Corticosteroid transdermal delivery to target swelling, edema and inflammation following facial rejuvenation procedures

T Iannitti,1,2 V Rottigni,2,3 B Palmieri2,31School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; 2Poliambulatorio del Secondo Parere, Modena, Italy; 3Department of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Medical School, Surgical Clinic, Modena, ItalyBackground and aim: The use of transdermal therapeutic systems has spread worldwide since they allow effective local drug delivery. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a new betamethasone valerate medicated plaster (Betesil&reg;) to manage facial swelling, edema, inflammation, ecchymosis, and hematoma, when applied immediately after a facial rejuvenation procedure.Materials and methods: We applied the plaster to the skin of 20 healthy patients for 12 hours immediately after hyaluronic acid-based procedure performed with the aim of erasing facial wrinkles of perioral and nasolabial folds and improving chin and eye contour. A further 20 patients underwent the same cosmetic procedure, but they were treated with an aescin 10% cream (applied immediately after the procedure, in the evening, and the morning after) and served as control group.Results: Betesil&reg; application resulted in a significant improvement in swelling/edema/inflammation score, if compared with aescin 10% cream (P < 0.01). As for facial ecchymosis and hematoma around the needle injection track, only two patients in the active treatment group displayed minimal ecchymosis and hematoma. In the control group, two patients presented minimal ecchymosis and three slight hematoma. However, using the ecchymosis/hematoma score, no significant difference between Betesil&reg; and aescin 10% cream groups was observed. Patients&rsquo; satisfaction was significantly higher among subjects receiving Betesil&reg;, if compared to patients receiving aescin 10% cream (P < 0.01).Conclusion: The present study supports the use of Betesil&reg; plaster immediately after facial cosmetic procedures in order to safely control swelling, edema, and inflammation.Keywords: aesthetic medicine, transdermal therapeutic system, betamethasone valerate, hyaluronic aci

Role of free radicals and antioxidant defences in oral cavity-related pathologies.

Free radicals play a key role in the development of several pathological conditions. Therefore, several methods have been developed to measure oxidative stress from bodily fluids including blood, urine and, more recently, saliva. Free radical and antioxidant defences within the oral cavity may play a key role in odontostomatological pathologies. This review provides an update of the literature concerning the association of oxidative stress with pathological conditions associated with the oral cavity. It focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of the tests based on saliva specimens in a preventive perspective

Er:YAG laser: tissue interaction and histomorphological characterization

Authors describe Er:YAG laser interaction with tissues, in particular their histomorphological characteristics to identify a specific clinic area for laser application through the examination of different clinical international trials. This study includes experimental trials about pig and rat skin laser application to know laser Er: YAG capability and limits; investigation is extended to laser application in human soft tissues as mucosa, periosteum and bones, its utility in cutaneous pathologies and in antiageing treatments

Neodymium: YAG laser treatment of lower leg telangiectasia: a new minimally invasive approach.

The aim of this study was to validate the safety and effectiveness of a new therapeutic procedure for the treatment of lower leg telangiectasia without clinical vein insufficiency. A group of 20 healthy women aged between 24 and 47 years (mean\ub1sem 37.05\u2009\ub1\u20091.47) with lower leg telangiectasia without clinical vein insufficiency, previously investigated by echo colour Doppler sonography, were recruited and were treated with neodymium:YAG laser (mean\ub1sem 2.5\u2009\ub1\u20090.11 sessions). Good or excellent results were obtained in 16 patients and the improvements were statistically significant (p\u2009<\u20090.01). Out of the 20 patients, 16 were satisfied with the procedure. We strongly support laser treatment of lower leg telangiectasia since it allows injection of chemicals to be avoided, and changes the stromal microarchitecture rearranging the fibroblast network into a more resistant pattern reducing the likelihood of relapse

Laser in dentistry: Biostimulation and surgery

Laser therapy has achieved an important rule in cosmetic dentistry especially in the treatment of several complications such as leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, glossitis, oral mucositis, labial herpes virus, stomatitis, frenulum and oral hemangioma. In our study we enrolled 40 patients affected by these diseases to treat them with a new infrared dental laser demonstrating that it is extremely safe and effective in pain and postoperative discomforts reduction

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy for management of osteoarthritis-related pain, stiffness and physical function: clinical experience in the elderly

Tommaso Iannitti,1,2 Gregorio Fistetto,2 Anna Esposito,2 Valentina Rottigni,2,3 Beniamino Palmieri2,3 1Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA; 2Poliambulatorio del Secondo Parere, Modena, Italy; 3Department of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Medical School, Surgical Clinic, Modena, Italy Background: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has shown promising therapeutic effectiveness on bone- and cartilage-related pathologies, being also safe for management of knee osteoarthritis. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of a PEMF device for management of knee osteoarthritis in elderly patients. Materials and methods: A total of 33 patients were screened, and 28 patients, aged between 60 and 83 and affected by bilateral knee osteoarthritis, were enrolled in this study. They received PEMF therapy on the right leg for a total of three 30-minute sessions per week for a period of 6 weeks, while the left leg did not receive any treatment and served as control. An intravenous drip containing ketoprofen, sodium clodronate, glucosamine sulfate, calcitonin, and ascorbic acid, for a total volume of 500 mL, was administered during PEMF therapy. At baseline and 3 months post-PEMF therapy, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess knee pain and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to measure knee pain, stiffness and physical function. Results: Changes in VAS and WOMAC scores were calculated for both knees as baseline minus post-treatment. A two sample Student&rsquo;s t-test, comparing change in knee-related VAS pain for PEMF-treated leg (49.8 &plusmn; 2.03) vs control leg (11 &plusmn; 1.1), showed a significant difference in favor of PEMF therapy (P &lt; 0.001). A two sample Student&rsquo;s t-test comparing change in knee-related WOMAC pain, stiffness, and physical function for PEMF-treated leg (8.5 &plusmn; 0.4, 3.5 &plusmn; 0.2, 38.5 &plusmn; 2.08, respectively) vs control leg (2.6 &plusmn; 0.2; 1.6 &plusmn; 0.1; 4.5 &plusmn; 0.5 respectively), also showed a significant difference in favor of PEMF therapy (P &lt; 0.001). No adverse reactions to therapy were observed. Conclusion: The present study shows that PEMF therapy improves pain, stiffness and physical function in elderly patients affected by knee osteoarthritis. Keywords: osteoarthritis, elderly, pulsed electromagnetic field, magnet therapy, kne

Laser in denstistry. Biostimulation and surgery

Laser therapy has achieved an important rule in cosmetic dentistry especially in the treatment of several complications such as leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, glossitis, oral mucositis, labial herpes virus, stomatitis, frenulum and oral hemangioma. In our study we enrolled 40 patients affected by these diseases to treat them with a new infrared dental laser demonstrating that it is extremely safe and effective in pain and postoperative discomforts reduction