Critical study of hair growth analysis with computer-assisted methods

BACKGROUND: Computer-assisted image analysis has been proposed for human hair growth studies. METHODS: The performances of Trichoscan, a commercially available automated system combining epiluminiscence microscopy with digital image analysis, developed for office-based hair growth measurements, have been evaluated comparatively on the same skin sites using standardized photographic equipment and calibrated processing for contrast-enhanced phototrichogram (CE-PTG) analysis. This reference method has been validated with scalp biopsies and histological examination of serial sectioning. RESULTS: Besides edge effects, hair fibres escaped the Trichoscan analysis for various reasons including, but not limited to, thickness, pigmentation, closeness and crossing. CONCLUSION: Most of these problems have been identified in the late 1980s and remain largely unsolved by the processing software that was evaluated in 2004. Therefore claims promoting the Trichoscan method for accurate hair measurements in clinical trials on scalp and body hair are not supported by the present investigation. The speed at which the analysis is performed is outweighed by the errors in signal detection. Therefore we suggest that improvements must be clearly documented before Trichoscan is established for quantified diagnostic purposes and detailed hair cycle monitoring during hair trials.     

The Impact of Community Diversity and Consolidated Inequality on Dropping Out of High School

Abstract: Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study were combined with census data at the zip code level to examine the impact of neighborhood racial and ethnic diversity and consolidated inequality, in addition to individual, family, and school factors, on the likelihood of dropping out of high school. Results indicate that while the effects for diversity and consolidated inequality did not support the stated hypotheses, main effects for family risk and prior academic achievement were significant and in the stated direction. Also, when controlling for individual, family, school, and neighborhood characteristics, African Americans were less likely than White students to drop out of school. Implications for contextual effects research and educational outcomes are discussed.     

Management of asthma in patients supervised by primary care physicians or by specialists.

French asthma patients may be supervised by general practitioners (GPs) and/or specialists. Therefore, this study examined asthma management in patients exclusively supervised by specialists (SPE), GPs, (GP) and both (GP+SPE group), and compared the findings. Asthma patients were consecutively recruited in 348 pharmacies. Each patient completed a questionnaire providing data on personal characteristics, asthma management, perception of disease and asthma supervision. Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test. Questionnaires were linked to computerised records of medications which had been dispensed before inclusion in the study. From the 1,256 patients (mean age = 36.1 yrs, 54.3% females), 11.4, 36.6, and 52.0% were placed in the SPE, GP, and GP+SPE groups, respectively. During the previous 4 weeks, most patients in the SPE group were properly controlled (52.2 versus 26.4 and 21.5% in GP and GP+SPE groups, respectively). The SPE group made more use of fixed combinations of long-acting beta agonist and inhaled corticosteroid, while receiving less short-acting beta agonists, antitussives and antibiotics. Striking differences in symptoms and asthma management were observed according to the type of asthma supervision. The current results strongly support the need to improve the management of asthma in primary care, and the coordination of care between general practitioners and specialists.     

Treatment of the dumping syndrome with the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995.

In six patients suffering from severe early dumping and six patients with late dumping after peptic ulcer surgery, the effect of the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 was compared with placebo. In early dumpers subcutaneous administration of 50 micrograms SMS 201-995 prior to meal ingestion induced a strong improvement of dumping symptoms as reflected by a decrease of the Sigstad dumping score from 12 +/- 2 during placebo to 5 +/- 2 (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, the postprandial increase of pulse rate was abolished; maximum pulse rate decreased from 85 +/- 7 beats/min to 67 +/- 7 beats/min (p less than 0.05). SMS 201-995 did not significantly affect postprandial changes in packed cell volume. In late dumpers 50 micrograms SMS 201-995 reduced peak plasma insulin after oral glucose from 173 +/- 16 mU/L during placebo to 35 +/- 9 mU/L during SMS 201-995 (p less than 0.05) and increased individual plasma glucose nadirs from 1.9 +/- 0.3 mmol/L to 7.5 +/- 3.3 mmol/L (p less than 0.01). Both in early and late dumpers SMS 201-995 improved postprandial expiratory breath hydrogen excretion indicating slowing of gastrointestinal hurry. SMS 201-995 is a powerful therapeutic agent for the management of patients suffering from the dumping syndrome after gastric surgery.