Laser treatment of cutaneous angiokeratomas: A systematic review

Abstract

Angiokeratomas can present therapeutic challenges, especially in cases of extensive lesions, where traditional surgical methods carry high risks of scarring and hemorrhage. Argon, pulsed dye (PDL), neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG), copper vapor, potassium titanyl phosphate, carbon dioxide, and erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) lasers have emerged as alternative options. To review the use and efficacy of lasers in treating angiokeratomas. A PubMed search identified randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, case series, and case reports involving laser treatment of cutaneous angiokeratomas. Twenty-five studies were included. Quality ratings were assigned using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine scheme. Several laser modalities are effective in treating multiple variants of angiokeratomas. Vascular lasers like PDL, Nd:YAG, and argon are the most studied and of these, PDL offers the safest side effect profile. Nd:YAG may be more effective for hyperkeratotic angiokeratomas. Combination treatment with multiple laser modalities has also demonstrated some success. Lasers are a promising treatment option for angiokeratomas, but current use is limited by the lack of treatment guidelines. There are limited high quality studies comparing laser treatments to each other and to non-laser options. Additional studies are needed to establish guidelines and to optimize laser parameters.

Monopolar radiofrequency treatment in Asian skin: An update

Cosmeceutical effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Kombucha tea by intradermal administration in the skin of aged mice

Summary

Background/purpose

Natural ingredients have been always an interesting approach to prolong youthful appearance of skin. One of the natural compounds is Kombucha tea (KT), which has been mainly used as an energy drink in Asian countries for a long time. Previous reports indicated that it has pharmaceutical and favorable wound repairing effects. The beneficial properties of KT are thought to be mainly due to the presence of fermentation products such as flavonoids and other polyphenols with inhibition of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes and anti-inflammatory effects. These properties prompted us to study the anti-aging potential of KT and investigate its effective fraction in aged mice,

Methods

Kombucha tea was fractionated into chloroform, butanol, and ethyl acetate, and flavonoid content was determined. Young and old mice were used as control. KT ethyl acetate fraction (KEAf), which had the highest flavonoid content, was intradermally administered to old mice.

Results

Administration of KEAf significantly increased the collagen content, NAD⁺/NADH level, and concomitantly improved skin connective tissue abnormalities in the aged skin. No sensitivity or irritation was observed.

Conclusion

This finding suggested that KEAf can be a suitable candidate as a cosmetic product to improve aging-related skin abnormalities and regeneration of aged skin.

Skin care and cosmeceuticals: Attitudes and trends among trainees and educators

Summary

Introduction

Patients often seek skin care recommendations from their dermatologist. The objective of this study was to determine the degree of education dermatology residents receive on skin care and cosmeceutical products, the source of education, and the attitude of trainees and their educators toward skin care and cosmeceuticals.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of dermatology residents and faculty via an online survey administered June 2015 and August 2015, respectively.

Results

In total, 104 dermatology residents and 50 dermatology faculty members completed the survey. Among the dermatology residents and faculty, equal distribution was represented across the country. The majority of residents and faculty (62% and 69%, respectively) report discussing skin care with up to 25% of their patients. Among resident participants, 76.5% "agree or strongly agree" that skin care and cosmeceutical education should be part of their education and the majority of residents (74.5%) report their education has been "too little or nonexistent" during residency. In contrast, the majority of the faculty (60%) reports their resident education is "just the right amount or too much" (P < .001).

Conclusions

Skin care and cosmeceutical recommendations are often discussed in dermatology visits. Dermatology residents feel that education on these products should be a part of their residency training.

Impaired permeability and antimicrobial barriers in type 2 diabetes skin are linked to increased serum levels of advanced glycation end-product

Abstract

Background

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasing rapidly, and the disease has become a serious sociomedical problem. Many skin problems, such as xerosis, pruritus, skin infections, and delayed wound healing, that might be related to chronic impairment of skin barrier function decrease the quality of life in DM patients. However, the status of the permeability and antimicrobial barrier of the skin in DM remains unknown.

Objective

This study aimed to elucidate skin barrier impairment in type 2 DM patients and its patho-mechanisms using classic animal models of type 2 DM.

Methods

Functional studies of the skin barrier and an analysis of stratum corneum (SC) lipids were compared between type 2 DM patients and age- and sex-matched non-diabetes controls. Also, functional studies on the skin barrier, epidermal lipid analyses, and electron microscopy and bio-molecular studies were performed using type 2 DM animal models, db/db and ob/ob mice.

Results

Type 2 DM patients presented with epidermal barrier impairments, including SC hydration, which was influenced by blood glucose control (HbA1c level). In the lipid analysis of SC, ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol were significantly decreased in type 2 DM patients compared with controls. Type 2 DM murine models presented with severe hyperglycemia, impairment of skin barrier homeostasis, decreases in epidermal proliferation and epidermal lipid synthesis, decreases in lamellar body (LB) and epidermal anti-microbial peptides (AMPs), an increase in receptors for advanced glycation end-product (AGE) in the epidermis, and an increase in serum AGE.

Conclusion

Impairment of the skin barrier was observed in type 2 DM, which results in part from a decrease in epidermal proliferation. Serum AGE and its epidermal receptors were increased in type 2 diabetic mice which display impaired skin barrier parameters such as epidermal lipid synthesis, LB production, epidermal AMP, and SC lipids.

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Solvent Transfer—Efficiency of Risk Management Measures

Abstract

A series of laboratory simulations were conducted in order to determine the airborne protection that might be afforded by different combinations of workplace exposure controls typically encountered when handling volatile solvents (e.g. solvent transfer). These conditions, referred to as risk management measures (RMMs) under the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals Regulation (REACH), are typically described using standard phrases in safety data sheets [and specifically those of the European Phrase Catalogue (EUPhraC)]. Ethanol was used as a model compound and its emissions were monitored continuously with a portable IR spectrometer at 3000 cm⁻¹. The average emission reduction performance of the investigated RMMs (e.g. containment, extract ventilation, drum pump) exceeded 90%. They present suitable ways to reduce airborne solvent exposure in a workplace and confirmed the initial expectations derived at by the European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG) and the European Centre For Ecotoxicology and toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) Targeted Risk Assessment (TRA) model.

Comparison of Respirable Mass Concentrations Measured by a Personal Dust Monitor and a Personal DataRAM to Gravimetric Measurements

Abstract

In 2016, the Mine Safety and Health Administration required the use of continuous monitors to measure respirable dust in mines and better protect miner health. The Personal Dust Monitor, PDM3700, has met stringent performance criteria for this purpose. In a laboratory study, respirable mass concentrations measured with the PDM3700 and a photometer (personal DataRam, pDR-1500) were compared to those measured gravimetrically for five aerosols of varying refractive index and density (diesel exhaust fume, welding fume, coal dust, Arizona road dust (ARD), and salt [NaCl] aerosol) at target concentrations of 0.38, 0.75, and 1.5 mg m⁻³. For all aerosols except coal dust, strong, near-one-to-one, linear relationships were observed between mass concentrations measured with the PDM3700 and gravimetrically (diesel fume, slope = 0.99, R² = 0.99; ARD, slope = 0.98, R² = 0.99; and NaCl, slope = 0.95, R² = 0.99). The slope deviated substantially from unity for coal dust (slope = 0.55; R² = 0.99). Linear relationships were also observed between mass concentrations measured with the pDR-1500 and gravimetrically, but one-to-one behavior was not exhibited (diesel fume, slope = 0.23, R² = 0.76; coal dust, slope = 0.54, R² = 0.99; ARD, slope = 0.61, R² = 0.99; NaCl, slope = 1.14, R² = 0.98). Unlike the pDR-1500, mass concentrations measured with the PDM3700 appear independent of refractive index and density, suggesting that it could have applications in a variety of occupational settings.

Comparative analysis of the protective effects of curcumin and N -acetyl cysteine against paracetamol-induced hepatic, renal, and testicular toxicity in Wistar rats

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of curcumin (CUR) vs. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) against paracetamol (PCM)-induced oxidative damage and impairment of liver, kidney, and testicular functions, as well as hematotoxicity, in albino rats. A large single dose of PCM induced lipid peroxidation along with a significant decline in glutathione content and catalase activity in the liver, kidneys, and testicles. The apparent oxidative damage was associated with evident hepatic, renal, and testicular dysfunction, which was confirmed in histopathological lesions, and increased serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities. PCM decreased serum total protein, albumin, and globulin contents; increased bilirubin, urea, and creatinine contents; and induced hematotoxicity. PCM also reduced the sperm cell count, sperm motility, and alive sperm rate and increased the sperm abnormality rate. Pretreatment of PCM-intoxicated animals with CUR or NAC substantially alleviated the increase in malondialdehyde and maintained the antioxidants at control levels. These pretreatments also minimized liver, kidney, and testicular histopathological changes and normalized their functions. CUR similarly mitigated the PCM hemato- and hepatotoxicity compared with NAC. However, it exhibited a pronounced nephroprotection, rather than reproductive protection as did NAC. Our findings demonstrate that a large single dose of PCM is not only associated with hepatotoxicity but also nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Both CUR and NAC administration provided substantial organ protection with pronounced efficacy against PCM nephrotoxicity with CUR and reproductive toxicity with NAC, which was possibly mediated through their antioxidant activities, as well as their specific characteristics.

Characterization and valorization of biomass char: a comparison with biomass ash

Abstract

Organic matter derived from living, or recently living plant and animal, which can be used as fuel is called as biomass. It includes wood and agricultural waste such as dead plant etc. In India, majority of population depends largely upon agriculture as their primary source of income. Following every harvest, a huge amount of biomass is generated. It is mostly discarded as "agro waste"; however, recently, several uses of biomass and its derivatives have been reported. Thermochemical processing of biomass in absence of oxygen produces biomass char and flue gases which are of economic importance. However, it is necessary to characterize the physical and chemical properties of these components so as to utilize their potential benefit to the fullest. In this study, six different biomass remains that include mustard plant, groundnut plant, cotton plant, wheat plant, pigeon peas, and groundnut shell were pyrolyzed at 650 °C, in vertical downdraft fixed-bed biomass reactor. The flue gases were characterized in detail by gas chromatography. X-ray fluorescence, proximate, and ultimate analyses were performed on all BMC (biomass char) samples, and properties such as porosity, particle density, bulk density, point of zero charge, surface pH, surface charges, water-absorption capacity, and BET surface area were determined. SEM and FTIR were also carried out on all BMC samples. Our results showed that the surface area of biomass char varies from 38 to 138 m²/g. The solution pH for all BMC exceeds 8.6, thus confirmed the alkaline nature. Comparison between combustion products produced in the presence (biomass ash) and absence of oxygen (biomass char) is presented. BMC finds applications in agriculture, soil neutralizer, adsorbent, and soil additive. They have high amount of carbon and can act as a rich carbon source for the soil. Flue gases released contain methane and hydrogen which can also improve economic value for the char formation process.

The micronucleus test for the oral mucosa: global trends and new questions

Abstract

This study reviews global trends in the publication of papers on the micronucleus test of the exfoliated cells of the oral mucosa in mammals as an approach for environmental biomonitoring. This test has been widely used due to its precision for the detection of chromosome damage. Our temporal analysis showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the publication of papers on the oral mucosa over the past 33 years. Brazil was the country that published most papers (24% of the total), followed by India (16%), the USA (10%), Mexico (7%), and Turkey (6%). A further 30 countries contributed the other 37% of the papers. Overall, 99% of the micronucleus studies involved human subjects, and only 1% involved other mammals. As many wild mammals are subject to the same environmental pressures as humans, in particular chemical pollution, it seems likely that many species are equally susceptible to genotoxicogical damage. We emphasize the importance of applying this technique to the analysis of the oral mucosa of wild mammals, as well as the evaluation of its effectiveness, as observed in humans, and the expansion of the available approaches to the monitoring of environmental quality.