Not everything is blue or brown: Quantification of ocular coloration in psychological research beyond dichotomous categorizations.

The notion that phenomenologically observable differences in the human eye are correlated with behavioral tendencies (other than gaze-following) has been addressed poorly in the psychological literature. Most notably, the proposed correlations are based on an arbitrary categorization in discrete categories of the continuous variability across various traits that could be contributing to individual eye morphologies. We review the relevant literature and assume a view of human eyes as sign stimuli, identifying the relative contrast between the iridal and scleral areas as the main contributor to the strength of the signal. Based on this view, we present a new method for the precise quantification of the relative luminosity of the iris (RLI) and briefly discuss its potential applications in psychological research.

Microvascular changes in relation to inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia in chronic cutaneous lesions of psoriasis vulgaris.

Epidermal proliferation, inflammatory changes and microvascular augmentation are prominent features of chronic cutaneous psoriatic lesions. The objective of this study was the investigation of blood and lymphatic microvascular changes in relation to epidermal changes and inflammatory infiltration in dermis. Immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to CD34, podoplanin, vascular endothelial growth factors - A and C (VEGF-A and C) and morphometric software were used for quantification of the following parameters: blood and lymphatic vessel area (BVA and LVA), VEGF - A and VEGF-C positive area, inflammatory cell infiltration in dermis (CIA) and epidermal area (EA). In comparison to healthy skin psoriatic lesions showed remarkable elevation of all measured parameters with the following average increase: BVA (2.8-times increased), LVA (2.6-times increased), VEGF-A and VEGF-C area (in epidermis 29-times and 19- times increased, in dermis 25-times and 15- times increased, respectively ), and EA (3-times increased). Statistical analysis revealed significant positive correlation between CIA and EA in psoriatic samples. Blood vessels area and VEGF - A expression in epidermis showed mild positive correlation with epidermal hyperplasia and weak positive correlation with dermal inflammatory infiltration. VEGF - A expression in epidermis also significantly correlated with blood vessels area. As for the lymphatic microcirculation we found a statistically significant positive correlation between lymphatic vessels area and the cellular infiltration in dermis but only weak correlation with epidermal hyperplasia. We hypothesize that angiogenesis in psoriasis is to a greater extent responding to epidermal hyperplasia and in a lesser way to inflammatory infiltration in dermis. However, lymphangiogenesis is significantly related to dermal inflammatory infiltration.

Quantitative comparison of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cutaneous lichen planus and psoriasis: immunohistochemical assessment.

Recent experimental studies revealed that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are closely related to chronic inflammation. The present study aims to evaluate quantitative changes of blood and lymphatic microcirculatory beds in cutaneous lichen planus (CLP) and psoriatic lesions using immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies to CD34, D2-40 and VEGF. Morphometric software was used to determine the area of blood and lymphatic vessels (BVA and LVA) and also the VEGF positive area. Statistical analysis of these parameters confirmed a significant enlargement of both the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory beds in psoriatic and CLP lesions. BVA in CLP lesions was increased by 56% however this augmentation was not as great as in psoriatic lesions where BVA was increased by 123%. Interestingly, LVA in psoriatic and CLP lesions was increased equally by 85%. The strongest VEGF expression was detected in psoriatic lesions, with lower, but still significant, overexpression in CLP lesions. VEGF-C was significantly increased in both psoriatic and CLP lesions in comparable level. Noticeably higher VEGF and VEGF-C expression was observed in the epidermis than in the dermis. Finally, our results indicate that the level of angiogenesis is considerably greater in psoriatic lesions than in CLP lesions, but the level of lymphangiogenesis is equal in both psoriatic and CLP lesions.

Quantitative immunohistochemical assessment of blood and lymphatic microcirculation in cutaneous lichen planus lesions.

Latest advances have brought to light the hypothesis that angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are tightly connected to some chronic inflammatory diseases. The present study focuses on immunohistochemical assessment of the quantitative changes in the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory bed in common chronic dermatosis - cutaneous lichen planus. Double immunohistochemistry with CD34 and podoplanin antibodies was used to detect blood and lymphatic endothelium, while anti-human VEGF was used for the observation of a key angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis inducer. Morphometric analysis was performed with QuickPhoto Micro image analysis software. Results confirmed statistically significant enlargement of both the blood and lymphatic microcirculatory beds. Compared to healthy skin, cutaneous lichen planus lesions revealed 1.6 times enlarged blood microcirculatory bed and 1.8 times enlarged lymphatic microcirculatory bed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in lesional skin was significantly higher in the epidermis (19.1 times increase) than in the dermis (10.3 times increase). These findings indicate a tight association of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis with the pathogenesis of cutaneous lichen planus.

Quantitative changes of the capillary bed in aging human skin.

The present study focuses on the quantitative changes of the capillary bed in aging human skin. Forty-five skin samples were excised from the anterior thoracic region of cadavers of caucasian origin in the age range 33-82 years. The immunohistochemical method with anti-human CD34 was used for the detection of the capillary endothelium. Morphometric analysis was done by Vision Assistant software. The capillary bed was quantified by two parameters: capillary area (CA) and intercapillary distance (ID) in 6 age groups. Results revealed no quantitative changes of the capillary bed up to the age of 60 years. In the papillary dermis a significant reduction of the capillary area was seen in the 7th, 8th and 9th decennium. A considerable decrease, by 33%, was determined in the 7th decennium. During the 8th and 9th decennium the capillary area was reduced by a further 19% and 13%. In total from the 4th till the 9th decennium, the capillary bed in the papillary dermis was diminished by 65%. The intercapillary distance in the papillary dermis singnificantly increased during the 8th decennium. On the basis of the mutual evaluation of both the observed parameters, CA and ICD, the authors supposed that the reduction of the capillary bed in the papillary dermis during the 7th decennium was probably caused only by the shortening of the capillary loops, which copied flattened dermal papillae, and during the 8th decennium also by the decreased number of the capillary loops. In the reticular dermis the capillary bed remained unchanged.

Assessment of the relation of the optic nerve to the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses by computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the relationship of the sphenoid sinus and posterior ethmoid cells with the optic nerve. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 34 CT scans (68 sides) of paranasal sinuses of patients older than 18 years were retrospectively reviewed. Images were assessed in two planes--axial and coronal. We observed the position and relationship of the optic nerve to the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, bony dehiscence and protrusion of the optic nerve into sinuses, and pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process. RESULTS: The most frequent position of optic nerve (ON) was a location close to the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses without contacting or indentation of the wall--55.9% (38 nerves). The bulging of ON to sphenoid sinus was found in 14.7% (10 nerves) and the course of the nerve through sinus in 16 nerves (23.5%). The position of ON intimately to both sinuses was observed in 5.9% (4 nerves). Protrusion of ON, dehiscence of the bony wall and pneumatization of anterior clinoid process (ACP) was seen in 12 (35.3%), 4 (11.8%) and 9 (26.5%) patients, respectively. Both the protrusion of ON and ACP pneumatization were present in 8 (23.5%) patients on the right side and in 5 (14.7%) patients on the left side. CONCLUSION: Variations of posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses are numerous and may entail potential risk of injury of the ON during sinus surgery. Knowledge of individual differences and configurations in the operation area may help the surgeon to prevent complications. Computed tomography is the preferred radiographic modality for evaluation of bony variations and the pathology of this region.