Characterization Of Human Skin Through Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

The photoacoustic technique is based on the absorption of modulated light by a sample and subsequent heat generation. This generates thermal waves that propagate in the surrounding media According to the Rosencwaig-Gersho Model, such waves produce the pressure oscillation detected as the photoacoustic signal. This technique allows the spectroscopic characterization of multilayer systems: as the thermal diffusion length varies with the modulation frequency of the absorbed light, the depth profile of a sample can be studied by the analysis of the photoacoustic signal at different modulation frequencies. In this work, photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to characterize different human skin samples. Measurements were performed at 70Hz and 17Hz, using a 1000W Xe arc lamp as the light source, for wavelengths between 240nm and 700nm. Skin samples were about 0,5cm diameter. It was possible to obtain the photoacoustic absorption spectra of the stratum corneum and of a deeper layer of epidermis; when the lower modulation frequency is utilized, photoacoustic spectroscopy characterizes the absorption of the whole epidermis, because in this case the thermal diffusion length is thicker than that of the stratum corneum. Photoacoustic spectroscopy was also employed to monitor the drying kinetics of the skin. This was done by analyzing the time evolution of the photoacoustic spectra of skin samples. Pre-treatment of the samples included different periods in a drying chamber. Measurements show that the photoacoustic spectra changes according to the humidity of the skin. Future work includes detailed monitoring of skin hydration.5325136142Morganti, P., Ruocco, E., Wolf, R., Ruocco, V., Percutaneous absorption and delivery systems (2001) Clinics in Dermatology, 19, pp. 489-501Junqueira, L.C., Carneiro, J., (1995) Histologia Básica, 8a Ed., pp. 301-303Bernengo, J.C., Gasquez, C., Falson-Rieg, F., Photoacoustics as a tool for cutaneous permeation studies (1998) High Temperatures-High Pressures, 30, pp. 619-624Gutiérrez-Juárez, G., Vargas-Luna, M., Córdova, T., Varela, J.B., Bernal-Alvarado, J.J., Sosa, M., In vivo measurement of the human skin absorption of toppically applied substances by photoacoustic technique (2002) Physiological Measurement, 23, pp. 1-12Puccetti, G., Lahjomri, F., Leblanc, R.M., Pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy applied to the diffusion of sunscreen chromophores in human skin: The weakly absorbent regime (1997) Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 39, pp. 110-120Vinha, C.A., Haas, U., Qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of dried fruits and seasoning products of paprika using photoacoustic spectroscopy (1997) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 45 (4), p. 127

Sunscreen Effects In Skin Analyzed By Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

In the photoacoustic technique, the signal is proportional to the heat produced in a sample as a consequence of modulated light absorption. This technique allows the spectroscopic characterization of multilayer systems: as the thermal diffusion length varies with the light modulation frequency, one can obtain the depth profile of the sample by analyzing the frequency-dependence of the signal. As the photoacoustic signal depends on thermal and optical properties of the sample, structural changes in the system under analysis account for signal variations in time. In this work, photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to characterize samples of sunscreen and the system formed by sunscreen plus skin. Measurements used a 1000W Xe arc lamp as light source, for wavelengths between 240nm and 400nm. This range corresponds to most of the UV radiation that reaches Earth. Skin samples were disks of about 0,5cm diameter. The absorption spectrum of sunscreen was obtained. Finally, photoacoustics was employed to monitor the absorption kinetics of the sunscreen applied to skin samples. This was done by applying sunscreen in a skin sample and recording the photoacoustic spectra in regular time intervals, up to 90 minutes after application. According to measurements, light absorption by the sunscreen plus skin system stabilizes between 25 and 45 minutes after sunscreen application. Results show that this technique can be utilized to monitor drug delivery and farmacokinetics in skin samples.5325143149Barja, P.R., (1996) Estudo da Indução Fotossintética Através da Técnica Fotoacústica: Efeitos de Saturação e Fotoinibição, , (master thesis), IFGW, UNICAMPRosencwaig, A., (1980) Photoacoustics and Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, pp. 219-231. , New York, John Wiley & SonsPucceti, G., Leblanc, R.M., A comparative study on chromophore diffusion inside porous filters by pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy (1996) Journal of Membrane Science, 119, pp. 213-228Gutiérrez-Juárez, G., Vargas-Luna, M., Córdova, T., In vivo measurement of the human skin absorption of topically applied substances by photoacoustic technique (2002) Physiological Measurement, 23, pp. 1-12Bernengo, J.C., Photoacoustics as a tool for cutaneous permeation studies (1998) High Temperatures-high Pressures, 30, pp. 619-624Azevedo, J.S., UVA/UVB sunscreen determination by second-order derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry (1999) II Farmaco, 54, pp. 573-578Rettberg, P., Horneck, G., Biologically weighted measurement of UV radiation in space on Earth with the biofilm technique (2000) Advanced Space Research, 26, pp. 2005-2014Van Der Leun, J.C., UV radiation from sunlight: Summary, conclusions and recommendations (1996) Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 35, pp. 237-2441Wolf, R., Sunscreens (2001) Clinics in Dermatology, 19, pp. 452-45

Childhood acute leukemias are frequent in Mexico City: descriptive epidemiology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Worldwide, acute leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer. It is particularly common in the Hispanic populations residing in the United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico City. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of acute leukemia in children who were diagnosed and treated in public hospitals in Mexico City.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Included in this study were those children, under 15 years of age and residents of Mexico City, who were diagnosed in 2006 and 2007 with leukemia, as determined by using the International Classification of Childhood Cancer. The average annual incidence rates (AAIR), and the standardized average annual incidence rates (SAAIR) per million children were calculated. We calculated crude, age- and sex-specific incidence rates and adjusted for age by the direct method with the world population as standard. We determined if there were a correlation between the incidence of acute leukemias in the various boroughs of Mexico City and either the number of agricultural hectares, the average number of persons per household, or the municipal human development index for Mexico (used as a reference of socio-economic level).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although a total of 610 new cases of leukemia were registered during 2006-2007, only 228 fit the criteria for inclusion in this study. The overall SAAIR was 57.6 per million children (95% CI, 46.9-68.3); acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was the most frequent type of leukemia, constituting 85.1% of the cases (SAAIR: 49.5 per million), followed by acute myeloblastic leukemia at 12.3% (SAAIR: 6.9 per million), and chronic myeloid leukemia at 1.7% (SAAIR: 0.9 per million). The 1-4 years age group had the highest SAAIR for ALL (77.7 per million). For cases of ALL, 73.2% had precursor B-cell immunophenotype (SAAIR: 35.8 per million) and 12.4% had T-cell immunophenotype (SAAIR 6.3 per million). The peak ages for ALL were 2-6 years and 8-10 years. More than half the children (58.8%) were classified as high risk. There was a positive correlation between the average number of persons per household and the incidence of the pre-B immunophenotype (Pearson's r, 0.789; P = 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The frequency of ALL in Mexico City is among the highest in the world, similar to those found for Hispanics in the United States and in Costa Rica.</p

Dental Health and Mortality in People With End-Stage Kidney Disease Treated With Hemodialysis: A Multinational Cohort Study

Background Dental disease is more extensive in adults with chronic kidney disease, but whether dental health and behaviors are associated with survival in the setting of hemodialysis is unknown. Study Design Prospective multinational cohort. Setting & Participants 4,205 adults treated with long-term hemodialysis, 2010 to 2012 (Oral Diseases in Hemodialysis [ORAL-D] Study). Predictors Dental health as assessed by a standardized dental examination using World Health Organization guidelines and personal oral care, including edentulousness; decayed, missing, and filled teeth index; teeth brushing and flossing; and dental health consultation. Outcomes All-cause and cardiovascular mortality at 12 months after dental assessment. Measurements Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models fitted with shared frailty to account for clustering of mortality risk within countries. Results During a mean follow-up of 22.1 months, 942 deaths occurred, including 477 cardiovascular deaths. Edentulousness (adjusted HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.51) and decayed, missing, or filled teeth score ≥ 14 (adjusted HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.33-2.17) were associated with early all-cause mortality, while dental flossing, using mouthwash, brushing teeth daily, spending at least 2 minutes on oral hygiene daily, changing a toothbrush at least every 3 months, and visiting a dentist within the past 6 months (adjusted HRs of 0.52 [95% CI, 0.32-0.85], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.64-0.97], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.58-0.99], 0.84 [95% CI, 0.71-0.99], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.95], and 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.96], respectively) were associated with better survival. Results for cardiovascular mortality were similar. Limitations Convenience sample of clinics. Conclusions In adults treated with hemodialysis, poorer dental health was associated with early death, whereas preventive dental health practices were associated with longer survival

Cardiometabolic Pregnancy Complications in Association With Autism-Related Traits as Measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale in ECHO

Prior work has examined associations between cardiometabolic pregnancy complications and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but not how these complications may relate to social communication traits more broadly. We addressed this question within the Environmental Inf luences on Child Health Outcomes program, with 6,778 participants from 40 cohorts conducted from 1998–2021 with information on ASD-related traits via the Social Responsiveness Scale. Four metabolic pregnancy complications were examined individually, and combined, in association with Social Responsiveness Scale scores, using crude and adjusted linear regression as well as quantile regression analyses. We also examined associations stratified by ASD diagnosis, and potential mediation by preterm birth and low birth weight, and modification by child sex and enriched risk of ASD. Increases in ASD-related traits were associated with obesity (β = 4.64, 95% confidence interval: 3.27, 6.01) and gestational diabetes (β = 5.21, 95% confidence interval: 2.41, 8.02), specifically, but not with hypertension or preeclampsia. Results among children without ASD were similar to main analyses, but weaker among ASD cases. There was not strong evidence for mediation or modification. Results suggest that common cardiometabolic pregnancy complications may inf luence child ASD-related traits, not only above a diagnostic threshold relevant to ASD but also across the population

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

About the photoacoustic signal of magnetic materials

The photoacoustic signal of magnets was measured in the presence of external magnetic fields, through the presence of intense magnets. It was observed that the intense magnetic field at the surface of a rare earth magnet can change the photoacoustic signal of a weak ferrite magnet. A possible explanation for the PA signal change is discussed

Monitoring ethylene and oxygen emission during water stress of Populus alba leaves

Photoacoustic techniques were used to analyze the emission of ethylene and photosynthetic oxygen, as function of time, in water stressed leaves of poplar (Populus alba). Oxygen evolution was measured using the OPC technique, with an electret microphone as the photoacoustic cell. Ethylene emission was measured using an intracavity photoacoustic cell inside a CO$_2$ laser. The results obtained could be used in studies of stomatal closure dynamics or photosynthetic activity