Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis: 09/22/18

Σάββατο 22 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018

Dos casos de celulitis eosinofílica por moluscos contagiosos

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Alexandra Perea Polak, Elisabeth Gómez Moyano, Angel Vera Casaño, Leandro Martinez Pilar, Sara Simonsen, Beatriz Romero Madrid

Enfermedad de Grover en una paciente con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Miguel Ángel Flores-Terry, Lucía González-Ruiz, Isabel María de Lara-Simón, Monserrat Franco-Muñóz

Síndrome de DRESS tras la administración intraperitoneal de vancomicina

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Xavier Fustà-Novell, Sebastian Podlipnik, Daniel Morgado-Carrasco, José Manuel Mascaró Jr

Pápulas de coloración de la piel y malformación del tracto urinario. Diagnóstico y comentario

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Víctor Alejandro González-Delgado, Liria Terrádez-Mas, José M. Martín

Un caso de pigmentación oral. Diagnóstico y comentario

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Felipe César Benavente-Villegas, Amparo Fuertes Prosper, Patricia Pose Lapausa

Telangiectasia hemorrágica hereditaria. Revisión a partir de un caso

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Emilio Vargas Ramírez, María Jesús Rojas-Lechuga, Pablo Uribe González

Dermatitis de contacto por acrilatos en kits caseros de esmaltes de uñas permanentes

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): María-Elena Gatica-Ortega, María-Antonia Pastor-Nieto

Dermoscopia del queratoacantoma en fase de regresión

Publication date: October 2018

Source: Piel, Volume 33, Issue 8

Author(s): Carlos Cuenca-Barrales, Jorge Juan Vega-Castillo, Jose Carlos Ruiz-Carrascosa, Ricardo Ruiz-Villaverde

Eficacia y seguridad de los cannabinoides tópicos en dermatología

Publication date: Available online 20 September 2018

Source: Piel

Author(s): Adrián Imbernón-Moya, Ricardo Ruiz-Rodríguez

Micosis fungoide hipopigmentada: la gran simuladora

Publication date: Available online 18 September 2018

Source: Piel

Author(s): Eduardo Garzón, John Jairo Dávila Rodríguez, Karla Aguilar Benavides, Ana Loaiza

Is prolactin a negative neuroendocrine regulator of human skin re-epithelisation after wounding?

Abstract

Chronic wounds remain a major unmet healthcare challenge, associated with substantial morbidity and economic costs. Therefore, novel treatment strategies and therapeutic approaches need to be urgently developed. Yet, despite the increasingly recognized importance of neurohormonal signaling in skin physiology, the neuroendocrine regulation of cutaneous wound healing has received surprisingly little attention. Human skin, and its appendages, locally express the pleiotropic neurohormone prolactin (PRL), which not only regulates lactation but also hair follicle cycling, angiogenesis, keratinocyte proliferation, and epithelial stem cell functions. Therefore, we examined the effects of PRL in experimentally wounded female human skin organ culture. Overall, this revealed that PRL slightly, but significantly, inhibited epidermal regeneration (reepithelialisation), cytokeratin 6 protein expression and intraepidermal mitochondrial activity (MTCO1 expression), while it promoted keratinocyte terminal differentiation (i.e. involucrin expression) ex vivo. If the current pilot data are confirmed by further studies, PRL may serve as one of the—rarely studied—negative regulators of cutaneous wound healing that control excessive reepithelialisation. This raises the intriguing and clinically relevant question of whether PRL receptor antagonists could actually promote epidermal repair after human skin wounding.

Joo-Young Lee: A human rights framework for intellectual property, innovation and access to medicines

Comparative evaluation between two nutritional supplements in the improvement of telogen effluvium.

Comparative evaluation between two nutritional supplements in the improvement of telogen effluvium.

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2018;11:431-436

Authors: Sant'Anna Addor FA, Donato LC, Melo CSA

Abstract
Purpose: Telogen effluvium (TE) is defined as a diffuse hair loss characterized by shortening of the anagen phase and precipitation of the telogen phase, with a consequent reduction of total hair volume. Nutritional supplementation is indicated under conditions in which TE is related to dietary disorders. The aim of this clinical study was to compare the efficacy of two different supplements in monotherapy for TE.
Patients and methods: Female adult patients were randomized to receive two oral nutritional supplements (group 1: a supplement composed of zinc, biotin, iron, vitamins A, C, E, and B complex, folic acid, magnesium, and amino acids of keratin and collagen and group 2: calcium pantothenate cystine, thiamine nitrate, medicinal yeast, keratin, and aminobenzoic acid) to treat hair loss for 180 days. They were evaluated clinically and by digital trichoscopy.
Results: Clinical evaluation showed significant clinical improvement (P<0.05) for the evaluated parameters: hair loss, hair volume, density of hair (scalp cover), hair shine, hair strength, in 180 days. At 90 days evaluation, group 1 showed significant improvement for all parameters, while group 2 did not show any significant improvement for hair shine and hair strength. In the digital trichoscopy, there was a significant improvement only in group 1 (11.09%×7.76%) after 180 days.
Conclusion: In idiopathic TE, the nutritional component should be suspected; the supplementation of an association of nutrients in recommended daily intake can lead to significant improvement of the condition from the first trimester of use. The use of an association with proven efficacy and a safety profile and posologic convenience facilitate its indication and patient adherence.

PMID: 30237729 [PubMed]

Mucormycosis outbreak due to Rhizopus microsporus after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery evaluated by RAPD and MALDI-TOF Mass spectrometry

Publication date: Available online 22 September 2018

Source: Journal de Mycologie Médicale

Author(s): S. Gamarra, M.S. Chaves, M.S. Cabeza, D. Macedo, F. Leonardelli, D. Franco, M. Boleas, G. Garcia-Effron

Abstract

Background

Rhizopus microsporus is one of the main causative agents of mucormycosis. These mycoses are mostly described as isolated cases involving uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or immunosuppressed patients. In this work we report a nosocomial outbreak of mucormycosis due to R. microsporum involving three young immunocompetent patients whom underwent arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in a seven-month time span.

Procedures

During the outbreak period, a total of 32 surgeries of this type were performed in the clinic (mucormycosis prevalence of 9.375%). The three patients presented healthcare-associated Mucormycosis comprising the bone surrounding one of the fixation screws (femoral or tibial). In addition to these three strains, another three R. microsporus strains isolated in the medical center during the same period of time were included in the study. One of these fungi was isolated from a skin lesion of a kidney transplant patient while the other two strains were isolated from environmental sources. Classical, mass spectrometry-based (MALDI-TOFF) and molecular identification were performed. Genetic relatedness was established by Rep-PCR (RAPD variant) and by single-linkage cluster analysis mass spectra. Cluster analysis was performed by unweighed pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA).

Main findings

All the strains were identified as R. microsporum by the used phenotypic and genetic tools. Clinical strains fell into 2 different clusters separating the renal transplant recipient strain from the three strains isolated post ACLR surgery, which clustered together.

Conclusions

The established genetic/mass spectra relatedness between the three post-surgery isolates suggests that these cases may be considered a healthcare-associated mucormycosis outbreak.

Immune and Inflammatory Reponses to Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infections

Abstract

Purpose of Review

There have been recent advances in our understanding of cutaneous immune responses to the important human skin pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This review will highlight these insights into innate and adaptive immune mechanisms in host defense and cutaneous inflammation in response to S. aureus skin infections.

Recent Findings

Antimicrobial peptides, pattern recognition receptors, and inflammasome activation function in innate immunity as well as T cells and their effector cytokines play a key role in adaptive immunity against S. aureus skin infections. In addition, certain mechanisms by which S. aureus contributes to aberrant cutaneous inflammation, such as in flares of the inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis, have also been identified.

Summary

These cutaneous immune mechanisms could provide new targets for future vaccines and immune-based therapies to combat skin infections and cutaneous inflammation caused by S. aureus.

Preoperative liver registration for augmented monocular laparoscopy using backward–forward biomechanical simulation

Abstract

Purpose

Augmented reality for monocular laparoscopy from a preoperative volume such as CT is achieved in two steps. The first step is to segment the organ in the preoperative volume and reconstruct its 3D model. The second step is to register the preoperative 3D model to an initial intraoperative laparoscopy image. To date, there does not exist an automatic initial registration method to solve the second step for the liver in the de facto operating room conditions of monocular laparoscopy. Existing methods attempt to solve for both deformation and pose simultaneously, leading to nonconvex problems with no optimal solution algorithms.

Methods

We propose in contrast to break the problem down into two parts, solving for (i) deformation and (ii) pose. Part (i) simulates biomechanical deformations from the preoperative to the intraoperative state to predict the liver's unknown intraoperative shape by modeling gravity, the abdominopelvic cavity's pressure and boundary conditions. Part (ii) rigidly registers the simulated shape to the laparoscopy image using contour cues.

Results

Our formulation leads to a well-posed problem, contrary to existing methods. This is because it exploits strong environment priors to complement the weak laparoscopic visual cues.

Conclusion

Quantitative results with in silico and phantom experiments and qualitative results with laparosurgery images for two patients show that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art in accuracy and registration time.

Comparison of the application of B-mode and strain elastography ultrasound in the estimation of lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma based on a radiomics approach

Abstract

Purpose

B-mode ultrasound (B-US) and strain elastography ultrasound (SE-US) images have a potential to distinguish thyroid tumor with different lymph node (LN) status. The purpose of our study is to investigate whether the application of multi-modality images including B-US and SE-US can improve the discriminability of thyroid tumor with LN metastasis based on a radiomics approach.

Methods

Ultrasound (US) images including B-US and SE-US images of 75 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases were retrospectively collected. A radiomics approach was developed in this study to estimate LNs status of PTC patients. The approach included image segmentation, quantitative feature extraction, feature selection and classification. Three feature sets were extracted from B-US, SE-US, and multi-modality containing B-US and SE-US. They were used to evaluate the contribution of different modalities. A total of 684 radiomics features have been extracted in our study. We used sparse representation coefficient-based feature selection method with 10-bootstrap to reduce the dimension of feature sets. Support vector machine with leave-one-out cross-validation was used to build the model for estimating LN status.

Results

Using features extracted from both B-US and SE-US, the radiomics-based model produced an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) \(=\) 0.90, accuracy (ACC) \(=\) 0.85, sensitivity (SENS) \(=\) 0.77 and specificity (SPEC) \(=\) 0.88, which was better than using features extracted from B-US or SE-US separately.

Conclusions

Multi-modality images provided more information in radiomics study. Combining use of B-US and SE-US could improve the LN metastasis estimation accuracy for PTC patients.

Correction to: Tomosynthesis implementation with adaptive online calibration on clinical C-arm systems

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in table 2.

Eye tracker accuracy: quantitative evaluation of the invisible eye center location

Abstract

Purpose

We present a new method to evaluate the accuracy of an eye tracker-based eye localization system. Measuring the accuracy of an eye tracker's primary intention, the estimated point of gaze, is usually done with volunteers and a set of fixation points used as ground truth. However, verifying the accuracy of the location estimate of a volunteer's eye center in 3D space is not easily possible. This is because the eye center, the center of corneal curvature, is an intangible point.

Methods

We evaluate the eye location accuracy by using an eye phantom instead of eyes of volunteers. For this, we developed a testing stage with a realistic artificial eye and a corresponding kinematic model, which we trained with \(\mu \text {CT}\) data. This enables us to precisely evaluate the eye location estimate of an eye tracker.

Results

We show that the proposed testing stage with the corresponding kinematic model is suitable for such a validation. Further, we evaluate a particular eye tracker-based navigation system and show that this system is able to successfully determine the eye center with a mean accuracy of 0.68 mm.

Conclusion

We show the suitability of the evaluated eye tracker for eye interventions, using the proposed testing stage and the corresponding kinematic model. The results further enable specific enhancements of the navigation system to potentially get even better results.

Correction to: Radiation exposure for intraoperative 3D scans in a hybrid operating room: how to reduce radiation exposure for the surgical team

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. In abstract, results section should read.

3D surface voxel tracing corrector for accurate bone segmentation

Abstract

Purpose

For extremely close bones, their boundaries are weak and diffused due to strong interaction between adjacent surfaces. These factors prevent the accurate segmentation of bone structure. To alleviate these difficulties, we propose an automatic method for accurate bone segmentation. The method is based on a consideration of the 3D surface normal direction, which is used to detect the bone boundary in 3D CT images.

Methods

Our segmentation method is divided into three main stages. Firstly, we consider a surface tracing corrector combined with Gaussian standard deviation \(\sigma \) to improve the estimation of normal direction. Secondly, we determine an optimal value of \(\sigma \) for each surface point during this normal direction correction. Thirdly, we construct the 1D signal and refining the rough boundary along the corrected normal direction. The value of \(\sigma \) is used in the first directional derivative of the Gaussian to refine the location of the edge point along accurate normal direction. Because the normal direction is corrected and the value of \(\sigma \) is optimized, our method is robust to noise images and narrow joint space caused by joint degeneration.

Results

We applied our method to 15 wrists and 50 hip joints for evaluation. In the wrist segmentation, Dice overlap coefficient (DOC) of \(97.62 \pm 0.57\) % was obtained by our method. In the hip segmentation, fivefold cross-validations were performed for two state-of-the-art methods. Forty hip joints were used for training in two state-of-the-art methods, 10 hip joints were used for testing and performing comparisons. The DOCs of \(97.34 \pm 0.56\%\) , \(98.06\pm 0.58\) %, and \(97.73 \pm 0.47\) % were achieved by our method for the pelvis, the left femoral head and the right femoral head, respectively.

Conclusion

Our method was shown to improve segmentation accuracy for several specific challenging cases. The results demonstrate that our approach achieved a superior accuracy over two state-of-the-art methods.

Evolutionary image simplification for lung nodule classification with convolutional neural networks

Abstract

Purpose

Understanding decisions of deep learning techniques is important. Especially in the medical field, the reasons for a decision in a classification task are as crucial as the pure classification results. In this article, we propose a new approach to compute relevant parts of a medical image. Knowing the relevant parts makes it easier to understand decisions.

Methods

In our approach, a convolutional neural network is employed to learn structures of images of lung nodules. Then, an evolutionary algorithm is applied to compute a simplified version of an unknown image based on the learned structures by the convolutional neural network. In the simplified version, irrelevant parts are removed from the original image.

Results

In the results, we show simplified images which allow the observer to focus on the relevant parts. In these images, more than 50% of the pixels are simplified. The simplified pixels do not change the meaning of the images based on the learned structures by the convolutional neural network. An experimental analysis shows the potential of the approach. Besides the examples of simplified images, we analyze the run time development.

Conclusions

Simplified images make it easier to focus on relevant parts and to find reasons for a decision. The combination of an evolutionary algorithm employing a learned convolutional neural network is well suited for the simplification task. From a research perspective, it is interesting which areas of the images are simplified and which parts are taken as relevant.

3D modelling of non-intestinal colorectal anatomy

Abstract

Purpose

There is a paucity of methods to model soft anatomical tissues. Accurate modelling of these tissues can be difficult with current medical imaging technology.

Methods

The aim of this research was to develop a methodology to model non-intestinal colorectal tissues that are not readily identifiable radiologically to enhance contextual understanding of these tissues and inform medical device design. The models created were used to inform the design of a novel medical device to separate the mesocolon from the retroperitoneum during resection of the colon. We modelled the peritoneum and the mesentery. The mesentery was used to indicate the location of Toldt's fascia.

Results

We generated a point cloud dataset using cryosection images as the target anatomy is more visible than in CT or MRI images. The thickness of the mesentery could not be accurately determined as point cloud data do not have thickness. A denser point cloud detailing the mesenteric boundaries could be used to address this.

Conclusions

Expert anatomical and surgical insight and point cloud data modelling methods can be used to model soft tissues. This research enhances the overall understanding of the mesentery and Toldt's fascia in the human specimen which is necessary for medical device innovations for colorectal surgical procedures.

Identification and Dissection of the Facial Nerve During Parotidectomy

Facial nerve injury during parotidectomy remains one of the most significant complications associated this operation. Preventing facial nerve injury begins with a detailed understanding of the extra-temporal course of the facial nerve beginning with identification of the main trunk at the stylomastoid foramen. Reliable anatomic landmarks are present which facilitate identification and preservation of the main trunk of the facial nerve and facilitate antegrade dissection and preservation of the facial nerve distally.

Surgical Excision of the Submandibular Gland

A variety of pathology commonly affects the salivary glands including both benign and malignant tumors as well as infectious and inflammatory disease. Although newer techniques including sialo-endoscopy are emerging for the treatment of inflammatory and obstructive disorders, excision of the submandibular gland remains the treatment of choice for tumors of the submandibular gland and remains an important option for the treatment of refractory inflammatory disease. Relevant surgical anatomy, perioperative management, surgical technique, and possible complications are discussed.

Deep Lobe Parotidectomy

Deep lobe parotidectomy (DLP) is a critical procedure to master for any head and neck oncologic surgeon. This procedure is indicated for any deep lobe malignancy, a superficial lobe malignancy with extension into the deep lobe, refractory inflammatory conditions, and the presence of metastatic disease within a superficial or periparotid lymph node. This article describes the relevant anatomy and steps required to perform a DLP with and without facial nerve sacrifice. In addition, the history of the procedure, patient work up, indications, and possible complications are discussed.

Gingko flap: The development of a novel flap technique to reduce dog ear formation

Dear Sir,

Comment on “How to assess the volume of a DIEP flap using a free online calculator: the DIEP V (volume) method”

Razzano et al. developed a simple method to calculate the predicted volume of a DIEP flap for breast reconstruction.1 They hypothesized that the best representative shape for a DIEP flap was a truncated pyramid. They measured flap thickness using ultrasound (US), and used other variables including flap length and height to calculate the volume of a truncated pyramid-shaped flap. Great value must be given to this study because estimation of DIEP flap volume is crucial in surgical planning and execution for ultimately matching the volume of the breast being reconstructed, and it also can help decrease donor site complications.

Anatomic Location of a Sensory Nerve to the Transverse Upper Gracilis (TUG) Flap: A Novel Option for Sensate Autologous Tissue Reconstruction

A January 2017 article in the New York Times, "After Mastectomies, an Unexpected Blow: Numb New Breasts," made the concept of hypoesthesia after mastectomy mainstream. This, along with advances in cadaveric nerve grafts, has led to a surge in the number of publications regarding sensate autologous breast reconstruction. Autologous breast reconstruction typically utilizes an abdominal donor site and the majority of research in sensate autologous tissue has been performed in DIEP or TRAM flaps [3, 4].

The Helsinki Approach to Face Transplantation

We herein describe the establishment of the Helsinki Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) program and its execution in the first two face transplant cases.

When should we use the terms “aponeurotic blepharoptosis” and “reinsertion of the levator aponeurosis”?

It is generally considered that involutional (or senile) blepharoptosis is caused by disinsertion of the levator aponeurosis1. This type of acquired blepharoptosis is therefore also referred to as "aponeurotic blepharoptosis", by reference to its presumed etiology. However, the levator aponeurosis is rarely found to be disinserted peroperatively 2 (at most a dehiscence is found) and it has been suggested that in some cases this disinsertion could be iatrogenic and caused by the surgical procedure itself 3.

Straightforward approach in cultural heritage and environment studies—multivariate analysis and chemometry

The mucous cyst, a rare and delayed complication after rhinoplasty

Publication date: Available online 22 September 2018

Source: Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique

Author(s): M. Atanasiu, A. Paré, J.D. Kun-Darbois, D. Goga, B. Croisé

Summary

Introduction

Rhinoplasty is frequently performed worldwide, and patients and surgeons both expect good cosmetic results without any deformity recurrence. We report a rare case of mucous cyst occurred after post-traumatic rhinoseptoplasty.

Observation

A 27-year old woman presented a median mass of the nose root 7 years after prior rhinoseptoplasty. Investigations showed a subcutaneous lesion of 10.5 × 24.5 mm. The surgery consisted on an external rhinoplasty allowing cyst removal, bilateral osteotomies and reconstruction of the nasal dorsum by deep temporal fascia graft. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of begnin mucous cyst. No recurrence was observed at 1-year follow-up.

Discussion

Mucous cyst post rhinoplasty is rare and is probably due to accidental mucosal material implantation into the subcutaneous plane during rhinoplasty. This complication can be avoided by adequate infiltration and hydrodissection, careful dissection, and avoidance of unnecessary trauma during osteotomies.

Résumé

Introduction

La rhinoplastie est une chirurgie fréquemment réalisée dans le monde. Patients et chirurgiens en attendent un résultat esthétique sans séquelles. Nous reportons le cas rare d'un kyste mucoïde survenu après une rhinoseptoplastie post traumatique.

Observation

Une femme de 27 ans a présenté une masse médiane du dorsum nasal 7 ans après une rhinoseptoplastie préalable. L'imagerie a montré une lésion sous-cutanée de 10,5 mm × 24,5 mm. La chirurgie a consisté en une rhinoplastie par voie externe permettant l'exérèse complète du kyste, des ostéotomies bilatérales et une reconstruction du dorsum nasal par une greffe de fascia temporal profond. L'analyse histologique a confirmé le diagnostic de kyste mucoïde bénin. Aucun signe de récidive n'a été observé après 1 an de suivi.

Discussion

Le kyste mucoïde post rhinoplastie est rare et probablement dû à l'implantation accidentelle de matériel muqueux dans le plan sous-cutané lors de la rhinoplastie. Cette complication peut être évitée par une infiltration adéquate et une hydrodissection, une dissection soigneuse et par l'absence de traumatisme inutile lors des ostéotomies.

On the Persistence of the Electromagnetic Field

Abstract

According to the standard realistic interpretation of classical electrodynamics, the electromagnetic field is conceived as a real physical entity existing in space and time. The problem we address in this paper is how to understand this spatiotemporal existence, that is, how to describe the persistence of a field-like physical entity like electromagnetic field. First, we provide a formal description of the notion of persistence: we derive an "equation of persistence" constituting a necessary condition that the spatiotemporal distributions of the fundamental attributes of a persisting physical entity must satisfy. We then prove a theorem according to which the vast majority of the solutions of Maxwell's equations, describing possible spatiotemporal distributions of the fundamental attributes of the electromagnetic field, violate the equation of persistence. Finally, we discuss the consequences of this result for the ontology of the electromagnetic field.

Cytokine levels in persistent skin lesions of adult-onset Still disease

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2018

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Elina Zuelgaray, Maxime Battistella, Marie-Dominique Vignon-Pennamen, Sophie Ly Ka So, Michel Rybojad, Antoine Petit, Florence Cordoliani, David Boccara, Maurice Mimoun, Dan Lipsker, François Chasset, Armand Bensussan, Martine Bagot, Jean-David Bouaziz, Laurence Michel, Study Group of Systemic Diseases in Dermatology (EMSED: Etude des Maladies Systémiques en Dermatologie)

Is “Yellow Zone” Management Effective in Reducing Asthma Flares in Children?

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2018

Source: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Author(s): Javen Wunschel, Bharat Kumar

Rostrum: Latex Allergy Risks Live On

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2018

Source: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Author(s): Kim Liberatore, Kevin J. Kelly

Reduction in the prevalence of IgE-mediated allergy to latex proteins from gloves in patients may lead to lax attention by health care personnel to avoid use of latex products in latex-allergic subjects. Recent evidence from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System shows an alarming continuation of adverse events mostly from latex urinary catheters. We are strongly advocating that health care personnel must continue to pay close attention to avoidance of latex in patients with a history of latex allergy.

It Just Looks the Same: An Evolutionary Psychological Account of Differences in Racial Cognition Among Infants and Older Humans

Abstract

Forms of racial cognition begin early: from about 3 months onwards, many human infants prefer to look at own-race faces over other-race faces. What is not yet fully clear is what the psychological mechanisms are that underlie racial thoughts at this early age, and why these mechanisms evolved. In this paper, we propose answers to these questions. Specifically, we use recent experimental data and evolutionary biological insights to argue that early racial cognition is simply the result of a "facial familiarity mechanism": a mental structure that leads infants to attend to faces that look similar to familiar faces, and which probably has evolved to track potential caregivers. We further argue that this account can be combined with the major existing treatments of the evolution of racial cognition, which apply to (near-) adult humans. The result is a heterogeneous picture of racial thought, according to which early and later racial cognition result from very different psychological mechanisms.