BACKGROUND: Hair follicles are easily accessible and contain stem cells with different developmental origins, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), that consequently reveal the potential of human hair follicle (hHF)-derived MSCs in repair and regeneration. However, the role of hHF-MSCs in Achilles tendinopathy (AT) remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects of hHF-MSCs on Achilles tendon repair in rabbits. METHODS: First, we extracted and characterized hHF-MSCs. Then, a rabbit tendinopathy model was constructed to analyze the ability of hHF-MSCs to promote repair in vivo . Anatomical observation and pathological and biomechanical analyses were performed to determine the effect of hHF-MSCs on AT, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemical staining were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms through which hHF-MSCs affects AT. Furthermore, statistical analyses were performed using independent sample t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and one-way repeated measures multivariate ANOVA as appropriate. RESULTS: Flow cytometry, a trilineage-induced differentiation test, confirmed that hHF-derived stem cells were derived from MSCs. The effect of hHF-MSCs on AT revealed that the Achilles tendon was anatomically healthy, as well as the maximum load carried by the Achilles tendon and hydroxyproline proteomic levels were increased. Moreover, collagen I and III were upregulated in rabbit AT treated with hHF-MSCs (compared with AT group; P  < 0.05). Analysis of the molecular mechanisms revealed that hHF-MSCs promoted collagen fiber regeneration, possibly through Tenascin-C (TNC) upregulation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 downregulation. CONCLUSIONS hHF-MSCs can be a treatment modality to promote AT repair in rabbits by upregulating collagen I and III. Further analysis revealed that treatment of AT using hHF-MSCs promoted the regeneration of collagen fiber, possibly because of upregulation of TNC and downregulation of MMP-9, thus suggesting that hHF-MSCs are more promising for AT.
Animals ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Hair Follicle ; Achilles Tendon/pathology* ; Tendinopathy/pathology* ; Proteomics ; Collagen Type I ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The antioxidant ebselen will be able to limit or prevent the ototoxicity arising from 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD). Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease is a disorder of lysosomal storage manifested in sphingolipidosis. Recently, it was noted that experimental use of HPβCD could partially resolve the symptoms in both animals and human patients. Despite its desirable effect, HPβCD can induce hearing loss, which is the only major side effect noted to date. Understanding of the pathophysiology of hearing impairment after administration of HPβCD and further development of preventive methods are essential to reduce the ototoxic side effect. The mechanisms of HPβCD-induced ototoxicity remain unknown, but the resulting pathology bears some resemblance to other ototoxic agents, which involves oxidative stress pathways. To indirectly determine the involvement of oxidative stress in HPβCD-induced ototoxicity, we tested the efficacy of an antioxidant reagent, ebselen, on the extent of inner ear side effects caused by HPβCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ebselen was applied prior to administration of HPβCD in mice. Auditory brainstem response thresholds and otopathology were assessed one week later. Bilateral effects of the drug treatments also were examined. RESULTS: HPβCD-alone resulted in bilateral, severe, and selective loss of outer hair cells from base to apex with an abrupt transition between lesions and intact areas. Ebselen co-treatment did not ameliorate HPβCD-induced hearing loss or alter the resulting histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: The results indirectly suggest that cochlear damage by HPβCD is unrelated to reactive oxygen species formation. However, further research into the mechanism(s) of HPβCD otopathology is necessary.
Animals ; Ear, Inner ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing ; Humans ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Pathology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sphingolipidoses ; Tight Junctions

BACKGROUND: Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) testing is a strong tool that enables objective determination of balance functions in humans. However, it remains unknown whether cVEMP correctly expresses vestibular disorder in mice. OBJECTIVE: In this study, correlations of cVEMP with scores for balance-related behavior tests including rotarod, beam, and air-righting reflex tests were determined in ICR mice with vestibular disorder induced by 3,3'-iminodipropiontrile (IDPN) as a mouse model of vestibular disorder. METHODS: Male ICR mice at 4 weeks of age were orally administered IDPN in saline (28 mmol/kg body weight) once. Rotarod, beam crossing, and air-righting reflex tests were performed before and 3-4 days after oral exposure one time to IDPN to determine balance functions. The saccule and utricles were labeled with fluorescein phalloidin. cVEMP measurements were performed for mice in the control and IDPN groups. Finally, the correlations between the scores of behavior tests and the amplitude or latency of cVEMP were determined with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Two-tailed Student's t test and Welch's t test were used to determine a significant difference between the two groups. A difference with p < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: After oral administration of IDPN at 28 mmol/kg, scores of the rotarod, beam, and air-righting reflex tests in the IDPN group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The numbers of hair cells in the saccule, utricle, and cupula were decreased in the IDPN group. cVEMP in the IDPN group was significantly decreased in amplitude and increased in latency compared to those in the control group. cVEMP amplitude had significant correlations with the numbers of hair cells as well as scores for all of the behavior tests in mice. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated impaired cVEMP and correlations of cVEMP with imbalance determined by behavior tests in a mouse model of vestibular disorder.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hair Cells, Vestibular ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitriles ; adverse effects ; Postural Balance ; drug effects ; physiology ; Saccule and Utricle ; pathology ; Sensation Disorders ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Diseases ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; drug effects ; physiology ; Vestibular Function Tests

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the hair growth-promoting effect of Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens (MSP) flower extracton on in vitro and in vivo models.

METHODSMSP flower extract was extracted in 99.9% methanol and applied to examine the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) in vitro at the dose of 3.92-62.50 μg/mL and hair growth of C57BL/6 mice in vivo at the dose of 1000 μg/mL. The expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), β-catenin, substance P was measured by relative quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed.

RESULTSMSP (7.81 μg/mL) down-regulated TGF-β1 and up-regulated HGF and β-catenin in hDPCs (P<0.01). MSP (1000 μg/mL)-treated mice showed the earlier transition of hair follicles from the telogen to the anagen phase. The number of mast cells was lower in the MSP-treated mice than in other groups (P<0.05 vs. NCS group). Substance P and TGF-β1 were expressed in hair follicles and skin of the MSP group lower than that in negative control. Stem cell factor in hair follicles was up-regulated in the MSP-treated mice (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe MSP flower extract may have hair growth-promotion activities.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Female ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Poaceae ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism ; Stem Cell Factor ; metabolism ; Stress, Psychological ; pathology ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Inner ear is composed of cochlea, vestibule, and endolymphatic sac which are enclosed by thin layer of epithelial cells. The enclosed space is filled with fluid named as endolymph where the [K⁺] is high and [Na⁺] is low. This unique ion composition is very important in maintaining normal hearing and balance function by providing K⁺ ions into sensory hair cells, which finally depolarize hair cells to facilitate the transport of sound and acceleration stimulation to central nervous system. The ion composition of inner ear is maintained by various ion transport through ion channels, transporters, and exchangers in the inner ear sensory and extra-sensory epithelium. The disruption of normal endolymphatic ion composition by the deterioration of the function of those ion channels can cause dysfunction of sensory epithelium, which consequently results in hearing and balance disorders. One of the possible pathology from the disruption of inner ear ion homeostasis is endolymphatic hydrops which is a phenomenon of excessive fluid accumulation of inner ear. The dysfunction of ion channels in inner ear epithelium can be an etiology of Ménière's disease since endolymphatic hydrops is a main pathological finding of the disease. In this review, we discussed about the possible pathological mechanism of Ménière's disease as a perspective of channelopathy as well as the role of various ion channels in the regulation of inner ear fluid volume based on the findings revealed by electrophysiological studies.
Acceleration ; Central Nervous System ; Channelopathies ; Cochlea ; Ear, Inner ; Electrophysiology ; Endolymph ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Endolymphatic Sac ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Hair ; Hearing ; Homeostasis ; Ion Channels ; Ion Transport ; Ions ; Meniere Disease ; Pathology

Adolescent ; Bezoars ; surgery ; Duodenum ; surgery ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Stomach ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Trichotillomania ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and influential factors for 308 nm excimer laser in the treatment of stable vitiligo patients.
 METHODS: A total of 207 stable vitiligo patients with 1 763 patches were treated with 308 nm excimer laser. Open-label study was carried out to investigate the efficacy and safety regarding the treatment with 308 nm excimer laser, and to compare the response under different conditions including gender, age, duration, lesion location, and hair color.
 RESULTS: After treatment, 560 (31.8%) patches achieved 100% repigmentation, 650 (36.9%) lesions showed 75%-99% repigmentation, 189(10.7%) showed 50%-75% repigmentation, 231(13.1%) showed 25%-49% repigmentation, 108(6.1%) showed 1%-24% repigmentation, 25(1.4%) displayed no response. The rates of total excellent response (50%-100% repigmentation) in underage patients was 86.9%, much higher than that in adult patients (P<0.001). Total excellent response rates was 90.6% in disease duration <2 years, and 40.7% in disease duration ≥2 years. Lesions on the faciocervical region responded better than trunk and limbs, showing 95.4%, 70.3%, and 41.7% total excellent response, respectively. Patients with poliosis showed 54.9% in total excellent response rate, much lower than 84.5% in patients without poliosis(P<0.001). No significant response differences in gender were found.
 CONCLUSION 308 nm excimer laser is effective and safe in treatment of vitiligo. Aging, disease duration, lesion location, and hair color in lesion may be the influential factors for 308 nm excimer laser in treatment of vitiligo patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Extremities ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Face ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Female ; Hair Color ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Skin Pigmentation ; radiation effects ; Torso ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitiligo ; therapy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the repairing effects of bone marrow transplantation with nerve tissue committed stem cell (NTCSCs) on experimental rats with injury of noise-induced hearing loss. METHOD: Guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group, noise exposure group and the transplanting group. A week after white noise exposure of 110 dB, NTCSCs and PBS were injected into guinea pigs of the noise exposure group and the transplanting group respectively. One week after noise exposure to four weeks continuous administration. ABR thresholds were measured respectively prior to the experiment, 1 week post-noise,1, 2 and 4 weeks post-drugs, The changes of cochlea hair cells were also observed by a scan electron microscope (SEM). RESULT: The ABR threshold shifts in the transplanting group were significantly fewer than that in the noise exposure group. SEM showed that hear hair of the inner and outer hair cells in noise exposure group displayed mess, fusion and imperfections. In the transplanting treatment group, the hair cells displayed slight pathological changes, there wasn't significant differents comparied with normal group. The number of OHCs were relatively stable in the normal group, while the obvious OHC loss was observed in other groups. There was significant difference among the three groups, however, the OHC loss in the transplanting group was no significantly different to that in the noise exposure (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The bone marrow NTCSCs which had been transplanted to rat cochlea could reduce the damage of the noise on the hair cell, and thus played a role in repairing the damage of auditory nerve.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cochlea ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; therapy ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of sildenafil on morphology to noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs. METHOD: Guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group, noise exposure group and the sildenafil treatment group, 12 in each group. a week after white noise exposure of 110 dB, sildenafil (10 mg/kg x d) and NS (4 ml/kg x d) were injected into guinea pigs of the sildenafil treatment group and noise exposure group respectively for four continuous weeks. ABR thresholds were measured respectively prior to the experiment, 1 week post-noise, 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-drugs, the changes of cochlea hair cells were also observed with a scan electron microscope (SEM) and light microscope. RESULT: The ABR threshold shifts in the sildenafil treatment group were significantly fewer than that in the noise exposure group. SEM showed that hear hair of the inner and outer hair cells in noise exposure group displayed mess, fusion and imperfections. In the sildenafil treatment group, the hair cells displayed slight pathological changes, there wasn't significant differents comparied with normal group. The number of OHCs were relatively stable in the normal group, while the obvious OHC loss was observed in other groups. There was significant difference among the three groups, however, the OHC loss in the sildenafil treatment group was not significantly different to that in the noise exposure (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Sildenafil can significantly protect against noise-induced hearing loss.
Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; drug therapy ; Noise ; Sildenafil Citrate ; therapeutic use

A 6 years old boy came to our department with a complaint of a growing goitre behind and below the right ear that started 4 years ago. Clinical features: there was a 2.0 cm x 1.5 cm nontender goitre behind and below the right ear, protruding from the skin with clear boundary. The temperature and color of the skin covered the goitre were normal. B-mode ultrasound features: there was a mass under the skin with the size of 2.0 cm x 0.8 cm showing strong echo. The borders of the mass were unclear, and no signal of blood flow was detected. Pathology diagnosis: pilomatricoma.
Child ; Face ; Goiter ; Hair Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pilomatrixoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology