Background
Some methodologies used for evaluating sweat production and antiperspirants are of a stationary aspect, that is, most often performed under warm (38°C) but resting conditions in a rather ...short period of time. The aim is to develop an electronic sensor apt at continuously recording sweat excretion, in vivo, during physical exercises, exposure to differently heated environments, or any other stimuli that may provoke sweat excretion.
Material and Methods
A sensor (20 cm2) is wrapped under a double‐layered textile pad. Fixed onto the armpits, these two arrays of electrodes are connected to electronic system through an analog multiplexer. A microcontroller is used to permanently record changes in the conductance between two electrodes during exposure of subjects to different sweat‐inducing conditions or to assess the efficacy of applied aluminum hydrochloride (ACH)‐based roll‐ons at two concentrations (5% and 15%).
Results
In vitro calibration, using a NaCl 0.5% solution, allows changes in mV to be related with progressively increased volumes. In vivo, results show that casual physical exercise leads to sweat excretions much higher than in warm environment (37 or 45°C). Only, an exposure to a 50°C environment induced comparable sweat excretion. In this condition, sweat excretions were found similar in both armpits and both genders. Decreased sweat excretions were recorded following applications of ACH, with a dose effect.
Conclusion
Developing phases of this new approach indicate that usual method or guidelines used to determine sweat excretions in vivo do not reflect true energy expenditure processes. As a consequence, they probably over‐estimate the efficacy of antiperspirant agents or formulae.
Objectives
To evaluate the impact of Facial radiance or Glow on the perception of age (PA) and to assess which facial signs most influence PA.
Material and Methods
The faces of 1058 differently aged ...women (18‐80 years) of six different ethnicities/countries (China, Japan, Korea, India, South Africa, and Brazil) were photographed under standard conditions. These allowed to focus on 20 different facial signs that were further graded by experts, using referential Atlases dedicated to facial aging. In each of the six countries, 100 local women were recruited as naïve panels to express their perceptions on Glow and Age on each full‐face photograph (blind coded) of the local studied woman.
Results
A decreased Glow/Radiance appears clearly associated with an increased perceived age in all studied subjects, especially among Chinese, Japanese, and South African women. With regard facial signs, Skin texture (Wrinkles of all kinds), Ptosis/Sagging, and Pigmentation signs prevail in almost all women at the exception of South African women where Pigmentation signs and Cheek skin pores largely predominate in the perception of both Glow and PA. Pigmentation signs are of a very high weight among Chinese and Japanese women.
Conclusion
Despite some collective agreements, the present study shows some specificities within the women of the six ethnicities/countries. PA, a core index of antiaging strategies, goes along with facial Glow in almost all studied women. The duller the facial skin, the older it is perceived.
Perception of treatment effect (TE) in cosmetics is multifaceted and influenced by multiple parameters that need to be considered simultaneously when evaluating TE. Here we provide a global approach ...to predicting TE perception using Random Forest (RF) classifier. Data from three randomized double-blind clinical studies with a total of 50 subjects were used. Different products were applied to each facial cheek of subjects at each visit, and post-application photographs were taken. Nine primary endpoints relating to skin pores were assessed by a specific image analysis algorithm. Twenty judges evaluated the relative pore visibility in all possible pairs of cheek photographs. RF was used to construct a prediction model for TE perception based on the primary endpoints and judge's evaluation. Intra-study product ranking was done using the Bradley-Terry model on mean judges' predicted preference. RF demonstrated overall good accuracy in predicting TE perception. Applying RF technique not only addresses issues of multiplicity, nonlinearity and interactions between multiple criteria but also focuses decision-making on one discrete parameter thereby simplifying interpretability and allowing for more consumer-centered claim substantiation in clinical trials.
Abbreviations: RF: Random Forest classifier; FDA: The US Food and Drug Agency; ID: Identifier; MCID: Minimal clinical important difference; Param: Parameter; PGIC: Patients' Global Impression of Change; TE: Treatment effect; TRT: Treatment
IMPORTANCE: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), a rare, potentially fatal, disease with calcium deposits in skin, mostly affects patients with end-stage renal disease who are receiving dialysis. ...Chemical composition and structure of CUA calcifications have been poorly described. OBJECTIVES: To describe the localization and morphologic features and determine the precise chemical composition of CUA-related calcium deposits in skin, and identify any mortality-associated factors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted at 7 French hospitals including consecutive adults diagnosed with CUA between January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2017, confirmed according to Hayashi clinical and histologic criteria. Patients with normal renal function were excluded. For comparison, 5 skin samples from patients with arteriolosclerosis and 5 others from the negative margins of skin-carcinoma resection specimens were also analyzed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Localization and morphologic features of the CUA-related cutaneous calcium deposits were assessed with optical microscopy and field-emission–scanning electron microscopy, and the chemical compositions of those deposits were evaluated with μ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and energy dispersive radiographs. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (median range age, 64 33-89 years; 26 72% female) were included, and 29 cutaneous biopsies were analyzed. Calcific uremic arteriolopathy and arteriolosclerosis skin calcifications were composed of pure calcium–phosphate apatite. Calcific uremic arteriolopathy vascular calcifications were always circumferential, found in small to medium-sized vessels, with interstitial deposits in 22 (76%) of the samples. A thrombosis, most often in noncalcified capillary lumens in the superficial dermis, was seen in 5 samples from patients with CUA. Except for calcium deposits, the vessel structure of patients with CUA appeared normal, unlike thickened arteriolosclerotic vessel walls. Twelve (33%) patients died of CUA. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy–related skin calcifications were exclusively composed of pure calcium–phosphate apatite, localized circumferentially in small to medium-sized vessels and often associated with interstitial deposits, suggesting its pathogenesis differs from that of arteriolosclerosis. Although the chemical compositions of CUA and arteriolosclerosis calcifications were similar, the vessels’ appearances and deposit localizations differed, suggesting different pathogenetic mechanisms.
•Nationwide study, using data from Point Prevalance studies in acute care hospitals.•Decrease in carbapenem and aminoglycoside use between 2012 and 2017, in patients with an ESBL-producing ...Enterobacteriaceae HAI:•Treatment durations remain longer than recommended.•Results can serve to direct future efforts in antimicrobial stewardship.
Infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLE) remain a public health challenge.
We traced the evolution of antibiotics prescribed for patients with ESBLE-healthcare associated infections (ESBLE-HAI) between 2012 and 2017, with a specific focus on treatments for lower urinary tract infections (LUTI).
We used the 2012 and 2017 French point prevalence survey data. Patients with ESBLE-HAI were defined as those diagnosed with at least one Enterobacteriaceae with ESBL production. Patients with LUTI caused by ESBLE (ESBLE-LUTI) were defined as those with LUTI as the reported infection site and diagnosed with ESBLE. We only analysed treatments intended for HAI.
In 2017, more than half of treatments for ESBLE-HAIs were β-lactams. While from 2012 to 2017 the proportion of carbapenem treatments decreased from 30% to 25%, penicillin treatments doubled. Among patients treated for ESBLE-LUTI, a larger proportion received a single antibiotic in 2017. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics for these infections were amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, nitrofurantoin and ofloxacin. More than one out of six treatments lasted for more than 7 days. Carbapenem use was halved between 2012 and 2017, and decreases were likewise observed for aminoglycosides.
In accordance with French recommendations, comparison of the two most recent French point prevalence surveys showed an evolution in ESBLE-HAI treatment, especially for ESBLE-LUTI. However, treatment durations remained longer than recommended. Data from the 2022 survey should provide insights on the future evolution of prescription trends.
Soil phosphorus (P) fertility management in organic cropping systems is a debate d issue in the general context of decreasing resources in a near future. A survey showed that in Midi-Pyrenees a ...majority of stockless organic cropping systems present overdrawn P balances. We investigated the impacts of P balances on the soil plant available P and nutrition status on the long-term field experiment of La Hourre (CREAB, Auch, France), which is representative of rainfed systems set on clayey calcareous soils. The changes in soil plant available P were monitored between 2002 and 2012 using P Olsen soil test. The results specified the declining rate of P availability in time and according to the amplitude of the negative balance. The levels of soil available P did not still lead to degradation of the crop P nutrition status; in this context, N inputs are low, so consequently crop P needs remain limited. However the problems associated with long term management of soil P fertility remain. Beyond the desirable scientific perspectives, we propose a first analysis of the factors on which it would be relevant to act in order to allow the farmers to improve their practices.
La gestion de la fertilité phosphatée des sols de grandes cultures biologiques fait l’objet de débats renforcés, dans le contexte d’une diminution future des ressources en phosphore (P). Une enquête a montré qu’en Midi-Pyrénées une majorité de systèmes de grandes cultures biologiques présente des bilans de P déficitaires. Le niveau des disponibilités en P suivi pendant 10 ans (2003-2012) sur le dispositif expérimental de longue durée de la Hourre (CREAB Auch, France)représentatif des systèmes non irrigués sur sol argilocalcaire, précise la vitesse avec laquelle celles-ci régressent au cours du temps, en fonction de l’ampleur des bilans négatifs. Les résultats obtenus sur le site montrent que les niveaux des disponibilités atteints n’induisent pas encore de dégradation de l’état de nutrition P des cultures ; les besoins en P des cultures déterminés par le niveau des apports de N faibles, restent limités. Toutefois les problèmes de gestion de la fertilité P sur le temps long demeurent. Au-delà des perspectives d’approfondissement scientifique souhaitables, une première analyse des facteurs sur lesquels il conviendrait d’agir pour permettre aux agriculteurs d’améliorer leurs pratiques est proposée.
L’étude fait apparaître une variabilité importante des principaux paramètres de l’analyse énergétique appliquée à 44 successions culturales biologiques de quatre années chacune. Le niveau ...d’intensification des systèmes, appréhendé en termes de recours ou non à la fertilisation organique sur céréales et à l’irrigation sur cultures d’été (légumineuses à graines principalement) explique en grande partie cette variabilité. La consommation énergétique moyenne varie de 5 000 à 12 270 MJ/ha/an selon le niveau d’intensification. La production énergétique varie de 35 500 à 43 950 MJ/ha/an.Consommation et production énergétiques variant dans le même sens avec le degré d’intensification, le gain énergétique est stable avec une valeur moyenne de 29 300 MJ/ha/an. L’efficience énergétique diminue de 7,1 MJ/MJ pour les successions culturales non fertilisées et non irriguées, à 3,5 MJ/MJ pour les successions fertilisées et irriguées, où le soja et la féverole tiennent une place importante.
L’étude fait apparaître une variabilité importante des principaux paramètres de l’analyse énergétique appliquée à 44 successions culturales biologiques de quatre années chacune. Le niveau ...d’intensification des systèmes, appréhendé en termes de recours ou non à la fertilisation organique sur céréales et à l’irrigation sur cultures d’été (légumineuses à graines principalement) explique en grande partie cette variabilité. La consommation énergétique moyenne varie de 5 000 à 12 270 MJ/ha/an selon le niveau d’intensification. La production énergétique varie de 35 500 à 43 950 MJ/ha/an.Consommation et production énergétiques variant dans le même sens avec le degré d’intensification, le gain énergétique est stable avec une valeur moyenne de 29 300 MJ/ha/an. L’efficience énergétique diminue de 7,1 MJ/MJ pour les successions culturales non fertilisées et non irriguées, à 3,5 MJ/MJ pour les successions fertilisées et irriguées, où le soja et la féverole tiennent une place importante.
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