Deep skin homogeneity and light diffusion: An accelerated Monte Carlo model for in vivo skin characterization and consumer perception.

The appearance of healthy and youthful skin is related to many factors of the skin optical properties as perceived by our visual sense. The optics of light travelling through human tissues has been extensively investigated in the field of biomedical applications, including the experimental characterization and modelling of skin optics and the propagation of light such as lasers through the layers. This work presents an innovative approach to probe deep skin by means of spectrally and spatially resolved light diffusion in the different layers of skin.

Proprioception and Mechanoreceptors in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Literature Review.

Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. It is frequently accompanied by high levels of persistent pain, as well as substantial impairments in function and functional capacity. This review aims to systematically analyze the changes in proprioception and related mechanoreceptors in OA patients.

Molecular characterization of cross-kingdom RNA interference in by tomato small RNAs.

Previous studies have suggested that plants can modulate gene expression in pathogenic fungi by producing small RNAs (sRNAs) that can be translocated into the fungus and mediate gene silencing, which may interfere with the infection mechanism of the intruder. We sequenced sRNAs and mRNAs in early phases of the (tomato)- interaction and examined the potential of plant sRNAs to silence their predicted mRNA targets in the fungus. Almost a million unique plant sRNAs were identified that could potentially target 97% of all fungal genes.

A thousand-genome panel retraces the global spread and adaptation of a major fungal crop pathogen.

Human activity impacts the evolutionary trajectories of many species worldwide. Global trade of agricultural goods contributes to the dispersal of pathogens reshaping their genetic makeup and providing opportunities for virulence gains. Understanding how pathogens surmount control strategies and cope with new climates is crucial to predicting the future impact of crop pathogens.

Custom-Made Implants in Ankle Bone Loss: A Retrospective Assessment of Reconstruction/Arthrodesis in Sequelae of Septic Non-Union of the Tibial Pilon.

: Treating segmental tibial and ankle bone loss after radical surgery for chronic osteomyelitis is one of the most challenging problems encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. Open tibia and ankle fractures occur with an incidence of 3.4 per 100,000 and 1.

Molecular characterization reveals no functional evidence for naturally occurring cross-kingdom RNA interference in the early stages of Botrytis cinerea-tomato interaction.

Plant immune responses are triggered during the interaction with pathogens. The fungus Botrytis cinerea has previously been reported to use small RNAs (sRNAs) as effector molecules capable of interfering with the host immune response. Conversely, a host plant produces sRNAs that may interfere with the infection mechanism of an intruder.

Reconstructive Surgery and Joint-Sparing Surgery in Valgus and Varus Ankle Deformities: A Comprehensive Review.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle affects about 1% of the world's adult population, causing an important impact on patient lives and health systems. Most patients with ankle OA can show an asymmetrical wear pattern with a predominant degeneration of the medial or the lateral portion of the joint. To avoid more invasive ankle joint sacrificing procedures, joint realignment surgery has been developed to restore the anatomy of the joints with asymmetric early OA and to improve the joint biomechanics and symptoms of the patients.

Tackling microbial threats in agriculture with integrative imaging and computational approaches.

Pathogens and pests are one of the major threats to agricultural productivity worldwide. For decades, targeted resistance breeding was used to create crop cultivars that resist pathogens and environmental stress while retaining yields. The often decade-long process of crossing, selection, and field trials to create a new cultivar is challenged by the rapid rise of pathogens overcoming resistance.

Chromatin Dynamics Contribute to the Spatiotemporal Expression Pattern of Virulence Genes in a Fungal Plant Pathogen.

Dynamic changes in transcription profiles are key for the success of pathogens in colonizing their hosts. In many pathogens, genes associated with virulence, such as effector genes, are located in regions of the genome that are rich in transposable elements and heterochromatin. The contribution of chromatin modifications to gene expression in pathogens remains largely unknown.

Hair surface quality: Laser scattering as a tool for characterizing the surface condition and deposits from shampoos and conditioners.

Objectives: The hair surface condition underlies many visually perceived attributes such as shine, colour and the 3D perception of a curly hair style. Many factors can alter the hair surface such as cumulated cleansing/styling regimens or chemical treatments which can lead to degradation of the cuticle edges and surface. Similarly, pollutants, sebum, and shampoo/conditioners can build up on the hair surface which are also perceivable to an observer.

Effects of hair sprays on colour perception: a hyperspectral imaging approach to shine and chroma on heads.

Objectives: Hair sprays apply fixative ingredients to provide hold to a hair style as well as weather resistance and optical properties such as shine. Generally, sprays distribute fine particles containing polymeric ingredients to form a thin film on the surface of hair. Different hair types require different strengths of the formed deposit on the hair surface.

Water-resistant sunscreens for skin protection: an in vivo approach to the two sources of sunscreen failure to maintain UV protection on consumer skin.

Objectives: The water resistance of sunscreen products has taken more importance for the UV protection of consumers involved in water activities and sports. The present work introduces a new in vivo approach to measure the water resistance of sunscreens on the actual skin of subjects, which can be easily applied to salt, chlorine and tap waters. The stress sources of sunscreen films on skin originate from two phenomena: high surface tension stress as the skin transits through the air/water interface and water diffusion into the film immersed in bulk water.

A new approach for evaluating the water resistance of sunscreens on consumers: tap water vs. salt water vs. chlorine water.

Objective: An efficient sunscreen product needs to offer broad spectrum photostable UV protection during consumer use. Water resistance has become an additional criterion requested by consumers spending time near water or outdoors. Polymers generally provide water resistance to formulations and are critical to the formation and stability of a sunscreen film on skin when exposed to water.

Skin colorimetric parameters involved in skin age perception.

Background/purpose: Age perception is based on a number of facial attributes such as wrinkles, skin gravity effects, feature lines, and skin optical appearance. The colorimetric and optical diffusion properties of skin have been compared with the consumer interpretation of 'skin age' of cheek area pictures without wrinkles or feature lines.

Methods: Controlled lighting images of skin were taken with the Visia CR.

Design of a photostabilizer having built-in antioxidant functionality and its utility in obtaining broad-spectrum sunscreen formulations.

Di-2,2'-diethylhexyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzylidenemalonate (INCI name diethylhexyl syringylidene malonate, DESM), the target photostabilizer, was synthesized in one step by condensation of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde (Syringaldehyde) with di-2,2'-diethylhexyl malonate. Photostability data in sunscreen formulations showed that DESM is photostable and improves the photostability of avobenzone significantly when compared to control (without a photostabilizer). Photostable broad-spectrum sunscreen formulations with high SPF (>30) have been achieved by combining avobenzone, DESM and UV-B sunscreens, such as homosalate, octisalate or other UV-B sunscreens.

A sunscreen-tanning compromise: 3D visualization of the actions of titanium dioxide particles and dihydroxyacetone on human epiderm.

The self-tanning agent dihydroxyacetone (DHA) was applied to human skin samples, and its effect on light absorption was followed in time to study the DHA influence inside the different layers of skin. Application of DHA shows increased light absorption in the visible light region, as evidenced by skin tanning. The tanning effect is enhanced by UV irradiation and appears localized in the near-stratum corneum layer as revealed by depth analysis of the time signal.

Visualization of Surface Gelation Processes in a Doped Sol-Gel Glass.

Pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy has enabled depth-resolved, in situ measurements of the chemical changes that occur in a sol-gel process to be examined. By use of beta-carotene as a probe to determine the efficiency of heat transfer to the immediate molecular environment in thin and thick samples, separate surface and bulk gelation processes in a sol-gel material have been observed.

Pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy applied to the diffusion of sunscreen chromophores in human skin: the weakly absorbent regime.

Pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to study the penetration of sunscreen chromophores into human skin. This study focuses on basic solutions containing single typical filter molecules, as used in current sunscreens, dissolved in mineral oil. The pulsed form of the photoacoustic technique was preferred because it provides more detailed information on the filter distribution within the different layers of human skin.

Pulsed photoacoustic study of the diffusion of chromophores in human skin.

The technique of pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to investigate the diffusion of chromophores in human skin. The kinetic of diffusion has been studied for five solutions at different concentrations in a mixture of chromophores, as used in commercial sunscreens. In addition to the classical macroscopic interpretation of the diffusion process, a new method is shown to give more detailed information on chromophore presence at different depths in skin.

"Rubral" tremor after thalamic haemorrhage.

Tremors in association with thalamic haemorrhage have been infrequently reported, and delayed rubral tremor as a complication of such an event is quite rare. We describe a patient with a combined resting-postural-kinetic tremor due a thalamic haemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of a subthalamic involvement but failed to reveal any mesencephalic lesion.

[Iontophoresis of tenoxicam in the therapy of osteoarthrosis].

After a brief physiopathological research about iontophoresis applications, the authors examine this treatment by two drugs (Tenoxicam and acetylsalicylic acid) in a group of patients suffering from painful osteoarthritis. They came to the conclusion that the treatment is efficacious with both substances though realising a quicker analgesic result in the group treated with tenoxicam.

[Estimate of the dose of chlorinated pesticides consumed daily by the Italian population (1978-1984)].

This work reports an estimate of the doses of chlorinated pesticides taken with a total diet by the Italian population in the period 1978-84. Previous researches, carried out in 1971-72, had regarded both uncooked and cooked diets, ready for the consumption. It was found that the amount of the considered pesticides taken in total (HCB, gamma-BHC and total-BHC, Aldrin/Dieldrin, Heptachlor/Heptachlor-epoxide and DDT total-equivalent) calculated as a sum of the percentage of each acceptable daily intake (A.

PCB and other organochlorine compounds in blood of women with or without miscarriage: a hypothesis of correlation.

Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) have been shown to affect reproduction in experimental animals and in human beings following intoxication. The concentrations of PCBs and other organochlorine compounds were determined in blood samples from 120 women hospitalized for miscarriages and 120 full-term pregnancy controls. The average PCB hematic level (reported as Fenclor 54) was higher in women with miscarriages than in control women.