Based on this pilot study, the face-lifting effect of intradermal injection with BTA was not conclusive. Interestingly, BTA showed moderate but significant wrinkles-soothing effect without obvious side effects on the lower face.

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The culture environment plays an important role for stem cells’ cultivation. Static or dynamic culture preserve differential potentials to affect human mesenchymal stem cells’ (hMSCs) proliferation and differentiation. In this study, hMSCs were seeded on fiber disks and cultured in a bidirectional-flow bioreactor or spinner-flask bioreactor with a supplement of osteogenic medium. The hMSCs’ proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and extracellular matrix deposition of mineralization were demonstrated. The results showed that the spinner flask improved cell viability at the first two weeks while the bidirectional-flow reactor increased the cell proliferation of hMSCs through the four-week culture period. Despite the flow reactor having a higher cell number, a lower lactose/glucose ratio was noted, revealing that the bidirectional-flow bioreactor provides better oxygen accessibility to the cultured cells/disk construct. The changes of calcium ions in the medium, the depositions of Ca2+ in the cells/disk constructs, and alkaline phosphate/osteocalcin activities showed the static culture of hMSCs caused cells to mineralize faster than the other two bioreactors but without cell proliferation. Otherwise, cells were distributed uniformly with abundant extracellular matrix productions using the flow reactor. This reveals that the static and dynamic cultivations regulated the osteogenic process differently in hMSCs. The bidirectional-flow bioreactor can be used in the mass production and cultivation of hMSCs for applications in bone regenerative medicine.

In this study, QUE, but not the structurally related chemical, rutin, enhanced the cytotoxicity of arsenic trioxide (As(+3)) against the viability of normal human HaCaT keratinocytes via induction of apoptosis. QUE enhancement of As(+3)-mediated apoptosis was accompanied by increased intracellular peroxide production according to a DCFH-DA analysis, and DNA ladders induced by QUE/As(+3) were inhibited by adding the antioxidative compound, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). A loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential by QUE/As(+3) was observed according to DiOC(6) staining in concert with increased Bax protein and cytosolic cytochrome (Cyt) c protein expression in HaCaT cells, which was prevented by the addition of NAC. A decrease in the p53 protein with increased protein ubiquitination was detected in QUE/As(+3)-treated HaCaT cells, and this was prevented by the addition of NAC. The decrease in the p53 protein by QUE/As(+3) was reversed by adding the proteasome inhibitor, MG132. L-Buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) enhanced the cytotoxicity of As(+3) against the viability of HaCaT cells with reduced p53 protein through inducing protein ubiquitination and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and disrupting the mitochondrial membrane potential in HaCaT cells. Additionally, QUE and BSO enhanced the cytotoxic effects of monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(+3)) but not other arsenic compounds in accordance with increased p53 protein ubiquitination in HaCaT cells. QUE plus As(+3) stimulation of apoptosis in human HaCaT keratinocytes via activating ROS-dependent p53 protein ubiquitination may offer a rationale for the use of QUE to improve the clinical efficacy of arsenics in treating psoriasis.

SummaryBackground and objectivesThis study aimed to compare the efficacy of vitiligo treatments with and without ablation therapy.Patients and methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of literature published before September 15, 2017. Comparative studies of vitiligo patients treated with and without ablation therapy were included. The primary outcome was ≥ 50 % repigmentation. Secondary outcomes were ≥ 75 % repigmentation and patient scores on a subjective visual analogue scale.ResultsFifteen studies with a total of 401 participants were included. The ablation‐based combination therapy group had significantly superior results to the control group (odds ratio [OR] for ≥ 50 % repigmentation: 10.490, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 4.632–23.757; OR for ≥ 75 % repigmentation: 5.812, 95 % CI: 2.194–15.393). Patients receiving ablation‐based combination therapy were significantly more satisfied with the efficacy than the control group (standardized mean difference: 1.073, 95 % CI: 0.528–1.619). Subgroup analysis showed that the erbium laser group, CO2 laser group and fractional CO2 laser group achieved significantly better repigmentation than the control groups.ConclusionsAccording to objective and subjective evaluations, treatments for vitiligo are more effective when combined with ablation therapy than when used alone.

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Kimura's disease (KD) is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology. It usually presents as soft-tissue masses predominantly in the head or neck region. We report a case of an asymptomatic tumour on the left earlobe mimicking a keloid. The tumour was histopathologically diagnosed as KD. This case suggests the importance of conducting skin biopsies of keloidal lesions on head and neck regions, particularly in patients who have peripheral eosinophilia and increased IgE levels.