• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.418-423
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• 2016

Background Skin grafting is a relatively simple and thus widely used procedure. However, the elastic and structural quality of grafted skin is poor. Recently, various dermal substitutes have been developed to overcome this disadvantage of split-thickness skin grafts. The present study aims to determine the feasibility of RapiGraft as a new dermal substitute. Methods This prospective study included 20 patients with partial- or full-thickness skin defects; the patients were enrolled between January 2013 and March 2014. After skin defect debridement, the wound was divided into two parts by an imaginary line. Split-thickness skin grafting alone was performed on one side (group A), and RapiGraft and split-thickness skin grafting were used on the other side (group B). All patients were evaluated using photographs and self-questionnaires. The Manchester scar scale (MSS), a chromameter, and a durometer were used for the scar evaluation. The average follow-up period was 6 months. Results The skin graft take rates were 93% in group A and 89% in group B, a non-significant difference (P=0.082). Statistically, group B had significantly lower MSS, vascularity, and pigmentation results than group A (P<0.05 for all). However, the groups did not differ significantly in pliability (P=0.155). Conclusions The present study indicates that a simultaneous application of RapiGraft and a split-thickness skin graft is safe and yields improved results. Therefore, we conclude that the use of RapiGraft along with skin grafting will be beneficial for patients requiring reconstructive surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.106-115
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• 2023

Background Primary contraction of full-thickness graft has been traditionally quoted to be 40%. There are lacunae in literature to elaborate on the factors influencing it ever since. Methods About 75 subjects who underwent full-thickness grafting procedures to resurface small defects were included in the study. The initial and final graft dimensions after primary contraction were traced on X-ray templates and the percentage of contraction was evaluated using the graphical method. This was further correlated with age, collagen, elastic matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) and -2 content along with dermal thickness of the skin specimen sent from the graft. Results The primary contraction of the graft had a very significant correlation only with the initial size of graft harvested with a linear regression of 33.3% and a Spearman's correlation of 0.587 significant at a p-value of 0.001. Conclusion This study though preliminary tries to highlight an important factor that primary contraction of grafts is a physical phenomenon independent of its contents like collagen, elastin, or MMP-1 and -2 or age and dependent on its initial size of harvest instead.

• Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Background Creating a natural-looking umbilicus during closure of the donor-site in abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction is a factor of satisfaction for both the patient and surgeon. We present a simple method of umbilical transposition that results in an aesthetic, natural-looking umbilicus. Methods From March 2011 to November 2014, fifty three consecutive female patients received abdominal flap breast reconstruction. Twenty patients (from March 2011 to February 2013) underwent umbilical transposition through a cross like incision in the abdominal flap, with fascial fixation sutures but no dermal flaps. Thirty three patients (March 2013 to November 2014) received umbilical transposition in the following method. An oval-shaped incision is made at the location of the new umbilicus on the abdominal flap. This oval is deepithelialized, and full-thickness incisions are made at the 2, 6, and 10 o'clock directions to create three triangular dermal flaps. These are pulled down to the abdominal fascia using sutures that pass through the umbilical stalk and the abdominal fascia at the 3, 9, and 12 o'clock directions. This results in an umbilical stalk lined with dermal flaps, creates a natural periumbilical concavity, and anchors the abdominal flap inward to minimize tension. The cranial flap enhances superior hooding. Results Patient and surgeon satisfaction, surveyed 2 months after surgery with a satisfaction scoring system, were higher in the dermal flap group. Conclusions The technique using three dermal flaps in an oval skin incision is simple, relatively easy to learn, and results in an aesthetic, natural-looking umbilicus.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.519-523
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• 2003

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) includes a group of organic acids found in natural foods such as sugarcane (glycolic acid), milk (lactic acid), apples (malic acid) and oranges (citric acid). Earlier studies demonstrated the effect of AHAs on the skin by diminishing the adhesiveness of the corneal layer and increasing the viable epidermal thickness. Recent data suggest that AHAs have some effects on the dermal component of skin and even affect the aging process of the skin. A previous study revealed increased collagen production by treatment with glycolic acid among AHAs in vitro. However, the mechanism of the regulation of collagen production by glycolic acid was unclear. In present study, we tried to demonstrate the effect of glycolic acid on human dermal fibroblasts and to unveil the mechanism of regulation of collagen production by glycolic acid in human dermal fibroblasts: proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis and degradation by collagenases in fibroblasts. Our results suggested that glycolic acid had no effect on proliferation and cytotoxicity of adult human dermal fibroblasts. However, glycolic acid not only induced the increase of the collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts at lower concentration than 0.1 % but also inhibited MMP-2 activity of human dermal fibroblast in the range between 0.01 and 0.4% and MMP-9 activity of human dermal fibroblast in the range between 0.06 and 0.09%. In summary, our results suggest that glycolic acid may increase wrinkle reduction partially by both increase in collagen synthesis and decrease in collagen degradation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Crataegi Fructus water extract(CFWE) on hair growth in an alopecia model of C57BL/6N mice and human dermal papilla cells(hDPCs). Methods : Six-week old mice were depilated and separated in 3 groups ; CON, MXD(2% Minoxidil), and CFWE. The treatments were applied twice a day for 18 days. The hair growth was determined photographically. The hair density, thickness and length were identified by Folliscope and the weights of body were measured. In dorsal skin tissue, the expression of hair growth-related protein was analyzed by Western blot. In hDPCs with/without $IFN-{\gamma}$, cell proliferation and the expression of hair growth-related genes were analyzed. Results : We observed that CFWE promoted hair growth compared to CON. CFWE improved the hair density, thickness and length compared to CON. CFWE increased the $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling in dorsal skin. In hDPCs, CFWE accelerated the cell proliferation and inhibited $IFN-{\gamma}$-induced hDPCs degeneration. CFWE increased the mRNA expression of ${\beta}$-catenin, Axin-2, BMP-4, FGF-7, FGF-10, and ALP compared to CON and $IFN-{\gamma}$ treated cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that CFWE has a hair regrowth activity via $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling and can be useful for the treatment of alopecia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.497-506
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• 2021

Besides using for hair removal, depilatory agents have been considered to be used as a penetration enhancer for transepidermal drug delivery. To examine the effect in hair follicles (HFs), two commercially available depilatory creams were tested on the dorsal skin of mice to monitor the effect deep into the skin structure. Fifteen male BALB/c mice were used in this study. Depilatory creams were applied to the dorsal skin of the same animal using shaved and untouched treatments as controls to minimize individual differences. Skin samples were collected at three days, one week and two weeks (n = 5 for each) after the treatment, and subjected for hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunohistochemical analysis for proinflammatory cytokines. The morphological examination showed an increase in the thickness of epidermal layer of the depilatory cream-treated skin at early time points and in the subcutis at two weeks. Depilatory cream promoted entry of anagen phase and increased the number of hair follicles in the subcutis at one and two weeks. Immunohistochemistry showed elevated percentages of dermal fibroblasts expressing interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and tumor necrosis factor-β. Shaving process increased the thickness of epidermis and dermis as depilatory creams did, but did neither induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the dermal fibroblasts nor the number of HFs. The results suggested that the commercially available depilatory creams caused a transient minor inflammatory response of the skin and increased the levels of cytokines that might subsequently affect hair growth.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.204-215
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• 2024

This study was designed to examine the effect of Lactilactobacillus curvatus LB-P9 on hair regeneration. The treatment of LB-P9 conditioned medium increased the proliferation of both hair follicle dermal papilla cells and hair germinal matrix cells (hGMCs). Moreover, the expression levels of hair growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 7 were significantly elevated in hGMCs co-cultured with LB-P9. After time-synchronized depilation, mice were orally administered with either 4×10⁷ colony forming unit (CFU) of LB-P9 (low dose) or 4×10⁸ CFU of LB-P9 (high dose), once daily for 4 weeks. Compared with the vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline)-administrated group, the LB-P9-treated groups exhibited accelerated hair regrowth rate and enhanced hair thickness in a dose-dependent manner. Supporting this observation, both hair follicle numbers and the dermal thickness in skin tissues of the LB-P9-treated groups were increased, compared to those of the vehicle-treated group. These results might be explained by the increased level of β-catenin and number of hair follicle stem cells (CD34⁺ CD49f⁺ cells) in the skin tissues of mice administered with LB-P9, compared to the vehicle-treated mice. Also, increased serum levels of hair growth factors such as VEGF and insulin-like growth factor-1, and superoxide dismutase were found in the LB-P9-treated groups, compared to those of the vehicle-treated group. Taken together, these results might demonstrate that the oral administration of LB-P9 promotes hair regeneration by the enhancement of dermal papilla proliferation through the stimulation of hair growth factor production.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.267-279
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• 2019

The study studied dermal protection and crease improvement from the sunlight of the lipid extract and narinjin. Sunlight was investigated in HR-1 (motherless mice) to identify changes in epithelial thickness and changes in collagen fibers, which account for around 90% of dermis, as the inhibitory efficacy of collagenase dissolving collagen also plays an important role in wrinkles. The experiment was validated using narinjin and jisil extract. First: The components of jisil and narinjin were analyzed. Second, antioxidant capabilities were confirmed with DPPH. Third: The inhibitory activity of collagen was measured. Studies have shown that the skin's upper skin thickness suppression of dermal extracts and narinzine has increased and that collagen thicknesses and wrinkles have decreased significantly compared to controls.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.7-14
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• 2020

[Purpose] This study evaluated the anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) properties of Cordyceps militaris (CM) aqueous extract in keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the nutraceutical composition of the CM extract, including its protein, carbohydrate, and selected phytochemical content. [Methods] The expression of pathogenic cytokines in keratinocytes was assayed using an in vitro model. The CM extract downregulated extracellular signalregulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 kinase expression in TNFα/IFNγ-stimulated HaCaT cells. We also established an in vivo AD model by repeatedly exposing the ears of mice to local Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE; house dust mite extract) and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). The epidermal and dermal ear thickness, mast cell infiltration, and serum immunoglobulin levels were measured following a 4-week oral administration of the CM extract. [Results] Histopathological examination showed reduced epidermal/dermal thickness and mast cell infiltration in mouse ears. The CM extract also suppressed serum immunoglobulin levels and gene expression of T helper (Th)1/Th2 cytokines in mouse ear tissue. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the CM extract may be useful for the treatment of AD-like skin lesions.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.370-378
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• 2007

Mechanical stimulation is known to activate several cellular signal transduction pathways, leading to the induction of signaling molecules and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, thereby modulating cellular activities, such as proliferation and survival. In this study, primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were seeded onto chitosan-based scaffolds, and then cultured for 3 weeks in a bioreactor under a cyclic strain of 1 Hz frequency. Compared to control samples cultured under static conditions, the application of a cyclic strain stimulated the proliferation of HDFs in I week, and by week 3 the thickness of the cell/scaffold composites increased 1.56 fold. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining of the culture media obtained from the cell/scaffold samples subjected to the cyclic strain, revealed increases in the expression and secretion of ECM proteins, such as fibronectin and collagen. These results suggest that the preconditioning of cell/scaffold composites with a cyclic strain may enhance the proliferation of HDFs, and even facilitate integration of the engineered artificial dermal tissue into the host graft site.