Skin Color Research Articles

A Review Study on Traditional Herbal Medicines of Bangladesh against Different Skin Disorders

Traditional herbal medicines (THM) are used by almost 75%–80% of the people in Bangladesh to treat various types of skin diseases. This review includes ethnobotanical data as well as relevant scientific studies on plants used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh to treat various types of skin disorders like inflammatory skin disorders, viral infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections, parasitic infections, pigmentation disorders, skin cancers, trauma and other skin disease conditions. Using specified key phrases, information on the traditional herbal medicinal plants of Bangladesh that are effective against various skin ailments was collated from several electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer and others. A total of 45 relevant publications were investigated, providing complete information on 221 distinct herbal plant species belonging to 73 families utilised by the diverse peoples of Bangladesh for the treatment of skin problems. The most often utilised plant organ in this study was leaves, followed by roots, fruits, entire plants, barks, seeds, stems, rhizomes and flowers. The Asteraceae family has the most species, whereas in terms of plant habit, herbs have the most species. Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Vitex negundo, Aegle marmelos, Allium sativum and Lawsonia inermis are the most commonly utilised species. This research might be used as a beginning point for a systematic search for natural herbal remedies to treat skin diseases in Bangladesh’s flora.

Identifying dominant spoilage fungal species and preservative treatments for extending shelf life of whole lotus rhizomes at 4 °C

A preservative for whole lotus rhizome preservation was developed under 4 °C storage in this study. The study included the following steps: Firstly, isolation and identification of spoilage causing fungi of lotus rhizome, and four main spoilage causing fungi were identified, including Penicillium solitum, Geotrichum silvicola, Phytopythium helicoides, and Pseudeurotium zonatum. Secondly, selection of antifungal agent with good inhibitory ability against the above four spoilage causing fungi, finally 0.5 % potassium sorbate was selected considering edible security at the same time. Thirdly, the selection of suitable color fixative according to the indexes of root skin and flesh color differences, and sensory evaluation. The final color fixative composition: EDTA-2Na (8 g/L), ascorbic acid (8 g/L), and d-isoascorbic acid sodium (6 g/L). Finally, the antifungal agent and color fixatives were mixed to make the preservative. Soaked in preservative for 20min, drained and packed into PE bags, vacuumed and stored at 4 °C, the lotus rhizomes could maintain better color, got high sensory score, soluble solids content, and total acid content, and the microbial counts were always lower than the untreated group. The preservative could extend the shelf life of whole lotus rhizome to about 50 d at 4 °C.

The Effect Of The Comparison Of Binders In The Manufacture Of Carp Rolade (Cyprinus Carpio) On The Physical Properties And Consumer Acceptability

This research aims to analyze the effect of binder ratio in the making of carp fish roulade on the physical properties and consumer acceptance. The research was conducted at the Food Processing Laboratory, Department of Culinary Education, Universitas Negeri Jakarta. The research period began in August 2023 and ended in June 2024. The method used in this research was experimental. The research sample used grass carp roulade with a binder ratio between tapioca flour and wheat flour at 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2. The samples were then tested on 30 moderately trained panelists who evaluated overall aspects. Based on the results of statistical hypothesis testing using the Friedman test, it was found that there was no influence of binder ratio on the acceptance of carp fish roulade at ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2 in terms of skin color before and after frying, filling color before and after frying, fish aroma, spice aroma, taste, and structural compactness. However, one aspect that had an influence was the level of tenderness. Based on the results of statistical hypothesis testing, physical testing using the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the binder ratio had no significant influence on the physical quality of grass carp roulade in terms of hardness level. The conclusion of this study is that the acceptance of carp fish roulade is recommended at a binder ratio of 1:1 between tapioca flour and wheat flour.

Challenges of Subjective Skin Color Scales: The Case for the Use of Objective Pigmentation Measurement Methods in Regulatory Pulse Oximetry Studies.

Challenges of Subjective Skin Color Scales: The Case for the Use of Objective Pigmentation Measurement Methods in Regulatory Pulse Oximetry Studies.

Empirical validation of Conformal Prediction for trustworthy skin lesions classification

Background and objective:Uncertainty quantification is a pivotal field that contributes to realizing reliable and robust systems. It becomes instrumental in fortifying safe decisions by providing complementary information, particularly within high-risk applications. existing studies have explored various methods that often operate under specific assumptions or necessitate substantial modifications to the network architecture to effectively account for uncertainties. The objective of this paper is to study Conformal Prediction, an emerging distribution-free uncertainty quantification technique, and provide a comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations inherent in various methods within the medical imaging field. Methods:In this study, we developed Conformal Prediction, Monte Carlo Dropout, and Evidential Deep Learning approaches to assess uncertainty quantification in deep neural networks. The effectiveness of these methods is evaluated using three public medical imaging datasets focused on detecting pigmented skin lesions and blood cell types. Results:The experimental results demonstrate a significant enhancement in uncertainty quantification with the utilization of the Conformal Prediction method, surpassing the performance of the other two methods. Furthermore, the results present insights into the effectiveness of each uncertainty method in handling Out-of-Distribution samples from domain-shifted datasets. Our code is available at: github.com/jfayyad/ConformalDx. Conclusions:Our conclusion highlights a robust and consistent performance of conformal prediction across diverse testing conditions. This positions it as the preferred choice for decision-making in safety-critical applications.

Kachri melon (a non-dessert form of Cucumis melo) diversity, germplasm utilization and varietal development under hot arid climate: Approaches and realization

The native crop plants genetic resource is very essential for nature’s resilient, region and season-specific varietal development and is also used in breeding programmes for resistance towards abiotic and biotic factors. Kachri and mat-kaachr or kachri melon (a non–dessert form of Cucumis melo var. callosus and agrestis) is an un-tapped arid zone cucurbit vegetable. Their vine plants are annual and short-duration in growth habit, and bearing 10.2–220.5 g weight fruits which are edible at maturity and unique in taste with ripening stages. It is wild and weedy types or semi-domesticated land-races and pre-dominantly grown mixed with the traditional farming in the north-western part of India. Intensive explorations and surveys were conducted in the state of Rajasthan from the year 1994 to 2001, and about 625 accessions were collected and studied over the period (1994 to 2012), and out of them, 68 germplasm lines were maintained for the conservation of regional diversity. The germplasm is evaluated repeatedly and characterized and categorized based on the plant morphology, maturity, utility of fruits and size, shape and skin colour of the mature fruits. On the basis of horticultural traits, fruit size, quality and yield components under the heat-stressed arid environment, the genotypes AHK-5, AHK-13, AHK-26, AHK-40, AHK-43, AHK-99, AHK-109, AHK-119, AHK-155, AHK-200, AHK-202, AHK-356, AHK-411, AHK-564 and AHK-572 were found the most promising and utilized in breeding programme. Unique quality, better fruit yielding, early harvesting and multiple stresses tolerating varieties, namely AHK-119 and AHK-200, developed for commercial cultivation. The development and recommendations of kachri melon production technology by ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner resulted in uniform and higher fruit yield (95–110 q/ha) as rainy and summer season harvest and now, its cultivation become much profit-making among the growers as a climate-smart crop. With the HBCPSMA concept, khejri and kachri technology exhibited high productivity of resources and family employment, and also returns @ Rs. 75,000–2,25,000 in comparison to the conventional cropping systems (Rs. 23,000–42,000) per ha/year under rainfed farming.

Skin cancer-associated genodermatoses in skin of color patients: a review.

Skin cancers are associated with a large number of genodermatoses. Existing knowledge and guidelines on the presentations of these genodermatoses focus disproportionately on White patients. Our goal is to identify notable characteristics in location, frequency, and severity of cutaneous findings along with the median age of skin cancers in skin-of-color (SOC) patients with skin-cancer-associated genodermatoses to improve diagnosis rates. We searched for genodermatoses on six databases. Each case report or case series was reviewed, including reports, published in English, containing adult patient descriptions. Duplicate manuscripts were removed using EndNote. The following case-level data were collected from the manuscripts: age, gender, patient country or region of origin, author country/continent of residence, skin cancer-related, and other key dermatologic features. 381 published articles, with a total of 578 SOC patients, met criteria for inclusion. SOC patients can present with fewer classic findings, such as a lower incidence of basal cell carcinomas (44%) in SOC Gorlin syndrome patients than palmar pits (66%) and mandibular cysts (66%). Differences between SOC populations were also noted, such as leukoplakia being more common in Asian dyskeratosis congenita patients (80%) in comparison to African dyskeratosis congenita patients (44%). SOC patients also have varying onset of skin cancer depending on the genodermatosis, from a median of 25years of age in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome to 53 in Muir-Torre syndrome. In this review, SOC patients with genodermatoses can have varying presentations. Being cognizant of these characteristics may lead to earlier diagnosis and interventions to mitigate skin-cancer-related morbidity in SOC patients.

Forensic DNA phenotyping using Oxford Nanopore Sequencing system.

In forensic science, the demand for precision, consistency, and cost-effectiveness has driven the exploration of next-generation sequencing technologies. This study investigates the potential of Oxford Nanopore Sequencing (ONT) Technology for analyzing the HIrisPlex-S panel, a set of 41 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers used to predict eye, hair, and skin color. Using ONT sequencing, we assessed the accuracy and reliability of ONT-generated data by comparing it with conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE) in 18 samples. The Guppy v6.1 was used as a basecaller, and sample profiles were obtained using Burrows-Wheeler Aligner, Samtools, BCFtools, and Python. Comparing accuracy with CE, we found that 62% of SNPs in ONT-unligated samples were correctly genotyped, with 36% showing allele dropout, and 2% being incorrectly genotyped. In the ONT-ligated samples, 85% of SNPs were correctly genotyped, with 10% showing allele dropout, and 5% being incorrectly genotyped. Our findings indicate that ONT, particularly when combined with ligation, enhances genotyping accuracy and coverage, thereby reducing allele dropouts. However, challenges associated with the technology's error rates and the impact on genotyping accuracy are recognized. Phenotype predictions based on ONT data demonstrate varying degrees of success, with the technology showing high accuracy in several cases. Although ONT technology holds promise in forensic genetics, further optimization and quality control measures are essential to harness its full potential. This study contributes to the ongoing efforts to refine sequence read tuning and improve correction tools in the context of ONT technology's application in forensic genetics.

Effects of Delaying the Storage of 'Hass' Avocados under a Controlled Atmosphere on Skin Color, Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity.

During ripening, 'Hass' avocado skin changes from green to purple/black. Low-temperature storage with a controlled atmosphere (CA) is the most widely used method for avocado storage; however, few studies have simulated this technology and considered the days of regular air (RA) storage prior to CA storage. Herein, the effect of delaying the storage of 'Hass' avocado (>30% dry matter) in a CA was examined. Long-term storage conditions (5 °C for 50 days) corresponded to (i) regular air storage (RA), (ii) CA (4 kPa O2 and 6 kPa CO2) and (iii) 10 days in RA + 40 days in a CA and (iv) 20 days in RA + 30 days in a CA. Evaluations were performed during storage and at the ready-to-eat (RTE) stage. Skin color remained unchanged during storage, but at the RTE stage, more color development was observed for fruits stored under CA conditions, as these fruits were purple/black (>50%). At the RTE stage, the anthocyanin content increased, and compared to fruit under RA, fruit under a CA contained a five-fold greater content. A 20-day delay between harvest and CA storage increased the fruit softening rate and skin color development after cold storage, reducing the effectiveness of CA as a postharvest technology for extending storage life.

Health Care Access and Equity Among Migrants: A Literature Review

Background: Health inequality often occurs among disadvantaged population groups, including migrants. Currently, the migrant population does not always receive adequate health services. In addition, the health care system is not optimized for migrants, especially in terms of language, access, genomic data and the expertise of medical personnel. The health condition of these migrants is a global problem that needs attention if countries want to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets by 2030. Purpose: to map the latest existing research on the topic of migrant health, both qualitative and quantitative. Methods: narrative literature review and literature search were carried out using an electronic database with the automatic selection feature used in the electronic database according to the specified inclusion criteria. Results: Obtained an overview of inequality in [1] access to health services for migrants in general, [2] utilization of health services and health-seeking behavior, [3] health literacy, [4] health services related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and [5] maternal and child health services. All authors agree on this division of groups. Conclusion: Migrants who do not have documents or are illegal, skin color (black migrants) who migrate to western countries, languages ​​that are not the same, and do not understand their own health conditions due to lack of health education due to language barriers, these factors are obstacles for migrants to achieve equality in countries where migrants have migrated.

Abjection of Coloured Women and their Tragic Journey of Trifold Oppression in Toni Morrison's Beloved and The Bluest Eye

The world is gifted with various distinguished creatures irrespective of colour, creed, energy, work and so on. "Black" as a race is socially constructed by human being and this stereotype crosses the line when the so called white people imposed tortures quoting the skin colour and treating them as untouchables. The word "black" representing people itself is a falsified racist classification based on their skin colour for their dark complexion. Based on the trifold oppression they face, her writings states how people are denied from equality and subjugated as slaves in their own place. Morrison has won many prizes and awards and she is also a renowned speaker at major literary gatherings. She has a great concern on coloured people in general and so she reflects the trifold oppression and effortlessly she bring out the richness of black culture and it's ethnicity by reconstructing black images through her writing. Toni Morrison writes the novel having coloured people as the central characters especially women. Only with Morrison, there was a turning point in the history of Black women's literature. This paper attempts to investigate the brutal state of coloured women who have experienced trauma in various forms. This study also broods over the trifold oppression in the form of race, gender and class which leads them to slavery throughout their lifetime.

P.016 Re-norming medical education: centering patient experience and diverse bodies in Lumbar Puncture (LP) instruction

Background: Medical curricula are often created with limited patient and student input and underrepresent certain body types. Traditional medical education often prepares learners to perform procedures, such as lumbar punctures (LPs), on a young white able-bodied 70kg male. When approaching diverse patients, this educational gap can lead to medical learners’ lack of confidence, skill, and knowledge, resulting in poor patient experiences. Methods: This co-design project involves patient and student input. We interviewed five patients who underwent LPs and explored their experience through a trauma-informed approach. To visualize landmarking across body types, we recruited nine volunteers of diverse body sizes, ages, tattoos, and skin colour (Fitzpatrick Scale). Incorporating patient narratives, as well as videos and photographs showing landmarking on diverse bodies, we crafted an online LP instructional module. Focus groups of 6-10 students will be held to collect student perception of the effectiveness of the module. Results: Our learning module and related media will be built into Western University’s Undergraduate Medical Education curriculum, available under a Creative Commons license through the Western Health Education Media Library. Conclusions: Integrating patient experience and student feedback, we are developing a comprehensive educational tool to better equip medical learners to deliver patient-centered LPs across diverse body types.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the circadian rhythm of cesarean section deliveries.

Circadian rhythms synchronize all biological functions, enabling humans to foresee and respond better to periodic environmental changes. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown regulations significantly changed the lighting conditions in pregnant women, leading to chronological disruption. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 on the circadian rhythm of cesarean deliveries. We investigated whether the circadian rhythm of cesarean section deliveries changed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary hospital in Van Province, eastern Turkey. We analyzed the distribution of birth times for 1476 cesarean deliveries performed between March 01, 2020 and January 20, 2021 (1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic) and compared this information with data from 1194 cesarean deliveries performed during a similar period in the previous year. The primary outcome was the change in the circadian rhythm of cesarean deliveries. Secondary outcomes included cesarean section (CS) delivery rates, indications for CS, 1st and 5th minutes Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration scores, and anesthesia technique use rates. Regarding the time distribution of CS deliveries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the maximum number of cesarean deliveries (n = 234, 16%) occurred between 14:00 and 16:00 (P = .112). Cesarean deliveries in pre-COVID-19 group were most frequently performed between 10:00 and 12:00, at a rate of 18% (n = 216) (P = .001). In both groups, the time point at which CS deliveries were the least performed was 04:00 to 06:00, and the rates were different (n = 35, 2% and n = 14, 1%, respectively) (P = .022). A 4-hour phase shift was detected at the peak of the birth time in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous year. These results suggest that the circadian rhythm of cesarean deliveries is affected by the pandemic.

Skin Disease Detection

The human skin is a remarkable organ susceptible to a myriad of know and unknown diseases. Many of these ailment are widespread, with some ranking among common worldwide. The complexity of diagnosing these diseases is compounded by challenges such as variations in skin texture, the presence of hair, and diverse skin colors. In some areas have limited access to medical facilities, individuals often neglect early symptoms, leading to exacerbated conditions over time. Furthermore, traditional diagnostic methods for skin diseases are time-consuming. To address these challenges, there is a critical need to develop advanced diagnostic methods utilizing machine learning techniques to enhance accuracy cross various skin diseases. Machine learning algorithms have proven valuable in medical applications, leveraging image feature values to facilitate decision-making. The diagnostic process involves three key stages: feature extraction, training, and testing. By employing machine learning technology, these algorithms learn from a diverse set of skin images o enhance their diagnostic capabilities. The primary goal is to significantly improved the accuracy of skin disease detection. This study focuses on utilizing color and texture features for the classification of skin diseases. The distinctive color of healthy skin differs from that affected by disease, while texture features effectively discern smoothness, coarseness, and regularity in images. Key features such as texture, color, and shape phyla pivotal role in image classification. The incorporation of convolution neural networks (CNN) further augments the capabilities of image classification in the realm of skin disease diagnosis

Comparative Analysis of Efficacy of Lactic Acid 30% with Ferulic Peel 12% (Combination Peel) Versus TCA 10% with Ferulic Peel 12% (Combination Peel) for Photoageing Skin.

Chemical peels are used to treat photoageing, pigmentation, improve complexion and dull skin, fine lines and scars. The objective of this study is to do comparative analysis of Lactic Acid 30% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel) versus TCA 10% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel) for Photoageing Skin. This is a retrospective study from September 2021 to 2022 with total 50 female patients aged between 25 and 40years were treated. Randomisation of patients was done (simple randomisation using lottery method) for both groups with 25 patients enrolled in each group. The first group (Group A-25 patients) were treated with lactic acid 30% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel). The second group (Group B-25 patients) were treated with TCA 10% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel). Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been defined for the study. Two scales have been used for assessing the results: Allergan Skin Roughness Scale (ASRS) and Allergan Fine Line Scale (AFLS). ASRS and AFLS scores were assessed at pre-treatment (pre) and post treatment (post-1month after last peel session). Data were summarised in Mean ± SD (standard deviation). Pre and post groups were compared by paired t test. The pre to post change in outcome measures between two independent groups were compared by independent Student's t test. Discrete (categorical) groups were compared by Chi-square (χ2) test. A two-tailed (α=2) P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analyses were performed on SPSS software (Windows version 22.0). Patients were followed up for 6 months post treatment. In Group A, comparing the pre and post ASRS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 56.1%. In Group B, comparing the pre and post ASRS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 52.8%. Comparing the pre to post mean decrease or improvement in ASRS score of two groups, Student's t test showed similar (P > 0.05) improvement between the two groups though it was 2.5% higher in Group B as compared to Group A. In Group A, comparing the pre and post AFLS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 63.2% at post as compared to pre. In Group B, comparing the pre and post AFLS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 58.8% at post as compared to pre. Further, comparing the pre to post mean decrease or improvement in AFLS score of two groups, Student's t test showed similar (P > 0.05) improvement between the two groups though it was 16.7% higher in Group A as compared to Group B. Study found both the treatments equally effective in the management of ageing skin after 6months of treatment. However, study needs further validation on larger sample size, varied age groups and male gender. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Multiple cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the forehead in a patient with skin of color treated by wide local excision with adjuvant radiotherapy: a case report

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common non-melanoma skin cancer, characterized by the proliferation of keratinocytes, with an increasing incidence worldwide. In cases of perineural invasion, surgical excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is the preferred treatment. An intraoperative frozen section is necessary to determine the cancer-cell-free margin. A 80-year-old male presented to the outpatient department of our hospital with two fungating growths over his right forehead (size 2.7×1.2 cm) and right temple region (size 4×1.2 cm) for 5 years. An incisional biopsy of the growths revealed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. There was no evidence of lymphadenopathy. The patient was treated successfully by wide local excision of the growths with an intraoperative frozen section to determine negative margins. Local defects of the forehead and right temple were reconstructed with a scalp rotation flap and a split skin thickness graft, respectively. The final histopathological examination showed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with resection-free margins. Forehead growth showed perineural invasion. The patient underwent 30 fractions of image-guided adjuvant radiotherapy in view of perineural invasion and to avoid local recurrence. The patient recovered well without any recurrences or complications. Surgical excision and reconstruction followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is the most effective method for treating cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas with perineural or lymphovascular invasion. Intraoperative frozen section is necessary to reduce recurrence rates and metastasis. Ours is a rare case of multiple cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas involving the forehead region.

Identification and Characterization of microRNAs in Morphological Color Change of Polychromatic Midas Cichlids (Amphilophus citrinellus)

As a representative genetic and economic trait, pigmentation has a strong impact on speciation and adaptation. However, information and reports on microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with pigmentation remain limited. The Midas cichlid fish, with three typical distinct stages of body color pattern, “black-gray-gold”, is an ideal model system for investigating pigmentation traits. In this study, miRNA libraries from scale tissues with the attached epidermis of Midas cichlids at three distinct stages of color transformation, black (B), transition (T), and gold (G), were sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. In total, 53 (B vs. G), 88 (B vs. T), and 57 (T vs. G) miRNAs were differentially expressed between the respective groups. Target genes of the identified miRNAs were predicted, and the results showed that multiple target genes were related to pigmentation and pigment–cell differentiation. The miRNA–mRNA regulatory network suggests that miR-183-x and miR-133-x were predicted to be involved in regulating morphological color changes in Midas cichlids. The results advance our understanding of potential functions of miRNAs in skin pigment differentiation and early skin color fading of fishes.

Best Practices for Measuring Skin Color in Surveys

Surveys that assess skin color support evidence building about colorism and related systemic inequalities that affect health and wellbeing. Methodologists have increasing choices for such assessments, including a growing array of digital images for rating scales and increasingly cost-effective handheld mechanical devices based on color science. Guidance is needed for choosing among these growing options. We used data from a diverse sample of 102 college students to produce new empirical evidence and practical guidance about various options. We compared three handheld devices that ranged in price, considering variations in their reliabilities and how their results differed by where on the body and with what device settings readings were taken. We also offered evidence regarding how reliably interviewers and participants could choose from a large array of color swatches offering variation in skin undertone (redness, yellowness) in addition to skin shade (lightness-to-darkness). Overall, the results were promising, demonstrating that modern handheld devices and rating scales could be feasibly and reliably used. For instance, results demonstrated that just one or two device readings were needed at any given location, and, the device readings and rating scale scores similarly captured the relative darkness of skin. In other cases, recommendations were less certain. For instance, skin undertones of redness and yellowness were more sensitive to device choices and body locations. We encourage future studies that pursue why such variability exists and for which substantive questions it matters most.

Evaluating the efficacy of a novel periosteal flap in cochlear implantation: a retrospective surgical audit at a tertiary teaching hospital

BackgroundThis research aimed to critically evaluate the safety and reliability of a new periosteal flap technique in cochlear implantation through a comprehensive surgical audit. A surgical audit was conducted on a cohort of 39 patients who underwent cochlear implantation at a tertiary teaching hospital from July 2020 to September 2021. The novel periosteal flap technique was utilized in all cases. Patients were followed up for a period ranging from 2 to 12 months. For comparison, outcomes were assessed by comparing 51 children who had undergone cochlear implant surgery between July 2017 and June 2019, utilizing the anteriorly based palva flap. A scoring system was employed to evaluate various aspects, including ease of surgical exposure, flap maneuverability, ease of closure after device fixation, immediate postoperative complications (up to 24 h), and delayed complications (up to 30 days). Scores ranging from 1 (fair assessment) to 4 (excellent assessment) were assigned, with a maximum score of 18 indicating optimal outcomes.ResultsThe comparison between the two groups revealed a reduced incidence of emissary vein injury and easier wound closure after device fixation in the novel periosteal flap group (p = 0.000). The mean total scores were significantly higher in the novel periosteal flap group, indicating superior outcomes. Only 2 out of 39 children with the novel flap experienced minor skin color changes during the initial postoperative period, which resolved within approximately 7 days. Major complications such as wound infection, hematoma, or device migration were not observed with the new periosteal flap. Furthermore, no flap revisions were required.ConclusionsThe novel and innovative periosteal flap demonstrated both safety and reliability in cochlear implantation procedures. This well-vascularized and robust flap offered effective device coverage with minimal flap-related complications. Its time-saving nature further enhances its clinical utility. Additional validation from different medical centers would further corroborate the advantages of this easily implemented periosteal flap technique.Level of evidenceLevel 3.

The relationship between racial/ethnic identification and body ideal internalization, hair satisfaction, and skin tone satisfaction in black and black/white biracial women

Eurocentric physical characteristics, including a thin, tall physique, long straight hair, and fair skin, typify Western beauty standards. Past research indicates that for Black women, greater identification with one’s racial/ethnic culture may buffer against internalizing Eurocentric beauty standards, specifically the thin ideal. Black/White Biracial women often experience different appearance pressures from each of their racial identity’s sociocultural appearance ideals. Unfortunately, body image research is limited among Bi/Multiracial individuals. Participants were recruited online via Prime Panels, a high-quality data recruitment service provided by CloudResearch. Participants, M(SD)Age= 34.64 (12.85), self-reported their racial/ethnic identification, thin and thick/curvy ideal internalization, and hair and skin tone satisfaction. Using linear regression analyses, we assessed whether racial/ethnic identification buffered against monoracial Black (n = 317) and Black/White Biracial (n = 254) women’s thin ideal internalization. Additionally, we assessed whether stronger racial/ethnic identity was associated with stronger thick/curvy ideal internalization and hair and skin tone satisfaction. Supporting hypotheses, greater racial/ethnic identification was associated with higher thick/curvy ideal internalization and hair and skin tone satisfaction among both Black and Biracial women. Contrary to hypotheses, greater racial/ethnic identification was not associated with lower thin ideal internalization in either group. Our results stress the need to use racially and culturally sensitive measurements of body image.