Beiersdorf (Germany)

Thanks to tremendous progress in generative AI, a wide range of applications has become possible. In this paper, we present a web application that uses artificial intelligence to generate book covers. This application demonstrates the potential of generative AI in the publishing industry. Self-publishers, who generally cannot afford a commercial illustrator, can use the application to enhance their books for better visibility and sales. For this project, we examined the DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and MidJourney AI models, selecting the DALL-E model to generate the book covers. We discuss the challenges of prompt generation and how we optimized it to produce quality results. The application generates several background images based on user input, such as genre selection and a short description. These images can be customized further by using a visual editor and downloaded as book covers. We discovered that short descriptions resulted in images with a better focus on one key visual element. Our research revealed that DALL-E’s "painted" style is more suitable for book covers than Stable Diffusion’s photorealism.

Loin des yeux, loin du cœur? Ixalidiidae, une nouvelle famille des acridiens forestiers africains (Orthoptera, Acridoidea) révélée par la phylogénie moléculaire et la morphologie des genitalia. Cet article présente la phylogénie de niveau supérieur la plus complète à ce jour des Acridomorpha, basée sur des données moléculaires, montrant clairement que les genres Mazaea Stål, 1876, Ixalidium Gerstäcker, 1869, Tangana Ramme, 1929 et Rowellacris Ritchie & Hemp n. gen., précédemment attribués aux Acrididae, appartiennent à un seul clade, constituant une famille monophylétique, jusqu'alors insoupçonnée, que nous nommons Ixalidiidae Hemp, Song & Ritchie n. fam. Cet article combine la phylogénie moléculaire, la morphotaxonomie, la cytogénétique et la bioacoustique pour caractériser cette nouvelle famille, et présente une table de caractères complète comme contexte pour son placement au sein des Acridoidea. La famille des Ixalidiidae Hemp, Song & Ritchie n. fam. comprend actuellement cinq genres, deux d'Afrique occidentale et centrale: Mazaea et Barombia Karsch, 1891 et trois des forêts d'altitude et côtières de Tanzanie et du Kenya: Ixalidium, Tangana et Rowellacris Ritchie & Hemp n. gen. Trois espèces initialement décrites dans Ixalidium sont transférées dans Rowellacris Ritchie & Hemp n. gen.: R. usambarica (Ramme, 1929) n. comb. (comme espèce type), R. transiens (Ramme, 1929) n. comb. et R. obscuripes (Miller, 1929) n. comb., R. usambarica et R. obscuripes sont rappelés de la synonymie sous Ixalidium haematoscelis Gerstäcker, 1869. Le genre monotypique Eubocoana Sjöstedt, 1931 est mis en synonymie avec Mazaea et le mâle précédemment inconnu de Mazaea tristis (Sjöstedt, 1931) n. comb. est décrit. Des lectotypes sont désignés pour Barombia tuberculosa Karsch, 1891 et pour Ixalidium haematoscelis Gerstäcker, 1869. L'article décrit la morphologie diversifiée et inhabituelle des genitalia mâles et femelles et documente le nombre exceptionnel de chromosomes des Ixalidiidae Hemp, Song & Ritchie n. fam. et la communication par tambourinage chez Rowellacris Ritchie & Hemp n. gen et Tangana. Une relation de groupe frère inattendue entre les Ixalidiidae Hemp, Song & Ritchie n. fam. africains et les Tristiridae sud-américains révélée par la phylogénie moléculaire montre l'existence d'un ancêtre commun dans l'ouest du Gondwana (Atlantica), antérieur à la séparation définitive de l'Amérique du Sud et de l'Afrique, vers le début de la fin du Crétacé, il y a 100 millions d'années.

BackgroundSacroiliac joint (SIJ) MRI is commonly used in diagnosing spondyloarthritis (SpA). Current Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) recommendations on reporting SIJ MRIs in patients with known or suspected axial SpA recommend always stating whether bone marrow oedema (BME), erosions and fat lesions are present/absent and whether the MRI is compatible with axial SpA.PurposeTo investigate if routine care radiologists already report what has now been recommended and to assess the agreement between local radiologists and central SpA experts.Materials and methodsThis study includes retrospective interpretation of images acquired in routine care. Patients diagnosed with SpA enrolled in a clinical registry in one of five European countries involved in the EuroSpA Collaboration, with an available SIJ MRI and an associated local MRI report, were included. MRIs were read centrally by two readers, who registered global features (eg, MRI indicative of SpA), and various inflammatory and structural lesions as present/absent. Similar information was extracted from local reports. Findings were analysed with descriptive statistics.ResultsOverall, 913 patients (40 years±13, 492 men) were included. In 24%, the local MRI reports stated whether the MRI was overall indicative of SpA or not. Presence/absence of BME, erosions and fat lesions was mentioned in 88%, 48% and 29% of local reports, respectively. Inflammatory lesions were more often reported as present by local than central readers (46% vs 36%), and structural lesions less often (33% vs 50%).ConclusionThis study demonstrated a large gap between the clinical practice of reporting SIJ MRIs and recent reporting recommendations.

To perform a comprehensive statistical characterization of the Double Plate method (ISO 23675) as a potential invitro alternative to the invivo reference method (ISO 24444:2019) for determining the sun protection factor (SPF). Five qualified laboratories were involved in testing the Double Plate method, as part of a large-scale ring test conducted by the International Consortium 'ALT-SPF'. About 32 sunscreen products, reflecting diverse global formulations, were tested using both the invivo reference method and the Double Plate method. This method employs spectrophotometric measurements of sunscreen applied to UV-transparent plates with standardized robotic application to minimize the variability. A mathematical adjustment was introduced to address the initial bias compared to the reference method and further assessed in a follow-up ring test with 12 products, including ISO standards. The Double Plate method exhibited very high intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility throughout the study, consistently meeting the precision criteria set by ISO/TC217/WG7. Following the mathematical adjustment, the accuracy significantly improved, demonstrating a close alignment with the reference method. The Double Plate method demonstrates excellent reproducibility and, following optimization, high accuracy for the SPF determination. These findings endorse the Double Plate method as a robust and ethical invitro alternative to the invivo reference method for SPF testing. This paved the way for its publication as a new ISO standard (ISO 23675), in December 2024, supporting consumer safety and informed product choices.

Patients in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with subjectively impaired occupational prognosis are at risk of not returning to work (RTW) in the medium term. This study aimed to explore, describe and summarise the aspects relevant in CR patients' reflections on their occupational future.A qualitative study was conducted in CR in 2021/22; 25 patients (median age 52 years; 9 women, 16 men; working in different physically demanding occupations; 20 with risk of non-RTW and 5 without by the Würzburger Screening) were interviewed and asked to reflect on their occupational future.About 6-8 months post-CR, 8 patients were re-interviewed to check the relevance of the factors identified during CR. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.Aspects relevant for the reflection on subjectively perceived occupational future could be summarised into internal factors: personal aspects, health perception, heart-focused anxiety, and external factors: social circle and adjustments in work conditions. Two further themes were time-related: prior health/illness-related experiences and intended work and lifestyle changes. Especially participants with a risk of non-RTW experienced heart-focused anxiety, contemplated previous health/illness experiences and expressed a desire to RTW in the distant future, although they had no clear plan of action. Greater emphasis was placed on prioritising health and taking time for RTW, and participants often felt supported in this by their social environment. Themes were overlapping between participants with and without risk of non-RTW, yet different in relevance and detail.Overall, patients at different risk of non-RTW reflecting on their subjective perception of occupational future show similarities regarding relevant aspects and themes. However, especially patients at risk of non-RTW reflected on perceived heart-focused anxiety and the lack of concrete RTW plans for their occupational future. These aspects should be considered in individual, holistic and goal-oriented approaches to support patients on their RTW journey.

Aging is a complex process that significantly contributes to age-related diseases and poses significant challenges for effective interventions, with few holistic anti-aging approaches successfully reversing its signs. Heterochronic parabiosis studies illuminated the potential for rejuvenation through blood-borne factors, yet the specific drivers including underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown and until today insights have not been successfully translated to humans. In this study, we were able to recreate rejuvenation of the human skin via systemic factors using a microphysiological system including a 3D skin model and a 3D bone marrow model. Addition of young human serum in comparison to aged human serum resulted in an improvement of proliferation and a reduction of the biological age as measured by methylation-based age clocks in the skin tissue. Interestingly, this effect was only visible in the presence of bone marrow-derived cells. Further investigation of the bone marrow model revealed changes in the cell population in response to young versus aged human serum treatment. Using proteome analysis, we identified 55 potential systemic rejuvenating proteins produced by bone marrow-derived cells. For seven of these proteins, we were able to verify a rejuvenating effect on human skin cells using hallmarks of aging assays, supporting their role as systemic factors rejuvenating human skin tissue.

Clinical Efficacy of the Human Tyrosinase Inhibitor Thiamidol (isobutylamido thiazolyl resorcinol) in Melasma Dennis Roggenkamp1, Adel Sammain1, Manuela Fürstenau2, Martina Kausch2, Thierry Passeron3,4, Ludger Kolbe2 1International Medical Management, Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany, 2Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, Germany, 3Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire – C3M, University Côte d’Azur, INSERM U1065, Nice, France, 4Department of Dermatology, University Côte d’Azur, CHU Nice, Nice, France Thiamidol (isobutylamido thiazolyl resorcinol) was the most potent inhibitor of human tyrosinase identified out of 50,000 screened substances. In vivo, it was well tolerated and improved melasma significantly. This was the first 24-week, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, cosmetic clinical study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of Thiamidol in moderate-to-severe melasma in phototype III-V subjects with subsequent regression phase. Females allocated to the Thiamidol treatment group (n=23), applied daily Thiamidol-based Serum followed either by a Thiamidol cream with SPF 30 in the morning or by Thiamidol cream without SPF in the evening. The vehicle group (25 females) followed the same skin care routine using the corresponding vehicle formulations. Subjects returned for a follow-up visit 13-20 weeks after treatment (regression phase). Assessments included clinical photography, Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI), skin lightness, quality of life, and tolerability. Baseline demographics and hyperpigmentation were well balanced across all treatment groups. Clinical photography and MASI improved significantly with Thiamidol versus baseline (p < 0.001) and vehicle (p < 0.001- 0.043) at all time points up to treatment end. At follow-up, MASI was still significantly lower than at baseline but similar for treatment and vehicle groups. Skin lightness and quality of life improved significantly versus baseline without significant differences between treatment and vehicle groups. This study demonstrated that Thiamidol is well tolerated and superior in improving melasma compared to baseline and vehicle over a treatment period of 24 weeks.

Skin hyperpigmentation, including melasma, solar lentigines, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, results in a significant impact on patient quality of life. Unfortunately, to date, many over-the-counter (OTC) options have often been limited by efficacy, safety and tolerability concerns. Additionally, limited education on disease manifestation and root causes of hyperpigmentation often leaves patients undiagnosed and untreated. Melanogenesis is driven by a complex pathway resulting in the ultimate production and deposition of melanin in skin. The major rate-limiting step of melanogenesis centers on the conversion of L-Dopa to melanin mediated by a cellular tyrosinase, resulting in overproduction of melanin in cases of hyperpigmentation. Recently, Thiamidol (isobutylamido thiazolyl resorcinol) has been identified as the most effective inhibitor of human tyrosinase out of 50,000 compounds screened in vitro, and thus, a novel ingredient for inclusion in OTC hyperpigmentation products. Here, we describe the current pre-clinical and clinical safety and efficacy data on Thiamidol formulations, aimed at educating the dermatology community on a safe and effective OTC option for use as part of the overall management of hyperpigmentation in patients.

Abstract not available