Effects of ultraviolet rays and particulate matter on hair porosity in damaged hair.

BACKGROUND: With growing interest in hair health, researchers are exploring aspects beyond the surface qualities of hair, such as its porous inner structure. While previous studies have focused on the effects of treatments such as perming and hair dying on hair porosity, less emphasis has been paid to the effects of harmful environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) rays and particulate matter on the porous nature of hair. AIMS: The aim of this study was to bridge this gap by investigating how UV rays and particulate matter affect hair porosity in different ways. Our study could help elucidate how these external factors influence hair health and shed light on previously unknown aspects of hair porosity. METHODS: Hair tresses were bleached, cut into 1 cm-long sections, and stained with methylene blue. The sections were then irradiated with UV light or exposed to particulate matter. RESULTS: Bleached hair absorbed more methylene blue than normal hair. UV radiation-induced hair porosity occurred at 3 h after irradiation and increased with time. Particulate matter alone did not affect the porosity of the damaged hair; however, in combination with UV irradiation, it substantially increased hair porosity. CONCLUSION: Environmental challenges such as a depleted ozone layer and increasing pollution may increase hair porosity, which can be prevented by maintaining healthy hair.

Enhanced anti-cancer effect using MMP-responsive L-asparaginase fused with cell-penetrating 30Kc19 protein.

As the acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) develops, expression of L-asparaginase (ASNase) protein is known to decrease. Therefore, deficiency of the ASNase protein would be regarded as one of the significant indications of the ALL. For the treatment of ALL, recombinant ASNase protein derived from bacterial origin is used which causes cytotoxicity by deprivation of Asn. However, short half-life of the protein is an obstacle for medical use. In order to overcome this limit, recombinant ASNase was fused to 30Kc19 with protein-stabilizing and cell-penetrating properties. As the 30Kc19 protein may induce steric hindrance, we further added a PLGLAG linker sequence (LK) between the ASNase and 30Kc19. The treatment of ASNase-LK-30Kc19 fusion protein demonstrated enhanced stability, cell-penetrating property, and anti-cancer activity. Intracellular delivery of both the non-cleaved and cleaved forms of the protein were observed, suggesting that ASNase acted both internally and externally, performing high anti-cancer activity by effective depletion of intracellular Asn. Additionally, ASNase-LK-30Kc19 showed high selectivity towards cancer cells. In terms of the dosage, releasable ASNase from ASNase-LK-30Kc19 reached the same half-maximal inhibitory concentration at a concentration five times lower than non-releasable ASNase-30Kc19. Altogether, the findings suggest that this fusion approach has potential applications in the treatment of ALL.

A standardized extract of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour. exerts a protective effect on benzalkonium chloride-induced mouse dry eye model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In contrast to other leguminous plants generally used as food, Rhynchosia volubilis Loureiro, a small soybean with a black seed coat, has been used as a traditional oriental remedy for various human diseases in Eastern Asia. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effect of R. volubilis against dry eye disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to investigate whether a standardized ethanol extract of R. volubilis (EERV) can protect the cornea in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced mouse dry eye model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental dry eye was induced by the instillation of 0.2% BAC on mouse cornea. A standardized ethanol extract of R. volubilis (EERV) was orally administered following BAC treatment. The positive control group was treated with commercial eye drops. Fluorescein staining, tear break-up time (BUT), and hematoxylin and eosin staining were evaluated on the ocular surface. Squamous metaplasia and apoptosis in the corneal epithelial layer were detected by immunostaining. Furthermore, the protein expression of cytochrome c, Bcl-2, and Bax was determined. RESULTS: EERV treatment significantly improved fluorescein scoring, BUT, and smoothness in the cornea compared to the vehicle group. In addition, EERV inhibited squamous metaplasia and apoptosis in the cornea. The expression of cytochrome c and Bax was upregulated, while that of Bcl-2 was downregulated in the vehicle group compared with that in the control group. However, EERV treatment inhibited the expression of cytochrome c and Bax, while that of Bcl-2 was improved. CONCLUSION: Standardized EERV could be a beneficial candidate for the treatment of dry eye disease.

Subconjunctival Injection of Viscoelastic Material for Leaking Sclerotomy in Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy.

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of subconjunctivally injected viscoelastic material (VEM) for the self-sealing of leaking sclerotomy in transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV). Methods. This was a prospective interventional series. Subconjunctival injection of VEM was performed in eyes showing leaking sclerotomy at the end of TSV in selected cases. This procedure was performed in 24 consecutive eyes from 24 patients scheduled for 23- or 25-gauge TSV with phacoemulsification for various vitreoretinal diseases combined with cataracts. Results. Among the 24 eyes, 13 cases were scheduled for 23-gauge TSV, while 11 cases were scheduled for 25-gauge TSV. The average number of injection sites per eye was 1.7 ± 0.9 in the 23-gauge cases and 1.5 ± 0.7 in the 25-gauge cases. Leakage was most commonly observed at the vitrector site of the sclerotomy, while little leakage was observed at the illuminator site. There were no cases of postoperative hypotony. Conclusion. Subconjunctival injection of VEM was simple and effective for the self-sealing of leaking sclerotomy after TSV in selected cases.

The leaves of Diospyros kaki exert beneficial effects on a benzalkonium chloride-induced murine dry eye model.

PURPOSE: In this study, the beneficial effects of the oral administration of ethanol extract of Diospyros kaki (EEDK) were tested on a mouse dry eye model induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC). METHODS: A solution of 0.2% BAC was administered topically to mouse eyes for 14 days, twice daily, to induce dry eye. Various concentrations of EEDK were administrated daily by oral gavage for 14 days after BAC treatment. Preservative-free eye drops were instilled in the positive-control group. The tear secretion volume (Schirmer's test), tear break-up time (BUT), and fluorescein score were measured on the ocular surface. BAC-induced corneal damage was tested with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Moreover, apoptotic cell death in the corneal epithelial layer was investigated with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The protein expression level of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1α), IL-1ß, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was determined with western blot analysis. Furthermore, squamous metaplasia in the corneal epithelial layer was detected with immunofluorescent staining for cytokeratine-10. The cellular proliferation in the cornea was examined with immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67. RESULTS: EEDK treatment resulted in prolonged BUT, decreased fluorescein score, increased tear volume, and smoother epithelial cells compared with BAC treatment alone in the cornea. Moreover, EEDK treatment inhibited the inflammatory response and corneal epithelial cell death in a BAC-induced murine dry eye model, and changes in squamous cells were inhibited. Proliferative activity in the corneal epithelium cells was improved with EEDK. CONCLUSIONS: EEDK could be a potential therapeutic agent in the clinical treatment of dry eye.

Effect of Posterior Subtenon Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection on Diabetic Macular Edema Refractory to Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection on refractory diabetic macular edema (DME) after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection failure. METHODS: Patients with DME and central subfield thickness (CST) >300 µm who did not respond to IVB injections were retrospectively included. Specifically, we enrolled patients who were diagnosed with refractory DME and who experienced an increase in CST after 1 to 2 IVB injections or no decrease after ≥3 consecutive IVB injections. One clinician injected 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide into the posterior subtenon space. All patients received ophthalmic examinations at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 months post-baseline. Examinations included Snellen visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Forty eyes of 34 patients were included. The average baseline CST was 476 µm. The average CST decreased to 368 µm at 2 months, 374 µm at 4 months, and 427 µm at 6 months (p < 0.001 for all results, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The average intraocular pressure increased from 15.50 to 16.92 mmHg at 2 months but decreased to 16.30 mmHg at 4 months and 15.65 mmHg at 6 months. Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity improved from 0.56 to 0.50 at 2 months (p = 0.023), 0.50 at 4 months (p = 0.083), and 0.48 at 6 months (p = 0.133, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). No complications were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide is an effective and safe treatment for reducing CST in DME refractory to IVB.

Diospyros kaki Extract Inhibits Alkali Burn-Induced Corneal Neovascularization.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of Diospyros kaki (EEDK) leaves on corneal neovascularization (CoNV) in rats. One week after the alkali burns in the corneas, the CoNV area coverage in the CoNV-positive control group, 100 mg/kg EEDK group, and 200 mg/kg EEDK group was 43.3% ± 5.5%, 337.7% ± 2.5%, and 27.2% ± 4.3%, respectively. The areas of CoNV in the EEDK-treated groups were significantly different from those of the CoNV group. EEDK significantly attenuated the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) protein levels. Orally administrated D. kaki inhibited CoNV development in rats.

Choroidal Thickness in Eyes with Unilateral Ocular Ischemic Syndrome.

Aim. To analyze the subfoveal choroid thickness and choroidal volume in unilateral ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS). Methods. A retrospective review was conducted for all patients with unilateral OIS from October 2010 through June 2014. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT) and choroidal volume of both eyes were compared. Results. 19 unilateral OIS patients were included in this study. The mean SFChT of OIS eyes was significantly lower than that of fellow eyes (OIS eyes: 208.89 ± 82.62 µm and fellow eyes: 265.31 ± 82.77 µm, P < 0.001). The choroidal volume of OIS eyes was significantly smaller than that of fellow eyes (OIS eyes: 0.16 ± 0.05 mm(3) and fellow eyes: 0.21 ± 0.05 mm(3), P < 0.001). Conclusion. The choroidal thickness and volume of OIS eyes were smaller than those of unaffected fellow eyes. Decreased choroidal circulation caused by carotid artery stenosis might affect the discordance of choroidal thickness and choroidal volume.

Leaves of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Ameliorate N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-Induced Retinal Degeneration in Mice.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the protective effects of the ethanol extract of Diospyros kaki (EEDK) persimmon leaves to study N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration in mice. EEDK was orally administered after MNU injection. Retinal layer thicknesses were significantly increased in the EEDK-treated group compared with the MNU-treated group. The outer nuclear layer was preserved in the retinas of EEDK-treated mice. Moreover, EEDK treatment reduced the MNU-dependent up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nestin expression in Müller and astrocyte cells. EEDK treatment also inhibited MNU-dependent down-regulation of rhodopsin expression. Quercetin exposure significantly attenuated the negative effects of H2O2 in R28 cells, suggesting that quercetin can act in an antioxidative capacity. Thus, EEDK may be considered as an agent for treating or preventing degenerative retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.

The association between choroidal thickness variations and response to intravitreal bevacizumab in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To analyze differences in the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT) between bevacizumab responders (BevRs) and nonresponders (BevNRs) in patients with idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: The medical records of 30 unilateral chronic CSC patients who were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) as a first line treatment were reviewed. Patients were categorized as BevNRs when CSC did not completely resolve after a minimum of 3 IVB treatments. Enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography was used and SFChT was measured before and after treatment. Choroidal hyperpermeability was also evaluated using indocyanine angiography. RESULTS: Twenty and 10 eyes were classified as BevRs or BevNRs, respectively. The mean number of IVB treatments was 2.22 ± 0.89 in BevRs, and 4.80 ± 1.03 in BevNRs. Compared with BevNRs, BevRs demonstrated significantly greater pretreatment SFChT (441.25 ± 88.09 vs. 364.10 ± 61.97 µm); SFChT reduction following IVB was significantly greater in BevRs than BevNRs. SFChT in the unaffected eyes was also greater in BevRs than BevNRs. Choroidal hyperpermeability was detected less frequently in BevNRs (hypofluorescence on late-phase, 0.0% and 33.3% in BevNRs and BevRs, respectively; p= 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with CSC eyes that did not respond well to IVB, BevRs demonstrated significantly thicker SFChT at baseline, greater reduction in SFChT after IVB treatment, and hyperfluorescence on late-phase indocyanine green angiography. We recommend IVB injection as the first-line therapy for CSC eyes with relatively high SFChT and hyperfluorescence on late-phase indocyanine green angiography.