A novel autologous dermal filler based on cultured fibroblasts and plasma gel for facial wrinkles: Long term results.

Autologous cultured fibroblasts combined with plasma gel (FibrogelTM) can be used as an injectable autologous soft tissue filler. Herein, we report the assessment of the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of Fibrogel for facial wrinkles. Ten healthy adults were treated for facial wrinkles with Fibrogel, an innovative autologous filler. Patients underwent three treatment sessions at 1-month intervals for the correction of infraorbital, nasolabial, and marionette folds. In each session, 6-8 mL of Fibrogel filler containing 4 million fibroblasts/mL, was injected into the deep dermis or subdermal plane. Three evaluators independently assessed the efficacy at 3, 6 and 12 months after the last treatment, using the validated Global Esthetic Improvement Scale at two different times in a blinded manner. Infraorbital area and lower face were evaluated separately. All patients showed immediate improvement after the first injection at the infraorbital area and lower face. Follow-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months revealed that the improvement was persistent. Adverse reactions were mild and the treatment was well tolerated. Delivering autologous cultured fibroblasts embedded in an autologous plasma gel (Fibrogel) to the skin can provide immediate volume effect and long-term improvement. Therefore, Fibrogel can be considered as a promising novel autologous filler.

Autologous Dermal Filler Derived from Cultured Dermal Fibroblasts and Plasma Gel (Fibrogel): One-year Follow-up of a Case.

In recent years, autologous fibroblast injections or plasma gel filler applications have been used in the treatment of facial contour deformities. In this case report, we describe a new method of autologous filler material derived from cultured dermal fibroblast and plasma gel. The plasma gel, which is the bioskeleton of the filler, is prepared from the patient's plasma, which provides a dense environment for a three-dimensional configuration of dermal fibroblasts. Although the plasma gel provides immediate volume effect, the fibroblasts synthesize extracelluar matrix proteins to promote skin rejuvenation. The filler effect occurs immediately after the first injection and persists 12 months after the third injection, without any complication. Long-term result of the presented case is promising for the concept of autologous filler development.

Long-term results in low-fluence 1064-nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser for melasma: Is it effective?

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the safety and clinical efficacy of a low-fluence 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped:yttrium aluminum garnet (QS-Nd:YAG) laser in the treatment of patients with melasma. METHODS: The study evaluated 34 melasma patients treated at a single institution using a 1064-nm QS-Nd:YAG laser. The laser parameters were 6 mm spot size and 2.5 J/cm2 fluence with multiple passes for 6-10 (median 8) sessions at 2-week intervals. Outcomes were evaluated using photography, the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score, and patient satisfaction interviews after the last treatment and 1 year after the last treatment. RESULTS: After the low-fluence 1064-nm QS-Nd:YAG laser treatments, the mean mMASI score decreased from 6.7 ± 3.3 to 3.2 ± 1.6 (P < 0.01). After treatment completion, 20 of 34 patients (58.8%) rated themselves as having at least a 50% reduction in melasma severity. One year after the last treatment, recurrence was observed in 20 patients (58.8%) and the mean mMASI score increased from 3.2 ± 1.6 to 5.8 ± 1.9 in all patients. CONCLUSION: The recurrence of low-fluence 1064-nm QS-Nd:YAG laser rates in melasma was high when the long-term results were considered. This result may be attributed to certain patient and treatment-related factors.

Infantile granular parakeratosis: cytologic examination of superficial scrapings as an aid to diagnosis.

Granular parakeratosis (GP) is a benign disorder of keratinization presenting with unilateral or bilateral red to brown hyperkeratotic plaques and papules at the intertriginous areas. The first pediatric case of GP was reported in 2002, and only a few cases have been reported since. Although the exact etiology of GP is unknown, it is thought that certain environmental factors compromise the epidermal barrier and lead to proliferation and altered maturation of the epidermis in predisposed individuals. The histopathology is diagnostic and reveals parakeratosis together with retention of keratohyalin granules within a disproportionately thickened stratum corneum and usually the preservation of stratum granulosum. Herein we report seven cases of infantile GP, six of which also had atopic dermatitis. Cytologic examination confirmed our clinical diagnosis by demonstrating the retention of keratohyalin granules and preservation of the nuclei from the superficial scrapings of the lesions, which we propose as a novel diagnostic technique. In all seven cases the lesions developed after the overuse of topical products and resolved with avoidance of their excessive use. We propose that atopic skin may be more prone to develop GP because the epidermal barrier is disrupted, resulting in the enhanced transepidermal penetration of topical products. In conclusion, GP should be included in the differential diagnosis of diaper area eruptions, especially in atopic children. Cytologic examination of superficial scrapings of the lesions can easily confirm the diagnosis of GP.

Neck Rejuvenation with Fractional CO2 Laser: Long-term Results.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of 10,600nm fractional CO2 laser for neck aging at one month and one year after treatment. Design/Setting/Participants/Measurement: Twenty patients underwent 10,600nm fractional CO2 laser treatment over the entire neck. Clinical features of the patients were classified according to Baker classification. The degrees of skin laxity, jowling, fat deposition, and horizontal neck lines were evaluated using a 9-point scale, prior to treatment at one month and one year after the treatment. The patients were independently assessed by the authors at two different times in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: Skin laxity, jowling, fat deposition, and horizontal neck lines scores were significantly lower than the baseline values at one month and one year. One-year follow-up values of the same parameters were still significantly lower than the baseline. No persistent complication developed after treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm that fractional CO2 neck rejuvenation is an effective treatment option with long-term efficacy for patients who mainly have skin laxity and jowling together with skin surface pigmentation.

Refractory Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation Treated Fractional CO2 Laser.

OBJECTIVE: Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is a reactive hypermelanosis of the skin that occurs as a consequence of an inflammatory process, such as acne, eczema, drug reactions, burns, chemical peelings, and laser applications. Although topical agents remain to be the first-line treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, treatment of recalcitrant cases is challenging. The Q-switched ruby laser, the low-dose Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, and the fractional 1550nm erbium-doped fiber laser have been reported to improve postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: The authors present a case of refractory postinflammatory hyperpigmentation successfully treated with two sessions of fractional CO2 laser in a 24-year-old woman with Fitzpatrick skin type III. RESULTS: After two treatment sessions with a one-month interval, the lesion totally cleared without any complications. CONCLUSION: Although many laser systems, including fractional CO2 lasers, can cause postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, they also can be very efficacious tools by using conservative laser settings and by providing appropriate post-treatment care in recalcitrant postinflammatory hyperpigmentation treatment.

Treatment of nail psoriasis: common concepts and new trends.

The lifetime incidence of nail involvement in psoriatic patients is estimated to be 80-90%, and the nails can be affected in 10% to 55% of psoriatic patients. Psoriasis may also solely involve the nails, without any other skin findings, in which the treatment can be more challenging. Nail psoriasis may lead to considerable impairment in quality of life due to aesthetic concerns and more importantly limitations in daily activities resulting from the associated pain, which may be overlooked by the physicians. Several topical and systemic treatment modalities, as well as radiation and light systems, have been used in the treatment of nail psoriasis. In the last decade, the introduction of biologic agents and the utilization of laser systems have brought a new insight into the treatment of nail psoriasis. This paper focuses on the recent advances, as well as the conventional methods, in treating nail psoriasis in adults and children, in reference to an extensive literature search.

Basal cell carcinoma of the nipple: an uncommon but ever-increasing location.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy of the skin. It is most frequently seen on the sun-exposed areas of the head and neck region. Occurrence of BCC on the nipple is extremely rare, though the number of the reported cases has been increasing steadily. It has metastatic potential to regional lymph nodes; therefore a more aggressive course can be expected when compared to BCCs located at other sites. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment of BCCs located on this region is of importance. There are 39 reported cases of BCC of nipple-areola complex (NAC) in the English literature. We present an additional case of BCC located on the nipple, presenting with enlargement of the nipple as a sole clinical finding in a 60-year-old man.

Pulsed dye laser in the treatment of nail psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment options for nail psoriasis have been limited, and the management of nail psoriasis has been challenging for physicians. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the treatment of nail psoriasis. METHODS: Psoriatic nails of five patients were treated using PDL (595 nm) once monthly for 3 months. The pulse duration was 1.5 ms, the beam diameter was 7 mm, and the laser energy was 8.0 to 10.0 J/cm(2). Clinical efficacy was statistically evaluated according to Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) score differences before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of NAPSI scores before and after treatment showed significant difference (p<.05, paired t-test). The nail bed lesions, particularly onycholysis and subungual hyperkeratosis, responded best to the treatment. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the lack of blinding and comparison and the small number of patients. CONCLUSION: PDL might be an alternative treatment for nail psoriasis. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

Evaluation of 60 patients with pilonidal sinus treated with laser epilation after surgery.

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatments for pilonidal sinus disease often result in recurrences, and the patients risk requiring multiple surgical interventions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of alexandrite laser hair removal after surgery in pilonidal sinus disease. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent surgical treatment of pilonidal sinus disease and were treated with a 755-nm alexandrite laser after surgery between 1999 and 2007 were examined retrospectively. The charts were reviewed, and the patients were interviewed on the telephone about their post-laser period and recurrence. The laser parameters, patient history, and surgical details were recorded. RESULTS: The overall recurrence rate was 13.3%, after a mean follow-up period +/- standard error of the mean of 4.8 +/- 0.3 years. The mean number of laser treatment was 2.7 +/- 0.1. Seventy-five percent of the recurrences were detected after a follow-up period of 5 to 9 years. Fifty percent of the recurrent cases had drainage and secondary intention before the laser epilation. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that laser hair removal after surgical interventions in pilonidal sinus disease decreases the risk of recurrence over the long term.