SARS-CoV-2-specific Humoral and Cellular Immunities in Kidney Transplant Recipients and Dialyzed Patients Recovered From Severe and Nonsevere COVID-19.

Unlabelled: Kidney transplantation and dialysis are two major risk factors for severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The dynamics of the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in this population remain largely unknown.

Methods: We report here the analysis of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody- and T cell-mediated immune responses in 26 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and 11 dialyzed patients (DPs) who recovered from COVID-19.

Facial Contrast Is a Cross-Cultural Cue for Perceiving Age.

Age is a fundamental social dimension and a youthful appearance is of importance for many individuals, perhaps because it is a relevant predictor of aspects of health, facial attractiveness and general well-being. We recently showed that facial contrast-the color and luminance difference between facial features and the surrounding skin-is age-related and a cue to age perception of Caucasian women. Specifically, aspects of facial contrast decrease with age in Caucasian women, and Caucasian female faces with higher contrast look younger (Porcheron et al.

Facial contrast is a cue for perceiving health from the face.

How healthy someone appears has important social consequences. Yet the visual cues that determine perceived health remain poorly understood. Here we report evidence that facial contrast-the luminance and color contrast between internal facial features and the surrounding skin-is a cue for the perception of health from the face.

Sclera color changes with age and is a cue for perceiving age, health, and beauty.

Redness or yellowness of the sclera (the light part of the eye) are known signs of illness, as is looking older than one's actual age. Here we report that the color of the sclera is related to age in a large sample of adult Caucasian females. Specifically, older faces have sclera that are more dark, red, and yellow than younger faces.

Aspects of facial contrast decrease with age and are cues for age perception.

Age is a primary social dimension. We behave differently toward people as a function of how old we perceive them to be. Age perception relies on cues that are correlated with age, such as wrinkles.

Freckles and solar lentigines have different risk factors in Caucasian women.

Background: To date, few epidemiological data on the relationships between solar lentigines, freckles and behavioural and constitutional risk factors in Caucasian populations exist.

Objectives: To investigate the potential impact of behavioural and phenotypic variables, as well as the MC1R genetic background, on the history of facial freckles and the severity of solar lentigines in Caucasian women.

Methods: The severity of solar lentigines was graded from facial digital images of 523 French middle-aged women by a dermatologist and summarized by a score afterwards.

Assessment of sun reactive skin type with multiple correspondence analysis, hierarchical and tree-structured classification methods.

The sun reactive skin type classification is based on sunburn susceptibility, tanning ability and phenotypic information. As subjects rarely match all features of a given skin type, the attribution to a class is partially subjective. The aims of the study, were to analyse the contribution of each characteristic to the classification made by the expert, and to establish a classification based on a statistical approach conducted on 212 women living in the Ile-de-France area.

Artificial and natural ultraviolet radiation exposure: beliefs and behaviour of 7200 French adults.

Background: Despite the increasing use of indoor tanning facilities, little is known regarding the behaviour of adults with respect to artificial and natural ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and the relationship between the two forms of exposure.

Objectives: To describe the beliefs and behaviour of French middle-aged volunteers regarding artificial and natural UV exposure.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of a French national cohort using a self-completed questionnaire.

Influence of skin colour on the detection of cutaneous erythema and tanning phenomena using reflectance spectrophotometry.

Background/purpose: This research aims at assessing the influence of baseline skin colour on the ability of reflectance spectrophotometry to detect cutaneous erythema induced by a low concentration of methyl nicotinate (2.5 mM) (first objective), and to detect tanning induced by ultraviolet rays (UVA+UVB) at infra-erythemal doses (second objective).

Methods: Two independent studies were conducted to reach their respective objectives, on 27 women for the first study and on 12 women for the second study.

Travellers to high UV-index countries: sun-exposure behaviour in 7822 French adults.

Background: Travel health information includes warning on sun exposure, particularly for fair-skinned individuals travelling to tropical countries.

Method: A self-completed questionnaire on sun exposure behaviour was sent to the 12,741 French adults enrolled in the SU.VI.

Relationships between visual and tactile features and biophysical parameters in human facial skin.

Background/purpose: Skin properties, such as colour, hydration and texture, can be studied on a qualitative basis by a clinical assessment or on a quantitative basis using techniques that measure biophysical properties of the skin. The aim of this study was to explore the links between facial skin features and a range of skin biophysical parameters using multivariate methods.

Methods: A study was conducted on 256 female volunteers from Ile-de-France with apparent healthy skin, aged between 20 and 50, under controlled environmental conditions (mean+/-standard deviation: room temperature 22.

Expatriates in high-UV index and tropical countries: sun exposure and protection behavior in 9,416 French adults.

Background: Overexposure to sunlight during long stays in tropical countries can reveal short- and long-term harmful effects on the skin of Caucasian residents, especially for fair-skinned subjects. The aim of this study was to describe sun exposure and sun protection behaviors during lifetime among French adults who declared having experienced at least one expatriation period in tropical or high-sun index areas for a duration of more than three consecutive months.

Methods: A self-reported questionnaire on sun exposure behavior was addressed two times, in 1997 and 2001, to the 12,741 French adult volunteers enrolled in the SU.

Reference ranges of skin micro-relief according to age in French Caucasian and Japanese women.

Background/purpose: The variation of skin surface morphological indicators according to age has not been frequently studied. The aim of this work was to establish French Caucasian and Japanese reference ranges of these indicators according to age.

Methods: Two studies were performed simultaneously in Paris and Sendai on 356 Caucasian and 120 Japanese healthy women aged from 20 to 80 years.

Self-reported skin sensitivity in a general adult population in France: data of the SU.VI.MAX cohort.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the frequency of self-assessed facial skin sensitivity and its different patterns, and the relationship with gender and sun sensitivity in a general adult population.

Methods: A standardized 11-item questionnaire investigating reactions experienced during the past year was developed. The questions explored different patterns of skin sensitivity: pattern I (blushing related to vascular reactivity), pattern II (skin reactions to certain environmental conditions), pattern III (skin reactions after substance contact), and for women pattern IV ('breakout of spots' related to menstrual cycle).

[Phototype, vitamin D status and bone mineral density among women at risk of osteoporosis].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the influence of phototype and vitamin D status feature on the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck in a group of middle-aged women considered at risk of osteoporosis (low levels of vitamin D [25(OH)D3<78 nmol/L] and hyperparathyroidism [parathormone level>36 pg/mL]).

Methods: This two-step study was conducted on 122 French women enrolled in the SUVIMAX (supplémentation en vitamines et minéraux antioxydants: antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation) cohort. The impact of various variables on BMD, including age, body mass index (BMI), vitamin D status, alcohol intake, sun exposure intensity and phototype was investigated using regression models.

Effect of hormonal replacement therapy on skin biophysical properties of menopausal women.

Background/purpose: Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown in the past to influence well being as well as several somatic features in menopausal women. The aim of this analysis was to study the effect of HRT on various biophysical properties of the skin of menopausal women. Two sub-samples were built to test the effect (1) of 'short-term' HRT in recently menopausal women (n=15), and (2) the effect of 'medium- and long-term' HRT in menopausal women (n=78).

Difference in mass analysis using labeled lysines (DIMAL-K): a new, efficient proteomic quantification method applied to the analysis of astrocytic secretomes.

Here we describe an original strategy for unbiased quantification of protein expression called difference in mass analysis using labeled lysine (K) (DIMAL-K). DIMAL-K is based on the differential predigestion labeling of lysine residues in complex protein mixtures. The method is relevant for proteomic analysis by two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Daily versus as-needed corticosteroids for mild persistent asthma.

Background: Although guidelines recommend daily therapy for patients with mild persistent asthma, prescription patterns suggest that most such patients use these so-called controller therapies intermittently. In patients with mild persistent asthma, we evaluated the efficacy of intermittent short-course corticosteroid treatment guided by a symptom-based action plan alone or in addition to daily treatment with either inhaled budesonide or oral zafirlukast over a one-year period.

Methods: In a double-blind trial, 225 adults underwent randomization.

Mitogenic stimulation of transcription by RNA polymerase III.

Regulation of protein synthesis is an important aspect of growth control. RNA polymerase (pol) III plays a key role in this process by catalysing production of tRNA and 5 S rRNA. Growth factors trigger a rapid increase in pol III activity and this is essential for cell proliferation.

The Prevention of Early Asthma in Kids study: design, rationale and methods for the Childhood Asthma Research and Education network.

Pediatric asthma remains an important public health concern as its prevalence and cost to the health care system is rising. In order to promote innovative research in asthma therapies, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute created the Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network in 1999. As its first study, the steering committee of the Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network designed a randomized clinical trial to determine if persistent asthma could be prevented in children at a high risk to develop the disease.

Relative contribution of intrinsic vs extrinsic factors to skin aging as determined by a validated skin age score.

Objective: To assess the relative contribution of intrinsic aging vs lifestyle factors to facial skin age.

Design: Prospective analysis of a cohort.

Setting: Skin research institute.

Differences between students in problem-based and lecture-based curricula measured by clerkship performance ratings at the beginning of the third year.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is being incorporated into more medical curricula, but its influence on subsequent clinical performance remains unclear.

Purpose: To determine if PBL leads to better scores for fund of knowledge or clinical problem-solving skills in required clerkships taken early in the 3rd year at Penn State College of Medicine.

Methods: Data were collected from 6 class years, for clinical clerkship subscores completed during the first 4 months of the 3rd year, of students completing 1 or 2 years in a PBL or traditional track.

Significant variability in response to inhaled corticosteroids for persistent asthma.

Background: A clinical model is needed to compare inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) with respect to efficacy.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to compare the relative beneficial and systemic effects in a dose-response relationship for 2 ICSs.

Methods: A 24-week, parallel, open-label, multicenter trial examined the benefit-risk ratio of 2 ICSs in persistent asthma.

Summarizing methacholine challenges in clinical research.

In clinical trials in asthma, airway reactivity is commonly assessed by performing a methacholine challenge. Airway reactivity is thought to vary in proportion to asthma severity, and methacholine causes the airways of asthma subjects to constrict, thus lowering forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)). A dose-response curve is obtained for each subject who meets standardized eligibility requirements to proceed with a methacholine challenge.

Safety and reproducibility of sputum induction in asthmatic subjects in a multicenter study.

The safety of sputum induction and the reproducibility of measurements in induced sputum in multicenter studies is unknown. We examined the safety of sputum induction in a two-visit, six-center study in 79 subjects with moderate to severe asthma (mean +/- SD FEV(1) 71 +/- 12% predicted, 67% taking inhaled corticosteroids). In addition, we compared the reproducibility of markers of inflammation in induced sputum with the reproducibility of the FEV(1) and the methacholine PC(20).