bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of topically applied CO2‐impregnated water
Authors: Bock M. , Schwanitz H. J. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: The‘positive effect’of CO2‐impregnated water (mechanical process of producing carbonated therapeutic waters for medical use) on the skin of the hands was reported by 76% of 107 users questioned. The present study intends to evaluate this effect by using bioengeneering methods.Methods: In 20 healthy volunteers, mild to moderate irritation was induced on both hands using a standardised washing procedure. One hand was rinsed with CO2‐impregnated water (carbonic acid) once daily for 1 min, the other with tap water as the control. Baseline values and values 30 min after application were recorded by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin humidity (SH), microcirculation of the blood (BF) and skin surface pH. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used for statistical analysis; P‐values of less than 0.05 were considered to be significant.Results: Baseline TEWL, BF and pH tended to be lower (in some cases significantly lower) in the test regions treated with carbonic acid, whereas baseline SH tended to be higher (in some cases significantly higher). TEWL and pH were significantly lower for the side treated with CO2 30 min after application, whereas in some cases SH was significantly higher compared with the control side. Visual comparison revealed a lesser degree of irritation for the region treated with CO2 in comparison with the control side.Conclusions: The results show that the skin physiology parameters of irritated skin are favourably influenced by the topical application of CO2‐impregnated water. Although those test regions treated with carbonic acid did not remain uninfluenced by repeated irritation in clinical comparisons, the irritation was more intensive in the test regions treated with fresh water.
Quantitative assessment of epidermal Langerhans cells using automated image analysis
Authors: Smolle Josef , Hofmann‐Wellenhof Rainer 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: Langerhans cells play a central role In the skin immune system. Quantitative changes have been observed in a variety of dermatological conditions. This paper presents a user‐independent automated measurement procedure for Langerhans cells in vertical skin sections.Methods: Frozen sections were stained immunohistochemically with a CD1 monoclonal antibody. Counterstaining was performed with Mayer's hematoxylin. An image analysis procedure was developed, which automatically recognizes the area occupied by the epidermis and the CD1 ‐positive structures, respectively.Results: The procedure was tested on specimens of normal skin and of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The results significantly reflect the decrease of Langerhans cells in the latter condition.Conclusion: The proposed image analysis program facilitates a fully automated measurement of immunohistochemically stained epidermal structures in vertical skin sections.
Contrast enhanced high resolution MRI of cutaneous melanomas using Gd‐DTPA and Gd‐DTPA‐polylysine: experimental results
Authors: Mäurer J. , Knollmann F. D. , Veuskens C. , Ebert W. , Bauer H. , Felix R. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: An experimental model for the preclinical evaluation of contrast enhancement patterns in melanoma was developed.Methods: Melanotic and amelanotic tumor cells B16F1 and B16a implanted into murine skin were depicted with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a pixel size of 78×78 urn and 1 mm slice thickness. Tumor signal intensities were evaluated in user defined ROIs (regions of interest). Signal intensity changes were determined from signal intensity‐time curves. Percent enhancement, slope of the signal intensity curve and percent signal intensity increase were also determined. Percent enhancement was calculated: (SIenhanced‐SIpiain)/SIplain× 100 [SI=signal intensity]. The slope of the signal intensity curve was calculated: (SImax‐SIplain)/(SIplain× SImax) × 100 (%/min). Percent signal intensity increase was calculated: (SImax‐SIplai)/SIplain× 100.Results: Following i.v. administration of Gd‐DTPA and G‐DTPA‐polylysine, all tumors showed pronounced contrast enhancement. Contrast enhancement and the slope of signal intensity to time curves did not distinguish melanotic from amelanotic melanomas (P>0.05).Conclusions: The animal model presented is well suited for evaluation of contrast enhancement in melanoma by MRI. Contrast enhancement of melanoma in MRI is comparable with the enhancement seen in other tumors.
Magnetic resonance coil for 31P spectroscopy of skin over curved body surfaces
Authors: Bohning D. E. , Pecheny A. P. , Wright A. C. , Spicer K. M. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: Increasing signal‐to‐noise ratio for skin spectroscopy means increasing area, but increased area usually means resorting to Fourier window techniques to prevent overwhelming muscle contamination. The aim of this work was to develop a simple coil that would allow large areas of skin to be sampled while limiting muscle contamination simply by the coil's geometry.Methods: The coil design was arrived at by using simulations that were calibrated by phantom tests with prototype units. It was then fabricated by using an etched circuitboard technique and tested on three volunteers for comparison with predicted performance.Results: The new coil acquires magnetic resonance signals from a 140 cm2 contoured layer of surface tissue with sufficient selectivity that 81% of the signal comes from tissue less than 1.9 mm deep. For skin and fat thicknesses of 1.1 and 3.1 mm, respectively, tending toward a worst case in‐vivo situation, muscle contamination is only 3.3%. With the new coil, in 1 h, it was possible to directly acquire 31P skin spectra comparable to those formerly obtained in 4 h in two separate acquistions that then had to be subtracted to obtain the desired skin spectra.Conclusion: Increasing the area of skin sampled while maintaining selectivity to limit muscle contamination, relying simply on coil geometry, is practical using a parallel configuration of long narrow strip coils.
Influence of skin area, age and sex on corneometric determinations
Authors: Mussi A. , Carducci M. , D'Agosto G. , Bonifati C. , Fazio M. , Ameglio F. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: Comeometry represents a useful tool for dermatologists, even though several interfering variables may reduce its reliability level. The present study describes some of the methodological points that optimize corneometric measurements and analyzes the interference due to the skin area selected, the age and the sex of the individuals observed.Results: The results show that skin areas may present significantly different corneometric values. In addition, a significant correlation of the corneometric values at most of the sites was observed independently of the sun‐exposed site.Conclusions: The corneometric values were clearly age dependent and sex independent. Measurements were obtained from eight different body areas (two of them were symmetric and presented superimposable results). The volar forearm appears to be the area least influenced by the patients’age and presents the lowest correlation coefficients with other skin sites.
EIectrical impedance and transepidermal water loss of healthy human skin under different conditions
Authors: Hildebrandt Diana , Ziegler Kathrin , Wollina Uwe 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: The skin barrier function is a multidimensional quality, which can be defined by a combination of noninvasive measurements, including EIectrical impedance (EI) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).Methods: TEWL and EI were determined on in five different areas of the body in 25 healthy volunteers. The effects of hydration (a 15 min water bath, a 1 h occlusion and application of an oil‐in‐water emulsion combined with occlusion) were measured on the volar forearm.Results: EI was highest in the axillary region, followed by the cheek, spinal region, presternal area and upper arm. TEWL was highest in the axillary region, followed by the cheek. Lowest levels were detected in the spinal region, the presternal region and the upper arm. The water bath increased EI but not TEWL. After 1 h occlusion TEWL was not increased and EI decreased, which corresponds to stratum corneum hydration. After a single application of an oil‐in‐water emulsion, we observed a reduction of EI and an increase of TEWL. The simultaneous use of occlusion and application of an emulsion led to the most significant reduction of EI. TEWL was increased during the following 30 min.Conclusions: EI and TEWL show a topological variability. Acute hydration increased EI but occlusion and/or moisturizing decreased EI. Acute hydration and occlusion alone did not significantly affect TEWL, but moisturizing in combination caused a longer lasting TEWL increase. To examine the stratum corneum function, the use of different noninvasive techniques seem to provide more complex information.
The fasciitis‐panniculitis syndromes: histomorphometric assessment of the inflammatory and sclerosing processes affecting the subcutaneous and fascial tissues
Authors: Sabo Edmund , Naschitz Jochanan E. , Misselevich Ines , Boss Jochanan H. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims :The fasciitis‐panniculitis syndromes include several disorders characterized by skin induration due to fibrotic thickening of the septa of the subcutis and muscular fascia associated with chronic inflammation. Representative of the idiopathic form, eosinophilic fasciitis, is the prototype of the fasciitis‐panniculitis syndromes. Secondary forms of the syndromes are causally related to a variety of diseases, such as infections, circulatory disorders, physical injuries and neoplasms.Methods: Histological sections of 10 idiopathic and 20 secondary cases of the fasciitis‐panniculitis syndromes were assessed by means of computer‐assisted image analysis. The percent of fibrous tissue, referred to as “extent of fibrosis”, and the number of lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, plasma cells, and mast cells within the subcutaneous‐fascial complex were assessed.Results: The “extent of fibrosis” varied from 1% to 2% in the control cases and from 4% to 98% in the index cases. The number of inflammatory cells per high power field varied from 0 to 33 in the control cases and from 9 to 323 in the index cases.Conclusions: There is a direct and positive correlation between the “extent of fibrosis” and the number of inflammatory cells. The “extent of fibrosis” and intensity of the inflammatory infiltration do not correlate with the nature of the underlying diseases, the patients’demographic data, the anatomic location of the subcutaneous induration or the duration of the lesion. It is suggested that the fasciitis‐panniculitis syndromes are the morphological expression of a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory‐sclerosing reaction pattern that is essentially identical in the idiopathic and the secondary forms of the disorder.
Comparison between visual score and erythema index (DermaSpectrometer) in evaluation of allergic patch tests
Authors: Held Elisabeth , Lorentzen Henrik , Agner Tove , Menné Torkil 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: During the last decade several new bioengineering methods have been proposed for evaluation of patch test reactions in a more objective manner. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of erythema index (DermaSpectrometer) in a clinical setting, i.e., reading of allergic patch tests.Methods: Twenty patients with known allergy to formaldehyde participated in the study. Each patient had patch tests for 2 days with formaldehyde solutions from 0 to 10,000 p.p.m. applied. Clinical reading of the test sites and measurement of the erythema index by the DermaSpectrometer were done 24 h after removal. A control group of 20 volunteers with no allergy to formaldehyde were tested in a similar way.Results: Erythema indices were significantly higher for visually rated positive patch tests than for negative tests (P<0.05). The single categories of visually positive reactions (+?, +, ++, +++) could not be unambiguously separated by the DermaSpectrometer. The correlation between clinical readings and the formaldehyde concentration (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, r=0.60) was higher than between DermaSpectrometer readings and the formaldehyde concentration (r=0.35).Conclusion: In a dilution series of formaldehyde patch testing, readings from a DermaSpectrometer were not found to give better information than visual readings.
Effect of topical application of antioxidants and free radical scavengers on protection of hairless mouse skin exposed to chronic doses of ultraviolet B
Authors: Muizzuddin Neelam , Shakoori Abdul Rauf , Marenus Kenneth D. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: Within the past three decades, there has emerged a greater awareness of the molecular effects of solar rays especially ultraviolet radiation (UV‐R), to the extent that the harmful effects of solar radiation are recognized not only by molecular biologists and physicians, but also by the general public (1). Various sunscreen molecules that effectively block the UVB component of the sun are available; however, a large part of Western populations elicits adverse reactions against chemical sunscreens (2). This study was designed to observe the protective effect of antioxidants against the damaging effects of chronic UVB exposure of skin in an attempt to introduce antioxidants and free radical scavengers as topical sun protective agents.Methods: Jackson hairless mice were exposed to suberythemal doses of UVB, three times a week, and topically treated with a cream containing the anti‐oxidants vitamin E, butylated hydroxy‐toluene, nordihydroguaradinic acid and vitamin C.Results: Treatment with vehicle alone along with UVB exposure resulted in an increase in epidermal thickness showing a 38%, 77% and 112% increase after 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Chronic UVB exposed skin treated with the material containing free radical scavengers and antioxidants mix (AO mix) exhibited 39%, 73% and 124% thicker epidermis than the un‐treated control after, respectively, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment. The vehicle did not appear to protect skin against UV irradiation, since there appeared to be more (16%) sunburn cells in vehicle treated skin than the untreated, UV exposed skin after 4 weeks of treatment. After 8 weeks and 12 weeks, there were 33% and 36% less sunburn cells in the vehicle treated skin than the untreated, UV exposed skin. The antioxidant mix was significantly effective (P=<0.001) in protecting against UVB irradiation, having 63%, 71 % and 79% fewer sunburn cells than the untreated, UV exposed skin after 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment, respectively.Conclusion: Data from these studies suggest that low level chronic exposures to UV can lead to alteration of the skin, like epidermal thickening and appearance of sunburn cells. The data also indicates that a mix of common antioxidants and free radical scavengers are photoprotective against chronic skin damage in the hairless mouse skin model.
Tensile properties and contours of aging facial skin. A controlled double‐blind comparative study of the effects of retinol, melibiose‐lactose and their association
Authors: Piérard‐Franchimont C. , Castelli D. , Cromphaut I. Van , Bertin C. , Ries G. , Cauwenbergh G. , Piérard G. E. 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: Facial aging is accompanied by modifications in the tensile properties and contours of skin. In the present study we instrumentally assessed and compared the effect of either 0.04% retinol (ROL), 1% melibiose and 4% lactose (ME‐L) and their association (ROL‐ME‐L) to increase the firmness and smoothness of facial skin. A 1 % salicylic acid (SA) emulsion served as a cosmetic product reference.Methods: A total of 120 women were allocated to four randomized groups of 30 subjects, each group receiving one of the test products or a combination of test products. The tensile properties of facial skin were measured using the Cutometer® on seven occasions during the 12‐week treatment and during a 4‐week post‐treatment phase. Fine lines and wrinkles were assessed on replicas by using image analysis after optical shadowing.Results: Significant differences in efficacy and lingering activity were observed between products. SA brought the weakest beneficial effects. ROL and ME‐L provided better efficacy on both the tensile properties and contours of skin. They differed slightly according the nature of the biometrological variables. The combination ROL‐ME‐L achieved similar or even better results than the best of its components for each given physical property of skin.Conclusions: ROL, ME‐L, and ROL‐ME‐L formulations improve physical properties of skin that are impaired by aging. Their activities are notably superior to those of a comparative SA formulation.
Comparative study of five instruments measuring stratum corneum hydration (Corneometer CM 820 and CM 825, Skicon 200, Nova DPM 9003, DermaLab). Part I. In vitro
Authors: Fluhr Joachim W. , Gloor Max , Lazzerini Sabrina , Kleesz Peter , Grieshaber Romano , Berardesca Enzo 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: The hydration state of stratum corneum can be measured with different instruments. In the present study, five instruments were compared under different experimental in vitro conditions: Corneometer CM 820 and CM 825, Skicon 200, Nova DPM and DermaLab.Methods: A sorption‐desorption test, measurements on different filters and with liquids with different dielectric constants, measurement‐depth analysis and measurements on different agar plates were performed.Results: Good correlation between the values of the five instruments and μl (sorption test: varying from r= 0.8249 to r= 0.9635) and time (desorption test: correlation varying from r= 0.7615 to r=0.9909) could be demonstrated. A high Spearman correlation coefficient (r) could be proven for dielectric constant (dc)/CM 820 (r=0.9333), dc/CM 825 (r=0.9833) and dc/Nova DPM (r=0.9048). A lower correlation or no correlation was found for dc/DermaLab (r=0.8469; P=0.023) and dc/Skicon 200 (r=0.9000; P=0.083).Conclusions: For each of the five instruments, the electrical field of measurement can be assumed to cover the following depths: CM 820, between 30 and 45 μm; CM 825, around or less than 15 μm; Skicon 200, less than 15 μm; Nova DPM, between 45 and 60 μm; DermaLab, around or less than 15 nm.
Measuring depth depends on frequency in electrical skin impedance measurements
Authors: Martinsen ØSrjan G. , Grimnes Sverre , Haug Erlend 
Published: October 2006

Background/aims: Multi‐frequency electrical measurements in vivo on stratum corneum are frequently reported in the literature. It is well known that the measured volume of skin is dependent on measuring frequency, and we wanted to investigate to what extent viable skin influences the measured impedance as a function of frequency.Methods: Finite element modelling (FEM) was used to investigate the current and potential distribution in the skin when measuring impedance with two concentric surface electrodes.Results: The study showed that the impedance measured reflects mainly the stratum corneum at low frequencies, in this case below 1 kHz, and that the viable skin dominates at higher frequencies.Conclusion: It is concluded that a multi‐frequency measurement on isolated stratum corneum is not possible in vivo with conventional techniques, except within a very narrow and low frequency range.
Digital videomicroscopy with image analysis and automatic classification as an aid for diagnosis of Spitz nevus
Authors: Pellacani Giovanni , Martini Mia , Seidenari Stefania 
Published: October 2006

Aims: The aims of the study were: 1) to evaluate features that refer to digital images of ESC (epithelioid and/or spindle cell) nevi recorded by means of a videomicroscope and to compare them to those that refer to nevi and melanomas; 2) to assess the efficacy of an automatic classifier for the differentiation between ESC nevi and melanomas.Methods: Prior to biopsy, 29 ESC nevus images were recorded by means of a digital videomicroscope. All digital images were analyzed with software that calculates different parameters that relate to the geometry, color distribution and internal pattern of the lesion. Digital parameters that refer to ESC nevi and other PSLs (pigmented skin lesions: nevi and melanomas) were compared. Values that refer to parameters calculated on ESC nevi and melanomas acquired with the same magnification underwent elaboration by means of multivariate discriminant analysis, enabling a distinction among the groups. Finally, the diagnosis obtained by the automatic classifier was compared to the ones obtained by the naked eye and by videomicroscopic observation.Results: Significant differences between values that refer to ESC nevi and other PSL (nevi and melanomas) were noticed for most digital parameters. Automatic classification enabled the distinction among ESC nevi and melanomas with a 100% sensitivity and a 100% and 86% specificity employing the 50‐ and 20‐fold magnification, respectively.Conclusion: Digital analysis of videomicroscopic images by means of dedicated software enables an objective characterization of morphological features. Values obtained by image analysis may be immediately examined by the automatic classifier, in order to provide an aid to clinical diagnosis.
African Swine Fever Virus Causes Microtubule-Dependent Dispersal of the
trans
-Golgi Network and Slows Delivery of Membrane Protein to the PlasmaMembrane
Authors: Netherton Christopher L. , McCrossan Mari-Clare , Denyer Michael , Ponnambalam Sreenivasan , Armstrong John , Takamatsu Haru-Hisa , Wileman Thomas E. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Viral
interference with secretory cargo is a common mechanism for pathogen
immune evasion. Selective down regulation of critical immune system
molecules such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins
enables pathogens to mask themselves from their host. African swine
fever virus (ASFV) disrupts the
trans
-Golgi network (TGN) by
altering the localization of TGN46, an organelle marker for the distal
secretory pathway. Reorganization of membrane transport components may
provide a mechanism whereby ASFV can disrupt the correct secretion
and/or cell surface expression of host proteins. In the study reported
here, we used the tsO45 temperature-sensitive mutant of the G protein
of vesicular stomatitis virus to show that ASFV significantly reduces
the rate at which the protein is delivered to the plasma membrane. This
is linked to a general reorganization of the secretory pathway during
infection and a specific, microtubule-dependent disruption of
structural components of the TGN. Golgin p230 and TGN46 are separated
into distinct vesicles, whereupon TGN46 is depleted. These data suggest
that disruption of the TGN by ASFV can slow membrane traffic during
viral infection. This may be functionally important because infection
of macrophages with virulent isolates of ASFV increased the expression
of MHC class I genes, but there was no parallel increase in MHC class I
molecule delivery to the plasma
membrane.