that after 3 months [977.5 (637.2-1,409.0) U/mL; p<0.001]. The median decrease rate of S-ab levels in 5 months was 50.3% (IQR 40.3-62.6) and those differences were not observed among all generations. Gender-associated differences in S-ab levels were not observed; however, a significant relationship between higher S-ab levels and the systemic adverse reactions was observed at both measurements. Conclusions The systemic adverse reaction is an independent factor for higher S-ab levels at short and medium terms after BNT162b2 vaccination as demonstrated in our data.

Tryptase and IL-33 in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid May Predict the Types of Eosinophilic Pneumonia and Disease Recurrence.

INTRODUCTION: Eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) is characterized by a marked accumulation of eosinophils in the lungs and blood. Eosinophils and mast cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of EP via release of biomarkers such as tryptase and interleukin (IL)-33. However, the potential role of these biomarkers is not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the differences among the levels of tryptase and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from several types of EP. We evaluated the differences between the levels of these biomarkers in the recurrent and nonrecurrent cases. METHOD: We prospectively collected the clinical data of patients with EP, diagnosed between 2006 and 2015 in our institution. Bronchoscopy was performed before steroid treatment; BALF was collected. The clinical characteristics of EP patients and the levels of tryptase and IL-33 in BALF were evaluated. RESULTS: We enrolled 15 patients with chronic EP (CEP), 5 with acute EP (AEP), 10 with drug-induced EP, and 6 with angiitis-related EP. Tryptase levels in the CEP group were significantly higher than that in the drug-induced EP group (p = 0.048), while the AEP group had the highest IL-33 levels. Recurrence of EP was noted in 67% of patients with CEP. The levels of tryptase and IL-33 were notably higher in the recurrent cases than that in the nonrecurrent CEP group (p = 0.004, p = 0.04, respectively). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the levels of tryptase and IL-33 in the BALF of patients with CEP (ρ = 0.69, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Tryptase and IL-33 in BALF are useful biomarkers for the assessment of EP types. These biomarkers could be used to predict disease recurrence.

Role of Imprinting Disorders in Short Children Born SGA and Silver-Russell Syndrome Spectrum.

BACKGROUND: (Epi)genetic disorders associated with small-for-gestational-age with short stature (SGA-SS) include imprinting disorders (IDs). Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a representative ID in SGA-SS and has heterogenous (epi)genetic causes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To clarify the contribution of IDs to SGA-SS and the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of SRS, we recruited 269 patients with SGA-SS, consisting of 103 and 166 patients referred to us for genetic testing for SGA-SS and SRS, respectively. After excluding 20 patients with structural abnormalities detected by comparative genomic hybridization analysis using catalog array, 249 patients were classified into 3 subgroups based on the Netchine-Harbison clinical scoring system (NH-CSS), SRS diagnostic criteria. We screened various IDs by methylation analysis for differentially methylated regions (DMRs) related to known IDs. We also performed clinical analysis. RESULTS: These 249 patients with SGA-SS were classified into the "SRS-compatible group" (n = 148), the "non-SRS with normocephaly or relative macrocephaly at birth group" (non-SRS group) (n = 94), or the "non-SRS with relative microcephaly at birth group" (non-SRS with microcephaly group) (n = 7). The 44.6% of patients in the "SRS-compatible group," 21.3% of patients in the "non-SRS group," and 14.3% in the "non-SRS with microcephaly group" had various IDs. Loss of methylation of the H19/IGF2:intergenic-DMR and uniparental disomy chromosome 7, being major genetic causes of SRS, was detected in 30.4% of patients in the "SRS-compatible group" and in 13.8% of patients in the "non-SRS group." CONCLUSION: We clarified the contribution of IDs as (epi)genetic causes of SGA-SS and the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of SRS. Various IDs constitute underlying factors for SGA-SS, including SRS.

Clarithromycin suppresses IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia via the TMEM16A-dependent pathway in guinea pig airway epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A) is associated with mucus secretion and ion transport in asthma. Clarithromycin (CAM) is reported to inhibit IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia. However, the effect of CAM on TMEM16A function and expression remains unclear. METHODS: Tracheal epithelial cells from guinea pigs were cultured for ~14 days at an air-liquid interface in medium containing IL-13 (10 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of CAM (20 µg/ml) or a TMEM16A inhibitor, T16Ainh-A01 (10 µg/ml). Electrophysiological studies were performed by Ussing׳s short-circuit technique. The cells were used for immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against TMEM16A, MUC5AC, and α-tubulin. The cells were also examined by transmission electron microscopy. TMEM16A protein levels in the cell lysates were determined by ELISA. For the in vivo study, guinea pigs were treated intratracheally with IL-13 in the absence or presence of CAM or T16Ainh-A01. RESULTS: CAM decreased the MUC5AC-positive cells and reduced TMEM16A expression in them and increased the α-tubulin-positive cells. CAM inhibited TMEM16A protein levels in a dose-dependent manner, and decreased UTP-induced Cl ion transport. In cells treated with IL-13 for 24 h, TMEM16A appeared prior to MUC5AC protein expression, and was inhibited by CAM. In the in vivo study, CAM inhibited IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia and TMEM16A expression. The inhibitory effects of CAM were similar to those of T16Ainh-A01. CONCLUSIONS: CAM inhibited IL-13-induced TMEM16A expression, Cl ion transport and goblet cell metaplasia both in vitro and in vivo. CAM may thus improve airway mucociliary differentiation by attenuating TMEM16A expression in IL-13-related asthma.

Comparison of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between radioimmunoassay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in infants and postpartum women.

Background Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become the gold standard for the measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels instead of the conventional method, radioimmunoassay (RIA). However, there was no study that compared RIA and LC-MS/MS for measuring serum 25(OH)D levels in infants and their mothers. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement of RIA and LC-MS/MS for measuring the serum levels in infants and postpartum women. Methods This study enrolled 70 preterm infants, 113 term infants (134 samples), and 120 postpartum women. Serum concentration of 25(OH)D was measured by RIA and LC-MS/MS. We evaluated the correlation between RIA and LC-MS/MS. Also, we evaluated the bias between RIA and LC-MS/MS using Bland-Altman analysis. Results Sixty percent of preterm infants had serum 25(OH)D levels below the lower limit of quantification (LOQ) (4 ng/mL) and 90% of them were classified as vitamin D deficient. The serum 25(OH)D levels measured by RIA were significantly correlated with those measured by LC-MS/MS in all groups. According to the Bland-Altman plot, the serum 25(OH)D levels of infants measured by RIA had constant positive bias (mean±standard deviation [SD] [95% confidence interval, CI], preterm: +4.8± 2.4 ng/mL [4.2-5.4], term: +5.8±4.0 [5.1-6.5]) and proportional bias (preterm: r=0.44, p<0.01, term: r=0.50, p<0.01) compared with LC-MS/MS. The serum 25(OH)D levels of postpartum women measured by RIA had constant positive bias compared with LC-MS/MS, but no proportional bias was found. Conclusions RIA demonstrated falsely high 25(OH)D levels when used for infants and postpartum women.

Phase III, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial of Motesanib (AMG-706) in Combination With Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in East Asian Patients With Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose This phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study determined whether motesanib improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin (P/C) in East Asian patients with stage IV/recurrent nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oral motesanib 125 mg or placebo once daily plus paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 IV and carboplatin area under the concentration-time curve 6 mg/mL ⋅ min IV for up to six 3-week cycles. Random assignment was stratified by epidermal growth factor receptor status, region, and weight loss in the 6 months before assignment. The primary end point was PFS, the key secondary end point was overall survival, and other secondary end points were objective response rate, time to tumor response, duration of response, and adverse events (AEs). Results Four hundred one patients were assigned to receive motesanib plus P/C (n = 197) or placebo plus P/C (n = 204). Median PFS was 6.1 v 5.6 months for motesanib versus placebo (stratified log-rank test P = .0825; stratified hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.03; P = .0820); median overall survival was not reached versus 21.6 months ( P = .5514). In secondary analyses, the objective response rate was 60.1% v 41.6% ( P < .001); median time to tumor response, 1.4 v 1.6 months, and median duration of response, 5.3 v 4.1 months. Incidence of grade ≥ 3 AEs (86.7% v 67.6%) and AEs that led to drug discontinuation (32.7% v 14.2%) were higher with motesanib than with placebo. AEs reported more frequently with motesanib were GI disorders, hypertension, and gallbladder related. Conclusion Motesanib plus P/C did not significantly improve PFS versus placebo plus P/C in East Asian patients with stage IV/recurrent nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

A neonate with intestinal volvulus without malrotation exhibiting early jaundice with a suspected fetal onset.

Intestinal volvulus without malrotation is a rare disease that causes volvulus of the small intestine despite normal intestinal rotation and fixation. We encountered a neonate with this disease who developed early jaundice and was suspected to have a fetal onset. This patient was characterized by early jaundice complicating intestinal volvulus without malrotation and is considered to have exhibited reduced fetal movement and early jaundice as a result of volvulus, necrosis, and hemorrhage of the small intestine in the fetal period. If abdominal distention accompanied by early jaundice is noted in a neonate, intestinal volvulus without malrotation and associated intraabdominal hemorrhage should be suspected and promptly treated.

Common variable immunodeficiency diagnosed during the treatment of bronchial asthma: Unusual cause of wheezing.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequent primary immunodeficiency in adults and children. We herein report a case of CVID, who was misdiagnosed with asthma due to wheezing episodes and relatively late onset. A 51-year-old woman had suffered from recurrent upper and lower airway infection for recent 2 years. She repeated wheezing attacks and was treated as asthma exacerbation triggered by infection. She was referred to our hospital for investigation and treatment. Lung function tests showed no reversibility of FEV1 by ß-adrenergic agonist, but the increase of V50/V25. Chest CT showed slight to moderate bronchial wall thickening and bronchiectasis. After that, she suffered from pneumonia with wheezing attacks twice a month, and immunodeficiency was strongly suspected. Her blood tests showed marked decreases of all classes of immunoglobulin and nearly lack of memory B cells, NKT cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. She was diagnosed with CVID, and was treated with replacement of gammaglobulin. Thereafter, her wheezing episodes with infection were remarkably improved. Because the delay of diagnosis with CVID likely causes poor mortality and morbidity, a possibility of CVID should be considered in patients with frequent asthma-like symptoms due to recurrent airway infection.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia diagnosed on nasal mucosal biopsy in two newborns.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease that causes abnormalities in ciliary structure and/or function. Ciliated cells line the upper and lower respiratory tracts and the Eustachian tube. Impairment of mucus clearance at these sites leads to sinusitis, repeated pulmonary infections, bronchiectasis, and chronic otitis media. Situs inversus occurs randomly in approximately 50% of subjects with PCD. The triad of situs inversus, bronchiectasis and sinusitis is known as Kartagener syndrome. PCD is usually an autosomal recessive disease, but occasional instances of X-linked transmission have been reported. Specific diagnosis requires examination of ciliary function or structure on light and electron microscopy. Early diagnosis and respiratory management are important in order to prevent the development of bronchiectasis and deterioration in lung function. We report early diagnosis of PCD on nasal mucosal biopsy in two newborns who presented with prolonged respiratory distress and rhinorrhea.

Ultrastructural and Immunohistochemical Studies on Uptake and Distribution of FITC-Conjugated PLGA Nanoparticles Administered Intratracheally in Rats.

Polylactide-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles have been developed as pulmonary drug delivery carriers. To investigate their behavior, small- (d50 = 74 nm) and large-sized (d50 = 250 nm) FITC-conjugated PLGA nanoparticles were intratracheally administered to rats and were traced for 5, 30 and 60 minutes and 24 hours after administration (HAT). Immunohistochemically, a, FITC-positive reaction was observed in type-I alveolar epithelial cells (type-I AEC), endothelial cells and alveolar macrophages in the lungs from 5 minutes after treatment (MAT) to 24 HAT in both nanoparticle groups. In the kidneys, a positive reaction was observed in proximal tubular epithelial cells at 30 MAT; the reaction peaked at 60 MAT and was reduced at 24 HAT, while no positive reaction was seen in other sites. Ultrascructurally, the number of membrane-bound vesicles, which were approximately 70 nm in size and hard to distinguish from pinocytic vesicles, apparently increased in type-I AEC and endothelial cells at 5 MAT in the small-sized group, in comparison with the control group receiving physiological saline. The number of vesicles in the large-sized group was almost same as that in the control group. On the other hand, in both nanoparticle groups, lysosomes filled with nanoparticles appeared in alveolar macrophages from 30 MAT to 24 HAT. These results indicate that PLGA nanoparticles might be quickly transferred from the alveolar space to the blood vessel via type-I alveolar epithelial cells and excreted into urine, and that there is a threshold for particle size, less than approximately 70 nm in diameter, with regard to absorption through the alveolar wall.

NIH3T3 cells overexpressing CD98 heavy chain resist early G1 arrest and apoptosis induced by serum starvation.

CD98 is a heterodimeric glycoprotein of 125-kDa, which consists of a 90-kDa heavy chain (hc) subunit and 35-kDa to 55-kDa light chain (lc) subunits. It is strongly expressed on the surface of proliferating normal cells and almost all tumor cells. To investigate the participation of CD98 in cellular proliferation and malignant transformation, we analyzed cell-cycle progression of NIH3T3 clones transfected with cDNA of human CD98hc. Although NIH3T3 and control transfectant cells grown to the subconfluent state were arrested in the G0/G1 phase by serum starvation, considerable portions of CD98hc-transfected cells resided at S and G2/M phases. Under serum-starved and confluent conditions, significant fractions (20-25%) of NIH3T3 and control transfectant cells contained less than 2n content DNA, indicating occurrence of apoptosis, whereas no apoptotic cells were detected in CD98hc-transfectant cells. Under serum-starved conditions, a marked increase in the levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E and a decrease in p16 were observed in CD98hc-transfectant cells. The reverse was true for NIH3T3 and control transfectant cells. Our results suggest that resistance to G1 arrest and apoptosis by CD98 overexpression are associated with high G1-cyclins and low p16 levels.

Formulation of nanoparticle-eluting stents by a cationic electrodeposition coating technology: efficient nano-drug delivery via bioabsorbable polymeric nanoparticle-eluting stents in porcine coronary arteries.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to formulate a nanoparticle (NP)-eluting drug delivery stent system by a cationic electrodeposition coating technology. BACKGROUND: Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems (DDS) are poised to transform the development of innovative therapeutic devices. Therefore, we hypothesized that a bioabsorbable polymeric NP-eluting stent provides an efficient DDS that shows better and more prolonged delivery compared with dip-coating stent. METHODS: We prepared cationic NP encapsulated with a fluorescence marker (FITC) by emulsion solvent diffusion method, succeeded to formulate an NP-eluting stent with a novel cation electrodeposition coating technology, and compared the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of the FITC-loaded NP-eluting stent with dip-coated FITC-eluting stent and bare metal stent. RESULTS: The NP was taken up stably and efficiently by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. In a porcine coronary artery model in vivo, substantial FITC fluorescence was observed in neointimal and medial layers of the stented segments that had received the FITC-NP-eluting stent until 4 weeks. In contrast, no substantial FITC fluorescence was observed in the segments from the polymer-based FITC-eluting stent or from bare metal stent. The magnitudes of stent-induced injury, inflammation, endothelial recovery, and neointima formation were comparable between bare metal stent and NP-eluting stent groups. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, this NP-eluting stent is an efficient NP-mediated DDS that holds as an innovative platform for the delivery of less invasive nano-devices targeting cardiovascular disease.

Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of nuclear factor kappaB decoy into lungs ameliorates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an intractable disease of the small pulmonary artery that involves multiple inflammatory factors. We hypothesized that a redox-sensitive transcription factor, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), which regulates important inflammatory cytokines, plays a pivotal role in PAH. We investigated the activity of NF-kappaB in explanted lungs from patients with PAH and in a rat model of PAH. We also examined a nanotechnology-based therapeutic intervention in the rat model. Immunohistochemistry results indicated that the activity of NF-kappaB increased in small pulmonary arterial lesions and alveolar macrophages in lungs from patients with PAH compared with lungs from control patients. In a rat model of monocrotaline-induced PAH, single intratracheal instillation of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) resulted in delivery of NPs into lungs for

Therapeutic neovascularization by nanotechnology-mediated cell-selective delivery of pitavastatin into the vascular endothelium.

OBJECTIVE: Recent clinical studies of therapeutic neovascularization using angiogenic growth factors demonstrated smaller therapeutic effects than those reported in animal experiments. We hypothesized that nanoparticle (NP)-mediated cell-selective delivery of statins to vascular endothelium would more effectively and integratively induce therapeutic neovascularization. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a murine hindlimb ischemia model, intramuscular injection of biodegradable polymeric NP resulted in cell-selective delivery of NP into the capillary and arteriolar endothelium of ischemic muscles for up to 2 weeks postinjection. NP-mediated statin delivery significantly enhanced recovery of blood perfusion to the ischemic limb, increased angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, and promoted expression of the protein kinase Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and angiogenic growth factors. These effects were blocked in mice administered a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, or in eNOS-deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS: NP-mediated cell-selective statin delivery may be a more effective and integrative strategy for therapeutic neovascularization in patients with severe organ ischemia.

Particle size control of poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) nanospheres for sterile applications.

Parameters affecting the particle sizes of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanospheres produced by the Emulsion Solvent Diffusion (ESD) method were evaluated in this study, so that suitable PLGA nanospheres could be prepared to pass through a membrane filter with 0.2 microm pore size and used as a sterile product. Experimental results demonstrated that the particle sizes of PLGA nanospheres could be reduced by the following efforts. (1) Increase stirring rate of poor solvent. (2) Decrease feed rate of good solvent. (3) Increase poor solvent ratio. (4) Increase the temperature of poor solvent. (5) Decrease polyvinyl alcohol concentration in poor solvent. (6) Increase ethanol concentration in good solvent. (7) Decrease PLGA concentration in good solvent. After optimization, PLGA nanospheres with a mean particle size of 102-163 nm and the 100-98% of filtration fraction could be produced and passed the bacteria challenge tests. This study found PLGA nanospheres can be efficiently prepared as a sterile product.

Local delivery of imatinib mesylate (STI571)-incorporated nanoparticle ex vivo suppresses vein graft neointima formation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcome of surgical revascularization using autologous vein graft is limited by vein graft failure attributable to neointima formation. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of vein graft failure. Therefore, we hypothesized that nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery system of PDGF-receptor (PDGF-R) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib mesylate: STI571) could be an innovative therapeutic strategy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Uptake of STI571-NP normalized PDGF-induced cell proliferation and migration. Excised rabbit jugular vein was treated ex vivo with PBS, STI571 only, FITC-NP, or STI571-NP, then interposed back into the carotid artery position. NP was detected in many cells in the neointima and media at 7 and 28 days after grafting. Significant neointima was formed 28 days after grafting in the PBS group; this neointima formation was suppressed in the STI571-NP group. STI571-NP treatment inhibited cell proliferation and phosphorylation of the PDGF-R-beta but did not affect inflammation and endothelial regeneration. CONCLUSIONS: STI571-NP-induced suppression of vein graft neointima formation holds promise as a strategy for preventing vein graft failure.

Histological examination of PLGA nanospheres for intratracheal drug administration.

Polylactide-glycolide (PLGA) nanospheres were reported as useful pulmonary drug delivery carriers for improving the pharmacological effect of drug. This paper describes the pathological and histological examinations of tissues after intratracheal instillation of drug encapsulated PLGA nanospheres. After intratracheally introducing FITC encapsulated PLGA nanospheres (dispersed in the 0.5 ml saline followed by mixing with an equal volume of air) to a rat, FITC was found existing in the rat's lungs, liver, kidney, brain, spleen and pancreas as demonstrated by immuno-histo-chemical staining with the dye. In this study, FITC stayed in alveoli at least for 1.5h after the intratracheal administration of the PLGA nanospheres, but the FITC almost disappeared 24h later. In addition, it was found that the PLGA nanospheres were absorbed in the blood immediately (within 0.25 h after the intratracheal administration) through the type 1 alveolar epithelium cell. Furthermore, the PLGA nanospheres were found resistant to uptake by macrophages such as alveolus macrophages and kupffer cells. The results showed that the possibility to induce tissue damage caused by the excessive immune response from the deposition of PLGA nanospheres was very low, because the nanospheres were not treated as foreign substances.

Evaluation of the permeability of hair growing ingredient encapsulated PLGA nanospheres to hair follicles and their hair growing effects.

This paper describes the process of encapsulating hair growing ingredients in the PLGA nanospheres by emulsion solvent diffusion method and investigates the feasibility of using the PLGA nanospheres as the DDS (Drug delivery System) carriers for delivering various hair growing ingredients to hair follicles. In-vitro and in-vivo tests were conducted to verify the performances of encapsulated PLGA nanospheres with three different hair growing ingredients. In the in-vitro tests, the scalp-pore permeability of hair growing ingredient encapsulated PLGA nanospheres (dispersed in the PBS solution) was examined using human scalp biopsies in a modified Bronaugh diffusion chamber in comparison to that of the control samples containing the hair growing ingredient in the PBS solution. Furthermore, the hair growing effect of the encapsulated PLGA nanospheres was evaluated with the C3H mice in the in-vivo tests. By observing the fluorescence intensity of the ingredients, as shown in the cross-section photographs of the human scalp biopsies, it was found that the dispersion liquids containing hair growing ingredient encapsulated PLGA nanospheres exerted a scalp-pore permeability 2.0- to 2.5-fold more marked than that of the control samples. Also, the hair growing activities were enhanced by using the encapsulated PLGA nanospheres, which transformed the hair growth cycle from the resting phase to the growing phase. As a result, the degree of hair growth was improved significantly. These results suggested that the PLGA nanosphere can be a new DDS carrier for delivering hair growing ingredients and drugs to the hair follicles.