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Background. Hydrolysed collagen supplements are reported to fight the signs of aging and improve skin appearance, but more authoritative clinical evidence is needed to support efficacy. Aim. This randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study evaluated the efficacy of a supplement containing hydrolysed collagen and vitamin C (Absolute Collagen, AC) on biophysical parameters and visible signs of aging for skin, scalp, and hair, when taken daily or every 48 hours. Methods. We measured dermal collagen using confocal microscopy and high‐resolution ultrasound. Hydration, elasticity, wrinkles, and clinical trichoscopy were measured in parallel to expert visual grading. Efficacy measures were recorded at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Results. Following 12 weeks daily use of the AC supplement, using confocal microscopy, we observed a significant 44.6% decrease in fragmentation vs. placebo (p < 0.01). We also measured a change in the ultrasound LEP (low echogenic pixel) ratio comparing upper and lower dermis (−9.24 vs. −7.83, respectively, p = 0.05), suggesting collagen improvements occurred more in the upper dermal compartment. After 12 weeks vs. placebo, skin hydration was increased by 13.8% (p < 0.01), R2 elasticity index was increased by 22.7% (p<0.01), and Rz profilometry index was decreased by 19.6% (p < 0.01). Trichoscopy showed an average 11.0% improvement in scalp scaling and a 27.6% increase in the total number of hairs counted vs. placebo (p = n.s.). This was associated with a 31.9% increase in clinical grading score for hair healthy appearance (p < 0.01). Conclusion. The AC supplement has shown clinical benefits for skin, scalp, and hair, when used either daily or every 48 hours, over a 12‐week period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Podocarpus gracilis is an evergreen, dioecious tree found in Ethiopia and other African nations. It can reach a height of 60 meters. Without any scientific validation, ethnobotanical studies conducted in Ethiopia revealed that the Podocarpus gracilis plant's leaf is consumed orally to treat diabetes mellitus. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the in vivo blood glucose level lowering, lipid-lowering, and in vitro-free radical scavenging responses of Podocarpus gracilis leaf extract and fractions on experimental mice induced with diabetes. Methods. The in vitro antioxidant activity of PGC (Podocarpus gracilis) leaf extract was assessed by using a diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The oral glucose-loaded, normoglycemic, and streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic mouse models were employed. In the STZ-induced mice model, the leaf extract and solvent fractions activity on serum lipid and weight were also measured. The extract and fractions were tested at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg dosages. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical significance of BGL (blood glucose level) changes within and between groups, and Tukey's post hoc multiple comparisons were then performed. Results. In the acute toxicity study of Podocarpus gracilis leaf extract and fractions, there was no evidence of animal mortality at the maximum dose of 2 g/kg during the observation period. The extract-treated group with normoglycemia revealed a significant lowering in BGL at the 4-hour mark of 27.4% (p < 0.001) and 25.2% (p < 0.01) at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared to that in negative control. In the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) model, only 400 mg/kg treated groups at 120 min after exposure showed a BGL reduction of 31.17% which was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in comparison to the negative control. In the single-dose STZ-induced model, eighth-hour BGL measurements from CE 100, CE 200, CE 400, and GLC5 showed drops in BGL of 43.1%, 44.1%, 45%, and 47.3% from baseline fasting BGL values. In the repeated streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model, at all doses of leaf extract and fractions, the fasting BGL was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced. Moreover, the leaf extract and solvent fractions have shown a significant (p < 0.001) reduction of serum lipids such as LDL, TC, and VLDL, and at the same time, it increases HDL at 14 days with body weight gained. In the test for antioxidant activity, the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for leaf extract and the standard medication (ascorbic acid) were 8.2 μg/ml and 3.3 μg/ml, respectively. The IC50 value denotes the concentration of the sample required to scavenge 50% DPPH radicals. Conclusion. The 80% hydromethanolic leaf extract and fractions of Podocarpus gracilis exhibited blood glucose lowering, lipid-lowering activity in normoglycemic, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) mode, and STZ-induced diabetic mice with weight gains. There is scientific support for the alleged traditional use as an antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, and antioxidant activity. The results need to be confirmed by future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemia and its complications are severe risks to human health. Dietary intervention is considered an essential part of the management of hyperuricemia. Studies have reported that the intake of antioxidants has a positive effect on hyperuricemia. Here, we collected data from 8761 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for this analysis. Daily intakes of vitamins A, C, and E; manganese; selenium; and zinc were calculated as the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI). The participants were divided into four groups (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to the CDAI. Univariate analysis was used to assess the association of covariates with hyperuricemia. The association between the CDAI and hyperuricemia was evaluated using multinomial logistic regression, and its stability was determined by stratified analysis. Our results revealed that the CDAI has a significant negative association with hyperuricemia (Q2: 0.81 (0.69, 0.95); Q3: 0.75 (0.62, 0.90); Q4: 0.65 (0.51, 0.82); P < 0.01). The results of stratified analysis emphasize that this association between CDAI and hyperuricemia is stable. In conclusion, this study suggested a negative association between the CDAI and hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Vitamin C (Vc) has been found to promote corneal wound healing after alkali burns. However, the specific mechanism and functional modes are still unclear. The present study sought to assess the mechanisms of Vc function on corneal alkali burns. Methods. Eighty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: a normal group without alkali injury (n = 10), an alkali injury group without any treatment (1-day group, n = 10), a Vc group treated with topical 10% Vc (Vc group, n = 30), and a control group treated with topical sterile water (control group, n = 30). Except in the blank control group, the alkali injuries were induced in one eye of each mouse. The mice in the treatment group were given Vc by topical application (q 1 h for 6 days), while those in the control group were given topical sterile water. The clinical evaluations, including corneal fluorescent staining, corneal opacity, and neovascularization, were assessed on days 1, 4, 7, and 10 using slit-lamp microscopy. Ten mice at each time point were sacrificed. The protein expressions in the corneas of p63, PCNA, CK3, MPO, CD31, and α-SMA were detected by immunohistochemistry to examine the corneal epithelial stem cells, corneal epithelium wound healing, corneal stroma inflammation, neovascularization, and fibrosis. Results. The scores of the corneal epithelium defects, corneal neovascularization, and corneal opacities in the Vc group were significantly decreased compared to the control group on day 10. We found that Vc promoted the activation of the corneal epithelial stem cells as shown by a higher number of p63-positive and PCNA-positive cells and an increased CK3 expression when compared with the control group p < 0.001 . The central corneal re-epithelialization was completed by day 10. Moreover, Vc inhibited MPO, CD31, and α-SMA expressions. These results first indicated that the frequent use of topical Vc in the first 6 days of corneal alkali burns alleviated corneal inflammatory cell infiltration, activated corneal epithelial stem cell activity, and reduced corneal neovascularization and fibrosis within 10 days. Conclusions. The study, therefore, showed the therapeutic benefits of Vc on corneal alkali burns and provided new insight into the mechanisms of Vc regulation on corneal wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]