Liposomes for Topical Use: A Physico-Chemical Comparison of Vesicles Prepared from Egg or Soy Lecithin

Developments in nanotechnology and in the formulation of liposomal systems provide the opportunity for cosmetic dermatology to design novel delivery systems. Determination of their physico-chemical parameters has importance when developing a nano-delivery system. The present study highlights some technological aspects/characteristics of liposomes formulated from egg or soy lecithins for topical use. Alterations in the pH, viscosity, surface tension, and microscopic/macroscopic appearance of these vesicular systems were investigated. The chemical composition of the two types of lecithin was checked by mass spectrometry. Caffeine, as a model molecule, was encapsulated into multilamellar vesicles prepared from the two types of lecithin: then zeta potential, membrane fluidity, and encapsulation efficiency were compared. According to our observations, samples prepared from the two lecithins altered the pH in opposite directions: egg lecithin increased it while soy lecithin decreased it with increased lipid concentration. Our EPR spectroscopic results showed that the binding of caffeine did not change the membrane fluidity in the temperature range of possible topical use (measured between 2 and 50 °C). Combining our results on encapsulation efficiency for caffeine (about 30% for both lecithins) with those on membrane fluidity data, we concluded that the interaction of caffeine with the liposomal membrane does not change the rotational motion of the lipid molecules close to the head group region. In conclusion, topical use of egg lecithin for liposomal formulations can be preferred if there are no differences in the physico-chemical properties due to the encapsulated drugs, because the physiological effects of egg lecithin vesicles on skin are significantly better than that of soy lecithin liposomes.     

Reasons for Distress Among Burn Survivors at 6, 12, and 24 Months Postdischarge: A Burn Injury Model System Investigation

Objective

To identify important sources of distress among burn survivors at discharge and 6, 12, and 24 months postinjury, and to examine if the distress related to these sources changed over time.

唇腭裂患者侧貌协调性医患主观评价的比较

目的比较医患对唇腭裂患者侧貌协调性主观评价的一致程度及影响评价敏感部位的异同。方法10名唇腭裂患者对150张唇腭裂患者侧位标准照的鼻尖突度、鼻上唇协调性、上下唇协调性和侧貌整体行主观等级评分。计算医患主观评价一致性、差异性及局部在整体评价中的敏感性。结果医患主观评价一致性加权Kappa值为0．408-0．508。对于鼻尖突度和侧貌整体,医生评分较患者高（P〈0．01）;对于鼻上唇协调性,患者评分较医生高（P〈0．01）。唇间角在患者整体评价三等级各组间有显著性差异。结论医患对唇腭裂患者侧貌协调性主观评价中度一致。对于鼻尖突度和侧貌整体,医生比患者认可度高;对于鼻上唇协调性,患者比医生认可度高。影响整体评价的敏感部位是上下唇协调性。     

Identifying appearance-related concerns in routine follow-up clinics following treatment for oral and oropharyngeal cancer

Facial disfigurement can be a consequence of treatment for oral or oropharyngeal cancer. Patients' concerns about appearance and the impact this has on quality of life are very important, but are often not recognised in a busy outpatient clinic. We aimed to assess concerns about appearance using the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire version 4 (UW-QoL) and the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI), a self-administered questionnaire that allows patients to choose what they would like to discuss in their consultation. Prospective data were collected from 204 patients who attended routine follow-up clinics from August 2007 to mid-July 2009. Fifty-seven percent were male, 68% had cancer of the oral cavity, 78% had clinical T1-T2 tumours, 19% had node positive tumours, 44% had had radiotherapy since diagnosis, and 48% had had free-flap reconstructive surgery. They all completed the questionnaires using touch-screen computer technology at 454 clinic appointments. Appearance was raised on the inventory at 9% (42/454) of clinics, and at 10% (47/454) it was indicated as a serious problem on the UW-QoL questionnaire. Concerns about appearance were raised on the inventory or were shown to be a serious problem on the UW-QoL in 14% (64/454) of patients. The main factors associated with those who reported concerns about appearance were age (younger patients), sex (female), T stage (III and IV), and site (oropharynx). Patients who choose concerns about appearance for discussion on the UW-QoL questionnaire and not on the PCI risk being missed if only the PCI is completed. Both tools compliment the screening of patients who have problems with facial disfigurement; failure to identify them can have serious clinical and psychosocial implications.     

Looking in the mirror for the first time after facial burns: A retrospective mixed methods study

Appearance-related concerns are common following burns. However, there is minimal research that has specifically investigated patients’ reactions when they looked in the mirror for the first time following facial burns. The current study aimed to investigate patients’ reactions and factors associated with distress. Burns patients (n = 35) who had sustained facial injuries completed a questionnaire which examined their reactions when looking in the mirror for the first time. Data were collected between April and July 2013. Participants had sustained their burns 12 months prior to participating, on average (ranging from one to 24 months). Forty-seven percent (n = 16) of patients were worried about looking for the first time, 55% (n = 19) were concerned about what they would see, and 42% (n = 14) held negative mental images about what their faces looked like before they looked. Twenty-seven percent (n = 9) of patients initially avoided looking, 38% (n = 13) tried to ‘read’ others’ reactions to them to try to gauge what they looked like, and 73% (n = 25) believed that it was important for them to look. Mean ratings suggested that patients found the experience moderately distressing. Patients most often found the experience less distressing compared to their expectations. Distress was related to feeling less prepared, more worried and increased negative mental images prior to looking. In conclusion, patients’ reactions to looking in the mirror for the first time vary. Adequately preparing patients and investigating their expectations beforehand is crucial. The findings have a number of important implications for practice.     

青少年特发性脊柱侧凸矫形手术肩平衡评价指标的研究进展

青少年特发性脊柱侧凸（AIS）是一种常见的青少年脊柱畸形,其发病原因不明,外科矫形手术是治疗AIS的常规手段。随着AIS矫形技术的不断发展,术后肩平衡问题也越来越受到外科医师及患者的关注。一直以来,AIS矫形手术肩平衡的评价指标缺乏统一标准,给术前制定手术方案及术后评价肩平衡矫形效果带来困难。目前相关研究多集中于对AIS术前及术后影像学指标、外观指标及患者主观感知度进行评价,以期获得各项指标与肩平衡的相关性,最终指导临床实践。本文回顾了近年来发表的相关文献,通过综述相关指标（影像学指标、外观指标及患者主观感知度）与AIS矫形手术肩平衡相关性的研究进展,为今后临床及基础研究提供参考。     

The Tripartite Influence model of body image and eating disturbance: a covariance structure modeling investigation testing the mediational role of appearance comparison

Recent theoretical approaches to the etiology of eating disorders and body image disturbances have begun to focus on multifactorial models. In the current study, the Tripartite Influence model was examined in a large sample of college females (ages 18-22). This model proposes that three primary core sources of influence--parents, peers and media--contribute to the development of body image and eating disturbances. Additionally, the model suggests that at least two factors mediate the relationship between influences and disturbance-appearance comparison and internalization of media information. In this study, appearance comparison was examined as a mediational link between peer, family and media influence variables and the outcome disturbance measures of eating dysfunction and body image dissatisfaction. Covariance structure modeling (CSM) was used to test the proposed pathways. The results indicated that appearance comparison mediated the effects of family and media influences on body dissatisfaction, which in turn influenced restrictive and bulimic behaviors. In addition, peer influences had a direct influence on restriction. Perfectionism was hypothesized to relate to body dissatisfaction, but was in fact found to influence appearance comparison. The findings were limited by the necessity of several modifications to the originally proposed models, yet offer replication and extension of previous work with appearance comparison and support for further testing of the Tripartite Influence model.     

正交试验优选复方儿茶止泻膜的成膜材料

目的:优选复方儿茶止泻膜的成膜材料。方法:以膜剂的外观质量和体外透皮实验中儿茶素的累积释放量为评价指标,以聚乙烯醇(PVA)1750、羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)、白及胶用量为考察因素,采用正交试验优选最佳成膜材料。结果:最佳成膜材料为PVA17509mL、CMC-Na2mL、白及胶4mL。结论:改进后的复方儿茶止泻膜较单用白及胶作为成膜材料的原制剂,外观质量更好,体外透皮吸收含量更高,能够显著改善原制剂的不足之处。     

Exogenous attention and color perception: performance and appearance of saturation and hue

Exogenous covert attention is an automatic, transient form of attention that can be triggered by sudden changes in the periphery. Here we test for the effects of attention on color perception. We used the methodology developed by Carrasco, Ling, and Read [Carrasco, M., Ling, S., & Read, S. (2004). Attention alters appearance. Nature Neuroscience, 7 (3) 308-313] to explore the effects of exogenous attention on appearance of saturation (Experiment 1) and of hue (Experiment 2). We also tested orientation discrimination performance for single stimuli defined by saturation or hue (Experiment 3). The results indicate that attention increases apparent saturation, but does not change apparent hue, notwithstanding the fact that it improves orientation discrimination for both saturation and hue stimuli.