Stress-Adaptive Training: An Adaptive Psychomotor Training According to Stress Measured by Grip Force.

Current training methods show advances in simulation technologies; however, most of them fail to account for changes in the physical or mental state of the trainee. An innovative training method, adaptive to the trainee's stress levels as measured by grip force, is described and inspected. It is compared with two standard training methods that ignore the trainee's state, either leaving the task's level of difficulty constant or increasing it over time.

Comparison of two skin temperature assessment methods after the application of topical revulsive products: Conductive iButton data logger system vs contact-free infrared thermometry.

Background: Skin temperature assessments comprise conductive and contact-free techniques. Comparison between conductive data loggers and contact-free thermometry after the application of revulsive products is scarce. This study aimed to compare iButton data loggers with an infrared thermometer after the application of two revulsive products.

The effect of initial molecular profile on response to recombinant interferon-α (rIFNα) treatment in early myelofibrosis.

Background: Although recombinant interferon-α (rIFNα) effectively treats patients with early myelofibrosis, the effect of driver and high molecular risk (HMR) mutations has not been considered. In this phase 2 study, for the first time, the authors correlate response to rIFNα treatment with driver and HMR mutations.

Methods: Patients were diagnosed using World Health Organization or International Working Group for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research and Treatment criteria.

Estimation of sweat rates during cycling exercise by means of the closed chamber condenser technology.

Background/aim: Knowledge of local sweating patterns is of importance in occupational and exercise physiology settings. The recently developed closed chamber condenser technology (Biox Aquaflux ) allows the measurement of evaporative skin water loss with a greater measurement capacity (up to 1325 g/h/m ) compared to traditional evaporimeters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Biox Aquaflux to estimate sweat production during exercise.

Recombinant interferon-α in myelofibrosis reduces bone marrow fibrosis, improves its morphology and is associated with clinical response.

Recombinant interferon-α represents a well-established therapeutic option for the treatment of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. Recent studies also suggest a role for recombinant interferon-α in the treatment of 'early stage' primary myelofibrosis, but few studies have reported the bone marrow changes after clinically successful interferon therapy. The aim of the present study is to detail the histological responses to recombinant interferon-α in primary myelofibrosis and post-polycythemia vera/post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis and to correlate these with clinical findings.

In vivo determination of the diclofenac skin reservoir: comparison between passive, occlusive, and iontophoretic application.

Aim: There is scarce information concerning the pharmacodynamic behavior of topical substances used in the physiotherapy setting. The aim of the present study was to estimate the formation and emptying of the diclofenac (DF) skin reservoir after passive, semiocclusive, and electrically assisted applications of DF.

Subjects And Methods: Five different groups of healthy volunteers (ntotal=60, 23 male and 37 female), participated in this study.

Influence of the timing of ultrasound application on the penetration of corticosteroids.

Background: The application of ultrasound to enhance the transdermal transport of drugs is often referred to as 'sonophoresis'. In physiotherapy sonophoresis is applied to the skin through two different procedures: (1) the pre-treatment procedure where the skin is treated with ultrasound irradiation prior to the drug application and (2) a simultaneous treatment mode, where the skin is treated with ultrasound during the application of the pharmacologic substance. The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability of halcinonide in the stratum corneum comparing the ultrasound pre-treatment vs.

Hydration measurements of the stratum corneum: comparison between the capacitance method (digital version of the Corneometer CM 825®) and the impedance method (Skicon-200EX®).

Background: Measurement of stratum corneum (SC) hydration often involves the use of commercial instruments. The aim of this study was to compare and validate two recent instruments: the Corneometer 825® (digital probe) and the Skicon-200 EX®.

Methods: In vitro calibration was carried out on filter pads using different solvents, measurements over different layers of plastic foils, and evaluation of desorption kinetics.

The influence of stratum corneum hydration on body fat determination by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Background/aims: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is used for the estimation of the amount of body fat. We evaluated the influence of the stratum corneum hydration at the contact areas used for BIA on the body fat estimation.

Methods: Stratum corneum hydration was measured at the sole of the right foot and the palm of the right hand before and after contact with the Tanita Body Composition Analyzer TBF 410(®) and the Omron Body Fat Analyzer(®) , (n=128 females and 126 males), respectively.

Influence of probe application pressure on in vitro and in vivo capacitance (Corneometer CM 825(®)) and conductance (Skicon 200 EX(®)) measurements.

Background/purpose: The measuring probe of the electrical hydration instruments is equipped with a spring system to ensure a constant pressure of probe application on the skin surface. However, it is possible to trigger the measurement at, respectively, a low and a high force of probe application. It is the purpose of this paper to compare the in vitro and in vivo hydration values of the capacitance and conductance method at, respectively, low and high values of application pressure on the considered surface.

Changes of skin characteristics during and after local Parafango therapy as used in physiotherapy.

Background/aims: In physiotherapy, fango (mud) application is a frequently used heat therapy. The main therapeutic effects are due to the elevated temperature of the different tissues with a significant redistribution of blood towards the heated area. This may influence several cardiovascular parameters.

Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on hair tensile strength and morphology in women with fine hair.

The appearance of hair plays an important role in people's overall physical appearance and self-perception. Silicon (Si) has been suggested to have a role in the formation of connective tissue and is present at 1-10 ppm in hair. Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid ("ch-OSA") is a bioavailable form of silicon which was found to improve skin microrelief and skin mechanical properties in women with photoaged skin.

Determination of the in vivo bioavailability of iontophoretically delivered diclofenac using a methyl nicotinate skin inflammation assay.

Background/aims: In this study, we investigated the bioavailability of iontophoretically delivered diclofenac with the methylnicotinate (MN) test. The inhibition of an erythema provoked by MN is proportional to the bioavailability of diclofenac in the skin. It was our aim to use this procedure in the determination of the contribution of, respectively, passive diffusion, occlusion and electrically assisted delivery during an iontophoretic procedure as used in physiotherapy.

Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin.

Chronic exposure of the skin to sunlight causes damage to the underlying connective tissue with a loss of elasticity and firmness. Silicon (Si) was suggested to have an important function in the formation and maintenance of connective tissue. Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid ("ch-OSA") is a bioavailable form of silicon which was found to increase the hydroxyproline concentration in the dermis of animals.

In vivo tolerance assessment of skin after insertion of subcutaneous and cutaneous microdialysis probes in the rat.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the trauma induced by insertion of the linear microdialysis probe in the subcutaneous and dermal tissue in the rat and to check if the microdialysis probe insertion affects transdermal drug delivery. Non-invasive bioengineering methods (TEWL, Laser Doppler Velocimeter, Chromameter) as well as histology were combined to characterize these effects. The results showed that the dermal and subcutaneous insertion of microdialysis probes did not change skin permeability, blood flow and color, confirming the safety of this technique.

There is no influence of a temperature rise on in vivo adsorption of UV filters into the stratum corneum.

Temperature influences the stratum corneum adsorption of several topically applied compounds. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of the temperature on the stratum corneum adsorption of 3 UV filters. The UV filters were solubilized in two vehicles, an emulsion gel and petroleum jelly and applied at respectively, 31 and 40 degrees C during 30 min.

Skin color measurements: comparison between three instruments: the Chromameter(R), the DermaSpectrometer(R) and the Mexameter(R).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Two types of skin reflectance instruments are available nowadays for the determination of skin color: a tristumulus colorimeter (Chromameter from Minolta) using the CIE L*a*b* color system and the narrow-band simple reflectance meters (DermaSpectrometer from Cortex and Mexameter from Courage-Khazaka) using the erythema/melanin indices. The purpose of this study was to compare the capabilities of the three instruments (sensitivity, repeatability and correlation) in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Comparative color measurements were carried out first in vitro on standardized color charts and subsequently in vivo on different skin areas in human volunteers.

A comparative study of the effects on the skin of a classical bar soap and a syndet cleansing bar in normal use conditions and in the soap chamber test.

Background/aims: The skin irritation potential of a body cleansing product is often compared under exaggerated test conditions, although the product is intended to be used at home with repetitive and brief contact with the skin. The aim of this study was to determine how much patch testing is predictive of the clinical, sub-clinical and subjective cutaneous effects of products used at home by consumers for their normal hygienic cleansing.

Methods: A double-blind comparative study of the normal use of an alkaline soap bar and a syndet at home during 10 consecutive weeks was performed on two identical groups of 25 healthy female subjects.

The Visi-Chroma VC-100: a new imaging colorimeter for dermatocosmetic research.

Background/aims: It was the aim of this study to carry out a comparative evaluation in vitro on standardized color charts and in vivo on healthy subjects using the Visi-Chroma VC-100, a new imaging tristimulus colorimeter and the Minolta Chromameter CR-200 as a reference instrument. The Visi-Chroma combines tristimulus color analysis with full color visualization of the skin area measured. The technical performances of both instruments were compared with the purpose of validating the use of this new imaging colorimeter in dermatocosmetic research.

A qualitative estimate of the influence of halcinonide concentration and urea on the reservoir formation in the stratum corneum.

The existence of a stratum corneum reservoir for topically applied substances is well known. Data concerning the stratum corneum retention time are important for the elaboration of optimal topical treatment. We used the re-occlusion technique followed by skin colour measurements (Chromametry) for the evaluation of the stratum corneum retention time of halcinonide.

In vitro percutaneous penetration through hairless rat skin: influence of temperature, vehicle and penetration enhancers.

Theoretically, a positive relation is expected between skin temperature and the percutaneous penetration of topically applied substances. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the temperature on the in vitro percutaneous penetration of dihydrotestosterone. Hairless rat skin was mounted in static diffusion cells placed in a water bath at different temperatures (28.

Evaluation of the preservative properties of Thymus vulgaris essential oil in topically applied formulations under a challenge test.

The preservative properties of thyme essential oil (3%) with a known composition were evaluated in two types of final formulations, suitable for use as pharmaceutical or cosmetic vehicles, by means of a standard challenge test proposed by the latest European Pharmacopoeia. The required preservation efficacy criteria were satisfied against the bacterial strains, against the yeast in one of the formulations, but not against the mould strain involved in this study. Interactions between the essential oil compounds and other factors present in the final formulation might have influenced the activity of this essential oil, leading to an incomplete satisfaction of the criteria.

Efficacy of topical treatment of pigmentation skin disorders with plant hydroquinone glucosides as assessed by quantitative color analysis.

Hydroquinone is a well known reagent used in the treatment of pigmentation disorders. The instability of the quinones and the required active concentration make topical treatment rather difficult. We tested the efficacy of an ascorbate-phytohydroquinone complex that inhibits the synthesis of melanin and promotes the degradation of the existing melanin.