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The cleansing and moisturizing effects of different shower gel systems were compared. Six samples of body wash, including soap-based body wash 1, soap-based body wash 2, amino acid body wash 1, amino acid body wash 2, cream body wash 1 and cream body wash 2, were selected to carry out self-control clinical study on 30 healthy volunteers, using left and right arms for control. Special oil was applied to the selected area of forearm flexor. Sebumeter SM815 was used to detect skin oil content before and after oil application and after cleansing with the shower gels. The shower gels were applied on another area of forearm flexor. Corneometer CM825 and Tewameter TM300 were used to test the moisture content of stratum corneum and transepidermal water loss before and after cleansing. The changes in the skin oil content, the moisture content of stratum corneum and the transepidermal water loss were analyzed. The cleansing powers and moisturizing effects of six shower gels were compared. The results showed that, after cleansing with the six shower gels, the skin oil content was significantly decreased, while the moisture content of stratum corneum and the transepidermal water loss were changed in different degrees. The experimental results showed that the six shower gels had different effects on the moisture content of stratum corneum and the transepidermal water loss while providing cleansing power. Amino acid shower gels and cream shower gels were better than soap-based shower gels in moisturizing ability and were close to soap-based shower gels in cleansing ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of an eye cream containing polypeptides to reduce dark circles under eyes was studied. According to the relevant standards and methods, the internal control test (pH test), safety test and in vivo efficacy evaluation test were carried out to verify the performance of the eye cream in reducing dark circles. Thirty volunteers with obvious dark circles around their eyes were selected to use the eye cream for two months. The results show that the eye cream can pass the internal control index test and has no irritation to the eyes.The changes in skin moisture content of cuticle were analyzed, and the difference of ITA was measured by skin color probe. Visualized image analysis on the dark circles around the left and right eyes, as well as the subjective evaluation made by the volunteers, were operated. The conclusions are drawn that, the eye cream containing polypeptides has a good efficacy in reducing dark circles without any adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The signal to noise performance of grounded source amplifier and distributed amplifier optical receiver configurations has been theoretically investigated. This predicts that an improvement of signal to noise ratio up to 12.7 dB is achievable for the distributed amplifier configuration compared with the grounded source in a bandwidth of 40 GHz. Our preliminary experimental results support the theoretical analysis. An optical receiver with 3 dB bandwidth of 20 GHz was fabricated by embedding the p-i-n photodiode into a T-network at the gate line in the distributed amplifier and an average equivalent input noise of 20 pA/[Hz.sup.1/2] was achieved over a bandwidth of 2-18 GHz.

To investigate the attenuating effects of fermented Hylocereus undulatus peels (FHP) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells, and the mechanisms of attenuation, Hylocereus undulatus peels were fermented using Lactobacillus casei CICC20280. A methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium reduction assay was used to determine FHP cytotoxicity at different concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/mL). The following groups were included: a control group, an LPS-induced inflammation model group, and five groups treated with LPS and different concentrations of FHP. Nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) in cell culture supernatants were quantitated using various molecular analysis techniques, including Griess, DCFH-DA fluorescence, and ELISA assays. RT-PCR was used to detect expression of NF-κB pathway components (TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB) and pro-inflammatory factors. FHP at concentrations of ≤400 µg/mL is non-toxic to RAW264.7 cells. FHP significantly decreases (p<0.05) concentrations of pro-inflammatory factors including NO, ROS, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, by an average of 76.40%, and increases the concentration of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, by an average of 173.72%, in a dose-dependent manner, compared to the LPS-induced inflammation model group. Expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 were significantly down-regulated (p<0.01) by FHP. In summary, FHP displays readily detectable attenuating effects on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells, probably by inhibiting secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators and increasing levels of anti-inflammatory factors, via a mechanism possibly associated with an NF-κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on pain, anxiety like behavior, and substance P(SP) /neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) /β -arrestin 1(ARRB1) pathway related protein expression in hippocampus of chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of neuropathic pain., Methods: Twenty-seven male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and EA groups, with 9 rats in each group. The CCI model was established by ligature of the left sciatic nerve. On the 8 th day following modeling, EA (2 Hz, 0.5-1.5 mA) was applied to the left "Huantiao" (GB34) and "Yanglingquan" (GB34) for 30 min, once every other day for 13 times. Mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT), thermal paw withdrawal threshold (TWL) and difference of the weight distribution of the hind limbs were detected before operation and at the 5 th , 9 th , 17 th , 25 th and 33 rd days after operation. Open field test was used to evaluate the anxiety-like behavior of rats. The content of SP in hippocampus was determined by ELISA. The protein expression of NK1R and ARRB1 in hippocampus was detected by Western blot., Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the MWT and TWL of the left hind limb at the 5 th , 9 th , 17 th , 25 th and 33 rd days after operation, the time of entering the central area and the total distance of movement, and the content of SP in the hippocampus were significantly decreased ( P <0.001, P <0.01), while the difference of the weight distribution of the hind limbs at the 5 th , 9 th , 17 th , 25 th and 33 rd days after operation and the protein expression of NK1R and ARRB1 were significantly increased ( P <0.001, P <0.05) in the model group. After EA intervention, the MWT and TWL of the left hind limb, the time of entering the central area and the total moving distance, and the expression of SP in the hippocampus were significantly increased ( P <0.01, P <0.001, P <0.05), while the difference in the weight distribution of the hind limbs was significantly reduced, and the expression of NK1R and ARRB1 protein in the hippocampus were significantly decreased ( P <0.001, P <0.05) in the EA group., Conclusions: EA can effectively improve the pain and anxiety behaviors in CCI rats, and reverse the abnormal expression of SP, NK1R and ARRB1 proteins in the hippocampus, which may be related to its effects in regulating the SP/NK1R/ARRB1 pathway in the hippocampus.

Objective: To employ the classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway interference to explore the effects on the functional changes of eutopic endometrium stromal cells and the differences between endometriosis in a murine model., Methods: Two out of three mouse groups received an injection of either Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activator or blocker. Later the endometrial tissue samples were obtained to develop endometrial stromal cell cultures for the detection of cell invasion ability via Boyden chamber invasion assay and Western blot (WB). Then the methods of WB and Immunohistochemical staining (IHC) were used to examine the factors of eutopic endometrium. And an endometriosis model was established to investigate the factors of signaling pathway via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) and IHC., Results: According to WB test, the level of β-catenin, GSK-3β and APC in the activation group were significantly higher than in the inhibition group (P < 0.01). In Boyden chamber invasion assay, the number of cells on membranes in the trial group was significantly higher than the control group [(113 ± 12) vs (64 ± 13)]. The expressions of VEGF and MMP-9 in the endometrial stromal cells culture from Boyden chamber assay analyzed via WB were ranked from highest to lowest respectively as activation group (vs control group was 35.6% and 27.4% higher), control group and inhibition group (vs control group was 12.3% and 30.4% lower). Furthermore, the endometrial E-cadherin and VEGF examined via IHC respectively showed a positive expression in inhibitor group and strong positive expression in activation group. QPCR showed the level of Wnt3, Wnt7, GSK3β, Lef and E-cadherin in the activation group was higher than those in the inhibition group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The intervention of WNT signaling pathway in vivo cause the changes of eutopic endometrial invasion and adhesion function, and further affect the development of endometriosis. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may promote the eutopic endometrial cell proliferation and improve the ability of eutopic endometrial implantation, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis.

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety on the efficacy of HBeAg-positive chronic Hepatitis B patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil for 4 years., Methods: Ninety-five patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were treated with adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg per day orally. The patients were observed before and after treatment for their serum levels of ALT and HBV DNA, the new increasing rates of serum ALT normalization, HBV DNA clearances, HBeAg loss, HBeAg seroconversion and adverse drug events., Results: At 4 years on study, the rates of ALT normalization, HBV DNA clearances, HBeAg loss, HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA rebound were 89.5%, 63.2%, 47.4%, 41.1% and 8.0%, respectively. No drug related to renal function impairment was found during the treatment, eight patients had adverse drug events but all were mild., Conclusion: Adefovir dipivoxil could effectively inhibit HBV replication, normalize ALT and enhance transformation from HBeAg to HBeAb for cases with naive and treated-first patients. The efficacy were increased with prolongation of the treatment period. It is safe and has a good tolerance.