A randomized clinical trial on the comparison between hair shaving and snipping prior to laser hair removal sessions in women suffering from hirsutism

Summary

Background and objectives

Hirsutism or excess hair growth is a common dermatological problem in females, affecting up to 10% of females worldwide. We aimed this study to compare the two hair-shortening methods shaving vs. snipping among hirsute women regarding the outcome of the therapy and also the paradoxical hypertrichosis phenomenon (terminal hair regrowth) 6 months after the final therapy session.

Materials and Methods

In this study, 129 premenopausal women affected by hirsutism were randomly divided into two study groups according to hair-shortening method: shaving as group A (66 patients) and hair shortening by scissor as group B (63 patients). Each patient received six alexandrite laser therapy sessions every month for six consecutive months. Chin hairs in a 5 × 5 cm² zone were counted, and the paradoxical hair regrowth was evaluated four times during the study: once at baseline, once before the third session, once before the sixth session, and once 6 months after the last laser session.

Results

Before the third session, the counts were 15.06 ± 5.20 in group A and 13.07 ± 4.44 in group B (P = 0.022); both counts were meaningfully less than the baseline count (P < 0.001). The counts before the sixth session were 2.80 ± 1.16 in group A and 2.71 ± 1.12 in group B (P = 0.673); the counts were significantly lower than the previous session (P < 0.001). Six months after the last laser session, the counts were 11.27 ± 9.30 in group A and 8.15 ± 3.12 in group B (P = 0.012). Paradoxical hypertrichosis was observed in three patients of group A vs. no patients in group B.

Conclusion

We found that alexandrite laser therapy is really effective for treating hirsutism. Both shaving and using a scissor for hair shortening showed similar short-term results, but in one-year follow-up, paradoxical hypertrichosis was only observed in shaving group and also a lower hair count was observed in the snipping group.

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Comparison of skin properties in individuals living in cities at two different altitudes: an investigation of the environmental effect on skin

Summary

Background

Skin properties vary depending on exogenous factors. Various studies have been used for comparing skin properties between cities for studying environment influence on skin properties. However, for comparison of skin properties between cities, various environmental factors have to be considered.

Objectives

The purpose of this study therefore was to compare skin properties in individuals of the same ethnicity and sex (Indonesian women) between different altitudes and to interpret the environmental effect on skin.

Methods

In this study, we reanalyzed the data obtained from previous study. The data were for healthy Sundanese Indonesian females [(n = 136) at Jakarta (n = 49) and Bandung (n = 87)], and the data consisted of published data (skin hydration, sebum level, pH, elasticity, and transepidermal water loss) and unpublished data [skin color (L*, a*, and b*)]. The skin parameters were measured on Indonesian females aged 20–34 using C+K devices (corneometer, sebumeter, pH meter, and cutometer), Delfin vapometer, and Minolta spectrophotometer, respectively.

Results

Sundanese Jakarta (low-altitude) females had higher sebum level and greater redness (a*) value in the forehead than Sundanese Bandung (high-altitude) females. In contrast, Bandung females had higher skin pH, brighter skin color, and greater forehead skin elasticity than Jakarta females.

Conclusions

The skin properties can be influenced by changing altitude because different altitudes have different environments such as air temperature, humidity, UV radiation, and so on, and it is also necessary to investigate the factors which can influence with perceived skin condition such as skin type and skin concerning.

http://ift.tt/2co4CdT

Grasp-specific motor resonance is influenced by the visibility of the observed actor

Publication date: Available online 11 September 2016
Source:Cortex
Author(s): Karen L. Bunday, Roger N. Lemon, James M. Kilner, Marco Davare, Guy A. Orban
Motor resonance is the modulation of M1 corticospinal excitability induced by observation of others' actions. Recent brain imaging studies have revealed that viewing videos of grasping actions led to a differential activation of the ventral premotor cortex depending on whether the entire person is viewed vs. only their disembodied hand. Here we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to examine motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) during observation of videos or static images in which a whole person or merely the hand was seen reaching and grasping a peanut (precision grip) or an apple (whole hand grasp). Participants were presented with six visual conditions in which visual stimuli (video vs. static image), view (whole person vs. hand) and grasp (precision grip vs. whole hand grasp) were varied in a 2x2x2 factorial design. Observing videos, but not static images, of a hand grasping different objects resulted in a grasp-specific interaction, such that FDI and ADM MEPs were differentially modulated depending on the type of grasp being observed (precision grip vs. whole hand grasp). This interaction was present when observing the hand acting, but not when observing the whole person acting. Additional experiments revealed that these results were unlikely to be due to the relative size of the hand being observed. Our results suggest that observation of videos rather than static images is critical for motor resonance. Importantly, observing the whole person performing the action abolished the grasp-specific effect, which could be due to a variety of PMv inputs converging on M1.



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An image-invariant neural response to familiar faces in the human medial temporal lobe

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2016
Source:Cortex
Author(s): Katja Weibert, Richard J. Harris, Alexandra Mitchell, Hollie Byrne, Andrew W. Young, Timothy J. Andrews
The ability to recognize familiar faces with ease across different viewing conditions contrasts with the inherent difficulty in the perception of unfamiliar faces across similar image manipulations. Models of face processing suggest that this difference is based on the neural representation for familiar faces being more invariant to changes in the image, than it is for unfamiliar faces. Here, we used an fMR-adaptation paradigm to investigate neural correlates of image-invariant face recognition in face-selective regions of the human brain. Participants viewed faces presented in a blocked design. Each block contained different images of the same identity or different images from different identities. Faces in each block were either familiar or unfamiliar to the participants. First, we defined face-selective regions by comparing the response to faces with the response to scenes and scrambled faces. Next, we asked whether any of these face-selective regions showed image-invariant adaptation to the identity of a face. The core face-selective regions showed image-invariant adaptation to familiar and unfamiliar faces. However, there was no difference in the adaptation to familiar compared to unfamiliar faces. In contrast, image-invariant adaptation for familiar faces, but not for unfamiliar faces, was found in face-selective regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL). Taken together, our results suggest that the marked differences in the perception of familiar and unfamiliar faces may depend critically on neural processes in the medial temporal lobe.



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Augmenting Distractor Filtering via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Lateral Occipital Cortex

Publication date: Available online 10 September 2016
Source:Cortex
Author(s): Jana Eštočinová, Emanuele Lo Gerfo, Chiara Della Libera, Leonardo Chelazzi, Elisa Santandrea
Visual selective attention optimizes perception and behavioral control by enabling efficient selection of relevant information and filtering of distractors. While focusing resources on task-relevant information helps counteract distraction, dedicated filtering mechanisms have recently been demonstrated, allowing neural systems to implement suitable policies for the suppression of potential interference. Limited evidence is presently available concerning the neural underpinnings of these mechanisms, and whether neural circuitry within the visual cortex might play a causal role in their instantiation, a possibility that we directly tested here. In two related experiments, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the lateral occipital cortex of healthy humans at different times during the execution of a behavioral task which entailed varying levels of distractor interference and need for attentional engagement. While earlier TMS boosted target selection, stimulation within a restricted time epoch close to (and in the course of) stimulus presentation engendered selective enhancement of distractor suppression, by affecting the ongoing, reactive instantiation of attentional filtering mechanisms required by specific task conditions. The results attest to a causal role of mid-tier ventral visual areas in distractor filtering and offer insights into the mechanisms through which TMS may have affected ongoing neural activity in the stimulated tissue.



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Plastic Surgery and Suicide: A Clinical Guide for Plastic Surgeons

Summary: Several studies have identified an increased risk of suicide among patient populations which a plastic surgeon may have a high risk of encountering: women undergoing breast augmentation, cosmetic surgery patients, and breast cancer patients. No formal guidelines exist to assist a plastic surgeon when faced with such a patient, and not every plastic surgery team has mental health clinicians that are readily accessible for consultation or referral. The goal of this clinical guide is to offer plastic surgeons a set of practical approaches to manage potentially suicidal patients. In addition, the authors review a screening tool, which can assist surgeons when encountering high-risk patients.

http://ift.tt/2ciPAbG

Nipple Reconstruction with the Biodesign Nipple Reconstruction Cylinder: A Prospective Clinical Study

Background: Nipple reconstruction is the last stage in cosmetic reconstruction of the breast after mastectomy, but no method produces reliable and consistent aesthetic results. This study examined the use of the Biodesign Nipple Reconstruction Cylinder (NRC) during reconstruction of the nipple after mastectomy. Methods: Patients with a history of breast cancer and mastectomy desiring nipple reconstruction were invited to participate. After obtaining consent, unilateral or bilateral nipple reconstruction was performed. Skin flaps were raised, the NRC was placed beneath the flaps as a stent, and the site was protected for up to 4 weeks with a nipple shield. Nipple projection was measured for 12 months after surgery. Patient satisfaction was measured and adverse events were recorded. Follow-up examinations were performed at 1 week, and then at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Eighty-two nipple reconstructions were performed in 50 patients. Related postoperative adverse events were minor, but reported in 8 reconstructions (9.8%) representing 7 patients (14.0%). Average projection at 6 and 12 months was 4.1 ± 1.6 mm and 3.8 ± 1.5 mm, respectively, compared with 10.5 ± 2.2 mm 1 week after surgery. Of patients completing the satisfaction questionnaire at 12 months, 70/75 (93.3%) of reconstructions were rated "pleased" or "very pleased" with the overall outcome. Overall, 45/46 (97.8%) patients would recommend nipple reconstruction to other women. Conclusions: The Biodesign NRC offers a safe alternative to nipple reconstruction, resulting in stable projection and a high level of patient satisfaction for 12 months after placement.

http://ift.tt/2ciOo8i

Understanding the Role for Operative Performance Rating Tools in Meeting Surgical Trainee Feedback Needs: A Qualitative Study

No abstract available

http://ift.tt/2cavHaa

Effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment by full-mouth disinfection or scaling and root planing per quadrant in halitosis—a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of one-stage full-mouth disinfection (FMD) and conventional quadrant scaling in four weekly sessions (QS) on periodontal clinical parameters and halitosis among individuals with advanced chronic periodontitis.

Materials and methods

In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 individuals were divided into two groups: FMD (n = 15) and QS (n = 15). The following data were collected at the baseline and 90 days after treatment: plaque index, tongue-coating index (TCI), bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. Halimetry was performed by the organoleptic method, and the levels of volatile sulfur compounds (H2S and CH3SH) were measured by gas chromatography. The Chi-square, Fisher's exact, the Mann-Whitney, the McNemar, and the Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in periodontal clinical parameters, reduction in TCI, organoleptic scores, and in CH₃SH levels between times. However, major reduction was observed in FMD group.

Conclusion

Non-surgical periodontal therapy, regardless of the protocol, was effective in improving periodontal clinical status of individuals, decreasing organoleptic scores and CH₃SH levels between times, as well as reducing halitosis.

Clinical relevance

This study contributed to the knowledge that non-surgical periodontal therapy, whether by FMD or QS, was effective in reducing halitosis in individuals with advanced chronic periodontitis.

http://ift.tt/2cOmQLa