Search Results (3,312)

In recent years, there has been an increase in the industrial processing of shrimp, aiming to cover the increasing demand for shrimp products for human consumption, and, consequently, an increase in shrimp by-products as shrimp waste. This waste includes the cephalothoraxes, heads, shells, tails, pleopods, and exoskeleton appendages of processed shrimps. The appropriate method for the enzymatic hydrolysis of shrimp waste can recover its bioactive substances, including carotenoids. Thus, these xanthophylls and carotenes are of high financial interest and have high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Therefore, these substances can be incorporated into fish feed as ingredients that improve fish health and simultaneously lead to the production of aquaculture fishes similar in coloration to the wild ones. Thus, the consumption of such novel food acts as a preventive factor for human health. In this regard, β-carotene has antioxidant and fat-soluble activities owing to vitamin A sufficiency and has an anti-cancer effect, too. Canthaxanthin can be used as a product for personal care and as a natural tanning agent for human skin. Zeaxanthin and lutein have positive effects on various eye and heart diseases, neuronal damage, human skin diseases, and certain types of cancer. Astaxanthin also has anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to highlight the sustainable utilization of shrimp waste via enzymatic hydrolysis, the benefits of a fish diet enriched with astaxanthin, the consumption of fish enriched with carotenoids, and the effects of carotenoids on human health. The problem of shrimp waste disposal affects the environment, does not contribute to sustainable development, and is directly related to the phenomenon of environmental change. Full article

Image-guided superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT) combines superficial radiation therapy (SRT) with full dermal visualization (FDV) via high-resolution dermal ultrasound (HRDUS) for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). The gold standard for IGSRT delivery includes a comprehensive cancer care model with support for dermatologists from a multidisciplinary team. When delivered in this model, IGSRT can achieve cure rates of 99% for treatment of NMSC. This paper focuses on the benefits of HRDUS used in conjunction with SRT for NMSC. Medical records from 7 dermatology clinics of 883 patients with 1507 cases of NMSC treated with IGSRT between 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 92% of the NMSC lesions showed daily depth fluctuations, 60.32% of lesions did not require changes during therapy, and nearly 40% of lesions required at least one compensatory change during therapy. In total, 83% of NMSC lesions were labeled as high risk based on the 2024 NCCN guidelines. Increasing and decreasing tumor depth measurements during IGSRT inform dermatologists when adaptive changes in energy (kV), TDF, and dose will result in more efficacy and less toxicity, respectively. Full article

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising class of therapeutic alternatives with broad-spectrum activity against resistant pathogens. Small AMPs like temporin-SHa (1) and its first-generation analog [G10a]-SHa (2) possess notable efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In an effort to further improve this antimicrobial activity, second-generation analogs of 1 were synthesised by replacing the natural glycine residue at position-10 of the parent molecule with atypical amino acids, such as D-Phenylalanine, D-Tyrosine and (2-Naphthyl)-D-alanine, to study the effect of hydrophobicity on antimicrobial efficacy. The resultant analogs (3–6) emerged as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Notably, the [G10K]-SHa analog (4), having a lysine substitution, demonstrated a 4-fold increase in activity against Gram-negative (Enterobacter cloacae DSM 30054) and Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis DSM 2570) bacteria relative to the parent peptide (1). Among all analogs, [G10f]-SHa peptide (3), featuring a D-Phe substitution, showed the most potent anticancer activity against lung cancer (A549), skin cancer (MNT-1), prostate cancer (PC-3), pancreatic cancer (MiaPaCa-2) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells, achieving an IC₅₀ value in the range of 3.6–6.8 µM; however, it was also found to be cytotoxic against normal cell lines as compared to [G10K]-SHa (4). Peptide 4 also possessed good anticancer activity but was found to be less cytotoxic against normal cell lines as compared to 1 and 3. These findings underscore the potential of second-generation temporin-SHa analogs, especially analog 4, as promising leads to develop new broad-spectrum antibacterial and anticancer agents. Full article

Plants from the Amaranthaceae family are a source of oleanolic acid (OA)-type saponins with cytotoxic activity. Two known OA-type saponins, calenduloside E and chikusetsusaponin IVa, were isolated from the roots of Chenopodium strictum Roth. Their structures were confirmed using MS and NMR techniques. This constitutes the inaugural report of the saponins in Ch. strictum. Both the isolated saponins and structurally similar compounds, momordin Ic and OA, were compared for their cytotoxicity against various cancer and normal cell lines (including skin, breast, thyroid, gastrointestinal, and prostate panels). Their effects were dose- and time-dependent, varying with the specific cell line and compound structure. A chemometric approach demonstrated the effects of the compounds on the cell lines. The study discusses the structure–activity observations. The key structural elements for potent cytotoxic activity included the free carboxyl group 28COOH in the sapogenin structure (OA) and the presence of a sugar moiety. The monodesmosides with glucuronic acid (GlcA) at the C3 position of OA were generally more cytotoxic than bidesmosides or OA alone. The addition of xylose in the sugar chain modified the activity towards the cancer cells depending on the specific cell line. OA-type saponins with GlcA (particularly calenduloside E and momordin Ic) represent a promising avenue for further investigation as potential anticancer agents. Full article

Infrared thermography is considered a useful technique for diagnosing several skin pathologies but it has not been widely adopted mainly due to its high cost. Here, we investigate the feasibility of using low-cost infrared cameras with microbolometer technology for detecting skin cancer. For this purpose, we collected infrared data from volunteer subjects using a high-cost/high-quality infrared camera. We propose a degradation model to assess the use of lower-cost imagers in such a task. The degradation model was validated by mimicking video acquisition with the low-cost cameras, using data originally captured with a medium-cost camera. The outcome of the proposed model was then compared with the infrared video obtained with actual cameras, achieving an average Pearson correlation coefficient of more than 0.9271. Therefore, the model successfully transfers the behavior of cameras with poorer characteristics to videos acquired with higher-quality cameras. Using the proposed model, we simulated the acquisition of patient data with three different lower-cost cameras, namely, Xenics Gobi-640, Opgal Therm-App, and Seek Thermal CompactPRO. The degraded data were used to evaluate the performance of a skin cancer detection algorithm. The Xenics and Opgal cameras achieved accuracies of 84.33% and 84.20%, respectively, and sensitivities of 83.03% and 83.23%, respectively. These values closely matched those from the non-degraded data, indicating that employing these lower-cost cameras is appropriate for skin cancer detection. The Seek camera achieved an accuracy of 82.13% and a sensitivity of 79.77%. Based on these results, we conclude that this camera is appropriate for less critical applications. Full article

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treats nonmelanoma skin cancer. PDT kills cells through reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by interaction among cellular O_2, photosensitizer and specific light. Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is a photosensitizer produced from methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) by heme group synthesis (HGS) pathway. In PDT-resistant cells, PDT efficacy has been improved by addition of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Therefore, the aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of EGCG properties over MAL-TFD and PpIX production on A-431 cell line. EGCG’s role over cell proliferation (flow cytometry and wound healing assay) and clonogenic capability (clonogenic assay) was evaluated in A-431 cell line, while the effect of EGCG over MAL-PDT was determined by cell viability assay (MTT), PpIX and ROS detection (flow cytometry), intracellular iron quantification and gene expression of HGS enzymes (RT-qPCR). Low concentrations of EGCG (<50 µM) did not have an antiproliferative effect over A-431 cells; however, EGCG inhibited clonogenic cell capability. Furthermore, EGCG (<50 µM) improved MAL-PDT cytotoxicity, increasing PpIX and ROS levels, exerting a positive influence on PpIX synthesis, decreasing intracellular iron concentration and modifying HGS enzyme gene expression such as PGB (upregulated) and FECH (downregulated). EGCG inhibits clonogenic capability and modulates PpIX synthesis, enhancing PDT efficacy in resistant cells. Full article

Chronic skin wounds are estimated to affect 6.5 million patients in the US, at a cost of over USD 25 billion. Efforts to prevent and/or treat such wounds will result in reduced morbidity and economic losses. This project is focused on the role of vitamin D signaling in the epidermis in the control of stem cell (SC) activation and function during the initial response to the wounding of the skin, a response that, if defective, contributes to poor wound healing or cancer. In this review, I first describe the anatomy of the skin, focusing first on the epidermis, describing the different cell layers which in a spatial way also represent the differentiation process of the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) as it undergoes continuous regeneration. I then describe the other components of the skin, particularly the hair follicle (HF), which undergoes a cyclic pattern of regeneration. Adult SCs residing in these regenerative tissues play essential roles in the maintenance of these tissues. However, when the skin is wounded, the progeny of SCs from all regions of the HF and IFE contribute to the healing process by changing their initial cell fate to take on an epithelial genotype/phenotype to heal the wound. Although earlier lineage tracing studies helped to define the contributions SCs from the different niches made to wound healing, scRNAseq studies have demonstrated a considerably more nuanced picture. The role of vitamin D signaling will be introduced by reviewing the unique role played by the epidermal keratinocyte first in producing vitamin D and then in metabolizing it into its active form 1,25(OH)2D. 1,25(OH)2D is the principal ligand for the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a transcription factor that helps to mediate the genomic changes in the stem cells in their response to wounding. In these actions, the VDR is regulated by coregulators, of which the steroid receptor coactivator complexes SRC 2 and 3 and the mediator complex (MED) play essential roles. The VDR generally acts in association with other transcription factors such as p63 and β-catenin that can colocalize with the VDR in the genes it regulates. Although much remains to be understood, the role of the VDR in the stem cell response to wounding is clearly essential and quite different from its classic roles in regulating calcium metabolism, although calcium is essential for the actions of vitamin D signaling in the skin. Full article

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, also known as VIN, is a non-invasive squamous lesion and precursor of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva. There is no screening test for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Diagnosis of VIN is made clinically and confirmed with a biopsy. We describe a 66-year-old woman with a condyloma-like tumour located in the skin on the vestibule of the vagina. A biopsy sample was taken from the nodule. The definitive diagnosis is supported by the histological examination (VIN III) and immunohistochemical examination of p16(+), p53(+), and a few cell nuclei. The case provides information on the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation. Lifelong surveillance is essential since the resection of individual lesions does not guarantee the prevention of invasive cancer. Full article

Graphene oxide (GO), a carbon-based material with oxygen-containing functional groups, can be applied in biomedicine for drug delivery, cancer therapy, and tissue regeneration. We have previously shown that nanoscale-sized graphene oxide (NGO), an oxidized graphene derivative, exhibits effective anti-inflammatory activity in a murine model of sepsis mediated by T helper (Th)1-promoting cytokines such as IFNγ and TNFα. However, whether NGO influences Th2-induced skin inflammation remains unclear. To address this issue, we employed an ovalbumin (OVA) plus aluminum hydroxide (Alum)-induced Th2-mediated skin inflammation model in conjunction with OVA-specific DO11.10 T cell receptor transgenic Balb/c mice. In vivo NGO injection upon OVA/Alum sensitization down-regulated OVA-elicited antigen-specific Th2 cells and GATA3-expressing Th2-type regulatory T cells. Next, we examined the effect of NGO injection on OVA/Alum-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin inflammation. NGO-injected mice exhibited significantly decreased Th2 disease phenotypes (e.g., a lower clinical score, decreased epidermal thickness and Th2 cell differentiation, and fewer infiltrated mast cells and basophils in skin lesions) compared with vehicle-injected control mice. Overall, our results suggest that NGOs are promising therapeutic materials for treating allergic diseases such as AD. Full article

Gefitinib is a selective inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor that is used to treat advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dermatological adverse reactions are most commonly associated with gefitinib treatment. The cause of adverse reactions in individuals is multifactorial. Pharmacogenetics is an effective tool to detect such adverse reactions. This case report describes a female patient with NSCLC who was administered gefitinib at a dose of 250 mg/day. However, due to severe adverse dermatological reactions, the treatment was interrupted for 15 d and antibiotic therapy was administered to manage the skin rashes, maculopapular rashes, and hyperpigmentation. Treatment adherence was adequate, and no drug interactions were detected. A pharmacogenetic analysis revealed homozygosity in the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-B1 rs1128503 (c.1236A>G), heterozygosity in ABCG2 rs2231142 (c.421G>T) and rs2622604 (c.-20+614T>C), and a non-functional variant of the cytochrome P450 family 3, subfamily A, member 5 (CYP3A5). The relationship between altered genetic variants and the presence of adverse reactions induced by gefitinib is still controversial. Overall, this case report highlights the importance of continuing to study pharmacogenetics as predictors of adverse drug reactions. Full article

Keratins 6, 16, and 17 occupy unique positions within the keratin family. These proteins are not commonly found in the healthy, intact epidermis, but their expression increases in response to damage, inflammation, and hereditary skin conditions, as well as cancerous cell transformations and tumor growth. As a result, there is an active investigation into the potential use of these proteins as biomarkers for different pathologies. Recent studies have revealed the role of these keratins in regulating keratinocyte migration, proliferation, and growth, and more recently, their nuclear functions, including their role in maintaining nuclear structure and responding to DNA damage, have also been identified. This review aims to summarize the latest research on keratins 6, 16, and 17, their regulation in the epidermis, and their potential use as biomarkers in various skin conditions. Full article

The innate immune system, composed of neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), mast cells (MCs), and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), is the first line of defense. Growing evidence demonstrates the crucial role of innate immunity in tumor initiation and progression. Several studies support the idea that innate immunity, through the release of pro- and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines and tumor growth factors, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis, progression, and prognosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM). Cutaneous melanoma is the most common skin cancer, with an incidence that rapidly increased in recent decades. Melanoma is a highly immunogenic tumor, due to its high mutational burden. The metastatic form retains a high mortality. The advent of immunotherapy revolutionized the therapeutic approach to this tumor and significantly ameliorated the patients’ clinical outcome. In this review, we will recapitulate the multiple roles of innate immune cells in melanoma and the related implications for immunotherapy. Full article

The keratinocyte carcinomas, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), are the most common cancers in humans. Recently, an increasing body of literature has investigated the role of miRNAs in keratinocyte carcinoma pathogenesis, progression and their use as therapeutic agents and targets, or biomarkers. However, there is very little consistency in the literature regarding the identity of and/or role of individual miRNAs in cSCC (and to a lesser extent BCC) biology. miRNA analyses that combine clinical evidence with experimental elucidation of targets and functional impact provide far more compelling evidence than studies purely based on clinical findings or bioinformatic analyses. In this study, we review the clinical evidence associated with miRNA dysregulation in KCs, assessing the quality of validation evidence provided, identify gaps, and provide recommendations for future studies based on relevant studies that investigated miRNA levels in human cSCC and BCC. Furthermore, we demonstrate how miRNAs contribute to the regulation of a diverse network of cellular functions, and that large-scale changes in tumor cell biology can be attributed to miRNA dysregulation. We highlight the need for further studies investigating the role of miRNAs as communicators between different cell types in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, we explore the clinical benefits of miRNAs as biomarkers of keratinocyte carcinoma prognosis and treatment. Full article

Expanding on earlier observations, we show that many melanin materials, in vitro synthesized from a wide range of precursors, can be fractionated into a dark-colored precipitate and a near-colorless, dispersible fraction. The dispersible fractions exhibited absorbance in the UVA and UVB range of the electromagnetic spectrum, but none in the visible range. In addition, fluorescent properties were associated with all dispersible fractions obtained. FT-IR spectroscopic analyses were performed to compare both types of fractions. Overall, it appears that some of the properties associated with melanin (UV absorbance, fluorescence) may not necessarily reside in the dark-colored portion of melanin, but in a colorless fraction of the material. It remains to be seen whether any of these in vitro observations have any relevance in vivo. However, we raise the possibility that the presence of a colorless fraction within melanin materials and their associated properties may have received inadequate attention. Given the important association between melanin, UV protection, and skin cancer, it is worthwhile to consider this additional aspect of melanin chemistry. Full article

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a non-enveloped DNA virus transmitted through skin-to-skin contact that infects epithelial and mucosal tissue. It has over 200 known genotypes, classified by their pathogenicity as high-risk and low-risk categories. High-risk HPV genotypes are associated with the development of different types of cancers, including cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of mortality in women. In clinical practice and the market, the principal tests used to detect HPV are based on cytology, hybrid detection, and qPCR. However, these methodologies may not be ideal for the required timely diagnosis. Tests have been developed based on isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests (INAATs) as alternatives. These tests offer multiple advantages over the qPCR, such as not requiring specialized laboratories, highly trained personnel, or expensive equipment like thermocyclers. This review analyzes the different INAATs applied for the detection of HPV, considering the specific characteristics of each test, including the HPV genotypes, gene target, the limit of detection (LOD), detection methods, and detection time. Additionally, we discuss the tests available on the market that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Finally, we address the challenges and potential solutions for the large-scale implementation of INAATs, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Full article