RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In Asia, the demand for cosmetic facial treatments has surged due to technological advancements, increased social acceptability, and affordability. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fillers, known for their biocompatibility and biodegradability, have emerged as a popular choice for facial contouring, yet studies specifically addressing their use in Asian populations are scarce. METHODS: This retrospective study examined 30 Chinese patients who underwent facial contouring with PLLA fillers, focusing on product composition, injection techniques, and safety measures. A comprehensive clinical evaluation was performed, including the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and Global Impression of Change Scale (GICS) for effectiveness and patient satisfaction, respectively. RESULTS: No significant difference in GAIS scores was observed between injectors and blinded evaluators over a 12-month period, indicating consistent effectiveness. Patient satisfaction remained high, with GICS scores reflecting positive outcomes. The safety profile was favorable, with no serious adverse events reported. The study highlighted the importance of anatomical knowledge to avoid complications, particularly in areas prone to blindness. CONCLUSIONS: PLLA fillers offer a safe, effective option for facial contour correction in the Asian population, achieving high patient satisfaction and maintaining results over time. The study underscores the need for tailored approaches in cosmetic procedures for Asians, considering their unique facial structures and aesthetic goals. Further research with larger, multicenter cohorts is recommended to validate these findings and explore long-term effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
RESUMO
Previous studies have indicated that MD-fraction (MDF), in which the active component is beta 1,6-glucan with beta 1,3-branches, has anti-tumor activity as an oral agent and acts as an immune adjuvant. Since some other beta glucans appear to promote mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells, the effects of a beta glucan extract from the Maitake mushroom "MD-fraction" on hematopoietic stem cells were examined in a colony forming assay. Here we report for the first time that MDF has a dose response effect on mouse bone marrow cells (BMC) hematopoiesis in vitro. Using the Colony Forming Unit (CFU) assay to detect formation of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) colonies, and the XTT cytotoxicitiy assay to measure BMC viability, the data showed that the addition of MDF significantly enhanced the development of CFU-GM in a dose range of 50-100 microg/ml (p<0.004). The mechanism of action included significant increase of nonadherent BMC viability, which was observed at MDF doses of 12.5-100 microg/ml (p<0.005). In the presence of Doxorubicin (DOX), MDF promoted BMC viability and protected CFU-GM from DOX induced toxicity. In addition, MDF treatment promoted the recovery of CFU-GM colony formation after BMC were pretreated with DOX. These studies provided the first evidence that MDF acts directly in a dose dependent manner on hematopoietic BMC and enhances BMC growth and differentiation into colony forming cells.