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Speeckaert R, Hoorens I, Lambert J, Speeckaert M, van Geel N. Beyond visual inspection: The value of infrared thermography in skin diseases, a scoping review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024. [PMID: 38251780 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Although warmth is a key sign of inflammatory skin lesions, an objective assessment and follow-up of the temperature changes are rarely done in dermatology. The recent availability of accurate, sensitive and cost-effective thermography devices has made the implementation of thermography in clinical settings feasible. The aim of this scoping review is to summarize the evidence around the value and pitfalls of infrared thermography (IRT) when used in the dermatology clinic. A systematic literature search was done for original articles using IRT in skin disorders. The results concerning the potential of IRT for diagnosis, severity staging and monitoring of skin diseases were collected. The data on the sensitivity and specificity of IRT were extracted. Numerous studies have investigated IRT in various skin diseases, revealing its significant value in wound management, skin infections (e.g. cellulitis), vascular abnormalities and deep skin inflammation (e.g. hidradenitis suppurativa). For other dermatological applications such as the interpretation of intradermal and patch allergy testing, hyper-/anhidrosis, erythromelalgia, cold urticaria and lymph node metastases more complex calculations, provocation tests or active cooling procedures are required. Dermatologists should be aware of a learning curve of IRT and recognize factors contributing to false positive and false negative results. Nonetheless, enough evidence is available to recommend IRT as a supplement to the clinical evaluation for the diagnosis, severity and follow-up of several skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabelle Hoorens
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jo Lambert
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Nanja van Geel
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Rytivaara R, Näpänkangas R, Kainulainen T, Sipola A, Kallio-Pulkkinen S, Raustia A, Thevenot J. Thermographic findings related to facial pain - a survey of 40 subjects. Cranio 2024; 42:69-76. [PMID: 33689590 DOI: 10.1080/08869634.2021.1894859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess how thermography findings relate painful symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). METHODS Thermography, combined with chewing of paraffin wax, was performed on 40 subjects. The results were analyzed according to gender and pain-related TMD symptoms and clinical signs. RESULTS The overall temperatures after chewing were higher in TMD patients than in controls. For females, the most significant findings were the thermal increase between the relaxed state and subjects' state after chewing in temporal and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) regions. For males, all calculated parameters demonstrated a poor ability to discriminate TMD from controls. CONCLUSION Thermography could be a potential tool in diagnostics of female TMD patients. The results suggest that the thermal information assessed in specific facial areas could help to discriminate TMD patients from non-TMD patients and could be used to quantify the pain associated with TMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riina Rytivaara
- Department of Dental Imaging, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ritva Näpänkangas
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina Kainulainen
- Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Annina Sipola
- Department of Dental Imaging, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Soili Kallio-Pulkkinen
- Department of Dental Imaging, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Aune Raustia
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jérôme Thevenot
- Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Son S, Yoo BR, Zhang HY. Reference Standards for Digital Infrared Thermography Measuring Surface Temperature of the Upper Limbs. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:671. [PMID: 37370602 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10060671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: although digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) is used for diverse medical conditions of the upper limbs, no reference standards have been established. This study aims to establish reference standards by analyzing DITI results of the upper limbs. (2) Methods: we recruited 905 healthy Korean adults and conducted thermography on six regions (dorsal arm, ventral arm, lateral arm, medial arm, dorsal hand, and ventral hand region). We analyzed the data based on the proximity of regions of interest (ROIs), sex, and age. (3) Results: the average temperature (°C) and temperature discrepancy between the right and the left sides (ΔT) of each ROI varied significantly (p < 0.001), ranging from 28.45 ± 5.71 to 29.74 ± 5.14 and from 0.01 ± 0.49 to 0.15 ± 0.62, respectively. The temperature decreased towards the distal ROIs compared to proximal ROIs. The average temperatures of the same ROIs were significantly higher for men than women in all regions (p < 0.001). Across all regions, except the dorsal hand region, average temperatures tended to increase with age, particularly in individuals in their 30s and older (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: these data could be used as DITI reference standards to identify skin temperature abnormalities of the upper limbs. However, it is important to consider various confounding factors, and further research is required to validate the accuracy of our results under pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Son
- Department of Neurosurgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Rhae Yoo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Yeol Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Ilsan 10444, Republic of Korea
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An update on thermal imaging in rheumatoid arthritis. Joint Bone Spine 2022; 90:105496. [PMID: 36423780 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2022.105496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This review aims to summarise the recent literature concerning the usage of thermal imaging in the study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most RA studies have applied thermal imaging as a static process alone although thermal imaging has been conducted with an additional dynamic/functional component. Algorithms to automate the analysis of thermal imaging in RA have also been described. Several RA thermal imaging studies have demonstrated differences in thermographic findings between RA patients and healthy controls and/or compared thermographic parameters with other clinical/functional/imaging parameters; while fewer studies have assessed the role of thermal imaging in discriminating disease severity in RA. Thermal imaging is a relatively low cost, non-invasive imaging technique offering an objective measurement of joint surface temperature in RA joint inflammation assessment. Although there has been an increasing literature build up on the use of thermography in RA, more validation work is still necessary to delineate the potential role(s) of its use among patients with RA. This timely review focusses on the recent literature concerning thermal imaging, and provides clinicians with an update on its recent development in RA.
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Ramirez-GarciaLuna JL, Bartlett R, Arriaga-Caballero JE, Fraser RDJ, Saiko G. Infrared Thermography in Wound Care, Surgery, and Sports Medicine: A Review. Front Physiol 2022; 13:838528. [PMID: 35309080 PMCID: PMC8928271 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.838528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
For many years, the role of thermometry was limited to systemic (core body temperature) measurements (e.g., pulmonary catheter) or its approximation using skin/mucosa (e.g., axillary, oral, or rectal) temperature measurements. With recent advances in material science and technology, thermal measurements went beyond core body temperature measurements and found their way in many medical specialties. The article consists of two primary parts. In the first part we overviewed current clinical thermal measurement technologies across two dimensions: (a) direct vs. indirect and (b) single-point vs. multiple-point temperature measurements. In the second part, we focus primarily on clinical applications in wound care, surgery, and sports medicine. The primary focus here is the thermographic imaging modality. However, other thermal modalities are included where relevant for these clinical applications. The literature review identified two primary use scenarios for thermographic imaging: inflammation-based and perfusion-based. These scenarios rely on local (topical) temperature measurements, which are different from systemic (core body temperature) measurements. Quantifying these types of diseases benefits from thermographic imaging of an area in contrast to single-point measurements. The wide adoption of the technology would be accelerated by larger studies supporting the clinical utility of thermography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L. Ramirez-GarciaLuna
- Swift Medical Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Experimental Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Robert D. J. Fraser
- Swift Medical Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gennadi Saiko
- Swift Medical Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Gennadi Saiko,
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Vergilio MM, Gomes G, Aiello LM, Fontana M, Aldred A, Ribeiro JADS, Gabbi TVB, Leonardi GR. Evaluation of skin using infrared thermal imaging for dermatology and aesthetic applications. J Cosmet Dermatol 2022; 21:895-904. [PMID: 35041761 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.14748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of thermography in the medical field has been experiencing a renaissance due to advances in the infrared thermographic imaging technology, which improves thermographic equipment and promises cost saving and increased safety. Dermatology is one of the most promising fields of application among the medical areas with potential for the use of thermography. OBJECTIVE To review the findings on this subject and to describe the use of such technique for dermatology and aesthetic applications. METHODS A bibliographic survey was carried out, selecting relevant publications and guidelines, focused on monitoring medical diagnostic applications and benefits of thermography for dermatology, inflammatory skin diseases, and aesthetic applications. RESULTS Inflammatory skin diseases lead to changes of the IRT image. A quantification of treatment effects and monitoring changes on skin can be possible by repeated measurements over time. CONCLUSION Infrared imaging is a noninvasive, powerful tool in the diagnosis and clinical management of skin conditions and monitoring of aesthetic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariane Massufero Vergilio
- Graduate Program in Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Gomes
- Department of Physics and Interdisciplinary Science, University of São Paulo (IFSC-USP), São Carlos, SP, Brazil.,Predikta Soluções em Pesquisa, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Laura Moretti Aiello
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Monique Fontana
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Tatiana Villas Boas Gabbi
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina (HC - FMUSP), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Ricci Leonardi
- Graduate Program in Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Schiavon G, Capone G, Frize M, Zaffagnini S, Candrian C, Filardo G. Infrared Thermography for the Evaluation of Inflammatory and Degenerative Joint Diseases: A Systematic Review. Cartilage 2021; 13:1790S-1801S. [PMID: 34933442 PMCID: PMC8804782 DOI: 10.1177/19476035211063862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases as well as in osteoarthritis. Temperature, which can be quantified using infrared thermography, provides information about the inflammatory component of joint diseases. This systematic review aims at assessing infrared thermography potential and limitations in these pathologies. DESIGN A systematic review was performed on 3 major databases: PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science, on clinical reports of any level of evidence in English language, published from 1990 to May 2021, with infrared thermography used for diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatic diseases, monitoring disease progression, or response to treatment. Relevant data were extracted, collected in a database, and analyzed for the purpose of this systematic review. RESULTS Of 718 screened articles 32 were found to be eligible for inclusion, for a total of 2094 patients. Nine studies reported the application to osteoarthritis, 21 to rheumatic diseases, 2 on both. The publication trend showed an increasing interest in the last decade. Seven studies investigated the correlation of temperature changes with osteoarthritis, 16 with rheumatic diseases, and 2 with both, whereas 2 focused on the pre-post evaluation to investigate treatment results in patients with osteoarthritis and 5 in patients with rheumatic diseases. A correlation was shown between thermal findings and disease presence and stage, as well as the clinical assessment of disease activity and response to treatment, supporting infrared thermography role in the study and management of rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS The systematic literature review showed an increasing interest in this technology, with several applications in different joints affected by inflammatory and degenerative pathologies. Infrared thermography proved to be a simple, accurate, noninvasive, and radiation-free method, which could be used in addition to the currently available tools for screening, diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression, and response to medical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guglielmo Schiavon
- Service of Orthopaedics and
Traumatology, Department of Surgery, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Gianluigi Capone
- Service of Orthopaedics and
Traumatology, Department of Surgery, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland,Gianluigi Capone, Service of Orthopaedics
and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland, Ospedale
Regionale di Lugano, Via Tesserete 46, 6900.
| | - Monique Frize
- Carleton University, Ottawa, ON,
Canada,University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON,
Canada
| | - Stefano Zaffagnini
- Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica II,
IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Christian Candrian
- Service of Orthopaedics and
Traumatology, Department of Surgery, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences,
Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Filardo
- Service of Orthopaedics and
Traumatology, Department of Surgery, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences,
Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland,Applied and Translational Research
Center, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
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Perpetuini D, Filippini C, Cardone D, Merla A. An Overview of Thermal Infrared Imaging-Based Screenings during Pandemic Emergencies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3286. [PMID: 33810086 PMCID: PMC8004954 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Infrared thermal imaging (IRI) is a contact-less technology able to monitor human skin temperature for biomedical applications and in real-life contexts. Its capacity to detect fever was exploited for mass screening during past epidemic emergencies as well as for the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, the only assessment of fever may not be selective for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Hence, novel approaches for IRI data analysis have been investigated. The present review aims to describe how IRI have been employed during the last epidemics, highlighting the potentialities and the limitations of this technology to contain the contagions. Specifically, the methods employed for automatic face recognition and fever assessment and IRI's performances in mass screening at airports and hospitals are reviewed. Moreover, an overview of novel machine learning methods for IRI data analysis, aimed to identify respiratory diseases, is provided. In addition, IRI-based smart technologies developed to support the healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic are described. Finally, relevant guidelines to fully exploit IRI for COVID-19 identification are defined, to improve the effectiveness of IRI in the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniela Cardone
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University G. D’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Via Luigi Polacchi 13, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (D.P.); (C.F.); (A.M.)
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Fokam D, Lehmann C. Clinical assessment of arthritic knee pain by infrared thermography. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2018; 30:jbcpp-2017-0218. [PMID: 30375348 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2017-0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Infrared thermography (IRT) provides accurate measurements of surface temperatures. In inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, tissue temperature is elevated, which can be measured on the periarticular skin surface by IRT. The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence for the relationship between skin temperature (measured by IRT) and arthritic knee pain and discuss the limitations of IRT in clinical settings of arthritis. Method To reach this goal, a mini-review of all the relevant papers indexed in PubMed was conducted. Results Several studies suggest a significant correlation between skin temperature assessed by IRT and the severity of arthritic knee pain (especially in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis). Conclusion IRT is a reliable technique to assess inflammatory arthritis pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Fokam
- Dalhousie University Halifax, Department of Pharmacology, 5850 College Street, B3H 4R2, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Christian Lehmann
- Dalhousie University Halifax, Department of Pharmacology, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Capo A, Di Nicola M, Costantini E, Reale M, Amerio P. Circulating levels of Apelin-36 in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. GIORN ITAL DERMAT V 2018; 155:646-651. [PMID: 29747483 DOI: 10.23736/s0392-0488.18.05981-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Affecting vascular function, immune regulation, adipocyte and glucose metabolism, adipokines are essential partecipants in the pathogenesis of psoriatic comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Aim of this study was to measure plasma levels of circulating Apelin-36, a newly discovered peptide hormone acting on glucose metabolism and other adipokines in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis and in a control group. METHODS Serum levels of Apelin-36, RBP4, Visfatin, HMW Adiponectin, CRP, fasting glucose and insulin were measured in 19 consecutive patients with mild to moderate psoriasis and 17 healthy subjects. RESULTS Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR) Index was significantly increased in patients with psoriasis respect to a control group and positively correlated with BMI (P=0.009). Apelin-36 showed lower levels in the psoriatic population (P=0.016), while the remaining measured adipokines did not show any significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion we confirmed the propensity of psoriatic population to a prediabetic condition even in mild-moderate disease; psoriasis related Apelin-36 lower levels are suggestive of a low-grade inflammatory state. Further studies are needed, to better understand the Apelin related behaviors in different inflammatory settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Capo
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, Clinic of Dermatology, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Chieti-Pescara, Italy -
| | - Marta Di Nicola
- Biostatistic Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Erica Costantini
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Marcella Reale
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Paolo Amerio
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, Clinic of Dermatology, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
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