Novel complex of cosmetic ingredients with promising action in preventing hair loss and follicular aging through mechanism involving enrichment of WNT/signaling, mitochondrial activity, and stem cells maintenance.

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms involved in hair metabolism are diverse, and the availability of ingredients that normalize dysfunctions or mitigate the effects of extrinsic stress suffered daily is greatly desired by consumers to improve the aesthetic appearance of hair. AIMS: In this work, we carried out a preclinical exploratory approach to evaluate the effects of a complex of nanoencapsulated active ingredients (AcPi), as well as a cosmetic formulation containing AcPi (ShPi and HtPi) in mechanisms involving hair loss and follicular aging. METHODS: Human hair follicle dermal papilla cells and human scalp culture were treated with AcPi, ShPi, or HtPi and stimulated with UV radiation or testosterone for further measurement of mitochondrial biogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), ß-catenin, dyhidrotestosterone (DHT), collagen XVIIα1 (COL17A1), and cutaneous permeation. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that AcPi prevents oxidative stress and balances mitochondial activity disturbed by exposure to UV radiation. AcPi also promoted an enrichment of WNT/ß-catenin signaling pathway, stimulating hair growth, and lengthening the anagen phase of hair cycle. ShPi and HtPi were able to prevent hair aging, minimizing the excessive degradation of COL17A1 in hair follicle exposed to UV radiation, in addition to controlling androgenic metabolism by reducing DHT production. CONCLUSION: The integral effects of AcPi have not been completely elucidated; however, these results, associated with clinical evidences, allow us to infer that this ingredient prevents follicular aging, miniaturization, and consequently hair loss by mechanisms involving energetic homeostasis maintenance, antioxidant, and anti-androgenic actions.

Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries in nursing students: Development of the SNNIP scale.

Aim: To develop an instrument to investigate knowledge and predictive factors of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students during clinical placements. Design: Instrument development and cross-sectional study for psychometric testing. Methods: A self-administered instrument including demographic data, injury epidemiology and predictive factors of NSIs was developed between October 2018-January 2019. Content validity was assessed by a panel of experts. The instrument's factor structure and discriminant validity were explored using principal components analysis. The STROBE guidelines were followed. Results: Evidence of content validity was found (S-CVI 0.75; I-CVI 0.50-1.00). A three-factor structure was shown by exploratory factor analysis. Of the 238 participants, 39% had been injured at least once, of which 67.3% in the second year. Higher perceptions of "personal exposure" (4.06, SD 3.78) were reported by third-year students. Higher scores for "perceived benefits" of preventive behaviours (13.6, SD 1.46) were reported by second-year students.

Efficacy and safety of a new formulation kit (shampoo + lotion) containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents to treat hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and telogen effluvium (TE) are common causes of hair loss, with limited options for treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a new formulation kit (Pielus Anti-hair loss lotion and shampoo) containing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents in patients with TE and/or AGA. This was a prospective, single-arm, open-label study with 35 women and 10 men, median age of 44 years, with clinical diagnosis of TE and/or AGA. They used the combination of shampoo and lotion daily for 90 days. There was nonoccurrence of adverse events. Phototricogram showed increase in the average number of anagen hairs at T90 (P < .001). Scalp microphotography showed increase in total follicular units, total of hairs, and median hair per follicle unit at T90. There was an increase in diameter (P = .003) and in median maximum load and resistance to traction in T90 (P = .040). Combing and washing test demonstrated a decrease in the number of shed hairs before washing (P = .005), after washing (P = .01) and in total (P < .001). The use of shampoo+ lotion daily was safe and effective to attenuate hair loss in men and women with TE and/or AGA.

Whitening effects of cosmetic formulation in the vascular component of skin pigmentation.

BACKGROUND: Melanin plays an important role in protecting the skin against the harmful effects of solar radiation, but its abnormal accumulation may become an aesthetic problem, such as melasma and age spots. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiangiogenic and whitening effects of a depigmentation formulation (BLTX) using an in vitro model of human cell and skin culture. METHODS: Human fibroblasts, keratinocytes or melanocytes were treated with BLTX and subjected to oxidative stress by UV radiation or inflammatory stress with IL-1α for quantification of melanin, tyrosinase, endothelin-1, PAR-2, VEGF and iNOS. Fragments of human skin, from elective plastic surgery, were treated with BLTX and subjected to histological evaluation with hematoxylin/eosin associated with Fontana-Masson technique for melanin view. A parametric method, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Bonferroni test, was used to compare data among all groups. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that BLTX promotes a reduction in VEGF and iNOS protein synthesis in cultured dermal fibroblasts, indicating an antiangiogenic property. In relation to whitening effect, BLTX was able to reduce the production of melanin in both systems, melanocytes and human skin cultures. The depigmenting action was also revealed by decreasing the levels of endothelin-1, PAR-2 and activity of tyrosinase, when compared to cultures exposed to UV radiation. CONCLUSION: The results allow us to infer that BLTX presents an antiangiogenic effect indicating a role in the vascular component of melasma. Furthermore, the whitening property observed reinforces its use in the prevention and treatment of melasma.