Reversal of the hair loss phenotype by modulating the estradiol-ANGPT2 axis in the mouse model of female pattern hair loss

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is characterized by diffuse hair thinning mainly at the vertex and upper parietal scalp [1]. Unlike male androgenetic alopecia, the frontal hairline is infrequently affected in FPHL. FPHL is not a life-threatening disease; however, there is a great demand for treatment, as this condition reduces body image and causes psychologically stress in affected individuals [2]. However, available treatment options for FPHL are very limited [3]. Male pattern hair loss can be mainly explained by androgen-dependent acceleration of the hair cycle with resultant hair follicle miniaturization, while FPHL is considered to be heterogeneous, and the pathophysiology of FPHL is more complicated than that of male pattern hair loss.

Resident and monocyte-derived Langerhans cells are required for imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis model

Langerhans cells (LCs) are dendritic cells that reside in the epidermis and local inflammation results in an increased differentiation of monocyte-derived LCs. Only few studies have investigated on the role of LCs in psoriasis-like dermatitis model, but the results are variable and the exact role of LCs in psoriasis model remains to be elucidated.

Influence of epidermal basement membrane integrity on cutaneous permeability barrier function

Maintenance of epithelial homeostasis and barrier function depends upon the balance between proliferation and differentiation of basal keratinocytes. Basement membrane (BM) plays a role in regulating epithelial proliferation and differentiation by modulating dermal-epidermal interactions. Exposure of skin to the ultraviolet B (UVB) component of sunlight induces expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and heparanase, which degrade BM structure [1,2] (Fig. S1), and UVB exposure also induces changes of epithelial differentiation markers and formation of an abnormal horny layer, concomitantly with increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) [3] (Fig.

Emerging Applications of Eye-Tracking Technology in Dermatology

Eye-tracking technology has been used within a multitude of disciplines to provide data linking eye movements to visual processing of various stimuli (i.e., x-rays, situational positioning, printed information, and warnings). Despite the benefits provided by eye-tracking in allowing for the identification and quantification of visual attention, the discipline of dermatology has yet to see broad application of the technology. Notwithstanding dermatologists' heavy reliance upon visual patterns and cues to discriminate between benign and atypical nevi, literature that applies eye-tracking to the study of dermatology is sparse; and literature specific to patient-initiated behaviors, such as skin self-examination (SSE), is largely non-existent.

Corrigendum to “Genetically defined variants of toll-like receptors 3, 7 and 9 as phenotype and risk modifier factors for psoriasis” [89 (March (3)) (2018) 301–304]

The authors regret <changing the ninth author's name from "R. Romaní" to "J. Romaní" >.

Agerarin inhibits α-MSH–induced TYR gene transcription via STAT3 suppression independent of CREB-MITF pathway

Skin pigmentation occurs through melanogenesis in melanocytes [1]. Melanin synthesis is regulated by many enzymes, including tyrosinase [2], TYR-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2, located in melanosomes [3]. TYR is a rate-limiting enzyme that converts tyrosine to 3,4-hydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and oxidize DOPA to DOPA quinone, leading to the progression of melanin formation [4]. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a tridecapeptide derived from pro-opiomelanocortin. In the skin, α-MSH is produced from keratinocytes in response to solar ultraviolet radiation [5] and stimulates melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) on the melanocytes.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by hypersensitivity to gold – description of a clinical case

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 363-365, May 2018.

Delayed‐type drug hypersensitivity caused by paracetamol in a 2‐year‐old boy, confirmed by a positive patch test reaction and oral provocation

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 362-363, May 2018.

Contact sensitization to lanolin alcohols and Amerchol® L101 – analysis of IVDK data

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 367-369, May 2018.

Issue Information

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page i-i, May 2018.

Allergic contact dermatitis secondary to the use of aluminium Finn Chambers®

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 365-366, May 2018.

Allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde mimicking impetigo and initiating rosacea

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 359-361, May 2018.

Nickel and cobalt release from fidget spinners on the Danish market

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 357-359, May 2018.

Cobalt not detected in contemporary US consumer paint colorants by cobalt indicator solution or X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy

Contact Dermatitis, Volume 78, Issue 5, Page 355-356, May 2018.

Specific barrier response profiles after experimentally induced skin irritation in vivo

Contact Dermatitis, EarlyView.

The secret sensitizer gets out of the bag

Contact Dermatitis, EarlyView.

Presenteeism in a Dutch hand eczema population—a cross‐sectional survey

Contact Dermatitis, EarlyView.

An improved green synthesis method and Escherichia coli antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles

Publication date: Available online 7 April 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): Pham Van Viet, Truong Tan Sang, Nguyen Ho Ngoc Bich, Cao Minh Thi
Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized by an improved green synthesis method via a photo-reduction process using low-power UV light in the presence of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as the surface stabilizer. The effective synthesis process was achieved by optimized synthesis parameters such as C2H5OH: H2O ratio, AgNO3: PVP ratio, pH value, and reducing time. The formation of Ag NPs was identified by Ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra. Ag NPs were crystallized according to (111), (200), and (220) planes of the face-centered cubic. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed that the morphology of Ag NPs was uniform spherical with the average particle size of 16 ± 2 nm. The results of XRD pattern, TEM image, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis proved that Ag crystals with uniform size were formed after the reduction process. The mechanism of the formation of Ag NPs was proposed and confirmed by FTIR spectra. The antibacterial activity of Ag NPs against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was tested and approximately 100% of E. coli was eliminated by Ag NPs 35 ppm. In the future, this study can become a new process for the application of Ag NPs as an antibiotic in the industrial scale.

Graphical abstract

Spatiotemporal heterogeneity and patterning of developing renal blood vessels

Abstract

The kidney vasculature facilitates the excretion of wastes, the dissemination of hormones, and the regulation of blood chemistry. To carry out these diverse functions, the vasculature is regionalized within the kidney and along the nephron. However, when and how endothelial regionalization occurs remains unknown. Here, we examine the developing kidney vasculature to assess its 3-dimensional structure and transcriptional heterogeneity. First, we observe that endothelial cells (ECs) grow coordinately with the kidney bud as early as E10.5, and begin to show signs of specification by E13.5 when the first arteries can be identified. We then focus on how ECs pattern and remodel with respect to the developing nephron and collecting duct epithelia. ECs circumscribe nephron progenitor populations at the distal tips of the ureteric bud (UB) tree and form stereotyped cruciform structures around each tip. Beginning at the renal vesicle (RV) stage, ECs form a continuous plexus around developing nephrons. The endothelial plexus envelops and elaborates with the maturing nephron, becoming preferentially enriched along the early distal tubule. Lastly, we perform transcriptional and immunofluorescent screens to characterize spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the kidney vasculature and identify novel regionally enriched genes. A better understanding of development of the kidney vasculature will help instruct engineering of properly vascularized ex vivo kidneys and evaluate diseased kidneys.

GntR is involved in the expression of virulence in strain Streptococcus suis P1/7

Abstract

Streptococcus suis is a severe zoonotic pathogen, responsible for acute diseases in pigs and human. GntR proteins widely distribute in various bacteria species. In previous study, GntR proteins were reported to be involved in virulence in many pathogens. To investigate the relationship between GntR and S. suis serotype 2, we constructed an isogenic deletion mutant P1/7ΔgntR and an isogenic single-nucleotide substitution mutant P1/7gntR^(SC070731), which took strain P1/7 as parent. The results show that the mutants P1/7ΔgntR and P1/7gntR^(SC070731) have a stronger ability to tolerate the oxidative stress and reproduce in blood. Moreover, higher fatality rate observed in mice when challenged with P1/7ΔgntR or P1/7gntR^(SC070731) compared with that of P1/7. Overall, all results suggest that GntR greatly impacts the virulence of S. suis serotype 2 strain P1/7 and give a new perspective of virulence generation in S. suis.

Correction to: Credal pragmatism

Abstract

In the original publication of the article, Table 1 was incorrectly published. The corrected table is give below.

Rates of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke from various indoor environments among US children and nonsmoker adolescents and adults

Abstract

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2013–2014 were used to compute rates of exposure (ROE) to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) from various indoor environments among US children and nonsmoking adolescents and adults. In a typical week in USA, 473,000 infants (ROE, 11%), 3.36 million children aged 1–5 years (ROE, 16.4%), and 4.59 million children aged 6–11 years (ROE, 18.6%) are exposed to ETS from indoor environments only. ROE among children was found to be highest by inhaling tobacco smoke inside home, riding in a car, and when visiting other people's homes. In a typical week, 4.1 million nonsmoking adolescents (ROE, 29.2%) were being exposed to ETS. For every one adolescent smoker, 2.4 nonsmoker adolescents were being subjected to ETS exposure. Both non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) nonsmoking adolescents had higher ROE (p < 0.01) than Hispanics (HISP) and non-Hispanic Asians (NHAS). Also, in a typical week, 16.8 million nonsmoking adults (ROE, 29.2%) were being exposed to ETS. For every adult smoker, 0.7 nonsmoker adult was subjected to ETS exposure. Both NHW and NHB nonsmoking adults had higher ROE (p < 0.01) than HISP and NHAS and males had higher ROE than females (p < 0.01).

Selection of tawny owl ( Strix aluco ) flight feather shaft for biomonitoring As, Cd and Pb pollution

Abstract

In this study, we determined the concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the shaft of all primary flight feathers from ten tawny owl (Strix aluco) specimens, with the aim of selecting which shaft of the corresponding primary feather should be used in biomonitoring surveys to enable inter-individual comparisons of the levels of these metals. The birds had died between 2006 and 2013 and their bodies were stored in the various Wildlife Recovery Centres in Galicia (NW Spain). The analyses revealed a high degree of inter-shaft variability, mainly in the concentrations of As and Cd. However, it was possible to identify the most representative samples in each case: for As, the shaft of primary flight feather number 5 (S5) (which represented 11% of the total As excreted in all of the primary flight feathers); for Cd, the shaft of primary flight feather number 2 (S2) (11% of the total excreted); and for Pb, the shaft of primary flight feather number 8 (S8) (14% of the total excreted). However, the difficulties associated with the analytical determination of these pollutants in the shaft should be taken into account when this technique is applied in biomonitoring studies.

Effectiveness of an improved form of insecticide-based diatomaceous earth against four stored grain pests on different grain commodities

Abstract

The effectiveness of Grain-Guard, an improved form of diatomaceous earth (DE), with low risk to the environment, was evaluated against the storage pests Liposcelis paeta, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Rhyzopertha dominica, and Tribolium castaneum on four grain commodities, wheat, rice, maize and sorghum. The overall mortality of stored grain pests increased with the rise of application rate and exposure intervals of diatomaceous earth and decreased over 120 days of post-treatment period. Our results revealed that mortality of adults 14 days post-disclosure was > 80% on wheat at the start of post-treatment than rice, maize, and sorghum, respectively. During the first 60 days of post-treatment, adult mortality increased, whereas later on, a steady decrease in adult mortality was observed. Considerable differences in dose rates were observed on mortality levels along with grain commodities. Following 14 days of exposure, all adults of four species were dead on wheat at 100 ppm and on rice at 150 ppm except maize and sorghum. The suppression of progeny was noticeably higher at the beginning of post-treatment duration while after 60-days of post-treatment, progeny numbers started to increase with the rise in post-treatment durations. This new improved DE formulation was found to be effective at dose rates that are extensively lower than required with previous DE formulations and will contribute to lower the risk of health and environment.

Reduced bioavailability and plant uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil slurry amended with biochars pyrolyzed under various temperatures

Abstract

Biochar has high potential for organic pollutant immobilization due to its powerful sorption capacity. Nevertheless, potential risks may exist when biochar-sorbed organic pollutants are bioavailable. A direct plant exposure assay in combination with an organic solvent extraction experiment was carried out in this study to investigate the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the application of pine needle biochars pyrolyzed under different temperatures (100, 300, 400, and 700 °C; referred as P100–P700 accordingly). Biochar reduced solvent extractability and plant uptake of PAHs including naphthalene (Naph), acenaphthene (Acen), phenanthrene (Phen), and pyrene (Pyr), especially for three- and four-ring PAHs (Phen and Pyr) with high-temperature biochar. Plant uptake assay validates with organic solvent extraction for bioavailability assessment. Sorption of PAHs to biochars reduced plant uptake of PAHs in roots and shoots by lowering freely dissolved PAHs. Aging process reduced the bioavailability of PAHs that were bound to biochar. High pyrolysis temperature can be recommended for biochar preparation for purpose of effectively immobilizing PAHs, whereas application of moderate-temperature biochar for PAH immobilization should concern the potential risks of desorption and bioavailability of PAHs.

Parental Unemployment and Offspring Psychotropic Medication Purchases: A Longitudinal Fixed-Effects Analysis of 138,644 Adolescents

Abstract

Parental unemployment is associated with worse adolescent mental health, but prior evidence is primarily based on cross-sectional studies subject to reverse causality and confounding. We assess the association between parental unemployment and changes in adolescent psychotropic medication purchases with longitudinal individual-level fixed-effects models that control for time-invariant confounding. We use a large register-based panel of Finnish adolescents aged 13-20 in 1987-2012 (N = 138,644), with annual measurements of mothers' and fathers' employment and offspring psychotropic medication purchases. We assess changes in the probability of adolescent psychotropic medication purchases in the years before, during, and after the first episode of parental unemployment. There was no association between mother's unemployment and offspring psychotropic purchases in the fixed-effects models, suggesting this association is largely driven by unmeasured confounding and selection. By contrast, father's unemployment led to a significant 15-20% increase in the probability of purchasing psychotropic medication among adolescents even after extensive controls for observed and unobserved confounding. This change takes at least a year to emerge, but it is long-lasting and calls for policies that mitigate the harm of father's unemployment on offspring's mental wellbeing.

Chronic Medical Conditions and Perinatal Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the association between maternal chronic medical conditions (CMC) and perinatal mental illness. Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched to September, 2017. Data were extracted and quality was assessed using standardized instruments. We generated unadjusted and adjusted pooled odds ratios (aPOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using DerSimonian and Laird random effects models. The review included 16 papers representing 12 studies and 1,626,260 women. CMC overall was associated with perinatal mental illness overall (aPOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.63). CMC overall was associated with antenatal (aPOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.81) and postnatal mental illness separately (aPOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.85) and with perinatal depression (aPOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.67) and anxiety separately (aPOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.35, 1.95). No studies examined bipolar or psychotic disorders. Diabetes (aPOR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.69), hypertension/heart disease (aPOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.45), migraine (aPOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.54), and other neurological disorders (aPOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.77), but not asthma, were each associated with perinatal mental illness. Findings suggest that mental health resources should be integrated in medical settings where pregnant and postnatal women with CMC are treated.

Impact of public health responses during a measles outbreak in an Amish community in Ohio: modelling the dynamics of transmission

Abstract

We quantified measles transmissibility during a measles outbreak in Ohio in 2014 to evaluate the impact of public health responses. Case incidence and the serial interval (time between symptom onset in primary and secondary cases) were used to assess trends in the effective reproduction number R (average number of secondary cases generated per case). A mathematical model was parameterized by early R values to determine outbreak size and duration if containment measures had not been initiated, and the impact of vaccination. As containment started, we found a fourfold decline in R (~4 to 1) over 2 weeks, and maintenance of R < 1 as control measures continued. Under a conservative scenario, the model estimated 8,472 cases (90% confidence interval [CI]: 8,447, 8,489) over 195 days (90% CI: 179, 223) without control efforts, and 715 cases (90% CI: 103, 1,338) over 128 days (90% CI: 117, 139) when including vaccination; 7,757 fewer cases (90% CI: 7,130, 8,365) and 67 fewer outbreak days (90% CI: 48, 98) were attributed to vaccination. Vaccination may not account entirely for transmission reductions, suggesting changes in community behavior (social distancing) and other control efforts (isolation, quarantining) are important. Our findings highlight the benefits of measles outbreak response and of understanding behavior change dynamics.

Contribution of Smoking to Tuberculosis Incidence and Mortality in High Tuberculosis Burden Countries

Abstract

Globally, 10 million incident tuberculosis (TB) cases are reported annually; 95% of TB cases and 80% of tobacco users reside in low- and middle-income countries. Smoking approximately doubles the risk of TB disease and TB mortality. We estimated the proportion of annual incident TB cases and TB mortality attributable to tobacco smoking in 32 high TB burden countries. We obtained country-specific estimates of TB incidence, TB mortality, and smoking prevalence from the World Health Organization Global TB Report (2017), tobacco surveillance reports (2015), and the Tobacco Atlas. Risk ratios for the effect of smoking on TB incidence and TB mortality were obtained from published meta-analyses. An estimated 17.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.4, 21.4) of TB cases and 15.2% (95% CI: 1.8, 31.9) of TB mortality were attributable to smoking. Among high TB burden countries, Russia had the highest proportion of smoking-attributable TB disease (31.6%, 95% CI: 15.9, 37.6) and deaths (28.1%, 95% CI: 3.8, 51.4). Men (30.3%, 95% CI: 14.7, 36.6) had a greater proportion of TB cases attributable to smoking than women (4.3, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.7). Our findings highlight the need for tobacco control in high TB burden countries to combat TB incidence and TB mortality.