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Cold Air (cold + air)
Selected AbstractsInfluence of environmental stress on skin tone, color and melanogenesis in Japanese skinINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005K. Kikuchi Introduction It is needless to say that one of the most potent environmental stress for melanogenesis of the human skin is the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light from the sunlight. Characteristic skin aging as a result of this UV light is recognized as photoaging. Clinical features in photoaging are wrinkles, skin laxity, coarseness, leathery, yellowing, lentigenes, mottled pigmentation, telangiectasia, sebaceous hypertrophy and purpura. There is an apparent difference in clinical features in photoaging among different races, i.e. between Caucasians, African American and Asians that include Japanese. Not only photo skin type but also environmental factors, such as climate, latitude, altitude and their habit of sunbathing, smoking and skin care influence the characteristic development of their photoaging. Racial difference in photoaging Caucasians tend to develop skin laxity and fine wrinkles more than Asians [1]. Asians tend to produce coarser wrinkles than the Caucasians although their development is rather late in life. There is also a difference in the skin color. Pigmentation is an earliest and prominent skin changes in Asians [1] and it increases with age [2]. In contrast, pigmentation is not apparent in the Caucasians although redness probably because of an increase in cutaneous vascularization becomes prominent in middle aged Caucasians [2]. Chung reported that seborrheic keratosis is a major pigmentary lesion in men, whereas hyperpigmented macules are prominent features in women in Koreans [3]. Melanogenesis pigmentation disorders in Japanese Ephelides (freckles) are commonly found in those with photo skin type I who have fair skin and red eyes and blond hair. They are also found in the Japanese. Clinical feature reveals that multiple small pigmentary macules on sun-exposed areas mainly on the mid-portion of the face. These lesions seem to be familial, becoming apparent even in early childhood after sun exposure. Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder commonly found in middle aged Japanese women characterized by irregular brown macules and patches on the sun-exposed areas on the face typically as bilaterally present macules on the cheeks. An increase in sex hormones as a result of pregnancy and intake of contraceptive pills is one of the etiological factors to develop melasma. Sun exposure also worsens it. Nevus of Ota is also a common pigmentary disorder found in the Japanese. It is usually unilateral, blue-brown to slate-gray pigmentary macules on the eyelid and cheek that appear in early childhood or in puberty. Acquired dermal melanocytosis is also a pigmentary disorder, in which dermal melanocytes are found as shown in nevus of Ota, characterized by bilateral brown to blue-gray macules on the forehead, temple, eyelid and malar areas in middle aged Japanese women. This tends to be misdiagnosed as melasma. Solar lentigo is an acquired pigmented macule induced by sun exposure. Solar lentigines are usually multiple, circumscribed brown macules. There are two types of solar lentigo. One is a small macular type, characterized by multiple, small brown macules whose diameter is less than 5 mm, being similar to ephelides (freckles). The other type is a large macular type, characterized by a few round to oval, brown macules whose diameter is beyond 1 cm. Some of their surface are hyperkeratotic and become elevated to produce seborrheic keratosis. Again, the early sign of photoaging in Japanese is pigmentated spots and these pigmentation disorders increase with age. Among the pigmentary changes, nevus of Ota, acquired dermal melanocytosis, melasma and large macular type of solar lentigo are characteristic skin changes found in the Japanese in addition to ephelides and small macular type of solar lentigo. Seasonal changes of the various functional properties of the skin including skin color assessed by non-invasive bioengineering techniques [4]. When we consider skin tone, color and melanogenesis, UV light from the sunlight is the most potent environmental stress, although we cannot forget also the important influence of environmental relative humidity affects our skin functions as well as its appearance. We investigated seasonal influences on the various properties of the skin in 39 healthy Japanese females consisting of different age groups. Their skin is thought to be affected by the UV light in summer, and by the exposure to the dry and cold air in winter. Materials and methods Biophysical, non-invasive measurements, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL) as a parameter for the barrier function of the stratum corneum (SC), high frequency conductance as a parameter for the hydration state of the SC, skin color and casual surface lipid levels, were conducted during late summer and winter months. Skin color was determined with a chromameter according to the L*a*b* CIE 1976 system, where L* is an attribute on the luminance scale, a* that on the red versus green scale and b* that on the yellow versus blue scale. All the measurements were conducted in an environment controlled-chamber (21 ± 1 °C room temperature, and 50 ± 3% relative humidity). Results The barrier function of the SC was found to be significantly impaired in winter on the cheek as compared with that measured in summer, whereas no such seasonal change was apparent both in the hydration state of the SC and sebum levels on the cheek. In the assessment of the skin color on the cheek, a significant increase in a* (redness) and a decrease in b* (yellowness) were observed in winter. In contrast, on the flexor forearm, the values of L* (luminescence) increased in winter, but no seasonal change was noted in the values of a* and b*. In this study, skin changes with aging were also found by the non-invasive bioengineering methods. The value of TEWL on the cheek tended to increase with age, whereas no significant change was observed in the value of TEWL on the forearm. In the assessment of skin color, b* value on the cheek significantly increased with age whereas a* and L* values on the cheek did not show any significant change with age. Summary of this study We think that such an increase in yellowness with aging of the cheek skin is a phenomenon unique to the Japanese (Asians) since an increase in b* value was not observed in Caucasians [2]. The facial skin that is always exposed shows barrier impairment in a dry and cold winter environment and demonstrates increased yellowness in skin color because of a prolonged exposure to the UV light from the sun in the summer season. The non-invasive bioengineering methods are useful to demonstrate even invisible seasonal changes occurring in the same individuals and changes with age occurring in the skin. References 1.,Goh, S.H. The treatment of visible signs of senescence: the Asian experience. Br. J. Dermatol.122, 105,109 (1990). 2.,LeFur, I., Numagami, K., Guinot, C. et al. Age-related reference values of skin color in Caucasian and Japanese healthy women according to skin site. Pigment Cell Res. 7, 67 (1999). 3.,Chung, J.H., Lee, S.H., Youn, C.S. et al. Cutaneous photodamage in Koreans: influence of sex, sun exposure, smoking, and skin color. Arch. Dermatol. 137, 1043,1051 (2001). 4.,Kikuchi, K., Kobayashi, H., Le Fur, I. et al. Winter season affects more severely the facial skin than the forearm skin: comparative biophysical studies conducted in the same Japanese females in later summer and winter. Exog. Dermatol. 1, 32,38 (2002). [source] Dentine hypersensitivity in subjects recruited for clinical trials: clinical evaluation, prevalence and intra-oral distributionJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 3 2002D. G. Gillam Relatively few studies have reported on the frequency, distribution and severity of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) in subjects recruited for clinical trials of desensitizing agents. Potential subjects (n= 48 M, 81 F, mean age 35·1 years) for inclusion into such a study were screened to determine the extent of the problem. 117 subjects (41 M, 76 F) mean age 24·9 years were clinically examined. Evaluation by questionnaire indicated that the prevalence of DH was proportionately higher in the 20,29·9 years (34·9%), and 30,39·9 years groups (33·3%), respectively. Sensitivity to cold was the main presenting symptom. Tactile (probe) and cold air (dental air syringe) stimuli were used to clinically evaluate DH. Of the teeth eligible for evaluation 1561/3136 (49·8%) responded to either one or both of the test stimuli; 274/3136 (8·7%) responded to tactile only stimulation, 779/3136 (24·8%) to thermal only stimulation and 508/3136 (16·2%) to both tactile and thermal stimulation. Of those teeth responding to the stimuli, 477 (30·6%) were premolars, 437 (28%) incisors, 415 (26·8%) molars and 232 (14·9%) canines. The results agree with those of previously reported studies in that DH is most frequently observed on premolars and that proportionately more teeth are sensitive to evaporative than to tactile stimulation. Furthermore it would appear from the results of the study that tactile is less effective than thermal/evaporative stimulation in the evaluation of DH. [source] Airway hyperresponsiveness and acute chest syndrome in children with sickle cell anemiaPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Karl P. Sylvester PhD Abstract To determine the occurrence and magnitude of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) who had or had not had acute chest syndrome (ACS) episodes. A subsidiary aim was to determine whether cold air and exercise challenge testing gave similar results in children with SCA. AHR would be greater in SCA children who had had an ACS episode compared to those who had not. Prospective observational study. Forty-two SCA children (median age of 11.5 [range 6.1,16.8] years); 12 children had been previously hospitalized for an ACS episode. AHR was assessed by the change in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) to a cold air challenge and in a subset of the children to an exercise challenge. A positive result to either challenge was deemed to have occurred if the FEV1 fell by at least 10% from the pre-challenge baseline. The magnitude of change in FEV1 following the cold air challenge was similar in children who had or had not had an ACS episode. Six children had a positive response to the cold air challenge (AHR); none had had an ACS hospitalization. Similar proportions of children responded to the cold air and exercise challenge and the magnitude of response to the two tests was similar. Some children, however, responded only to a cold air challenge and others only to an exercise challenge. SCA children who had had an ACS hospitalization episode compared to those who had not were not more likely to respond to a cold air challenge. Importantly, if AHR is to be correctly diagnosed, some SCA children will require to undergo both cold air and exercise challenge testing. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:272,276. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Intercomparison of model simulations of mixed-phase clouds observed during the ARM Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment.THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 641 2009II: Multilayer cloud Abstract Results are presented from an intercomparison of single-column and cloud-resolving model simulations of a deep, multilayered, mixed-phase cloud system observed during the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment. This cloud system was associated with strong surface turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes as cold air flowed over the open Arctic Ocean, combined with a low pressure system that supplied moisture at mid-levels. The simulations, performed by 13 single-column and 4 cloud-resolving models, generally overestimate liquid water path and strongly underestimate ice water path, although there is a large spread among models. This finding is in contrast with results for the single-layer, low-level mixed-phase stratocumulus case in Part I, as well as previous studies of shallow mixed-phase Arctic clouds, that showed an underprediction of liquid water path. These results suggest important differences in the ability of models to simulate deeper Arctic mixed-phase clouds versus the shallow, single-layered mixed-phase clouds in Part I. The observed liquid-ice mass ratios were much smaller than in Part I, despite the similarity of cloud temperatures. Thus, models employing microphysics schemes with temperature-based partitioning of cloud liquid and ice masses are not able to produce results consistent with observations for both cases. Models with more sophisticated, two-moment treatment of cloud microphysics produce a somewhat smaller liquid water path closer to observations. Cloud-resolving models tend to produce a larger cloud fraction than single-column models. The liquid water path and cloud fraction have a large impact on the cloud radiative forcing at the surface, which is dominated by long-wave flux. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Föhn as a response to changing upstream and downstream air massesTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 635 2008Georg J. Mayr Abstract Observations of föhn from the field phase of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) are used to study how differences between the air masses upstream and downstream of the central Alpine crest determine whether the flow can descend to the lee as either shallow föhn, when it passes through passes in the mountains, or deep föhn, when it overflows the Alpine crest. First, the föhn case of 30 October 1999 is examined using ECMWF analyses and radiosonde data at various upstream and downstream locations. Additional measurements from aircraft, dropsondes, an instrumented car and automatic weather stations are then used for a detailed study of the föhn flow across the Brenner Pass. Advection of cold air around the eastern edges of the Alps and warm air around the western edge of the Alps ahead of a synoptic ridge set up a reservoir of colder air on the south side of the Alps and a reservoir of warmer air to the north. The depth to where the air was colder on the southern side was sufficient for a shallow föhn to flow through the pass. After the passage of the ridge axis, synoptic cold air advection provided another source of colder air, this time from the southwest, growing deeper with time and having a synoptically imposed cross-barrier flow component. The maximum depth to where the air upstream was colder than downstream extended just above the peaks of the highest mountains. An analysis of the detailed measurements across the Brenner Pass showed that this depth was also the top of the layer that descended and accelerated down the lee slopes of the Wipp Valley. Upstream, air above the föhn layer had an even stronger cross-barrier component yet did not descend because it did not have lower potential temperatures than the downstream side at that level. Deep föhn never developed. An examination of other well-documented MAP föhn cases confirmed the conclusion from the 30 October event that shallow and deep föhns , at least for the central Alps , are mostly a response to differences in air masses between the upstream and downstream side. A cross-barrier component of the flow was only a modification but in itself not sufficient to cause the flow to both descend and accelerate down the lee slope, unless potential temperatures on the upstream side were lower in this layer than on the downstream side. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Precipitating convection in cold air: Virtual potential temperature structureTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 622 2007A. L. M. Grant Abstract Simulations of precipitating convection are used to illustrate the importance of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget in determining the virtual potential-temperature structure of the convecting atmosphere. Two sets of simulations are presented: in one the surface temperature was increased to simulate cold air flowing over a warmer surface and in the second a cooling profile, representing cold-air advection, was imposed. It is shown that the terms in the TKE budgets for both sets of simulations scale in the same way, but that the non-dimensional profiles are different. It is suggested that this is associated with the effects of sublimation of ice. It is shown that the magnitudes of the transport and precipitation terms in the virtual potential temperature budget are determined by the scaling of the TKE budget. Some implications of these results for parametrizations of moist convection are discussed. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Effect of ENSO on the Hong Kong winter seasonATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE LETTERS, Issue 2 2009M. C. Wu Abstract The relationship between the ENSO condition and the winter condition in Hong Kong is investigated in this study. The winter monsoon over southern China tends to be weaker (stronger) during El Niño (La Niña) winters and Hong Kong tends to have higher (lower) mean winter temperatures against the background of the warming trend. On the other hand, there are more (fewer) surge events, which represents the southeastward advance of the Siberian cold air across the East Asian coast, affecting Hong Kong. Analyses showed that Hong Kong tends to be warmer with a shorter duration for the longest cold spell during the winter without blocking event over the Eurasian continent. Furthermore, blocking events are also less common during El Niño winters. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source] | |||||||||||||