Review and clinical experience exploring evidence, clinical efficacy, and safety regarding nonsurgical treatment of feminine rejuvenation

Summary

Introduction

The use of energy-based devices for the treatment of vaginal laxity, orgasmic dysfunction, and stress incontinence, such as minimally ablative fractional laser and radiofrequency, is gaining momentum. This review aims to answer clinical questions on the application of energy-based devices for feminine genital rejuvenation.

Methods

The target group includes physicians involved in esthetic medicine and feminine genital rejuvenation. A literature review was conducted on technologies in use for feminine rejuvenation to explore their safety, efficacy, tolerability, patient satisfaction, and clinical usability. A panel of physicians with clinical experience conducting these types of treatment reviewed and discussed the results of the literature search and gave clinical evidence-based recommendations.

Results

Energy-based devices may induce wound healing, stimulating new collagen, and elastin fiber formation. Radiofrequency treatment may also increase small nerve fiber density in the papillary dermis, improving nerve sensitivity, sexual function, including arousal and orgasmic dysfunction. Both minimally ablative fractional laser and radiofrequency has been shown to be effective when treating mild to moderate primary or secondary vulvovaginal laxity and associated secondary conditions. These treatments are reported to be safe, effective, and well tolerated with a rapid return to activities of daily living.

Conclusions

As this is an evolving medical field, clinical evidence often lacks robustness. Studies and clinical experience suggest that feminine genital rejuvenation using energy-based devices seems an attractive option for patients with mild-to-moderate medical conditions. The treatment can be safely and effectively delivered by trained staff as part of the comprehensive care, that is, currently available to women.

http://ift.tt/2p1VZ0u

Effect of narrow-band ultraviolet B on the serum of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in vitiligo patients

Summary

Background

Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) is the gold standard in the treatment of vitiligo. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH- vitamin D) might play a physiological role in photo-induced melanogenesis in human skin so the association between vitamin D levels and vitiligo still needs to be investigated more thoroughly.

Objective

we aim to investigate the influence of cumulative doses of NB-UVB phototherapy on vitamin D in patients with vitiligo and their correlation with NB-UVB-induced pigmentation.

Methods

Eighty patients of vitiligo and twenty number of age and sex matched controls were recruited in a case-control study. Patients with vitiligo were treated with NB-UVB twice weekly for 24 weeks. 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were measured at 0, 12, and 24 weeks in the cases and at 0 only in control by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI) were calculated at 0 (baseline) and 24 weeks.

Results

The mean baseline level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (at 0 week) was significantly lower in patients than the control group. Levels of 25(OH) vitamin D at 12 and 24 weeks showed significant improvement and Patients show significant reduction in VASI score after 24 weeks of therapy.

Conclusions

Cumulative doses of NB-UVB therapy improve low vitamin D levels in patients with vitiligo, which might have a significant role in NB-UVB-induced repigmentation and may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy but further studies with larger sample size are needed to prove the complete mechanisms of NB-UVB-induced pigmentations and vitamin D in vitiligo.

http://ift.tt/2Ij9XUK

A wearable electrochemical glucose sensor based on simple and low-cost fabrication supported micro-patterned reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite electrode on flexible substrate

Publication date: 30 June 2018
Source:Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 109
Author(s): Xing Xuan, Hyo S. Yoon, Jae Y. Park
In this study, a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based nanostructured composite working electrode of high quality was successfully microfabricated and micro-patterned on a flexible polyimide substrate using simple low-cost fabrication processes. Gold and platinum alloy nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited onto the microfabricated rGO surface and chitosan-glucose oxidase composites were integrated onto the modified surface of the working electrode to develop a human sweat-based wearable glucose sensor application. The fabricated biosensor exhibited excellent amperometric response to glucose at a detection range of 0–2.4 mM (covers the glucose range in sweat), with a sensitivity of 48 μA/mMcm², a short response time (20 s), and high linearity (0.99). The detection limit for glucose was calculated as 5 µm. The human sweat/mixing glucose samples initially used for testing indicated acceptable detection performance and stability for low glucose concentrations. These results confirm that the proposed nanostructured composite flexible working electrode and fabrication process are highly promising for application as human sweat-based electrochemical glucose sensors.



http://ift.tt/2DfLZWC

Novel photoluminescence enzyme immunoassay based on supramolecular host-guest recognition using L-arginine/6-aza-2-thiothymine-stabilized gold nanocluster

Publication date: 30 June 2018
Source:Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 109
Author(s): Youmei Wang, Minghua Lu, Dianping Tang
A new photoluminescence (PL) enzyme immunoassay was designed for sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) via an innovative enzyme substrate, 6-aza-2-thiothymine-stabilized gold nanocluster (AAT-AuNC) with L-arginine. The enzyme substrate with strong PL intensity was formed through supramolecular host-guest assembly between guanidine group of L-arginine and AAT capped on the surface of AuNC. Upon arginase introduction, the captured L-arginine was hydrolyzed into ornithine and urea, thus resulting in the decreasing PL intensity. Based on this principle, a novel competitive-type immunoreaction was first carried out on AFB1-bovine serum albumin (AFB1-BSA) conjugate-coated microplate, using arginase-labeled anti-AFB1 antibody as the competitor. Under the optimum conditions, the PL intensity increased with the increment of target AFB1, and allowed the detection of the analyte at concentrations as low as 3.2 pg mL⁻¹ (ppt). Moreover, L-arginine-AAT-AuNC-based PL enzyme immunoassay afforded good reproducibility and acceptable specificity. In addition, the accuracy of this methodology, referring to commercial AFB1 ELISA kit, was evaluated to analyze naturally contaminated or spiked peanut samples, giving well-matched results between two methods, thus representing a useful scheme for practical application in quantitative monitoring of mycotoxins in foodstuff.



http://ift.tt/2oYvTMH

Myxoma of the mandibular condyle: Report of a rare case and review of the literature

Publication date: Available online 9 March 2018
Source:Oral Oncology
Author(s): Everaldo Pinheiro de Andrade Lima, Flávia Maria de Moraes Ramos-Perez, Rômulo Oliveira de Hollanda Valente, Jorge Esquiche León, Paulo Rogério Ferreti Bonan, Danyel Elias da Cruz Perez
This report describes an extremely rare case of myxoma of the mandibular condyle. The tumor occurred in the left mandibular condyle of a 42-year-old woman, which was identified in a routine radiographic examination. The clinico-radiographic and histopathological features, and histogenesis of the lesion are discussed. A review of the literature and differential diagnosis of radiolucent condylar lesions are also presented.



http://ift.tt/2FtajKE

Treatment and frequency of follow-up of BCC patients in the Netherlands

Abstract

The incidence of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) rises by 5% per decade in the Netherlands (1), representing an important burden on the health care system and dermatologists' workload (2,3). There is no evidence that intensive follow-up results in better outcomes (burden of disease, cosmetic results) in patients with low risk BCCs (4–6). According to the Dutch BCC guideline, follow-up after treatment is not indicated for patients with a low risk BCC (7), but patients may come for follow-up more frequently for various reasons (4,7,8). Considering the enormous amount of patients, extra follow-up visits represent a substantial workload and healthcare costs. Therefore, we studied follow-up of 482 BCC patients, diagnosed in 2010 from general hospitals (N=291 – random sample from a population-based cancer registry) and academic hospitals (N=191), who had a total of 578 BCC diagnosed in 2010. Information on medical history, tumor characteristics and the treatment and follow-up of all diagnosed BCCs was retrieved from the patient files until April 2015.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2FoTCQh

Immunohistochemical identification of nail matrix melanocytes

Abstract

Background

No previous studies have been conducted to determine the normal number of nail matrix melanocytes in Latin American individuals. The objective of this work was to determine the number of melanocytes per linear millimeter present in the nail matrix and the nail bed in samples obtained from Colombian individuals.

Methods

Twenty-six unilateral biopsies were taken from 19 cadavers subjected to clinical and medico-legal autopsies. These biopsy samples were processed with conventional histotechnology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with anti-HMB-45 and anti-MiTF. Three sets of photographs (HE, HMB-45 and MiTF) were taken of each biopsy sample and independently assessed by three pathologists. Each observer counted the number of melanocytes present in 1 linear mm of the nail matrix or bed.

Results

We found an average of 4.6 melanocytes x linear mm with H & E staining, 9.8 with HMB-45 and 12.4 with MiTF.

Conclusions

The use of IHC significantly increases and facilitates the identification of melanocytes in unilateral biopsies. Our IHC counts exceed the averages found in the literature. This finding warrants new studies to verify whether the Colombian population presents higher numbers of melanocytes in the nail matrix than other populations or whether the observed increase is a result of the use of MiTF.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2FuWUO0