• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2014

Wet-work can be defined as activities where workers have to immerse their hands in liquids for >2 hours per shift, or wear waterproof (occlusive) gloves for a corresponding amount of time, or wash their hands >20 times per shift. This review considers the recent literature on wet-work exposure, and examines wet-work as a main risk factor for developing irritant contact dermatitis of the hands. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed description of wet-work exposure among specific occupational groups who extensively deal with water and other liquids in their occupations. Furthermore, it highlights the extent and importance of the subsequent adverse health effects caused by exposure to wet-work.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.176-178
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• 2023

We report the case of a toddler, with a history of mild atopic dermatitis (AD) since early infancy, presented to the Giannina Gaslini, a pediatric polyclinic hospital, 14 days after measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination, for the occurrence of a disseminated vesico-pustular rash, accompanied by general malaise, fever, restlessness, and anorexia. Eczema herpeticum (EH) was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by laboratory examinations. The exact pathogenesis of EH in AD is still debated and possibly involves an inter-play between altered cell-mediated and humoral immunity, failure to up-regulate antiviral proteins, and exposure of viral binding sites through the dermatitis and an epidermal barrier failure. We hypothesize that in this particular case, MMR vaccination might have played an additional important role in the alteration of innate immune response, facilitating the manifestation of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the form of EH.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.30-50
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• 2023

Objectives : To investigate the active compounds and therapeutic mechanisms of Atractylodes Lancea(Thunb.) D.C. and Magnolia Officinalis Rehder et Wilson in the treatment of dermatitis accompanied by pruritus, as well as their potential to complement or replace standard drugs. Methods : We conducted the network pharmacological analysis. We selected effective ingredients among the active compounds of research target herbs. Then we explore pathway/terms of the common target proteins among research target herbs, fexofenadine and disease. Results : We selected 9 active compounds are selected from Atractylodes lancea and identified 231 target proteins. Among them, 74 proteins are associated with inflammatory skin diseases that cause pruritus. These proteins are involved in various pathways including, 'Nitric-oxide synthase regulator activity', 'Hydroperoxy icosatetraenoate dehydratase activity, Aromatase activity', 'RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity', 'Arachidonic acid metabolism', 'Peptide hormone processing', 'Chemokine binding' and 'Sterol biosynthetic process'. Additionally, coregenes are involved in 'IL-17 signaling pathway'. Similarly, we selected 2 active compounds from Magnolia officinalis and identified 133 target proteins. Among them, 33 proteins are related to inflammatory skin diseases that cause pruritus. These proteins are primarily involved in 'Vascular associated smooth muscle cell proliferation' and 'Arachidonic acid metabolism'. There is no significant difference between the pathways in which coregenes are involved. Conclusions : It is expected that Atractylodes Lancea will be able to show direct or indirect anti-pruritus and anti-inflammatory effects on skin inflammation accompanied pruritus through suppressing inflammation and protecting skin barrier. Meanwhile, it is expected that Magnolia Officinalis will only be able to show indirect anti-inflammation effects. Therefore, Atractylodes Lancea and fexofenadine are believed to complement each other, whereas Magnolia Officialinalis is expected to provide supplementary support on skin disease.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.600-606
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• 2010

Purpose: Although traditional and current treatment strategies may demonstrate success, persistence or recurrence of difficult-to-heal wounds remain significant problems. A novel product, Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ (Fidia Advanced Biopolymer, Abano Terme, Italy) is a bilayer of an benzyl esterified hyaluronan scaffold beneath a silicone membrane. The scaffold delivers hyaluronan to the wound, and the silicone membrane acts as a temporary epidermal barrier. We present the results obtained with Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ in the treatment of difficult-to-heal wounds. Methods: From November, 2008 to March, 2010, Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ has been used on total 10 patients with wounds that were expected difficult to heal with traditional and other current strategies. After average 37.4 days from development of wounds, Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ was applied after wound debridement. On the average, Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ application period was 17.6 days. After average 16.5 days from removal of Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$, skin grafts was performed. Results: In all cases, regeneration of fibrous granulation tissues and edge re-epithelization were present after the application of the Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$. And all of the previous inflammatory signs were reduced. After skin grafts, no adverse reactions were recorded in 9 cases. But in one case, postoperative wound infection occured due to a lack of efficient fibrous tissues. In this model, the Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ acts as a hyaluronan delivery system and a barrier from the external environments. In tissue repair processes, the hyaluronan performs to facilitate the entry of a large number of cells into the wounds, to orientate the deposition of extracellular matrix fibrous components and to change the microenvironment of difficult-to-heal wounds. Conclusion: Our study suggests that Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ could be a good and feasible approach for difficult-to-heal wounds. The Hyalomatrix$^{(R)}$ improves microenvironments of difficult-to-heal wounds, reduces infection rates and physical stimulus despite of aggravating factors.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.81-98
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• 1992

Hairless mice (Skh:HR-1) exposed to single doses (0.5, 1.0 and 3. OMED) of UV-B radiation were displayed remarkable changes of barrier function and surface morphology. Trans- epidermal water loss (TEWL) as an index of barrier function was measured by evaporimeter, and wrinkle density (WD) as an index of morphological alteration was measured by image analyzer. Significant changes of TEWL were not observed in the control and 0. SMED group, but 1.OMED and 3. OMED groups noted significant difference. TEWL of 3. OMED group was rapidly increased to the 3rd day and decreased until the 14th day when it reached nearly to normal level, Time-courses of TBWL for 1. OMEB and 3. OMED groups displayed similar pattern, but different only in the magnitude. WD were significantly decreased during the 3rd-5th day in all of the irradiated groups and then increased during the last period to the 14th day, but did not recover the normal level at the 14th day. Time-courses of WD for all groups exhibited similarity, and were entirely dependent on the exposed doses. We also observed histological changes which included hyperplasia, sunburn cell (SBC) formation, accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNs), and loss of collagen of UVB- exposed hairless mouse skin. Changes of TEWL and WD are helpful in understanding of epidermal and dermal damages by single exposure of UVB.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.52-70
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• 2018

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis(AD) and environmental factors are closely related, but there is lack of oriental medical examination. So we compared the relationship between AD and various environmental factors in Oriental medicine and Western medicine. Methods : We described the relationship between AD and environmental factors through the latest papers and a review of the oriental medicine literature. Results : The regional diversity of AD incidence implies a close relationship between climate factors and AD, and high altitude and low pH springs also have an effect on AD. Air pollutants from industrialization and urbanization aggravate AD. The increase in indoor residence time and the increase in room temperature and humidity have also increased the sensitization to allergens such as house dust mite. In oriental medicine, wind(風) is one of the environmental factors and is an inflammatory state due to external irritation. Wind-Humidity(風濕) refers to erythematous wetting dermatitis with itching and exudation, Wind-Fever(風熱) refers to acute inflammatory reaction with erythematous papules and plague, and Blood-Weakness(血虛) refers to aggravation and chronicization of inflammation due to persistence of skin barrier impairment. Conclusions : We examined the relationship between AD and various environmental factors. We also described the oriental medical viewpoints of the environmental factors in the occurrence of AD and skin barrier impairment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of sustainable cosmetic raw materials developed from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a plant native to Ulleungdo, in improving the skin barrier function and treating atopic dermatitis. Cells were derived from adult Gynostemma pentaphyllum plants, and suitable conditions for mass culture of the cells were established in a bioreactor. DNA components and amino acids extracted from this mass culture were identified from the HPLC fraction. In the in vitro efficacy evaluation results, changes in the expression levels of skin barrier-related proteins such as filaggrin (FLG) and Zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) were insignificant. It was confirmed that the expression levels of the proteins thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) were significantly reduced. These results lead to the conclusion that Gynostemma pentaphyllum cell extracts have significant anti-inflammatory effects and that these extracts can be widely used as sustainable, nature-friendly active material in cosmetics with anti-inflammatory effects and targeted at improving atopic dermatitis.They may find use in anti-aging cosmetic products as well.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2023

We validated the physiological activity of Syzygium claviflorum (Roxb.) Wall. ex A.M. Cowan & Cowan (S. claviflorum) extracts (leaves, stems, fruits, and flowers) as a cosmetic ingredient. Firstly, S. claviflorum extracts removed over 80% of free radicals at various concentrations in antioxidant experiments using the DPPH and ABTS assay. In cytotoxicity experiments using human epidermal keratinocytes, S. claviflorum extracts showed low cytotoxicity. In addition, S. claviflorum extracts significantly increased the expression of keratin (KRT)1, KRT2, KRT9, KRT10, which are differentiation markers of keratinocytes, as well as genes involved in the maintenance of skin barrier function, including involucrin (IVL), loricrin (LOR), filaggrin (FLG), and claudin1 (CLDN1). In particular, the expression of FLG protein, inhibited by interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13 in atopic dermatitis, was restored by S. claviflorum extracts in in vitro experiments. Therefore, S. claviflorum extracts with excellent antioxidant efficacy and skin barrier improvement function will be useful materials for the development of future atopic dermatitis treatments and cosmetics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.344-352
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• 2012

Mercury is a toxic and non-essential metal in the human body. Mercury is ubiquitously distributed in the environment, present in natural products, and exists extensively in items encountered in daily life. There are three forms of mercury, i.e., elemental (or metallic) mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. This review examines the toxicity of elemental mercury and inorganic mercury compounds. Inorganic mercury compounds are water soluble with a bioavailability of 7% to 15% after ingestion; they are also irritants and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Upon entering the body, inorganic mercury compounds are accumulated mainly in the kidneys and produce kidney damage. In contrast, human exposure to elemental mercury is mainly by inhalation, followed by rapid absorption and distribution in all major organs. Elemental mercury from ingestion is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability of less than 0.01%. The primary target organs of elemental mercury are the brain and kidney. Elemental mercury is lipid soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier, while inorganic mercury compounds are not lipid soluble, rendering them unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Elemental mercury may also enter the brain from the nasal cavity through the olfactory pathway. The blood mercury is a useful biomarker after short-term and high-level exposure, whereas the urine mercury is the ideal biomarker for long-term exposure to both elemental and inorganic mercury, and also as a good indicator of body burden. This review discusses the common sources of mercury exposure, skin lightening products containing mercury and mercury release from dental amalgam filling, two issues that happen in daily life, bear significant public health importance, and yet undergo extensive debate on their safety.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2012

Objective : In this study, we assessed the anti-bacterial effects and epidermal permeability barrier function of red onion juice comparing to yellow onion juice and $Houttuynia$ $cordata$ extract $in$ $vitro$. Methods : 3types of red and yellow onion juice were prepared as antibacterial agent candidates with Houttuynia cordata hot water extract using 4 different bacterial strains ($Escherichia$ $coil$, $Salmonella$ $enterica$ $subsp.$ $enterica$, $Staphylococcus$ $epidermidis$, $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ $subsp$) by colony counting method. The expression of filaggrin, a marker of keratinocyte differentiation, and serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT), a marker of the formation of the stratum corneum lipid barrier, in human HaCat keratinocytes were analyzed using HaCaT cell line. The expression of COX-2 and AP-1 which is a factor of COX-2 transcription were also analyzed by western blotting method. Results : There was detectable anti-bacterial effects on $Staphylococcus$ $epidermidis$, $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ $subsp$ among 1%, 5%, 10% extracts of yellow and red onion.(81%-100%) The bacteriocidal effects were not shown on $Escherichia$ $coil$, $Salmonella$ $enterica$ $subsp.$ $enterica$ among $Houttuynia$ $cordata$, yellow onion and red onion extracts. The in vitro results showed the concentration-dependent effects on the expression of both filaggrin and SPT in HaCat cells among 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% extracts in Houttuynia cordata and red onion, reflecting the notion that $Houttuynia$ $cordata$ and red onion can induce epidermal keratinocyte differentiation and improve the recovery of skin barrier functions. The concentration-dependent effects also have been shown on the expression of both COX-2 and AP-1 among 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% extracts in $Houttuynia$ $cordata$ and red onion, while slight effect in yellow onion. Conclusion : Red onion juice could be a potential candidate enhanser for the skin care and cosmetology.