Cohesive Polydensified Matrix (R) hyaluronic acid volumizer injected for cheek augmentation has additional positive effect on nasolabial folds

Purpose: Cohesive Polydensified Matrix (R) hyaluronic acid (CPM-HA) volumizer has been used successfully for several years to reverse biometric volume loss during facial aging. This observational study explored the additive effect on nasolabial folds when CPM-HA volumizer is injected into the neighboring cheek area. Patients and methods: In this open-label, prospective, postmarketing noninterventional study, 18 adult patients seeking esthetic enhancement of the lateral cheek hollows and cheekbone area were injected with CPM-HA volumizer integrated with lidocaine (CPM-HA-VL) in the upper or lower cheek area. Safety and performance of CPM-HA-VL up to 12 months after injection with follow-up visits at week 4 and month 3, 6, and 12 were assessed. The primary endpoint was improvement of cheek fullness on the validated Merz Aesthetics Scales. Additionally, changes in nasolabial folds were quantified using a phaseshift rapid in vivo measurement of skin optical three-dimensional (3D) in vivo measurement device. Results: Patients (94.4% female, median age 52 years, age range 39-69 years) were injected with a mean volume of 2.5 +/- 1.1 mL CPM-HA-VL per side. Immediately after injection, mean severity for upper and lower cheek fullness assessed on the validated MAS improved from 2.5 +/- 0.6 and 2.8 +/- 0.5, respectively, to 1.0 +/- 0.0, and remained unchanged through month 12. Improvement in relation to baseline was attested on the Global Aesthetics Improvement Scale for all assessments. Compared with baseline, the following assessments offered a statistical significance in the reduction of wrinkle depth of nasolabial folds (maximum depth reduction by 30.4% at 3 months) according to optical 3D in vivo measurements. Pain during injection was minimal and abated within 30 minutes. Treatment was well tolerated and led to great patient satisfaction. Conclusion: CPM-HA-VL injected into the upper and lower cheeks led to long-lasting satisfactory cosmetic results in cheek augmentation as well as in reducing depth of nasolabial folds adjacent to the injection site

Evaluating the Therapeutic Success of Keloids Treated With Cryotherapy and Intralesional Corticosteroids Using Noninvasive Objective Measures

BACKGROUND Intralesional corticosteroid injections combined with cryotherapy are considered a first-line therapy for keloids. However, objective evaluation on its efficacy is widely missing. OBJECTIVE In this study, the authors evaluated the therapeutic benefits of cryotherapy directly followed by intralesional crystalline triamcinolone acetonide injections using ultrasound and a 3D topographic imaging device. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen patients with keloids were treated with cryotherapy and intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide for a total of 4 times at intervals of 4 weeks. Objective assessment was performed at each visit. RESULTS After the last treatment, a significant average reduction of scar volume of 34.3% and an average decrease in scar height of 41.3% as determined by 3D imaging was observed compared with baseline. Ultrasound revealed an average reduction of scar height of 31.7% and an average decrease in tissue penetration depth of 37.8% when compared with baseline measurements. CONCLUSION Objective measurements of relevant keloid characteristics as height, volume, and penetration depth help in quantifying the therapeutic effect. The observed results confirm that intralesional injections of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide combined with cryotherapy represent a powerful approach to reduce scar height and volume significantly

Objective evaluation of an occlusive overnight intensive patch containing onion extract and allantoin for hypertrophic scars

Background Patients suffering from hypertrophic scars often describe esthetic, functional, and psychological impairments. While current guidelines for the treatment of pathologic scarring recommend the use of onion extract containing gels and sheets, hard evidence for its efficacy remains scarce due to inconsistent data. Onion extract and allantoin containing occlusive overnight intensive patches (OIP) were introduced as a recent option for noninvasive scar management. However, objective data demonstrating their efficacy are missing. Aims This study is the first to objectively evaluate the benefit and safety of an OIP for hypertrophic scars using a three‐dimensional imaging device and a standardized scar scale. Methods Twelve patients with untreated, three to twelve months old hypertrophic scars received an OIP for 3 months. The assessment was performed using PRIMOS®pico, a three‐dimensional imaging device and POSAS, a standardized scar questionnaire at baseline, one and 3 months after the last treatment. Results Objective evaluation at three months follow‐up (FU) showed a significant decrease in scar height of 28.8% (baseline mean: 2.08 ± 0.68 mm, three months FU mean: 1.48 ± 0.52 mm) and a reduction in scar volume of 31.9% (baseline mean: 454.33 ± 265.53 mm3, 3 months FU mean: 309.58 ± 224.28 mm3). Pain and pruritus subsided under treatment. There were no negative side effects. Conclusion Overnight intensive patches is a convenient, painless, safe, affordable and effective prevention and treatment option for hypertrophic scars. Treatment should be performed at least for 3 months for visible effects

Treatment of keloids using 5‐fluorouracil in combination with crystalline triamcinolone acetonide suspension: evaluating therapeutic effects by using non‐invasive objective measures

Background Intralesional 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) in combination with triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) has been recommended as a promising alternative for keloids not responding to silicone‐based products, cryotherapy or intralesional corticosteroids alone. Although numerous studies support the efficacy of this regime, there is a lack of objective data. Objectives In this study, we evaluate the therapeutic effect of four courses of intralesional 5‐FU in combination with TAC (3 : 1) utilizing 3D analysis (PRIMOS®pico), ultrasound and scar scales such as the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scales (POSAS) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Methods Twenty‐five patients with keloids were treated using 5‐FU and TAC every 4 weeks. Objective assessments were performed and the scar scales administered at baseline, as well as during consecutive visits at 1‐ and 12‐month follow‐up (FU). Routine laboratory tests were performed at baseline and at 1‐month FU. Results 3D PRIMOS and ultrasound measurements revealed highly significant and stable reductions in height (baseline mean score: 4.0 ± 1.7 mm, 1‐month FU mean score: 1.5 ± 0.8 mm, 12‐month FU mean score: 1.8 ± 0.9 mm, P = <0.0001), volume (baseline mean score: 1,105 ± 911.5 mm3, 1‐month FU mean score: 416.1 ± 218.1 mm3, 12‐month FU mean sore: 431.2 ± 253.6 mm3, P = <0.0001, respectively) and penetration depth of keloids (relative reduction between baseline and 12‐month FU of 74.4%, P = <0.0001). The POSAS and DLQI scales confirmed significant objective and subjective improvements in scar appearance in all categories. The life quality associated with keloid appearance improved from a ‘moderate effect’ to a ‘small effect’ throughout the course of the study. Conclusions Results of this study confirm the efficacy and safety of the combination of 5‐FU and TAC in keloids. Treatments were well tolerated and demonstrated stable results at 12‐month FU

For Those Who Grew Too Fast

This volume welcomes you amid multiple global epidemics. It welcomes you home, hoping that these words provide visibility, comfort, introspection, and roadmap for pushing boundaries. We know we are tired, we know we are facing uncertainty at every turn, and we know that connection is wearing thin. This collection of words serves as an “I see you,” as an “I am with you,” as an “I love you.” These pieces came together toward end of the Spring 2020, when a group of first-year and transfer students came together to speak their existence. They bring memories and a reminder that together we can construct a culture that builds upon our truth and possibility. Education can be an epicenter of civic imagination, innovative directions in service justice, and above all, radical love. This volume is a testament to this. Welcome to First-Gen Voices Volume Nine: For Those Who Grew Too Fast

Stable Isotope Analysis of Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii Eye Lenses to Determine Migratory Patterns in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Using Statoliths for Age Determination

Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii is a common fisheries squid that occurs in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and along the east coast of the United States. These squid are an important link in the food web, linking higher and lower trophic positions (Madsen et al., 2007), and they are also used for human consumption. The migration patterns of D. pealeii populations in the northwestern North Atlantic have been thoroughly studied when compared to those in the GoM. This research aims to combine statolith aging and stable isotope analysis to enhance the understanding of D. pealeii migration patterns throughout their short, sub-annual lifespan along the West Florida Shelf in the GoM. Individual specimens were aged via statoliths, and δ13C and δ15N stable isotopes were analyzed within individual eye-lens laminae of D. pealeii specimens. These were compared to known isoscapes present along the West Florida Shelf to determine overall migration patterns, which were then compared to variables such as specimen age and hatch month to document any potential relationships. Among individual squid, the most common migration patterns observed in this study were northeastward (35%) and eastward (32%) movement. When compared with hatch month, this suggests the D. pealeii in the GoM exhibit similar migration patterns to those off the northeastern coast of the United States – hatching and spending the colder months offshore, then moving inshore during spring and early summer. This study suggests that maternal contribution of isotope ratios is present in the eye-lens cores of specimens, which allows us to make inferences about the spawning grounds from which the specimens included in this study hatched. Core δ13C and δ15N ratios suggest individuals from the most northern National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) statistical zone included in this study remain in the same area they were spawned in, while the other NMFS zones included here intermix. The migration patterns of D. pealeii were compared to those of D. plei observed by Meath et al. (2019) to determine any potential overlap in migration patterns between the two species. Over half of those examined for both species exhibited isotope trends that suggested either northeastward or eastward movement over the course of their lives. This research will contribute to the understanding of the migration patterns of the D. pealeii population within the GoM, allowing fishery management to better regulate populations, maximize harvest, and prevent future overfishing in this area