Evaluation of the cellulite using a thermal infra-red camera.

BACKGROUND: Cellulite is usually related to alterations of the microcirculation. Measuring the skin temperature is a mean to assess the skin microvascular plexus. OBJECTIVES: A three-step clinical study was performed in order to develop and to validate the use of an infrared thermal camera for measuring cellulite severity. METHODS: Thermal images of the thigh were recorded and processed to quantify the thermal homogeneity. The proposed protocol was then validated in three steps. Firstly, the parameters which could influence the skin temperature were identified throw a design of experiment. Secondly, the repeatability and reproducibility of the method was estimated (five subjects, four investigators and five experiments). Finally, thermal images and clinical grading of cellulite was performed on 39 women (21-68 years old), and the correlation between these methods was assessed. RESULTS: All parameters describing the thermal homogeneity were found repeatable and reproducible. The strongest correlation between thermal results and the clinical assessment were observed for Sa (R = 0.53, P < 0.05), Sz (R = 0.53, P < 0.05), Sq (R = 0.54, P < 0.05) and the surface of hot pixels (R = 0.42, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results show that the thermal camera imaging is a repeatable and reproducible method that can be used to assess the severity of cellulite.

[Subacute and subchronic oral toxicity of beta-bis carboxyethyl sesquioxide of germanium in the rat]. / Toxicités orales subaiguë et sub chronique du beta-bis carboxyéthyl sesquioxyde de germanium, chez le rat.

After a brief recall of toxicological data about germanium compounds, the authors relate subacute and subchronic oral toxicities of beta bis carboxyethyl-germanium sesquioxide in rats. During 28 days and six months, male and female animals have received 1 mg/kg/day. No particular toxic symptoms, no behaviour trouble except a small decrease of body weight, in male rats, at the end of the 6-month experimentation, were observed. A light decrease of erythropoiesis and a general stimulation of cellular metabolism has been noticed after 28 days. The only marked effect was a moderate renal deficiency characterized by a tubular disease with presence of cylinders, swelling of tubulus cells and floculus amounts after 6 months. Germanium urinary excretion was constant and linked to the received dose. Six months later, no preferential accumulation in organs was observed.