Abstract: To document the prevalence and characteristics of the use of sun-protective items by Japanese pedestrians during the midday hours of summer weekends.
Abstract: The defined, serum-free media used in the cultivation of skin equivalents are liable to inter-laboratory variations, require the preparation of multiple additives, and are potentially difficult to replicate. In this study, we assessed the use of standardized, serum-free and bovine pituitary extract-free keratinocyte culture media in the development of a human skin equivalent. After culture at the air-liquid interface for 3 weeks on a fibroblast-populated collagen lattice, an orthokeratinized, pluristratified epithelium was produced which expressed cytokeratins, cornified cell envelope precursors (involucrin, transglutaminase 1, filaggrin) and desmosomal components (desmoglein and desmocollin 1 and 3, plakophilin 1) in a differentiation-specific manner. There was also evidence of basement membrane reconstitution with collagen IV/VII, laminin 5, α6 and β4 integrin subunit expression at the epithelial-matrix junction. Overall, our findings demonstrate that readily available, defined organotypic culture media can be used to generate a reproducible skin equivalent with hallmarks of epidermal differentiation.
Abstract: Notch1 receptor, a member of the Notch signaling pathway, is involved in the terminal differentiation process of epidermal keratinocytes. Human umbilical cord epithelia are continuous with embryonic and fetal epidermis during development, display cellular stratification and express differentiation markers related to the epidermis. As such, we hypothesized that Notch1 may be present in human umbilical cord epithelial cells (HUCEC).
Abstract: Pseudocyst of the auricle is a relatively uncommon condition in which serous fluid accumulates between intracartilaginous space of the ear and manifests as a painless, fluctuant outer ear swelling. Pseudocysts of the auricle have been reported in healthy individuals without clear precipitating or causative factors, with little information on this entity in patients with atopic dermatitis. Here, we describe a case of recurrent pseudocysts of the auricle in a young adult with active facial and ear atopic dermatitis. We also present a specific review of the literature on this condition in patients with atopic dermatitis and discuss a possible association between the two conditions.
Abstract: Besides their microbicidal functions, human beta-defensins (hBD) and LL-37 activate different immune and inflammatory cells, and their expression is enhanced in inflamed skin and cutaneous wound sites. To protect against pathogens, the skin produces antimicrobial peptides including hBDs and LL-37. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether hBDs participate in cutaneous inflammation and wound healing by inducing keratinocyte migration, proliferation, and production of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines. We found that hBD-2, -3, and -4 but not hBD-1 stimulated human keratinocytes to increase their gene expression and protein production of IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha, and RANTES. This stimulatory effect was markedly suppressed by pertussis toxin and U-73122, inhibitors for G protein and phospholipase C, respectively. We also demonstrated that hBDs elicited intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, and increased keratinocyte migration, and proliferation. In addition, these peptides induced phosphorylation of EGFR, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1, and STAT3, which are intracellular signaling molecules involved in keratinocyte migration and proliferation. In our study, inhibition of these molecules significantly reduced hBD-mediated keratinocyte migration and proliferation. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that human antimicrobial peptides may be involved in skin immunity through stimulating cytokine/chemokine production, and participate in wound healing by promoting keratinocyte migration and proliferation.
Abstract: In Japan, emergency departments (ED) receive a large proportion of elderly patients each year. As such, injuries in the elderly are a common reason for presentation to the ED. Knowledge about the characteristics of injuries presenting to the ED would be invaluable in devising strategies to prevent injury in the elderly.
