Mitigation of acute ultraviolet B radiation-mediated damages by baicalin in mouse skin.

BACKGROUND: Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, in particular UVB with a wavelength range between 290 and 320 nm, induces different hazardous effects on the skin, including sunburn, photoaging and cancer. Protection against sun-induced damage is therefore a highly desirable goal. Chemoprevention is being investigated as a potential approach for the management of UV damages including skin cancer. AIM: In this study, to determine the relevance of our in vitro findings to in vivo situations, we assessed the effects of baicalin on UVB-mediated damages in mice skin. METHODS: Balb/C hairless mice were topically pretreated (24 h before UVB) or post-treated (5 min after UVB) with baicalin (1 mg/cm(2) skin area/mouse/100 microl acetone) and were exposed to UVB 24 h later (180 mJ/cm(2)). The animals were sacrificed 1 and 24 h after the UVB exposure. Skin edema, histopathology changes, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs)-positive cells were assessed to determine the UVB-induced photodamage. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated that a topical application of baicalin, either as a pretreatment or as a post-treatment, resulted in a significant decrease in UVB mediated increases in skin edema, skin hyperplasia and infiltration of leukocytes. Further, baicalin treatments (pre and post) also resulted in a significant decrease in UVB mediated (1) generation of H2O2 and (2) formation of DNA photolesions: CPDs. CONCLUSION: Based on these data, we suggest that baicalin could be developed as an agent for the management of conditions elicited by UV exposure including skin cancer.

Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate on the immune function of dendritic cells after ultraviolet B irradiation.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the immune function of dendritic cells (DCs) after ultraviolet B irradiation (UVB) and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood and cultivated into DCs with cytokines, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4. DCs were harvested after cultivation for 7 days and subjected to irradiation with different dosages of UVB. Then, 200 microg/mL of EGCG was added in certain groups 24 h before irradiation. DCs simply treated with UVB or treated with both UVB and EGCG were co-cultured with lymphocytes, and Mono-nuclear cell direct cytotoxicity (MTT) assay was used to detect the ability of DCs to stimulate proliferation of lymphocytes. Surface markers CD80, CD86, human leukocyte antigen(locus)-DR (HLA-DR), and CD40 were detected using flow cytometry, and the levels of IL-10 and IL-12 secreted from DCs 24 h after cultivation were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: UVB irradiation was able to inhibit the ability of DCs to stimulate the proliferation of lymphocytes and surface expressions of CD80, CD86, HLA-DR, and CD40 on DCs in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition rate of DCs was improved to some extent after treatment with 200 microg/mL of EGCG. UVB showed no significant influence on the secretion of IL-10 and IL-12 from DCs, while EGCG was able to down-regulate the secretion level of IL-12 and up-regulate that of IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: EGCG can antagonize the inhibitory effect on DCs induced by UVB irradiation. This function has some relationship with its protecting effect of the expression of the costimulating molecules on the surface of DCs and the secretion level of IL-10 and IL-12.

Ginsenoside Rb1 suppresses ultraviolet radiation-induced apoptosis by inducing DNA repair.

Ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage is a crucial molecular trigger for sunburn cell formation and skin cancer. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is the main mechanism in repairing UVB-induced DNA damage to mammalian cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of ginsenoside Rb1 in UV-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in HaCaT (keratinocyte cell line) cells, and Xpc(-) knockout mouse keratinocytes. Flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining were performed in analyzing UV-induced apoptosis in keratinocytes treated with ginsenoside Rb1. The ImmunoDotBlot assay was used to detect cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, the main sign of DNA damage. Western blot analysis was applied for analyzing Xeroderma pigmentosum-C (XPC) and excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1), two of the NER proteins. Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibited UV-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes and caused a notable reduction in UV-specific DNA lesions which was due to induction of DNA repair. This reduction was not observed in Xpc(-) knockout keratinocytes. Ginsenoside Rb1 induced the expression of specific components of the NER complex, such as XPC and ERCC1. Our results demonstrate that ginsenoside Rb1 can protect cells from apoptosis induced by UV radiation by inducing DNA repair.

Effects of warm needle moxibustion on bone mass density and biochemical indexes of bone metabolism in patients of postmenopausal osteoporosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of warm needle moxibustion and medication on osteoporosis and to study the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 20 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated by warm needle moxibustion at Dazhu (BL 11), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34) etc. once other day, for 3 months; and the medication group was treated by oral administration of tablet Caltrate with Vit D2 for 3 months. The changes of bone mass density (BMD), estradiol (E2), osteocalcin (bone growth protein, BGP), urine calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr) in the two groups before and after treatment and therapeutic effects were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, BMD significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the acupuncture group and did not signifi cantly changed in the medication group (P>0.05) with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment E2 level significantly increased as compared with before treatment in both of groups (P<0.01); after treatment BGP significantly decreased as compared with before treatment in both of groups (P<0.01); after treatment Ca/Cr significantly decreased as compared with before treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05) ; af ter treatment, there were significant differences in BGP and Ca/Cr between the two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The clinically controlled rate in the acupuncture group and in the medication group were 35.0%, 5.0%, respectively, the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group being better than that of the medication group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The therapeutic effect of warm needle moxibustion on osteoporosis is better than that of oral administration of tablet Caltrate with Vit D2 and it can increase levels of hormones and delay bone loss. It is an effective method for preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis.</p>

Superolateral dislocation of the intact mandibular condyle into the temporal fossa: review of the literature and report of a case.

Anterior dislocation of the mandibular condyle is common, but superolateral dislocation is quite rare. Because of its rarity, this type of dislocation is often misdiagnosed or completely overlooked. We describe an additional case of superolateral dislocation of the intact condyle into the temporal fossa. We review all of the available English literature on superolateral dislocation and discuss a causative mechanism, the diagnostic features, and clinical management.