Skin Capacitive Image Stitching and Occlusion Measurements

The aim of this study is to develop new analysis techniques for skin capacitive image stitching and occlusion measurements. Through image stitching, small skin capacitive images can be stitched into large skin capacitive images and, therefore, provide more skin image information. Through occlusion, e.g., keeping the measurement device on skin for a period of time, the skin health status can be studied through time-dependent response curves. Results show that time-dependent skin capacitive imaging curves can tell us the information about transdermal water loss (TEWL) as well as skin surface profiles. By using the structural similarity index measure (SSIM), the TEWL map can be constructed, which shows the water loss map on the skin surface. We first present the theoretical background and then the experimental results

Histological changes in the vulva and vagina from ovariectomised rats undergoing oestrogen treatment

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the histological changes occurring in the vagina and vulva in ovariectomised female rats, as well as the response to the administration of injectable oestrogens. Material and methods: We used 30 female Wistar white rats, distributed as follows: group 1 — the control group, group 2 — the operated but untreated rats, and groups 3, 4 and 5 — operated rats, to which oestrogenic treatment was administered (Estradiol, Estradurin, Sintofolin) at a dosage of 0.2 mg/rat/day. After 14 days of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and vaginal and vulvar biopsies were taken from all groups. Results: In group 2, we encountered structural changes of the vaginal mucosa, with severe atrophy and alterations in the thickness of the vagina and vulva. In groups 3, 4 and 5 we found marked hyperplasia of the vaginal and vulvar epithelium, eosinophilic and mast cell infiltration in the chorion. Conclusions: Our study proves that the histopathological changes during anoestrus after administration of oestrogens are cell hyperplasia, thickening of the superficial mucosal layer, eosinophilic and mast cells infiltrations, and chorionic congestion. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Estradiol therapy induces the most evident histological changes when compared to synthetic oestrogens such as Estradurin or Sintofolin.

Opto-thermal measurement of barrier cream residence time on skin in-vivo

We report the non-invasive opto-thermal measurement of the residence time of a barrier cream on in-vivo skin. These measurements revealed an approximately exponential decrease of cream layer thickness with a 1/e disappearance time of similar to 60 minutes. Measurements on a cream layer on a polymer substrate under otherwise similar conditions confirmed that penetration into the stratum corneum, rather than abrasion or evaporative loss, was the main cause of the observed disappearance.Peer reviewe

Health-related quality of life in Romanian postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and fragility fractures

Alina Deniza Ciubean,1,2 Rodica Ana Ungur,2,3 Laszlo Irsay,2,3 Viorela Mihaela Ciortea,2,3 Ileana Monica Borda,2,3 Ioan Onac,2,3 Stefan Cristian Vesa,1 Anca Dana Buzoianu1 1Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 2Department of Rehabilitation, Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Objectives: Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and increased susceptibility to fractures, which are associated with pain and decrease in physical function, social function, and well-being, which are all aspects of quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the burden of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in Romanian postmenopausal women from Cluj County using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Quality of life questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) questionnaires.Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study on 364 postmenopausal women was carried out between June 2016 and August 2017 in the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. Data were collected by interview and from the medical documents: clinical and demographic data, personal medical history, risk factors for osteoporosis, and bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femur. The patients included in the study were asked to complete the Romanian versions of the SF-36 and QUALEFFO-41 questionnaires.Results: Women with osteoporosis had significantly lower scores in the SF-36 domains (P<0.001) than healthy controls. In the osteoporosis group, a significant association was found in the SF-36 pain domain, where women with a history of fracture had higher scores (P=0.035). As for QUALEFFO-41, a statistical significance was found in the total score (P<0.05), revealing a significantly lower QoL in osteoporotic women with a history of fracture.Conclusion: The SF-36 scores registered a loss of QoL in women with osteoporosis. The QUALEFFO-41 total score was significantly lower in the osteoporosis associated with fracture, revealing a lower health-related QoL in these patients. Keywords: osteoporosis, quality of life, fragility fractures, QUALEFFO-41, SF-3

Standardless PIXE analysis of thick biomineral structures

The particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) of thick biomineral targets provides pertinent surface analysis, but if good reference materials are missing then complementary approaches are required to handle the matrix effects. This is illustrated by our results from qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of biomaterials and calcified tissues in which PIXE usually detected up to 20 elements with Z > 14 per sample, many at trace levels. Relative concentrations allow the classification of dental composites according to the mean Z and by multivariate statistics. In femur bones from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, trace element changes showed high individual variability but correlated to each other, and multivariate statistics improved discrimination of abnormal pathology. Changes on the in vitro demineralization of dental enamel suggested that a dissolution of Ca compounds in the outermost layer results in the uncovering of deeper layers containing higher trace element levels. Thus, in spite of significant limitations, standardless PIXE analysis of thick biomineral samples together with proper additional procedures can provide relevant information in biomedical research

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): A bottom-up and One Health approach

Background: Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives: To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods: The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results: EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions: A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve