| 1. |
- Elander, Louise, et al.
(författare)
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Inducible Prostaglandin E-2 Synthesis Interacts in a Temporally Supplementary Sequence with Constitutive Prostaglandin-Synthesizing Enzymes in Creating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Response to Immune Challenge
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroscience. - 0270-6474 .- 1529-2401. ; 29:5, s. 1404-1413
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inflammation-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been suggested to depend on prostaglandins, but the prostaglandin species and the prostaglandin-synthesizing enzymes that are responsible have not been fully identified. Here, we examined HPA axis activation in mice after genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of prostaglandin E-2-synthesizing enzymes, including cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1), Cox-2, and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). After immune challenge by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide, the rapid stress hormone responses were intact after Cox-2 inhibition and unaffected by mPGES-1 deletion, whereas unselective Cox inhibition blunted these responses, implying the involvement of Cox-1. However, mPGES-1-deficient mice showed attenuated transcriptional activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) that was followed by attenuated plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone. Cox-2 inhibition similarly blunted the delayed corticosterone response and further attenuated corticosterone release in mPGES-1 knock-out mice. The expression of the c-fos gene, an index of synaptic activation, was maintained in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and its brainstem afferents both after unselective and Cox-2 selective inhibition as well as in Cox-1, Cox-2, and mPGES-1 knock-out mice. These findings point to a mechanism by which ( 1) neuronal afferent signaling via brainstem autonomic relay nuclei and downstream Cox-1-dependent prostaglandin release and ( 2) humoral, CRH transcription-dependent signaling through induced Cox-2 and mPGES-1 elicited PGE(2) synthesis, shown to occur in brain vascular cells, play distinct, but temporally supplementary roles for the stress hormone response to inflammation.
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| 2. |
- Albèr, Cathrine, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of water activity and low molecular weight humectants on skin permeability and hydration dynamics : a double-blind, randomized and controlled study
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cosmetic Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0142-5463 .- 1468-2494. ; 36:5, s. 412-418
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The mammalian skin is a barrier that effectively separates the water-rich interior of the body from the normally dryer exterior. Changes in the external conditions, for example ambient humidity, have been shown to affect the skin barrier properties. The prime objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water activity of a topical formulation on skin hydration and permeability. A second objective was to gain more understanding on how two commonly used humectants, urea and glycerol, affect skin barrier function in vivo. METHODS: Simple aqueous formulations were applied under occlusion to the volar forearm of healthy volunteers. Following 4-h exposure, skin water loss (by transepidermal water loss measurements), skin hydration (by Corneometry) and skin permeability (by time to vasodilation due to benzyl nicotinate exposure) were monitored. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that a relatively small change in the water activity of a topical formulation is sufficient to induce considerable effects on stratum corneum hydration and permeability to exogenous substances. Exposing the skin to high water activity leads to increased skin hydration and also increased permeability. Furthermore, urea and glycerol promote skin hydration and permeability even at reduced water activity of the applied formulation. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of considering the water activity in topically applied formulations and the potential benefit of using humectants. The results may impact formulation optimization in how to facilitate skin hydration and to modify skin permeability by temporarily open and close the skin barrier.
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| 3. |
- Albèr, Cathrine, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of water gradients and use of urea on skin ultrastructure evaluated by confocal Raman microspectroscopy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes. - : Elsevier. - 0005-2736 .- 1879-2642 .- 0006-3002. ; 1828:11, s. 2470-2478
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rather thin outermost layer of the mammalian skin, stratum corneum (SC), is a complex biomembrane which separates the water rich inside of the body from the dry outside. The skin surface can be exposed to rather extreme variations in ambient conditions (e.g. water activity, temperature and pH), with potential effects on the barrier function. Increased understanding of how the barrier is affected by such changes is highly relevant for regulation of transdermal uptake of exogenous chemicals. In the present study we investigate the effect of hydration and the use of a well-known humectant, urea, on skin barrier ultrastructure by means of confocal Raman microspectroscopy. We also perform dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) microbalance measurements to examine the water uptake capacity of SC pretreated with urea. Based on novel Raman images, constructed from 2D spectral maps, we can distinguish large water inclusions within the skin membrane exceeding the size of fully hydrated corneocytes. We show that these inclusions contain water with spectral properties similar to that of bulk water. The results furthermore show that the ambient water activity has an important impact on the formation of these water inclusions as well as on the hydration profile across the membrane. Urea significantly increases the water uptake when present in skin, as compared to skin without urea, and it promotes formation of larger water inclusions in the tissue. The results confirm that urea can be used as a humectant to increase skin hydration.
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| 4. |
- Albèr, Cathrine, et al.
(författare)
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Hydration of Hyaluronan : Effects on Structural and Thermodynamic Properties
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Physical Chemistry B. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-6106 .- 1520-5207. ; 119:11, s. 4211-4219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hyaluronan (HA) is a frequently occurring biopolymer with a large variety of functions in nature. During the past 60 years, there have been numerous reports on structural and dynamic behavior of HA in water. Nevertheless, studies covering a wider concentration range are still lacking. In this work, we use isothermal scanning sorption calorimetry for the first time to investigate hydration-induced transitions in HA (sodium hyaluronate, 17 kDa). From this method, we obtain the sorption isotherm and the enthalpy and the entropy of hydration. Thermotropic events are evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and structure analysis is performed with X-ray scattering (SWAXS) and light and scanning electron microscopy. During isothermal hydration, HA exhibits a glass transition, followed by crystallization and subsequent dissolution of HA crystals and formation of a one-phase solution. Structural analysis reveals that the crystal may be indexed on an orthorhombic unit cell with space group P212121. Crystallization of HA was found to occur either through endothermic or exothermic processes, depending on the temperature and water content. We propose a mechanism of crystallization that explains this phenomenon based on the interplay between the hydrophobic effect and strengthening of hydrogen bonds during formation of crystals. The combined results were used to construct a binary phase diagram for the HA–water system.
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| 5. |
- Albèr, Cathrine, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial imaging and evaluation of humectants impact on stratum corneum hydration with confocal Raman microscpectroscopy
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cosmetic Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0142-5463 .- 1468-2494. ; :34, s. 359-359
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: Confocal Raman microspectroscopy (CRM) enables non-invasive depth-scanning of biological tissues. The technique has been used to obtain information about the molecular composition of the skin, tracking of externally applied compounds and to determine molecular concentration profiles. The objective of this study is to use CRM in order to evaluate the changes in stratum corneum hydration when applying polyethylene glycol and the humectants urea and glycerol, and thereby also varying the external chemical potential of water. In the present study we also utilize the advantages of CRM to create novel spatial high- resolution Raman images of stratum corneum. Methodology: Excised porcine skin membranes (500 nm in thickness) were equilibrated from the surface with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) together with different types of humectants using Franz cells. The Raman measurements were performed with a WITec alpha300 system (Ulm, Germany) equipped with a 532 nm laser. The change in stratum corneum hydration after treatment with different humectants was determined from the relative intensity of the water and protein spectra. Raman images were created along a cross section by integrating the Raman intensities for specific vibrational modes. Results and conclusions: The results show that the hydration profiles of stratum corneum correlates well with the gradient in water chemical potential created by the applied humectants, i.e. low molecular weight humectants enable increased hydration of stratum corneum compared to a high molecular weight, non-penetrating polyethylene glycol. In addition the novel results from the Raman imaging experiments illustrates that it is possible to distinguish between water rich domains and the extracellular lipid rich domains along a cross section of the intact skin membrane.
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| 6. |
- Ali, Abdullah, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Dehydration affects drug transport over nasal mucosa
- 2019
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Ingår i: Drug Delivery. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1071-7544 .- 1521-0464. ; 26:1, s. 831-840
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Formulations for nasal drug delivery often rely on water sorption to adhere to the mucosa, which also causes a higher water gradient over the tissue and subsequent dehydration. The primary aim of this study was therefore to evaluate mucosal response to dehydration and resolve the hypothesis that mucoadhesion achieved through water sorption could also be a constraint for drug absorption via the nasal route. The effect of altering water activity of the vehicle on Xylometazoline HCl and Cr-EDTA uptake was studied separately using flow through diffusion cells and excised porcine mucosa. We have shown that a modest increase in the water gradient over mucosa induces a substantial decrease in drug uptake for both Xylometazoline HCl and Cr-EDTA. A similar result was obtained when comparing two different vehicles on the market; Nasoferm (Nordic Drugs, Sweden) and BLOX4 (Bioglan, Sweden). Mucoadhesion based on water sorption can slow down drug uptake in the nasal cavity. However, a clinical study is required to determine whether prolonged duration of the vehicle or preventing dehydration of the mucosa is the most important factor for improving bioavailability.
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| 7. |
- Ali, Abdullah, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Relationship between sensorial and physical characteristics of topical creams : A comparative study on effects of excipients
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Pharmaceutics. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0378-5173 .- 1873-3476. ; 613
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rising consumer demands for safer, more natural, and sustainable topical products have led to increased interest in finding alternative excipients, while retaining functionality and cosmetic appeal. Particle-stabilized Pickering creams have emerged as possible alternatives to replace traditional surfactant-stabilized creams and are thus one of the focuses in this study. The aim of this paper was to study relationships between sensorial characteristics and physical properties to understand how different excipients affect these aspects, comparing one starch particle–stabilized and three surfactant-stabilized formulations. A human panel was used to evaluate sensorial perception, while physical properties were deduced by rheology and tactile friction, together with in vivo and ex vivo skin hydration measurements. The results show that sensorial attributes related to the application phase can be predicted with rheology, while afterfeel attributes can be predicted with tactile friction studies. Differences in rheological and sensory properties among surfactant-based creams could mainly be attributed to the type of emollients used, presence of thickeners and surfactant composition. Differences between surfactant-based creams and a Pickering cream were more evident in relation to the afterfeel perception. Presence of starch particles in the residual film on skin results in high tactile friction and low perception of residual coating, stickiness, greasiness, and slipperiness in sensorial afterfeel. © 2021 The Authors
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| 8. |
- Ali, Abdullah, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Tactile friction of topical creams and emulsions : Friction measurements on excised skin and VitroSkin® using ForceBoard™
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Pharmaceutics. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0378-5173 .- 1873-3476. ; 615
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tactile perception can be investigated through ex vivo friction measurements using a so–called ForceBoard™, providing objective assessments and savings in time and money, compared to a subjective human panel. In this work we aim to compare excised skin versus VitroSkin® as model substrates for tactile friction measurements. A further aim is to detect possible differences between traditional surfactant-based creams, and a particle-stabilized (Pickering) cream and investigate how the different substrates affect the results obtained. It was found that the difference in tactile friction between excised skin and VitroSkin® was small on untreated substrates. When topical creams were applied, the same trends were observed for both substrates, although the frictional variation over time relates to the difference in surface structure between the two substrates. The results also confirmed that there is a difference between starch-based Pickering formulations and surfactant-based creams after application, indicating that the latter is greasier than Pickering cream. It was also shown that the tactile friction of Pickering emulsions was consistently high even with high amounts of oil, indicating a non-greasy, and non-sticky formulation. The characteristics of starch-stabilized Pickering formulations make them promising candidates in the development of surfactant-free topical formulations with unique tactile properties. © 2022 The Authors
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| 9. |
- Ali, Abdullah, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Will a water gradient in oral mucosa affect transbuccal drug absorption?
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. - : Elsevier. - 1773-2247. ; 48, s. 338-345
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Formulations for buccal drug delivery often comprise polymers to facilitate mucoadhesion based on water sorption. The main objective of the current study was therefore to evaluate the effect of dehydration on drug uptake through oral mucosa. We have used diffusion cells with excised porcine mucosa to study uptake of three alternative drugs (i.e., Metronidazole, Benzydamine and Xylometazoline) together with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the model polymer for adjusting water activity in the test solutions. Taking drug activity into account, we can conclude that addition of PEG results in a drug flux through mucosa that is about two times lower for Metronidazole and more than 40 times lower for Xylometazoline compared to that from a pure PBS-solution. However, for Benzydamine the uptake through mucosa was more or less the same, which could possibly be due to the high PEG-concentration (65 wt%) affecting the dissociation constant and thus the permeability. These results indicate that an increased water gradient may have the same limiting effect on permeability through oral mucosa as previously seen for skin. Thus, water gradient effects should be a factor to consider when developing buccal adhesive formulations.
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| 10. |
- Argatov, Ivan, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling of composite sorption isotherm for stratum corneum
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes. - : Elsevier. - 0005-2736 .- 1879-2642. ; 1864:7, s. 1-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Equilibrium water sorption in stratum corneum (SC) is considered by treating it as a biocomposite with two main phases, namely, corneocytes and lipids. To validate the rule of mixtures for the individual phase sorption isotherms, a new flexible fitting model is introduced by accounting for characteristic features observed in the variations of the thermodynamic correction factors corresponding to the individual sorption isotherms. The comparison of the model fitting performance with that of the five-parameter Park's model shows a remarkably good ability to fit experimental data for different types of sorption isotherms. The effect of the lipids content on the variance of the composite sorption isotherm of stratum corneum is highlighted. The sensitivity analysis reveals that for the typical water content 20-30 wt%, which corresponds to the SC in a stable condition, the sensitivity of the composite sorption isotherm to the variation of the lipids content on dry basis is predominantly positive and sufficiently small. The good agreement observed between the experimental sorption isotherm for SC and the composite isotherm, which is based on the rule of mixtures for the individual phase sorption isotherms, yields a plausible conclusion (hypothesis) that the corneocytes-lipids mechanical interaction during unconstrained swelling of the SC membrane in the in vitro laboratory experiment is negligible.
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| 11. |
- Bargholtz, Chr., et al.
(författare)
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The WASA detector facility at CELSIUS
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 594:3, s. 339-350
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The WASA 4 pi multidetector system, aimed at investigating light meson production in light ion collisions and eta meson rare decays at the CELSIUS storage ring in Uppsala is presented. A unique feature of the system is the use of hydrogen pellets as internal targets for the first time. A detailed description of the design, together with the anticipated and achieved performance parameters are given. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 12. |
- Björklund, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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A water gradient can be used to regulate drug transport across skin
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Controlled Release. - : Elsevier. - 0168-3659 .- 1873-4995. ; 143:2, s. 191-200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- At normal conditions there is a substantial water gradient over the skin as it separates the water-rich inside of the body from the dry outside. This leads to a variation in the degree of hydration from the inside to the outside of skin and changes in this gradient may affect its structure and function. In this study we raise the question: How do changes in the water gradient across skin affect its permeability? We approach this problem in novel diffusion experiments that permit strict control of the gradient in the chemical potential of water and hence well-defined boundary conditions. The results demonstrate that a water gradient can be used to regulate transport of drugs with different lipophilic characteristics across the skin barrier. It is shown that the transport of metronidazole (log Po/w=0.0) and methyl salicylate (log Po/w=2.5) across skin increases abruptly at low water gradients, corresponding to high degrees of skin hydration, and that this effect is reversible. This phenomenon is highly relevant to drug delivery applications due to its potential of temporarily open the skin barrier for transdermal drug delivery and subsequently close the barrier after treatment. Further, the results contribute to the understanding of the occlusion effect and indicate the boundary conditions of the water gradient needed to make use of this effect
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| 13. |
- Björklund, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Glycerol and urea can be used to increase skin permeability in reduced hydration conditions
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 5:50, s. 638-645
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is a group of hygroscopic molecules that is naturally present in skin and protects from severe drying. Glycerol and urea are two examples of NMF components that are also used in skin care applications. In the present study, we investigate the influence of glycerol and urea on the permeability of a model drug (metronidazole, Mz) across excised pig skin membranes at different hydrating conditions. The degree of skin hydration is regulated by the gradient in water activity across the membrane, which in turn depends on the water activity of the formulation in contact with the skin membrane. Here, we determine the water activity of all formulations employed using an isothermal calorimetric method. Thus, the gradient in water activity is controlled by a novel experimental set-up with well-defined boundary conditions on both sides of the skin membrane. The results demonstrate that glycerol and urea can retain high steady state flux of Mz across skin membranes at dehydrating conditions, which otherwise would decrease the permeability due to dehydration. X-ray diffraction measurements are performed to give insight into the effects of glycerol and urea on SC molecular organization. The novel steady state flux results can be related to the observation that water, glycerol, and urea all affect the structural features of the SC molecular components in a similar manner.
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| 14. |
- Björklund, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Skin membrane electrical impedance properties under the influence of a varying water gradient
- 2013
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 104:12, s. 2639-2650
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The stratum corneum (SC) is an effective permeability barrier. One strategy to increase drug delivery across skin is to increase the hydration. A detailed description of how hydration affects skin permeability requires characterization of both macroscopic and molecular properties and how they respond to hydration. We explore this issue by performing impedance experiments on excised skin membranes in the frequency range 1 Hz to 0.2 MHz under the influence of a varying gradient in water activity (aw). Hydration/dehydration induces reversible changes of membrane resistance and effective capacitance. On average, the membrane resistance is 14 times lower and the effective capacitance is 1.5 times higher when the outermost SC membrane is exposed to hydrating conditions (aw ¼ 0.992), as compared to the case of more dehydrating conditions (aw ¼ 0.826). Molecular insight into the hydration effects on the SC components is provided by natural-abundance 13C polarization transfer solidstate NMR and x-ray diffraction under similar hydration conditions. Hydration has a significant effect on the dynamics of the keratin filament terminals and increases the interchain spacing of the filaments. The SC lipids are organized into lamellar structures with ~ 12.6 nm spacing and hexagonal hydrocarbon chain packing with mainly all-trans configuration of the acyl chains, irrespective of hydration state. Subtle changes in the dynamics of the lipids due to mobilization and incorporation of cholesterol and long-chain lipid species into the fluid lipid fraction is suggested to occur upon hydration, which can explain the changes of the impedance response. The results presented here provide information that is useful in explaining the effect of hydration on skin permeability.
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| 15. |
- Björklund, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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The effects of polar excipients transcutol and dexpanthenol on molecular mobility, permeability, and electrical impedance of the skin barrier
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : Elsevier. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 479, s. 207-220
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the development of transdermal and topical products it is important to understand how formulation ingredients interact with the molecular components of the upper layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (SC), and thereby influence its macroscopic barrier properties. The aim here was to investigate the effect of two commonly used excipients, transcutol and dexpanthenol, on the molecular as well as the macroscopic properties of the skin membrane. Polarization transfer solid-state NMR methods were combined with steady-state flux and impedance spectroscopy measurements to investigate how these common excipients influence the molecular components of SC and its barrier function at strictly controlled hydration conditions in vitro with excised porcine skin. The NMR results provide completely new molecular insight into how transcutol and dexpanthenol affect specific molecular segments of both SC lipids and proteins. The presence of transcutol or dexpanthenol in the formulation at fixed water activity results in increased effective skin permeability of the model drug metronidazole. Finally, impedance spectroscopy data show clear changes of the effective skin capacitance after treatment with transcutol or dexpanthenol. Based on the complementary data, we are able to draw direct links between effects on the molecular properties and on the macroscopic barrier function of the skin barrier under treatment with formulations containing transcutol or dexpanthenol.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Engblom, Camilla, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial transcriptomics of B cell and T cell receptors reveals lymphocyte clonal dynamics
- 2023
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 382:6675, s. 8486-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The spatial distribution of lymphocyte clones within tissues is critical to their development, selection, and expansion. We have developed spatial transcriptomics of variable, diversity, and joining (VDJ) sequences (Spatial VDJ), a method that maps B cell and T cell receptor sequences in human tissue sections. Spatial VDJ captures lymphocyte clones that match canonical B and T cell distributions and amplifies clonal sequences confirmed by orthogonal methods. We found spatial congruency between paired receptor chains, developed a computational framework to predict receptor pairs, and linked the expansion of distinct B cell clones to different tumor-associated gene expression programs. Spatial VDJ delineates B cell clonal diversity and lineage trajectories within their anatomical niche. Thus, Spatial VDJ captures lymphocyte spatial clonal architecture across tissues, providing a platform to harness clonal sequences for therapy.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Engblom, David, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Induction of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase in the rat brain endothelium and parenchyma in adjuvant-induced arthritis
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Comparative Neurology. - : Wiley. - 0021-9967 .- 1096-9861. ; 452:3, s. 205-214
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although central nervous symptoms such as hyperalgesia, fatigue, malaise, and anorexia constitute major problems in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic inflammatory disease, little has been known about the signaling mechanisms by which the brain is activated during such conditions. Here, in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis, we show that microsomal prostaglandin E-synthase, the inducible terminal isomerase in the prostaglandin E2-synthesizing pathway, is expressed in endothelial cells along the blood-brain barrier and in the parenchyma of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. The endothelial cells but not the paraventricular hypothalamic cells displayed a concomitant induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and expressed interleukin-1 type 1 receptors, which indicates that the induction is due to peripherally released cytokines. In contrast to cyclooxygenase-2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase had very sparse constitutive expression, suggesting that it could be a target for developing drugs that will carry fewer side effects than the presently available cyclooxygenase inhibitors. These findings, thus, suggest that immune-to-brain communication during chronic inflammatory conditions involves prostaglandin E2-synthesis both along the blood-brain barrier and in the parenchyma of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and point to novel avenues for the treatment of the brain-elicited disease symptoms during these conditions.
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| 21. |
- Engblom, David, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 is the central switch during immune-induced pyresis
- 2003
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Ingår i: Nature Neuroscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1097-6256 .- 1546-1726. ; 6:11, s. 1137-1138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We studied the febrile response in mice deficient in microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), an inducible terminal isomerase expressed in cytokine-sensitive brain endothelial cells. These animals showed no fever and no central prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthesis after peripheral injection of bacterial-wall lipopolysaccharide, but their pyretic capacity in response to centrally administered PGE2 was intact. Our findings identify mPGES-1 as the central switch during immune-induced pyresis and as a target for the treatment of fever and other PGE2-dependent acute phase reactions elicited by the brain.
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| 22. |
- Engblom, David, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Prostaglandins as inflammatory messengers across the blood-brain barrier
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0946-2716 .- 1432-1440. ; 80:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Upon immune challenge the brain launches a wide range of responses, such as fever, anorexia, and hyperalgesia that serve to maintain homeostasis. While these responses are adaptive during acute infections, they may be destructive during chronic inflammatory conditions. Research performed during the last decade has given us insight into how the brain monitors the presence of a peripheral inflammation and the mechanisms underlying the brain-mediated acute-phase reactions. Here we give a brief review on this subject, with focus on the role of prostaglandin E2 produced in cells associated with the blood-brain barrier in immune-to-brain signaling. The recent advances in this field have not only elucidated the mechanisms behind the anti-pyretic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors, but have also identified novel and more-selective potential drug targets.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
- Engström, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fever Depends on Prostaglandin E2 Production Specifically in Brain Endothelial Cells
- 2012
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - : Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 153:10, s. 4849-4861
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immune-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis is critical for fever and other centrally elicited disease symptoms. The production of PGE2 depends on cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), but the identity of the cells involved has been a matter of controversy. We generated mice expressing mPGES-1 either in cells of hematopoietic or nonhematopoietic origin. Mice lacking mPGES-1 in hematopoietic cells displayed an intact febrile response to lipopolysaccharide, associated with elevated levels of PGE2 in the cerebrospinal fluid. In contrast, mice that expressed mPGES-1 only in hematopoietic cells, although displaying elevated PGE2 levels in plasma but not in the cerebrospinal fluid, showed no febrile response to lipopolysaccharide, thus pointing to the critical role of brain-derived PGE2 for fever. Immunohistochemical stainings showed that induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the brain exclusively occurred in endothelial cells, and quantitative PCR analysis on brain cells isolated by flow cytometry demonstrated that mPGES-1 is induced in endothelial cells and not in vascular wall macrophages. Similar analysis on liver cells showed induced expression in macrophages and not in endothelial cells, pointing at the distinct role for brain endothelial cells in PGE2 synthesis. These results identify the brain endothelial cells as the PGE2-producing cells critical for immune-induced fever.
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| 25. |
- Eskandari, Mahboubeh, et al.
(författare)
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Polyphenol-hydrogen peroxide reactions in skin : In vitro model relevant to study ROS reactions at inflammation
- 2019
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Ingår i: Analytica Chimica Acta. - : Elsevier. - 0003-2670 .- 1873-4324. ; 1075, s. 91-97
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antioxidants are important to protect and maintain biological barriers, such as the skin. Antioxidant effects are often assessed using clinical trials, however these tests are costly and time consuming. In this work we introduce a skin membrane-covered oxygen electrode (SCOE) as an in vitro tool for monitoring H2O2 and antioxidant reactions in skin. The SCOE gives amperometric response to H2O2 concentrations down to 0.05 mM. More importantly, the electrode allows measurements of polyphenol penetration and reaction with H2O2 in skin. Measurements with SCOE show that lipophilic polyphenols such as quercetin, piceatannol, resveratrol, and plant extract from Plantago major impose their antioxidant effect in skin within 2-20 min. Rutin is however too hydrophilic to penetrate into stratum corneum and therefore cannot deliver its antioxidant effect during similar time interval. The measurements are interpreted considering polyphenol partition-penetration through stratum corneum and the reaction with the H2O2-catalase system in the skin. The contribution of other enzymes will be addressed in the future. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 26. |
- Fagerström, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of a plant leaf cuticle model wax, phase behaviour ofmodel wax-water systems
- 2013
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Ingår i: Thermochimica Acta. - : Elsevier. - 0040-6031 .- 1872-762X. ; 571, s. 42-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the thermotropic phase behavior of plant leaf intracuticular wax and two representatives of its main components, 1-docosanol (C22H45OH) and dotriacontane (C32H66), in dry and hydrated state. One objective was to obtain a model wax, which can be used to estimate formulations effects on cuticle diffusivity in vitro. The two wax components were chosen based on results from Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry analysis of cuticular wax. The wax was extracted from Clivia Miniata Regel leaves and contained 68% primary alcohols (C16-C32) and 16% n-alkanes (C21-C33). Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Polarized light microscopy and Small- and Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction were used to characterize the cuticular extract and the phase behaviour of the C22H45OH/C32H66/H2O model system. Four individual crystalline phases were discovered in the model wax – water system and eutectic melting occurred in both dry and hydrated state. The thermotropic transitions of the model wax occur within the broader transition region of the extracted leaf wax.
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| 27. |
- Fagerström, Anton, et al.
(författare)
-
Composition of plant leaf wax, phase behavior of major components and effects of hydration
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Adjuvants for Agrochemicals (ISAA 2013). - : ISAA Society. ; , s. 257-262
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this project was to characterize thermotropic phase behavior and morphology of major wax components of a plant leaf cuticle in dry and hydrated conditions. The composition of the cuticular wax from adaxial leaves of the plant Clivia Miniata Regel was characterized by GC-MS. The analysis showed that the wax is dominated by aliphatic compounds, mainly alkanes (C22-C33) and alcohols (C16-C32). Based on this analysis a model wax was composed comprising 1-docosanol (C22H45OH) and dotriacontane (C32H66). The simplicity of the model allowed for a thorough physical-chemical analysis of the system. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Small Angle X-ray Diffraction (SAXD) were employed to map the phase behavior and morphology of the C22H45OH/C32H66/H2O system. In dry stateC22H45OH and C32H66 observe eutectic interaction with substantial changes in the melting temperatures. C32H66 transforms to a second crystalline phase just below the eutectic point.C32H66 do not interact with water but C22H45OH forms a hydrate with a conformational change in hydrocarbon chain packing. Long chain alcohols is a major component in cuticular wax of many plant species and their ability to form hydrates with less ordered chain conformation can add to the understanding of the nature and barrier function of the plant leaf cuticle.
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| 28. |
- Fagerström, Anton, et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of surfactants and thermodynamic activity of model active ingredient on transport over plant leaf cuticle
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Colloids and Surfaces B. - : Elsevier. - 0927-7765 .- 1873-4367. ; 103, s. 572-579
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of molecular transport across the cuticle of Clivia leaves. In vitro diffusion methodology was used to investigate the transport of a systemic fungicide, tebuconazole, over a model silicone membrane, enzymatically isolated cuticle membranes, and dermatomed leaves. It was shown that dermatomed leaves may replace enzymatically isolated cuticles. Furthermore, the effects of two surfactants, C10EO7 and C8G1.6, on the fungicide transport were investigated. Tebuconazole cuticle permeation was described using Fick's first law of diffusion, expressed by the thermodynamic activity of the solute in the membrane. A new method for calculation of diffusion coefficients in the membrane is proposed. To access the thermodynamic activity of the fungicide in the membranes, sorption isotherms of tebuconazole in the membrane materials studied were recorded. The thermodynamic activity of the fungicide in aqueous solutions was calculated from solubility data. For that purpose, the effect of surfactants on tebuconazole solubility was studied. The results show that addition of surfactants allows for higher concentrations of tebuconazole available for penetration. Nonetheless, at a fixed fungicide thermodynamic activity, all formulations produced the same flux over the silicone membrane independently on the fungicide concentration. This shows that the driving force across non-responding membranes is the gradient of thermodynamic activity, rather than the gradient of the fungicide concentration. In case of leaves, surfactants induced the same quantitative increase in both flux and diffusion coefficient of solute in the cuticle, while the cuticle-water partition coefficient was unaffected.
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
- Fagerström, Anton, et al.
(författare)
-
Surfactant softening of plant leaf cuticle model wax : a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) study
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : Elsevier. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 426, s. 22-30
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to quantify the softening effect that two surfactants (C10EO7 and C8G1.6) have on a plant leaf cuticle model wax. Effects on the thermotropic phase behavior and fluidity of the wax (C22H45OH/C32H66/H2O) were determined. The model wax is crystalline at ambient conditions, yet it is clearly softened by the surfactants. Both surfactants decreased the transition temperatures in the wax and the G″/G' ratio of the wax film increased in irreversible steps following surfactant exposure. C10EO7 has a stronger fluidizing effect than C8G1.6 due to stronger interaction with the hydrophobic waxes. Intracuticular waxes (IW) comprise both crystalline and amorphous domains and it has previously been proposed that the fluidizing effects of surfactants are due to interactions with the amorphous parts. New data suggests that this may be a simplification. Surfactants may also absorb in crevices between crystalline domains. This causes an irreversible effect and a softer cuticle wax.
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| 31. |
- Falk, Yana Znamenskaya, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Hydration on Structure and Phase Behavior of Pig Gastric Mucin Elucidated by SAXS
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of Physical Chemistry B. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-6106 .- 1520-5207. ; 122:30, s. 7539-7546
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this work small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to study hydration and temperature-induced changes of pig gastric mucin (PGM) within the entire concentration range. The scattering is interpreted as originating from PGM fiber-like structures that adopt rod-like bottle-brush conformation in dilute solutions. On the basis of the knowledge about molecular structure of mucins and SAXS data for dilute solutions, we propose a theoretical model for predicting mucin conformation in solution and calculate the corresponding scattering profile. This bottle-brush model comprises a protein backbone with carbohydrate side chains and corresponding structural parameters, such as grafting distance and lengths of the backbone and side chains. It describes the experimental PGM data from dilute solutions in the full q range very well. It furthermore suggests that the carbohydrate side chains are grafted with a regular separation of around 5 nm and a length of 14 nm. The cross-section size with a radius of about 1 nm is also in accordance with the size of the carbohydrate units. Structuring of PGM solutions at higher concentrations was investigated by analyzing semidilute and concentrated PGM samples. Starting at about 20 wt %, Bragg peaks become clearly visible indicating a more ordered mucin system. In very dehydrated and fully dry mucin samples these peaks are not present indicating lack of long-range order. The SAXS data show that the structural change occurring at about 80 wt % mucin and 25 degrees C corresponds to a glass transition in agreement with our previous calorimetric results. Temperature also has an effect on the phase behavior of mucin. At intermediate levels of hydration, a phase transition is observed at about 60-70 degrees C. The main Bragg peak appears to split in two, indicating formation of a different structure at elevated temperatures. These findings are used to improve the PGM water phase diagram.
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| 32. |
- Falk, Yana Znamenskaya, et al.
(författare)
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Interactions of Perfluorohexyloctane With Polyethylene and Polypropylene Pharmaceutical Packaging Materials.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier. - 0022-3549 .- 1520-6017. ; 109:7, s. 2180-2188
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Semifluorinated alkanes (SFAs) are aprotic solvents, which may be used as drug solvents for topical ocular applications, for instance, in dry eye syndrome. Their physical properties suggest that they might be prone to interaction with plastic materials, such as, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which are commonly used as packaging materials for pharmaceutical products. In this study, we investigate interactions of PE and PP with a liquid SFA perfluorohexyloctane (PFHO) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cross-polarized light microscopy. Binary phase diagrams of PFHO-PE and PFHO-PP systems demonstrating interactions of PFHO with the polymeric materials were constructed based on DSC data. According to this data, PFHO tends to lower the melting temperatures of PE and PP. The equilibrium values of solubilities of the polymers in PFHO and PFHO in the polymers were obtained by extrapolation of melting enthalpy data. Absorption of PFHO by PE and PP materials at ambient conditions after four weeks of equilibration was also studied by TGA. From the presented results, it may be concluded that thorough studies of interactions of PE or PP with SFAs are required when these materials are used as packaging components in SFA-based formulations.
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| 33. |
- Fritz, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Prostaglandin-dependent modulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission elicits inflammation-induced aversion in mice
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 126:2, s. 695-705
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic inflammation causes malaise and general feelings of discomfort. This fundamental aspect of the sickness response reduces the quality of life for people suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases and is a nuisance during mild infections like common colds or the flu. To investigate how inflammation is perceived as unpleasant and causes negative affect, we used a behavioral test in which mice avoid an environment that they have learned to associate with inflammation-induced discomfort. Using a combination of cell-type-specific gene deletions, pharmacology, and chemogenetics, we found that systemic inflammation triggered aversion through MyD88-dependent activation of the brain endothelium followed by COX1-mediated cerebral prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) synthesis. Further, we showed that inflammation-induced PGE(2) targeted EP1 receptors on striatal dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons and that this signaling sequence induced aversion through GABA-mediated inhibition of dopaminergic cells. Finally, we demonstrated that inflammation-induced aversion was not an indirect consequence of fever or anorexia but that it constituted an independent inflammatory symptom triggered by a unique molecular mechanism. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PGE(2)-mediated modulation of the dopaminergic motivational circuitry is a key mechanism underlying the negative affect induced by inflammation.
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| 34. |
- Gari, Hala, et al.
(författare)
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Amperometric In Vitro Monitoring of Penetration through Skin Membrane
- 2015
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Ingår i: Electroanalysis. - : Wiley. - 1040-0397 .- 1521-4109. ; 27:1, s. 111-117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to demonstrate that penetration of quercetin, hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid through skin membranes can be monitored amperometrically. Skin membrane was fixed on the top of chemically modified electrodes and penetration of the appropriate compound was registered as electrode current. The methodology allows the study of penetration from solution as well as from pharmaceutical creams. From real-time measurements of electrode current, fluxes and diffusion coefficients of mentioned compounds in skin membranes have been estimated.
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| 35. |
- Gidvall, Sanna, et al.
(författare)
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A novel versatile flow-donor chamber as biorelevant ex-vivo test assessing oral mucoadhesive formulations
- 2021
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 166
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Oral transmucosal drug delivery is a non-invasive administration route for rapid therapeutic onset and greater bioavailability avoiding the first-pass metabolism. Mucoadhesive formulations are advantageous as they may retain the drug at the administration site. Proper equipment to assess mucoadhesive properties and corresponding drug absorption is fundamental for the development of novel drug delivery systems. Here we developed a new flow-through donor chamber for well-established diffusion cells, and we tested the effects on drug and formulation retention in situ of adding mucoadhesive polymers or mesoporous silica particles to a reference formulation. Mesoporous silica particles are of particular interest as they may be used to encapsulate and retain drug molecules. Compared to other ex-vivo methods described in literature for assessing mucoadhesive performance and transmucosal drug delivery, this new donor chamber provides several advantages: i) it reflects physiological conditions better as a realistic saliva flow can be provided over the administration site, ii) it is versatile since it can be mounted on any kind of vertical diffusion cell allowing simultaneous detection of drug retention at the administration site and drug permeation through the tissue, and iii) it enables optical quantification of formulations residence time aided by image processing. This new flow-through donor diffusion cell set-up proved sensitive to differentiate a reference formulation from one where 20 %(w/w) Carbomer was added (to further improve the mucoadhesive properties), with respect to both drug and formulation residence times. We also found that mesoporous silica particles, investigated as particles only and mixed together with the reference formulation, gave very similar drug and formulation retention to what we observed with the mucoadhesive Carbomer. However, after some time (>30 min) it became obvious that the tablet excipients in the reference formulation promote particle retention on the mucosa. This work provides a new simple and versatile biorelevant test for the evaluation of oral mucoadhesive formulations and paves the way for further studies on mesoporous silica particles as valuable excipients for enhancing oral mucoadhesion.
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| 36. |
- Gustafsson, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of IFN-γ on the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio in monolayer-cultured keratinocytes and a 3D reconstructed human epidermis model
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of dermatological science (Amsterdam). - : Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. - 0923-1811 .- 1873-569X. ; 99:3, s. 177-184
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) represents a potent inducer for keratinocyte inflammatory and immune activation in vitro. Since tryptophan (trp) conversion to kynurenine (kyn) is involved in inflammation, the topical kyn/trp ratio may serve as a biomarker of skin inflammation. However, the trp metabolism in keratinocytes exposed to IFN-γ is not yet fully understood.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish a human epidermis model in order to quantify cytokine and kyn/trp secretion from IFN-γ stimulated cells and tissues. Moreover, to compare the cell response of 2D-cultured keratinocytes and the 3D epidermis model.METHODS: Polycarbonate filters were used on which primary keratinocytes could attach and stratify in order to form the typical layers of reconstructed human epidermis (RHE). After IFN-γ treatment, secretion of kyn/trp was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Gene and protein expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO) was analyzed with real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The secretion of cytokines was quantified with ELISA.RESULTS: Trp catabolism to kyn was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the 2D culture in response to IFN-γ treatment. Before kyn secretion, IDO was strongly upregulated (P < 0.001). IFN-γ treatment also increased the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 from the keratinocytes. In the RHE, IDO was upregulated by IFN-γ, and kyn secretion could be detected. Interestingly, IDO expression was only present in the basal cells of the RHE.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IFN-γ acts as an inducer of trp degradation preferentially in undifferentiated keratinocytes, indicated by the IDO expression in the basal layer of the RHE.
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| 37. |
- Hernández, Aura Rocio, et al.
(författare)
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New concepts for transdermal delivery of oxygen based on catalase biochemical reactions studied by oxygen electrode amperometry
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of Controlled Release. - : Elsevier. - 0168-3659 .- 1873-4995. ; 306, s. 121-129
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The development of formulation concepts for improved skin tissue oxygenation, including methods for measuring oxygen (O) transport across biological barriers, are important research topics with respect to all processes that are affected by the O concentration, such as radiation therapy in oncology treatments, wound healing, and the general health status of skin. In this work we approach this topic by a novel strategy based on the antioxidative enzyme catalase, which is naturally present in the skin organ where it enables conversion of the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (HO) into O. We introduce various applications of the skin covered oxygen electrode (SCOE) as an in-vitro tool for studies of catalase activity and function. The SCOE is constructed by placing an excised skin membrane directly on an O electrode and the methodology is based on measurements of the electrical current generated by reduction of O as a function of time (i.e. chronoamperometry). The results confirm that a high amount of native catalase is present in the skin organ, even in the outermost stratum corneum (SC) barrier, and we conclude that excised pig skin (irrespective of freeze-thaw treatment) represents a valid model for ex vivo human skin for studying catalase function by the SCOE setup. The activity of native catalase in skin is sufficient to generate considerable amounts of O by conversion from HO and proof-of-concept is presented for catalase-based transdermal O delivery from topical formulations containing HO. In addition, we show that this concept can be further improved by topical application of external catalase on the skin surface, which enables transdermal O delivery from 50 times lower concentrations of HO. These important results are promising for development of novel topical or transdermal formulations containing low and safe concentrations of HO for skin tissue oxygenation. Further, our results indicate that the O production by catalase, derived from topically applied S. epidermidis (a simple model for skin microbiota) is relatively low as compared to the O produced by the catalase naturally present in skin. Still, the catalase activity derived from S. epidermidis is measurable. Taken together, this work illustrates the benefits and versatility of the SCOE as an in vitro skin research tool and introduces new and promising strategies for transdermal oxygen delivery, with simultaneous detoxification of HO, based on native or topically applied catalase.
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| 38. |
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| 39. |
- Jankovskaja, Skaidre
(författare)
-
Non-invasive monitoring of low molecular weight biomarkers relevant to skin inflammation and cancer
- 2021
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Development of skin inflammation and cancer in viable epidermis and dermis involve slow molecular weight (LMW) metabolites. We hypothesize that these LMW compounds can be collected on the surface of the skin and used for non-invasive diagnostics of skin disorders. Keeping in mind that substantial transdermal penetrationis achieved only for molecules of < 500 Da, we focused on topical monitoring of LMW biomarkers. In this thesis we investigated non-invasive, topical methods for monitoring LMW biomarkers by relevant in vitro and in vivo experiments. The LMW biomarkers were:- reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically, hydrogen peroxide, H2O2- amino acids and their derivatives, i.e., tryptophan (Trp), kynurenine (Kyn; a Trpderivative), phenylalanine (Phe), and tyrosine (Tyr; a Phe derivative).Initially, we have carried out in vitro experiments using dermatomed porcine skin and cell cultures. We characterized permeability of the biomarkers through skin and assessed methods of their monitoring. By using Prussian white particles, deposited on porcine skin, we demonstrated that hydrophilic biomarkers, such as H2O2, permeate the skin mainly through hair follicle pathways (Paper I). In paper II, we have showed that the enzymes transforming Trp to the inflammation and cancer biomarker Kyn, are expressed in the basal layer of epidermis. The magnitude of changes of the Trp/Kyn ratio in the cell culture model was assessed. In paper III, we have characterized Trp and Kyn permeability through skin in vitro, concluding that their permeabilities through stratum corneum are comparable. By in vivo experiments outlined in Paper IV, we have demonstrated the feasibility of topical, non-invasive sampling of Trp and Kyn, in relation to other amino acids. Kyn detection was compromised by its low abundance on the skin. In paper V, we performed a proof-of-concept study in vivo and confirmed that non-invasive sampling of Trp and amino acids of similar abundance, such as Phe and Tyr, is more robust. We concluded that Phe/Trp ratio might be equally good biomarker of skin disorders as a predicted Trp/Kyn ratio. Summarizing, the results of this thesis provide basic knowledge for deeper clinical studies of non-invasive, topical sampling of hydrophilic LMW biomarkers of skin inflammation and cancer.
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| 40. |
- Jankovskaja, Skaidre, et al.
(författare)
-
Non-invasive skin sampling of tryptophan/kynurenine ratio in vitro towards a skin cancer biomarker
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The tryptophan to kynurenine ratio (Trp/Kyn) has been proposed as a cancer biomarker. Non-invasive topical sampling of Trp/Kyn can therefore serve as a promising concept for skin cancer diagnostics. By performing in vitro pig skin permeability studies, we conclude that non-invasive topical sampling of Trp and Kyn is feasible. We explore the influence of different experimental conditions, which are relevant for the clinical in vivo setting, such as pH variations, sampling time, and microbial degradation of Trp and Kyn. The permeabilities of Trp and Kyn are overall similar. However, the permeated Trp/Kyn ratio is generally higher than unity due to endogenous Trp, which should be taken into account to obtain a non-biased Trp/Kyn ratio accurately reflecting systemic concentrations. Additionally, prolonged sampling time is associated with bacterial Trp and Kyn degradation and should be considered in a clinical setting. Finally, the experimental results are supported by the four permeation pathways model, predicting that the hydrophilic Trp and Kyn molecules mainly permeate through lipid defects (i.e., the porous pathway). However, the hydrophobic indole ring of Trp is suggested to result in a small but noticeable relative increase of Trp diffusion via pathways across the SC lipid lamellae, while the shunt pathway is proposed to slightly favor permeation of Kyn relative to Trp.
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| 41. |
- Jankovskaja, Skaidre, et al.
(författare)
-
Non-Invasive, Topical Sampling of Potential, Low-Molecular Weight, Skin Cancer Biomarkers : A Study on Healthy Volunteers
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Analytical Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0003-2700 .- 1520-6882. ; 94:15, s. 5856-5865
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Monitoring of low-molecular weight cancer biomarkers, suchas tryptophan (Trp) and its derivative kynurenine (Kyn), might beadvantageous to non-invasive skin cancer detection. Thus, we assessedseveral approaches of topical sampling of Trp and Kyn, in relation tophenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr), on the volar forearm of six healthyvolunteers. The sampling was performed with three hydrogels (made ofagarose or/and chitosan), hydrated starchfilms, cotton swabs, and tapestripping. The biomarkers were successfully sampled by all approaches, butthe amount of collected Kyn was low, 20 +/- 10 pmol/cm2.Kynquantification was below LOQ, and thus, it was detected only in 20% oftopical samples. To mitigate variability problems of absolute amounts ofsampled amino acids, Tyr/Trp, Phe/Trp, and Phe/Tyr ratios were assessed,proving reduced inter-individual variation from 79 to 45% and intra-individual variation from 42 to 21%. Strong positive correlation was foundbetween Phe and Trp, pointing to the Phe/Trp ratio (being in the 1.0-2.0 range, at 95% confidence) being least dependent onsampling materials, approaches, and sweating. This study leads to conclusion that due to the difficulty in quantifying less abundantKyn, and thus the Trp/Kyn ratio, the Phe/Trp ratio might be a possible, alternative biomarker for detecting skin cancers.
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| 42. |
- Jankovskaja, Skaidre, et al.
(författare)
-
Visualisation of H2O2 penetration through skin indicates importance to develop pathway-specific epidermal sensing
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Microchimica Acta. - : Springer. - 0026-3672 .- 1436-5073. ; 187:12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elevated amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are observed in the epidermis in different skin disorders. Thus, epidermal sensing of H2O2 should be useful to monitor the progression of skin pathologies. We have evaluated epidermal sensing of H2O2 in vitro, by visualising H2O2 permeation through the skin. Skin membranes were mounted in Franz cells, and a suspension of Prussian white microparticles was deposited on the stratum corneum face of the skin. Upon H2O2 permeation, Prussian white was oxidised to Prussian blue, resulting in a pattern of blue dots. Comparison of skin surface images with the dot patterns revealed that about 74% of the blue dots were associated with hair shafts. The degree of the Prussian white to Prussian blue conversion strongly correlated with the reciprocal resistance of the skin membranes. Together, the results demonstrate that hair follicles are the major pathways of H2O2 transdermal penetration. The study recommends that the development of H2O2 monitoring on skin should aim for pathway-specific epidermal sensing, allowing micrometre resolution to detect and quantify this ROS biomarker at hair follicles. Graphical abstract
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| 43. |
- Jun, Seong-Hwan, et al.
(författare)
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Reconstructing clonal tree for phylo-phenotypic characterization of cancer using single-cell transcriptomics
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Functional characterization of the cancer clones can shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms driving cancer's proliferation and relapse mechanisms. Single-cell RNA sequencing data provide grounds for understanding the functional state of cancer as a whole; however, much research remains to identify and reconstruct clonal relationships toward characterizing the changes in functions of individual clones. We present PhylEx that integrates bulk genomics data with co-occurrences of mutations from single-cell RNA sequencing data to reconstruct high-fidelity clonal trees. We evaluate PhylEx on synthetic and well-characterized high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell line datasets. PhylEx outperforms the state-of-the-art methods both when comparing capacity for clonal tree reconstruction and for identifying clones. We analyze high-grade serous ovarian cancer and breast cancer data to show that PhylEx exploits clonal expression profiles beyond what is possible with expression-based clustering methods and clear the way for accurate inference of clonal trees and robust phylo-phenotypic analysis of cancer. The functional changes of individual clones in single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data remain elusive. Here, the authors develop PhylEx that integrates bulk genomics data with co-occurrences of mutations revealed by scRNA-seq data and apply it to high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell line and breast cancer datasets.
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| 44. |
- Klawonn, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Microglial activation elicits a negative affective state through prostaglandin-mediated modulation of striatal neurons
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Immunity. - : CELL PRESS. - 1074-7613 .- 1097-4180. ; 54:2, s. 225-234.e6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Microglia are activated in many neurological diseases and have been suggested to play an important role in the development of affective disorders including major depression. To investigate how microglial signaling regulates mood, we used bidirectional chemogenetic manipulations of microglial activity in mice. Activation of microglia in the dorsal striatum induced local cytokine expression and a negative affective state characterized by anhedonia and aversion, whereas inactivation of microglia blocked aversion induced by systemic inflammation. Interleukin-6 signaling and cyclooxygenase-1 mediated prostaglandin synthesis in the microglia were critical for the inflammation-induced aversion. Correspondingly, microglial activation led to a prostaglandin-dependent reduction of the excitability of striatal neurons. These findings demonstrate a mechanism by which microglial activation causes negative affect through prostaglandin-dependent modulation of striatal neurons and indicate that interference with this mechanism could milden the depressive symptoms in somatic and psychiatric diseases involving microglial activation.
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| 45. |
- Kumlien, Christine, et al.
(författare)
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Research priorities to prevent and treat diabetic foot ulcers-A digital James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Diabetic Medicine. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0742-3071 .- 1464-5491. ; 39:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim To establish outcomes of a priority setting partnership between participants with diabetes mellitus and clinicians to identify the top 10 research priorities for preventing and treating diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Methods Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership process was adapted into a digital format which involved a pilot survey to identify understandable uncertainties with high relevance for participants tested by calculating the content validity index; a main survey answered by 53 participants living with diabetes and 49 clinicians; and a final digital workshop to process and prioritise the final top 10 research priorities. Results The content validity index was satisfactory for 20 out of 25 uncertainties followed by minor changes and one additional uncertainty. After we processed the 26 uncertainties from the main survey and seven current guidelines, a list of 28 research uncertainties remained for review and discussion in the digital workshop. The final top 10 research priorities included the organisation of diabetes care; screening of diabetes, impaired blood circulation, neuropathy, and skin properties; vascular surgical treatment; importance of self-care; help from significant others; pressure relief; and prevention of infection. Conclusion The top 10 research priorities for preventing and treating DFUs represent consensus areas from persons living with diabetes and clinicians to guide future research. These research priorities can justify and inform strategic allocation of research funding. The digitalisation of James Lind Alliance methodology was feasible.
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| 46. |
- Kurt, Semih, et al.
(författare)
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CopyVAE: a variational autoencoder-based approach for copy number variation inference using single-cell transcriptomics
- 2024
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Ingår i: Bioinformatics. - : Oxford University Press. - 1367-4803 .- 1367-4811. ; 40:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Motivation: Copy number variations (CNVs) are common genetic alterations in tumour cells. The delineation of CNVs holds promise for enhancing our comprehension of cancer progression. Moreover, accurate inference of CNVs from single-cell sequencing data is essential for unravelling intratumoral heterogeneity. However, existing inference methods face limitations in resolution and sensitivity. Results: To address these challenges, we present CopyVAE, a deep learning framework based on a variational autoencoder architecture. Through experiments, we demonstrated that CopyVAE can accurately and reliably detect CNVs from data obtained using single-cell RNA sequencing. CopyVAE surpasses existing methods in terms of sensitivity and specificity. We also discussed CopyVAE’s potential to advance our understanding of genetic alterations and their impact on disease advancement. Availability and implementation: CopyVAE is implemented and freely available under MIT license at https://github.com/kurtsemih/copyVAE.
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| 47. |
- Lind, Tania K., et al.
(författare)
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Effects of ethylene oxide chain length on crystallization of polysorbate 80 and its related compounds
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. - : Elsevier. - 0021-9797 .- 1095-7103. ; 592, s. 468-484
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a result of the synthesis protocol polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80, PS80) is a highly complex mixture of compounds. PS80 was therefore separated into its main constituents, e.g. polyoxyethylene isosorbide esters and polyoxyethylene esters, as well as mono- di- and polyesters using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. In this comprehensive study the individual components and their ethoxylation level were verified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight and their thermotropic behavior was analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. A distinct correlation was found between the average length of the ethylene oxide (EO) chains in the headgroup and the individual compounds' ability to crystallize. Importantly, a critical number of EO units required for crystallization of the headgroup was determined (6 EO units per chain or 24 per molecule). The investigation also revealed that the hydrocarbon tails only crystallize for polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters if saturated. PS80 is synthesized by reacting with approximately 20 mol of EO per mole of sorbitol, however, the number of EO units in the sorbitan ester in commercial PS80 products is higher than the expected 20 (5 EO units per chain). The complex behavior of all tested compounds revealed that if the amount of several of the linear by-products is reduced, the number of EO units in the chains will stay below the critical number and the product will not be able to crystallize by the EO chains.
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| 48. |
- Mirrasekhian, Elahe, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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The antipyretic effect of paracetamol occurs independent of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1–mediated hypothermia and is associated with prostaglandin inhibition in the brain
- 2018
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Ingår i: FASEB Journal. - : Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. - 0892-6638 .- 1530-6860. ; 32:10, s. 5751-5759
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mode of action of paracetamol (acetaminophen), which is widely used for treating pain and fever, has remained obscure, but may involve several distinct mechanisms, including cyclooxygenase inhibition and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel activation, the latter being recently associated with paracetamol’s propensity to elicit hypothermia at higher doses. Here, we examined whether the antipyretic effect of paracetamol was due to TRPA1 activation or cyclooxygenase inhibition. Treatment of wild-type and TRPA1 knockout mice rendered febrile by immune challenge with LPS with a dose of paracetamol that did not produce hypothermia (150 mg/kg) but is known to be analgetic, abolished fever in both genotypes. Paracetamol completely suppressed the LPS-induced elevation of prostaglandin E2 in the brain and also reduced the levels of several other prostanoids. The hypothermia induced by paracetamol was abolished in mice treated with the electrophile-scavenger N-acetyl cysteine. We conclude that paracetamol’s antipyretic effect in mice is dependent on inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity, including the formation of pyrogenic prostaglandin E2, whereas paracetamol-induced hypothermia likely is mediated by the activation of TRPA1 by electrophilic metabolites of paracetamol, similar to its analgesic effect in some experimental paradigms.
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| 49. |
- Mojumdar, Enamul Haque, et al.
(författare)
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Probing skin barrier recovery on molecular level following acute wounds : An in vivo/ex vivo study on pigs
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biomedicines. - : MDPI AG. - 2227-9059. ; 9:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proper skin barrier function is paramount for our survival, and, suffering injury, there is an acute need to restore the lost barrier and prevent development of a chronic wound. We hypothesize that rapid wound closure is more important than immediate perfection of the barrier, whereas specific treatment may facilitate perfection. The aim of the current project was therefore to evaluate the quality of restored tissue down to the molecular level. We used Göttingen minipigs with a multi-technique approach correlating wound healing progression in vivo over three weeks, monitored by classical methods (e.g., histology, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), pH) and subsequent physicochemical characterization of barrier recovery (i.e., small and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (SWAXD), polarization transfer solid-state NMR (PTssNMR), dynamic vapor sorption (DVS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)), providing a unique insight into molecular aspects of healing. We conclude that although acute wounds sealed within two weeks as expected, molecular investigation of stratum corneum (SC) revealed a poorly developed keratin organization and deviations in lipid lamellae formation. A higher lipid fluidity was also observed in regenerated tissue. This may have been due to incomplete lipid conversion during barrier recovery as glycosphingolipids, normally not present in SC, were indicated by infrared FTIR spectroscopy. Evidently, a molecular approach to skin barrier recovery could be a valuable tool in future development of products targeting wound healing.
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| 50. |
- Morin, Maxim, et al.
(författare)
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Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Pharmaceutics. - : MDPI. - 1999-4923. ; 15:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many skin disorders, including cancer, have inflammatory components. The non-invasive detection of related biomarkers could therefore be highly valuable for both diagnosis and follow up on the effect of treatment. This study targets the extraction of tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolite kynurenine (Kyn), two compounds associated with several inflammatory skin disorders. We furthermore hypothesize that lipid-based bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals could be efficient extraction matrices. They comprise a large interfacial area separating interconnected polar and apolar domains, allowing them to accommodate solutes with various properties. We concluded, using the extensively studied GMO-water system as test-platform, that the hydrophilic Kyn and Trp favored the cubic phase over water and revealed a preference for locating at the lipid-water interface. The interfacial area per unit volume of the matrix, as well as the incorporation of ionic molecules at the lipid-water interface, can be used to optimize the extraction of solutes with specific physicochemical characteristics. We also observed that the cubic phases formed at rather extreme water activities (>0.9) and that wearing them resulted in efficient hydration and increased permeability of the skin. Evidently, bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals constitute a promising and versatile platform for non-invasive extraction of biomarkers through skin, as well as for transdermal drug delivery.
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