Topical Melatonin Exerts Immunomodulatory Effect and Improves Dermatitis Severity in a Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis.

Oral melatonin supplement has been shown to improve dermatitis severity in children with AD, but the mechanism of the effect is unclear, and it is uncertain whether melatonin has a direct immunomodulatory effect on the dermatitis. Topical melatonin treatment was applied to DNCB-stimulated Balb/c mice, and gross and pathological skin findings, serum IgE, and cytokine levels in superficial lymph nodes were analyzed. Secretion of chemokines and cell proliferative response after melatonin treatment in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells were also studied. We found that in DNCB-stimulated Balb/c mice, topical melatonin treatment improved gross dermatitis severity, reduced epidermal hyperplasia and lymphocyte infiltration in the skin, and decreased IP-10, CCL27, IL-4, and IL-17 levels in superficial skin-draining lymph nodes. Melatonin also reduced cytokine-induced secretion of AD-related chemokines IP-10 and MCP-1 and decreased IL-4-induced cell proliferation in HaCaT cells. Melatonin seems to have an immunomodulatory effect on AD, with IP-10 as a possible target, and topical melatonin treatment is a potentially useful treatment for patients with AD.

Ultradrawing novel ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers filled with bacterial cellulose nanofibers.

Novel ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/bacterial cellulose (BC) (F100BCy) and UHMWPE/modified bacterial cellulose (MBC) (F100MBCx-y) as-prepared fibers were prepared and ultra-drawn. The achievable draw ratio (Dra) values of each F100MBCx-y as-prepared fiber series specimens approached a maximum value as their MBC contents reached the optimal value at 0.0625phr. In which, the maximum Dra value obtained for F100MBCx-0.0625 as-prepared fiber specimen prepared at the optimal MBC content reached another maximum value at 347 as the weight ratio of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene to BC approach an optimal value at 10. In contrast, no significant improvement in Dra values was found for F100BCy as-prepared fiber specimens. To understand these interesting ultradrawing properties described above, Fourier transform infra-red, specific surface areas, and transmission electron microcopic analyses of original and modified BC nanofibers together with the thermal, orientation and tensile properties of F100BCy and F100MBCx-y fiber specimens were performed.