Pigmentary Rhythms as Indicators of Neurosecretion

Daily rhythms of liver-function indicators in rabbits.

Serum concentrations of urea and cholesterol were used as indicators of liver function in rabbits in an investigation of the responsiveness of the daily rhythm of liver function to phase shifts in the environmental light-dark cycle. Locomotor activity was simultaneously monitored by actigraphy. Serum urea and cholesterol concentrations exhibited robust daily rhythmicity with opposite phases. Bo...

Rhythms as emerging structures

Pigmentary Disorders

Many factors have been implicated for the etiology of melasma, but the exact cause of this hypermelanosis is poorly understood. However, it is considered to result from solar radiation and genetic predisposition. Moreover, pregnancy, oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy with natural and synthetic oestrogens, have been involved in the pathogenesis of this hypemelanosis. Despite the...

Polypodium leucotomos as an Adjunct Treatment of Pigmentary Disorders.

INTRODUCTION Extracts of the tropical fern Polypodium leucotomos appear to possess beneficial properties for the skin attributed to the presence of numerous compounds within the extract that have antioxidant and photoprotective properties. Orally administered Polypodium leucotomos may provide protection against the detrimental photoaging effects of sunlight and can also help reduce the frequenc...

Genetics of pigmentary disorders.

The genetic and molecular bases of various types of congenital pigmentary disorders have been classified in the past 10 years, as follows: (1) disorders of melanoblast migration in the embryo from the neural crest to the skin: piebaldism; Waardenburg syndrome 1-4 (WS1-WS4); dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria. (2) Disorders of melanosome formation in the melanocyte: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome ...