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BACKGROUND: The clinical use of non-invasive instrumentation to evaluate skin characteristics for diagnostic purposes and to evaluate treatment outcomes has become more prevalent. The purpose of this study was to generate normative data for skin elasticity, erythema (vascularity), melanin (pigmentation), and thickness across a broad age range at a wide variety of anatomical locations using the Cutometer(®) (6 mm probe), Mexameter(®) , and high-frequency ultrasound in a healthy adult sample. METHODS: We measured skin characteristics of 241 healthy participants who were stratified according to age and gender. Sixteen different anatomical locations were measured using the Cutometer(®) for maximum skin deformation, gross elasticity, and biological elasticity, the Mexameter(®) for erythema and melanin, and high-frequency ultrasound for skin thickness. Standardized measurement procedures were applied for all participants. RESULTS: The means and standard deviations for each measured skin characteristic for females and males across five different age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-85 years old) are presented. As previously described, there were variations in skin characteristics across age groups, anatomical locations, and between females and males highlighting the need to use site specific, age and gender matched data when comparing skin characteristics. CONCLUSION: The reported data provides normative data stratified by anatomical location, age, and gender that can be used by clinicians and researchers to objectively determine whether patients' skin characteristics vary significantly from healthy subjects.

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The influence of environmental factors (mainly the river flow) on the year-to-year variability of European eel Anguilla anguilla fluvial recruitment in a small coastal catchment, the Frémur River (north-west France) was examined. A comprehensive survey of catches from fixed traps at two weirs located at 4.5 km (Pont es Omnes Dam) and 6.0 km (Bois Joli Dam) above the river mouth was carried out between 1997 and 2004. Young pigmented elvers (mean +/-s.d. total length, 133.7 +/- 29.6 mm) were recruited in eel-passes from February to October, but the main runs followed a modal curve from April to September with a peak centred in May to June. Catches varied greatly between years, from 381 to 26 765 elvers. For each trap, a positive linear relationship between monthly mean river flow that preceded the maximal intensity of captures and annual total catches was observed. These relationships explained 73.1% (P < 0.01) and 89.0% (P < 0.001) of the year-to-year variability of the recruitment observed in the Pont es Omnes and Bois Joli traps respectively. A significant increase in river flow at the beginning of the migration peak would thus trigger a greater proportion of A. anguilla settled in the estuary and in the downstream zone of the Fremur River to begin their freshwater colonization. The physicochemical roles of changes in river discharge in stimulating upstream migration are discussed. It is concluded that fluvial recruitment in the Fremur River is mainly determined by environmental factors.

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The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate, through a participatory approach, an intervention program to promote the mental health of women caregivers in institutions. Focus groups were first organized to explore sources of stress for daughter and spousal caregivers. Workshops in which caregivers developed the content of a group program were then organized. The aims of the program were to increase empowerment and self-efficacy and to decrease stress and psychological distress of caregivers. Experimentation and qualitative evaluation of the program led to 10 weekly meetings covering the following topics: how to feel good with my relative, how to discuss with staff, how to appraise my experience differently, coping with my relative's losses, how to reorganize my life, and how to identify and ask for social support. This study provides a structured program to support family caregivers and a research method empowering families.

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PIP: The author presents his observations on 842 IUD insertions done between 1976-80. Patients were between 16-52, and 74.35% were nulliparous; all patients were treated with paracervical block with lidocaine prior to IUD insertion. 2.49% experienced light painful sensations during insertion; only in 2 cases was the pain strong. The percentage of 2.49% compares very favorably with that of 17% in nulliparous women and 6% in multiparous women reported in the literature; undoubtedly the anesthesia contributed to keep vasovagal reactions within the limit of 2 cases of total, 4 cases of moderate, and 32 cases of slight lipothymia. Out of 335 patients interviewed 3 months after IUD insertion 78.8% were not experiencing any pain, and 63.97% had no metrorrhagia; duration of menstruation was unchanged in 56% of cases, and prolonged in 37% of cases; menstrual loss was mainly unchanged, and menstrual pain increased in 32% of cases. Of the 842 IUDs inserted, 412 were removed, and half of them during the first 24 months of use; only 13.3% of patients had a medical reason for removal, and 9.71% of devices were removed because of partial expulsion. There were 14 unplanned pregnancies, or a Pearl index of 1.5; 1 pregnancy was ectopic. Continuation rate was 38.83%, and patients' satisfaction was 60.09%; 47.12% of removed IUDs were immediately replaced with a new device.^ieng

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