bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantification of erythema using digital camera and computer‐based colour image analysis: a multicentre study
Authors: Setaro Michele , Sparavigna Adele 
Published: March 2003

Background/purpose Colour measurements obtained from digitized images have been proposed as a simple and cost‐effective way to evaluate skin colour and the activity of treatments. The main disadvantage of the method is the fact that it is highly dependent on ambient light: even if an accurate control of subjects' illumination is provided, readings remain not comparable among different laboratories. The purpose of this study was to develop a highly reproducible system for computerized colour image analysis of skin erythema, making it possible to compare readings from different environmental light conditions.Patients and Methods Three hundred and forty‐eight Caucasian adult healthy subjects (age range: 18–60 years) of both sexes (14% males, 86% females), were enrolled in the study by 49 dermatologists distributed all over Italy. They were recruited among patients who required aesthetic treatments involving skin erythema, like chemical peeling and laser epilation. Once the treatment was administered, clinical evaluations and pictures were taken at the level of treated areas. Visual assessment of erythema was done on the basis of conventional clinical grades (0 = absent; 1 = slight; 2 = moderate; 3 = intense). The clinicians participating in the study were asked to put a standard colour marker (red, green and blue coloured self‐adhesive ring) in the photographed skin area. The difference between r, g, b values of photographed colour markers on the skin of single patients participating in the study and the r, g, b values obtained photographing the colour marker in fixed illumination conditions was used to adjust skin colour measurements. Then erythema index (E.I) on digitized images was calculated subtracting red value to green one by averaging procedure of different pixels.Results Erythema index. average value among the groups divided according to the conventional clinical score increased progressively from score 0–2, while it decreased from score 2 to score 3. The differences in E.I. mean values among the score groups (0 vs. 1, 1 vs. 2, 2 vs. 3) were statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion We developed a method for the measurement of skin erythema using digital camera, normalized r, g, b colour co‐ordinate system and computerized calculation of E.I. Clinical usefulness of our method for absent, slight and moderate erythema, was demonstrated. For intense erythema lesions we did not find a correspondence between clinical and computerized evaluation, probably due to other factors involved in skin inflammation (e.g. oedema).
The dynamics of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) from hydrated skin
Authors: Gioia Francesco , Celleno Leonardo 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims: When an occlusive cover is applied on the skin, the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is inhibited and the skin moisturises. Upon the removal of the occlusion the water, which accumulated in the skin porosity during the occlusion, evaporates and diffuses outside showing a TEWL rate larger than the basal value, and function of time. The aim of this paper is to develop a physical–mathematical model for simulating the dynamics of Epidermal (free‐) Water Evaporation (EWE) and of transepidermal water loss of hydrated skin.Methods/Results: The model, which is based on general results and methods of transport phenomena, has been calibrated and validated by experimental tests, in vivo, with the use of an evaporimeter. Both the theoretical model and the experimental results show that the release of excess water that accumulates in the skin following an occlusion, is a fast transient phenomenon, which has a characteristic time of the order of minutes (the initial decay is very rapid indeed, in less than a minute the TEWL value may decrease by more than 50%). On the other hand, the characteristic measuring time of the evaporimeter may be as large as 30 s. Therefore, as shown in the paper, the use of the evaporimeter for measuring the initial values of TEWL upon immediate removal of the occlusion is not reliable. When a transient phenomenon cannot be fully described by a measuring device that has an initial characteristic response time of the order of the characteristic time of the phenomenon, a mathematical model, which describes the dynamics of the phenomenon must be developed. Then the measurements taken after the measuring device is stabilised may be extrapolated to the initial times by the use of the model, thus allowing a full quantitative description of the phenomenon vs. time. Finally, the experimental results show that a baby's disposable diaper, when loaded with water, behaves like an impermeable occlusive cover on the skin.
Immunohistochemical study of oral lichen planus associated with hepatitis C virus infection, oral lichenoid contact sensitivity reaction and idiopathic oral lichen planus
Authors: Mega H , Jiang W‐W , Takagi M 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVES: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common mucocutaneous disorder and might be associated to a possible pathogenic relationship with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or hypersensitivity to dental alloy. We examined the clinical and immunohistochemical features of OLP associated with HCV infection (OLP‐HCV), oral lichenoid contact sensitivity reaction (OLCSR), and idiopathic oral lichen planus (iOLP). The immunohistochemical expressions of CD4, CD8, B cells, Class II major histocompatibility complex antigen (HLA‐DR), S‐100, HSP60, Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki‐67 were compared to study the pathogenic differences of the three OLP groups.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of OLP patients, (1) OLP‐HCV patients (n=17), (2) OLCSR patients (n=10) and (3) iOLP patients (n=14) were retrieved from clinical records and tissues examined immunohistochemically by the avidin–biotin‐complex technique.RESULTS: The patients with OLP‐HCV showed widespread lesions. The proportion of CD8+ cells was found to be significantly higher in the lamina propria of the OLP‐HCV patients and a significantly lower proportion of CD8+ cells of the OLCSR patients was noticed in the epithelium or the connective tissue papillae than in the iOLP patients. There were no significant differences in either the number of CD4+ cells or B cells between the three OLP groups. No significant differences in the number of HLA‐DR+ cells were found between the three OLP groups and some OLP‐HCV patients showed a significant increase of S‐100+ cells in the epithelium compared with iOLP patients. There were no significant differences in either the number of PCNA+ or Ki‐67+ cells between the groups. The patients showed similar weak expressions of HSP60 in the three OLP groups.CONCLUSION: The different distributions of the CD8+ cells that could have functionally different roles might be related to the distinct pathogenic mechanisms in the three OLP groups.
Oral mucosal conditions in elderly dental patients
Authors: Jainkittivong A , Aneksuk V , Langlais RP 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were as follows: to obtain baseline information on the incidence of oral mucosal conditions in a population of elderly Thai patients and to investigate differences in the presentation of these findings in relation to age, sex and the wearing of dentures.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The incidence of oral mucosal conditions was determined by the clinical examination of a sample of 500 Thai patients aged 60 years and older.RESULTS: The overall incidence of oral mucosal conditions was 83.6% with no significant difference between men (81.4%) and women (85%). The incidence of oral mucosal conditions indicated a significant increase with advancing age. Varices (59.6%), fissured tongue (28%) and traumatic ulcer (15.6%) were the three most common conditions; and the incidence increased with age. Leukoplakia and smoker's melanosis were more common in men whereas lichen planus was seen more frequently in women. Three cases of oral cancer were detected, representing an incidence of 0.6%. Denture wearers (62.7%) exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of oral mucosal conditions than subjects who had no dentures (28.5%) and subjects with crowns and/or bridges (8.8%). The three most common denture‐related problems were traumatic ulcer (22.6%), denture stomatitis (14.3%) and angular cheilitis (4.8%). In addition, the incidence of denture‐related conditions among complete denture wearers (46.3%) was higher than in those wearing partial dentures (40.8%).CONCLUSION: The current results regarding an elderly Thai population support the studies of other populations whereby the incidence of oral mucosal conditions in the elderly is related to age, sex and the wearing of dentures.
Virtual endoscopic view of salivary gland ducts using MR sialography data from three dimension fast asymmetric spin‐echo (3D‐FASE) sequences: a preliminary study
Authors: Morimoto Y , Tanaka T , Yoshioka I , Masumi S , Yamashita M , Ohba T 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVES: We performed magnetic resonance (MR) sialography of parotid gland and/or submandibular gland ducts using three‐dimensional fast asymmetric spin‐echo (3D‐FASE) sequencing. The objective was to make three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction images and virtual endoscopic views of the parotid gland ducts using MR sialography data sets of 3D‐FASE sequences.METHODS: We reviewed the MR sialography data sets with 3D‐FASE sequencing of 10 control volunteers and six patients. Three‐dimensional reconstruction images and virtual endoscopic views of the parotid gland and/or submandibular gland ducts were generated with maximum intensity projection (MIP), shaded surface display (SSD), and volume rendering techniques (VRT).RESULTS: The main parotid gland and/or submandibular gland ducts, large branches within the glands, and small branches were fairly well defined in a very short acquisition time on MR sialographic images with 3D‐FASE sequencing in nine of the 10 healthy volunteers. The 3D‐reconstruction images of the parotid gland ducts and/or submandibular gland ducts showed the entire length of the branch paths and complete images from all angles, and the virtual endoscopic views showed the endoluminal tracts of the main ducts and the large branches in nine. In the patient with Sjogren's syndrome, chronic sialoadenitis, and salivary calculi in the Wharton ducts, the MR sialographic images showed diffuse areas of punctate high signal intensity, dilatation of Stensen's duct, or stones of Wharton's duct, respectively. Furthermore, the 3D‐reconstruction images of the salivary gland ducts showed the stenoses and stones in the branch paths and complete images from all angles, and the virtual endoscopic views showed the stenoses and stones in the endoluminal tracts of the main and large branches.CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience showed that virtual MR endoscopy could be performed to observe the endoluminal tracts of parotid and submandibular glands. The clinical use of the virtual MR endoscopy for salivary gland ducts has not been established yet. Future applications of the 3D‐reconstruction images and virtual endoscopic views using MR sialography data sets of 3D‐FASE sequences are very attractive and further expansion of this field is expected.
Molecular analysis for genetic counselling in amelogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Aldred MJ , Hall RK , Kilpatrick N , Bankier A , Savarirayan R , Lamandé SR , Lench NJ , Crawford PJM 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To use molecular genetics to establish themode of inheritance in a family with amelogenesis imperfecta.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify exons of the amelogenin gene on the short arm of the X chromosome.RESULTS: A single base deletion mutation in exon 6 of the amelogenin gene was identified. This mutation was a single base deletion of a cytosine residue – 431delC – in codon 96 of exon 6, introducing a stop codon 30 codons downstream of the mutation in codon 126 of the exon.CONCLUSION: The firm establishment of an X‐linked mode of inheritance affects the genetic counselling for this family.
Oral lichen planus and hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Figueiredo LC , Carrilho FJ , De Andrade HF , Migliari DA 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: This investigation was conducted to determine the possible association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in the population of São Paulo (Brazil).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of patients were studied: group 1 was composed of 68 patients with OLP lesions; group 2 had 126 patients with HCV infection; and the control group consisted of 898 individuals seeking dental treatment at our school, used to determine the prevalence of lichen planus in the general population. The prevalence of HCV in group 1 was determined and compared with that of the population of São Paulo (Focaccia et al (1998) Brazilian J Infec Dis 2: 269), while the prevalence of OLP in group 2 was determined and compared with that of the control group.RESULTS: The results showed that the frequency of HCV in OLP patients was 8.8%, significantly higher than in the general population of São Paulo, which is 1.4% (P=0.002), and the frequency of OLP in HCV patients (4.7%) was also significantly higher (P=0.0003) than that of the control group (0.6%).CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, at least in São Paulo, there is an association between OLP and HCV infection.
Immunolesion of Hindbrain Catecholaminergic Projections to the Medial Hypothalamus Attenuates Penile Reflexive Erections and Alters Hypothalamic Peptide mRNA
Authors: Fraley G. S. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe central mechanisms underlying diabetes‐associated impotence are currently unknown. This study utilized immunolesion techniques to eliminate hindbrain catecholaminergic projections to the medial hypothalamus which have been reported to be glucoresponsive. The immunolesioned male rats had an attenuated feeding response to glucoprivic challenge. Furthermore, these lesioned rats had significantly attenuated penile reflexes. Northern blot analyses of hypothalamic oxytocin mRNA expression showed a significant increase; however, neuropeptide Y mRNA expression did not. These results suggest that hindbrain catecholaminergic neurones may alter the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides that stimulate penile erections based upon glucoregulatory signals from the periphery.
Redefining Gonadotropin‐Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Cell Groups in the Male Syrian Hamster: Testosterone Regulates GnRH mRNA in the Tenia Tecta
Authors: Richardson Heather N. , Parfitt David B. , Thompson Robert C. , Sisk Cheryl L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractGonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates the production of testosterone via the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis and testosterone, in turn, regulates the GnRH system via negative feedback. We compared testosterone regulation of GnRH mRNA expression in four anatomically defined GnRH cell groups in juvenile and adult male Syrian hamsters, including a rostral population of GnRH cells in the tenia tecta. In situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH) was used to measure GnRH mRNA in brains from castrated juveniles and adults treated with 0 mg or 2.5 mg testosterone pellets for one week. ISHH was performed on coronal sections using a 35S‐cRNA probe generated from Syrian hamster GnRH cDNA. Testosterone treatment resulted in a significant reduction in mean area of GnRH neurones covered by silver grains within the tenia tecta, but only a trend toward decreased GnRH mRNA in the diagonal band of Broca/organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (DBB/OVLT), medial septum (MS), and caudal preoptic area (cPOA). The effects of testosterone were independent of age. Frequency distribution analyses unveiled a significant reduction in the number of heavily labelled cells following testosterone treatment within the tenia tecta and MS. Simple regression analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between plasma luteinizing hormone concentrations and GnRH mRNA only in the tenia tecta. These data indicate that, overall, GnRH mRNA is modestly reduced by testosterone, and the most robust attenuation of GnRH mRNA occurs within the tenia tecta. This is the first report to link mechanisms of steroid negative feedback with tenia tecta GnRH neurones, providing a new focus for investigating brain region‐specific steroidal regulation of GnRH synthesis.
Brain Structures Mediating the Suckling Stimulus‐Induced Release of Prolactin
Authors: Bodnár I. , Bánky Z. S. , Tóth B. E. , Nagy G. M. , Halász B. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractSuckling‐induced prolactin release is a widely studied neuroendocrine reflex, comprising a neural afferent and a humoral efferent component. The information on the brain structures involved in this reflex is fairly limited. The present studies focused on this question. The following hypothalamic interventions were made in lactating rats and the dams were tested for the suckling‐induced prolactin response: (i) unilateral or (ii) bilateral frontal cuts at the level of the anterior and posterior hypothalamus; (iii) administration of 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine or (iv) 6‐hydroxydopamine into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to destroy serotonergic and catecholaminergic innervation of the cell group, respectively; (v) lesion of the medial subdivision of the PVN; and (vi) horizontal knife cuts below the PVN. Bilateral posterior and bilateral or unilateral anterior frontal cuts caused blockade of the suckling‐induced release of prolactin. Likewise, most dams receiving 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine in the PVN did not respond to the suckling stimulus. Immunocytochemistry revealed that, in those rats which did not show a rise in plasma prolactin, there were almost no serotonergic fibres and terminals in the PVN, while in dams which exhibited a response, numerous serotonergic elements were evident. 6‐Hydroxydopamine treatment did not cause significant alteration in the prolactin response. Lesion of the medial, largely parvocellular subdivision of the PVN, or horizontal knife cuts below this cell group, blocked the hormone response. The findings demonstrate for the first time that: (i) interruption of the connections between the brain stem and the hypothalamus interferes with the prolactin response to the suckling stimulus; (ii) serotonergic fibres terminating in the hypothalamic PVN are involved in the mediation of the suckling stimulus; and (iii) within the PVN, neurones in the medial, largely parvocellular subdivision of the cell group take part in the transfer of the neural signal, eventually inducing prolactin release.
Regression of an acral lentiginous melanoma with an immunotherapy using a Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐extracted polysaccharide complex (Tubercin)
Authors: Chung Tai Ho , Jun Jae Bok , Jang Jae Won , Chung Hai Lee 
Published: March 2003

A 77‐year‐old‐female presented with a painless, pigmented lesion, which had been present for approximately 10 years but had increased significantly in size during the last 3 months. Her past history was unremarkable, but she had been a farmer for more than 50 years and was routinely exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight. On examination, a lesion measuring 11 × 15 mm was noted on the base of left thumb. The lesion was black, slightly elevated and irregularly shaped with a relatively demarcated border. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen was consistent with an acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) with a thickness of 4 mm. Whole body computed tomographic examination and bone scan demonstrated no distant metastases.The patient refused not only the surgical treatment but also the recommended chemotherapeutic regimen due to her advanced age. She was then referred to the WHO Collaboration Viral Hepatitis Center at Kyungpook National University for consideration for immunotherapy with Tubercin.The patient consented to a trial of Tubercin, which was initiated on December 24, 1999. She received three 0.3 mL subcutaneous intralesional injections of Tubercin and 2 mL intramuscular injections on the buttock every other day. After 10 months of treatment the lesion appeared as a faint brown‐colored macule and almost complete regression was noted. The follow‐up histological examination performed after 1 year showed no evidence of melanoma (Fig. 1). The treatment regimen was reduced to biweekly treatments consisting of two 0.2 mL intralesional injections and one 2 mL intramuscular injection. After an additional year, the treatment will be further reduced to a biweekly 1 mL intramuscular injection. The patient has remained free of any metastases and demonstrated no local or systemic reactions.
Tomato and barley contain duplicated copies of cryptochrome 1
Authors: Perrotta G. , Yahoubyan G. , Nebuloso E. , Renzi L. , Giuliano G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe cryptochrome family of blue‐light photoreceptors is involved in the control of plant photomorphogenesis and photoperiodic responses. Two cryptochromes have been described in Arabidopsis and tomato. To investigate the composition of the cryptochrome gene family in angiosperms, we used a ‘garden PCR’ approach, amplifying DNA from different plant species with the same pair of degenerated oligonucleotides representing conserved sequences from the flavin‐binding domain. Different numbers of Cry‐homologous sequences were found in different species: two each in Arabidopsis (Dicots, Brassicaceae), melon (Dicots, Cucurbitaceae) and banana tree (Monocots, Musaceae); three each in tomato (Dicots, Solanaceae) and barley (Monocots, Graminaceae). These sequences contain open reading frames (OFRs) with high homology to cryptochromes, but not photolyases, and are transcribed into RNA. In each case, a Cry1‐ and a Cry2‐like sequence was recognizable. The third gene of tomato and barley seems to have arisen from recent, independent duplications of Cry1, and was thus named Cry1b. The tomato Cry1b gene encodes a protein of 583 amino acids (the shortest of the three tomato cryptochromes), with a high similarity to Cry1. The C‐terminus of Cry1b is truncated before the conserved Ser‐Thr‐Ala‐Glu‐Ser‐Ser‐Ser (STAESSS) motif found in both Cry1a and Cry2. The Cry1b mRNA is expressed throughout the tomato plant, reaching maximal levels of expression in the flower (like Cry1a and Cry2). We conclude that tomato and barley contain at least one additional expressed member of the Cry1 gene family.
Differentiation of human alloreactive CD8+ T cells in vitro
Authors: Rentenaar Rob J. , Vosters Jelle L. G. , Van Diepen Frank N. J. , Remmerswaal Ester B. M. , Van Lier René A. W. , Ten Berge Ineke J. M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryExpansion and differentiation of alloantigen‐reactive CD8+ T cells in mixed lymphocyte cultures was followed by measurement of the loss of carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) fluorescence of responder cells. Proliferation of CD8+ T cells became detectable on day 4 of culture and, 2 days later, > 60% of the CD8+ T cells in culture were dividing alloreactive lymphocytes. In parallel with expansion, CD8+ T‐cell differentiation was initiated, as evidenced by an increase in the number of CD45RA− and CD27− T cells and acquisition of the ability to produce interferon‐γ after restimulation with the specific alloantigen. Finally, although short‐term stimulation and measurement of intracellular cytokine production allowed visualization of alloreactive CD8+ T cells expanded in vitro, this procedure did not detect circulating alloreactive CD8+ T cells activated in vivo in recipients of allogeneic kidney grafts.