Confirmatory validation of the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Patients: A brief patient-reported outcome measure assessing psychological distress in malignant mesothelioma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological suffering in patients with Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is different from the one experienced by patients with other cancers due to its occupational or environmental etiology and its peculiar symptomatology and prognosis (i.e., poor prognosis, reduced effectiveness of the therapies, poor quality of residual life, and advanced age at the time of diagnosis). Therefore, the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Patients (MPDT-P) has been developed to evaluate the specific profile of psychological suffering in this population. This paper describes the item selection, factor analysis, and psychometric evaluation of the revised MPDT-P. METHODS: The analyses of the current work aimed to confirm the factorial structure found in the first version of the MPDT-P. In the case of nonfit, it aimed to find an alternative structure and causes of nonfit in the model. The search for the fit of the factorial model was conducted using a Bayesian approach. RESULTS: The two-factor model reported in the first version of the instrument did not fit the data. Confirmatory Bayesian analyses showed adequate fit for the three-factor solution. Based on the content of the items, we labeled the factors as dysfunctional emotions, claims for justice, and anxieties about the future. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating the MPDT-P into clinical practice could help clinicians gain insight into the specific suffering related to MM and investigate potential differences related to different occupational and environmental exposure contexts.

Cumulative incidence of cardiac surgery associated with exposure to benfluorex: A retrospective analysis based on compensation claims data.

Data on retrospective compensation claims for injuries caused by pharmaceutical drugs are prone to selection and reporting biases. Nevertheless, this case study of the antidiabetic drug benfluorex shows that such data can be used to estimate the cumulative incidence of drug-related injury, and to provide insights into its epidemiology. To this end, we develop a modelling framework for under-reporting of retrospective claims for compensation arising from drug damage. The model involves a longitudinal component related to attrition of cases over time, and a cross-sectional component related to incomplete reporting. We apply this model to cardiac valve surgery necessitated by exposure to benfluorex. Benfluorex was marketed in France between 1976 and 2009, when it was withdrawn because it caused valvular heart disease. A scandal erupted in 2010 over the scale of the damage caused by the drug. Since then, no further estimates of cumulative incidence have been published, though thousands of claims for compensation have been processed. The analysis combines compensation claims data and sociological survey data on benfluorex users, together with data on benfluorex sales and duration of treatment. We find a threshold of toxicity at about 6 months' exposure, and that at least 1690 individuals (95% CI 1290 to 2320) needed heart surgery to replace or repair valves damaged by exposure to benfluorex in France: a cumulative incidence of 3.68 per 10,000 (95% CI 2.68 to 5.34) benfluorex users or 3.22 per 10,000 (95% CI 2.48 to 4.39) person-years at risk above the exposure threshold. While these findings are tentative, they are consistent with those obtained previously using very different methods.

Prevalence of lifestyle-related behavioral information in claims data in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE: Given their association with varying health risks, lifestyle-related behaviors are essential to consider in population-level disease prevention. Health insurance claims are a key source of information for population health analytics, but the availability of lifestyle information within claims data is unknown. Our goal was to assess the availability and prevalence of data items that describe lifestyle behaviors across several domains within a large U.S. claims database. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive analysis to determine the availability of the following claims-derived lifestyle domains: nutrition, eating habits, physical activity, weight status, emotional wellness, sleep, tobacco use, and substance use. To define these domains, we applied a serial review process with three physicians to identify relevant diagnosis and procedure codes within claims for each domain. We used enrollment files and medical claims from a large national U.S. health plan to identify lifestyle relevant codes filed between 2016 and 2020. We calculated the annual prevalence of each claims-derived lifestyle domain and the proportion of patients by count within each domain. RESULTS: Approximately half of all members within the sample had claims information that identified at least one lifestyle domain (2016 = 41.9%; 2017 = 46.1%; 2018 = 49.6%; 2019 = 52.5%; 2020 = 50.6% of patients). Most commonly identified domains were weight status (19.9-30.7% across years), nutrition (13.3-17.8%), and tobacco use (7.9-9.8%). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using claims data to identify key lifestyle behaviors. Additional research is needed to confirm the accuracy and validity of our approach and determine its use in population-level disease prevention.

Claims-based Frailty Index in Japanese Older Adults: A Cohort Study Using LIFE Study Data.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess whether the United States-developed Claims-based Frailty Index (CFI) can be implemented in Japanese older adults using claims data. METHODS: We used the monthly claims data and certification of long-term care (LTC) insurance data of residents from 12 municipalities from April 2014 to March 2019. The 12 months from first recording was defined as the "baseline period," and the time thereafter as the "follow-up period". Participants aged ≥65 years were included, and those with no certified LTC insurance or who died at baseline were excluded. New certification of LTC insurance and all-cause mortality during the follow-up period were defined as outcome events. CFI categorization consisted of three steps including: 1) using 12 months deficit-accumulation approach that assigned different weights to each of the 52 items; 2) the accumulated score to derive the CFI; and 3) categorizing the CFI as "robust" (<0.15), "prefrail" (0.15-0.24), and "frail" (≥0.25). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between CFI and outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: There were 519,941 participants in total. After adjusting for covariates, the severe CFI category had a high risk of certification of LTC insurance (prefrail: HR 1.33; 95% CI, 1.27-1.39 and frail: HR 1.60; 95% CI, 1.53-1.68) and all-cause mortality (prefrail: HR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.29-1.60 and frail: HR 1.84; 95% CI, 1.66-2.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that CFI can be implemented in Japanese claims data to predict the certification of LTC insurance and mortality.

Salt content of prepacked cereal-based products and their potential contribution to salt intake of the Italian adult population: Results from a simulation study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High sodium intake is one of the main risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, and its consumption should be reduced. This study aimed to simulate changes in the daily salt intake of the Italian adult population based on consumption scenarios of prepacked cereal-based foods sold in Italy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Information on food packages was retrieved from 2893 cereal-based products. Potential changes in salt intake were simulated based on food consumption scenarios that consider the daily consumption of cereal-based products suggested in the Italian Dietary Guidelines and their current daily consumption by Italian adults. The highest salt content was retrieved in bread (median, 25th-75th percentile: 1.3, 1.1-1.4 g/100 g) and bread substitutes (1.8, 1.0-2.2 g/100 g). If the suggested daily amounts were consumed, bread would contribute to 44% of the 5 g salt/day target, whereas bread substitutes, breakfast cereals, biscuits and sweet snacks would marginally contribute (1-2%). Compared to bread with median salt content, a -44% and +10% salt intake would be observed if products within the first and the last quartile of salt content were chosen, respectively. However, considering the actual intake of Italian consumers, bread would cover 25% and bread substitutes 7% of the daily salt target. CONCLUSION: Food labels have a pivotal role and efforts are required to encourage consumers to use them to make healthy choices. Moreover, these results may contribute to setting sodium benchmarks in cereal-based products and encourage the food industry to reduce the salt content in the products.

Time to define food salt targets in Italy starting with cereal-based products: A safe and practical way to reduce the heavy burden of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Excess salt intake is the leading dietary risk factor for cardiovascular disease in most countries, including Italy. While the cost-effectiveness of interventions aimed to reduce salt intake has been proved, the WHO recommendation to reduce salt intake by 30 % at the global level by 2025 is far from being reached. METHODS AND RESULTS: In Italy, two surveys of the general adult population have established that the average salt intake is still almost twice the WHO recommendation although it was reduced by 1.2 g/day between 2008-12 and 2018-19. Previous investigations had shown that non-discretionary salt added by the industry or by local craft producers represents at least 50 % of the total intake and indicated cereal-based products as the main source of non-discretionary salt. Two recent studies conducted by the Italian Society of Human Nutrition "Young Working Group" have provided updated information on the salt content of almost three thousand cereal-based products currently available on the Italian food market and shown that most of the items evaluated had a sodium content much higher than the sodium benchmarks recently proposed by WHO. CONCLUSIONS: Italy has built the foundations of an effective population strategy for salt intake reduction: it is time however to proceed with full commitment to food reformulation if any substantial further progress has to be made. Salt benchmarks for Italy need to be defined for the food categories most relevant to population salt intake and their implementation should ideally be mandatory after consultation with food producers.

Obstetric claims in Finland 2012-2022-A nationwide patient insurance registry study.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal and infant mortality rates in Finland are among the lowest in the world, yet preventable obstetric injuries occur every year. The aim of this study was to describe obstetric claims, their compensation rates, and temporal trends of claims reported to the Patient Insurance center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A nationwide, register-based study was conducted. Data consisted of obstetric claims reported to the Patient Insurance Center between 2012 and 2022. Data analyzed included the year of injury, compensation criteria, maternal age, birth hospital, delivery method, reported causes of injury, and maternal or neonatal injury. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of n = 849 obstetric claims were filed during the study period, of which n = 224 (26.4%) received compensation. The rate of claims was 0.15%, and the rate of compensation was 0.04% in relation to the total volume of births during the period. Substandard care was the most common (97.3%) criterion for compensation. There was a curvilinear increase in the claims rate and a linear increase in compensation rates from 2013 to 2019. More claims were filed and compensated for cesarean and vacuum-assisted deliveries than for unassisted vaginal deliveries. Delayed delivery (18.7%) and surgical technique failure (10.9%) were the most reported causes of injuries. Retained surgical bodies were the induced cause of injury with the highest rate of compensated claims (86.7%). The most common maternal injury was infection (17.9%) and pain (11.7%). Among neonatal injuries, severe (19.2%) and mild asphyxia (16.6%) were the most frequent. Burn injuries (93.3%) and fetal or neonatal death (60.5%) had the highest rate of compensated claims. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided new information on substandard care and injuries in obstetric care in Finland. An increasing trend in claims and compensation rates was found. Identifying contributors to substandard care that lead to fetal asphyxia is important for improving obstetric safety. Further analysis of the association of claims and compensation rates with operative deliveries is needed to determine their causality. Frequent review of obstetric claims would be useful in providing more recent data on substandard care and preventable injuries.

Sexual harassment and implicit gender-career biases negatively impact women's life expectancy in the US: a state-level analysis, 2011-2019.

BACKGROUND: Despite some gains, women continue to have less access to work and poorer experiences in the workplace, relative to men. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among women's life expectancy and two work-related factors, sexual harassment and gender-career biases. METHOD: We examined the associations at the state level of analysis (and District of Columbia) in the US from 2011 to 2019 (n = 459) using archival data from various sources. Measures of the ratio of population to primary health providers, year, the percent of adults who are uninsured, the percent of residents aged 65 or older, and percent of residents who are Non-Hispanic White all served as controls. RESULTS: Results of linear regression models showed that, after accounting for the controls, sexual harassment and gender-career biases among people in the state held significant, negative associations with women's life expectancy. CONCLUSION: The study contributes to the small but growing literature showing that negative workplace experiences and bias against women in the workplace negatively impact women's health.

Associations between school-based fluoride mouth-rinse program, medical-dental expense subsidy policy, and children's oral health in Japan: an ecological study.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries are a common non-communicable disease among children. As a public health measure at the prefectural level, school-based fluoride mouth-rinse (S-FMR) program, medical/dental expense subsidy policies, and other factors may reduce the incidence of dental caries and tooth loss. Prefectures focusing on promoting oral health policies may promote both, but the interaction effect of implementing both subsidy policies and S-FMR at the prefectural level on caries prevention has not yet been examined. METHODS: We conducted an ecological study using two-wave panel data, prefecture-level aggregated data in Japan for 2016 and 2018. Coefficient and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the dependent variables for oral health using mixed-effects linear regression analysis adjusted for possible confounders. Two dependent variables were used; the standardized claim ratio (SCR) of deciduous tooth extraction and 12-year-olds' decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT). Four independent variables were S-FMR, the SCR of dental sealants, prefectural income per person, and subsidy policy in three models: co-payment until children enter elementary school (n = 23), no co-payment until children enter elementary school (n = 7), and co-payment continuing beyond elementary school (n = 17). The effects of six interaction terms, each representing a unique pairing from the four independent variables, were individually calculated. RESULTS: S-FMR was negatively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions and DMFT (coefficient = -0.11, 95% CI -0.20; -0.01 and coefficient = -0.003, 95% CI -0.005; -0.001, respectively). No co-payment until children enter elementary school was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extraction compared to co-payment until children enter elementary school(coefficient = 11.42, 95% CI 3.29; 19.55). SCR of dental sealants was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions (coefficient = 0.12, 95% CI 0.06; 0.19) but negatively associated with DMFT (coefficient = -0.001, 95% CI -0.003; -0.0001). Per capita prefectural income was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions(coefficient = 0.01, 95% CI 0.001; 0.02). No interaction was found between S-FMR and the subsidy policy at both outcomes. CONCLUSION: High S-FMR utilization and no co-payment until children enter elementary school were associated with fewer deciduous tooth extractions. Also, S-FMR and dental sealant were associated with decreased DMFT.

Effect of Negative Online Reviews and Physician Responses on Health Consumers' Choice: Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of online medical services. Although some researchers have investigated how numerical ratings affect consumer choice, limited studies have focused on the effect of negative reviews that most concern physicians. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate how negative review features, including proportion (low/high), claim type (evaluative/factual), and physician response (absence/presence), influence consumers' physician evaluation process under conditions in which a physician's overall rating is high. METHODS: Using a 2×2×2 between-subject decision-controlled experiment, this study examined participants' judgment on physicians with different textual reviews. Collected data were analyzed using the t test and partial least squares-structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Negative reviews decreased consumers' physician selection intention. The negative review proportion (ß=-0.371, P<.001) and claim type (ß=-0.343, P<.001) had a greater effect on consumers' physician selection intention compared to the physician response (ß=0.194, P<.001). A high negative review proportion, factual negative reviews, and the absence of a physician response significantly reduced consumers' physician selection intention compared to their counterparts. Consumers' locus attributions on the negative reviews affected their evaluation process. Physician attribution mediated the effects of review proportion (ß=-0.150, P<.001), review claim type (ß=-0.068, P=.01), and physician response (ß=0.167, P<.001) on consumer choice. Reviewer attribution also mediated the effects of review proportion (ß=-0.071, P<.001), review claim type (ß=-0.025, P=.01), and physician response (ß=0.096, P<.001) on consumer choice. The moderating effects of the physician response on the relationship between review proportion and physician attribution (ß=-0.185, P<.001), review proportion and reviewer attribution (ß=-0.110, P<.001), claim type and physician attribution (ß=-0.123, P=.003), and claim type and reviewer attribution (ß=-0.074, P=.04) were all significant. CONCLUSIONS: Negative review features and the physician response significantly influence consumer choice through the causal attribution to physicians and reviewers. Physician attribution has a greater effect on consumers' physician selection intention than reviewer attribution does. The presence of a physician response decreases the influence of negative reviews through direct and moderating effects. We propose some practical implications for physicians, health care providers, and online medical service platforms.

The Reporting Quality of Machine Learning Studies on Pediatric Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health concern among children with the widespread adoption of advanced technologies. However, concerns are growing about the transparency, replicability, biasedness, and overall validity of artificial intelligence studies in medicine. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically review the reporting quality of machine learning (ML) studies of pediatric DM using the Minimum Information About Clinical Artificial Intelligence Modelling (MI-CLAIM) checklist, a general reporting guideline for medical artificial intelligence studies. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases from 2016 to 2020. Studies were included if the use of ML was reported in children with DM aged 2 to 18 years, including studies on complications, screening studies, and in silico samples. In studies following the ML workflow of training, validation, and testing of results, reporting quality was assessed via MI-CLAIM by consensus judgments of independent reviewer pairs. Positive answers to the 17 binary items regarding sufficient reporting were qualitatively summarized and counted as a proxy measure of reporting quality. The synthesis of results included testing the association of reporting quality with publication and data type, participants (human or in silico), research goals, level of code sharing, and the scientific field of publication (medical or engineering), as well as with expert judgments of clinical impact and reproducibility. RESULTS: After screening 1043 records, 28 studies were included. The sample size of the training cohort ranged from 5 to 561. Six studies featured only in silico patients. The reporting quality was low, with great variation among the 21 studies assessed using MI-CLAIM. The number of items with sufficient reporting ranged from 4 to 12 (mean 7.43, SD 2.62). The items on research questions and data characterization were reported adequately most often, whereas items on patient characteristics and model examination were reported adequately least often. The representativeness of the training and test cohorts to real-world settings and the adequacy of model performance evaluation were the most difficult to judge. Reporting quality improved over time (r=0.50; P=.02); it was higher than average in prognostic biomarker and risk factor studies (P=.04) and lower in noninvasive hypoglycemia detection studies (P=.006), higher in studies published in medical versus engineering journals (P=.004), and higher in studies sharing any code of the ML pipeline versus not sharing (P=.003). The association between expert judgments and MI-CLAIM ratings was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The reporting quality of ML studies in the pediatric population with DM was generally low. Important details for clinicians, such as patient characteristics; comparison with the state-of-the-art solution; and model examination for valid, unbiased, and robust results, were often the weak points of reporting. To assess their clinical utility, the reporting standards of ML studies must evolve, and algorithms for this challenging population must become more transparent and replicable.

Evaluating Linkage Quality of Population-Based Administrative Data for Health Service Research.

BACKGROUND: To overcome the limitations of relying on data from a single institution, many researchers have studied data linkage methodologies. Data linkage includes errors owing to legal issues surrounding personal information and technical issues related to data processing. Linkage errors affect selection bias, and external and internal validity. Therefore, quality verification for each connection method with adherence to personal information protection is an important issue. This study evaluated the linkage quality of linked data and analyzed the potential bias resulting from linkage errors. METHODS: This study analyzed claims data submitted to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA DATA). The linkage errors of the two deterministic linkage methods were evaluated based on the use of the match key. The first deterministic linkage uses a unique identification number, and the second deterministic linkage uses the name, gender, and date of birth as a set of partial identifiers. The linkage error included in this deterministic linkage method was compared with the absolute standardized difference (ASD) of Cohen's according to the baseline characteristics, and the linkage quality was evaluated through the following indicators: linked rate, false match rate, missed match rate, positive predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score. RESULTS: For the deterministic linkage method that used the name, gender, and date of birth as a set of partial identifiers, the true match rate was 83.5 and the missed match rate was 16.5. Although there was bias in some characteristics of the data, most of the ASD values were less than 0.1, with no case greater than 0.5. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether linked data constructed with deterministic linkages have substantial differences. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the possibility of building health and medical data at the national level as the first data linkage quality verification study using big data from the HIRA. Analyzing the quality of linkages is crucial for comprehending linkage errors and generating reliable analytical outcomes. Linkers should increase the reliability of linked data by providing linkage error-related information to researchers. The results of this study will serve as reference data to increase the reliability of multicenter data linkage studies.

NMR Analysis of Extra Virgin Olive Oil of the Epirus Region of Greece with Emphasis on Selected Phenolic Compounds.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is recognized for its numerous health benefits, attributed to its rich phenolic components. NMR has emerged as a prevalent technique for precisely identifying these compounds. Among Mediterranean countries, Greece stands as the third-largest producer of olives, with the Epirus region notably advancing in olive cultivation, contributing significantly to the dynamic growth of the region. In this study, an NMR method was employed based on the acquisition of a 1H NMR spectrum along with multiple resonant suppression in order to increase the sensitivity. Using the above method, 198 samples of extra virgin olive oil, primarily sourced from the Epirus region, were analyzed, and both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the phenolic compounds were obtained. In addition, we examined the effects of various factors such as variety, harvest month, and region origin on the phenolic compounds' concentration. The results revealed an average total phenolic content of 246 mg/kg, closely approaching the EU health claim limit of 250 mg/kg. Approximately 15% of the samples were confidently characterized as high-phenolic olive oil. The highest concentrations were observed in the Thesprotia samples, with several Lianolia varieties exceeding the total phenolic content of 400 mg/kg. Statistical tests demonstrated a significant influence of the olive variety and the month of fruit harvest on phenolic component concentration, followed by the region of origin. A very strong correlation was noted between the total phenolics content and the levels of oleocanthal and oleacein, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.924. Upon optimization of all factors affecting olive oil quality, the majority of the EVOOs from the Epirus region have the potential to be characterized as high in phenolic content.

Chemical Data and Relationships for a Scoring Algorithm of Extra Virgin Olive Oil's Nutritional Value.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a valuable product and is highly appreciated by consumers for its great nutritional value. However, to date, there has been a lack of uniform systems capable of ranking the nutritional value of EVOO based on its chemical composition in terms of macro- and micronutrients (including phenolic compounds and tocopherols). The aim of this study was to propose a scoring algorithm to rank the nutritional value of EVOO samples, considering their chemical composition in macro- and micronutrients and their sensitivity to oxidation phenomena. Data from more than 1000 EVOO samples were used to assess the variability of the data, considering the selected negative parameters (free acidity, peroxide value, spectrophotometric indices) and positive components (composition in tocopherols via HPLC-DAD, phenolic compounds via HPLC-DAD, and fatty acids via GC-MS) so as to ensure the universal validity of the scoring algorithm. The dataset included samples from the main producing countries worldwide, in addition to Australia, across several production years; data were selected to represent different production realities. A mathematical model was set up for each chemical component, resulting in six variable values. By combining these values with a dimensionless constant value, the algorithm for computing the nutritional value score (NVS) was defined. It allows the nutritional value of an oil to be ranked on a scale of 0 to 100 based on its chemical composition. The algorithm was then successfully tested using chemical data from about 300 EVOO samples obtained from laboratories from different Italian regions. The proposed NVS is a simple and objective tool for scoring the nutritional value of an EVOO, easy to understand for both producers and consumers.

Deep skin homogeneity and light diffusion: An accelerated Monte Carlo model for in vivo skin characterization and consumer perception.

The appearance of healthy and youthful skin is related to many factors of the skin optical properties as perceived by our visual sense. The optics of light travelling through human tissues has been extensively investigated in the field of biomedical applications, including the experimental characterization and modelling of skin optics and the propagation of light such as lasers through the layers. This work presents an innovative approach to probe deep skin by means of spectrally and spatially resolved light diffusion in the different layers of skin. Dual hyperspectral measurements of the panellist's skin are performed in vivo on subjects to obtain reflectance and light diffusion spectra. Both are simultaneously fitted by a GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo model to obtain skin optical parameters as a function of depth. The results show a clear correlation between deep skin light diffusion at wavelengths above 590 nm and the subject age, which indicates a progressive degradation of skin homogeneity with age. The effect of this orange-red light diffusion background is to alter the colour tone of the skin. A skincare product is used to show that the warmer skin colour tone is clearly perceivable to consumers when evaluating facial images with and without the product. The product effect also correlates well with hyperspectral measurements. Lastly, this innovative approach demonstrates a first step in real-time skin characterization for consumers and opens the door to customized cosmetic solutions for individual needs.

L'aspect jeune et en bonne santé de la peau est lié à de nombreux facteurs des propriétés de la peau perçues par notre sens visuel. L'optique de la lumière qui traverse les tissus humains a fait l'objet de recherches approfondies dans le domaine des applications biomédicales, notamment la caractérisation expérimentale, la modélisation de l'optique cutanée et la propagation de la lumière telle que les lasers à travers ses couches. Ce travail présente une approche innovante permettant de sonder la peau profonde au moyen d'une diffusion de la lumière résolue spectralement et spatialement dans les différentes couches de la peau. Des mesures hyperspectrales doubles de la peau du panéliste sont effectuées in vivo sur des sujets pour obtenir des spectres de réflectance et de diffusion de la lumière. Les deux sont simultanément ajustés par un modèle Monte Carlo accéléré par processeur graphique afin d'obtenir les paramètres optiques de la peau comme fonction de sa profondeur. Les résultats montrent une corrélation claire entre la diffusion de la lumière de la peau profonde à des longueurs d'onde supérieures à 590 nm et l'âge du sujet, ce qui indique une dégradation progressive de l'homogénéité de la peau avec l'âge. L'effet de ce fond de diffusion de la lumière rouge­orangée est l'altération de la couleur de la peau. Un produit de soin de la peau a été utilisé pour montrer que le teint plus chaud de la peau était clairement perceptible par les consommateurs évaluant des images du visage avec ou sans produit. L'effet du produit est aussi bien corrélé avec les mesures hyperspectrales. Cette approche innovante démontre enfin une première étape dans la caractérisation de la peau en temps réel pour les consommateurs et ouvre la voie à une solution cosmétique personnalisée selon les besoins individuels.

Water in cosmetics and Caenorhabditis elegans as an alternative model for lifespan assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Water, often considered a fundamental component of life, is the most commonly used ingredient in the formulation of dermocosmetic products, with waterless products being the exception. Dermocosmetic products can contain anywhere from 50% to 85% water, which contributes to their texture and specific characteristics. The chemical composition of water varies depending on its origin and can be categorized as highly mineralized or low mineralized. These compositions could impact the water's efficacy in anti-aging applications. In this study, the objective is evaluating the anti-aging properties of highly and low mineralized water with the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. METHODS: In this article, we employed the alternative model organism C. elegans to assess the impact of 5 branded waters, one physiological water and one ultra-pure water on the model's lifespan, using the survival medium conventionally used for C. elegans as a comparison. RESULTS: Waters may have either a positive or a negative impact on the C. elegans lifespan expectancy. Our results indicate that only one of the water brands we assessed (Volvic®) had a significantly positive effect on worm longevity. In contrast, we found that two other brands (Hepar® and Contrex®) had a negative impact on the later stages of the worm's adulthood. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the impact of the brand water samples on lifespan expectancy varied depending on their physicochemical composition, in particular when ion concentrations were most extreme. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the highly mineralized waters studied have a detrimental effect on the survival of C. elegans, and a preliminary test with ultra-pure water could not be completed due to its deleterious effect on the worms. This suggests the hypothesis that both highly mineralized and completely demineralized waters may not be the most suitable for skin formulations.

OBJECTIF: L'eau, élément fondamental à la vie, est l'ingrédient le plus utilisé dans la formulation de produits dermocosmétiques, pour lesquels les produits sans eau restent des exceptions. Les produits dermocosmétiques contiennent 50% à 85% d'eau, contribuant à leurs textures et leurs caractéristiques spécifiques. La composition chimique de l'eau varie en fonction de son origine et peut être catégorisée comme hautement ou faiblement minéralisée. Cette composition peut impacter l'efficacité de l'eau pour ses applications anti-âge. Dans cette étude, l'objectif est d'évaluer les propriétés anti-âge d'eaux fortement ou faiblement minéralisées à l'aide de l'organisme modèle Caenorhabditis elegans. METHODES: Dans ce travail, nous avons utilisé le modèle alternatif C. elegans pour étudier l'impact de 5 marques d'eaux, du sérum physiologique et de l'eau ultrapure sur ce modèle, en utilisant le milieu de culture standard de C. elegans comme contrôle. RESULTATS: Les eaux peuvent avoir un impact positif ou négatif sur la longévité des C. elegans. Nos résultats indiquent que seule l'une des eaux étudiées (Volvic®) a un impact positif sur la longévité des nématodes. Au contraire, nous avons montré que 2 autres eaux (Hepar® and Contrex®) ont un impact négatif sur les derniers stades adultes. De plus, nous avons démontré que l'impact des eaux sur la longévité variait en fonction de leurs compositions physicochimiques, en particulier lorsque les concentrations ioniques sont extrêmes.

Efficacy of a wheat polar lipid complex in reducing hair loss and improving hair growth in healthy women: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: Hair loss is a major source of psychological distress for affected people. Safe and natural ingredients are therefore needed to help reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth. This pilot clinical study aimed at exploring the efficacy of a wheat polar lipid complex (WPLC, Ceramosides™), containing sphingolipids and digalactosyl diglycerides, on hair characteristics improvement in women showing acute hair shedding. METHODS: Sixty-six women presenting a proportion of hair in the telogen phase greater than 15% were recruited and allocated to two groups, each including at least 10 postmenopausal women. For 84 days, participants consumed 30 mg/day of the WPLC supplement, or the placebo. Their hair characteristics were assessed after 56 and 84 days using phototrichogram evaluations of hairs in anagen/telogen phases, measuring hair shedding by a pull test, hair diameter and elongation at break point, hair growth and scalp sebum content. Hair density and volume were also clinically evaluated. All these parameters were also investigated in the subgroup of postmenopausal women. RESULTS: WPLC supplementation decreased telogen hair density/proportion while increasing the anagen hair density/proportion. These effects were significant compared with the placebo as early as within 56 days. It also led to reduced hair shedding upon pull test analyses. If no changes were evidenced in hair diameter, WPLC improved hair growth and resistance to breakage after 84 days. Clinical evaluations also showed hair density and volume improvement. Furthermore, supplementation decreased scalp sebum content in women with oily hair. The beneficial effects were also observed in the subgroup of postmenopausal women. Finally, WPLC supplementation improved participants' perception of their hair conditions. CONCLUSION: Through a reducing effect on hair shedding and a stimulating effect on hair reappearance and growth, WPLC dietary supplementation was shown to significantly reduce hair loss in women.

OBJECTIF: La chute de cheveux est une source importante de détresse psychologique pour les personnes concernées. Des ingrédients naturels et sûrs sont nécessaires pour permettre de réduire la chute et stimuler la croissance des cheveux. Cette étude clinique pilote avait pour objectif d'étudier la capacité d'un complexe de lipides polaires extraits du blé (WPLC), composé de sphingolipides et de digalactosyl diglycerides, à améliorer la qualité des cheveux chez des femmes présentant une chute de cheveux diffuse et aiguë. MÉTHODES: Soixante­six femmes présentant un taux de cheveux en phase télogène supérieur à 15% ont été recrutées et séparées en deux groupes, chacun comprenant au moins dix femmes ménopausées. Pendant 84 jours, les volontaires ont consommé le supplément à une dose de 30 mg/jour, ou le placebo. Leur chevelure a été évaluée après 56 et 84 jours de supplémentation en quantifiant les cheveux en phase anagène/télogène grâce à un phototrichogramme, en évaluant la chute de cheveux grâce à un test de traction, en mesurant le diamètre, l'élongation et la croissance des cheveux, et en quantifiant le taux de sébum du cuir chevelu. La densité et le volume de la chevelure ont été évalués cliniquement. Tous ces paramètres ont également été analysés dans le sous­groupe de femmes ménopausées. RÉSULTATS: Une diminution de la densité et de la proportion des cheveux en phase télogène a été observée, en association avec une augmentation de la densité et de la proportion des cheveux en phase anagène. Ces résultats sont statistiquement significatifs en comparaison avec le placebo, et ce, dès 56 jours. La chute de cheveux, mesurée par le test de traction, a également été significativement réduite. Bien qu'aucun changement n'ait été observé concernant le diamètre des cheveux, le supplément a amélioré la résistance à la casse et la croissance des cheveux après 84 jours d'utilisation. L'évaluation clinique a montré une amélioration de la densité et du volume de la chevelure. De plus, la supplémentation a entraîné une réduction du taux de sébum du cuir chevelu chez les femmes présentant des cheveux à tendance grasse. Les effets bénéfiques de la supplémentation ont également été observés dans le sous­groupe des femmes ménopausées. Enfin, la prise du supplément a également été associée à une amélioration de la perception des volontaires concernant la qualité de leurs cheveux. CONCLUSION: Grâce à un effet réducteur sur la chute de cheveux et un effet stimulateur sur la repousse et la croissance des cheveux, cette étude a démontré l'efficacité de la supplémentation nutritionnelle avec WPLC à atténuer la perte de cheveux chez la femme.

A novel Ca2+ double cone vector system to treat compromised skin.

BACKGROUND: Stressed, damaged or very aged skin is predominantly characterized by a malfunctioning skin barrier. Underlying skin barrier malfunction is a reduced or defective calcium gradient in the epidermis. Consequently, replenishing the compromised skin's calcium stores with topical calcium could be a potential therapeutic approach. METHODS: We investigated the effect of our novel Ca2+ double cone vector system on improving the differentiation and barrier function of reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), cultured at low basal calcium (0.3 mM) to represent very aged skin. Furthermore, in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical study the skin barrier of 20 healthy volunteers was challenged with 2% sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) for 24 h under occlusion, following and/or prior to treatment with a gel containing 2% of our calcium vector system. RESULTS: Culture in reduced basal calcium conditions (0.3 mM) strongly impeded the formation of a dense stratified epidermis. The apical treatment with 1.1 mM CaCl2 was not able to restore a functional differentiation. Treatment with 0.1% of the Ca2+ delivery system rescued the differentiation process and resulted in a normal stratified epidermis. Clinically, application of the Ca2+ vector system prior to and following SLS stress prevented increases in skin irritation and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) compared to placebo controls. Importantly, the treatment also significantly accelerated the recovery time following SLS stress. CONCLUSION: With our novel Ca2+ vector system, we highlight the delivery of bioavailable Ca2+ ions into the skin as a new and successful approach to treat a damaged barrier present in stressed, aged or atopic skin.

CONTEXTE: Les peaux stressées, lésées ou très âgées se caractérisent principalement par un dysfonctionnement de la barrière cutanée. Le dysfonctionnement de la barrière cutanée est sous­tendu par un gradient de calcium réduit ou défectueux dans l'épiderme. Par conséquent, la reconstitution des réserves de calcium de la peau fragilisées à l'aide de calcium topique pourrait constituer une approche thérapeutique potentielle. MÉTHODES: Nous avons étudié l'effet de notre nouveau système de vecteur à double cône Ca2+ sur l'amélioration de la différenciation et de la fonction de barrière de l'épiderme humain reconstitué (EHR), cultivé à un faible niveau de calcium basal (0,3 mM) pour représenter une peau très âgée. En outre, dans une étude clinique randomisée, contrôlée par placebo, la barrière cutanée de 20 volontaires en bonne santé a été exposée à 2 % de laurylsulfate de sodium (SLS) pendant 24 heures sous occlusion, après et/ou avant le traitement avec un gel contenant 2 % de notre système de vecteur de calcium. RÉSULTATS: La culture dans des conditions de calcium basal réduit (0,3 mM) a fortement empêché la formation d'un épiderme stratifié dense. Le traitement apical avec 1,1 mM de CaCl2 n'a pas permis de rétablir une différenciation fonctionnelle. Le traitement avec 0,1 % du système de libération de Ca2+ a permis de rétablir le processus de différenciation et d'obtenir un épiderme stratifié normal. Sur le plan clinique, l'application du système de vecteur Ca2+ avant et après l'exposition au SLS a empêché l'augmentation de l'irritation cutanée et de la perte d'eau transépidermique (Transepidermal Water Loss, TEWL) par rapport aux témoins sous placebo. Il est important de noter que le traitement a également accéléré de manière significative le temps de récupération après l'exposition au SLS. CONCLUSION: Grâce à notre nouveau système de vecteurs Ca2+, nous mettons en évidence l'apport d'ions Ca2+ biodisponibles dans la peau comme une approche nouvelle et efficace pour traiter la barrière endommagée présente dans une peau stressée, âgée ou atopique.

A consumer cross-over trial suggests that there are significant seasonal changes of the tensile properties (wet) of human hair.

OBJECTIVES: Through the cooperation with an industrial partner, we gained a set of data for the tensile properties (wet) of human hair. The hair samples originated from a cross-over study with two groups of individuals, using for a topical application sequentially two products (A and B). Each phase of the study lasted 6 months. The phases of the study by chance covered first largely the winter and then the summer period. Initially, tensile variables were chosen, which not only reflect the mechanical properties of hair (modulus, break strain, and break stress) but which are also considered to have a good connection to practice-relevant hair properties. The initial analysis of the data showed that changes were observed for the variables due to the treatment phases. However, these were either small or difficult to interpret. METHODS: Against this background and using two-factor analysis of variance, we investigated the hypothesis that the tensile properties of hair (wet) may show significant seasonal changes. For this, we chose those two independent variables, which reflect the properties of the intermediate filaments (modulus) and the matrix (break strain) in the composite structure of the hair cortex. RESULTS: The results support the 'seasonal' hypothesis and clearly show that the variables show significant changes from Winter to Summer (modulus: 10% increase; break strain: 3% decrease). The seasonal effect was thus a major reason, why the first stage of the analysis of the data was inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: The tensile properties of the main morphological components of the cortex show distinct seasonal changes. Towards the summer, the hair becomes stiffer and more brittle. Furthermore, the results suggest that seasonal effects may need to be taken into account when conducting studies on lengths of hair grown during different seasons.

OBJECTIFS: Grâce à la coopération avec un partenaire industriel, nous avons obtenu un ensemble de données sur les propriétés de traction des cheveux (humides) humains. Les échantillons de cheveux provenaient d'une étude croisée avec deux groupes de personnes, utilisant pour une application topique deux produits (A et B) de manière séquentielle. Chaque phase de l'étude a duré 6 mois. Les phases de l'étude ont principalement couvert l'hiver, puis l'été. Initialement les variables de traction ont été choisies reflètent non seulement les propriétés mécaniques des cheveux (modulus, extension de rupture et stress de rupture), mais sont également considérées comme ayant un lien étroit avec les propriétés pertinentes des cheveux. L'analyse initiale des données a montré que des changements ont été observés pour les variables en raison des phases de traitement. Cependant, ils étaient faibles ou difficiles à interpréter. MÉTHODES: Dans ce contexte et à l'aide d'une analyse de variance à deux facteurs, nous avons étudié l'hypothèse selon laquelle les propriétés de traction des cheveux (humides) pourraient montrer des changements saisonniers significatifs. Pour cela, nous avons choisi ces deux variables indépendantes, qui reflètent les propriétés des filaments intermédiaires (modulus) et de la matrice (extension de rupture) dans la structure composite du cortex capillaire. RÉSULTATS: Les résultats appuient l'hypothèse « saisonnière ¼ et indiquent clairement que les variables montrent des évolutions significatives de l'hiver à l'été (modulus : augmentation de 10 % ; extension de rupture : diminution de 3 %). L'effet saisonnier était donc une raison majeure pour laquelle la première étape de l'analyse des données n'a pas été concluante. CONCLUSIONS: Les propriétés de traction des principaux composants morphologiques du cortex montrent des changements saisonniers distincts. Vers l'été, les cheveux deviennent plus raides et plus cassants. En outre, les résultats indiquent que les effets saisonniers devrait être pris en compte lors de la réalisation d'études sur les longueurs des cheveux ayant poussé à différentes saisons.

Sunscreens can preserve human skin microbiome upon erythemal UV exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a known environmental key factor for premature skin ageing. Only few scientific evidence is available to support the effects of UVR on the skin microbiome. This in vivo pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact on the skin microbiome upon erythemal UV exposure and the protection of UV-exposed skin microbiome by UV filters. METHODS: Ten female volunteers were treated with an sun protection factor (SPF) 20 sunscreen and placebo formulation (without UV filters) on their upper middle backs and irradiated with an erythemal dose (2 MED) by a solar simulator. Skin swabbing samples from four zones (i.e., unexposed, exposed, sunscreen- and placebo-treated on exposed skin) were collected for the microbiome analysis before and 2 h after UV exposure, respectively, and processed via shallow 16S rRNA Amplicon and Shotgun metagenomic sequencing. An in vitro UV method was developed to confirm the protection of isolated bacterial strains by single UV filters and combinations. RESULTS: Alpha diversity was impacted by significant inter-individual differences and by treatment rather than by irradiation. Cutibacterium acnes was found to be the most abundant and a confounding factor for diversity. On a species level, Lactobacillus crispatus was negatively associated with UVR and placebo treatment, whereas there was a positive association with sunscreen treatment. The sunscreen treatment also favoured an interaction network with central Micrococcus genus. The in vitro results showed that both single UV filters and combinations had specific effects on the survival rates of L. crispatus, C. acnes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. CONCLUSION: We identified potential microorganisms and bacterial interactions that were associated with an SPF 20 sunscreen treatment. The specific protection of L. crispatus as a key player in the UV-exposed skin microbiome and reduction of C. acnes population by UV filters might lead to new cosmetic concepts for photoprotection.

OBJECTIF: Le rayonnement ultraviolet (RUV) est un facteur environnemental clé connu du vieillissement prématuré de la peau. Peu de preuves scientifiques sont disponibles pour étayer les effets des RUV sur le microbiome cutané. Cette étude pilote in vivo visait à évaluer l'impact sur le microbiome cutané d'une exposition érythèmateuse aux UV et la protection du microbiome cutané exposé aux UV par des filtres UV. MÉTHODES: Dix volontaires de sexe féminin ont été traitées avec une crème solaire SPF 20 et une formulation placebo (sans filtres UV) sur la partie supérieure du centre du dos et irradiées avec une dose érythémateuse (2 MED) par un simulateur solaire. Des échantillons de peau prélevés par écouvillonnage dans quatre zones (c.-à-d., zone non exposée, zone exposée, zone traitée avec un écran solaire et zone traitée avec un placebo sur la peau exposée) ont été prélevés pour l'analyse du microbiome avant et 2 heures après l'exposition aux UV, respectivement, et traités par séquençage superficiel d'amplicon de l'ARN 16S et métagénomique shotgun. Une méthode UV in vitro a été développée pour confirmer la protection des souches bactériennes isolées par des filtres UV individuels et des combinaisons de filtres. RÉSULTATS: La diversité alpha a été affectée par des différences interindividuelles significatives et par le traitement plutôt que par l'irradiation. Le cutibacterium acnes s'est avéré être le facteur le plus abondant et confondant pour la diversité. Au niveau de l'espèce, le Lactobacillus crispatus était négativement associé au traitement par RUV et placebo, tandis qu'on observait une association positive avec le traitement par écran solaire. Le traitement par crème solaire favorisait également un réseau d'interactions avec le genre Micrococcus central. Les résultats in vitro ont montré que les filtres UV individuels et les associations de filtres avaient des effets spécifiques sur les taux de survie de L. crispatus, C. acnes, et S. epidermidis. CONCLUSION: Nous avons identifié des micro-organismes et des interactions bactériennes potentiels qui étaient associés à un traitement par crème solaire SPF 20. La protection spécifique de L. crispatus en tant qu'acteur clé dans le microbiome cutané exposé aux UV et la réduction de la population de C. acnes par des filtres UV pourraient conduire à de nouveaux concepts cosmétiques de photoprotection.