Skin cancer risk and shade: comparing the risk of foresters with other outdoor workers

Background: Keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) is an increasingly important public health problem with an especially high prevalence in outdoor workers. In contrast to other occupations, foresters spend most of their outdoor time under the shade of trees. Objectives: We aimed to compare the unique sun exposure patterns and sun protection behaviour of foresters with those of other outdoor workers and their relation to the KC risk. Methods: In July 2018, a cross‐sectional study was conducted at an international forestry fair using a questionnaire about health awareness and skin cancer screening by dermatologists to assess the prevalence of KC. Results: A total of 591 participants (78.7% male; mean age 46.8 ± 16.2 years) including 193 foresters were enrolled. Of all foresters, 72% experienced sunburns (solar erythema) within the past year and 50% of them experienced the worst sunburn during work. Foresters were most likely to often/always wear protective clothes (29.0%) but were least likely to often/always avoid midday sun (23.8%) and stay in the shade (31.1%). Having an outdoor profession or spending hours outside for leisure was negatively associated with sun protection. Skin examination revealed an overall KC prevalence of 16.7%, with 16.5% of foresters being affected. Conclusion: Despite being protected by trees, the risk of KC for foresters is comparable to that of other professional groups. Shade alone may not provide sufficient protection. Additional sun protection measures are necessary

Requirements and expectations of high-quality biomarkers for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in 2021-a two-round Delphi survey among international experts

Background Chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PSO) present major challenges in health care. Thus, biomarkers to identify disease trajectories and response to treatments to improve the lives of affected individuals warrant great research consideration. The requirements that these biomarkers must fulfil for use as practical clinical tools have not yet been adequately investigated. Aim To identify the core elements of high-quality AD and PSO biomarkers to prepare recommendations for current biomarker research. Method A cross-sectional two-round Delphi survey was conducted from August to October 2019 and October to November 2020. All participants were members of the BIOMAP project, an EU-funded consortium of clinicians, researchers, patient organizations and pharmaceutical industry partners. The first round consisted of three open-ended questions. Responses were qualitatively analysed, and 26 closed statements were developed. For the second round, 'agreement' was assumed when the responses of >= 70% of the participants were >= 5 points on a 7-point Likert scale for each statement. Priority classification was based on mean scores (60th percentile = high). Results Twenty-one and twenty-six individuals participated in rounds one and two, respectively. From 26 statements that were included in round 2, 18 achieved agreement (8 concerning the performance, 8 for the purpose and 2 on current obstacles). Seven statements were classified as high priority, e.g. those concerning reliability, clinical validity, a high positive predictive value, prediction of the therapeutic response and disease progression. Another seven statements were assigned medium priority, e.g. those about analytical validity, prediction of comorbidities and therapeutic algorithm. Low priority included four statements, like those concerning cost effectiveness and prediction of disease flares. Conclusion The core requirements that experts agreed on being essential for high-quality AD and PSO biomarkers require rapid validation. Biomarkers can therefore be assessed based on these prioritized requirements.Peer reviewe

Infrared spectra and optical constants of astronomical ices: III. Propane, propylene, and propyne

Infrared (IR) spectra of the hydrocarbon ices C3H8 (propane), C3H6 (propylene, propene), and C3H4 (propyne, methylacetylene) are relevant to the study of the low-temperature chemistry and spectroscopy of objects within and beyond the Solar System, but IR band strengths and absorption coefficients are lacking for these compounds. Here we present new IR spectra of crystalline and non-crystalline forms of C3H8, C3H6, and C3H4. Measurements of ice density and refractive index also are reported, two quantities needed to compute IR absorption coefficients, band strengths, optical constants, and, ultimately, abundances of propane, propylene, and propyne in extraterrestrial environments and in laboratory experiments. Suggestions and interpretations are offered regarding the multiple crystalline forms of propane and propylene observed. Applications and extensions are described

PeakPASI: time for an additional measure tool in psoriasis care?

Supplementary Table 1 and

PeakPASI: time for an additional measure tool in psoriasis care?

Supplementary Table 1 and

PeakPASI: time for an additional measure tool in psoriasis care?

Supplementary Table 1 and

PeakPASI: time for an additional measure tool in psoriasis care?

Supplementary Table 1 and