Won Seok Park

Hair growth-promoting effect of Aconiti Ciliare Tuber extract mediated by the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling

AIMS The activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in hair follicle morphogenesis by stimulating bulge stem cells. This study was to obtain the activator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway from natural products and to determine whether this activator can induce anagen hair growth in mice. MAIN METHODS To identify materials that activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, 800 natural product extracts were screened using pTOPFlash assay and neural progenitor cell (NPC) differentiation assay. A selected extract was further tested for its effects on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in human immortalized dermal papilla cell (iDPC) and the proliferation in iDPC and immortalized rat vibrissa DPC (RvDP). Finally, hair growth-promoting effects were evaluated in the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice. KEY FINDINGS Aconiti Ciliare Tuber (ACT) extract was one of the most active materials in both pTOPFlash and NPC differentiation assays. It promoted the differentiation of NPC cells even under proliferation-stimulating conditions (basic fibroblast growth factor: bFGF). It also increased ALP activity and proliferation of iDPC in dose-dependent manners, and it stimulated the induction of the anagen hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that ACT extract activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by enhancing β-catenin transcription and has the potential to promote the induction of hair growth via activation of the stem cell activity of the dermal papilla cells. SIGNIFICANCE This is the first report indicating benefits of ACT extract in hair loss prevention by triggering the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and induction of the anagen hair growth in mice.

Induction of transforming growth factor-beta 1 by androgen is mediated by reactive oxygen species in hair follicle dermal papilla cells

The progression of androgenetic alopecia is closely related to androgen-inducible transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 secretion by hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in bald scalp. Physiological levels of androgen exposure were reported to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In this study, rat vibrissae dermal papilla cells (DP-6) transfected with androgen receptor showed increased ROS production following androgen treatment. We confirmed that TGF-β1 secretion is increased by androgen treatment in DP-6, whereas androgeninducible TGF-β1 was significantly suppressed by the ROSscavenger, N-acetyl cysteine. Therefore, we suggest that induction of TGF-β1 by androgen is mediated by ROS in hair follicle DPCs. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(9): 460-464]

Investigation of the Degradation-Retarding Effect Caused by the Low Swelling Capacity of a Novel Hyaluronic Acid Filler Developed by Solid-Phase Crosslinking Technology

Background A variety of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers demonstrate unique physical characteristics, which affect the quality of the HA filler products. The critical factors that affect the degradation of HA gels have not yet been determined. Objective Our objective was to determine the characteristics of HA gels that affect their resistance to the degradation caused by radicals and enzymes. Methods Three types of HA fillers for repairing deep wrinkles, Juvederm Ultra Plus (J-U), Restylane Perlane (Perlane), and Cleviel, were tested in this study. The resistance of these HA fillers to enzymatic degradation was measured by carbazole and displacement assays using hyaluronidase as the enzyme. The resistance of these fillers to radical degradation was measured by the displacement assay using H2O2. Results Different tests for evaluating the degradation resistance of HA gels can yield different results. The filler most susceptible to enzymatic degradation was J-U, followed by Perlane and Cleviel. The HA filler showing the highest degree of degradation caused by H2O2 treatment was Perlane, followed by J-U, and then Cleviel. Cleviel showed higher enzymatic and radical resistances than J-U and Perlane did. Furthermore, it exhibited the highest resistance to heat and the lowest swelling ratio among all the fillers that were examined. Conclusion The main factor determining the degradation of HA particles is the gel swelling ratio, which is related to the particle structure of the gel. Our in vitro assays suggest that the decrease in the swelling ratio will lead to a retarding effect on the degradation of HA fillers.

A double-blind randomized controlled comparison of APDDR-0901, a novel cosmeceutical formulation, and 0.1% adapalene gel in the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris

Topical retinoids have been widely used in the treatment of acne. They comprise several products used as prescription drugs as well as cosmeceuticals. Of these products, retinol has better tolerability compared with prescription retinoids such as tretinoin, but it is only used in cosmeceuticals due to its low biologic activity. A combination formulation could be an effective alternative to address the problem of decreased therapeutic activity. Recently, hexamidine diisethionate is known to have antibacterial activity, and rose extract has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of the combination product APDDR-0901 (0.03% retinol, 0.7% rose extract, and 0.05% hexamidine diisethionate) vs 0.1% adapalene gel for the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne. This 12-week, multicenter, double-blinded study included 97 patients with mild-to-moderate acne. Efficacy was evaluated using 4 discrete variables: lesion count, acne grade, physician-assessed global improvement, and patient self-assessment. We also assessed safety profiles, including cutaneous irritation. Both APDDR-0901 and adapalene showed significant improvements without significant differences. Otherwise, the APDDR-0901 group showed better safety profiles, particularly in the first 2 weeks. In conclusion, APDDR-0901 could be an effective and safe alternative in the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne.

Hair cuticle differences between Asian and Caucasian females.

Hair cuticle differences between Asian and Caucasian females Little information is available on how scalp hair cuticles differ between Asians and Caucasians. 1–3 The aim of this study was to clarify precisely cuticle differences between these two groups. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we were able to measure total and single cuticle thicknesses, and the ratio of cuticle thickness to hair radius. Twenty Korean and eight Caucasian female volunteers, aged between 20 and 29 years, were enrolled after written informed consent had been obtained. The volunteers had no significant medical problems or histories related to hair diseases. Hair samples (three hairs per subject) were collected from the scalp at 1 cm above the occipital promontory. Hair surface conditions, cuticle surface densities, and transverse shapes were observed by SEM (Fig. 1). The total number and thicknesses of the cuticle layers were determined by TEM (Fig. 2). All parameters were compared using Student’s t -test in SPSS version 8.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P values of less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Transverse images by SEM showed that the Asian hair shaft was usually round in shape, whereas Caucasian hair had a more elliptical shape (Fig. 1A,C). Moreover, the mean hair diameter based on its major axis was significantly larger for Asians (91.07 ± 10.27 μ m) than for Caucasians (64.72 ± 10.09 μ m) ( P < 0.05). Interestingly, however, the ratio of the cuticle to the radius, calculated to evaluate the proportion of the mean hair diameter occupied by the total cuticle thickness, was similar for the two groups (Asian, 2.24 ± 0.31%; Caucasian, 2.15 ± 0.33%). The densities and morphologies of the surface cuticles tended to be more compact in Asians than in Caucasians (Fig. 1B,D). The number of cuticle cell layers per 100 μ m was found to be significantly greater in Asians (13.56 ± 0.81 vs. 11.56 ± 1.42) ( P < 0.05). The number of cuticle layers and thicknesses of the total cuticle layer and cuticle monolayer were obtained from TEM images (Fig. 2). The mean number of cuticle layers per transverse section was significantly greater for Asians (6.67 ± 0.53 vs. 4.56 ± 1.29) ( P < 0.05). The mean total cuticle layer thickness was also greater in Asians (3.77 ± 0.95 vs. 2.11 ± 0.61 μ m) ( P < 0.05). The thickness of the cuticle monolayer,

Bleaching phototrichogram: an improved method for hair growth assessment.

The phototrichogram (PT) is a non‐invasive tool for monitoring hair growth in vivo. However, the majority of PT techniques are of little use to clinicians bacause they are time‐consuming and/or difficult to perform. Consequently, there is a need for an easy and time‐saving PT technique. This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy and availability of a modified PT, bleaching phototrichogram (BPT), by comparing it with the conventional phototrichogram (CPT). Ten healthy male volunteers (age range 26–33 years) comprised the study subjects. Hairs were clipped from two adjacent circular areas in the occipital region of each subject. The clipped hairs in the first area were bleached and photographed two days later. The second area was photographed just after clipping and two days later. In each area, the following biological parameters of hair growth were analyzed; 1: hair density (number/cm2), 2: anagen hair ratio (%), 3: linear hair growth rate (mm/day), 4: non‐vellus hair ratio (%) and 5: anagen hair thickness (μm). The hair density, anagen hair ratio, linear hair growth rate, and anagen hair thickness by BPT were similar to the CPT values with no significant differences, although the non‐vellus hair ratio by BPT was higher than the CPT value. The BPT has a higher clinical usefulness than the CPT because it saves much time with satisfactory accuracy.

The efficacy, longevity, and safety of combined radiofrequency treatment and hyaluronic Acid filler for skin rejuvenation.

Background Recent advances in hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers and radiofrequency (RF) devices have been made in the context of skin rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery. Moreover, combination regimens with both techniques are currently being developed. Objective The present study was designed to examine the clinical and histologic effects of a new needle that incorporates an RF device for HA injections. Methods A new intradermal needle RF device (INNOfill; Pacific Pharma, Korea) was assessed in the present study. In the animal arm, procollagen production was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the filler volume was quantified by incorporating a dye with filler, and the filler distribution was assessed through the changes in tissue structure. In the human arm, the efficacy of the combination regimen was assessed by using the wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS). Results In the animal study, RF treatment increased procollagen production in a time-dependent fashion. The total volume was significantly increased with the RF treatment when compared with the filler injections alone, and lasted for up to 7 weeks after treatment. Additionally, the filler distribution was reduced in animals treated with RF when compared with the untreated group. In the human study, the nasolabial folds of subjects treated with RF before filler injections exhibited a significantly greater change in the WSRS score from baseline when compared with the nasolabial folds treated with filler injections alone. Conclusion A new device incorporating RF treatment before HA filler injection may represent a biocompatible and long-lasting advance in skin rejuvenation.

Facial paraffinoma treated with a bipolar radiofrequency device.

Paraffinoma is a granulomatous foreign body reaction that results from the injection of oily substances containing long-chain acyclic hydrocarbons. Paraffin or mineral oil injections are used for tissue augmentation, elimination of wrinkles, and treatment of male pattern baldness. Paraffinoma has a distinctive histopathological pattern that demonstrates the substitution of normal subcutaneous tissue by cystic spaces of different sizes. The most definitive treatment for paraffinoma is surgical excision but, in cases with severe adhesion, successful excision is very difficult. Radiofrequency represents the most recent skin-rejuvenation technique in the field of esthetic medicine and has allowed patients to reduce flaccidity, wrinkles, and skin aging by generating thermal effects at the treated site. We present a case of facial paraffinoma that was unresponsive to conservative treatment but successfully treated with radiofrequency therapy. After three treatment sessions, the lesions had almost cleared, and the patientwas satisfiedwith the results.

Efficacy and Safety of Pueraria lobata Extract in Gray Hair Prevention: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Background Graying of hair-a sign of aging-raises cosmetic concerns. Individuals with gray hair often look older than others their age; therefore, some dye their hair for aesthetic purposes. However, hair colorants can induce many problems including skin irritation, allergic reaction and hair-breakage. Objective This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed in order to examine the effects of APHG-1001, a compound including an extract from Pueraria lobata, on graying hair. Methods A total of 44 female subjects were randomly treated with either APHG-1001 or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. Using the phototrichogram analysis, a count of newly developed gray hair was estimated. Investigator assessment and subject self-assessment were also performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of the compound. Results The mean number of newly developed gray hair at 24 weeks was 6.3/cm2 in the APHG-1001 group and 11.4/cm2 in the placebo group; the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). However, the investigator assessment and subject self-assessment did not show any significant change in the gross appearance of hair grayness by the end of the study. No severe adverse events in either group were observed. Moreover, the incidence of adverse events did not differ between the groups. Conclusion This clinical trial revealed that APHG-1001, which contains an extract of P. lobata, could prevent the development of new gray hair without any remarkable adverse effects. Thus, it can be considered as a viable treatment option for the prevention of gray hair.

Non-invasive evaluation of hair interior morphology by X-ray microscope

Lots of trials have been performed to obtain better microscopic images of hair structure. Although scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provide detailed images of hair, artificial processing may modify the original images during sample preparation. To overcome this limitation, we applied newly‐developed X‐ray microscopy with an 80–100 nm spatial resolution to produce a detailed view of the morphological change of hair interior. This X‐ray microscopy permits us to penetrate a hair shaft without any artificial change and also provides precise images of hair interior with fine resolution. We evaluated the interior morphological change of Japanese standard hair tress No. 8 by various treatments such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, heating, hair dyeing, decolorizing bleaching agents and permanent waving. Internal morphological images were relatively similar in both heated and UV‐irradiated hair. They revealed coarsening of cuticles and dehydration of cortex and medulla. When compared with TEM, X‐ray microscopy provides more intact images in the cuticle and may be a useful tool in observing fine cracks of hair cortex. Additionally, X‐ray images were intact and not influenced by any processing procedures. In observing the external and internal structure of hair, its resolution seems to be somewhat lesser than TEM and there are also several remaining weaknesses to be improved. Hopefully, forthcoming technology will solve these problems in the near future.