BACKGROUND Leptin, a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by adipose tissue, has previously been shown to be associated with asthma in children. We hypothesised that high serum leptin concentrations would also be associated with asthma in adults. METHODS The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a cross sectional study that included fasting serum leptin concentrations and se...

1. Mothers were followed from 1 month post-partum up to 12 months post-partum to measure changes in their body-weight and triceps skinfold thickness. 2. Overall there was a significant weight loss in the first few months but this levelled off by 7 months. 3. The triceps skinfold increased significantly up to 5 months post-partum and then decreased. 4. These changes in body-weight and skinfold w...

BACKGROUND/AIM Microcirculation in the dermis of the skin is important for nutrient delivery to this tissue. In this study, the effects of a micronutrient concentrate (Juice Plus+®; 'active group'), composed primarily of fruit and vegetable juice powder, on skin microcirculation and structure were compared to placebo. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS This 12-week study had a monocentric, double-blind pla...

Restoration of the epidermal barrier is a requirement for burn wound closure. A rapid, reliable, and noninvasive measure of the rate of restoration of the epidermal barrier is not readily available. To monitor the reformation of the epidermal barrier, we measured surface electrical capacitance on cultured skin substitutes (human keratinocytes and fibroblasts attached to collagen-glycosaminoglyc...

Garment-like giant congenital melanocytic nevi are very rare, and those being treated are most often offered excision and split-thickness skin transplantation. Due to the risk of restricted mobility secondary to shrinkage and hypertrophic scarring of the transplant, we treated to date the largest reported giant congenital melanocytic nevus (16% total body surface area) with Integra dermal regen...

Blood pressure levels, anthropometric parameters, and dietary intakes were assessed in 1981 and 1983 in a population of black (n = 236) and white (n = 296) adolescent girls, aged 14 and 16 years in 1983. The 14-year-old black girls exhibited significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures than whites in both years. Body weight and Quetelet index were more strongly associated wi...