Efficacy of Slimming Cream Containing 3.5% Water-Soluble Caffeine and Xanthenes for the Treatment of Cellulite: Clinical Study and Literature Review

BACKGROUND: Cellulite is a 'cottage cheese-like' cutaneous change caused by subcutaneous fat bulging into the dermis that usually leads to cosmetic problems. Slimming cream containing 3.5% water-soluble caffeine and xanthenes exhibits a lipolytic effect with penetration into the dermis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of slimming cream for the treatment of cellulite. METHODS: Fifteen subjects with cellulite applied slimming cream to the thighs and inner side of the upper arms twice daily for 6 weeks. Efficacy was assessed using a standard visual scale, changes in the circumferences of the thighs and upper arms, and patient satisfaction by a questionnaire at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Safety was assessed by inquiring about adverse events through questionnaires. RESULTS: The standard visual scale score improved significantly by 0.49 points (19.8%) at week 6. Thigh and upper-arm circumferences decreased by 0.7 cm (1.7%) and 0.8 cm (2.3%), respectively, at week 6. Slight itching and transient flushing were commonly reported, but no serious adverse event occurred. CONCLUSION: The slimming cream tested appears to be effective for the treatment of cellulitis without serious adverse effects. However, additional large clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of slimming cream for the treatment of cellulitis.

Study of MTT and resazurin assays for susceptibility test to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs / 中华检验医学杂志

Objecflve To evaluate the performance of two rapid and low-cost metheds(MTT test,and rosazurin mierotitre assay)for the detection of resistance to first-line drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Methods sixty-four Myeobaeterium tuberculosis clinical isohtes were tested by the MTT test and the rosazuxin microtitre assay(REMA)respectively,and the results were compared with those obtained with the absolute concentration method on L(o)wenstein Jensen medium.Results The MTT test and the resazurin microtitre assay showed a good agreement compared with the absolute concentration method for all first-line drugs tested.The sensitibity,specificity and accuracy of the MTT test were 94.8%,96.0%,95.3%,for RFP;93.8%,93.8%,93.8% for INH;92.9%,96.O%,95.3% for EMB,90.6%,87.5%,89.1% for SM,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the resazurin microtitre assay were 92.3%,96.0%,93.8%,for RFP;90.6%,90.6%,90.6% for INH;92.9%,94.0%,93.8% for EMB,87.5%,87.5%,87.5% for SM,respectively.The Kappa value of the MTT test and the absolute concentration method for the detection of resistance to RFP,INH,EMB,SM were 0.857,0.831,0.714,0.792.respeedvely;The Kappa value of the regazurin mierotitre assay and the absolute concentration method for the detection of resistance to RFP,INH,EMB,SM were 0.871,0.826,0.826,0.750,respectively.The Kappa value of the MTT test and the resazurin microtitre assay for the detection of resistance to RFP,INH,EMB,SM wefe 0.889,0.875.0.787,0.844,respectively.Conclusions Both MTT test and the resazurin microtitre assays are simple,rapid,low-cost and sensitive for rapid detection of resistance to first-line drugs.They could be promising methods for susceptibility assay of the first-line antituberculosis drugs in low-resource countries.