I didn’t intend for this month’s column to be another update on the 21st Century Robot Project, but I couldn’t resist. The project encourages everyone to imagine, design, 3D print, build, and program their own robot. Robots should be easy to build and as customizable as your smartphone. I’ve been chronicling the project in this column because science fiction prototyping (SFP) plays a big part i...

Background and objectives: Skin hyperpigmentation usually indicates an increase in production and accumulation of melanin. Hyperpigmentary disorders are characterized by the appearance of melasma, freckles and lentigo on the skin surface which can cause psychological disturbances. Herbal products could be extensively preferable due to their widespread accessibility and the vast...

The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide, and Spain is no exception. SolSano is the first Spanish health education program for sun safety directed at elementary school children. The objective was to evaluate SolSano's effects on students' knowledge, attitudes and practices about sun safety. A non-randomized, before/after, community intervention without control group, with schools as...

The melanocortin 1 receptor is a Gs protein-coupled receptor implicated in melanogenesis regulation. The receptor gene is highly polymorphic, which accounts for the association of several of its single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with an increased risk of melanoma. The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution of melanocortin 1 receptor gene variants R151C, R160W, and D294H within th...

THE literature on malignant melanoma of the uveal tract is extensive but case reports of multiple malignant tumours of this type are infrequent. Freckles and naevi are present in approximately 50 per cent. of normal eyes and "are even more frequent and larger in eyes which also contain malignant melanoma of the uveal tract" (Hogan and Zimmerman, 1962). According to Reese (1956), when the malign...

BACKGROUND Freckles are due to an increase in the amount of dark pigments called melanin. These spots are more likely developed on the sun-exposed skin areas like the cheeks, nose, and forehead. Nevus is usually a benign melanocytic tumor and can be congenital or acquired. Due to the high influence of skin lesions on the person's appearance and quality of life, the aim of this study was to eval...

Background and aim: It seems that melanocytic nevi, freckle and lentigo are more common in women with melasma, and a common genetic background may exist. In this study the prevalence and number of lentigo, freckle and melanocytic nevus were compared in women with and without melasma.Materials and methods: In a case-control study, 120 women with melasma (case group) and ...

color and plays a significant role in protection the skin from UV light; while overproduction and accumulation of melanin result in various skin dermatological disorders including melasma, freckles, age spots, and sites of actinic damage or other hyperpigmentations. Thus, melanogenic inhibitors have become increasingly important ingredients in medication and cosmetics for the prevention of hype...

INTRODUCTION Horner's syndrome has a variety of etiologies ranging from benign to serious life-threatening conditions and has been infrequently reported as a presenting symptom of patients with lymphoid neoplasms. Only one case of Burkitt's lymphoma presenting with toothache, paresthesia, and Horner's syndrome has been described and no case reports of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma as the etiolo...