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Introduction: Air pollution causes skin damage and favors skin aging processes such as dark spots and wrinkles, through oxidative stress. Pollutant substances accelerate skin aging through a specific activation of intracellular receptors called AhR (aryl-hydrocarbon receptors). Deschampsia antartica aqueous extract (DAE) has shown to counteract the pollutant-induced AhR activation. Ferulic acid (FA) and vitamin C (VC) are potent antioxidant substances. A serum containing DAE/FA/VC has been recently developed. So far, no clinical data are available regarding the protective actions of this serum against the detrimental effects of air pollution on the skin. Objective: We conducted a prospective, single-blind, 28-day study to assess efficacy and protective effects against air pollution skin damage of a new serum containing Deschampsia antartica extract. Materials and methods: Twenty, photo type I-III, women (mean age 42 years) with at least three dark spots on the face, living in a homogenous urbanized, high pollution area (Rome) were evaluated. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of treatment on skin barrier function, assessed by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement (Tewameter), the effect on dark spots, evaluated by means of colorimetry (Colorimeter CL 400), and the effect on squalene peroxide (SQOOH)/squalene (SQ) skin ratio assessed with face swabs. Results: The trial was conducted between November 20 and December 19, 2018. In comparison with baseline, the product induced a significant improvement of skin hydration (-19% of TEWL), a significant improvement of dark spots (+7%) and a significant improvement of SQOOH/SQ ratio (-16%). The product was evaluated very well by >90% of the treated subjects regarding cosmetic acceptability. Discussion: A serum containing DAE/FA/VC has shown to improve skin barrier function, to reduce dark spots and to counteract the skin oxidative stress in women living in high pollution urban area.

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most frequent form of alopecia. Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common form of diffuse hair loss mainly observed in women. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of a topical trichological treatment containing a new combination of molecules for the treatment of AGA and TE. Methods In-vitro tests were performed analyzing different combinations and concentrations of arginine, zinc and a third enzymatically neutral substance called AA on human follicles dermal papillae cells. These tests evaluated the capability of inhibiting the 5α-reductase (5-AR) enzyme and the 5-AR gene expression. We also performed an in-vivo study. Forty individuals affected by AGA and TE were divided into two groups. One group was administered a combination of zinc and arginine (lotion A), whilst the other placebo (lotion B). Therapy duration was 23 consecutive weeks. Follow-up examinations and pull tests occurred at baseline, after 6 weeks and at the end of the therapy. On 20 randomly selected patients we also performed noninvasive phototrichograms. Results In-vitro tests showed that the combination had a strong statistically significant inhibitory activity on 5-AR of dermal papillae cells. Number of hairs removed by pull-test significantly decreased at T0, T1 and T2 in patient treated with lotion A. We also observed an increase in the percentage of anagen hair and a decrease in telogen hairs. Concerning phototrichograms, all objective parameters evaluated showed better results in the lotion A group when compared with the placebo group. Conclusions Based on our results, the combination of arginine and zinc tested in our study could represent a good therapeutic option for the treatment of AGA and TE and it might represent a valid alternative to finasteride.

BACKGROUND Treatment of unwanted body hair is a challenging area in cosmetic dermatology. Topical soy isoflavones and derivatives or eflornithine have been utilized in dermatocosmetology for their estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity. AIMS To evaluate the efficacy of a formulation containing capryloyl glycine 4% in decreasing hair growth on the forearms after topical application for 120 days vs placebo. METHODS A total of 69 female patients entered the study (age 37 ± 6). Hair growth was quantified using TrichoScan software on both forearms at 20-fold magnification (analyzed area 0.651 cm2). Hair density (number of hairs/cm2 ), density vellus hair, density terminal hair, and median length of hairs were evaluated. The data were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures to evaluate changes during the treatment (T0, T60, and T120) and Student's t test (placebo vs active). RESULTS There was a significant decrease on hair density, median, and terminal hair at the end of the treatment in the active-treated site (P

A novel two-nozzle flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) process has been developed for one-step preparation of Pt/Ba/Al2O3 particles as used for NOx storage-reduction (NSR) catalysts. The materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, CO chemisorption, nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, and temperature programmed decomposition and tested for their NOx storage behavior. The use of two separate nozzles, one as aluminum and the other as a barium/platinum source, resulted in individual Al2O3 and monoclinic BaCO3 nanoparticles, exhibiting good NOx storage activity. In contrast, using a single-nozzle process resulted in Al2O3 particles with amorphous Ba species with negligible NOx storage capacity. Increasing the internozzle distance resulted in late mixing of the two flame products and increased the amount of crystalline BaCO3. At ambient conditions, as-prepared monoclinic BaCO3 transformed into orthorhombic BaCO3. Independent of the Ba loading, nanocrystalline BaCO3 showed a low thermal stabili...

Matrix polymerization can be viewed as an intriguing procedure for the preparation of homogeneous blends that are otherwise difficult or practically impossible to prepare. Poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) has been synthesized by direct polycondensation in the presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) as polymer matrices. The molecular weight effect of the latter polymers on the intrinsic viscosity of the aramid has been investigated. Poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide), characterized by intrinsic viscosity as high as 14.2 dL/g, is obtained when high molecular weight poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) is used. The intimate composites formed in situ have been characterized by solid-state NMR. The parent and daughter polymers in the composite present the same proton T1 relaxation times in the rotating frame, and this value differs from that of the neat polymers; this result demonstrates the intimacy of the blend at the level of a few nanometers.