Formaldehyde solutions in simulated sweat increase human melanoma but not normal human keratinocyte cells proliferation

Our skin is in close contact with clothes most of the time thus risking potentially noxious chemicals contact. One of the potentially harmful manufacturing by-products that can be released by textiles when sweating is formaldehyde, used as an anti-crease treatment. As it is known to be carcinogenic to humans and a potent skin sensitizer, the aim of this study was to investigate its effects on both normal human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and on a highly invasive malignant melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28) in order to contribute to the definition of safety cut-off to be applied to the production processes. Formaldehyde concentrations below the commonly accepted limits (10\u201350 \u3bcM) were obtained by diluting formaldehyde in simulated sweat (UNI EN ISO 105-E04). The effects on cell proliferation were evaluated by cell counting, while ERK pathway activation was evaluated by western blot. Low concentrations of formaldehyde (10 \u3bcM) in both acidic and alkaline simulated sweat were able to increase malignant melanoma cell proliferation, while not affecting normal keratinocytes. Melanoma proliferation increase was greater in acidic (pH = 5.5) than in alkaline (pH = 8) conditions. Moreover, formaldehyde stimulation was able to induce ERK pathway activation. The data obtained suggest the need for an even increasing attention to the potentially harmful effects of textile manufacturing by-products

Psychiatric profile of motor subtypes of de novo drug-naïve Parkinson's disease patients

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. It is well established that different motor subtypes of PD evolve with different clinical courses and prognoses. The complete psychiatric profile underlying these different phenotypes since the very early stage of the disease is debated. Aims of the study: We aimed at investigating the psychiatric profile of the three motor subtypes of PD (akinetic-rigid, tremor-dominant, and mixed) in de novo drug-naïve patients with PD. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with PD, divided into 39 akinetic-rigid (AR), seven mixed (MIX), and 22 tremor-dominant (TD) patients underwent a complete assessment of psychiatric, cognitive, and motor symptoms. Results: No significant differences were found among groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a differentiation of the psychiatric symptoms associated with specific motor subtypes of PD is not detectable in de novo drug-naïve patients. Previous evidence that emerges later along the disease progression may be a consequence of the dopaminergic and nondopaminergic damage increase

Cognitive and neuropsychiatric profiles in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and Parkinson's disease

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a risk factor for developing Parkinson's disease (PD) and may represent its prodromal state. We compared neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric phenotypes of idiopathic (i) RBD, PD and healthy comparators (HC) in order to identify iRBD specific characteristics. Thirty-eight patients with iRBD, 38 PD patients with RBD (PD + RBD), 38 PD patients without RBD (PD-RBD) and 38 HC underwent a comprehensive neurological, neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluation. iRBD, PD + RBD and PD-RBD performed worse than HC in short-term verbal memory, praxia, language and executive functions. iRBD had higher levels of anxiety, depression, apathy and alexithymia than HC. iRBD had higher levels of apathy than PD + RBD. Both PD groups had higher levels of anxiety and depression than HC. Surprisingly, iRBD performed better than all groups in long-term verbal memory. Patients diagnosed with iRBD are characterized by poor global cognitive performance, but better long-term memory and higher levels of depression, anxiety, alexithymia and apathy. Alexithymia and apathy in patients diagnosed with iRBD may be the expression of precocious derangement of emotional regulation, subsequently observed also in PD. Cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms of iRBD are early clinical manifestations of widespread neurodegeneration

Thermal comfort evaluation: Which sensors for the most accurate assessment?

In the field of thermal comfort of garments, the importance of the small air gap between skin and garment, called microclimate, is recognized by predictive models and experimental works. However, accurate measurements of microclimate is complex because its volume is small and variable. Moreover, due to body movement, involuntary contact between sensors and skin/garment strongly affects the measurement. In this work, a wearable device designed for measuring microclimate and skin temperature and humidity is presented and validated through tests in a controlled climatic chamber