A Clinical Study on Anti-wrinkle Efficacy of a Cosmetics Containing Oligoarginine Conjugation of Palmitoyl-GHK peptide for Skin Penetrating

In this study, Arg 4 (R4) was conjugated with Pal-GHK to get palmitoyl heptapeptide, Pal-GHK‐R4 and wrinkle improvement clinical trials of cosmetics containing Pal-GHK‐R4 were conducted. As a result of total 21 subjects used the test products 4 weeks use on the face area; 1) measurement results of crow’s feet after 2 and 4 weeks of test products use, analysis value of crow’s feet statistically significantly decreased after 2 and 4 weeks of test products use compared to before use of products (p<0.05); 2) measurement results of skin moisturization after 2 and 4 weeks test products use, measured value of skin moisture content statistically significantly increased after 2 and 4 weeks use compared to before use of products (p<0.05); 3) measurement results of TEWL after 2 and 4 weeks use, measured value of TEWL statistically significantly decreased after 2 and 4 weeks use compared to before use of product(p<0.05); 4) there was no skin adverse event reported after using the products during the study period. Therefore, the test products containing both wrinkle improving and skin penetrating peptides, Pal-GHK‐R4 are considered to have beneficial effects on improvement of skin wrinkle, moisturization, transepidermal water loss(TEWL) after 2 and 4 weeks use of test product

Structural dynamics and divergence of the polygalacturonase gene family in land plants

A distinct feature of eukaryotic genomes is the presence of gene families. The polygalacturonase (PG) (EC3.2.1.15) gene family is one of the largest gene families in plants. PG is a pectin-digesting enzyme with a glycoside hydrolase 28 domain. It is involved in numerous plant developmental processes. The evolutionary processes accounting for the functional divergence and the specialized functions of PGs in land plants are unclear. Here, phylogenetic and gene structure analysis of PG genes in algae and land plants revealed that land plant PG genes resulted from differential intron gain and loss, with the latter event predominating. PG genes in land plants contained 15 homologous intron blocks and 13 novel intron blocks. Intron position and phase were not conserved between PGs of algae and land plants but conserved among PG genes of land plants from moss to vascular plants, indicating that the current introns in the PGs in land plants appeared after the split between unicellular algae and multicelluar land plants. These findings demonstrate that the functional divergence and differentiation of PGs in land plants is attributable to intronic loss. Moreover, they underscore the importance of intron gain and loss in genomic adaptation to selective pressure

Retrieval of NO2 Column Amounts from Ground-Based Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor Measurements

Total column amounts of NO2 (TCN) were estimated from ground-based hyperspectral imaging sensor (HIS) measurements in a polluted urban area (Seoul, Korea) by applying the radiance ratio fitting method with five wavelength pairs from 400 to 460 nm. We quantified the uncertainty of the retrieved TCN based on several factors. The estimated TCN uncertainty was up to 0.09 Dobson unit (DU), equivalent to 2.687 ?? 1020 molecules m???2) given a 1?? error for the observation geometries, including the solar zenith angle, viewing zenith angle, and relative azimuth angle. About 0.1 DU (6.8%) was estimated for an aerosol optical depth (AOD) uncertainty of 0.01. In addition, the uncertainty due to the NO2 vertical profile was 14% to 22%. Compared with the co-located Pandora spectrophotometer measurements, the HIS captured the temporal variation of the TCN during the intensive observation period. The correlation between the TCN from the HIS and Pandora also showed good agreement, with a slight positive bias (bias: 0.6 DU, root mean square error: 0.7 DU)

Antimicrobial, Antioxidative, Elastase and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Effect of Supercritical and Hydrothermal Halopteris scoparia Extract

To find out a good candidate of cosmetic source and screened for antimicrobial, antioxidant and whitening activities. In the antioxidant experiment, supercritical Halopteris scoparia extraction (SHE) and hydrothermal Halopteris scoparia extraction (HHE) were slightly different depending on the experimental method (Total polyphenol content measurement, DPPH radical scavenging ability, ABTS radical scavenging ability, and SOD-like activity) and in the enzyme experiment (Elastase, Tyrosinase inhibition activity), the supercritical extract was more effective. In supercritical fluid, Halopteris scoparia extracts showed good antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli but hydrothermal extract had no effect about the rest of the strains. Therefore, it can be expected that the supercritical Halopteris scoparia extract with excellent antibacterial activity can be used as a cosmetic material

Transdermal Penetrating Peptide Conjugated Liposomes as Drug Delivery Carrier Comprising Macromolecules

: The aim of the study was to investigate a system using liposomes and cell penetrating peptides (CPP) for optimal transdermal delivery of macromolecules. Typical DOPE liposomes were prepared with lipid mixture (DOPE:PC:Chol = 1.5:1.5:2.0, molar ratio) and active materials (Rhodamine B; MW ~480 and Dextran-RITC; MW ~10,000).  CPP-conjugated DOPE liposomescontaining active materials were prepared by conjugating the peptide to DOPE liposomes (DOPE:PC:Chol:DSPE-PEG-Mal = 1.5:1.1:2.0:0.2 or 0.4, molar ratio). Physical properties of both liposomes were evaluated, including particle size and zeta potential. The particle sizes of typical liposome and CPP-DOPE liposome were approximately 100 nm, and the zeta potential values of both liposomes were approximately -25mV and over +11mV respectively. Moreover, cellular uptake efficiency was assessed by flow cytometry (FACS). CPP-conjugated liposomes resulted higher cellular uptake efficiency compared to typical DOPE liposomes, showing higher fluorescent intensity in CPP-DOPE liposomes. In confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) studies, both cellular uptake and skin permeation were visually estimated. In the case of Rhodamine B, having a relatively small molecular weight,absorption into the cell was successful, and showed the highest rate of cellular uptake with CPP-DOPE liposomes. Dextran-RITC, a macromolecule with a relatively bigger molecular weight, showed similar results to Rhodamine B. In terms of skin permeation, CPP-DOPE liposomes containing Rhodamine B showed noticeable skin absorption after 4 and 18 hours, and the permeation range was wider and thicker than that with typical liposomes. For Dextran-RITC, with typical DOPE liposome, it was hardly permeable through the skin, but with CPP-DOPE liposomes, on the other hand, the skin permeations after 4 and 18 hours were remarkable. The improved cellular uptake and skin permeation of the CPP-conjugated liposomes are due to the cationic arginine-rich peptide. In vivo studies also proved that the CPP-conjugated liposomes are superior in depigmentation and anti-wrinkle studies than typical liposomes. These results demonstrate that the CPP-conjugated liposomes could also be effective for transdermal drug delivery of antioxidant and anti-aging therapeutics

Meteorological characteristics and assessment of the effect of local emissions during high PM10 concentration in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

In this study, we investigate the meteorological characteristics and the effect of local emissions during high PM10 concentrations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) by utilizing data from a high-resolution urban meteorological observation system network (UMS-Seoul) and The Air Pollution Model (TAPM). For a detailed analysis, days with PM10 concentrations higher than 80 ??g m-3 for daily average PM10 concentration (classified as unhealthy by the Korean Ministry of Environment) in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) were classified into 3 Cases. Case I was defined as when the prevailing effect was from outside the SMA. Case II was defined as when the prevailing effect was a local effect with outside. Case III was defined as when the prevailing effect was local. Overall, high PM10 concentrations in the SMA mostly occurred under weak migratory anticyclone systems over the Korean Peninsula during warm temperatures. Prior to the PM10 concentration reaching the peak concentration, the pattern in each case was distinctive. After peak concentrations, however, the pattern for the 3 cases became less distinct. This study showed that nearly 50% of the high PM10 concentrations in the SMA occurred in spring and were governed by the conditions for Case II more than these for Cases I and III. In spring, the main sources of the high PM10 concentrations in the SMA were local emissions due to the predominance of weak winds and local circulation. The simulation showed that the non-SMA emissions were about 63 to 73% contribution to the spring high PM10 concentrations in the SMA. Specifically, local point sources including industrial combustion, electric utility, incineration and cement production facilities scattered around the SMA and could account for PM10 concentrations more than 10 ??g m-3 in the SMA

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for upper ureter stones

We evaluated the role of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (RPLU) for upper ureter stones. Between February 1998 and July 2004, 12 patients (10 men and 2 women) underwent RPLU for upper ureter stones (mean size 18.1 mm, range 10-25). RPLU was carried out in 5 patients as a salvage treatment after failed shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) (3) and both of failed SWL and ureteroscopy (URS) (2), and in 7 patients as primary treatment for large impacted stones. Total 6 of 12 cases were converted to open surgery. The reason of open conversion was failure of locating ureter due to severe adhesion in 5 cases and vascular injury in 1 case. In 6 successful cases, mean operation time, mean estimated blood loss, and mean postoperative hospital stay were respectively 109 min (90-120 min), 50 mL (10-100 mL), 4.6 days (2-7 days). There was no serious postoperative complication except for one patient who showed delayed urinary leakage but was cured with conservative management. Our experience suggested that RPLU was not easy to perform simply because it was indicated mainly in ureter stones with severe adhesion or after failed SWL and/or URS. Nevertheless, it can be considered as a primary procedure before open ureterolithotomy

Intravascular Papillary Endothelial Hyperplasia (Masson's Hemangioma) of the Liver: A New Hepatic Lesion

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (Masson's hemangioma) is a disease characterized by exuberant endothelial proliferation within the lumen of medium-sized veins. In 1923, Masson regarded this disease as a neoplasm inducing endothelial proliferation, however, now it is considered to be a reactive vascular proliferation following traumatic vascular stasis. The lesion has a propensity to occur in the head, neck, fingers, and trunk. Occurrence within the abdominal cavity is known to be very rare, and especially in the liver, there has been no reported case up to date. The authors have experienced intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the liver in a 69-yr-old woman, and report the case with a review of the literature