Role of fatty acid transporters in epidermis: Implications for health and disease

Skin epidermis is an active site of lipid synthesis. The intercellular lipids of human stratum corneum (SC) are unique in composition and quite different from the lipids found in most biological membranes. The three major lipids in the SC are free fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides. Fatty acids can be synthesized by keratinocytes de novo and, in addition, need to be taken up from the circulation. The latter process has been shown to be protein mediated, and several fatty acid transporters are expressed in skin. Recent studies of transgenic and knockout animal models for fatty acid transporters and the identification of fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4 or SLC27A4) mutations as causative for Ichthyosis Prematurity Syndrome highlight the vital roles of fatty acid transport and metabolism in skin homeostasis. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of the role of fatty acids and their transporters in cutaneous biology, including their involvement in epidermal barrier generation and skin inflammation

An Inverse Relationship Between Ceramide Synthesis and Clinical Severity in Patients with Psoriasis

Ceramides play major roles in maintaining the epidermal barrier. It has been sus-pected that the depletion of ceramides, associated with disrupted barrier function in the epidermis, leads to the clinical manifestation of dryness and inflammation seen in patients with psoriasis. The aim of the present study was to determine the relation-ship between the level of ceramide synthesis in the epidermis and the clinical severity in patients with psoriasis. Samples from lesional and unlesional epidermis obtained from psoriasis patients were incubated with [14C]serine, an initiator of ceramide syn-thesis. otal ceramide was fractionated using high performance thin layer chromato-graphy, and the radioactivity was measured. The clinical severity of psoriasis was graded according to the psoriasis area and severity index scoring system. The level of ceramide synthesis in the lesional epidermis of patients was significantly lower than that in the unlesional epidermis and bore a negative correlation with the clinical severity of psoriasis. The present results suggest that the decreased level of ceramide synthesis in the epidermis contributes to the clinical severity of psoriasis

Non-invasive Approaches for the Diagnosis of Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Skin Diseases—A Focus on Psoriasis and Lupus erythematosus

The traditional diagnostic gold standard for inflammatory skin lesions of unclear etiology is dermato-histopathology. As this approach requires an invasive skin biopsy, biopsy processing and analysis by specialized histologists, it is a resource intensive approach requiring trained healthcare professionals. In many health care settings access to this diagnostic approach can be difficult and outside emergency cases will usually take several weeks. This scenario leads to delayed or inappropriate treatment given to patients. With dramatically increased sensitivity of a range of analysis systems including mass spectrometry, high sensitivity, multiplex ELISA based systems and PCR approaches we are now able to “measure” samples with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy. Other important developments include the long-term monitoring of parameters using microneedle approaches and the improvement in imaging systems such as optical coherence tomography. In this review we will focus on recent achievements regarding measurements from non-invasive sampling, in particular from plucked hair and skin tape-strips which seem well suited for the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus and psoriatic inflammation, respectively. While these approaches will not replace clinical observation—they can contribute to improved subgroup diagnosis, stratified therapeutic approaches and have great potential for providing molecular and mechanistic insight in to inflammatory skin diseases.With dramatically increased sensitivity of a range of analysis systems including mass spectrometry, high sensitivity, multiplex ELISA based systems and PCR approaches we are now able to “measure” samples with unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy. Other important developments include the long-term monitoring of parameters using microneedle approaches and the improvement in imaging systems such as optical coherence tomography. In this review we will focus on recent achievements regarding measurements from non-invasive sampling, in particular from plucked hair and skin tape-strips which seem well suited for the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus and psoriatic inflammation, respectively. While these approaches will not replace clinical observation – they can contribute to improved subgroup diagnosis, stratified therapeutic approaches and have great potential for providing molecular and mechanistic insight in to inflammatory skin disease

"Exotische Gäste"

Die Völkerschauen und die Darstellung des „Exotischen“ hat in der Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft bisher noch wenig Beachtung gefunden. Umso relevanter erscheint das Thema dieser Magisterarbeit. Die Zurschaustellung von Menschen im Rahmen von Tiergärten oder Jahrmärkten war eine gängige gesamteuropäische Praxis des 19. Jahrhunderts, die sich bis zur Jahrhundertwende zunehmend professionalisierte. Die in dieser Arbeit fokussiert behandelte „Aschanti-Schau“ im Wiener Tiergarten von 1896 umfasste eine Truppe von rund 90 Darsteller*innen, welche ein eigens nachgebautes Dorf bezogen. Die Untersuchung beschäftigt sich mit den gesellschaftlichen, politisch ideologischen und ökonomischen Funktionen dieses Ausstellungskonzeptes. Ausgehend von der Definition der Begriffe „Orentialismus“ und „Exotismus“ wird dargelegt, dass in der Wiener Bevölkerung ein hohes Maß der Faszination mit diesen Formen der „Fremdheit“ stattfand. Gleichzeitig befand sich die Gesellschaft in einem Prozess der zunehmenden Nationalisierung. In Zusammenhang mit den europäischen Kolonialpraktiken tritt diese Faszination in ein neues Licht. Anhand der Darstellung des historischen Konzeptionsprozesses des Rassenbegriffes wird dargelegt, wie seit jeher die Definition des „Fremden“ zur Legitimation der Diskriminierung und gewaltvollen Unterdrückung ebendieser verwendet wurde. Darauf stellt sich die Frage mit welchen Funktionen und Intentionen Völkerschauen um 1900 in Wien veranstaltet wurden. Zur Beantwortung wurden Zeitungsberichte im Diskurs der damaligen gesellschaftlichen und politischen Verhältnisse analysiert und interpretiert. Rund um drei wesentliche Ereignisse der „Aschanti-Schau“ von 1896 – der Ankunft, dem Abschied und dem Tod eines Truppenmitgliedes – wurden Zeitungsberichte jeweils im Zeitraum von einer Woche gesammelt und auf ihre Relevanz untersucht. Um ein breites Bild abzudecken, wurden somit Zeitungen unterschiedlicher politischer Ausrichtung mit in das Sample aufgenommen. Mittels der Diskursanalyse wurden Diskursstränge herausgearbeitet, welche Auskunft über die Wahrnehmung und stereotype Darstellung der „Aschantis“ geben. Im Kontext der bereits vorhandenen wissenschaftlichen Auseinandersetzung können folgende Annahmen über die Funktion der „Aschanti-Schau“ gemacht werden: Die Völkerschau war zunächst ein ertragreiches Unterhaltungsangebot. Der zuvor mit Geldnöten konfrontierte Tiergarten konnte mit dieser Ausstellung seinen Finanzhaushalt deutlich aufbessern. Im Gegenzug bot man einer breiten Bevölkerung eine „Orientreise“ in wenigen Stunden. Mit steigender Industrialisierung und der Teilung in harte Arbeits- und frei verfügbare Freizeit, wuchs die Nachfrage nach dieser Form der leicht konsumierbaren Unterhaltung stetig. Somit bediente die Völkerschau das Begehren nach Unterhaltung und Flucht vor dem Alltag. Das dargestellte Bild über die Truppen-Mitglieder gleicht mehrheitlich dem des „edlen Wilden“. Was zunächst als positiver Stereotyp erscheint, ist auf den zweiten Blick nicht weniger diskriminierend als die explizit negative Darstellung. In beiden Fällen werden die „Aschantis“ als primitiv, erotisiert und dem europäischen Ideal unterlegen dargestellt. Entlang eines Rassenkonzeptes von klar abgetrennten „Grundrassen“ positionierte man die „Aschantis“ zwar als „vollkommene Schwarze“ jedoch unfähig für den europäischen Lebensstil. Damit stütze diese Darstellung des „Fremden“ die Ideologien des Nationalismus und der Hierarchisierung von Völkern.Colonial exhibitions and the portrayal of the “exotic” have not gained much attention within communication sciences, so it appears relevant to cover the topic with this paper. Especially since it was established and popular all over Europe to exhibit humans in zoos or at fairs. The highly professionalised “Aschanti-Schau” in 1896 in Vienna–the main focus of this paper–involved approximately 90 performers living in Huts built especially for the exhibition. The Viennese of 1900 seemed to be especially fascinated with the Orient and everything “exotic”. At the same time, nationalism was on the rise. Within Colonialism and Imperialism, the concept of “race” and the definition of the “other” was used to legitimize discrimination and violent oppression. This sheds new light on the European fascination with the orient and questions the role of colonial exhibitions within such ideologies. This paper covers the questions of social, political and economic functions and intentions behind colonial exhibitions. To answer those questions, newspaper reports from that time were analysed. The research material consisted of articles published within a week around three major events during the “Aschanti-Schau” in 1896: The arrival, the departure ant the death of a member. Newspapers across the political spectrum were included, to gain a broader perspective. Using discourse analysis, multiple stereotypes of the “Aschantis” were extracted. By putting those outcomes in the context of the existing academic discussion, assumptions about the functions of colonial exhibitions could be made. First, they were a major source of income for their organizers and an entertainment service for the public. With industrialisation and the division between work and free time, there was a new possibility and demand for mass consumption and entertainment. At first glance, most stereotypes of the “Aschantis” seemed positive, portraying them as noble, wild and beautiful. However, the definition of the “other” was still used to legitimize the European position of power. They were still seen as primitive, erotic and inferior. Fitting into the idea of clearly distinct “races” the “Aschantis” were seen as the “ideal blacks” but to be unable to fit into the European lifestyle. Therefore, these stereotypes supported the ideologies of nationalism

Celebes; ethnologische streifzüge in Südostund Zentral-Celebes.

Mode of access: Internet