Search

Background: Nearly 10% of all dermatological disorders and conditions are attributed to the disorders of the nails. Onychoscopy is beneficial in the diagnosis of nail conditions as well as for assessment of the progression, severity, and monitoring of the response to the therapy. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the dermoscopic and sociodemographic features in subjects with nail disorders and Onychoscopy of nail lesions in subjects with dermatological disorders. Methods: The present study assessed 88 subjects with nail disorders from both genders. There were 56.81% (n=50) males and 43.18% (n=38) females in the study. In all included subjects, dermoscopic and sociodemographic features were assessed. The data gathered were analyzed for results formulation. Results: The study results showed that fingernails were more commonly affected in 37.5% (n=33) subjects compared to toenails in 84.09% (n=74) subjects. The most common nail condition was Onychomycosis seen in 32.9% (n=29) subjects that showed findings of onycholysis with spikes and jagged edges in 68.9% (n=20), subungual hyperkeratosis in 72.41% (n=21) subjects, and 75.86% (n=22) subjects respectively. The next common condition was nail psoriasis seen in 18.1% (n=16) of study subjects depicting dilated globose nail fold vessels on capillaroscopy, and onycholysis. Conclusions: The present study concludes that onychoscopy can decrease the need for biopsy which is an invasive procedure by focusing on subtle changes and helps in excluding the differential diagnosis. Also, onychoscopy is a diagnostic choice in young children. The present study helped to assess connective tissue disorder severity and can help in diagnosing the benign nature of melanonychia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Raman spectroscopy is a well-known tool used in criminology, molecular biology, and histology. It is also applied to diagnose bone mineral disorders by taking advantage of the similarity of the structure of keratin and bone collagen. Raman spectroscopy can also be used in dermatology and diabetology. The purpose of the present review is to critically evaluate the available research about the use of Raman spectroscopy in the mentioned areas of medicine. Methodology: PubMed was searched for peer-reviewed articles on the subject of use of Raman spectroscopy in bone mineral disorders, dermatology, and diabetes mellitus. Results: Nail keratin and bone collagen are related structural proteins that require disulfide bond for structural stability. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy of keratin may have potential as a diagnostic tool for screening bone quality and distinguishing patients at risk of fracture for reasons different from low bone mineral density (BMD) in the adult women population. Raman spectroscopy can also investigate the changes in keratin's structure in nails affected by onychomycosis and distinguish between healthy and onychomycosis nail samples. It could also reduce the need for nail biopsy by distinguishing between dermatophytic and non-dermatophytic agents of onychomycosis. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy could expedite the diagnostic process in psoriasis (by assessing the secondary structure of keratin) and in diabetes mellitus (by examining the protein glycation level). Conclusions: In adult populations, Raman spectroscopy is a promising and safe method for assessing the structure of fingernails. However, data are scarce in the pediatric population; therefore, more studies are required in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fingernails are specialized features of the primate hand, which are believed to contribute to manual dexterity. The sensorimotor functions of fingernails, however, remain poorly understood. This study investigates the ability of humans to precisely localize touches applied to the fingernail plate. Nine different locations on the fingernail were touched and participants judged the location by clicking a mouse cursor on a photograph of their finger. Performance in this condition was compared with stimuli applied to the skin of the fingertip. The results showed that participants are able to localize touch on the fingernails at substantially higher than chance levels. Moreover, the precision of this ability is not appreciably lower than that of the fingertips. These results show that the fingernail is a highly sensitive sensory organ, which is capable of providing rich spatial information about tactile stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores a rare case of blue discoloration in a nail tumor called onychomatricoma. The blue pigmentation was found to be caused by a fungal infection called pigmented onychomycosis. The article provides a detailed description of the clinical and histopathological features of the case, emphasizing the challenges in diagnosing and treating the tumor. It also discusses the rarity of blue chromonychia and the potential diagnostic value of nail clippings. The article aims to inform readers about the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of onychomatricoma, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis and differentiation from other nail disorders. [Extracted from the article]

This report describes the clinical, onychoscopic, nail clipping, and histopathologic features of a malignant onychopapilloma. A 71‐year‐old male presented to our outpatient clinic for a stable, asymptomatic lesion on his left middle finger that had been present for 2 years. Prior nail clipping histopathology showed nail plate thinning with subungual abnormal onychocytes. Clinical examination revealed a 2‐mm‐wide streak of longitudinal xanthonychia extending to the proximal nail fold, with distal hyperkeratosis and onycholysis. Onychoscopy showed irregular longitudinal nail plate ridging with scattered punctate hemorrhagic foci. An excisional nail unit biopsy demonstrated cellular atypia of the nail bed epithelium, matrix metaplasia, longitudinal abnormal onychocytes, increased Ki‐67 staining, and negative HPV immunoperoxidase staining, confirming the diagnosis of malignant onychopapilloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric longitudinal melanonychia (LM) can exhibit atypical features that mimic red‐flag signs for subungual melanoma in adults and lead to diagnostic uncertainty. Nail biopsy may be unnecessary if clinical inspection and dermoscopy suggest a benign nature. Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase from inception to February 2023 for studies of any design reporting either the number or proportion of clinical and dermoscopic features in at least five children (≤18 years) with LM. Non‐English articles, reviews, and abstracts were excluded. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to collate all existing data. Results: A total of 1218 articles were screened and 24 studies with 1391 pediatric patients were included. Nevus was the most common diagnosis (86.3%). The most prevalent sites were fingernails (76.2%) and first digits (45.4%). Pooled proportions of common features were: dark‐color bands (69.8%), multi‐colored bands (47.6%), broad bandwidth (41.1%), pseudo‐Hutchinson sign (41.0%), irregular patterns (38.1%), Hutchinson sign (23.7%), dots and globules (22.5%), nail dystrophy (18.2%), and triangular sign (10.9%). Outcomes included progression (widening or darkening, 29.9%), stability (23.3%), and spontaneous regression (narrowing or fading, 19.9%). Only eight cases of subungual melanoma in situ were reported, and no invasive melanomas were identified. Conclusion: Although atypical characteristics are common in pediatric LM, the probability of malignant transformation is exceedingly low. Appropriate evaluation and management of pediatric LM includes careful clinical and dermoscopic inspection with attention to benign features followed by long‐term interval follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Onychopapilloma is an uncommon benign tumor of the nail bed and the distal matrix. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical and pathological features of onychopapilloma in Taiwan. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 12 patients with histopathologically proven onychopapilloma in a medical center in southern Taiwan from 2017 to 2023. Results: This case series consisted of 5 men and 7 women aged 29 to 38, with a mean age of 41.25 years. The clinical features were as follows: distal subungual hyperkeratosis (100%), longitudinal erythronychia (50%), longitudinal leukonychia (50 %), distal onycholysis (41%), and distal nail plate fissuring (41%). The duration of the disease varied greatly, ranging from 1 month to several years. Most patients were asymptomatic (58%), while some presented tenderness (41%). Fingernail involvement was more prevalent than toe involvement, with the thumb being the most commonly affected site. Most of the patients presented with a solitary onychopapilloma. None of the seven patients who underwent surgery and were available for follow-up experienced recurrence. Conclusions: This study highlights that longitudinal erythronychia and leukonychia emerged as the predominant clinical presentations of onychopapilloma. Furthermore, our findings suggest that surgical excision appears to be an effective method for onychopapilloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the potential of compound‐specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA‐AA) for investigating infant feeding practices, we conducted a long‐term study that compared infant and maternal amino acid (AA) nitrogen isotope ratios. Materials and Methods: Fingernail samples were collected from a single mother–infant dyad over 19 months postpartum. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in the bulk keratin of the fingernail samples. Selected samples were then hydrolyzed and derivatized for compound‐specific nitrogen isotope analysis of keratin AAs. Results: As in previous studies, infant bulk keratin nitrogen isotope values increased during exclusive breastfeeding and fell with the introduction of complementary foods and eventual cessation of breastfeeding. Infant trophic AAs had elevated nitrogen isotope values relative to the mother, while the source AAs were similar between the mother and infant. Proline and threonine appeared to track the presence of human milk in the infant's diet as the isotopic composition of these AAs remained offset from maternal isotope values until the cessation of breastfeeding. Discussion: Although CSIA‐AA is costly and labor intensive, it appears to hold potential for estimating the duration of breastfeeding, even after the introduction of complementary foods. Through the analysis of a full suite of AAs, it may also yield insights into infant physiology and AA synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of forensic anthropology, fingernails serve as invaluable repositories of biological information due to their numerous advantages. To facilitate precise identification in terms of gender and geographic origin, we conducted a study employing fingernails from various regions of the Chinese mainland (specifically, Gansu, Guilin, Hebei, Liaoning, and Jiangsu). Our comprehensive approach amalgamates attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) with decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF). This approach boasts the merits of speed and nondestructiveness. The C5.0-based DT model and the SVM models based on both radial basis function (RBF) and linear kernels achieve a favorable 100% accuracy in distinguishing between genders and geographic origins. Furthermore, the optimized RBF model exhibits superior performance in regional differentiation, particularly for male samples. In conclusion, the utilization of ATR-FTIR for the swift differentiation of fingernails based on gender and geographic origin is indeed feasible. This paves the way for the meaningful application of machine learning algorithms in the realm of forensic anthropology, offering valuable insights and prospects for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nail growth disturbance commonly takes place after trauma or relevant diseases, such as infections and tumors. However, abnormal growth of the nail plate sometimes occurs without an obvious causative factor. This report presents the case of a patient who underwent male genital reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap for gender affirmation. Although the entire process was smooth, with no accidental events, the second, third, and fourth phalangeal nail plates of the hand from which the flap was harvested showed no evident growth of the fingernail 2 months postoperatively. Nail production was preserved in the remaining fingernails. Typical symptoms, such as redness, swelling, and tenderness, were noted upon clinical observation. Eventually, nail production restarted 5 months after surgery. Steroid and antibiotic treatment was attempted to reduce periungual inflammation. Additionally, close observation with psychological support was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) is an oscillatory rise in blood flow to glabrous skin that occurs in cold-exposed extremities. Dietary flavanols increase bioavailable nitric oxide, a proposed mediator of CIVD through active vasodilation and/or withdrawal of sympathetic vascular smooth muscle tone. However, no studies have examined the effects of flavanol intake on extremity skin perfusion during cold exposure. We tested the hypothesis that acute and 8-day flavanol supplementation would augment CIVD during single-digit cold water immersion (CWI). Methods: Eleven healthy adults (24 ± 6 years; 10 M/1F) ingested cocoa flavanols (900 mg/day) or caffeine- and theobromine-matched placebo for 8 days in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. On Days 1 and 8, CIVD was assessed 2 h post-treatment. Subjects immersed their 3rd finger in warm water (42 °C) for 15 min before CWI (4 °C) for 30 min, during which nail bed and finger pad skin temperature were measured. Results: Flavanol ingestion had no effect on CIVD frequency (Day 1, Flavanol: 3 ± 2 vs. Placebo: 3 ± 2; Day 8, Flavanol: 3 ± 2 vs. Placebo: 3 ± 1) or amplitude (Day 1, Flavanol: 4.3 ± 1.7 vs. Placebo: 4.9 ± 2.6 °C; Day 8, Flavanol: 3.9 ± 1.9 vs. Placebo: 3.9 ± 2.0 °C) in the finger pad following acute or 8-day supplementation (P > 0.05). Furthermore, average, nadir, and apex finger pad temperatures during CWI were not different between treatments on Days 1 or 8 of supplementation (P > 0.05). Similarly, no differences in CIVD parameters were observed in the nail bed following supplementation (P > 0.05). Conclusion: These data suggest that cocoa flavanol ingestion does not alter finger CIVD. Clinical Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04359082. April 24, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The human nail has a three‐layered structure. Although it would be useful to quantitatively evaluate the changes in deformability of the nail due to various surface treatments, few studies have been conducted. Methods: The effects of two types of surface treatment—a chemically acting nail softener and a physically acting nail strengthener—on the deformability of human fingernails were investigated. The Young's modulus of each plate of the nail samples before and after softening treatment was determined by nanoindentation. The Young's modulus of the strengthener was determined by conducting a three‐point bending test on a polyethylene sheet coated with the strengthener. Results: Young's modulus decreased in order from the top plate against the softening treatment time, and the structural elasticity for bending deformation (SEB) of the nail sample, which expresses the deformability against bending deformation independent of its external dimensions, decreased to 60% after 6 h of treatment. The Young's modulus of the nail strengthener was 244.5 MPa, which is less than 10% of the SEB of the nail. When the nail strengthener was applied to the nail surface, the SEB decreased to 73%, whereas the flexural rigidity increased to 117%. Conclusion: Changes in nail deformability caused by various surface treatments for softening and hardening were quantitatively evaluated successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the nail units of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (ax‐SpA) using ultrasound and to identify any subclinical changes. We also aimed to examine the relationship between clinical enthesitis scores and nail involvement in patients with ax‐SpA. Methods: The study included 40 patients with ax‐Spa, 40 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and 40 healthy controls. The thickness of the nail plates, morphological changes, the thickness of the proximal nail units, the thickness of the nail beds, and power Doppler signal intensities were evaluated and compared. Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index were also evaluated in patients with ax‐SpA. Results: There was no significant difference between the thickness of the nail plates of the three groups (P >.05). The first nail bed thickness of ax‐SpA cases was significantly higher than the control group (P =.046), and the fourth and fifth nail proximal unit thicknesses of the control group were significantly lower than the ax‐SpA and PsA groups (P =.023, P =.017). We also found that the Wortsman scores of the cases with PsA were significantly higher than the ax‐SpA and control groups (P =.0001). Conclusion: The thickness of the proximal nail unit adjacent to the insertion of the digital extensor tendon, which is considered as the enthesis area, is similar to the patients with PsA in patients with ax‐SpA, especially in the fourth and fifth fingers compared to the control group. On the other hand, almost no structural changes in nail plates were observed in patients with ax‐SpA group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nail-patella syndrome, also known as Fong disease, is an uncommon autosomal dominant disorder characterized by a distinctive set of features, including fingernail abnormalities, hypoplastic patellae, radial head dislocation, and iliac horns. This condition often leads to patellar subluxation or dislocation, resulting in knee instability and pain. While existing literature predominantly focuses on the clinical and radiological aspects of nail-patella syndrome-related knee manifestations, only a limited number of articles delve into a meticulous approach to the condition with a comprehensive strategy for diagnosis. We present an atypical case of Fong disease distinguished by unique genetic characteristics and subsequently subjected to a thorough clinical assessment and a meticulously planned operative treatment regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key clinical message: Subungual Onycholemmal Cyst (SOC) is a rare nail abnormality with different clinical presentations which can mimic different nail malignancies, such as melanoma, SCC, or glomus tumor. It is necessary for dermatologists and dermatopathologist to be aware of this pathology to make the proper diagnosis and treatment. SOC is a rare nail abnormality which affects the dermis of the nail bed. SOC has different clinical presentations, including onychodystrophy, ridging, clubbing, thickening, pigmentation, or even normal appearance. It can mimic different nail malignancies, such as melanoma, SCC, or glomus tumor. In this report, we describe a 54‐year‐old man with unilateral second right finger nail onychodystrophy and onycholysis for 1 year. He did not have any history of recent trauma, pain, or bleeding. It was completely resected by surgery. Nail biopsy can contribute to the early diagnosis of SOC and improvement of treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once played across Northern Europe in the Middle Ages, as early as the Viking Era, the bowed lyre has survived in an unbroken tradition in the Baltic region. The traditional playing method uses a loosely strung bow to stroke drone and melody strings simultaneously, while pressing the latter with knuckles or fingernails through a handhole. Iconographic, archeological, and ethnographic evidence points to the likely derivation of the bowed lyre from the bowed lute of Moorish Iberia or the Byzantine Empire. After a long decline in popularity, revivals occurred in Sweden (1970s), Finland (1980s), and Estonia (1990s). Focusing on the last case, the analysis shows how international contacts led to the bowed lyre's emergence and diffusion, as well as to its decline and revival. Traditional designs, tuning schemes, playing styles, and repertoire are still preserved today, though the social function, lore transmission, and performance settings of the bowed lyre have changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of tangential biopsy as a diagnostic tool for nail lichen planus (NLP), a rare condition that primarily affects the hands and can lead to nail deformities and functional impairments. The traditional biopsy techniques, longitudinal and punch biopsies, have limitations and may cause nail dystrophy. Tangential biopsy offers advantages such as obtaining larger samples for histopathological evaluation and reducing the risk of scarring. The article presents a case study where tangential biopsy successfully diagnosed NLP and identified cytoid bodies within the nail plate. The authors suggest that tangential biopsy, along with the analysis of nail clipping samples, can be useful in diagnosing NLP. [Extracted from the article]

Cosmetic products are chemical substances or mixtures used on the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, whose use is intended to clean, protect, correct body odor, perfume, keep in good condition, or change appearance. The analysis of cosmetic ingredients is often challenging because of their huge complexity and their adulteration. Among various analytical tools, mass spectrometry (MS) has been largely used for compound detection, ingredient screening, quality control, detection of product authenticity, and health risk evaluation. This work is focused on the MS applications in detecting and quantification of some common cosmetic ingredients, i.e., preservatives, dyes, heavy metals, allergens, and bioconjugates in various matrices (leave-on or rinse-off cosmetic products). As a global view, MS-based analysis of bioconjugates is a narrow field, and LC- and GC/GC×GC-MS are widely used for the investigation of preservatives, dyes, and fragrances, while inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS is ideal for comprehensive analysis of heavy metals. Ambient ionization approaches and advanced separation methods (i.e., convergence chromatography (UPC2)) coupled to MS have been proven to be an excellent choice for the analysis of scented allergens. At the same time, the current paper explores the challenges of MS-based analysis for cosmetic safety studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fluoridation of public water systems is known as a safe and effective strategy for preventing dental caries based on evidence from non-randomized studies. Yet 110 million Americans do not have access to a fluoridated public water system and many others do not drink tap water. This article describes the study protocol for the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of fluoridated water that assesses its potential dental caries preventive efficacy when delivered in bottles. Methods: waterBEST is a phase 2b proof-of-concept, randomized, quadruple-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial designed to estimate the potential efficacy of fluoridated versus non-fluoridated bottled water to prevent dental caries incidence in the first 4 years of life. Two hundred children living in eastern North Carolina, USA, and aged 2–6 months at screening are being allocated at random in a 1:1 ratio to receive fluoridated (0.7 mg/L F) or non-fluoridated bottled water sourced from two local public water systems. Throughout the 3.5-year intervention, study water is delivered monthly in 5-gallon bottles to each child's home with instructions to use it whenever the child consumes water as a beverage or in food preparation. Parents are interviewed quarterly to monitor children's water consumption and health. At annual visits, the presence of dental caries is evaluated with a dental screening examination. Clippings from fingernails and toenails are collected to quantify fluoride content as a biomarker of total fluoride intake. The primary endpoint is the number of primary tooth surfaces decayed, missing, or filled due to dental caries measured by the study dentist near the time of the child's fourth birthday. Tooth decay is assessed at the threshold of macroscopic enamel loss. For the primary aim, a least-squares, generalized linear model will estimate efficacy and its one-tailed, upper 80% confidence limit. Discussion: waterBEST is the first evaluation of a randomized intervention of fluoridated drinking water in bottles to prevent dental caries in the primary dentition. This innovative method of delivering fluoridated water has the potential to prevent early childhood caries in a large segment of the US population that currently does not benefit from fluoridated public water. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04893681. Registered on March 2022. Last update posted on 10 October 2023. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04893681?cond=Dental%20Caries%20in%20Children&term=fluoride&locStr=North%20Carolina,%20USA&country=United%20States&state=North%20Carolina&distance=50&rank=1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To report indications, outcomes, and complications with a precontoured angle-stable interlocking nail (CAS-ILN). ANIMALS 90 client-owned animals. METHODS Dogs and cats treated with the CAS-ILN between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Collected data included body weight, fracture configuration, percentage of medullary canal filled, limb alignment, complications, and follow-up. Favorable outcomes were defined when full functional restoration was observed. RESULTS Thirty-eight dogs and 52 cats were included. Median body weight was 4.3 kg (range, 1.5 to 6.7 kg) for cats and 25 kg (range, 6.8 to 54 kg) for dogs. A total of 54 femurs, 31 tibias, and 5 humeri were treated, including 65 comminuted fractures and 26 metaphyseal fractures. The median percentage of medullary canal occupied by the nail was 76.5% (range, 53% to 97.6%). Radiographic postoperative bone alignment was good in 85.5% (59/69) and satisfactory in 10 cases. The median duration of follow-up (57/90) was 476 days (range, 56 to 1,057 days). In the perioperative period (0 to 12 weeks), lameness had resolved or was mild in all (51/52) but 1 case. In the long-term postoperative period (> 12 months), 97.1% (34/35) of cases showed restoration of full function and 1 case had an unacceptable function. An overall complication rate of 11.5% (7/61) was reported including 1 catastrophic and 6 major complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Long-term functional outcomes following the CAS-ILN were favorable in 97.1% (34/35) of cases. Complication rates were comparable to previous studies. The CAS-ILN appears to be an alternative surgical option for most long-bone fracture repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to create a question bank about clinical factors for predicting the diagnoses of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis of various ancestries and skin tones, which can be completed entirely by patients. Methods: Utah Psoriasis Initiative participants without a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis at enrollment were observed for diagnosis during the study period. We inferred ancestry from exome sequencing data and performed Cox proportional hazards regression to identify clinical predictors of psoriatic arthritis in different ancestry groups. Based on results and literature review, we developed a question bank for assessing psoriatic arthritis risk among patients with psoriasis in various ancestries. Results: Patient‐reported untreated psoriasis induration and history of fingernail psoriasis were associated with psoriatic arthritis in participants of European and non‐European ancestry. We developed the Psoriatic Arthritis Prediction and Identification Question Bank for Diverse Ancestries (PAPRIKA) version 1.0, which included questions regarding psoriasis characteristics, arthritis symptoms, comorbidities, family history, and demographics. PAPRIKA is accessible at http://bjfenglab.org/. Conclusion: The clinical features (untreated psoriasis induration and history of fingernail psoriasis) that can predict psoriatic arthritis in European individuals also work for non‐European individuals. PAPRIKA can be used to gather psoriatic arthritis predictive data from patients with psoriasis without provider assistance and is relevant for patients across ancestries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work compared the multi-element analysis of human hair and nails using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) with an easy, fast, cheap, non-destructive method using energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence (ED XRF). The ICP MS-based method was more sensitive (over 30 elements could be quantified) and costly (requiring more time, samples, and chemicals). The EDX-based method required laboratory and certified reference materials made of hair for instrument calibration. It was less sensitive (16 elements could be quantified: S, Si, Ca, Br, Fe, Cu, Cr, Mg, Si, K, Mn, Ni, Zn, Se, Sr, Pb), but it allowed us to replace troublesome grinding with the dissolution of keratin-based material with an alkalic agent (tetramethylammonium hydroxide, TMAH) and the formation of stable-for-days pellets. This method is simple, enables automation, and, due to the modification of wells in the autosampler of the EDX system via the immersion of home-designed inserts, it requires smaller amounts of biological material and binder (down to 70 mg instead of 500 mg required by commercially available instrument) to perform analysis. It was concluded that the EDX-based method offers complementary selectivity and sensitivity to ICP MS with the possibility of sample reuse for further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to obtain accuracy for classification of diabetes mellitus based on fingernail images using neural network. The data is fingernail images with fasting conditions and non-fasting conditions. In each condition, data is divided into three namely diabetes, prediabetes and normal data. Images in each data are 100 images. Methods were preprocessing, GLCM, neural network (NN) and accuracy. Preprocessing were cropping and grayscaling. GLCM were contrast, entropy, homogeneity, energy and correlation features. In NN, number of epochs used is 1000. Images in the training data is 240. The accuracy were 100% for fasting condition and 85% for non-fasting condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the Metaverse is raising important questions in the field of human–machine interaction that must be addressed for a successful implementation of the new paradigm. Therefore, the exploration and integration of both technology and human interaction within this new framework are needed. This paper describes an innovative and technically viable proposal for virtual shopping in the fashion field. Virtual hands directly scanned from the real world have been integrated, after a retopology process, in a virtual environment created for the Metaverse, and have been integrated with digital nails. Human interaction with the Metaverse has been carried out through the acquisition of the real posture of the user's hands using an infrared-based sensor and mapping it in its virtualized version, achieving natural identification. The technique has been successfully tested in an immersive shopping experience with the Meta Quest 2 headset as a pilot project, where a transactions mechanism based on the blockchain technology (non-fungible tokens, NFTs) has allowed for the development of a feasible solution for massive audiences. The consumers' reactions were extremely positive, with a total of 250 in-person participants and 120 remote accesses to the Metaverse. Very interesting technical guidelines are raised in this project, the resolution of which may be useful for future implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pitt‐Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by severe intellectual disability (ID), distinctive facial features and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, caused by TCF4 haploinsufficiency. We clinically diagnosed with PTHS a 14 6/12‐year‐old female, who had a normal status of TCF4. The pathogenic c.667del (p.Asp223MetfsTer45) variant in SOX11 was identified through whole exome sequencing (WES). SOX11 variants were initially reported to cause Coffin‐Siris syndrome (CSS), characterised by growth restriction, moderate ID, coarse face, hypertrichosis and hypoplastic nails. However, recent studies have provided evidence that they give rise to a distinct neurodevelopmental disorder. To date, SOX11 variants are associated with a variable phenotype, which has been described to resemble CSS in some cases, but never PTHS. By reviewing both clinically and genetically 32 out of 82 subjects reported in the literature with SOX11 variants, for whom detailed information are provided, we found that 7/32 (22%) had a clinical presentation overlapping PTHS. Furthermore, we made a confirmation that overall SOX11 abnormalities feature a distinctive disorder characterised by severe ID, high incidence of microcephaly and low frequency of congenital malformations. Purpose of the present report is to enhance the role of clinical genetics in assessing the individual diagnosis after WES results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Favipiravir is an antiviral agent, recently used for COVID‐19 infections. Several reports associate favipiravir intake with Wood's lamp fluorescence of hair, nails, and sclera. The present study was designed to elucidate the positivity rates, and sites of favipiravir‐related fluorescence and to unravel the site‐specific changes in fluorescence positivity rates by a function of time past exposure. Methods: The study population comprised 50 patients and 50 control individuals. All patients in the patient group had received a full dose of favipiravir for COVID‐19 infection. Fifty volunteers served as the control group. Wood's lamp examination was performed in a completely darkened room, and the positivity rate, extent, pattern, and distribution of fluorescence were recorded. Results: Wood's light revealed fluorescence of the fingernails, toenails, sclera, and hair in 35 (70%), 35 (70%), 22 (44%), and 8 (16%) patients, respectively. No control individual tested positive by Wood's lamp. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between patient and control groups in terms of Wood's light luminescence in the fingernails (p =.000), toenails (p =.000), sclera (p =.000) and hair (p =.003). Although fingernail, toenail, and hair fluorescence positivity rates declined or ceased at or after 91 days of favipiravir exposure, ocular fluorescence positivity rates were prolonged up to 188 days. Conclusions: These findings confirm that favipiravir may produce fluorescence of nails, sclera, and hair, detectable by Wood's light starting from the initial month and peaking at second‐ and third months following exposure to the medication. Although nail and hair fluorescence tend to abate after 3 months, ocular fluorescence may persist even longer than 6 months after cessation of the medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goldman-Fox syndrome is a rare pathology, first described in 1944, which is defined as the greenish coloration of the nail apparatus, caused by bacterial and infectious fungal processes. The case of a 37-year-old female patient is presented, who refers chloronychia in her fingernails, of one-year course. She is treated with multiple topical antifungals, without clinical improvement, so she goes to the dermatological clinic of the Ciudad Hospitalaria Dr. Enrique Tejera-Venezuela, where mycological and bacteriological cultures are evaluated and performed, reporting mixed growth. Therefore, it is essential to suspect coinfection in these cases, to carry out the appropriate diagnostic methods and establish an optimal and timely treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel adhesion method of a sensor to a fingernail is described. Wearable sensors can provide health insights to humans for a wide variety of benefits, such as continuous wellness monitoring and disease monitoring throughout a patient's daily life. While there are many locations to place these wearable sensors on the body, we will focus on the fingertip, one significant way that people interact with the world. Like artificial fingernails used for aesthetics, wearable healthcare sensors can be attached to the fingernail for short or long time periods with minimal irritation and disruption to daily life. In this study the structure and methods of healthcare sensors' attachment and removal have been explored to support (1) the sensor functional requirements, (2) biological and environmentally compatible solutions and (3) ease of attachment and removal for short- and long-term user applications. Initial fingernail sensors were attached using a thin adhesive layer of commonly available cosmetic nail glue. While this approach allowed for easy application and strong adhesion to the nail, the removal could expose the fingernail and finger to a commercially available cosmetic nail removal (acetone-based chemical) for extended times measured in minutes. Therefore, a novel structure and method were developed for rapid healthcare sensor attachment and removal in seconds, which supported both the sensor functional objectives and the biologically and environmentally safe use objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Médica Peruana is the property of Colegio Medico del Peru and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Raman spectroscopy is a well-known tool used in criminology, molecular biology, and histology. It is also applied to diagnose bone mineral disorders by taking advantage of the similarity of the structure of keratin and bone collagen. Raman spectroscopy can also be used in dermatology and diabetology. The purpose of the present review is to critically evaluate the available research about the use of Raman spectroscopy in the mentioned areas of medicine. Methodology: PubMed was searched for peer-reviewed articles on the subject of use of Raman spectroscopy in bone mineral disorders, dermatology, and diabetes mellitus. Results: Nail keratin and bone collagen are related structural proteins that require disulfide bond for structural stability. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy of keratin may have potential as a diagnostic tool for screening bone quality and distinguishing patients at risk of fracture for reasons different from low bone mineral density (BMD) in the adult women population. Raman spectroscopy can also investigate the changes in keratin’s structure in nails affected by onychomycosis and distinguish between healthy and onychomycosis nail samples. It could also reduce the need for nail biopsy by distinguishing between dermatophytic and non-dermatophytic agents of onychomycosis. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy could expedite the diagnostic process in psoriasis (by assessing the secondary structure of keratin) and in diabetes mellitus (by examining the protein glycation level). Conclusions: In adult populations, Raman spectroscopy is a promising and safe method for assessing the structure of fingernails. However, data are scarce in the pediatric population; therefore, more studies are required in children.

BACKGROUND: Few studies are comparing the biomechanical characteristics of three internal fixation techniques in the treatment of distal tibial fractures. OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical properties of distal tibial fractures fixed by medial distal tibial plate, anterior-grade expert tibial nail and retrograde tibial nail. METHODS: Based on the CT data of a SAWBONES 4th generation artificial composite tibia model, a simulation model of distal tibia fracture (AO/ASIF 43-A3) was constructed by digital 3D reconstruction technology. On this basis, three internal fixation methods including locking plate of the medial tibia, expert grade intramedullary nail and retrograde tibial nail were simulated. Finite element analysis was carried out for three groups of implanted assembly models under axial compression and axial torsion loading conditions respectively, and the differences in stress distribution, stress peak value and fracture space displacement were compared among the three groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) When the three groups of internal fixators were loaded under two load conditions, the peak stress of the expert tibial nail group was 283.53 MPa at the unlocked main nail hole under the torsion condition. In the medial distal tibial plate group, the stress peak was located on the third screw, which was 913.07 MPa under the torsional condition. In the retrograde tibial nail group, the stress peak was at the second main nail hole under the torsion condition, which was 435.42 MPa. In the retrograde tibial nail group, the stress peak of the cortical bone around the main nail hole at the medial malleolus appeared under high axial compression condition, which was 55.34 MPa. (2) In terms of fracture gap micromovement, the expert tibial nail group had the highest tangential displacement in the four regions under axial compression load. The axial displacement of the four regions in the medial distal tibial plate group was the highest, and the maximum value was in the lateral region. The peak axial displacement of the expert tibial nail group and retrograde tibial nail group was located in the posterior region. (3) When the axial torsional load was loaded, the peak axial displacement of the medial distal tibial plate group and retrograde tibial nail group was in the lateral region, and the tangential displacement of the four regions in the retrograde tibial nail group was smaller than that in the medial distal tibial plate group and expert tibial nail group. (4) It is indicated that retrograde tibial nail has a biomechanical advantage over the medial distal tibial plate and expert tibial nail in distal tibial fractures in terms of fracture end fretting and internal fixation stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The mechanical condition and tactile evaluation of skin are essential for the development of skin care products. Most of the existing commercial instruments and studies aim to evaluate the skin surface by pressing it for hardness or by using imaging sensors, but there have been few instrumental measurements employing rubbing motion. Here, we have developed a sensor specialized for tactile sensation and the contact phenomenon during skin rubbing. Methods: The developed sensor has three features: It can measure body parts including cheeks and arms, automate the rubbing motion of the probe and measure vibration and friction simultaneously. It is hand‐held, with metal probes that rub the skin surface while rotating under a motor drive; it has an accelerometer and a force sensor beneath the probe measuring vibration and friction forces. To evaluate the validity of the sensor's measurements, artificial skin models were measured using the developed sensor and commercially available sensors and the results were compared. The relationship between the sensor output, surface roughness measurement and sensory evaluation was also investigated. Additionally, we evaluated the inter‐rater reliability when measuring actual skin. Results: The measurements of five artificial skin models with different surface shapes showed a high correlation (r = 0.99) between the vibration intensity values evaluated by the developed sensor and those measured by a tri‐axial acceleration sensor attached to a fingernail. The correlation coefficient between the vibration intensity values and surface roughness was r = 0.91, and the correlation with the sensory evaluation score of roughness was r = 0.99. The friction coefficients measured by the developed sensor and the force plate had r = 0.93, based on measurements of five artificial skin models with different friction conditions. The inter‐rater correlation coefficients between the three participants of the developed sensor were as high as 0.92 and 0.94 for the vibration and friction measurements respectively. Conclusion: The vibration intensities and friction coefficients from the sensor were highly correlated with those of the conventional sensor. The inter‐rater reliability was also high. The developed sensor can be useful for tactile evaluation in skin‐care product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary hypothyroidism is classified as a public health issue by the World Health Organization. The technique for diagnosing hypothyroidism is the measurement of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (FT4). It is necessary to develop new methods that are more accessible, especially for developing countries. The aim of this work is the in-situ use of nail fluorescence for a simple and rapid preliminary diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism. The choice of the nail as biological tissue is justified because nails have a long-term memory, act as a mirror of health, and serve as an early warning system as well as a window of systemic disease. The in situ analysis of the nails of the patients shows good results. Specially, a clear separation was obtained between healthy controls and patients and also between low- and high-level hypothyroidism. Moreover, a strong correlation between fluorescence spectra and TSH values for the population with hypothyroidism was clearly established. Moreover, linear discriminant analysis shows that it is possible to predict the state of test patients after the training of a fraction of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anemia is one of the global public health challenges that particularly affect children and pregnant women. A study by WHO indicates that 42% of children below the age of 6 and 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anemic. This affects the world's total population by 33%, due to the cause of iron deficiency. The non‐invasive technique, such as the use of machine learning algorithms is one of the methods used in the diagnosis or detection of clinical diseases, which anemia detection cannot be overlooked in recent days. In this study, a machine learning approach was used to detect iron‐deficiency anemia with the application of Naïve Bayes, CNN, SVM, k‐NN, and decision tree algorithms. This enabled us to compare the conjunctiva of the eyes, the palpable palm, and the color of the fingernail images to justify which of them has a higher accuracy for detecting anemia in children. The method utilized was categorized into three different stages: dataset collection, dataset preprocessing, and model development for anemia detection. The CNN achieved a higher accuracy of 99.12%, while the SVM had the least accuracy of 95.4%. The performance of the models justifies that the non‐invasive approach is an effective mechanism for anemia detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EDSS1, a syndrome characterized by ectodermal dysplasia-syndactyly, is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner due to mutations in the NECTIN4/PVRL4 gene. Clinical manifestations of the syndrome include defective nail plate, sparse to absent scalp and body hair, spaced teeth with enamel hypoplasia, and bilateral cutaneous syndactyly in the fingers and toes. Here, we report a consanguineous family of Kashmiri origin presenting features of EDSS1. Using whole exome sequencing, we found a recurrent nonsense mutation (NM_030916: c.181C > T, p.(Gln61 ∗)) in the NECTIN4 gene. The variant segregated perfectly with the disorder within the family. The candidate variant was absent in 50 in-house exomes pertaining to other disorders from the same population. In addition to the previously reported clinical phenotype, an upper lip cleft was found in one of the affected members as a novel phenotype that is not reported by previous studies in EDSS1 patients. Therefore, the study presented here, which was conducted on the Kashmiri population, is the first to document a NECTIN4 mutation associated with the upper lip cleft as a novel phenotype. This finding broadens the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of EDSS1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Composite tissue loss involving the distal finger pulp and the nail is a common but challenging finger injury to restore. This study introduces a reconstruction procedure for a distal finger pulp and nail defect using a partial toenail flap transfer. Methods: Twenty digits, including 16 thumbs, two index fingers, and two middle fingers, with composite soft tissue defects were treated with a partial toenail flap transfer from October 2015 to January 2020. Shortening revision of the great toe phalanx, a V‐Y advancement flap of the toe pulp, and a local pedicle flap from a second toe transfer were used to cover the donor sites, and no skin grafts were required. Functionality was evaluated using the validated Spanish version of the Quick‐DASH scale. The aesthetics of both the reconstructed and donor sites were evaluated using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). The static two‐point discrimination (2‐PD) of the finger pulp was used as a measure of tactile agnosia. Results: All donor site wounds healed well. The average follow‐up time was 23.6 months (6–39 months). The mean Quick‐DASH functional score was 7.1. The VSS scores were 4.02 ± 0.29 and 4.00 ± 0.38 for the reconstructed and donor sites, respectively. The static 2‐PD of finger pulp was 4.5 ± 0.76 mm. The patients were satisfied with finger motion, sensory function, and aesthetic contour. Conclusions: Partial toenail flap transfer is the recommended treatment to regain motion, sensation, function, and a satisfactory aesthetic appearance when considering repairing a composite soft tissue distal finger defect with accompanying loss of the perionychium, particularly in the thumb, index finger, or middle finger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hip fractures are one of the most frequent fractures presenting to the emergency department and orthopedic trauma teams. The aim of this study was to determine the best indication and therapeutic technique for subtrochanteric fractures and unifying criteria when choosing the most suitable type of nail. Materials and methods: To analyze the influence of the material and the type of distal locking of intramedullary nails (static or dynamic), a femur model with a fracture in the subtrochanteric region stabilized with a long Gamma intramedullary nail was applied using finite element method (FEM) simulation. Results: The mechanical study shows that titanium nails allow for greater micromobility at the fracture site, which could act as a stimulus for the formation of callus and consolidation of the fracture. In the mechanical study, the type of distal locking mainly affects mobility at the fracture site and stress in the cortical bone around the distal screws, without in any case exceeding values that may compromise the viability of the assembly or that may result in detrimental effects (in terms of mobility at the fracture site) for the consolidation process. Conclusion: Subtrochanteric fractures treated with titanium nail and static distal locking is safe and does not hinder consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human nails play an important role in transmitting force to the fingertips, and their mechanical properties are important indices. The nail has a three‐layered structure consisting of top dorsal, middle intermediate, and under ventral plates, and its internal structure is believed to affect its mechanical properties. However, this has not been investigated in previous studies. Methods: The Young's moduli of the top, middle, and under plates were measured using nanoindentation, and a theoretical model was developed to estimate the structural elasticity for the bending deformation of human nails, which is an index describing the deformability of the nail without depending on its external dimensions. The structural elasticity of human nails was compared with that of human hair collected from the same person. The effect of the softening treatment on the nails was also evaluated. Results: The Young's moduli of the top, middle, and under plates measured using nanoindentation were 2.9, 3.1, and 2.8 GPa, respectively. The structural elasticity of the nail was estimated to be 2.9 GPa, approximately 75% that of hair. Moreover, softening treatment with a urea cream reduced the structural elasticity of the nail to 70%. Conclusion: This paper proposed a method for estimating the structural elasticity of a human nail with a three‐layered structure. This index is a mechanical property with "Pa" as a unit, and is useful for comparing deformability with the Young's modulus of other homogeneous materials or for investigating the effect of various treatments quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To design a comprehensive new PROM (NAIL-Q) to measure outcomes important in toenail and fingernail conditions.Methods: A mixed methods iterative approach was used. Phase 1 involved concept elicitation interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded line-by-line. Concepts were developed into scales and refined through cognitive debriefing interviews with patients and expert input. Data was then collected from an international sample using a crowdsource platform. Eligible participants were aged ≥ 18 years with a nail condition for at least 3 months. Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT) analysis was used to examine item and scale performance. Other psychometric tests included test–retest reliability, and convergent and construct validity.Results: Phase 1 interviews involved 23 patients with 10 nail conditions and input from 11 dermatologists. The analysis led to the development of 84 items for field-testing. In Phase 2, 555 participants completed the survey. Toenail conditions (n = 441) were more common than fingernail conditions (n = 186). The RMT analysis reduced the number of items tested to 45 in 7 scales measuring nail appearance, health-related quality of life concerns, and treatment outcomes. All items had ordered thresholds and nonsignificant chi-square p values. Reliability statistics with and without extremes for the Person Separation Index were ≥ 0.79 and Cronbach's alpha were ≥ 0.83, and for intraclass correlation coefficients were ≥ 0.81. Construct validity was further supported in that most participants agreed that the NAIL-Q was easy to understand, asked relevant and important questions in a respectful way, and that it should be used to inform clinical care.Conclusion: The NAIL-Q is a rigorously designed and tested PROM that measures nail appearance, health-related quality of life and treatment outcomes. This PROM can be used in clinical practice to inform patient care and to include the patient perspective in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dermatologie Pro Praxi is the property of SOLEN sro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

While our patient, and 90% of patients included in the review, did not recall any specific trauma to the affected site, it is plausible that minor repetitive traumas secondary to footwear or activity[1] could have gone unnoticed. Keywords: acquired ungual; fibrokeratoma; ungual fibrokeratoma EN acquired ungual fibrokeratoma ungual fibrokeratoma 779 782 4 08/16/23 20230901 NES 230901 INTRODUCTION Acquired ungual fibrokeratomas are uncommon benign fibrous tumors of the nail unit. These tumors can emerge from the proximal nail fold, directly from the nail bed itself,[1] as well as from other areas of the nail unit. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: Spacesuits are designed to be reliable personal spacecraft that preserve the life and well-being of the astronaut from the extremes of space. However, materials, operating pressures, and suit design requirements often result in a risk of musculoskeletal discomfort and injury to various areas of the body. In particular, this investigation looked at fingernails and their risk of developing onycholysis. Methods: An onycholysis literature review was followed by a retrospective analysis of injury characteristics, astronaut suited training and spaceflight events, hand anthropometry, glove sizing, and astronaut demographics. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the likelihood of onycholysis occurrence by testing potential risk variables against the dataset compiled from the retrospective data mining. Results: The duration of event exposure, type of glove used, distance (delta) between the fingertip and the tip of the glove, sex, and age were found to be significantly related to occurrence of onycholysis (whether protective or injurious). Conclusion: An initial risk formula (model) for onycholysis was developed as a result of this investigation. In addition to validation through a future study, further improvement to this onycholysis equation and spacesuit discomfort and injury in general can be aided by future investigations that lead to better definition of the threshold between safe and risky exposure for each type of risk factor. Application: This work described a potential method that can be used for EVA spacesuit glove onycholysis injury risk analysis for either iterative glove design or between glove comparisons, such as during a product downselect process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Elevated levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormone cortisol are a frequently replicated finding in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the current state of research is inconclusive as to whether hypercortisolism represents a trait- or state-like biological signal of MDD. The aim of the present study was to investigate, for the first time, whether cortisol in fingernails, a highly accessible tissue, could distinguish currently remitted individuals with MDD from healthy controls. A further aim was to identify potential confounders of nail cortisol. Methods: A total of N = 100 individuals from the general population were recruited. A structured clinical interview was administered, which resulted in two groups: n = 48 with lifetime MDD and n = 52 healthy controls. All participants answered questions on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychosocial characteristics. They also grew their nails for 14 days and cut them for the subsequent determination of cortisol. Results: The groups differed in their nail cortisol concentrations, such that the individuals with lifetime MDD had significantly higher concentrations than the healthy controls (p = 0.041). Within the group of individuals with lifetime MDD, the number of experienced episodes was significantly correlated with cortisol (p = 0.011). Income emerged as the only significant confounder of cortisol (p = 0.008). Conclusion: Elevated fingernail cortisol appears to be a biological signal of MDD, even in the absence of a current major depressive episode. Its high accessibility and robustness render it a promising methodology for remote research as well as for the integration of biomarkers into clinical research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we analyzed the structure of human nails to develop a modern biometric authentication system based on the nail bed and finger lunula. The results of the studies on the collected images proved that each fingernail has distinctive characteristics in terms of the length and width of the nail and the lunula, even identical twins. We focused on the fingernail of the right thumb because of its large size and the accuracy and clarity of the nail. The mediation of the indicative points on the nail bed and on the lunula was used to form the pentagonal structure and use it as a region of interest. Then an ensemble independent component analysis, principal component analysis, haar wavelet, and scale invariant feature transformation, were used. Later we classified these algorithms using support vector machine and Naive Bayes techniques, the performance of each algorithm was analyzed by feature extraction with two classifiers. This study was conducted on 100 participants and showed that this new method could be used as a biometric identification system for humans. There was no similarity in results for all verified samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain-reducing effects of music listening are well-established, but the effects are small and their clinical relevance questionable. Recent theoretical advances, however, have proposed that synchronizing to music, such as clapping, tapping or dancing, has evolutionarily important social effects that are associated with activation of the endogenous opioid system (which supports both analgesia and social bonding). Thus, active sensorimotor synchronization to music could have stronger analgesic effects than simply listening to music. In this study, we show that sensorimotor synchronization to music significantly amplifies the pain-reducing effects of music listening. Using pressure algometry to the fingernails, pain stimuli were delivered to n = 59 healthy adults either during music listening or silence, while either performing an active tapping task or a passive control task. Compared to silence without tapping, music with tapping (but not simply listening to music) reduced pain with a large, clinically significant, effect size (d = 0.93). Simply tapping without music did not elicit such an effect. Our analyses indicate that both attentional and emotional mechanisms drive the pain-reducing effects of sensorimotor synchronization to music, and that tapping to music in addition to merely listening to music may enhance pain-reducing effects in both clinical contexts and everyday life. The study was registered as a clinical trial at ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number NCT05267795), and the trial was first posted on 04/03/2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]