The evaluation of skin surface contours can be carried out by various
techniques, including the use of a stylus profilometer, a laser profilometer and
a conventional optical profilometer (COP). But these methods have some drawbacks
because their data are basically obtained from two-dimensional algorithms. So a
new technique has been developed based on a new concept: a stereo image
processing technique which is considered in this paper. Since a pair of stereo
images contains depth information, the 'disparity', or the difference between
the left and right images, enables the production of three-dimensional
coordinates. This study was performed to evaluate the change of skin surface
contours according to the ageing process. The stereo image optical topometer
(SOT) is a new instrument used for the three-dimensional evaluation of skin
surface contours. Thus, five new parameters have to be developed, such as mean
surface roughness (Sa), mean depth of roughness (Sz), three-dimensional length
(SL), three-dimensional area (SA), and three-dimensional volume (SV). Sa, SL and
SA have shown a statistically significant increase in the seventies age group.
Sz has also shown a significant increase in the twenties and over-sixties age
groups. The coefficient variation of the height of the skin surface using a COP
varies between 14.76 and 6.57, but that using a SOT is between 2.18 and 2.69,
according to age variation. In conclusion, the SOT system is a more reliable and
useful method for evaluating skin surface contours than the COP system. Among
the three-dimensional parameters which were made in this study, SA, SL and Sa
seem to be useful as reliable parameters for evaluating skin surface contours in
the ageing process.
 

To compare the frequency of questionnaire based diagnosis of atopic diseases to those of clinical findings and sensitization and to evaluate the reliability of self-reported reactions to allergens with those confirmed by skin prick tests.

Not only airborne allergens but also environmental indoor and outdoor air pollution are regarded as risk factors for the development of respiratory diseases in children. Metals, soot, SO₂, passive smoking and pollution from new building materials irritate both the skin and the respiratory mucosa and also increase the risk of atopic sensitization. A strong indication that atopic diseases are common in Sør-Varanger community, an area heavily polluted by the nearby Russian smelting plants, prompted us to investigate this hypothesis.

The clinical and immunological examination involved 424 out of 575 schoolchildren aged 7–12 years.

A total of 36% of the subjects were atopic; i.e. atopic dermatitis was established in 23% and mucous membrane atopy in 18%. 44% were definite non-atopies, leaving 14% not classifiable in either group and 6% latent atopies. Sensitization was confirmed by positive prick tests in 69% of children with a history of pollen allergy and 11% of those with a history of allergy to animal dander.

Skin prick tests are of little value in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis but of major importance for the confirmation of mucous membrane atopy. In cases of controversy between history, clinical findings and sensitization, it is difficult to decide between atopies and non-atopies. Allergological examinations may be restricted to individuals with a positive symptom-based diagnosis only.