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As a kind of neurotoxin causing muscle paralysis from Clostridium botulinum, the botulinum toxin A is currently used in different clinical aspects, especially in the facial cosmetic. Compared with the traditional surgical methods, the botulinum toxin injection is minimally invasive and safe, favored by more beauty seekers and with better efficacy. However, factors, such as injection dose, operation skills, and anatomical variation, may result in side effects during the operation, including poor injection experience and drug dispersion.
Subject(s)
Botulinum Toxins, Type A , Face , Injections , NeurotoxinsABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of large-spot and low-energy Q switched Nd:YAG laser on melasma,and to observe the changes of melasma lesions with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) before and after the laser treatment.MethodsTotally,45 patients aged from 24 to 48 years and diagnosed with facial melasma were included in this study,and treated with large-spot and low-energy Q switched Nd:YAG once a week for 10 or more sessions.CLSM was used to estimate the melanin content in melasma lesions before each irradiation and after the last irradiation.ResultsAmong the 45 patients,8 ( 17.78％ ) were nearly cured,25 (55.56％) markedly improved,11 (24.44％) improved,and only 1 (2.22％) unimproved after the laser irradiation.The total response rate was 73.33％.As CLSM showed,there was an increment in melanin granules in melasma lesions compared with the normal skin surrounding melasma lesions,but a reduction in melanin granules was induced by the laser treatment in melasma lesions.ConclusionsLarge-spot and lowenergy Q switched Nd∶YAG laser is substantially effective and highly safe for the treatment of melasma,and CLSM can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of laser on melasma.
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A 27-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of persistent asymptomatic papules on the left chest and axirlary fossa. Multiple skin biopsies were performed and histopathology revealed mild acanthosis, extension of the dermal papilla, lichenoid lymphoid infiltrates in upper dermis. Some lymphoid cells migrated into the epidermis and formed Pautrier's microabscesses. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the infiltrating cells were positive for LCA, CD45RO, CD3, CD4 and CD8 (scattered), but negative for CD68 or CD30. Cutaneous laser confocal microscopy showed the shadow of scattered, oval or round, slightly refractive cells measuring 4-8 pm in diameter. A diagnosis of papular mycosis fungoides was made. The papules were softened with the lightening of lesional color after treatment with narrow-band ultraviolet B, topical fluticasone propionate cream and isotretinoin gel.
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Objective To investigate the dose-effect relationship between Q-switch ruby laser and skin pigmentation in Guinea pigs. Methods Ten Guinea pigs were included in this study, and the back of each pig was divided into 5 areas, negative control area receiving no UVB irradiation or laser treatment, positive control area receiving UVB irradiation but no laser treatment, low-, middle- and high-dose areas receiving UVB irradiation followed by the treatment with laser at an energy density of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 J/cm2 for 4, 2, and 1 session, respectively, with an interval of 1 week. Melanin content index (MCI) was determined, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and histopathology were performed to observe melanin granules and melanocytes in the skin tissue from Guinea pigs before the initial laser treatment, 2 and 4 weeks after the final laser treatment. Results The best response was observed in the low-dose areas, and there was a complete clearance of hyperpigmentation in these areas, which maintained 8 weeks without recurrence, while different degrees of skin pigmentation recurred in the middle- and high-dose areas. Moreover, the low-dose areas showed a significantly lower melanin content index (MCI) compared with the middle- and high-dose areas (F = 4.2,P < 0.05), together with a marked reduction in the extent of pigment deposition, melanin granules, melanocyte number and density. Conclusions The efficacy of Q-switched ruby laser on skin pigmentation in Guinea pigs is correlated with the energy density and treatment frequency, and, low intensity and high frequency are often associated with a better treatment outcome.
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In this paper we present a new method of combining Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and Wavelet de-noising algorithm to extract Evoked Related Potentials (ERPs). First, the extended Infomax-ICA algorithm is used to analyze EEG signals and obtain the independent components (Ics); Then, the Wave Shrink (WS) method is applied to the demixed Ics as an intermediate step; the EEG data were rebuilt by using the inverse ICA based on the new Ics; the ERPs were extracted by using de-noised EEG data after being averaged several trials. The experimental results showed that the combined method and ICA method could remove eye artifacts and muscle artifacts mixed in the ERPs, while the combined method could retain the brain neural activity mixed in the noise Ics and could extract the weak ERPs efficiently from strong background artifacts.
Subject(s)
Humans , Algorithms , Artifacts , Electroencephalography , Methods , Evoked Potentials , Physiology , Principal Component Analysis , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted , Wavelet AnalysisABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the skin barrier function in patients with facial steroid dermatitis.Methods Ninety-five patients with facial steroid dermatitis were enrolled into this study along with 25 healthy volunteers as controls.Transepidermal water loss(TEWL)and skin hydration were measured in 8 facial regions.including lesional skin in forehead,nasal tip,submaxilla,both cheeks and angulus oris,and non-lesional skin in the left posteior ear.Results Compared with the healthy group,the patients with steroid dermatitis had a significant higher value of TEWL on lower mandible,both angulus oris and cheeks(t:4.90,2.60,2.57,2.54,3.77,respectively,P＜0.01),while a significant lower level of skin hydration was noted on both angulus otis,right cheek and forehead(t=3.27,3.81,2.02,2.78,respectively,P＜0.05).Among the 8 test sites in both patients and controls,TEWL value decreased in the following order:submaxilla and both angulus oris＞both cheeks and forehead＞non lesional skin on the posteroir ear,and the decrease in skin water content was highest in submaxilla and both angnlus oris,followed by cheeks and forehead,and finally by left posterior ear.Conclusions In patients with facial steroid dermatitis,skin barrier function is disturbed on submaxilla,both angnlus oris and cheeks,and TEWL value is found to be higher in perioral area,while cheeks have a lower level of skin hydration.
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The article reviews the viewpoints and thinking toward eczema with pattern identification in Traditional Chinese Medicine in recent five years,including professional standard given by the government and program of pattern identification which is summarized by experts of TCM from their clinical practice.The pattern identification emphasis on different stages,Zang-organs,Fu-organs,lesions and different meridians,with the principals for treatment as cleaning heat,resolving dampness,dispelling wind and arresting itching,promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis,it thinks highly of factors of mind in its treatment,so that to approach better thinking to normalize the treatment of eczema in TCM.