Skin Research and Technology最新文献

Background: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is women's most common form of alopecia. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock waves for hair growth and regeneration in women with FPHL.

Methods: A prospective single-center noncontrolled study was conducted in patients with FPHL who underwent eight treatment sessions with C-Actor, a shock wave applicator. Outcome measures included total hair count, number of follicular units (FUs)-single FUs, double FUs, triple and bigger FUs-the average thickness, cumulative hair thickness, and changes in the Derived Sinclair scale, assessed with Tricholab (Fotofinder System). Patients completed a survey to assess their subjective perceptions of hair improvement regarding softness, hair loss, quality, and volume.

Results: Twenty women were included with a mean age of 43 (SD = 5.65). The mean increase in total hair count was 8.9% (p < 0.00001), in number of FUs 4.6% (p = 0.00031), in number of triple and bigger FUs 18.4% (p = 0.0004), in cumulative hair thickness 8.0% (p < 0.00001), with a decrease of 5.7% in mean Derived Sinclair scale value by 2.2-2.1 (p < 0.0001). After 3 months, 85% of patients perceived improvement in hair volume.

Conclusion: Extracorporeal shock waves for hair growth and capillary regeneration in women with FPHL showed statistically significant outcomes, and all patients reported an improvement in hair characteristics.

Background: The use of dermatoscopes is constantly increasing globally, but to date, there are no studies on the use of dermatoscopes by Chinese dermatologists.

Objective: To determine factors influencing the use of dermatoscopes in China.

Methods: A web-based questionnaire was designed by the Department of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and was published online via the Shanghai Wheat Color Intelligent Technology Company, China. In 2019 and 2022, 1581 and 1507 dermatologists, respectively, were recruited and completed the questionnaire online.

Results: In China, the application rate of dermatoscopy is higher in eastern provinces than in western and remote areas. The proportion of doctors from public tertiary hospitals is the highest, with females being the majority. The age range of 30-40 years has the highest proportion, the proportion of doctors with professional titles of attending physician or above is the highest, and the proportion of doctors with a bachelor's degree or above is the highest.

Conclusions: By improving the education and professional standards of doctors, providing more training opportunities, simplifying access, and promoting dermatoscopy in grassroots hospitals, we can increase the confidence of dermatologists in the use of dermatoscopy.

Background: Exanthematous drug eruption and infectious mononucleosis (IM) are both exanthematous diseases. Current research on exanthematous drug eruption and IM mainly targets identifying these disorders, the resulting differences at the metabolism level have not yet been systematically analyzed.

Materials and methods: A total of 30 cases of exanthematous drug eruption and IM, 10 patients without exanthema and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled, 3 mL of fasting venous blood was collected, the serum metabolite content was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics.

Results: A total of 165 metabolites were identified, exhibiting significant differences in plasma metabolic trends between exanthematous drug eruption and IM, and pinpointed 28 potential biomarkers. Notable changes were seen in the metabolic activities of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA-cycle), and galactose metabolism, characterized by increased levels of gluconate, gluconolactone, glucose, galactaric acid, and mannose, along with decreased amounts of pyruvic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, and glycerol, indicating an impairment in the exanthematous drug eruption group's capacity to endure oxidative stress and regulate energy metabolism. In contrast to its medication without rash counterpart, the exanthematous drug eruption group's plasma displayed distinct metabolic routes, predominantly in the processing of arginine and proline, along with the TCA. This resulted in a marked reduction in urea levels and a rise in pyruvate, citrate, and ornithine, indicating hypoxic stress as the primary cause of these rashes. In contrast to the healthy control group, the IM group showed 26 potential biomarkers, marked by increased levels of ketoglutaric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, and oxoglutaric acid, and reduced amounts of glutamine, galacturonic acid, arachidonic acid, trimethylphosphonic acid ester, gluconolactone, and indole acetic acid. Mainly, the metabolic pathways included the TCA, breaking down alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and the processing of D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, underscoring the body's crucial role in generating energy and inflammatory agents through the citric acid cycle.

Conclusions: The comparison of serum metabolomic features of exanthematous drug eruptions and IM outlines a unique pattern closely related to the differences in the pathogenesis of these two exanthematous diseases.

Background and objectives: Facial photoaging is a type of facial skin aging induced mainly by exogenous factors (ultraviolet radiation) and often manifests itself in the form of hyperpigmentation, telangiectasia, roughness, increase in fine lines/wrinkles, and enlarged pores. Recently, picosecond lasers have become an emerging option for the treatment of facial photoaging, and long-pulse alexandrite lasers (LPAL) have demonstrated promising potential in the treatment of photoaging-related symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of picosecond alexandrite laser (PSAL) with diffractive lens array (DLA) combined with LPAL for facial photoaging.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 20 Chinese female patients with facial photoaging who received PSAL with DLA combined with LPAL during a 1-year period. All patients were treated every 4 weeks for a total of three treatments. Objective indicators of facial photoaging and patient satisfaction were evaluated before each treatment, and pain scores and adverse effects were recorded after each treatment.

Results: Compared with baseline, patients showed significant differences in all facial photoaging indices (p < 0.01). After receiving three treatments, there was a 20.1% decrease in the pigmentation index, a 23.9% decrease in the erythema index, a 34.5% decrease in the texture index, a 28.4% decrease in the fine lines index, a 56% decrease in the pore index, a 9.3% elevation and a 17.1% decrease in elasticity R2 and F4, respectively, and a 55% decrease in sebum content. The mean satisfaction score for the three treatments was 4.67 (3.33, 5.00), and the mean visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was 7.00. No serious adverse effects such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), hypopigmentation, or blistering were observed at the treatment site during the treatment period.

Conclusion: PSAL with DLA combined with LPAL for the treatment of facial photoaging with significant efficacy, high patient satisfaction, and minimal adverse effects.

Background: Histopathological analysis represents the gold standard in clinical practice for diagnosing skin neoplasms. While the current diagnostic workflow has specialized in producing robust and accurate results, interpreting tissue architecture and malignant cellular morphology correctly remains one of the greatest challenges for pathologists. This paper aims to explore the prospect of applying x-ray virtual histology to human skin tumor excisions and correlating it with the histological validation.

Materials and methods: Seven skin biopsies containing intriguing melanoma types and pigmented skin lesions were scanned using x-ray Computed micro-Tomography (μCT) and then sectioned for conventional histology assessment.

Results: The tissue microarchitecture reconstructed by μCT offers detailed insights into diagnosing the malignancy or benignity of the skin lesions. Three-dimensional reconstruction via x-ray virtual histology reveals infiltrative patterns in basal cell carcinoma and evaluated invasiveness in melanoma. The technology enables the identification of pagetoid distributions of neoplastic cells and the assessment of melanoma depth in three dimensions.

Conclusion: Although the proposed approach is not intended to replace conventional histology, the non-destructive nature of the sample and the clarity provided by virtual inspection demonstrate the promising impact of μCT as a valid support method prior to conventional histological sectioning. Indeed, μCT images can suggest the optimal sectioning position before using a microtome, as is commonly performed in histological practice. Moreover, the three-dimensional nature of the proposed approach paves the way for a more accurate assessment of significant prognostic factors in melanoma, such as Breslow thickness, by considering the whole micro-volume rather than a two-dimensional observation.

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) enhances extracellular matrix remodeling and tissue regeneration by promoting growth factor release, regulating blood and lymphatic flows, and reducing fat and fibrotic tissues. Focused shock wave therapy (F-SWT), radial shock wave therapy (R-SWT), and combined F-SWT and R-SWT have been used to deliver different patterns of shock energy depending on the characteristics of the target lesions.

Methods: We investigated the efficacy and safety of ESWT in patients with dermal and subdermal fibrosis. Fifty-two patients treated with F-SWT and/or R-SWT for dermal and subdermal fibrosis caused due to various reasons were retrospectively analyzed by reviewing their medical records, clinical images, and ultrasound study images.

Results: The mean number of pulses administered for F-SWT on the cheek, temple, and chin were 2600.0 ± 1040.8 shocks/session and for R-SWT were 5080.0 ± 2234.6 pulses/session, and the number of treatment sessions were 8.0 ± 4.4. In patients who were treated with ESWT on the abdomen, the mean number of pulses for F-SWT were 2600.0 ± 2408.3 shocks/session and for R-SWT were 8400.0 ± 894.4 pulses/session, and the number of treatment sessions were 3.2 ± 1.6. Most patients were satisfied with the results. Pain during ESWT was well tolerated and post-ESWT edema was more common in R-SWT than in F-SWT.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that ESWT effectively and safely improved the clinical appearance and functional movement of patients with dermal and subdermal fibrosis caused due to various reasons.