Relationship between bone mass density and tensile strength of the skin in women

in European Journal of Clinical Investigation (2001), 31(8), 731-735

BACKGROUND: Skin and bone may be affected similarly during the climacteric and during long-term corticotherapy. Little is known about the correlation between the respective alterations in bone mass ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Skin and bone may be affected similarly during the climacteric and during long-term corticotherapy. Little is known about the correlation between the respective alterations in bone mass density (BMD) and tensile strength of the skin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 women aged 19-88 years, receiving, or not, hormone replenishment therapy or systemic corticosteroids, were enrolled in the study. Tensile strength of the inner forearm skin was measured using the suction method operated in both the steep and progressive-force application modes. BMD was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry at the hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine. RESULTS: Being heterogeneous, the population of volunteers yielded a wide range of BMD and cutaneous tensile strength values. However, significant correlations were found between BMD and tensile skin parameters. In particular, a positive correlation was yielded between the biological elasticity of skin and the BMD of the hip and femoral neck. CONCLUSION: An overall correlation is shown between skin elasticity on a relatively sun-protected area and cortico-trabecular BMD. [less ▲]

Immunopathological and clinical studies in herpes gestationis.

in British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (1981), 88(2), 153-9

Herpes gestationis is a recurring pruritic, vesiculobullous disease of pregnancy and puerperium. Recently, Lawley et al (1979) reported a high frequency (38 per cent) of fetal morbidity and mortality in ... [more ▼]

Herpes gestationis is a recurring pruritic, vesiculobullous disease of pregnancy and puerperium. Recently, Lawley et al (1979) reported a high frequency (38 per cent) of fetal morbidity and mortality in 40 cases of immunologically proven herpes gestationis. This study was undertaken to determine whether the antibody to skin basement membrane (found in most patients with herpes gestationis) is able to bind to the placenta basement membranes and thereby to threaten the pregnancy. We were unable to detect this antibody in the placental basement membranes of a patient with herpes gestationis, nor could we demonstrate that the anti-basement membrane antibody, found in the sera of herpes gestationis patients, binds to homologous or autologous placentas and fetal membranes. The importance of an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this condition is discussed. [less ▲]