Evaluation of the surface properties of hair with acoustic emission analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The tactile sensation of hair is an important consumer-perceivable attribute. There are limited instrumental options to measure the haptic properties of hair. In this study, we introduce a novel technique using the acoustic emissions produced when skin comes in contact with dry hair in a stroking motion. METHODS: Using a free-field microphone with a frequency response of 8-12,500 Hz, we recorded acoustic emission data of the interaction of skin with hair. Data were captured with Electroacoustics Toolbox software and analysed with Matlab. Acoustic emission profiles were generated allowing us to monitor the acoustic response at distinct frequencies. RESULTS: Various experiments were conducted to develop this novel technique as a suitable measure to monitor the surface properties of hair. Increasing the normal force and velocity of the interaction led to an increase in acoustic emissions. We also examined the acoustic profile of hair that underwent chemical treatment. For example, bleached hair produced a much higher magnitude acoustic response than the corresponding virgin hair. On the other hand, hair conditioner systems mitigated the acoustic response. Finally, investigations of textured hair revealed that the three-dimensional structure of the hair fibre assembly and its ability to return to its original state when perturbed produce the most dominant acoustic response for this type of hair. CONCLUSION: We introduce a cutting-edge method to reproducibly evaluate the surface properties of hair. Different types of hair geometry produce unique acoustic profiles as do hair types that experience harsh damaging treatments. This is also a very practical and efficient way to evaluate the degree of protection or conditioning of the fibre.

OBJECTIF: La sensation tactile des cheveux est un attribut important perceptible par le consommateur. Il existe des options instrumentales limitées pour mesurer les propriétés haptiques des cheveux. Dans cette étude, nous introduisons une nouvelle technique utilisant les émissions acoustiques produites lorsque la peau entre en contact avec les cheveux secs dans un mouvement de caresses. MÉTHODES: En utilisant un microphone champ libre avec une réponse en fréquence de 8 à 12 500 Hz, nous avons enregistré des données d'émission acoustique de l'interaction de la peau avec les cheveux. Les données ont été capturées avec le logiciel Electroacoustics Toolbox et analysées avec Matlab. Nous avons généré des profils d'émission acoustique. De cette manière nous pourrions surveiller la réponse acoustique à des fréquences distinctes. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons fait diverses expériences pour développer cette nouvelle technique comme mesure appropriée pour surveiller les propriétés de surface des cheveux. L'augmentation de la force normale et de la vitesse de l'interaction entre la peau et les cheveux ont causé une augmentation des émissions acoustiques. Nous avons également examiné le profil acoustique des cheveux ayant subi un traitement chimique. Par exemple, les cheveux décolorés ont produit une réponse acoustique de beaucoup plus grande amplitude que les cheveux vierges correspondants. D'autre part, les systèmes d'après shampooing ont atténué la réponse acoustique. Enfin, des investigations sur des cheveux texturés ont révélé que la structure tridimensionnelle de l'ensemble de fibres capillaires et sa capacité à revenir à son état d'origine lorsqu'il est perturbé produisent la réponse acoustique la plus dominante pour ce type de cheveux. CONCLUSION: Nous introduisons une méthode de pointe pour évaluer de manière reproductible les propriétés de surface des cheveux. Différents types de géométrie de cheveux produisent des profils acoustiques uniques, tout comme les types de cheveux qui subissent des traitements agressifs. C'est également une manière très pratique et efficace d'évaluer le degré de protection ou de conditionnement des cheveux.

Hair surface quality: Laser scattering as a tool for characterizing the surface condition and deposits from shampoos and conditioners.

OBJECTIVES: The hair surface condition underlies many visually perceived attributes such as shine, colour and the 3D perception of a curly hair style. Many factors can alter the hair surface such as cumulated cleansing/styling regimens or chemical treatments which can lead to degradation of the cuticle edges and surface. Similarly, pollutants, sebum, and shampoo/conditioners can build up on the hair surface which are also perceivable to an observer. METHODS: The highly directive light of a laser is reflected and scattered by the surface of hair fibres into a circular pattern. The angular and spatial characteristics of this pattern reflect the hair geometry and the quality of the hair surface, i.e. the outer cuticle layer. Dark flat hair tresses were used to measure the impact of artificial sebum and shampoo/conditioner regimens on the cuticle surfaces. Also, longer single hair fibres from 4 volunteers were characterized for their surface changes from roots to tips, i.e. over the chronological age of the hair. RESULTS: The laser scattering shows clear changes in specular reflection characteristics from treatments and allows for the extraction of the cuticle inclination angle with respect to the hair axis. Deep cleansing or clarifying shampoos do partially restore the cuticle angle by removing residues on the hair surface whereas more conditioning systems can lead to changes in specular reflection angle and scattering, especially for multiple cycles of shampoo + conditioner treatments. Lastly, changes in hair surface can be traced over time of hair age by this approach and are consistent with frequency and nature of hair treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The method shows great potential for characterizing cleansing regimens in terms of their impact on the hair surface, either as single or multiple washes. Coverage or damage to the hair cuticles appears readily as an angle shift of the specular reflection whereas the quality of the surface topology has a direct impact on the angular width of the specular reflection thus affecting the shine band on a person's head. Hair ageing from root to tip can be quantified by laser scattering and correlates well with treatment events in time.

OBJECTIFS: L'état de la surface du cheveu est à la base de nombreuses propriétés optiques d'une coiffure: brillance, rendu couleur, perception d'un style dans l'espace 3D. Beaucoup de facteurs peuvent affecter et dégrader la qualité de surface du cheveu, notamment les régimes de shampoing/conditionneurs qui peuvent laisser des résidus. Les polluants, l'accumulation de sébum peuvent également affecter la perception du cheveu par un observateur. METHODES: La Lumière directionnelle d'un laser est réfléchie et diffusée par le cheveu en un arc de cercle. Les caractéristiques angulaires de cet arc reflètent les caractéristiques de la surface du cheveu. Des tresses de cheveu noir ont été utilisées pour évaluer le pouvoir nettoyant de shampoings sur du sébum artificiel. De plus, différents régimes shampooing + conditionneur ont été évalués en terme d'impact sur la qualité de surface du cheveu. Finalement, des fibres de cheveux longs de 4 volontaires ont été caractérisées grâce aux changements de leur surface entre les racines et les pointes en fonction de l'âge chronologique des cheveux. RESULTATS: La réflexion laser démontre clairement des changements caractéristiques de la réflexion spéculaire pour diffèrent traitements et permet même l'extraction de l'angle d'inclinaison des cuticules par rapport à l'axe du cheveu. L'efficacité nettoyante de shampoings est clairement mesurée par l'élimination de sébum sur la surface du cheveu. L'accumulation de résidus suite à des lavages avec différents régimes shampoing + conditionneur est également mesurée, après 1 et 3 cycles de lavage. Finalement, des changements de la surface du cheveu ont pu être mesurés sur les cheveux de 4 volontaires ce qui corrèlent bien avec les routines et traitements chimiques utilisées dans le temps passé. CONCLUSIONS: La méthode de réflexion et diffusion laser a démontré être très prometteuse pour mesurer les changements de la qualité optique de la surface du cheveu, que celle-ci soit le résultat de dégradation ou d'accumulation de produits. Les effets sont clairement visibles par les changements de l'angle de la réflexion spéculaire ainsi que la largeur angulaire de cette réflexion. Des résidus à la surface peuvent réduire l'angle moyen d'inclinaison des cuticules ce qui décale l'angle de réflexion spéculaire tandis que l'irrégularité de la surface des cuticules affecte la largeur angulaire de cette réflexion. Finalement le vieillissement des cheveux de la racine aux pointes peut être quantifié par diffusion laser et est bien corrélé aux traitements subis par le cheveu a un moment dans son passé.

Evaluation of expression profiles of microRNAs and two target genes, FOXO3a and RUNX2, effectively supports diagnostics and therapy predictions in breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) including its progression into bone metastasis is a complex process involving changes in gene expression and function of both, microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes. Deregulation of miRNAs has been described as a crucial factor responsible for the initiation and progression of BC, and specific miRNA expression profiles have been found to be associated with particular disease states, histological tumor types, and BRCA1/2 or HER status. BRCA1 tumor suppressor is involved in DNA damage response and repair and epigenetically controls miR-155 expression and its pre-cancerous potential. MiR-155 targets 3´UTR region of multiple components of the pro-oncogenic signaling cascades, including FOXO3a tumor suppressor and RUNX2 transcription factor regulating metastatic potential in BC. We employed qRT-PCR to determine expression level and examine possible regulatory role of selected miRNAs (miR-17, miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-27a and miR-155) and their impact on expression modulation of FOXO3a and RUNX2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in healthy individuals, in women carrying BRCA1 mutations with no disease manifestation, in women carrying BRCA1 mutations after tumor resection and therapy and in women with BC of unknown BRCA1 status in acute stage before tumor resection. Our results showed significant increase of miR-17, miR-19a, miR-21, miR-27, miR-155 and RUNX2 expression in PBMCs in BRCA1 patients and patients in acute stage, while FOXO3a expression was significantly decreased in these patients. MiR-18a and miR-20a expression was not affected. We propose that expressional changes reported in this study could provide significant additive information for early BC diagnosis, disease development prediction and therapy outcome monitoring.

microRNA expression profiling as supportive diagnostic and therapy prediction tool in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder of hematopoietic stem cells carrying Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome and the oncogenic BCR-ABL1 fusion gene. microRNAs (miRNAs) belong to hematopoiesis transcription regulators and their deregulated expression associates with pathogenesis of CML. The current study assesses and validates expression profiles of selected oncogenic and tumor suppressing miRNAs that are associated with different imatinib mesylate (IM) response in CML patients carrying rare BCR-ABL variants. Microarray analysis has identified different expression of 70 miRNAs (46 up- and 24 down-regulated) when compared IM-resistant with IM-responsive patients carrying Ph chromosome. Significantly up-regulated expression of oncogenic miRNAs (miR-17, miR-18a, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-27a and miR-155) and significantly down-regulated expression of tumor supressing mRNAs (let-7d, miR-205, miR-320, miR-451 and miR-574) in IM-resistant compared to IM-responsive patients was confirmed and validated by qRT-PCR. This study confirms the involvement of the selected oncogenic and tumor suppressing miRNAs in CML pathogenesis and IM response and suggests that these miRNAs could be suitable biomarkers for differential diagnosis of CML patients carrying rare BCR-ABL transcripts, as well as for prediction of their IM response and therapy outcome.

miR-155 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in hematological and solid malignancies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that have emerged as potent regulators of the target genes messenger RNAs expression in the response of cell to both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Reflecting pathological processes today, miRNAs are widely validated for their potential role in diagnostic, prognostic and novel therapeutic targeting for cancerous and other diseases. miR-155 is considered as a typical multifunctional miRNA including its role as oncomiR (cancer-associated miRNA). Expression of miR-155 is upregulated in cells with high proliferative activity and decreased apoptotic capability. It belongs to cluster of well-characterized tumor associated miRNAs detectable also in the peripheral blood. In this review we summarize the principles of miR-155 host gene expressional regulation, as well as its role in regulation of the target genes mRNAs. Altered expression of miR-155 has been described in multiple cancerous and other diseases, reflecting staging, progress and treatment outcomes. Therefore, miR-155 became a potential biomarker and candidate for clinical utilization as predictor of the presence of cancer, its staging and prognosis.

Characterization of APC exon 15 germ-line mutation in FAP family with severe phenotype showing extracolonic symptoms.

The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene plays a crucial role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Germ-line mutations of APC gene give rise to familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) - autosomal dominant syndrome manifesting hundreds to thousands of colorectal polyps, if untreated with malignant progression. We have used the techniques of heteroduplex analysis (HDA), protein truncation test (PTT), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing for the identification and detailed positional analysis of mutations in IFAP family with the expressive phenotype characterized by polyposis and extracolonic lesions. Detailed analysis revealed a 5bp deletion in a mutation cluster region (MCR) in exon 15 of APC gene in codon 1308. Two screened members of the FAP family exhibited this novel mutation.

The combination of heteroduplex analysis and protein truncation test for exact detection of the APC gene mutations.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is usually associated with mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. To examine the occurrence of these mutations in the number of FAP suspected families from the whole Slovakia effectively, we have applied heteroduplex analysis (HDA) and protein truncation test (PTT) for the analyses of 2-5 base pair deletions and point mutations of the APC gene. In the analyzed exon 15 of the APC gene determined by the primers 15Efor-15Grev for HDA and 15ET7-15J3 for PTT more than 70% of mutations should be deletions [3, 12], which are detectable by HDA. In our collection of 5 FAP families mutations in the APC gene were found in families 10, 27 and 41 using HDA. By PTT test the formation of truncated APC protein in FAP families 2, 10, 16 and 27 were revealed. The necessity of combination of at least HDA and PTT techniques for exact detection of APC mutations in analyzed APC region is discussed.