Long-term Sun Exposure Research Articles

SUNSERUM WAJAH SARI RIMPANG TEMU GIRING (Curcuma heyneana) TERFERMENTASI Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Long-term sun exposure can cause a variety of skin disorders, including sunburn and skin cancer. Sunscreen products containing antioxidants can help to prevent unwanted effects and protect the skin from free radicals. The rhizome of sleigh meeting (Curcuma heyneana) has chemicals 1,4- napthalenedione, 2-hydroxy-3-(-2-methyl-prophenyl), or other names Norlapachol, which has the potential as a suya screen and has strong antioxidant action. The study's goal is to see if the juice of fermented rhizome of Lactobacillus bulgaricus can be created as a sun serum face preparation, and then compare the value of antioxidant activity and sunscreen. Making fresh juice, fermented juice, phytochemical screening, preparation making, preparation evaluation, and SPF test are all part of the procedure. creating fresh juice, fermented juice, phytochemical screening, creating preparations, evaluating preparations, in-vitro SPF testing using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and antioxidant testing with the DPPH (2,2-Dyphenyl-1- Pycrylhydrazyl) method are all part of the approach. SPF F1 test value: 27.40 (ultra protected); F2: 27.84 (ultra protected); antioxidant activity test results: the IC50 value of fresh juice is 15.92 ppm (very strong); fermented juice is 11.02 ppm (very strong); and all preparation evaluations met the requirements according to the test standards. According to the findings, fresh and fermented ginger rhizome juice can be prepared as a sunscreen and antioxidant-rich facial sun serum preparation.

Osteoporosis and dermatoporosis: a review on the role of vitamin D.

Osteoporosis (OP) and Dermatoporosis (DP) are expressions of the aging process at the skin and bone levels, respectively. Both conditions are associated with increased morbidity for elderly people, and this requires necessary interventions. They share many common risk factors; among these, vitamin D (VD) deficiency appears to have a role. VD is involved in either disease with many mechanisms, among which immunomodulation. VD deficiency has been linked to OP because it inhibits the body's capacity to absorb calcium and maintain optimal bone health. Available evidence suggests that proper vitaminosis D also appears to be vital in preventing skin age-related issues. DP is often seen in elderly individuals, particularly those with long-term sun exposure and a history of chronic sun damage. VD deficiency can be linked to DP, since its involvement in collagen production, epidermal barrier function, inflammation regulation, wound healing, and sun protection. Aim of this review is to summarize the most updated existing evidence on the role of VD in the development of fragility syndromes such as DP and OP and the possible benefits of VD supplementation as a simple and harmful weapon against aging.

Sun Exposure and Intima-Media Thickness in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine whether long-term sun exposure has a protective role in subclinical cardiovascular disease in adult Mexican women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a sample of women from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort (MTC) study. Sun exposure was assessed in the MTC 2008 baseline questionnaire, in which women were asked about their sun-related behavior. Vascular neurologists measured carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using standard techniques. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the difference in mean IMT and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), according to categories of sun exposure and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs for carotid atherosclerosis. Results: The mean age of participants was 49.6 ± 5.5 years, the mean IMT was 0.678 ± 0.097 mm, and the mean accumulated hours of weekly sun exposure were 2.9 ± 1.9. Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was 20.9%. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of sun exposure, women in the highest quartile had lower mean IMT, but this was not significant in the multivariable adjusted analysis. (Adjusted mean % difference: -0.8; 95% CI: -2.3 to 0.8). The multivariate adjusted ORs of carotid atherosclerosis were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.24-1.18) for women who were exposed 9 hours. For women who denied regular sunscreen use, those in the higher exposure category (9 hours) had lower mean IMT compared with those in the lower category (multivariable-adjusted mean % difference = -2.67; 95% CI: -6.9 to -1.5). Conclusions: We observed that cumulative sun exposure was inversely associated with IMT and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. If these findings are further replicated and seen for other cardiovascular outcomes, sun exposure could be an easy, affordable strategy to lower overall cardiovascular risk.

The Comparison of Sun Protection Factor 30 Persistence Between Inorganic and Organic Sunscreen in Swimmers: Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Long-term sun exposure is one of the risks faced by outdoor swimmers and can cause sunburn. Using sunscreen is one way to prevent sunburn; however, physical activity can trigger sweat, friction, and water washing that can interfere with sunscreen efficacy and decrease its sun protection factor (SPF). Sunscreens are classified into inorganic and organic based on their filter. Organic sunscreen has a better bond to the skin than inorganic sunscreen, which forms a barrier above the skin layer that makes removing it easier. Organic sunscreen lasts longer than inorganic sunscreen when used in physical activities, but it has a limited spectrum, is more photolabile, and is more allergenic. This study aims to evaluate the persistency of SPF 30 between inorganic and organic sunscreens on the back area after 1.5 hours of swimming. This study is a randomized, split-body, double-blind clinical trial to evaluate the persistency of SPF 30 of the inorganic versus organic sunscreens in swimmers. Randomization was done to allocate the participants into treatment groups. Each participant received inorganic and organic sunscreen treatments applied to the back area. The research participants were swimmers from the Cikini swimming pool and Bina Taruna swimming pool, both in Jakarta, Indonesia. A total of 22 swimmers were enrolled in this study. The analysis showed no significant difference between the SPF of the two sunscreens before swimming (P=.22). After swimming, the SPF levels of both sunscreens decreased: the inorganic sunscreen decreased from a median of 27 (range 23-47) to 12.3 (range 8-19), and the organic sunscreen decreased from a median of 30 (range 24-47) to 9.9 (range 6-19), which was statistically significant (P<.001). When comparing the SPF of inorganic and organic sunscreens after swimming, there was a statistically significant difference in the decrease in SPF levels between the two groups (P=.02), which indicated a better SPF persistence for inorganic sunscreens when compared to organic sunscreens. There was a decrease in the SPF levels of inorganic and organic sunscreens after 1.5 hours of swimming, with better persistence in inorganic sunscreens compared to organic sunscreens. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04618536; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04618536. RR2-10.2196/42504.

Comparison of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 Persistence Between Inorganic and Organic Sunscreen in Swimmers: Protocol for a Multicenter, Randomized, Noninferiority, Split-Body, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Outdoor swimming athletes are often exposed to undesirable environmental conditions such as long-term sun exposure. The risk of sunburn can still occur in this population due to the loss of sunscreen and an increase in the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet rays, particularly ultraviolet B, in wet conditions. Some previous trials showed that organic sunscreens had a longer shelf-life than inorganic sunscreens after exercise due to their characteristics to bind better with the skin layer. Meanwhile, inorganic sunscreens tend to form layers on the skin's surface so that they can be more easily removed. To our knowledge, no studies evaluate sunscreens' resistance, either inorganic or organic, after exercising in Indonesia. This study aims to evaluate the persistence of inorganic versus organic sunscreens used by swimmers. The primary objective is to assess whether the inorganic sunscreen is as good as the organic sunscreen in the field of the persistence of sunscreens after swimming for 1.5 hours. This study is a randomized, split-body, double-blind, noninferiority, and multicenter clinical trial in Cikini, Jakarta, Indonesia. An estimated 22 athletes in each group, who aged 18-40 years and practice in the morning or afternoon, will be randomized using a computer-generated randomization method. We calculated the sample size using the difference in the average decrease in sun protection factor (SPF) levels that is considered significant based on the clinical judgment set by the researchers, which was 5. Neither the research subjects nor the researchers are aware of the type of sunscreen that will be applied. The hypothesis will be tested using paired-sample t test or Wilcoxon to assess the difference of SPF levels in each group between organic and inorganic sunscreens with SPSS (version 20.0; IBM Corp). This study has been approved by the Ethical Committee Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia and is funded by the International Publication Grant from Universitas Indonesia. The enrollment process was completed in December 2020. This study will test all procedures in preparation for conducting the main study, including several potential obstacles and challenges from the perspective of participating physicians and eligible swimmers. The study results will be disseminated through publications in a peer-reviewed journal with Open Access format. This study will provide information about SPF 30 persistence in sunscreens and the best type of sunscreen to be used while swimming, particularly for athletes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04618536; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04618536?term=NCT04618536. RR1-10.2196/42504.

Modulation of autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress: a clue for repurposing metformin in photoaging

Long-term sun exposure is the commonest cause of photoaging, where mutual interplay between autophagy, oxidative stress, and apoptosis is incriminated. In combating photoaging, pharmacological approaches targeted to modulate autophagy are currently gaining more ground. This study aimed to examine repurposing metformin use in such context with or without the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (coQ10) in ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation-induced skin damage. The study was conducted on 70 female CD1 mice that were randomly assigned into seven groups (10/group): normal control, vehicle-treated-UVA-exposed mice, three metformin UVA-exposed groups (Topical 1 and 10%, and oral 300 mg/kg), topical coQ10 (1%)-treated mice, and combined oral metformin with topical coQ10-treated UVA-exposed mice. After UVA-exposure for 10 weeks (3 times/week), macroscopic signs of photoaging were evaluated. Mice were then euthanized, and the skin was harvested for biochemical estimation of markers for oxidative stress, inflammation, matrix breakdown, and lysosomal function. Histopathological signs of photoaging were also evaluated with immunohistochemical detection of associated changes in autophagic and apoptotic markers. Metformin, mainly by topical application, improved clinical and histologic signs of photoaging. This was associated with suppression of the elevated oxidative stress, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 1, and caspase, with induction of cathepsin D and subsequent change in anti-LC3 and P62 staining in skin tissue. In addition to metformin antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities, its anti-photoaging effect is mainly attributed to enhancing autophagic flux by inducing cathepsin D. Its protective effect is boosted by coQ10, which supports their potential use in photoaging.

129 Pervasive immune dysfunction characterizes photoaged skin

Long-term sun exposure markedly accelerates the skin changes of chronological aging, leading to deterioration of skin function and appearance in a process termed Photoaging. The molecular mechanisms underlying photoaging remain incompletely defined, due largely to the limitations of ex vivo studies. To interrogate this phenomenon in vivo, we performed single-cell RNA-seq of sun-protected and sun-exposed skin from four ∼20-year-old (yo) and four ∼90yo donors. Clustering and annotation of the resulting cells revealed pervasive immune dysfunction in photoaged skin.

Hypersensitivity reaction in the course of acitnic keratosis treatment – case report

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common skin disease caused by long-term sun exposure and typically forms on the face, neck, balding scalp, chest and shoulders. AK is characterized by the formation of keratotic macules, papules, or plaques with superficial scales on a red base. Treatment options for actinic keratosis include destructive therapies (eg, surgery, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy [PDT], dermabrasion), topical medications (eg, diclofenac, topical fluorouracil, imiquimod, ingenol mebutate), and field ablation treatments (eg, chemical peels, laser resurfacing). The aim of this paper was to present a case of patient with AK and the allergic reaction to the 3% diclofenac sodium topical gel ( DSTG) treatment. After a few days of therapy an acute, eczematous reaction on the face was observed. The symptoms have subsided within a week after discontinuing the treatment. The patch test with 3% diclofenac sodium topical gel was performed and evaluated as positive suggesting a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to active medication or its inactive ingredients. In case of contact allergy confirmed with PT, it is important to inform the patient on the need of future medication avoidance.

Role of cytoplasmic localization of discoidin domain receptor 1 in basal-cell carcinoma

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the role of discoidin domain receptors (DDR1) in the pathogenesis of basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) through its immunohistochemical expression and to correlate its expression with clinicopathological parameters. Background BCC is the most common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The pathogenesis is usually combined with environmental factors, mainly ultraviolet irradiation through long-term sun exposure. Patients and methods This retrospective case–control study was carried out on 77 patients presented with BCC and 20 age-matched and gender-matched apparently healthy volunteers. Skin biopsies from controls and BCC cases were retrieved from the archives of Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University for histopathological and immunohistochemical DDR1 evaluation. Results Cytoplasmic localization of DDR1 could be incriminated in the development and progression of BCC. DDR1 offers potential targeted therapy in cancer, as none of the control groups showed cytoplasmic epithelial localization DDR1, whereas (90.9%) cytoplasmic epithelial localizations were demonstrated in BCC (P 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). Conclusion Cytoplasmic localization of DDR1 has a role in the pathogenesis of BCC which can be a new therapeutic target in BCC.

Epidemiological Patterns of Skin Disease in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Large epidemiological studies on patterns of skin diseases in Saudi Arabia are scarce. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to gather available epidemiologic data describing the pattern of skin diseases in different geographical areas in Saudi Arabia. Methods A comprehensive literature search of articles was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science through October 2019. We included all published cross-sectional studies that provided data on relevant incidence or prevalence of skin disease in Saudi Arabia. The risk of bias within the included cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Hoy tool for the prevalence studies. All statistical analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software. Results The present meta-analysis included 14 studies that reported the frequency of the skin disease patterns in different regions in Saudi Arabia with a total sample size of 30436 patients with an overall low risk of bias. The diseases of skin appendages and dermatitis were the most commonly reported skin diseases in Saudi Arabia (24.8% (95% CI, 24.3–25.3) and 24% (95% CI, 23.6%–24.6%), respectively). Skin infection represented about 18.5% (95% CI, 18.1%–19%), while the papulosquamous disorders represented 5.3% (95% CI, 5%–5.6%) of the skin diseases in Saudi Arabia. Skin cancers were pooled from only two studies. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were the most common malignant neoplasm in Saudi Arabia (51.4% and 22.5% of the malignant neoplasm, respectively), while malignant melanoma represents only 3.8% of the malignant skin cancer. Conclusion Adnexal disorders and dermatitis are the most common skin disease in Saudi Arabia, followed by skin infection and pigmentary disorders. While skin cancer is more frequent than other countries, awareness campaigns should be initiated to increase knowledge about the harmful effect of long-term sun exposure.

Merkel cell carcinoma and 18FDG PET-CT: A case report

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine skin tumor with an unpredictable evolution and high metastatic potential. It usually occurs in the elderly people with long-term sun exposure or weak immune systems. The avidity of MCCs for 18F-flourodeoxyglucose justifies the use of positron emission tomography for its staging.

Alimentos com ação fotoprotetora : possível prevenção no câncer de pele?

Introdução: O câncer de pele é o mais frequente no Brasil e representa 30% de todos os tumores malignos registrados no país. Alguns compostos bioativos presentes nos alimentos como carotenóides (betacaroteno, licopeno), probióticos e ômega-3, extrato de própolis, podem auxiliar na proteção da pele contra os danos causados por raios ultravioleta. Material e método: Para atingir o objetivo foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica para avaliar a ação fotoprotetora dos compostos bioativos, nas principais bases de dados em saúde Pubmed, Lilacs e Scielo, com palavras-chave: neoplasias cutâneas, dieta, fotoproteção, nos idiomas português e inglês, considerando o período de 2008 a 2019. Resultado: O uso de betacaroteno na fotoproteção mostrou-se eficaz, com suplementação diária entre 15 mg e 180 mg e protegeu a pele contra queimaduras solares. Extrato de tomate contendo licopeno conferiu proteção contra danos agudos à pele causados pela exposição solar à longo prazo. A suplementação de licopeno e luteína protegeu a pele contra danos à pele causados pela radiação solar. A ingestão diária da bebida polifenol chá verde por 12 semanas apresentou efeito fotoprotetor. Observou-se que substâncias não tóxicas consumidas na dieta como polifenóis em frutas, vegetais, vinho, chá e cafeína, ou disponíveis na forma oral de suplementos, podem aumentar a produção de ATP e inibir a produção de ROS ou diminui a produção de PGE2, causando redução dos danos induzidos pela luz solar em humanos e protegendo a pele por vários mecanismos potenciais. Extrato de própolis tem sido utilizado no preparo de alimentos e bebidas com a finalidade de melhorar ou prevenir o câncer, e a fruta romã pode exercer ação antiinflamatória, antiproliferativa e ter efeitos anti-tumorigênicos. Conclusão: Conforme os artigos estudados, o consumo dos compostos bioativos carotenoides como betacaroteno e licopeno, flavonóides, polifenóis, cafeína, ácidos graxos poli-insaturados ômega-3, vitamina E e minerais como o selênio, são estratégias eficientes na proteção da pele contra a radiação solar, diminuindo o risco do câncer de pele. Entretanto, mais estudos clínicos randomizados precisam ser realizados para confirmar seus efeitos e estabelecer doses adequadas para efeito fotoprotetor.&#x0D;

Melanogenic Difference Consideration in Ethnic Skin Type: A Balance Approach Between Skin Brightening Applications and Beneficial Sun Exposure.

Human skin demonstrates a striking variation in tone and color that is evident among multiple demographic populations. Such characteristics are determined predominantly by the expression of the genes controlling the quantity and quality of melanin, which can alter significantly due to the presence of small nucleotide polymorphism affecting various steps of the melanogenesis process and generally linked to the lighter skin phenotypes. Genetically determined, constitutive skin color is additionally complemented by the facultative melanogenesis and tanning responses; with high levels of melanin and melanogenic factors broadly recognized to have a protective effect against the UVR-induced molecular damage in darker skin. Long-term sun exposure, together with a genetic makeup responsible for the ability to tan or the activity of constitutive melanogenic factors, triggers defects in pigmentation across all ethnic skin types. However, sun exposure also has well documented beneficial effects that manifest at both skin homeostasis and the systemic level, such as synthesis of vitamin D, which is thought to be less efficient in the presence of high levels of melanin or potentially linked to the polymorphism in the genes responsible for skin darkening triggered by UVR. In this review, we discuss melanogenesis in a context of constitutive pigmentation, defined by gene polymorphism in ethnic skin types, and facultative pigmentation that is not only associated with the capacity to protect the skin against photo-damage but could also have an impact on vitamin D synthesis through gene polymorphism. Modulating the activities of melanogenic genes, with the focus on the markers specifically altered by polymorphism combined with differential requirements of sun exposure in ethnic skin types, could enhance the applications of already existing skin brightening factors and provide a novel approach toward improved skin tone and health in personalized skincare.

Healthcare utilization of people with AK

Actinic keratoses (AK) are rough skin lesions (patches) caused by long-term sun exposure in people with light skin. The prevalence of AK is high, affecting 24-60% of people above the age of 50. Having many AKs is a sign that a person may be more likely to develop skin cancer. This study, from the Netherlands, aimed to provide insight in the management (treatment) of AKs, by describing how healthcare services are used by people with AK, and its management by GPs and dermatologists. The authors found that a large proportion of people with AK are not aware of having AK, and thus not aware of an increased skin cancer risk. Its treatment at the GP largely seems inconsistent with guidelines, and 31% are directly referred to the dermatologist at the first GP appointment. These referrals are usually not related to the extensiveness of the AK, meaning how many AKs the person has. This causes a high burden in secondary care (e.g. hospitals, where people are referred to dermatologists) with patients who could be easily treated by the GP. At the dermatologists there is a high rate of follow-up of patients with AK, meaning they come back for further appointments. The authors conclude that their findings indicate inefficient use of healthcare resources. They suggest that to overcome this, motives of GPs and dermatologists for diverging from current guidelines in the management of AK need to be explored.

441 Overlapping functions of PARP1 and p63 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Cutaneous SCC (cSCC) is the second most frequent type of human malignancy worldwide primarily caused by chronic long-term sun exposure. Somatic mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 have been shown to occur frequently in aged sun-exposed skin and to favor clonal expansion. In contrast, p63, a p53 family member, is rarely mutated in cancer and rather is overexpressed and/or amplified in squamous cell carcinomas. Several studies have shown that p63 overexpression leads to higher proliferation rates and an increased ability to contrast differentiation, cellular senescence and apoptosis. Using a proteomic screening, we identified PARP1 as a p63 protein partner. PARP1 is an enzyme that add PAR moieties onto target proteins and regulates different cellular processes including DNA repair and transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, it is a known therapeutic target for several tumor types including breast and ovarian cancer. Similar to p63, PARP1 is abundantly expressed in a large cohort of cSCC samples as compared to normal skin and is upregulated in cSCC cell lines. To investigate whether PARP1 and p63 coordinately regulate global patterns of gene expression, either PARP1 or p63 were knocked down in SCC cells followed by RNA-seq. Correlation analyses of the transcriptomic profile under basal condition, showed that a large proportion of genes affected by the depletion of one factor was similarly affected by the depletion of the other, causing a highly significant coordinated perturbation in transcription. Furthermore, most of the downregulated genes in PARP1 and p63 depleted cells are involved specifically in cell cycle progression and mitosis. Taken together these data reveal a previously unrecognized functional interaction between p63 and PARP1 in regulating transcription of a large set of cell cycle genes during early stages of skin tumorigenesis, potentially opening a window for novel therapeutic intervention.

A New Light-Emitting, Fabric-Based Device for Photodynamic Therapy of Actinic Keratosis: Protocol for a Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter, Intra-Individual, Phase II Noninferiority Study (the Phosistos Study).

BackgroundActinic keratosis (AK) is a common early in situ skin carcinoma caused by long-term sun exposure and usually develops on sun-exposed skin areas. Left untreated, AK may progress to squamous cell carcinoma. To prevent such risk, most clinicians routinely treat AK. Therapy options for AK include cryotherapy, topical treatments, curettage, excision surgery, and photodynamic therapy (PDT).ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the noninferiority, in terms of efficacy at 3 months, of a PDT protocol involving a new light-emitting device (PDT using the Phosistos protocol [P-PDT]) compared with the conventional protocol (PDT using the conventional protocol [C-PDT]) in the treatment of AK.MethodsIn this randomized, controlled, multicenter, intra-individual, phase II noninferiority clinical study, subjects with AK of the forehead and scalp are treated with P-PDT on one area and with C-PDT on the contralateral area. In both areas, lesions are prepared and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is applied. Thirty minutes after MAL application, the P-PDT area is exposed to red light at low irradiance (1.3 mW/cm2) for 2.5 hours so that a light dose of 12 J/cm2 is achieved. In the control area (C-PDT area), a 37 J/cm2 red light irradiation is performed 3 hours after MAL application. Recurrent AK at 3 months is retreated. The primary end point is the lesion complete response rate at 3 months. Secondary end points include pain scores at 1 day, local tolerance at 7 days, lesion complete response rate at 6 months, cosmetic outcome at 3 and 6 months, and patient-reported quality of life and satisfaction throughout the study. A total of 45 patients needs to be recruited.ResultsClinical investigations are complete: 46 patients were treated with P-PDT on one area (n=285 AK) and with C-PDT on the contralateral area (n=285 AK). Data analysis is ongoing, and statistical results will be available in the first half of 2019.ConclusionsIn case of noninferiority in efficacy and superiority in tolerability of P-PDT compared with C-PDT, P-PDT could become the treatment of choice for AK.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03076892; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03076892 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/779qqVKek)International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/12990

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Gene-encoded Antioxidant Peptide from Odorous Frog Skin.

Amphibian skin plays an essential role in protecting organisms from harmful external factors such as UV radiation. How amphibians protect themselves from reactive oxygen species following long-term sun exposure is an important and interesting question. Amphibian skins possess a novel antioxidant system composed of various Antioxidant Peptides (AOPs), which maintain redox homeostasis. However, only a few AOPs have been identified so far. Using combinational methods of peptidomics and genomics, we characterized a novel gene-encoded antioxidant peptide (herein named OA-VI12) from Odorrana andersonii skin secretions, which was produced by the post-translational processing of a 59-residue prepropeptide. The amino acid sequence of the OA-V112 was 'VIPFLACRPLGL', with a molecular mass of 1298.6 Da and no observed post-transcriptional modifications. Functional analysis demonstrated that OA-VI12 was capable of scavenging ABTS+, DPPH, NO and decreasing the Fe3+ production. We determined that the C7 amino acid was responsible for ABTS+ and Fe3+ scavenging, activities, the F4, C7, and P9 amino acids were crucial for DPPH scavenging activity, and the P9 amino acid was responsible for NO scavenging activity. Unlike several other amphibian peptides, OA-VI12 did not accelerate wound healing in a full-thickness skin-wound mouse model and did not demonstrate direct microbial killing. Here, we identified and named a novel gene-encoded antioxidant peptide from the skin secretions of an odorous frog species, which may assist in the development of potential antioxidant candidates. This study may help improve our understanding of the molecular basis of amphibians' adaptation to environments experiencing long-term UV radiation.

Identification of low oxygen tolerating bacteria in prostate secretions of cancer patients: aetiological and therapeutic relevance

BackgroundThe sun-sensitive microaerophilic organism Propionibacterium acnes shows linkage with prostate cancer. That circumcision reduces risk of this cancer further supports a role for anaerobes since circumcision reduces the number of anaerobes on the glans penis. A 1988 study linked anaerobes with prostate cancer but considered them to be opportunists in a necrotic tumour. Rediscovering this research led us to revisit the previous hypothesis suggesting that decades of a similar process to that linking Helicobacter pylori (also microaerophilic) to stomach cancer might also be relevant in prostate cancer; and justified this feasibility study to seek evidence to support this hypothesis. MethodsTwo groups of patients were studied: patients with prostate cancer from Barts prostate clinic (active surveillance, n=18) and new referrals with urinary symptoms for investigation through Newham General Hospital (n=21). Urine samples from post-massage examinations were screened with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) for identification of bacteria grown under anaerobic conditions. Ten preoperative urine samples investigated for non-urological conditions were controls. FindingsAnaerobic organisms were identified in eight (41%) of 18 patients in the active surveillance group, nine (43%) of 21 in the new referral group, and none of ten control samples. In a post-hoc analysis, anaerobes were associated with raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (1 [9%] of 11 men with PSA <1·5 vs 16 [57%] of 28 with PSA ≥1·5, p=0·011 [Fisher's exact test]). InterpretationThe numbers of prostate cancers in this series and in similar series in the literature are small (n=27) but the frequency of anaerobes in a comparison with literature control urine samples cultured for anaerobes (n=551) was significantly different (odds ratio 17·8, 95% CI 7·6–42·0). Clearly this needs further investigation in better defined patient and control series. Over several decades anaerobes could be of aetiological significance in prostate cancer and exacerbated by repeated episodes of vitamin D deficiency, thereby explaining linkage with long-term sun exposure but not spot vitamin D concentrations. Success with bacterial vaccines for women with recurrent cystitis suggests potential new approaches to prevent prostate cancer and potentially also cervical cancer in women infected with HPV, given evidence that bacterial vaginosis also involving anaerobes is a known cofactor of cervical cancer. FundingMW received a grant from Barts and The London Charity for purchase of MALDI-TOF equipment (grant reference number 486/1193).

Validation of Sun Exposure Reported Annually Against Interim Self-report and Daily Sun Diaries.

Data on personal sun exposure over a period exceeding the immediate past days or weeks are typically self-reported in brief questionnaire items. The validity of such self-reporting of longer term personal sun exposure, for example over a year, including detail on variation across seasons, has not previously been investigated. In a volunteer sample (n=331) of Australian adults aged 18years and over, we assessed the 12-month reliability of sun exposure reported separately for each season, and its accuracy compared to a daily sun diary in the same season. Seasonal time outdoors displayed fair-to-good reliability between baseline and end of study (12months), with responses showing higher agreement at lower levels of time outdoors. There was good agreement for ranking of individuals' time outdoors with the daily sun diary data, although the actual diary time outdoors was typically considerably lower than the self-reported questionnaire data. Place of residence, education, being a smoker, day of the week (i.e. working day vs nonworking day) and working mainly outdoors were significant predictors of agreement. While participants overestimated their actual time outdoors, the self-report questionnaire provided a valid ranking of long-term sun exposure against others in the study that was reliable over time.

Abstract B89: The significance of Vitamin D deficiency and anaerobes in prostate cancer

Abstract Objective: Long-term sun exposure estimates correlate with risk of PC possibly due to long-term Vitamin D deficiency diminishing macrophage function allowing persistence of low grade pathogens causing chronic inflammation leading to Proliferative Inflammatory Atrophy and then cancer. Recently infection with two low grade pathogenic organisms, teenage acne associated Vitamin D sensitive anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium.acnes (PA) and protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis (TA), have been notable exceptions. This presentation reports a systematic review of reports on anaerobes, circumcision and the association of sun exposure in causation of PC and considers how these observations could contributing to increased PC in Africa Methods: Pubmed searches using terms prostate or prostatic, sunshine or UVB or Vitamin D and acne or PA or TA were performed Results: Two systematic reviews of PC and Vitamin D failed to produce a consistent association. 4/4 studies of index of long-term sun exposure involving 1568 patients and 9/12 geographic studies demonstrated that high UVB exposure reduced PC risk. 4/5 publications on PA and PC and 2/3 publications on TV and PC showed consistent increase risk of PC associated with infection. Ten studies involving 5681 patients demonstrated significant reduction of PC in circumcised individuals (OR 0.87), including one in African American Men showing lower incidence of circumcision possibly contributing to their higher frequency Conclusion: Reduced long-term Vitamin D mediated non-specific macrophage surveillance against low-grade pathogenic anaerobes could explain these associations with PC and increasing urbanisation could be a factor in the health inequality as measured by prostate cancer incidence in African-American men. Citation Format: Tim Oliver, Lucy Blackburn, Frank Chinegwundoh. The significance of Vitamin D deficiency and anaerobes in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B89.