Vaginal Bipolar Radiofrequency Treatment of Mild SUI: A Pilot Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: This retrospective study investigates the action of a bipolar, temperature controlled, endovaginal RF handpiece for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe stress urinary incontinence with a minimally invasive approach. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common condition resulting in involuntary urine leakage, with an associated social and psychological impact. SUI is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 54 patients for this study. The bipolar radiofrequency energy used in all patients was 50 W, with temperatures maintained between 41 °C and 44 °C. Two sessions were performed four weeks apart. In order to monitor all patients before the first treatment and 4 months after the second treatment, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) was used. Paired Student's t test was used to elaborate the statistical data. Results: The average frequency of urine leak improved from "2-3 times a week" (2.1 ± 1.3 points before the treatment) to "once a week" (0.8 ± 1.3 points 4 MFU post-treatment). The average volume improved from "small/moderate quantity" (3.2 ± 1.6 points before the treatment) to "none" (0.9 ± 1.4 points 4 MFU post-treatment). No adverse events or side effects were found. Conclusion: Our preliminary results represent a good starting point to check the effectiveness and validity of the bipolar radiofrequency temperature-controlled method in the treatment of SUI.

Preclinical and clinical evaluation on the performance and safety of a novel energy-based device for body shaping: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The emergence on the market of non-invasive mechanisms aimed at reducing subcutaneous fat achieving a slimming effect arouses great interest in doctors and patients. Several methods for the destruction of adipocytes are today on the market. AIMS: This is a pilot study on body fat reduction treatment, using a novel energy-based device for body shaping. METHODS: The study is performed on 42 patients, healthy adults of both sexes, with BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m², indicated for the removal of fatty tissue deposits specifically in the following areas: flanks, abdomen, internal legs, trochanter, buttocks, and arms. A minimum of 5 to a maximum of 6 treatments were performed for each patient, with the device, every two weeks and with a follow-up of 6 weeks. Circumference reduction, side effects, and patient pain were evaluated for all patients. RESULTS: A set of 42 patients were evaluated. The mean circumference reduction at 6 weeks was 2.42 ± 0.4 cm (p < 0.001). Treatment was well-tolerated (pain score, 3.24 ± 1.03) by all patients. There were no adverse events and patients declared to be satisfied with the aesthetic results obtained with the treatment. CONCLUSION: The new device emerges as a valid and safe treatment for all patients and shows a higher security profile with no side effects.

Combined laser assisted treatment for permanent hair removal for skin types I-V with Alexandrite 755 nm and ND:YAG 1064 nm lasers.

This retrospective cohort study regarding hair removal procedures considers all the data collected in three different clinical centers from 2017 to 2019. The device used to perform the treatments was composed of an Alexandrite 755 nm and an Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser, that delivered both wavelengths in a blended simultaneous emission (Thunder MT, Quanta System, Samarate, Italy). The improvement evaluated after five sessions of treatment by an external referee was: 83.0% for armpits, 82.1% for the bikini line, 82.2% for legs, 79.6% for thorax, and 81.6% for the back. The collected temporary skin reaction data reported in this study were all acceptable and transitory resolving in less than 1 week. The level of erythema and perifollicular edema were all signs of the reached treatment endpoint. First degree burns, hyper, and hypopigmentation were also reported in a few cases but these, all resolved before the follow-up visit without any permanent skin effects. No adverse effects were thus reported to have happened. This retrospective study demonstrates the efficacy of combining Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers in a mixed modality with simultaneous emission. This technology permitted to treat patients with skin types I-V without any reported permanent side effects and with a high pain tolerability compared to the use of Nd:YAG in single mode.

"Two wavelengths endovaginal laser system": Clinical evaluation of a new device for mild SUI and vaginal atrophy treatment.

Menopause is the condition when a woman no longer manifests menstrual periods. Genitourinary syndrome (GSM) is the acronym to describe possible symptoms of this condition. Vaginal dryness can be a particular problem for women entering menopause, it can make the intercourse painful and may cause the increase in the need to urinate. Aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of combined fractional CO2 (10 500 nm) ablative and 1540 nm nonablative lasers on these symptoms. About 40 postmenopausal nonestrogenized women with moderate to severe vaginal atrophy referring symptoms related to GSM were recruited. A treatment cycle included three laser applications (every 4 weeks), was performed. Time points of the study were baseline (T1), week 4 (T2), week 8 (T3), and week 12 (T4).. Results evaluation was done with a modified female sexual function index (FSFI) and a modified stress urinary incontinence (SUI) scale. A significant improvement both of FSFI total score and each individual FSFI domain score was observed. No undesired side effects or short-term or long-term complications were shown. This study shows that the "two wavelengths endovaginal laser treatment" is a safe and effective technique to treat signs and symptoms related to GSM syndrome. For the treatment of women with severe urogenital symptoms who do not benefit from lifestyle changes, vaginal moisturizers, or local estrogen therapy, clinicians should consider the use of vaginal fractional laser treatment.

Combined fractional resurfacing (10600 nm/1540 nm): Tridimensional imaging evaluation of a new device for skin rejuvenation.

In this study were described the results, by tridimensional imaging evaluation, of the new "Combined Fractional Resurfacing" technique with the first fractional laser that overtakes the limits of traditional ablative, nonablative fractional resurfacing by combining CO2 ablative and GaAs nonablative lasers. These two wavelengths can work separately or in a mixed modality to give the best treatment choice to all the patients. In this study, it is demonstrated that the simultaneous combination of the CO2 wavelength (10600 nm) and GaAs wavelength (1540 nm) reduced the downtime, reduced pain during the treatment, and produced better results on fine wrinkles reduction and almost the same results on pigmentation as seen with 3D analysis by Antera (Miravex).

A phosphatidylcholine hyaluronic acid chitin-nanofibrils complex for a fast skin remodeling and a rejuvenating look.

BACKGROUND: The reduction of mortality worldwide has led older individuals to seek intervention modalities to improve their appearance and reverse signs of aging. OBJECTIVE: We formulated a medical device as innovative block-polymer nanoparticles based on phosphatidylcholine, hyaluronan, and chitin nanofibrils entrapping amino acids, vitamins, and melatonin. METHODS: Viability and collagen synthesis were controlled on fibroblasts ex vivo culture while adenosine triphosphate production was evaluated on keratinocytes culture. Subjective and objective evaluations were performed in vivo on selected volunteer patients. RESULTS: In accordance with our previous studies, both the in vitro and in vivo obtained results demonstrate the efficacy of the injected block-polymer nanoparticles in reducing skin wrinkling and ameliorating the signs of aging.

Central chorioretinopathy associated with topical use of minoxidil 2% for treatment of baldness.

PURPOSE: Minoxidil is one of the drugs approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. This article presents a case of central serous chorioretinopathy after application of topical minoxidil solution. METHODS: We examined a 37-year-old man who complained of a positive relative scotoma, metamorphopsia and impaired dark adaptation involving the right eye. The patient reported an 8 month history of daily topical use but denied previous treatment with other drugs. Dilated fundus examination of right eye revealed central swelling located over the macula. Optical coherence tomography showed the presence of subretinal fluid. Fluorescein angiography disclosed one focal hyperfluorescent spot in the foveal area with minimal pigmentary changes limitated to that area. The patient was diagnosed with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) potentially related to an 8 month topical minoxidil solution administration. One month after the drug was discontinued, normal findings were found upon reexamination. The patient reported no previous episode of CSC. CONCLUSION: Major systemic side effects from topical solution of minoxidil are rare. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a central serous chorioretinopathy associated with long-term use of this drug.

"Multi Light and Drugs": a new technique to treat face photoaging. Comparative study with photorejuvenation.

Nonablative skin rejuvenation using laser, intense pulsed lights (IPLs), or radiofrequency techniques are becoming increasingly popular. In this paper, a novel protocol that integrates IPL sessions, low intense light and vitamin C, low-weight hyaluronic acid, betaglucan dermal injection versus IPL photorejuvenation as monotherapy is compared. A group of 100 patients, all women, with ages ranging from 35 to 65 years old (median age 56.3) with different degrees of photodamage was considered. A blinded control study was done. The patients were divided not randomly into two groups. These groups are similar for ages, skin types, and degrees of photoaging distribution. A first group of 40 patients had monotherapy consisting of seven sessions of IPL only. A second group of 60 patients had triple therapy consisting of seven sessions of IPL as well as nine sessions of low intense diode light and also biostimulation by drugs. Considering only the improvement in hyperpigmentations and teleangectasias, the monotherapy and the triple therapy show good results with no significant statistical difference between the two groups. Considering the improvement in skin texture and firmness in the group treated only with monotherapy, 30% (12 patients) had positive results, and 70% (28 patients) had poor results. In the group treated with triple therapy, 70% (42 patients) had positive results, and 30% (18 patients) had poor results, with the main differences in skin silicone negative imprints. On the basis of the data presented, the new technique of IPL, low intensity diode light, and multidrugs biostimulation seems to be a safe and effective method for skin rejuvenation and upgrades the effects of IPL in the fibroblasts' stimulation.

[Obesity and plastic surgery]. / Obesità e chirurgia plastica.

The number of the bariatric surgical procedures to obtain a body weight loss is increasing, and will be higher in the years to come. The plastic surgeons are witnessing in parallel a meaningful growth of requests for surgical procedures to obtain a reshaping of body profiles after the procedures of bariatric surgery The surgical techniques of bariplastic surgery can be divided in three main groups: (1) Dermolipectomies (associated or not with lipoplastics). (2) Mammaplasties (with or without prosthetic implant). (3) Combined techniques (torsectomies). To correctly treat the morbid obese patients the multidisciplinary collaboration of a medical equip is of paramount importance. Bariplastic surgery after massive loss of weight has grown safe and efficacious if made on selected patients and in the hands of wide experienced surgeons.