Metabolic effects of nuclear receptor activation in vivo after 28-day oral exposure to three endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Environmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can lead to metabolic disruption, resulting in metabolic complications including adiposity, dyslipidemia, hepatic lipid accumulation, and glucose intolerance. Hepatic nuclear receptor activation is one of the mechanisms mediating metabolic effects of EDCs. Here, we investigated the potential to use a repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity test for identification of EDCs with metabolic endpoints.

Ablative Fractional Laser Enhances Artificial or Natural Daylight Photodynamic Therapy of Actinic Field Cancerization: A Randomized and Investigator-initiated Half-side Comparative Study.

Artificial daylight photodynamic therapy is a near-painless treatment for actinic keratoses, which can be performed indoors using a controlled light dose. Daylight photodynamic therapy is approved only for treatment of grade I-II actinic keratoses. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether fractional laser pre-treatment improves the outcomes of daylight photodynamic therapy for actinic keratoses of all grades.

The KEAP1-NRF2 pathway: Targets for therapy and role in cancer.

The KEAP1-NRF2 pathway is the key regulator of cellular defense against both extrinsic and intrinsic oxidative and electrophilic stimuli. Since its discovery in the 1990s, its seminal role in various disease pathologies has become well appreciated, motivating research to elucidate the intricacies of NRF2 signaling and its downstream effects to identify novel targets for therapy. In this graphical review, we present an updated overview of the KEAP1-NRF2 signaling, focusing on the progress made within the past ten years.

Hyperspectral Imaging for Non-invasive Diagnostics of Melanocytic Lesions.

Malignant melanoma poses a clinical diagnostic problem, since a large number of benign lesions are excised to find a single melanoma. This study assessed the accuracy of a novel non-invasive diagnostic technology, hyperspectral imaging, for melanoma detection. Lesions were imaged prior to excision and histopathological analysis.

Differentiating Malignant from Benign Pigmented or Non-Pigmented Skin Tumours-A Pilot Study on 3D Hyperspectral Imaging of Complex Skin Surfaces and Convolutional Neural Networks.

Several optical imaging techniques have been developed to ease the burden of skin cancer disease on our health care system. Hyperspectral images can be used to identify biological tissues by their diffuse reflected spectra. In this second part of a three-phase pilot study, we used a novel hand-held SICSURFIS Spectral Imager with an adaptable field of view and target-wise selectable wavelength channels to provide detailed spectral and spatial data for lesions on complex surfaces.

Pulsed Dye Laser-mediated Photodynamic Therapy is Less Effective than Conventional Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Field Cancerization: A Randomized Half-side Comparative Study.

Previous research presents pulsed dye laser-mediated photodynamic therapy as a promising alternative to conventional red-light photodynamic therapy. In this study, 60 patients with 2 or more actinic keratoses randomly received either of these treatments on each side of the head. A physician blinded to the treatment evaluated treatment response at 6 months for each lesion, as completely, partially or not healed.

Evaluation of scaffold microstructure and comparison of cell seeding methods using micro-computed tomography-based tools.

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) provides a means to analyse and model three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering scaffolds. This study proposes a set of micro-CT-based tools firstly for evaluating the microstructure of scaffolds and secondly for comparing different cell seeding methods. The pore size, porosity and pore interconnectivity of supercritical CO processed poly(l-lactide-co--caprolactone) (PLCL) and PLCL/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds were analysed using computational micro-CT models.

Evaluating complications in below-knee skin cancer surgery after introduction of preoperative appointments: A 2-year retrospective cohort study.

Below-knee dermatological surgery has a high risk of complications such as wound infection, bleeding, and necrosis. In this study, we evaluated the impact of preoperative appointments on complication risks. We searched the medical records of the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUS) Dermatosurgery unit for all below-knee surgeries during 2016, when no preoperative nurse appointments were carried out, and compared it with 2018, when preoperative appointments for risk patients were introduced.

3D Scaffolds of Polycaprolactone/Copper-Doped Bioactive Glass: Architecture Engineering with Additive Manufacturing and Cellular Assessments in a Coculture of Bone Marrow Stem Cells and Endothelial Cells.

The local delivery of Cu from copper-doped bioactive glass (Cu-BaG) was combined with 3D printing of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for its potent angiogenic effect in bone tissue engineering. PCL and Cu-BaG were, respectively, dissolved and dispersed in acetone to formulate a moderately homogeneous ink. The PCL/Cu-BaG scaffolds were fabricated via direct ink writing into a cold ethanol bath.

Characterisation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of supercritical-CO2-foamed β-TCP/PLCL composites for bone applications.

Most synthetic bone grafts are either hard and brittle ceramics or paste-like materials that differ in applicability from the gold standard autologous bone graft, which restricts their widespread use. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop an elastic, highly porous and biodegradable β-tricalciumphosphate/poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (β-TCP/PLCL) composite for bone applications using supercritical CO2 foaming. Ability to support osteogenic differentiation was tested in human adipose stem cell (hASC) culture for 21 d.

Occurrence of newly discovered human polyomaviruses in skin of liver transplant recipients and their relation with squamous cell carcinoma in situ and actinic keratosis - a single-center cohort study.

To date 14 human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) have been identified. The newly found HPyVs have not been examined with regard to post-transplant skin carcinogenesis. To determine the occurrences in skin and possible pathological associations of the HPyVs, we studied their genoprevalences in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ or actinic keratosis and benign skin in liver transplant recipients (LiTRs); and of healthy skin in immunocompetent adults.

Cutavirus DNA in Malignant and Nonmalignant Skin of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma and Organ Transplant Patients but Not of Healthy Adults.

Background: Three new parvoviruses of Protoparvovirus genus, bufavirus (BuV), tusavirus (TuV), and cutavirus (CuV), have recently been discovered in diarrheal stools. CuV was further detected in a proportion of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)/mycosis fungoides skin samples and in one melanoma.

Patients And Methods: With novel multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction and antibody assays, we studied 3 patient groups for BuV, TuV, and CuV DNA and immunoglobulin G (IgG): CTCL patients, immunosuppressed solid-organ transplant recipients, and immunocompetent healthy adults.

Healthcare students' evaluation of the clinical learning environment and supervision - a cross-sectional study.

Background: The purpose of clinical placements and supervision is to promote the development of healthcare students´ professional skills. High-quality clinical learning environments and supervision were shown to have significant influence on healthcare students´ professional development.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe healthcare students` evaluation of the clinical learning environment and supervision, and to identify the factors that affect these.

Mentors' competence in mentoring culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students during clinical placement.

Aims: To describe mentors' competence in mentoring culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students during clinical placement and identify the factors that affect mentoring.

Background: Healthcare education is confronted by several challenges in a time characterized by globalization and increasing international migration. Nursing students from diverse backgrounds continue to experience difficulties during clinical placement.

Functional genomics provides insights into the role of Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS in cheese ripening.

Propionibacterium freudenreichii is a commercially important bacterium that is essential for the development of the characteristic eyes and flavor of Swiss-type cheeses. These bacteria grow actively and produce large quantities of flavor compounds during cheese ripening at warm temperatures but also appear to contribute to the aroma development during the subsequent cold storage of cheese. Here, we advance our understanding of the role of P.

Sensitivity of Above-Ground Biomass Estimates to Height-Diameter Modelling in Mixed-Species West African Woodlands.

It has been suggested that above-ground biomass (AGB) inventories should include tree height (H), in addition to diameter (D). As H is a difficult variable to measure, H-D models are commonly used to predict H. We tested a number of approaches for H-D modelling, including additive terms which increased the complexity of the model, and observed how differences in tree-level predictions of H propagated to plot-level AGB estimations.

[Diagnosis and treatment of actinic keratosis].

Actinic keratoses are premalignant skin lesions with the risk of converting into squamous cell carcinoma, and therefore they should be treated. Treatment modalities include cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, carbon dioxide laser and also topical treatments such as imiquimode, ingenol mebutate, 5-fluorouracil and diclophenac. In the future, the treatment of actinic keratosis can be more often done in primary health care.

A Retrospective Study of Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma In situ.

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ is an intra-epidermal malignancy of the skin with potential to progress to invasive carcinoma. Commonly used treatments are surgical excision, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser ablation, curettage with cautery, radiotherapy, topical 5-fluorouracil, and topical imiquimod. The efficacies of these different treatment modalities are compared in this retrospective study of 239 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in situ diagnosed and treated at our hospital during a period of one year.

Extremely large nuchal translucency measurement predicts adverse pregnancy outcome.

A prospective study was conducted to determine the outcome of pregnancies with 1st trimester nuchal translucency measurement of ≥ 6.5 mm. The risk of fetal abnormalities increases with enlarging nuchal translucency, being around 45% with a measurement of ≥ 6.

[Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and premalignant skin lesions--how to treat?].

Increasing exposure to UV radiation is considered the most important etiologic factor of nonmelanoma skin cancers. Consequently, exposed areas such as the scalp and face, are the primary areas for developing non-melanoma skin cancers. Once a patient has presented with one tumor, additional lesions are common.

The patient journey: a report of skin cancer care across Europe.

Background: There are poorly documented variations in the journey a skin cancer patient will follow from diagnosis to treatment in the European Union.

Objectives: To investigate the possible difficulties or obstacles that a person with a skin malignancy in the European Union may have to overcome in order to receive adequate medical screening and care for his/her condition. In addition, we wished to explore differences in European health systems, which may lead to health inequalities and health inequities within Europe.

Risk factors for actinic keratosis in eight European centres: a case-control study.

Background: There are limited data regarding the association of actinic keratosis (AK) and other types of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC); studies investigating possible correlation of AK with melanocytic naevi are even scarcer. To our knowledge, there are no data examining the risk of AK in people using specific medications.

Objective: To investigate constitutional and exposure risk factors leading to AK and the coexistence of AK with NMSC and melanoma.

Assessing physicians' preferences on skin cancer treatment in Europe.

Background: A wide variety of both surgical and nonsurgical therapies is currently available for patients with skin cancer.

Objectives: This part of the EPIDERM (European Prevention Initiative for Dermatological Malignancies) project is aimed at the evaluation of the treatment preferences for skin cancer in eight countries of the European Union.

Methods: A multicentre hospital-based case-control study was carried out at dermatology departments in Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Scotland and Spain.

Basal cell carcinomas without histological confirmation and their treatment: an audit in four European regions.

Background: Limited data are available on how often basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are clinically diagnosed without histological confirmation and how they are treated.

Objectives: Within the framework of the EPIDERM project, an audit was conducted in four European countries to study the occurrence of clinically diagnosed BCCs without histological confirmation and to investigate how these are treated.

Methods: In the Netherlands, Scotland, Finland and Malta studies were performed within different timeframes.