Fermentation of Blackberry with L. plantarum JBMI F5 Enhance the Protection Effect on UVB-Mediated Photoaging in Human Foreskin Fibroblast and Hairless Mice through Regulation of MAPK/NF-κB Signaling

Chronic and extensive exposure of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation causes human skin sunburn, inflammation, or photoaging, which is associated with downregulated collagen synthesis. This study investigated the effects of fermented blackberry (Rubus fruticosus B., FBB) by Lactobacillus plantarum JBMI F5 (LP) on UVB-induced photoaging in human foreskin fibroblast (Hs68) as well as in SKH-1 hairless mice. FBB pretreatment inhibited UVB-mediated type-1 procollagen degradation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-2 protein expression, and suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in Hs68. In addition, FBB administration diminished the wrinkle formation in dorsal skin and epidermal thickening in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. Moreover, UVB-induced Type-1 procollagen reduction and antioxidant enzyme inactivation were reversed by FBB administration. These results suggest that FBB may have antiphotoaging effects on UVB-induced wrinkle formation by maintaining the extracellular matrix density in the dermis, which occurs via regulation of reactive oxygen species and related MAPK and NF-κB signaling. Therefore, FBB can be a potential candidate for protecting skin aging against UV irradiation

The potential of mouse skin-derived precursors to differentiate into mesenchymal and neural lineages and their application to osteogenic induction in vivo

Although previous studies indicate that skin-derived precursors (SKPs) are multipotent dermal precursors that share similarities with neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), a shared ability for multilineage differentiation toward neural crest lineages between SKPs and NCSCs has not been fully demonstrated. Here, we report the derivation of SKPs from adult mouse skin and their directed multilineage differentiation toward neural crest lineages. Under controlled in vitro conditions, mouse SKPs were propagated and directed toward peripheral nervous system lineages such as peripheral neurons and Schwann cells, and mesenchymal lineages, such as osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, and smooth muscle cells. To ask if SKPs could generate these same lineages in vivo, a mixture of SKP-derived mesenchymal stem cells and hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate was transplanted into the rat calvarial defects. Over the ensuing 4 weeks, we observed formation of osteogenic structure in the calvarial defect without any evidence of teratomas. These findings demonstrate the multi potency of adult mouse SKPs to differentiate into neural crest lineages. In addition, SKP-derived mesenchymal stem cells represent an accessible, potentially autologous source of precursor cells for tissue-engineered bone repair.This work was supported by Mid-career Researcher Program through NRF grant funded by the MEST(2010-0014662), NRF grant funded by the MEST through the Bone Metabolism Research Center (2011-0001023), and Korea Research Foundation (313-2007-2-E00494).

Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Probiotic Mixture on Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Growing evidence has indicated that supplementation with probiotics improves lipid metabolism. We aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of a probiotics mixture (PM) of three strains belonging to the species Bifidobacterium (B. longum, B. lactis, and B. breve) and two strains belonging to the species Lactobacillus (L. reuteri and L. plantarum) on cholesterol-lowering efficacy in hypercholesterolemic rats. A hypercholesterolemic rat model was established by feeding a high-cholesterol diet for eight weeks. To test the effects of PM on hypercholesterolemia, hypercholesterolemic rats were assigned to four groups, which were treated daily with low (1.65 × 109 cfu/kg), medium (5.5 × 109 cfu/kg), or high (1.65 × 1010 cfu/kg) doses of probiotic mixture or simvastatin for eight weeks. Significant reductions of serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, but increases of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were observed after supplementation of PM in hypercholesterolemic rats. In PM-supplemented hypercholesterolemic rats, hepatic tissue contents of TC and TG also significantly decreased. Notably, the histological evaluation of liver tissues demonstrated that PM dramatically decreased lipid accumulation. For their underlying mechanisms, we demonstrated that PM reduced expressions of cholesterol synthesis-related proteins such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the liver. Taken together, these findings suggest that PM has beneficial effects against hypercholesterolemia. Accordingly, our PM might be utilized as a novel therapeutic agent for the management of hypercholesterolemia

Indications for a second prostate biopsy in patients suspected with prostate cancer after an initial negative prostate biopsy

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the indications for a second prostate biopsy in patients suspected with prostate cancer after an initial negative prostate biopsy. Methods: The present study included 421 patients who underwent repeat prostate biopsy between January 2007 and December 2015 at three hospitals. Clinicopathological data, including patient age, body mass index, history of prostate biopsy, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA density, PSA velocity, and PSA fluctuation patterns, were analyzed. The patients were stratified into two groups based on the first PSA pattern (increase/decrease) within 1 year after the initial negative prostate biopsy. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 100 (23.8%) of the 421 patients at the second prostate biopsy. In patients with a PSA decrease at the first follow-up, prostate volume and number of increases in the PSA level from the initial prostate biopsy were predictors for prostate cancer diagnosis at the second prostate biopsy. In patients with a steady PSA increase after the initial prostate biopsy, prostate volume and number of biopsy cores were predictors for prostate cancer diagnosis at the second prostate biopsy. Conclusion: The indications for a second prostate biopsy are a low prostate volume and a high number of increases in the PSA level among patients with a PSA decrease at the first follow-up and a low prostate volume and a high number of biopsy cores among patients with a PSA increase at the first follow-up

Comparison of Everolimus- and Sirolimus-Eluting Stents in Patients With Long Coronary Artery Lesions A Randomized LONG-DES-III (Percutaneous Treatment of LONG Native Coronary Lesions With Drug-Eluting Stent-III) Trial

ObjectivesThis study compared everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) for long coronary lesions.BackgroundOutcomes remain relatively unfavorable for stent-based coronary intervention of lesions with long diseased segments.MethodsThis randomized, multicenter, prospective trial compared the use of long EES with SES in 450 patients with long (≥25 mm) native coronary lesions. The primary endpoint of the trial was in-segment late luminal loss at 9-month angiographic follow-up.ResultsThe EES and SES groups had similar baseline characteristics. Lesion length was 34.0 ± 15.4 mm in the EES group and 34.3 ± 13.5 mm in the SES group (p = 0.85). Nine-month angiographic follow-up was performed in 80% of the EES group and 81% of the SES group (p = 0.69). In-segment late loss as the primary study endpoint was significantly larger in the EES group than in the SES group (0.17 ± 0.41 mm vs. 0.09 ± 0.30 mm, p for noninferiority = 0.96, p for superiority = 0.04). The in-segment binary restenosis rate was also higher in the EES group than in the SES group (7.3% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.046). However, in-stent late loss (0.22 ± 0.43 mm vs. 0.18 ± 0.28 mm, p = 0.29) and in-stent binary restenosis rate (3.9% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.53) were similar among the 2 groups. The incidence of any clinical outcomes (death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target lesion revascularization, and composite outcomes) was not statistically different between the 2 groups.ConclusionsFor patients with long native coronary artery disease, EES implantation was associated with greater angiographic in-segment late loss and higher rates of in-segment restenosis compared with SES implantation. However, clinical outcomes were both excellent and not statistically different. (Percutaneous Treatment of LONG Native Coronary Lesions With Drug-Eluting Stent-III [LONG-DES-III]; NCT01078038