Identification of acem acem leaves as hand washing media for pesticide user

To replace the unavailability of water and soap in the fields, Karo farmers use a type of wild plant known as “daun acem acem” to clean their hands that are exposed to pesticides. This study aims to identify wild plant species that were carried out on horticultural farms that were used by farmers to clean the pesticide exposure. The research location is in Sumber Mufakat village, Kabanjahe district, Karo district in 2019-2020. This is a descriptive survey where the leaf as samples were taken by making observation plots measuring 1mx1m and placing them at random research locations in 20 farmer fields. The data analyzed in descriptive by compare and tracing in exploration. The result found that acem acem leaves have a leaf shape like clover and have flowers. Generally grows wild around plants that contain lots of water. This plant also contains water, especially in the stems and roots. This mountain clover is included in the genus oxalis and the species Oxalis dehradunensis Raizada. Farmers are sure that these leaves are effective in cleaning the pesticides at the skin exposure. This plant contains saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and oxalic acid and is effective to increase the personal hygiene of farmers.

Dermal Exposure to the Immunomodulatory Antimicrobial Chemical Triclosan Alters the Skin Barrier Integrity and Microbiome in Mice

Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical used in healthcare settings that can be absorbed through the skin. Exposure to triclosan has been positively associated with food and aeroallergy and asthma exacerbation in humans and, although not directly sensitizing, has been demonstrated to augment the allergic response in a mouse model of asthma. The skin barrier and microbiome are thought to play important roles in regulating inflammation and allergy and disruptions may contribute to development of allergic disease. To investigate potential connections of the skin barrier and microbiome with immune responses to triclosan, SKH1 mice were exposed dermally to triclosan (0.5–2%) or vehicle for up to 7 consecutive days. Exposure to 2% triclosan for 5–7 days on the skin was shown to increase transepidermal water loss levels. Seven days of dermal exposure to triclosan decreased filaggrin 2 and keratin 10 expression, but increased filaggrin and keratin 14 protein along with the danger signal S100a8 and interleukin-4. Dermal exposure to triclosan for 7 days also altered the alpha and beta diversity of the skin and gut microbiome. Specifically, dermal triclosan exposure increased the relative abundance of the Firmicutes family, Lachnospiraceae on the skin but decreased the abundance of Firmicutes family, Ruminococcaceae in the gut. Collectively, these results demonstrate that repeated dermal exposure to the antimicrobial chemical triclosan alters the skin barrier integrity and microbiome in mice, suggesting that these changes may contribute to the increase in allergic immune responses following dermal exposure to triclosan.

Prevention and management of moisture-associated skin damage

Disruption to the integrity of the skin can reduce patient wellbeing and quality of life. A major cause of skin breakdown is prolonged exposure to moisture, but this is often overlooked. When skin is wet, it becomes more susceptible to damage from friction and shearing forces, and skin flora can penetrate the disrupted barrier, causing further irritation and inflammation. If untreated, moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) can rapidly lead to excoriation and skin breakdown. MASD includes incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), which is caused by prolonged skin exposure to urine and stool, particularly liquid stool. For patients at a high risk of developing IAD, preventive measures should be instituted as soon as possible. The main one is to prevent excessive contact of the skin with moisture. Optimal skin care should be provided to patients with any form of MASD. It should be based on a structured regimen and include the use of a gentle skin cleanser, a barrier product and moisturiser. Derma Protective Plus is a liquid barrier that gives long-lasting protection against chafing or ingress of urine and stool into the skin. This product is less greasy than others, and provides a barrier and a healing environment, with resistance to further maceration from IAD or persistent loose stools.

Docetaxel Skin Exposure and Micronucleation Contributes to Skin Toxicity Caused by CPC634

Docetaxel entrapped nanoparticle CPC634 is associated with dose-related skin toxicity that resembles conventional docetaxel (Cd)-related skin toxicity. This study compared the cutaneous pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of docetaxel and CPC634. In this randomised cross-over study, patients with solid tumours received one cycle of CPC634 and Cd (both at 75 mg/m2). Skin biopsies were taken at baseline and at day 8 of both cycles. Released and total docetaxel (released docetaxel plus entrapped docetaxel) concentrations and histopathological changes in the skin biopsies were evaluated. Twenty patients underwent paired skin biopsies for pharmacokinetic analysis and 10 patients had biopsies available for histopathological assessment. The total skin docetaxel concentration was 369% (95%CI: 229% to 569%, p < 0.001) higher after CPC634 administration compared to Cd while the released docetaxel concentrations were not statistically different (95%CI: −9% to 63%, p = 0.169). The CPC634 released docetaxel concentration in the skin was positively correlated with plasma concentrations (Pearson’s correlation 0.48, p = 0.03). Histopathological examination revealed increased apoptosis, mitotic cells with nuclear atypia, and micronucleation with an enhanced Ki-67 index for both compounds. In conclusion, both CPC634 and Cd treatment result in docetaxel exposure in the skin causing cutaneous anti-mitotic effects such as micronucleation, which could induce an inflammatory reaction leading to skin toxicity.

Epigenetic Markers Are Associated With Differences in Isocyanate Biomarker Levels in Exposed Spray-Painters

Isocyanates are respiratory and skin sensitizers that are one of the main causes of occupational asthma globally. Genetic and epigenetic markers are associated with isocyanate-induced asthma and, before asthma develops, we have shown that genetic polymorphisms are associated with variation in plasma and urine biomarker levels in exposed workers. Inter-individual epigenetic variance may also have a significant role in the observed biomarker variability following isocyanate exposure. Therefore, we determined the percent methylation for CpG islands from DNA extracted from mononuclear blood cells of 24 male spray-painters exposed to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) monomer and HDI isocyanurate. Spray-painters’ personal inhalation and skin exposure to these compounds and the respective biomarker levels of 1,6-diaminohexane (HDA) and trisaminohexyl isocyanurate (TAHI) in their plasma and urine were measured during three repeated industrial hygiene monitoring visits. We controlled for inhalation exposure, skin exposure, age, smoking status, and ethnicity as covariates and performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) using likelihood-ratio statistical modeling. We identified 38 CpG markers associated with differences in isocyanate biomarker levels (Bonferroni &lt; 0.05). Annotations for these markers included 18 genes: ALG1, ANKRD11, C16orf89, CHD7, COL27A, FUZ, FZD9, HMGN1, KRT6A, LEPR, MAPK10, MED25, NOSIP, PKD1, SNX19, UNC13A, UROS, and ZFHX3. We explored the functions of the genes that have been published in the literature and used GeneMANIA to investigate gene ontologies and predicted protein-interaction networks. The protein functions of the predicted networks include keratinocyte migration, cell–cell adhesions, calcium transport, neurotransmitter release, nitric oxide production, and apoptosis regulation. Many of the protein pathway functions overlap with previous findings on genetic markers associated with variability both in isocyanate biomarker levels and asthma susceptibility, which suggests there are overlapping protein pathways that contribute to both isocyanate toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. These predicted protein networks can inform future research on the mechanism of allergic airway sensitization by isocyanates and aid in the development of mitigation strategies to better protect worker health.