This study was done to characterize the structural changes in the tretinoin pretreatment on trichloroacetic acid(TCA) chemical peel. In guinea pigs, the right halves pretreated with tretinoin and the left halves treated nothing were compared in their structural changes after TCA chemical peel. Epidermal thickness in the tretinoin pretreated group was almost the same in the first and second week. But epidermis of the TCA group increased continuously. In the first week, mitotic figures in the epidermis were more increased in the TCA group, but those in hair follicles were more increased in the tretinoin pretreated group. In the second week, mitotic figures in the epidermis were almost same in both group, but in hair follicles of the tretinoin pretreated group, mitotic figures were much more increased. In alcian blue staining, glycosaminoglycan was stained much more strongly in dermis of the TCA group in first week, but was more strongly stained in the tretinoin pretreated group in second week. On electron microscopic findings, the fibroblasts in upper dermis were larger and had plentier cytoplasm with more organelles in the tretinoin pretreated group. Conclusively, tretinoin pretreatment on TCA chemical peel sustained the effects of TCA longer and showed synergistic effects of TCA and induced enhanced wound healing.
Animal ; Epidermis/drug effects/pathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Skin/*drug effects/pathology ; Tretinoin/*pharmacology ; Trichloroacetic Acid/*pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a novel retinoid CD437 and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting the proliferation of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes.

METHODSMTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory effects of CD437 and ATRA on the growth of A431 cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes, and the cell morphological changes were observed microscopically. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effect of CD437 and ATRA on the cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSCD437 was more effective than ATRA in inhibiting the proliferation of A431 cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes. CD437 increased the percentage of sub-G1 populations in A431 cells and induced G1 arrest in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. ATRA appeared to be relatively ineffective for inducing apoptosis in A431 cells as compared to CD437. CD437 did not duce obvious apoptosis in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.

CONCLUSIONCD437 is more effective than ATRA in inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis in A431 cells and shows selective apoptosis-inducing effect against malignant keratinocytes, suggesting its potential in the prevention or treatment of cutaneous carcinoma.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Retinoids ; pharmacology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the possibility of removal melanin granules from autogenic acellular dermal matrix of giant nevus tissue by H2O2 bleaching technique.

METHODSA total of 32 skin specimens (0.5 cm x 0.5 cm) from giant nevus tissue and 1 piece (0.5 cm x 0.5 cm) of normal skin were obtained from the surgical removal. One giant nevus tissue was chosen as control. The others and the normal skin tissue were treated with solution of 0.25% Dispase II for digestion for 24 hours under normal temperature to remove epidermis. Then each piece was immerged into solution of 0.5% Triton X-100 for digestion for 48 hours in normal temperature. One giant nevus tissue and the normal skin tissue were chosen as control. The others were immerged into solution of different concentrations of H2O2, treated under different temperature and lasting for different period. Lastly, all specimens were treated with HE staining, immunohistochemical staining, light microscopy and so on.

RESULTSAfter giant nevus tissues were treated with solution of 0.25% Dispase II and immerged into solution of 0.5% Triton X-100 in normal temperature, nevus cells and all other cellular components of pigmented nevus tissues can be effectively removed, there were the cavities left by removal of cells without any residual cell debris, but still remaining part of pigment. Then each specimen were immerged into solution of different concentrations of H2O2, under different temperature and lasting for different period which can remove residual melanin granules. In solution of 3% H2O2 for 36 h under 37 degrees C, can remove all the melanin particles, the content of collagen type I in the obtained specimen was not changed. Collagen fibers were uniform in thickness, regular in arrangement with no obvious degeneration.

CONCLUSIONSWith solution of 0.25% Dispase II and solution of 0.5% Triton X-100 in normal temperature, all cells in nevus tissue can be removed effectively. Further treatment with 3% H2O2 at 37 degrees C for 36 h can remove all the melanin particles, while collagen type I has no obvious change. The preparation of acellular dermal matrix of the giant nevus may possibly be applied as autologous tissue implant to repair tissue defects.

Acellular Dermis ; Endopeptidases ; pharmacology ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Melanins ; Nevus ; pathology ; Nevus, Pigmented ; pathology ; Octoxynol ; pharmacology ; Skin Lightening Preparations ; pharmacology ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; Skin Pigmentation ; drug effects ; Skin Transplantation ; Surface-Active Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Badu Shengji San (BDSJS) and its decomposed recipes on morphological changes of injured skin in rats.

METHODSD rats with injured skin were treated with BDSJS and its different decomposed recipes for consecutively 14 days. Morphological changes in the injured skin were observed by H&E staining.

RESULTMercury and lead-containing ingredients significantly decreased epidermal thickness and caused vascular hemorrhage, hyperemia and inflammatory cell infiltration in reticular layer of dermis. The compatible herbs alleviated epidermal thickness and reduced dermal lesions.

CONCLUSIONBDSJS' mercury and lead-containing ingredients can accelerate the healing of skin wound and its compatible herbs can relieve the dermis injury induced by mercury and lead.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Epidermis ; drug effects ; injuries ; pathology ; Hemorrhage ; chemically induced ; Hyperemia ; chemically induced ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Mercury ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries ; pathology ; Skin Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of tazarotene against active psoriasis vulgaris.

METHODSA randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 43 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, who were divided into tazarotene and control groups. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) mRNA in active psoriatic lesions before and 14 days after tazarotene treatment was detected by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSPML mRNA expression was detected not only in the basal layer (86.96%), but also in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis in the manner of focal expression (78.26%). After tazarotene treatment, virtually no PML mRNA expression could be detected in the psoriatic lesions (8.69% in the basal layer and 4.35% in the suprabasal layers). PML mRNA expression in the control group underwent no obvious changes during the observation.

CONCLUSIONSTazarotene may inhibit abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes through down-regulating PML gene expression in active psoriatic epidermis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Epidermis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Keratolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Nicotinic Acids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of epicutaneous application of anticoagulant warfarin, by examining the presence of tissue injury and immune/inflammatory activity in exposed skin.

METHODSRats were exposed to warfarin by applying 10 μg of warfarin-sodium to 10-12 cm(2) skin (range 0.8-1 μg per 1 cm(2)) for 3 consecutive days. Tissue injury was evaluated by lipid peroxidation, histomorphological changes and signs of reparative activity in skin. T cell infiltration and selected aspects of epidermal cell activity were examined as indicators of immune/inflammatory skin response to warfarin application.

RESULTSRepeated warfarin application exerted no effect on skin metabolic viability, but resulted in tissue injury (increased malondialdehyde, MDA, production, evident histo-morphological changes in epidermis and dermis depicting cell injury and death). Increased numbers of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA(+)) cells indicated reparative processes in injured skin. Infiltration of CD3(+) cells (T lymphocytes) along with the increased production of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) by epidermal cells from warfarin-treated skin and their co-stimulatory effect in an in vitro T-cell activation assay demonstrated immunomodulatory effects of epicutaneous warfarin.

CONCLUSIONPresented data have documented tissue damage associated with immune/inflammatory activity in skin exposed to warfarin. Observed effects are relevant to immunotoxic potential of this anticoagulant in settings of external exposure.

Animals ; CD3 Complex ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dermatitis, Contact ; pathology ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rodenticides ; pharmacology ; Skin ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Warfarin ; pharmacology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vitis vinifera grape seed extract (VVE) contains oligomeric proanthocyanidins that show antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities. We evaluated VVE for its neuroprotective effect in prediabetic mice induce by a high-fat diet (HD). METHODS: Mice were divided into four groups according to VVE dose: those fed a normal diet (ND; n = 10), HD (n = 10), HD with 100 mg/kg VVE (n = 10), and HD with 250 mg/kg VVE (n = 10). After 12 weeks, immunohistochemical analyses were carried out using a polyclonal antibody against antiprotein gene product 9.5 (protein-gene-product, 9.5), and intraepidermal innervation was subsequently quantified as nerve fiber abundance per unit length of epidermis (intraepidermal nerve fiber, IENF/mm). RESULTS: Daily administration of VVE at doses of 100 or 250 mg/kg for 12 weeks protected HD mice from nerve fiber loss compared to untreated mice, as follows (IENF/mm): controls (40.95 +/- 5.40), HD (28.70 +/- 6.37), HD with 100 mg/kg (41.14 +/- 1.12), and HD with 250 mg/kg (48.98 +/- 7.01; p < 0.05, HD with VVE vs. HD). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides scientific support for the therapeutic potential of VVE in peripheral neuropathy in an HD mouse model. Our results suggest that VVE could play a role in the management of peripheral neuropathy, similar to other antioxidants known to be beneficial for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Animals ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Glucose/drug effects/metabolism ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Diabetic Neuropathies/blood/etiology/pathology/*prevention & control ; *Diet, High-Fat ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epidermis/*innervation ; Grape Seed Extract/*pharmacology ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neuroprotective Agents/*pharmacology ; Peripheral Nerves/*drug effects/pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; Prediabetic State/blood/*drug therapy/etiology ; Time Factors ; *Vitis