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Biomedical subjects

T W Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to T W Fischer.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Hair loss in internal medical illnesses].

Hair loss related to internal diseases is generally temporary and often fully reversible. An iron- or protein-deficiency induced hair loss may be cured by simple substitution. In acute internal diseases, fever and after operations the patient may expect complete recovery of the hair loss without therapy. Symptomatic alopecia due to chronic diseases has a different prognosis and is dependent on the severity and character of the underlaying disease. If the systemic disease can be cured the hair loss may be decreased. Treatment and diagnosis of the systemic disease is recommended to be performed in cooperation with experts of internal medicine, oncologists and specialists of endocrinology.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Hairdex: a tool for evaluation of disease-specific quality of life in patients with hair diseases].

Because of a strong reduction of life quality in patients with hair loss, a special questionnaire was developed following the general Skindex questionnaire for dermatoses. The Hairdex was evaluated in 75 female hair patients. The aim of the study was to prove the questionnaire's statistical values, reliability, validity, general acceptance and accuracy. The clinical manifestation of hair loss was categorized as "not visible", slightly visible" and "obviously visible". The hair loss lead to great differences in the life quality of both the patients with obvious hair loss and in patients with non-visible hair loss, especially in the categories "emotions", "self-confidence" and "stigmatization". The convergent and discriminant validity of the questionnaire was satisfactory. The acceptance of the questionnaire was very good with 90%. The hairdex-questionnaire represents a reliable and patient-oriented instrument for evaluation of life quality in hair diseases. The reliability of the questionnaire concerning longitudinal therapeutic effects will need to be investigated in further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Melatonin reduces UV-induced reactive oxygen species in a dose-dependent manner in IL-3-stimulated leukocytes.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are presumed to be involved in inflammatory UV reactions of the skin. This in vitro study was performed to investigate the suppressive effect of melatonin in interleukin-3 (IL-3) stimulated leukocytes. Neutrophilic granulocytes were isolated from EDTA-treated whole blood and placed in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing IL-3. Cell suspensions were either treated with PBS (control) or with increasing doses of melatonin (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.5, 10 mmol). One PBS solution was left unirradiated and the other nine solutions (PBS and melatonin) were irradiated with 750 mJ/cm2 UVB light (280-360 nm, max: 310 nm). Radical formation was measured by the chemiluminescence technique. UV-irradiated leukocytes showed a 5-fold higher radical formation than unirradiated leukocytes. Melatonin, in increasing doses in powers of ten, led to a maximum suppression of free radicals at 10 nmol (P= 0.01) and 1 mmol melatonin (P= 0.001), showing a biphasic, non-linear, dose response relationship. Melatonin, given in amounts of 0.1-10 mmol, led to a direct dose-dependent suppression of ROS. Radical formation was suppressed significantly in a range from 0.5 to 10 mmol (P= 0.001). Melatonin is known to function as a radical scavenger and antioxidant; some of these melatonin effects may be receptor independent, while others may be receptor dependent.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed2001

Strategies of coping and quality of life in women with alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Measurements of the quality of life (QoL) have recently become an integral part of dermatological studies. Our hypothesis is that QoL in patients with certain diseases can be affected by strategies of coping behaviour, as well as by personality traits. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the particular correlation between QoL and strategies of coping in female patients with alopecia. PATIENTS: Fifty female patients, diagnosed with either diffuse or androgenetic alopecia, were evaluated by the use of Hairdex, an instrument developed to measure QoL in patients with hair loss. Most patients also underwent additional psychological assessments. RESULTS: Findings indicated that patients with highly visible hair loss reported a more negative impact on four Hairdex dimensions (functioning, emotions, self-confidence and stigmatization) than patients whose hair loss was only slightly visible. However, a subgroup of patients, with non-visible symptoms of hair loss, showed striking signs of psychological disturbance. These disturbed patients displayed either dysmorphophobic or affective disorder tendencies. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies using QoL as an instrument in research on patients with alopecia should consider that in cases of female alopecia these measurements may be affected by psychological disturbances.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

[Not Available].

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Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Direct and non-direct measurement techniques for analysis of skin surface topography.

Estimation of skin smoothness is of ever-increasing interest especially in the field of cosmetic research. There are some established methods for assessing skin smoothness, e.g. optical and mechanical profilometry, but the presentation of recently developed new methods reflects the demand for alternatives which are more precise and practical. For fundamental research on ultrastructure of the stratum corneum surface scanning electron microscopy is a suitable method. A direct method is the surface evaluation of living skin, which is based on an optical system in a CCD camera measuring four parameters of roughness, scaling, smoothing and wrinkling. A similar but non-direct method is optical profilometry using skin replicas. Laser profilometry produces a variety of data which can be analysed using complex mathematical functions. A promising new method is transparency profilometry (skin visiometer) using a very thin skin print which allows parallel light to pass through and is analysed immediately after production. The different methods can be used for characterization of the skin microrelief in dermatoses or for dynamic measurements of time-dependent changes in skin surface topography after application of cosmetic or medical products.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of 'dry skin': current bioengineering methods and test designs.

Dry skin is a frequent problem in dermatology and a sign of dysfunction of the epidermis, especially of the stratum corneum as the morphological equivalent of the skin barrier. It may occur as an individual disposition or as the leading symptom of atopic dermatitis or ichthyosis. Besides the visual examination of the skin, various bioengineering methods have been developed to assess the different pathological and adaptive changes in the skin. In addition to the assessment of skin humidity, barrier function and desquamation, the quantification of skin surface topography and the mechanical properties of skin are suitable methods to characterize a dry skin condition. For clinical assessment of moisturizing products and emollients the parameters of investigation have to be defined and integrated in an adapted study design depending on the composition and content of the active agent in the test product. Newly developed cosmetic products have to be investigated for safety and efficacy. Modern bioengineering methods are suitable to fulfill these challenges.

Animals↗