Mapping, in vivo, the uniformity of two skin properties alongside the human face by a 3D virtual approach.

Objective: To determine the homogeneity in the distribution of two cutaneous functions (hydration and elasticity) along the entire human face.

Material And Methods: The half faces (right or left, randomly chosen) of two groups of Caucasian women were measured on 24 different small sites (elasticity) and 41 others (hydration), by instruments of small-sized probes (Cutometer and Corneometer , respectively). Hydration of the face was recorded at different times (up to 24 h), post application of a highly hydrating product.

[Prescription of acetaminophen in five French hospitals: What are the practices?].

Aim: Acetaminophen is widely used in hospital settings and often considered as nontoxic. We conducted a multicentric study in order to evaluate its proper use.

Method: Prescriptions from five general hospitals were analyzed, according to dose adjustments required in renal or liver failure, weight or chronic alcoholism, determined using a literature review.

Proteomic analysis identifies new biomarkers for postmenopausal and dry skin.

A proteomic analysis of stratum corneum (SC) samples of normal healthy skin revealed the presence of more than 70 proteins by 2D electrophoresis. The majority of these proteins to our knowledge have not yet been described in normal SC. We analysed by Western blot the levels of 25 proteins in the SC taken from postmenopausal and dry skin compared with young and normal skin, respectively.

Influence of season on some skin properties: winter vs. summer, as experienced by 354 Shanghaiese women of various ages.

The facial skin of 354 women, aged 18-80, living in Shanghai, was investigated over two successive 6-month periods, summer and winter. Results from clinical assessments indicate that aging signs, such as wrinkling and sagging, are unaffected over such period. However, physical measurements revealed alterations in some functional criteria of the skin, such as sebum output, skin colour, melanin content of pigmented spots, skin hydration, all being increased during summer.

Skin responses to topical dehydroepiandrosterone: implications in antiageing treatment?

Background: Although low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is suspected to have a role in skin ageing, little information is available on the mechanisms potentially involved.

Objectives: To obtain information on androgen receptor (AR) and procollagen expression in ageing skin during DHEA treatment.

Methods: A placebo-controlled, randomized, prospective study was performed with 75 postmenopausal women aged 60-65 years.

Importance of sunscreen products spreading protocol and substrate roughness for in vitro sun protection factor assessment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of substrate roughness and of product spreading method on in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) measurement and to define the experimental conditions most appropriate to reach the best level of correlation to in vivo SPF. In vitro SPF assessment was carried out on 13 products (including different formulation types with SPF from 20 to 75) using various in vitro SPF protocols and comparing related predictive potential regarding in vivo SPF. In the first part, two spreading methods were compared on two types of PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate plate with different roughness.

The EpiSkin phototoxicity assay (EPA): development of an in vitro tiered strategy using 17 reference chemicals to predict phototoxic potency.

The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of human reconstructed epidermis EpiSkin(LM) to identify the phototoxic potency of topically or systemically applied chemicals (EPA: EpiSkin phototoxicity assay). Three classes, according to their available human phototoxic potential, were evaluated: systemic phototoxic compounds, topical phototoxic chemicals and non-phototoxic compounds. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of chemicals were applied topically or directly added to the underlying culture medium in order to mimic a systemic-like administration.

[Prevention of preparation errors of cytotoxic drugs in centralized units: from epidemiology to quality assurance].

The centralized preparation of cytotoxic drugs is supposed to help preventing medication errors. Nevertheless, the residual risk of preparation errors has been demonstrated. Above all, prevention is based on the quality assurance policy.

[Economic impact of outpatient chemotherapy in multiple myeloma].

The development of alternatives to hospitalisation is mandatory in cancer patients. A retrospective analysis compared the costs relative to two modalities of administration of VAD chemotherapy (hospital versus outpatient) in multiple myeloma. This study was carried out from the perspective of the French health care system, including direct hospital and ambulatory costs.

Long-term toxicity of antithymocyte globulin induction may vary with choice of agent: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) preparations are frequently used as induction treatment in renal transplantation, but little is known about the clinical equivalence of these different agents. We performed a retrospective, single-center study to compare the long-term clinical effects of ATG Fresenius (ATGF) and Thymoglobulin (SangStat, Fremont, CA) in renal transplant recipients.

Patients And Methods: A total of 194 consecutive renal transplant recipients were included who had undergone transplantation in our center between June 1993 and April 2001 and had received ATGF or Thymoglobulin as induction treatment.