Finger wrinkling as a test of autonomic function.

Abstract

551Treatment of anticonvulsant osteomalacia with 1 chydroxycholecalciferol Anticonvulsants cause osteomalacia,' possibly by the induction of an altered vitamin-D metabolism in the liver leading to a lack of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-HCC).2 We describe the short-term treatment of a patient with anticonvulsant osteomalacia with small amounts of 1-HCC, a vitarnin-D analogue that has been used in renal osteodystrophy3 and other metabolic bone diseases. Case historyA 5 1-year-old woman with an infantile spastic paresis on the right, and epilepsy treated for 30 years with phenobarbital 50 mg and phenytoin 75 mg three times a day was seen because of fatigue and increasing pains in the trunk and legs. She had had little exposure to sunshine for six years and her diet was deficient in vitamin D. The whole thorax and vertebral column were extremely painful on palpation and percussion. Pelvic side-pressure evoked pain in the pubic region. She had spastic paresis of the right arm and leg.Relevant laboratory data were: serum Ca 2 01 mmol/l (8 04 mg/ 100 ml) and P 0-52 mmol/l (1 6 mg/ 1OOml), total protein 73 g l1(7-3 g! 100 ml), albumin 55 g I (5-5 g/100 ml), alkaline phosphatase 112 IU/l (normal < 45), 25-HCC 1 9 nmol/l (normal > 12), parathyroid hormone (PTH) 0-24 ng bovine hormone eq, ml (normal < 0 20), urinary calcium 50 mg/24 h, calcium retention after infusion of 10 mg/kg 82 <)^(normal < 60), and 47Ca absorption 15",, dose (normal >25). An iliac crest biopsy showed complete coverage of the trabeculae by osteoid with a thickness of more than 25 )m. Radiological examination showed a low contrast, especially of the vertebral column and

Water-induced finger wrinkles improve handling of wet objects

“…In combination with the mechanical properties of the glabrous finger skin, this reduction in pulp volume results in the typical pattern of ridges and valleys on the tips of fingers and toes [1]. The dependence of finger wrinkling on the autonomic nervous system has led to the use of finger wrinkles as a clinical indicator of autonomic function [2,[6][7][8][9].…”

Free flow of sweat due to loss of surface tension at sweat droplets causes water-induced skin wrinkling

“…It has been reported that vasoconstriction and the subsequent loss of volume under the skin is the cause of skin wrinkling (1). Wrinkling of the skin has long been used as a test for sympathetic nerve function (2)(3)(4). However, the mechanism that initiates the vasoconstriction remained elusive.…”

Free Flow of Sweat due to Loss of Surface Tension at Sweat Droplet Causes Water-Induced Skin Wrinkling

“…Even though the skin wrinkling is used as a test for sympathetic nerve functioning [1,2,3], the trigger of such a test was eluded for a long period of time. In this article, we investigate theoretical possibilities for the cause of skin wrinkling by taking different physical aspects of the phenomenon into consideration.…”