Optical coherence tomography quantifying photo aging: skin microvasculature depth, epidermal thickness and UV exposure.

INTRODUCTION: Photo aging predominantly occurs in the face, neck and hands due to UVA and UVB irradiation. It is associated with skin cancer and histological studies indicate thinning of the epidermis and elastosis occurs. Dynamic Optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) is a non-invasive imaging tool able to visualize the epidermis and upper dermis and its blood vessels as well as to evaluate epidermal thickness (ET) and blood flow. OBJECTIVE: To investigate ET and blood vessel depth using D-OCT in human subjects correlated to UV exposure. METHODS: We evaluated data from 249 healthy adults, that had D-OCT-scans conducted at four different regions (forehead, neck, arm and hand) and correlated ET and blood vessel depth with occupational UV exposure (total standard erythema dose, Total SED), season and demographic data. RESULTS: Regional differences in ET and blood vessel depth were found (p values < 0.001). Multiple linear regressions showed a seasonal effect on both ET (- 0.113 to - 0.288 µm/day, p values < 0.001) and blood vessel depth (0.168-0.347 µm/day, p values < 0.001-0.007) during August-December. Significant age-related decrease of ET was seen in forehead, arm and hand (0.207-0.328 µm/year, p values = 0.002-0.18) and blood vessel depth in forehead (0.064-0.553 µm/year, p values = 0.01-0.61). Males had thicker epidermis (3.92-10.93 µm, p values = 0.002-0.15). CONCLUSION: Changing seasons are a major predictor of both ET and blood vessel depth, showing strongest effect in non-exposed areas, suggesting a systemic effect, possibly due to seasonal vitamin D fluctuation. Sex, age and occupational UV exposure affect ET. This study demonstrated the feasibility of D-OCT to evaluate epidermal thickness and blood vessel depth.

Transition to retirement impact on health and lifestyle habits: analysis from a nationwide Italian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Retirement is a life-course transition likely to affect, through different mechanisms, behavioural risk factors' patterns and, ultimately, health outcomes. We assessed the impact of transitioning to retirement on lifestyle habits and perceived health status in a nationwide cohort of Italian adults. METHODS: We analysed data from a large cohort of Italian adults aged 55-70, derived from linking six waves of the Participation, Labour, Unemployment Survey (PLUS), a national survey representative of the Italian workforce population, conducted between 2010 and 2018. We estimated relative-risk ratios (RRR) of transition to retirement and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for selected behavioural risk factors and health outcomes using multivariable logistic regression models. We used propensity score matching (PSM) to account for potential confounders. RESULTS: We included 5169 subjects in the study population, of which 1653 retired between 2010 and 2018 (exposed, 32%). Transition to retirement was associated with a 36% increased probability of practising sports (RRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.12-1.64). No statistically significant changes were reported for smoking habit (current smoker RRR: 1.18, 95% CI 0.94-1.46) and BMI (overweight/obese RRR: 0.96, 95% CI 0.81-1.15). Overall, retiring was associated with improved self-rated health status (RRR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02-1.58). CONCLUSION: Individual data-linkage of multiple waves of the PLUS can offer great insight to inform healthy ageing policies in Italy and Europe. Transition to retirement has an independent effect on perceived health status, physical activity and selected behavioural risk factors. It should be identified as a target moment for preventive interventions, with particular reference to primary prevention so as to promote health and wellbeing in older ages.