Assessing Excessive Keratinization in Acral Areas through Dermatoscopy with Cross-Polarization and Parallel-Polarization: A Dermatoscopic Keratinization Scale

Excessive epidermal hyperkeratosis in acral areas is a common occurrence in dermatology practice, with a notable prevalence of approximately 65% in the elderly, especially in plantar lesions. Hyperkeratosis, characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum, can have various causes, including chronic physical or chemical factors, genetic predispositions, immunological disorders, and pharmaceutical compounds. This condition can significantly impact mobility, increase the risk of falls, and reduce the overall quality of life, particularly in older individuals. Management often involves creams containing urea to soften hyperkeratotic areas. Currently, subjective visual evaluation is the gold standard for assessing hyperkeratosis severity, lacking precision and consistency. Therefore, our research group proposes a novel 6-point keratinization scale based on dermatoscopy with cross-polarization and parallel-polarization techniques. This scale provides a structured framework for objective assessment, aiding in treatment selection, duration determination, and monitoring disease progression. Its clinical utility extends to various dermatological conditions involving hyperkeratosis, making it a valuable tool in dermatology practice. This standardized approach enhances communication among healthcare professionals, ultimately improving patient care and research comparability in dermatology

General Analytical Procedure for Determination of Acidity Parameters of Weak Acids and Bases

The paper presents a new convenient, inexpensive, and reagent-saving general methodology for the determination of pKa values for components of the mixture of diverse chemical classes weak organic acids and bases in water solution, without the need to separate individual analytes. The data obtained from simple pH-metric microtitrations are numerically processed into reliable pKa values for each component of the mixture. Excellent agreement has been obtained between the determined pKa values and the reference literature data for compounds studied

Investigations of ternary complexes of Co(II) and Ni(II) with oxydiacetate anion and 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipyridine in solutions

The article presents the situation of reused wastewater globally. At the outset we describe the parameters used to establish the higher or lower water deficit are, as well as the different regions where water supplies are under stress. The main causes of the worldwide increase of this problematic are reviewed. It includes a brief survey of historical events related to the use of wastewater and a description of the possible applications of this resource. Worldwide, the status of reused waters for different countries and regions is reviewed based on studies conducted in 2008 and 2013. The essay addresses the main reasons for the continued growth of reused wastewater in the future, whose expansion parallels advances in its treatment, and identifies the countries where a further increase of it is expected. It also describes how modern technologies for treating wastewater allow for its direct or indirect use for drinking purposes, indicating the most significant examples of this trend.El artículo presenta el estado de la reutilización de aguas residuales a escala mundial. Inicialmente se describen los parámetros que definen el mayor o menor déficit de agua, y se muestran las distintas regiones con déficit hídrico. Se revisan las principales causas que provocan el aumento en todo el mundo de esta problemática. Se incluye una breve reseña sobre sucesos históricos relacionados con el uso de aguas residuales, y se describen los usos posibles de las mismas. Se revisa el estado de la reutilización a escala mundial en los distintos países y regiones, según dos estudios realizados en 2008 y 2013. Finalmente se apuntan las principales razones para un continuo crecimiento de la reutilización de aguas residuales en el futuro, que crece paralelamente a la mejora en su tratamiento, identificando los países donde se espera mayor crecimiento. También se describe como las modernas tecnologías para el tratamiento de aguas residuales, permiten el uso directo o indirecto de las aguas regeneradas utilizándolas como aguas potables, describiendo los ejemplos más significativos