A review of photodiagnostic investigations over 26 years:experience of the National Scottish Photobiology Service (1989-2015)

Background The Scottish Photobiology Service is the national referral pathway for patients with cutaneous photosensitivity diseases in Scotland. We reviewed the pattern of diagnosis of photosensitivity diseases and investigations performed between 1989 and 2015. Methods and Results Data were collected from the Photodiagnostic Database, annual reports and paper records. The total number of patients assessed each year was stable over the period studied (median 242 [range 231–266]), with most being new patients (median 69 [range 62–73]%). Monochromator phototesting was the most utilised investigation, although the use of provocation testing and photopatch testing has increased. The most common diagnosis was polymorphic light eruption, and there was a trend to increasing diagnosis of photoaggravated atopic eczema. Conclusions The pattern of diagnosis of photosensitivity diseases remains fairly stable in Scotland and we wish to emphasise the importance of this Scottish specialist service for patients with photosensitivity diseases and referrers

A Quantitative Study of In Vivo Protoporphyrin IX Fluorescence Build Up During Occlusive Treatment Phases

C L Campbell acknowledges financial support from an UK EPSRC PhD studentship (EP/K503162/1), the Alfred Stewart Trust, the Russell trust award, the Santander mobility award and the FAPESP CEPOF grant 2013/07276.Background: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive light based therapy used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and dysplasia. During PDT, the light sensitive molecule protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is activated, resulting in the production of singlet oxygen, which subsequently leads to cell death. PpIX is metabolised from a topically applied pro-drug and the strong fluorescence signal associated with PpIX can be utilised as an indicator of the amount of PpIX present within the tumour tissue. In this work we measure the build up PpIX during the occlusive treatment phase and investigate how the PpIX production rate is affected by different lesion and patient characteristics. Methods : Fluorescence measurements were used to investigate the build up of PpIX within the tumour tissue during the 3 hour long occlusive treatment prior to irradiation. The study included in vivo measurements of 38 lesions from 38 individual patients. Actinic keratosis (AK) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) were the lesion types included in this study. The resulting data from the study was analysed using generalised linear mixed effects models. Results : It was found that the surface fluorescence signal linearly increased with occlusive treatment time. The predictive models suggest that there is a significant difference in PpIX production between lesion location, however no significant difference is demonstrated between different lesion types, gender and skin type. Conclusions : The study extends and supports previous knowledge of PpIX production during the occlusive treatment phase.PostprintPeer reviewe

Роль научно-технической олимпиады в развитии интереса к профессиональной деятельности учащихся

We acknowledge the support of the UK Engineering and Physics Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding through a studentship for C L Campbell (EP/K503162/1), the Alfred Stewart Trust as well as the BMLA Education Award.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been theoretically investigated using a Monte Carlo radiation transfer (MCRT) model. By including complex three dimensional (3D) tumour models a more appropriate representation of the treatment was achieved. The 3D clustered tumour model was compared to a smooth model, resulting in a significantly deeper penetration associated with the clustered model. The results from the work presented here indicates that light might penetrate deeper than suggested by 2D or simple layered models.Publisher PD

Исследование желаемого образа семьи молодежи, проживающей в больших, средних и малых городах

Funding: EPSRC EP/J01771X, Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit AwardBackground Topical Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective treatment for superficial non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and dysplasia. During PDT light activates the photosensitiser (PpIX), metabolised from a topical pro-drug. A combination of PpIX, light and molecular oxygen results in inflammation and cell death. However, the outcomes of the treatment could be better. Insufficient biosynthesis of PpIX may be one of the causes of incomplete response or recurrence. Measuring surface fluorescence is usually employed as a means of studying PpIX formation. The aim of this work was to develop a device and a method for convenient fluorescence imaging in clinical settings to gather information on PpIX metabolism in healthy skin and NMSC with a view to improving PDT regimes. Methods A handheld fluorescence camera and a time course imaging method was developed and used in healthy volunteers and patients diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and actinic keratosis (AK). The photosensitiser (precursor) creams used were 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA; Ameluz®) and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL; Metvix®). Pain was assessed using a visual analogue score immediately after the PDT. Results Fluorescence due to PpIX increases over three hours incubation in healthy skin and in lesional BCC and AK. Distribution of PpIX fluorescence varies between the lesion types and between subjects. There was no significant correlation between PpIX fluorescence characteristics and pro-drug, diagnosis or pain experienced. However, there was a clear dependence on body site. Conclusion The device and the method developed can be used to assess the characteristics of PpIX fluorescence, quantitative analysis and time course. Our findings show that body site influences PpIX fluorescence which we suggest may be due to the difference in skin temperature at different body sites.PostprintPeer reviewe

AML risk stratification models utilizing ELN-2017 guidelines and additional prognostic factors: a SWOG report.

Background: The recently updated European LeukemiaNet risk stratification guidelines combine cytogenetic abnormalities and genetic mutations to provide the means to triage patients with acute myeloid leukemia for optimal therapies. Despite the identification of many prognostic factors, relatively few have made their way into clinical practice. Methods: In order to assess and improve the performance of the European LeukemiaNet guidelines, we developed novel prognostic models using the biomarkers from the guidelines, age, performance status and select transcript biomarkers. The models were developed separately for mononuclear cells and viable leukemic blasts from previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia patients (discovery cohort, Results: Models using European LeukemiaNet guidelines were significantly associated with clinical outcomes and, therefore, utilized as a baseline for comparisons. Models incorporating age and expression of select transcripts with biomarkers from European LeukemiaNet guidelines demonstrated higher area under the curve and C-statistics but did not show a substantial improvement in performance in the validation cohort. Subset analyses demonstrated that models using only the European LeukemiaNet guidelines were a better fit for younger patients (age \u3c 55) than for older patients. Models integrating age and European LeukemiaNet guidelines visually showed more separation between risk groups in older patients. Models excluding results for Conclusions: While European LeukemiaNet guidelines remain a critical tool for triaging patients with acute myeloid leukemia, the findings illustrate the need for additional prognostic factors, including age, to improve risk stratification

The bodily social self: a link between phenomenal and narrative selfhood

The Phenomenal Self (PS) is widely considered to be dependent on body representations, whereas the Narrative Self (NS) is generally thought to rely on abstract cognitive representations. The concept of the Bodily Social Self (BSS) might play an important role in explaining how the high level cognitive self-representations enabling the NS might emerge from the bodily basis of the PS. First, the phenomenal self (PS) and narrative self (NS), are briefly examined. Next, the BSS is defined and its potential for explaining aspects of social cognition is explored. The minimal requirements for a BSS are considered, before reviewing empirical evidence regarding the development of the BSS over the first year of life. Finally, evidence on the involvement of the body in social distinctions between self and other is reviewed to illustrate how the BSS is affected by both the bottom up effects of multisensory stimulation and the top down effects of social identification