Chronological ageing of human hair keratin fibres.

Examination of very long hair (length > 2.4 m) using a large range of evaluation methods including physical, chemical, biochemical and microscopic techniques has enabled to attain a detailed understanding of natural ageing of human hair keratin fibres. Scrutinizing hair that has undergone little or no oxidative aggression--because of the absence of action of chemical agents such as bleaching or dyeing--from the root to the tip shows the deterioration process, which gradually takes place from the outside to the inside of the hair shaft: first, a progressive abrasion of the cuticle, whilst the cortex structure remains unaltered, is evidenced along a length of roughly 1 m onwards together with constant shine, hydrophobicity and friction characteristics. Further along the fibre, a significant damage to cuticle scales occurs, which correlates well with ceramides and 18-Methyl Eicosanoic Acid (18-MEA) decline, and progressive decrease in keratin-associated protein content. Most physical descriptors of mechanical and optical properties decay significantly. This detailed description of natural ageing of human hair fibres by a fine analysis of hair components and physical parameters in relationship with cosmetic characteristics provides a time-dependent 'damage scale' of human hair, which may help in designing new targeted hair care formulations.

Formulation, characterization, and efficacy of an adenosine-containing dissolvable film for a localized anti-wrinkle effect.

A water-dissolvable film was developed to topically deliver adenosine for a localized anti-wrinkle effect. The polymers used to produce the film were cellulose derivatives. An aqueous mixture of the film components was made, coated on a liner, and then dried to form a solid film. No preservatives were added and the film was shown to be stable over time. The film quickly dissolves in water to form a uniform layer at the surface of the skin, as shown by scanning electron microscopy. The film layer can still be visualized on the wrinkle six hours after being applied on the skin. A randomized, placebo-controlled, investigator-blind study was conducted in female volunteers to assess the efficacy of the 1% adenosine-containing dissolvable film. After three weeks and eight weeks, a twice daily application led to a significant decrease in the skin roughness parameters as observed using fast optical in vivo topometry (FOITS). These results demonstrate that water-dissolvable films may be used as novel, preservative-free, cosmetic delivery systems.

[Vesalius or the fascinating encounter of art and anatomy]. / Vésale ou la rencontre éblouissante de l'art et de l'anatomie.

The De Humani Corporis Fabrica is an essential moment in the history of western civilization. Being a headline of the Renaissance, it is far more than an anatomical textbook and an artistic masterpiece, that will stay unrivalled for a long time. The Fabrica indeed gives us a new vision of Man and of the World, bound together with an unprecedented rise of science and technology, providing Europe with the opportunity to outpace decisively the parallel civilizations. In this respect, we analyse the Fabrica both in its scientific and its artistic aspect; we show that if Vesalius takes part in the anatomical revolution in his time, it is too schematic to call him "the father of modern anatomy" while other anatomists of his time also took part in that revolution. On the other hand, the radically enforced a new view of the human body that will stamp anatomical knowledge and its practice for several centuries.

Comparative study of the fibrinolytic system in human fetuses and in pregnant women.

Levels of major parameters of fibrinolysis were measured in 50 normal human fetuses between 19 and 39 weeks of gestation and compared to those of 50 healthy normal pregnant women and 30 adult controls. In fetuses, euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) was significantly shortened, plasminogen level was low and histidine-rich glycoprotein undetectable. While t-PA and u-PA levels were slightly lower than in adult controls, a significant decrease in PAI activity was demonstrated and no PAI-2 could be detected in fetal plasma. In contrast with these findings, the fibrinolytic equilibrium of pregnant women exhibited a prolonged ECLT and a strong increase in both PAI activity and PAI-2 antigen levels, while only a moderate elevation in u-PA and t-PA levels was measured.

[Surgeons and the spirit of surgery in France during the 18th century]. / Les chirurgiens et l'espirit chirurgical en France au XVIIIème siècle.

In less than a century, French surgery changed completely by ceasing to be an uncertain technique practised by routine practitioners and becoming a scientific discipline. This transformation involves the 4 following aspects: 1. The surgeon becomes an anatomist, a scientist, a clinician and a pathologist. 2. New structures and new teaching methods are adopted. 3. The separation between medicine and surgery progressively decreases; if not structurally at least in fact, surgery becomes associated to medicine. 4. Surgery takes a prominent place in the private life of the French. In the light of these facts, it could be said that surgery has developed medicine to a point where it raises new hopes for the scientific world and gains the support and esteem of the public at the end of the XVIIIth century.