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OBJECTIVE: Various cosmetics, medicines, and light and laser treatments have been increasingly developed to improve pigmentary skin alterations such as melasma, actinic lentigo and dyschromia. To determine the efficacy of these modalities in view of the changes in pigmentation, an objective and reliable device that has a comparable performance to that of physicians is required. We developed a novel photography-based skin pigmentation evaluation system and validated its accuracy and reliability with a newly proposed method.
METHODS: A novel photography-based system was developed that integrates a consistent photography setting and image processing diagnostic algorithms. To automatically detect areas of pigmentation, the diagnostic algorithms were applied to photographs, which were obtained from 31 female patients. To validate its performance in comparison with the physicians\' evaluation, five dermatologists independently evaluated the area of pigmentation. The clinical consensus area of pigmentation (CCAP) was calculated based on the consensus of five dermatologists\' to exclude subjectivity or bias, and it was compared with the pigmentation area determined by the system.
RESULTS: Forty-four photographs with pigmented areas were evaluated by the system and the physicians. In contrast to the individual physician assessments, CCAP reduced the error that occurred due to subjectivity and bias, particularly for areas with indistinct pigmentation, and it was set as the gold standard. The results from the system showed a mean accuracy of 92.1% and a standard deviation of 4.6% in comparison with CCAP.
CONCLUSIONS: This pigmentation evaluation system can reproduce the physicians\' consensus, suggesting that this system can support the dermatologists\' objective evaluation of pigmentation.

The nutritional value and yield potential of US Western Shipping melon (USWS; Cucumis melo L.) could be improved through the introgression of genes for early fruit maturity (FM) and the enhancement of the quantity of beta-carotene (QbetaC) in fruit mesocarp (i.e., flesh color). Therefore, a set of 116 F(3) families derived from the monoecious, early FM Chinese line \'Q 3-2-2\' (no beta-carotene, white mesocarp) and the andromonoecious, late FM USWS line \'Top Mark\' (possessing beta-carotene, orange mesocarp) were examined during 2 years in Wisconsin, USA to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with FM and QbetaC. A 171-point F(2-3) based map was constructed and used for QTL analysis. Three QTL associated with QbetaC were detected, which explained a significant portion of the observed phenotypic variation (flesh color; R (2) = 4.0-50.0%). The map position of one QTL (beta-carM.E.9.1) was uniformly aligned with one carotenoid-related gene (Orange gene), suggesting its likely role in QbetaC in this melon population and putative relationship with the melon white flesh (wf) gene. Two major (FM.6.1 and FM.11.1; R (2) >or= 20%) and one minor QTL (FM.2.1; R (2) = 8%) were found to be associated with FM. This map was then merged with a previous recombinant inbred line (RIL)-based map used to identify seven QTL associated with QbetaC in melon fruit. This consensus map [300 molecular markers (187 co-dominant melon and 14 interspecific; 10 LG)] provides a framework for the further dissection and cloning of published QTL, which will consequently lead to more effective trait introgression in melon.

The OECD has developed an \"enhanced Test Guideline 407\" (TG 407) protocol for detecting endocrine effects during the course of a 28-day testing scheme. This protocol has gone through a validation process with (anti)estrogenic and (anti)androgenic compounds and substances that affect the thyroid (thyroxine and propylthiouracil). This review investigates whether a 28-day testing scheme would show up alterations in the thyroid-related parameters of the \"enhanced TG 407\" (T3, T4, TSH, thyroid weight and histopathology), irrespective of the mode of action. For each mode of action, a generally accepted reference chemical was selected and an in-depth literature survey was carried out, and the chemical was evaluated for treatment-related changes of thyroid-dependent parameters. The following model chemicals were selected: ion perchlorate, blockage of iodine uptake; propylthiouracil, inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis; excess of iodine, blockage of thyroid hormone release; pyrazole, thyroid cytotoxicity; minocycline, thyroid pigmentation; amiodarone, inhibition of TSH synthesis; diethylstilbestrol, competition for thyroid hormone binding globulin; selenium-deficient diet, inhibition of thyroxine deiodination; FD&C Red No. 3, inhibition of peripheral 5\'-deiodinase; cadmium, lipid peroxidation; phenobarbital, increase in thyroxine conjugation and biliary excretion; temelastine, thyroxine accumulation. Test data for treatments lasting approximately one month were available for most of these model chemicals, and these demonstrated the expected thyroid-related changes. Thus, it can be concluded that a 28-day testing scheme allows for the detection of thyroid-disrupting chemicals. The literature data also were evaluated according to whether preference can be given to any of the thyroid-related parameters (thyroid/pituitary hormones, thyroid weight and histopathology) with regard to dose-related sensitivities. Due to different study designs (such as treatment duration, application mode, dose selection and parameters used), no clear picture emerged. Therefore, consideration should be given to all of these parameters, which should also help to define the mode of action. Overall, this literature review provides support for the contention that the newly developed \"enhanced TG 407\" test protocol is well suited to the detection of chemicals that affect the thyroid gland.