Development of an improved method for quantitative analysis of skin blotting: increasing reliability and applicability for skin assessment

ObjectiveA novel skin assessment tool named skin blotting' has been recently developed, which can easily predict the skin status to avoid its deterioration. The aim of this study was to propose a normalization method for skin blotting to compensate for individual differences that can hamper the quantitative comparisons and clinical applications. MethodsTo normalize individual differences, we utilized a total protein as a normalizer' with calibration curves. For evaluation, we performed a simple simulation experiment, in which the same concentration of a protein of interest [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-] was applied at different volumes as a virtual individual difference. Moreover, to demonstrate the applicability of this normalization, male volunteers were recruited for skin blotting followed by the estimation of TNF- with normalization. ResultsWe obtained good calibration curves for total protein (R-2=0.995) and TNF- (R-2=0.997), both of which were necessary for an exact quantification. In the simulation experiment, we estimated the exact concentration of TNF- regardless of the applied volume, demonstrating the applicability of this normalization method in skin blotting. Further, skin blotting on human subjects showed a wide range of variation in the total protein content, although the normalization was thought to reduce such individual variations. ConclusionThis study has proposed total protein normalization for skin blotting with calibration curves. This method may strengthen the quantitative performance of skin blotting, which may expand the applicability of this method as a skin assessment tool in broader fields, such as nursing and cosmetology. Resume ObjectifUn nouvel outil d'evaluation de la peau nomme skin blotting a ete recemment mis au point, qui peut facilement predire l'etat de la peau pour eviter sa deterioration. Le but de cette etude est de proposer une methode de normalisation pour la peau buvard pour compenser les differences individuelles qui peuvent entraver les comparaisons quantitatives et applications cliniques. MethodesPour normaliser les differences individuelles, nous avons utilise le parametre proteine totale comme << normalisateur >> avec des courbes d'etalonnage. Pour l'evaluation, nous avons realise une experience de simulation simple, dans lequel la meme concentration d'une proteine d'interet [facteur de necrose tumorale (TNF) -] a ete applique a des volumes differents en tant que difference individuelle virtuel. En outre, pour demontrer l'applicabilite de cette normalisation, les volontaires masculins ont ete recrutes pour le skin blotting suivi par l'estimation de TNF- avec la normalisation. ResultatsNous avons obtenu de bonnes courbes d'etalonnage pour les proteines totales (R-2=0.995) et le TNF- (R-2=0.997), qui etaient tous deux necessaires pour une quantification exacte. Dans l'experience de simulation, nous avons estime la concentration exacte de TNF- quel que soit le volume applique, ce qui demontre l'applicabilite de cette methode de normalisation de la peau buvard. En outre, le skin blotting sur sujets humains a montre une large gamme de variation de la teneur totale en proteines, bien que la normalisation ait du reduire ces variations individuelles. ConclusionCette etude a propose une normalisation de proteines pour le skin blotting avec des courbes d'etalonnage. Cette methode peut augmenter la performance quantitative de la technique, ce qui peut elargir l'applicabilite de cette methode comme un outil d'evaluation de la peau dans des domaines plus larges, comme les soins infirmiers et de la cosmetologie.