Microinjury-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Surge Stimulates Hair Regeneration in Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α released after follicular injury such as that caused by plucking plays a role in the activation of hair regeneration. Microneedle (MN) treatment is applied to the scalp to increase permeability and facilitate the delivery of any number of compounds. Because the MN treatment causes injury to the epidermis, albeit minor, we reasoned that this treatment would lead to a temporary TNF-α surge and thereby promote hair regeneration. METHODS: To investigate the effects of MN-treatment-induced microinjury and TNF-α on hair growth, we used C57BL/6N mice which were divided into six experimental groups: three groups of 1) negative control (NC), 2) plucking positive control (PK), and 3) MN therapy system (MTS) mice; and three groups identical to above were treated with a TNF-α blocker for 3 weeks: 4) NCB, 5) PKB, and 6) MTSB group. RESULTS: After injury, TNF-α surge occurred on day 3 in the PK group and on day 6 in the MTS group. Wnt proteins and VEGF expression were markedly increased in the PK group on day 3 and on day 6 in the MTS group compared to the NC group. Following wound healing, only MTS and PK groups displayed thickened epidermis and longer HF length. Within the 2 weeks following treatment, the rate of hair growth was much slower in the injured mice treated with the TNF-α blocker. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that microinjury stimulates the wound-healing mechanism via TNF-α/Wnt/VEGF surge to induce hair growth, and that blocking TNF-α inhibits this growth process.

Enhanced Phonon Antibunching in a Circuit Quantum Acoustodynamical System Containing Two Surface Acoustic Wave Resonators.

We propose a scheme to implement the phonon antibunching and phonon blockade in a circuit quantum acoustodynamical system containing two surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators coupled to a superconducting qubit. In the cases of driving only one SAW resonator and two SAW resonators, we investigate the phonon statistics by numerically calculating the second-order correlation function. It is found that, when only one SAW cavity is resonantly driven, the phonon antibunching effect can be achieved even when the qubit-phonon coupling strength is smaller than the decay rates of acoustic cavities. This result physically originates from the quantum interference between super-Poissonian statistics and Poissonian statistics of phonons. In particular, when the two SAW resonators are simultaneously driven under the mechanical resonant condition, the phonon antibunching effect can be significantly enhanced, which ultimately allows for the generation of a phonon blockade. Moreover, the obtained phonon blockade can be optimized by regulating the intensity ratio of the two SAW driving fields. In addition, we also discuss in detail the effect of system parameters on the phonon statistics. Our work provides an alternative way for manipulating and controlling the nonclassical effects of SAW phonons. It may inspire the engineering of new SAW-based phonon devices and extend their applications in quantum information processing.

Antiobesity and Antidiabetic Effects of Portulaca oleracea Powder Intake in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6 Mice.

This study investigated the hypothesis that Portulaca oleracea L. exerts antiobesity and antidiabetic effects by evaluating blood lipid profiles, blood glucose control factors, protein expression of lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity improvement. Three groups of high-fat diet (HFD) induced obese C57BL/6 mice (n = 8) received treatment with low (5%; HFD + PO5%) or high (10%; HFD + PO10%) concentrations of P. oleracea powder for 12 weeks or no treatment (HFD) and were compared with each other and a fourth control group. Weight gain was reduced by 34% in the HFD + PO10% group compared to the HFD group. Moreover, the perirenal and epididymal fat contents in the HFD + PO10% group were 6.3-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively, lower than those in the HFD group. The atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factor (CRF) results in the P. oleracea-treated groups were significantly lower than those in the HFD group. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels was lower in the HFD + PO10% group than in the HFD group. The protein expression levels of the proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 and PPAR-γ were upregulated in the HFD + PO10% group compared to the HFD group. However, the protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were lower in the P. oleracea-treated groups than in the HFD group. Our results demonstrate that P. oleracea powder could be effectively used to treat and prevent obesity and diabetes-associated diseases through suppression of weight gain and reduction in body fat and blood glucose levels.

Hair Growth Promotion Effect of Nelumbinis Semen Extract with High Antioxidant Activity.

This study investigated the hair regeneration promotion and hair loss prevention properties of Nelumbinis Semen (NS) extract in vitro and in vivo. The effect of NS on the proliferation and migration of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) was measured in vitro via CCK-8 and scratch migration assays, after which the antioxidant activity of NS was also quantified. NS extracts were then applied to the back of 7-week-old C57BL/6 mice for 3 weeks to monitor hair growth patterns and hair follicle (HF) histology. The mice were divided into three groups: negative control group (NC; DMSO), positive control group (PC; 3% minoxidil), and experimental group (NS extract 1,000 ppm). Moreover, to study the molecular mechanisms by which NS extract regenerates hair growth, real-time PCR was used to analyze factors related to the hair growth cycle. The NS extracts were found to possess high antioxidant properties due to their high flavonoid contents and electron-donating ability. Moreover, NS extracts enhanced hDPC proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner (15.63-125 ppm). The hair growth index and growth area of the NS group (2.81 score, 81%) on day 14 were higher than those of the PC group (2.65 score, 68%) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the HFs of the NS group were located deep in the subcutis, similar to the PC group with developed hair roots. Moreover, the mRNA expression of VEGF and IGF-1 was higher in the NS group compared to the PC group, whereas TGF-ß1 expression was lower (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that NS modulates hair growth by increasing IGF-1 and VEGF expression while inhibiting that of TGF-ß1. Therefore, our findings suggest that NS extract is a promising new hair loss treatment derived from a natural substance that helps promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.

Trends in Beverage Consumption and Related Demographic Factors and Obesity among Korean Children and Adolescents.

It is well known that reducing consumption of sugar is a global public health priority. Beverages were the primary source of total sugar intake from processed foods. However, there are few studies investigating the trend of beverage consumption among children and adolescents in Korea. We examined the overall trend in beverage consumption among 11,996 participants aged 10-18 years who were enrolled in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (1998-2018). Further, we examined the effect of beverage types on beverage consumption-related demographic factors and obesity among 6121 participants using the recent 24 h dietary recall data (2010-2018) that captured the consumption of fruit and vegetable juices, soft drinks, milk and milk-based products and alcoholic beverages. Demographic characteristics, including sex, age, body mass index, household income level and residential area, were considered. Consumers' overall beverage intake and the percentage of energy derived from fruit and vegetable juices and soft drinks steadily increased from 1998 to 2016-2018 (p-trend < 0.0001); in contrast, dairy product consumption declined since 2010-2012. The main sources of beverage-based calories were fruit and vegetable juices (107.5 kcal/day), soft drinks (145.2 kcal/day), dairy products (181.8 kcal/day) and alcoholic beverages (103.5 kcal/day). Also, Korean adolescents aged 16-18 years consumed more soft drinks, fewer dairy products and higher alcoholic drinks than other age groups; particularly, boys consumed more energy from beverages (p < 0.0001). The odds ratios of obesity prevalence tended to be higher for soft drink consumption than for other beverages but this was not significant. The consumption of fruit and vegetable juices and milk and milk products showed a marginal association with a reduced risk of obesity prevalence. Since beverage consumption has increased steadily among Korean children and adolescents, appropriate interventions are needed. In the future, data from a larger sample of Korean children and adolescents are necessary to identify significant differences and longitudinal studies are necessary to examine the causalities.

Hair growth potential of Salvia plebeia extract and its associated mechanisms.

Context: Although Salvia plebeia (SP) R. Brown (Labiatae) is known to possess various biological activities, the effects of SP on hair growth have not been elucidated.Objective: To investigate the hair growth potential of SP extract by using human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and C57BL/6 mice.Materials and methods: The entire SP plant sample was ground into powder and extracted with 99.9% methyl alcohol. Various concentrations of SP extract were added to hDPCs to evaluate the proliferation, migration, and factors related to hair growth and cycling. Effect of topical SP administration on hair regrowth was tested in vivo in male C57BL/6 mice for 21 days.Results: SP extract significantly increased the proliferation of cultured hDPCs at doses of 15.6 and 31.3 µg/mL compared to control group by 123% and 132%, respectively. Expression of hepatocyte growth factor increased while the level of TGF-ß1 and SMAD2/3 decreased when treated with SP extract. At the molecular level, the extract activated Wnt/ß-catenin signalling by raising ß-catenin and phospho-GSK3ß expression. SP extract also exerted anti-apoptotic and proliferative effects in hDPCs by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and activating cell proliferation-related proteins, ERK and Akt. Finally, the extract caused an induction of the anagen phase leading to significantly enhanced hair growth in treated male mice.Discussion and conclusion: Our results indicate that SP extract has the capacity to activate hDPCs into a proliferative state to promote hair growth. Further research is necessary to determine the bioactive components and their mechanisms of action responsible for SP-related hair growth effect.

A comparison of two commercially available porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modified-live virus vaccines analyzing the growth performance in 1-day-old vaccinated swine located on endemic farms co-circulating PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-1 and PRRSV-2 modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines when administered at 1 day of age under field conditions. The piglets elicited anti-PRRSV antibodies at 1 day of age even in the presence of maternally derived antibodies. The number of PRRSV-2 genomic copies in the sera of pigs from the PRRSV-2 MLV-vaccinated pigs was significantly (P<0.05) lower when compared to PRRSV-1 MLV-vaccinated pigs. The average daily gain in PRRSV-2 MLV-vaccinated pigs was significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared to both PRRSV-1 MLV-vaccinated and unvaccinated pigs. This study demonstrated that vaccination as early as 1 day of age was effective against PRRSV infection.

[Anthocyanidin inhibits immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic response in mast cells].

This study is to investigate the anti-allergic effect of anthocyanidin and to explore its possible mechanism. The experiments of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction (PCA) and colorimetry were used to determine the effect of anthocyanidin on degranulation of mast cells in vivo. For in vitro study, various concentrations of anthocyanidin (100, 50 and 25 micromol x L(-1)) were added to the culture medium of mast cells cultured with 100 microg x L(-1) of dinitrophenyl (DNP) specific IgE overnight. The azelastine (100 micromol x L(-1)) was selected as the positive control. The antigen (DNP-human serum albumin, DNP-HAS)-induced release of degranulation was measured by enzymatic assay, histamine was determined by EIA, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by Western blotting, separately. In addition, the effects of anthocyanidin on phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt were observed by Western blotting. The results showed that treatments with anthocyanidin (100 and 50 mg x kg(-1)) were followed by a decrease in PCA of rats. Anthocyanidin (100 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) obviously suppressed the degranulation from mast cells, whereas results from anthocyanidin (100 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) group indicated significant inhibitory effect on histamine, the calcium uptake, TNF-alpha, IL-6, phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt of mast cells induced by antigen. Anthocyanidin may suppress the anaphylactic reaction by inhibiting the action of mast cells. NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt at least in part contribute to this event.

Storage of spin squeezing in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate.

A simple scheme for storage of spin squeezing in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate is investigated by considering rapidly turning-off the external field at a time that maximal spin squeezing occurs. We show that strong reduction of spin fluctuation can be maintained in a nearly fixed direction. We explain the underlying physics using the phase model and present analytical expressions of the maximal-squeezing time and the corresponding squeezing parameter.