In Vivo Determination of Moisturizers Efficacy on Human Skin Hydration by Confocal Raman Spectroscopy.

This research work deals with in vivo testing of the efficacy of commercial moisturizer products on the hydration of human skin, as there are various in vitro and ex vivo studies questioning their activity. Confocal Raman spectroscopy was used for this purpose of assessing the efficacy of moisturizers on skin hydration mainly owing to its simple, non-invasive, non-destructive, timesaving, and cost-effective nature. Water content and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) of stratum corneum were analyzed and compared using this method at high wavenumber (2500-4000 cm-1) and fingerprint (400-1800 cm-1) spectral regions, respectively, as these two parameters are correlated to skin hydration. Four commercial moisturizer products of different brands were tested on volar forearm region of healthy human female volunteers. This study was conducted for a period of 30 days with 0, 7, and 30 days as time points of analysis. The results of this study clearly indicate that not all the moisturizer products hydrate the skin to the expected levels, and this extent of skin hydration varies with duration of application of these products.

Effect of smoking cessation in saliva compounds by FTIR spectroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is currently considered one of the biggest risk factors for the development of various diseases and early death. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a valuable tool for analysis of biofluids such as saliva and is considered useful for diagnostic purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on saliva composition by FTIR spectroscopy. METHODS: We analyzed the saliva of participants in two groups: a smoker group made up of 10 chronic smokers and a former smoker group made up of 10 individuals who had stopped smoking. Members of both groups had similar smoking history. RESULTS: The results showed few differences in spectral intensity between the groups; however, spectral peaks were slightly increased in the group of smokers in the bands for DNA, indicating modification of its content or cell necrosis. They were also increased for the mannose-6-phosphatase molecule, which is expressed in prostate and breast carcinomas. In the former smoker group, the peak of thyociante was decreased and the band referring to collagen increased in intensity, which indicates a better tissue regeneration capacity. CONCLUSION: Considering these results and the fact that tobacco intake was similar between the groups, it can be concluded that there was recovery of tissue regeneration capacity with smoking cessation during the study period, although the effects found in smokers persisted in the bodies of those who had given up smoking.

Optical diagnosis of actinic cheilitis by infrared spectroscopy.

Actinic cheilitis (AC) is considered a potentially malignant disorder of the lip. Biomolecular markers study is important to understand malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma. Fourier transform infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to analyze AC in this study. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate if FT-IR spectral regions of nucleic acids and collagen can help in early diagnosis of malignant transformation. METHODS: Tissues biopsies of 14 patients diagnosed with AC and 14 normal tissues were obtained. FT-IR spectra were measured at five different points resulting in 70 spectra of each. Analysis of Principal components analysis (PCA) and linear discrimination analysis (LDA) model were also used. In order to verify the statistical difference in the spectra, Mann-Whitney U test was performed in each variable (wavenumber) with p-value <0.05. RESULTS: After the Mann-Whitney U test the vibrational modes of CO (Collagen 1), PO2 (Nucleic Acids) and CO asymmetric (Triglycerides/Lipids) were observed as a possible spectral biomarker. These bands were chosen because they represent the vibrational modes related to collagen and DNA, which are supposed to be changed in AC samples. Based on the PCA-LDA results, the predictive model corresponding to the area under the curve was 0.91 for the fingerprint region and 0.83 for the high wavenumber region, showing the greater accuracy of the test. CONCLUSIONS: FT-IR changes in collagen and nucleic acids could be used as molecular biomarkers for malignant transformation.

Photobiological effect of low-level laser irradiation in bovine embryo production system.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on bovine oocyte and granulosa cells metabolism during in vitro maturation (IVM) and further embryo development. Cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) were subjected (experimental group) or not (control group) to irradiation with LLLI in a 633-nm wavelength and 1 J/cm2 fluency. The COCs were evaluated after 30 min, 8, 16, and 24 h of IVM. Cumulus cells were evaluated for cell cycle status, mitochondrial activity, and viability (flow cytometry). Oocytes were assessed for meiotic progression status (nuclear staining), cell cycle genes content [real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)], and signal transduction status (western blot). The COCs were also in vitro fertilized, and the cleavage and blastocyst rates were assessed. Comparisons among groups were statistically performed with 5% significance level. For cumulus cells, a significant increase in mitochondrial membrane potential and the number of cells progressing through the cycle could be observed. Significant increases on cyclin B and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK4) levels were also observed. Concerning the oocytes, a significantly higher amount of total mitogen-activated protein kinase was found after 8 h of irradiation, followed by a decrease in all cell cycle genes transcripts, exception made for the CDK4. However, no differences were observed in meiotic progression or embryo production. In conclusion, LLLI is an efficient tool to modulate the granulosa cells and oocyte metabolism.

Photodamage in a mitochondrial membrane model modulated by the topology of cationic and anionic meso-tetrakis porphyrin free bases.

The photodynamic effects of the cationic TMPyP (meso-tetrakis [N-methyl-4-pyridyl]porphyrin) and the anionic TPPS4 (meso-tetrakis[4-sulfonatophenyl]porphyrin) against PC/CL phosphatidylcholine/cardiolipin (85/15%) membranes were probed to address the influence of phorphyrin binding on lipid damage. Electronic absorption spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements demonstrated that only TMPyP binds to PC/CL large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). The photodamage after irradiation with visible light was analyzed by dosages of lipid peroxides (LOOH) and thiobarbituric reactive substance and by a contrast phase image of the giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Damage to LUVs and GUVs promoted by TMPyP and TPPS4 were qualitatively and quantitatively different. The cationic porphyrin promoted damage more extensive and faster. The increase in LOOH was higher in the presence of D2O, and was impaired by sodium azide and sorbic acid. The effect of D2O was higher for TPPS4 as the photosensitizer. The use of DCFH demonstrated that liposomes prevent the photobleaching of TMPyP. The results are consistent with a more stable TMPyP that generates long-lived singlet oxygen preferentially partitioned in the bilayer. Conversely, TPPS4 generates singlet oxygen in the bulk whose lifetime is increased in D2O. Therefore, the affinity of the porphyrin to the membrane modulates the rate, type and degree of lipid damage.

Low-level laser therapy on MCF-7 cells: a micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is an emerging therapeutic approach for several clinical conditions. The clinical effects induced by LLLT presumably scale from photobiostimulation/photobioinhibition at the cellular level to the molecular level. The detailed mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown. This study quantifies some relevant aspects of LLLT related to molecular and cellular variations. Malignant breast cells (MCF-7) were exposed to spatially filtered light from a He-Ne laser (633 nm) with fluences of 5, 28.8, and 1000 mJ/cm². The cell viability was evaluated by optical microscopy using the Trypan Blue viability test. The micro-Fourier transform infrared technique was employed to obtain the vibrational spectra of each experimental group (control and irradiated) and identify the relevant biochemical alterations that occurred due to the process. It was observed that the red light influenced the RNA, phosphate, and serine/threonine/tyrosine bands. We found that light can influence cell metabolism depending on the laser fluence. For 5 mJ/cm², MCF-7 cells suffer bioinhibition with decreased metabolic rates. In contrast, for the 1 J/cm² laser fluence, cells present biostimulation accompanied by a metabolic rate elevation. Surprisingly, at the intermediate fluence, 28.8 mJ/cm², the metabolic rate is increased despite the absence of proliferative results. The data were interpreted within the retrograde signaling pathway mechanism activated with light irradiation.