By protecting against cutaneous inflammation, epidermal pigmentation provided an additional advantage for ancestral humans.

Pigmentation evolved in ancestral humans to protect against toxic, ultraviolet B irradiation, but the question remains: "what is being protected?" Because humans with dark pigmentation display a suite of superior epidermal functions in comparison with their more lightly pigmented counterparts, we hypothesized and provided evidence that dark pigmentation evolved in Africa to support cutaneous function. Because our prior clinical studies also showed that a restoration of a competent barrier dampens cutaneous inflammation, we hypothesized that resistance to inflammation could have provided pigmented hominins with yet another, important evolutionary benefit. We addressed this issue here in two closely related strains of hairless mice, endowed with either moderate (Skh2/J) or absent (Skh1) pigmentation. In these models, we showed that (a) pigmented mice display a markedly reduced propensity to develop inflammation after challenges with either a topical irritant or allergen in comparison with their nonpigmented counterparts; (b) visible and histologic evidence of inflammation was paralleled by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-1α and INFα); (c) because depigmentation of Skh2/J mouse skin enhanced both visible inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels after comparable pro-inflammatory challenges, the reduced propensity to develop inflammation was directly linked to the presence of pigmentation; and (d) furthermore, in accordance with our prior work showing that pigment production endows benefits by reducing the surface pH of skin, acidification of albino (Skh1) mouse skin also protected against inflammation, and equalized cytokine levels to those found in pigmented skin. In summary, pigmentation yields a reduced propensity to develop inflammation, consistent with our hypothesis that dark pigmentation evolved in ancestral humans to provide a suite of barrier-linked benefits that now include resistance to inflammation

Taiwanese Dermatological Association consensus for the management of atopic dermatitis

AbstractBackground/ObjectiveThis report describes the 2014 consensus of the Taiwanese Dermatological Association (TDA) regarding the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). The TDA consensus is distributed to practices throughout Taiwan to provide recommendations for therapeutic approaches for AD patients to improve their quality of life.MethodsThe information in the consensus was agreed upon by a panel of national experts at TDA AD consensus meetings held on March 16, May 4, and June 29, 2014. The consensus was in part based on the 2013 Asia–Pacific AD guidelines and the guidelines of the American Academy of Dermatology, with modification to reflect the clinical practice in Taiwan.ResultsThe amendments were drafted after scientific discussions focused on the quality of evidence, risk, and benefits; all the consensus contents were voted on by the participating dermatologists, with approval by at least 75% for inclusion.ConclusionThe consensus provides a comprehensive overview of treatment for AD, with some local and cultural considerations for practitioners in Taiwan, especially the use of wet dressings/wraps, systemic immunomodulatory agents, and complementary therapies

Bactericidal Effects of Toluidine Blue-Mediated Photodynamic Action on Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative, highly invasive bacterium responsible for human opportunistic infections. We studied the antibacterial effects of toluidine blue O (TBO)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) for V. vulnificus wound infections in mice. Fifty-three percent (10 of 19) of mice treated with 100 μg of TBO per ml and exposed to broad-spectrum red light (150 J/cm(2) at 80 mW/cm(2)) survived, even though systemic septicemia had been established with a bacterial inoculum 100 times the 50% lethal dose. In vitro, the bacteria were killed after exposure to a lower light dose (100 J/cm(2) at 80 mW/cm(2)) in the presence of low-dose TBO (0.1 μg/ml). PDT severely damaged the cell wall and reduced cell motility and virulence. Cell-killing effects were dependent on the TBO concentration and light doses and were mediated partly through the reactive oxygen species generated during the photodynamic reaction. Our study has demonstrated that PDT can cure mice with otherwise fatal V. vulnificus wound infections. These promising results suggest the potential of this regimen as a possible alternative to antibiotics in future clinical applications

A Solanum incanum extract (SR-T100) regresses vulvar condyloma acuminatum and induces distinct autophagic and apoptotic responses in different types of HPV-infected cells

Abstract Background The Solanum species have been used for the treatment of warts, tumor and cancer in folk medicine. The S. incanum extract is an important traditional Chinese medicine in Taiwan since 1973. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Solanum incanum (synonym: Solanum undatum) extract (SR-T100), a water-soluble product primarily composed of alkaloid solamargine, for the treatment of human condyloma and to study the possible underlying anti-condyloma mechanisms. Methods We conducted a pilot study to test the effectiveness and side effects of SR-T100 gel (2.3% solamargine in Solanum incanum plant extract) for the treatment of external genital warts. We produced different types of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7-infected cells by lentiviral technology and studied the differences in apoptosis and autophagy between these cells under the treatment of SR-T100. Results Nineteen (73%) of 26 patients using the SR-T100 gel exhibited a response, and 16 (61.5%) patients achieved total clearance. Only one patient showed severe (grade 3-4) skin-related side effects. SR-T100 induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in HPV-infected cells. Cells expressing the high-risk HPV E6/E7 type were resistant to SR-T100-induced apoptosis. SR-T100 induced a greater autophagic response in HPV 16, 18-E6/E7 cells than in HPV 6b, 11-E6/E7 cells. Autophagy inhibition enhanced SR-T100-induced apoptosis in HPV 16, 18-E6/E7 cells, whereas apoptosis inhibition enhanced SR-T100-induced autophagy in HPV 6b, 11-E6/E7 cells. Conclusions SR-T100 is effective for the treatment of human vulva condyloma, with few side effects. Compared with those with high-risk HPVs, cells with low-risk HPVs were more sensitive to SR-T100 treatment. Autophagy played a protective role in SR-T100-induced apoptosis in HPV-infected cells. Trial registration NCT01676792 ; Registered: August 29, 2012 (retrospectively registered)

Detection and distribution of endogenous steroids in human stratum corneum

Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the presence and distribution of endogenous steroids in human stratum corneum (SC) with respect to sex, age, anatomical site, and depth into SC, using a noninvasive sampling technique and a sensitive analytic method for quantitation. Materials and methods: Corneocytes in the SC samples removed by sequential tape stripping from the forearm, forehead, and back sites were processed and analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of hydrocortisone, cortisone, and testosterone. Results: In the 32 volunteers surveyed, testosterone was only detected at the forearm site in a single volunteer. Both hydrocortisone and cortisone were detected in 5–7 individuals out of 16 from both the age 20–35 years and age 50–65 years groups. Maximal amounts of hydrocortisone and cortisone found in SC of forehead, forearm, and back were 0.37 ng/cm2, 0.96 ng/cm2, and 0.49 ng/cm2; and 0.20 ng/cm2, 0.12 ng/cm2, and 0.06 ng/cm2, respectively, and were either higher than or comparable to those reported in human hair in terms of concentration by SC weight. In the population with either hydrocortisone or cortisone detected, no significant differences relating to sex, age groups, and anatomical sites were observed for the amount of hydrocortisone and cortisone in the SC. However, significantly higher amount of cortisone was found in the surface layers of SC than deeper layers in the age 50–65 years group. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that, with the achievable sensitivity of current analytical technology, physiological concentrations of endogenous steroids, such as hydrocortisone and cortisone, can be found in the SC of some individuals

By protecting against cutaneous inflammation, epidermal pigmentation provided an additional advantage for ancestral humans.

Pigmentation evolved in ancestral humans to protect against toxic, ultraviolet B irradiation, but the question remains: "what is being protected?" Because humans with dark pigmentation display a suite of superior epidermal functions in comparison with their more lightly pigmented counterparts, we hypothesized and provided evidence that dark pigmentation evolved in Africa to support cutaneous function. Because our prior clinical studies also showed that a restoration of a competent barrier dampens cutaneous inflammation, we hypothesized that resistance to inflammation could have provided pigmented hominins with yet another, important evolutionary benefit. We addressed this issue here in two closely related strains of hairless mice, endowed with either moderate (Skh2/J) or absent (Skh1) pigmentation. In these models, we showed that (a) pigmented mice display a markedly reduced propensity to develop inflammation after challenges with either a topical irritant or allergen in comparison with their nonpigmented counterparts; (b) visible and histologic evidence of inflammation was paralleled by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-1α and INFα); (c) because depigmentation of Skh2/J mouse skin enhanced both visible inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels after comparable pro-inflammatory challenges, the reduced propensity to develop inflammation was directly linked to the presence of pigmentation; and (d) furthermore, in accordance with our prior work showing that pigment production endows benefits by reducing the surface pH of skin, acidification of albino (Skh1) mouse skin also protected against inflammation, and equalized cytokine levels to those found in pigmented skin. In summary, pigmentation yields a reduced propensity to develop inflammation, consistent with our hypothesis that dark pigmentation evolved in ancestral humans to provide a suite of barrier-linked benefits that now include resistance to inflammation

Additional file 1: of A Solanum incanum extract (SR-T100) regresses vulvar condyloma acuminatum and induces distinct autophagic and apoptotic responses in different types of HPV-infected cells

Table S1. Protocol and treatment flow chart. Table S2. Primers sequences for polymerase chain reactions. Figure S1. HPLC Fingerprint of SR-T100. Figure S2. Apoptosis inhibition by Z-VAD-FMK significantly recovered cell viability in cells infected with low-risk type HPVs. (DOCX 285 kb