Actividad solar y hospitalizaciones por episodios depresivos en Chile / Solar Activity and hospitalizations for depressive episodes in Chile

Resumen Introducción: Este trabajo presenta las relaciones entre la actividad solar y la incidencia de hospitalizaciones por cuadros depresivos en el registro del Ministerio de Salud de Chile donde se registran todos los egresos hospitalarios entre los años 2001 a 2008. La actividad solar está representada por el número de Wolf, mediante la fórmula R = K (10g+f), donde g corresponde al grupo de manchas solares y f es el número total de manchas solares. Método: Las bases de datos del Ministerio de Salud muestran todos los egresos hospitalarios, tanto de causa psiquiátrica como por otros diagnósticos, incluyendo tantos hospitales públicos como también privados. Para el análisis muestral se seleccionaron los casos que tuvieron como diagnóstico algún episodio depresivo según la clasificación CIE 10 desde F320 hasta F339, ambos incluidos. Se examinó la correlación entre la incidencia anual de hospitalizaciones por depresiones y el número de Wolf promedio para ese determinado año durante el período comprendido entre los años 2001 a 2008, ambos inclusive, lo que corresponde aproximadamente a la mitad de un ciclo solar de 16 años. Resultados: Una menor intensidad de la actividad solar se correlaciona con una mayor frecuencia de hospitalizaciones por depresión en Chile. Conclusiones: Los desórdenes depresivos poseen una correlación inversa significativa con la actividad solar.

Introduction: This paper presents the relations between solar activity and the incidence of hospitalizations for depressive disorder found in the register of the Ministry of Health of Chile, where all the hospital discharges from 2001 to 2008 are kept. Solar activity is represented by the Wolf number, with the formula R = K (10g+f), where g refers to the group of sunspots and f is the total number of sunspots. Method: The databases of the Ministry of Health show all the hospital discharges, whether for psychiatric causes or other diagnoses, including data from public as well as private hospitals. For the sample analysis, two cases diagnosed as depressive disorder according to the classification CIE 10, ranging from F320 to F339, both included, were selected. The correlation between annual incidence of hospitalizations for depression and the average of the Wolf number for that particular year between the period spanning from 2001 to 2008, both included, which corresponds to approximately half of a solar cycle of 16 years. Results: Less intensity of solar activity correlates to a higher frequency of hospitalizations for depression in Chile. Conclusions: Depressive disorders have a significant inverse correlation to solar activity.

A Survey of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior Regarding Sun Exposure and Sunscreen in Korea / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Although sunscreen is used as a primary strategy for the prevention of sunburn, photoaging, and skin cancer, few people regularly use sunscreen. OBJECTIVE: To investigate awareness regarding the effects of sunlight, the extent of sun exposure, and sunscreen use behaviors in Korean subjects. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 467 adult patients who visited the Dermatology Department at Seoul National University Boramae Hospital. The questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, causes of wrinkles, sunspots, and skin cancer, awareness of the harmful effects of sun exposure, perceived and actual extent of sun exposure, and the use of sun-protective methods including sunscreen. RESULTS: Sun exposure was selected as the major cause of age spots (60.6%), skin cancer (60.9%), and wrinkles (25.9%). Respondents were likely to underestimate the extent of sun exposure. On average, quite a few respondents stated that they were exposed to sunlight for more than one hour per day (22.7% on weekdays, 52.4% on weekends). However, only 9.4% of respondents thought that their sun exposure was problematic and 62.7% of respondents considered moderate sunlight exposure healthy. Respondents' sun-protective behaviors were inadequate: only 29.8% used sunscreen regularly, and 16.5% have never used sunscreen. SPF was the most important factor in choosing sunscreen, and 83.3% used a sunscreen with a labeled SPF over 30. By contrast, only 34.6% of respondents used PA+++ sunscreen. CONCLUSION: Despite fairly good knowledge regarding the harmful effects of sunlight, subjects underestimated the risks of their sun exposure and sun-protective behaviors were suboptimal. Education on the risk of UV exposure and effects of sunscreen is still needed.

Modulation of pineal activity during the 23rd sunspot cycle: Melatonin rise during the ascending phase of the cycle is accompanied by an increase of the sympathetic tone.

In two groups of female CD-rats nocturnal urine (19-23 h, 23-3 h, 3-7 h) was collected at monthly intervals over 658 days (I: 1997-1999) and 494 days (II: 1999-2000) coinciding with the ascending limb (1996-2000) of the 23rd sunspot cycle (1996-2008). The excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s: I, II) was determined as well as the ratio of noradrenaline/adrenaline (NA/A: I) reflecting the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. AMT6s was higher in II than I (19-7 h: +24%; P<0.001; 23-3 h: +30% and 3-7 h: +17%, P<0.001), and progressively increased (19-23 h) showing linear regressions (I: R=+0.737, P=0.003; II: R=+0.633, 0.008) which correlated (I) with the Planetary Index (Ap: R=+0.598, P=0.020), an established estimate of geomagnetic disturbances due to solar activity. NA/A rose at all intervals (I: 46-143%) correlating with Ap (R=+0.554-0.768; P=0.0399-0.0013). These results indicate that melatonin secretion rises as solar activity increases during the ascending limb of a sunspot cycle accompanied by growing geomagnetic disturbances (Ap) which elevate the sympathetic tone and thus affect the pineal gland, initially stimulating the activity of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase and subsequently fostering the expression of N-acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (rate-limiting enzyme for melatonin biosynthesis) if Ap increases further. The potential (patho) physiological significance of these findings is discussed and the need for a systematic continuation of such studies is emphasized.

Influence of both solar activity and the global warming on the variation trend of occurrence of sudden deafness / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate relationship of the long-term variation trend of the occurrence of sudden deafness respectively with solar activity and the global warming.@*METHOD@#We utilized the empirical mode decomposition, cross-correlation, and the statistical test methods to analyze the yearly percent rate (PR) of sudden deafness patients at the second affiliated hospital of Xian Jiangtong University, the yearly mean sunspot number (SSN), and the temperature series (T) in Xi'an district during the years of 1980 to 2009.@*RESULT@#The trend component of T was highly correlated to the trend component of PR, and the IMF (intrinsic mode function) component of SSN was highly correlated to the IMF component of PR.@*CONCLUSION@#The occurrence of sudden deafness is indeed statistically affected by solar activity and temperature. The trend component of PR is inferred to be probably caused by the trend component of T, and it is solar activity (SSN), especially its periodical wavelike component that should probably give rise to the wavelike component of the occurrence (PR) of sudden deafness. Some explanation has been given to issue the found relationship. Also given is the plausible mechanism of solar activity and temperature acting on occurrence of sudden deafness.

Palaeovolcanos, solar activity and pine tree-rings from the kola peninsula [Northwestern Russia] over the last 560 years

The paper deals with the analysis of the external factor [solar activity, volcanic eruptions] influence on tree growth at the Kola Peninsula, northwestern Russia. Pinus sylvestris L. [Scots pine] tree-ring chronologies collected nearby the northern timberline [68.63N, 33.25E] include the oldest [1445-2005 AD] living pine tree found up to date in the Kola Peninsula. A total of 18 living trees Pinus sylvestris were sampled taking two cores. Tree rings measured with a precision of 0.01 mm by using an image analysis system [scanner and relevant software]. The samples were cross-dated using standard dendrochronological practices and the COFECHA program. A negative exponential curve was used to remove the age trend from individual annual ring series prior to construction of the chronology using the ARSTAN modeling. It was shown that the past climatic variations in the Kola Peninsula were fairly strongly connected to solar variability and volcanic activity. A superposed epoch analysis of 18 large [Volcanic Explosivity Index, VEI>5] volcanic events revealed a significant suppression of tree growth for up to 8 years following volcanic eruptions. The data analysis enabled us to get some conclusions on the past climate variations and to demonstrate the relation of global and regional climatic variations in the European North

Enfermedades afectivas y actividad solar: Seguimiento a 16 años / Association between hospital admissions due to affective disorders and solar activity: Analysis of 16 years

Background: Exposure to solar activity may be associated with incidence of depressive and manic disorders. Aim: To assess the link between solar activity and appearance of affective disorders. Material and Methods: We examined 1862 clinical records of a psychiatric clinic located in Santiago, Chile. Patients with major depression and manic disorders were included in the study, only when they were admitted at the clinic for the first time. Solar activity was calculated using the Wolf number, which is given by the formula R= K(10g+f), where “g” stands for the groups of sunspots and “f ” is the total number of sunspots. We examined the correlation between annual incidence of hospital admissions and average Wolf numbers for the period 1990-2005, which corresponds to approximately one and half solar cycles of 16 years. Results: A total of 450 medical records corresponding to 299 patients (199 women) with depressive symptoms and 151 patients (73 women) with mania, were analyzed. There was a higher number of admissions for depression during the years with lower solar activity. Admissions due to mania tended to increase in the years with high solar activity. There was a negative correlation between the number of hospital admissions due to depression and solar activity (Spearman r =-0.812, p < 0.01). The association between the latter parameter and admissions due to mania did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: There is a significant negative association between the rate of hospital admissions due to depressive disorders and solar activity.

Cyclic patterns of incidence rate for skin malignant melanoma: association with heliogeophysical activity / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Our previous studies revealed cyclicity in the incidence rate of skin malignant melanoma (SMM; ICD9, Dx:172) in the Czech Republic (period T=7.50-7.63 years), UK (T=11.00 years) and Bulgaria (T=12.20 years). Incidences compared with the sunspot index Rz (lag-period dT=+2, +4, +6, +10 or +12 years) have indicated that maximal rates are most likely to appear on descending slopes of the 11-year solar cycle, i.e., out of phase. We summarized and explored more deeply these cyclic variations and discussed their possible associations with heliogeophysical activity (HGA) components exhibiting similar cyclicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Annual incidences of SMM from 5 countries (Czech Republic, UK, Bulgaria, USA and Canada) over various time spans during the years 1964-1992 were analyzed and their correlations with cyclic Rz (sunspot number) and aa (planetary geomagnetic activity) indices were summarized. Periodogram regression analysis with trigonometric approximation and phase-correlation analysis were applied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Previous findings on SMM for the Czech Republic, UK and Bulgaria have been validated, and cyclic patterns have been revealed for USA (T=8.63 years, P<0.05) and Canada (Ontario, T=9.91 years, P<0.10). Also, various 'hypercycles' were established (T=45.5, 42.0, 48.25, 34.5 and 26.5 years, respectively) describing long-term cyclic incidence patterns. The association of SMM for USA and Canada with Rz (dT=+6 and +7 years, respectively) and aa (dT=-10 and +9 years, respectively) was described. Possible interactions of cyclic non-photic influences (UV irradiation, Schumann resonance signal, low-frequency geomagnetic fluctuations) with brain waves absorbance, neuronal calcium dynamics, neuro-endocrine axis modulation, melatonin/serotonin disbalance and skin neuro-immunity impairment as likely causal pathways in melanoma appearance, were also discussed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The above findings on cyclicity and temporal association of SMM with cyclic environmental factors could not only allow for better forecasting models but also lead to a better understanding of melanoma aetiology.</p>

Nueva clasificación de los tipos de piel y sus implicaciones en dermatología cosmética / New skin type classification implications in cosmetic dermatology

A principios de siglo XX se identificaron y descubrieron cuatro diferentes tipos de piel: seca, grasa, combinada y sensible. Desde entonces, la industria de productos para el cuidado de la piel se ha desarrollado hasta producir billones de dólares. Mientras que las formulaciones han evolucionado para obtener una alta sofisticación, lograda a través de extensos estudios de investigación, el gremio dermatológico no ha realizado avances plausibles en la creación de métodos precisos para caracterizar los tipos de piel con el fin de asistir a los pacientes en la búsquedad y utilización de productos que sean apropiados para cada tipo específico de piel. Nuestra experiencia clínica de varios años nos ha llevado a desarrollar un sistema de tipicación de la piel basado en las clasificaciones utilizadas en la actualidad, tales como seca o grasa, sensible o resistente, pigmentada o no pigmentada, con arrugas o sin ellas. Debido a que estas categorías no son mutuamente excluyentes y partiendo de la primera clasificación en cuarto tipos de piel, hemos podido identificar hasta dieciséis tipos diferentes de piel.

Decolorization of simulated spent reactive dye bath using solar / TiO2/H2O2

Different parameters were investigated to evaluate their effect on the process removal efficiency of reactive dye from simulated spent reactive dye bath, by solar / TiO[2] / H[2]O[2], including H[2]O[2] concentration, TiO[2] loading and pH. As a result 99% of reactive dye can be removed at a TiO[2] loading of 400mg/l, H[2]O[2] concentration of 150 mg/l and of pH: 5.2. The effect of photo-catalytic deactivation of TiO2 on reactive dye removal was studied for ten number of cycles, and found that the extent of deactivation was high for each consecutive repeated use

Awareness of Harmful Effects of Sun Exposure and Sunscreen Use in Korean / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers by sun-protection and sunscreen is the most commonly used method of sun protection. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the awareness of harmful effects of sun exposure and behavior of sunscreen use in Korean. METHODS: One thousand, two hundred and seventy-four subjects who visited Dermatology Department at Asan Medical Center between April and July 2000 were interviewed. The questionnaire provided information about demographic characteristics, daily sun-exposure time, and sunburn history in the year before. It also included the questions about the causes of wrinkle, sunspot, chloasma, and skin cancer, as the awareness of the harmful effects of sun exposure. The use of sunscreen or other sun-protective methods, and the knowledge about sun protection factor (SPF) were also reported. RESULTS: The harmful effects of the sun in causing wrinkle, sunspot, chloasma, and skin cancer were conceived by 11.1%, 24.4%, 41.4%, and 44.3% of the respondents respectively. Thirty nine percent of the respondents used sunscreens, and the other 61% hardly knew necessity of sunscreens. Those who understood the meaning of sun protection factor(SPF) were 23.7%. Sun-protective methods except using sunscreens were use of a hat or a cap(53.2%), long-sleeved clothing(27.2%), a parasol(27.0%), heavy make-up(11.2%), and a towel(3.8%). Male respondents, people who were younger than 20 or older than 70, and those who had not sunburned the year before were less likely to use sunscreens. CONCLUSION: The results indicate an urgent need for education about the harmfulness of sun exposure as well as benefits of sunscreens.

Eclipse retinopathy: Follow up of 36 cases after April 1995 solar eclipse in Pakistan

A study was carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad from April 1995 to April 2002 to study the visual acuity changes in patients of solar eclipse retinopathy. Thirty-six patients with solar eclipse retinopathy were seen. Examination included assessment of Visual Acuity [VA], Slit Lamp examination, Fundoscopy, Fundus Photography and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography where the VA was 6/60. The patients were seen at weekly intervals then at monthly interval and later annually. Poor visual acuity was seen in all patients, after images in 28 patients, Erythopsia in 25 patients and Central Scotoma in 23 patients. Eye involvement was unilateral in 27 cases and bilateral in 9 cases. Twenty-nine patients were male and 7 patients were female. The commonest age group was between 10'30 years. Conclusions: Complete recovery was seen in 26 patients, 7 made partial recovery while in three patients the visual acuity remained poor. Maximum recovery occurred between two weeks to six months. After six months, no changes in the visual acuity or macular lesion were noticed

Backup compass mechanisms in pigeon orientation with the sun in the zenith

The sun is known to guide homing pigeons as a priority cue. The literature indicates that under total overcast conditions pigeons rely on a backup mechanism akin to the magnetic inclination compass for which there is much laboratory evidence in migratory birds. Total overcast conditions are not favorable for orientation research in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The orientation of homing pigeons raised near the tropic of Capricorn was therefore observed around the time of the December solstice, when the sun culminates directly overhead, with a consequent interruption of the sun compass for a short time every day. In these experiments, carried out between 1981 and 1993, local geomagnetic field inclination was -25 degrees Celsius to -29 degrees Celsius 30', so that a functioning magnetic inclination compass should have been available to the birds. Whereas the birds released with sun to zenith angles between 10 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius were well oriented, both in the morning (99 vanishing bearings) and in the afternoon (143 vanishing bearings), those released with the sun less than 5 degrees Celsius away from the zenith showed random orientation (105 vanishing bearings), with no evidence of an alternative magnetic compass mechanism.