Topical methoxsalen photochemotherapy in the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis and psoriasis.

Topical methoxsalen photochemotherapy has been assessed in 22 patients suffering from recalcitrant palmoplantar pustulosis or psoriasis predominantly involving the hands and feet. Although 20 out of 22 patients improved and good results were obtained in exactly half of those treated, only 4 patients were classified as being "clear" or "minimally involved" at the end of 12 weeks. Two patients have shown no improvement at all. Minor local side effects were relatively common and included symptomatic erythema, blistering and local pigmentation. The histological findings in post PUVA treated skin are discussed and the pros and cons of topical photochemotherapy in this group of diseases is reviewed.     

Impact of Different Epoxidation Approaches of Tall Oil Fatty Acids on Rigid Polyurethane Foam Thermal Insulation

A second-generation bio-based feedstock—tall oil fatty acids—was epoxidised via two pathways. Oxirane rings were introduced into the fatty acid carbon backbone using a heterogeneous epoxidation catalyst-ion exchange resin Amberlite IR-120 H or enzyme catalyst Candida antarctica lipase B under the trade name Novozym^® 435. High functionality bio-polyols were synthesised from the obtained epoxidated tall oil fatty acids by oxirane ring-opening and subsequent esterification reactions with different polyfunctional alcohols: trimethylolpropane and triethanolamine. The synthesised epoxidised tall oil fatty acids (ETOFA) were studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The chemical structure of obtained polyols was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Average molecular weight and polydispersity of polyols were determined from size exclusion chromatography data. The obtained polyols were used to develop rigid polyurethane (PU) foam thermal insulation material with an approximate density of 40 kg/m³. Thermal conductivity, apparent density and compression strength of the rigid PU foams were determined. The rigid PU foams obtained from polyols synthesised using Novozym^® 435 catalyst had superior properties in comparison to rigid PU foams obtained from polyols synthesised using Amberlite IR-120 H. The developed rigid PU foams had an excellent thermal conductivity of 21.2–25.9 mW/(m·K).     

Assessing Components of Empathy in Sex‐ Offenders with Intellectual Disabilities

Background Because of a lack of research investigating empathy in sex offenders with intellectual disabilities, this study explored empathy in sex offenders and non‐offenders with intellectual disabilities. Specific aims were to explore differences between these groups on measures of the components of empathy. Methods The scores of 21 sex‐offenders and 21 non‐offenders with intellectual disabilities, matched by age, gender and IQ, were compared on the Test of Emotional Perception. Results No differences were found between the two groups across the components of empathy. However, sex offenders who had received treatment performed better on tasks of emotion recognition, emotion replication and response decision than the non‐offenders. Conclusions Further research is needed to understand empathy in sex offenders with intellectual disabilities before any recommendations can be made regarding treatment programmes.