Remoção de tatuagem com laser Q-switched NdYAG em população brasileira / Tattoo removal with Q-switched Nd: YAG laser in a Brazilian population

INTRODUÇÃO: Na prática da remoção de tatuagem, já foram utilizadas a dermo a brasão e a cirurgia. Atualmente, se utiliza o laser. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a remoção de tatuagens utilizando-se o laser Q-switched NdYAG. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo, com pacientes tratados com laser Q-switched NdYAG. Foram coletados dados a partir de prontuários e fotos dos pacientes, e de contato por telefone ou e-mail. A análise estatística foi feita através da análise de distribuição, regressão multivariada e regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 304 pacientes com média de idade de 29,8 anos (±7,86), sendo que 297 (97,69%) foram classificados como brancos (fotótipos I, II e III); destes, 270 (88,81%) haviam feito tatuagens profissionais. A tatuagem mais antiga tinha 360 meses e a mais recente, um mês, obtendo-se uma média de 64,56 meses (± 63,54). O tamanho das tatuagens foi, em média, de 12,92 cm, sendo preta a cor predominante, estando presente em 291(86,51%) tatuagens. A média de sessões por paciente foi de 3,77 sessões (±2,99) e o intervalo entre estas foi de 49,23 dias. Com isso, foi observado, pelo terapeuta, que 52,96% das tatuagens foram parcialmente removidas; 21,38%, não removidas; 86,51%, cicatrização normal; 8,55%, cicatriz hipertrófica, e 3,29%, queloide. Dos 304 pacientes, 26,64% (81) relataram estar satisfeitos e 58,88% (179) relataram estar parcialmente satisfeitos com o resultado. A hipocromia esteve presente em 33,55% (102) dos indivíduos. CONCLUSÕES: O laser Q-switched NdYAG é um método seguro e eficaz, apresentando bom grau de satisfação e poucos efeitos indesejáveis na remoção de tatuagem.

INTRODUCTION: Both dermabrasion and surgery have been used in the practice of tattoo removal. Currently, laser is also being used. The aim of this study is to evaluate tattoo removal with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. METHOD: This is a retrospective study on patients treated by using Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The data were collected from medical records and patient photographs, and through phone or e-mail contact. Statistical tests were done through the analysis of distribution, multivariate regression, and logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 304 patients with an average age of 29.8 years (±7.86 years) were assessed. Of the total, 297 (97.69%) were classified as white (phototypes I, II, and III), 270 (88.81%) of whom had professional tattoos done. The oldest tattoo was 360 months old and the most recent was 1 month old, with an average of 64.56 months (±63.54 months). The tattoo size was, on average, 12.92 cm, with black being the predominant color (i.e., present in 291 [86.51%] tattoos). The average number of sessions per patient was 3.77 (±2.99), and the interval between sessions was 49.23 days. The therapist observed that 52.96% of the tattoos were partially removed, 21.38% were not removed, 86.51% showed normal healing, 8.55% developed a hypertrophic scar, and 3.29% developed a keloid. Of the 304 patients, 81 (26.64%) reported being satisfied and 179 (58.88%) reported being partially satisfied with the outcome. Hypochromia was present in 102 (33.55%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is a safe and effective method for tattoo removal that results in a good degree of patient satisfaction and few undesirable effects.

Afferent signaling drives oxytocinergic preautonomic neurons and mediates training-induced plasticity.

We showed previously that oxytocinergic (OTergic) projections from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the dorsal brain stem mediate training-induced heart rate (HR) adjustments and that beneficial effects of training are blocked by sinoaortic denervation (SAD; Exp Physiol 94: 630-640; 1103-1113, 2009). We sought now to determine the combined effect of training and SAD on PVN OTergic neurons in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Rats underwent SAD or sham surgery and were trained (55% of maximal capacity) or kept sedentary for 3 mo. After hemodynamic measurements were taken at rest, rats were deeply anesthetized. Fresh brains were frozen and sliced to isolate the PVN; samples were processed for OT expression (real-time PCR) and fixed brains were processed for OT immunofluorescence. In sham rats, training improved treadmill performance and increased the gain of baroreflex control of HR. Training reduced resting HR (-8%) in both groups, with a fall in blood pressure (-10%) only in SHR rats. These changes were accompanied by marked increases in PVN OT mRNA expression (3.9- and 2.2-fold in WKY and SHR rats, respectively) and peptide density in PVN OTergic neurons (2.6-fold in both groups), with significant correlations between OT content and training-induced resting bradycardia. SAD abolished PVN OT mRNA expression and markedly reduced PVN OT density in WKY and SHR. Training had no effect on HR, PVN OT mRNA, or OT content following SAD. The chronic absence of inputs from baroreceptors and chemoreceptors uncovers the pivotal role of afferent signaling in driving both the plasticity and activity of PVN OTergic neurons, as well as the beneficial effects of training on cardiovascular control.

Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity as indicator of sympathetic activity: simultaneous evaluation in different tissues of hypertensive rats.

Vasomotor control by the sympathetic nervous system presents substantial heterogeneity within different tissues, providing appropriate homeostatic responses to maintain basal/stimulated cardiovascular function both at normal and pathological conditions. The availability of a reproducible technique for simultaneous measurement of sympathetic drive to different tissues is of great interest to uncover regional patterns of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). We propose the association of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (THir) with image analysis to quantify norepinephrine (NE) content within nerve terminals in arteries/arterioles as a good index for regional sympathetic outflow. THir was measured in fixed arterioles of kidney, heart, and skeletal muscle of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (123 ± 2 and 181 ± 4 mmHg, 300 ± 8 and 352 ± 8 beats/min, respectively). There was a differential THir distribution in both groups: higher THir was observed in the kidney and skeletal muscle (∼3-4-fold vs. heart arterioles) of WKY; in SHR, THir was increased in the kidney and heart (2.4- and 5.3-fold vs. WKY, respectively) with no change in the skeletal muscle arterioles. Observed THir changes were confirmed by either: 1) determination of NE content (high-performance liquid chromatography) in fresh tissues (SHR vs. WKY): +34% and +17% in kidney and heart, respectively, with no change in the skeletal muscle; 2) direct recording of renal (RSNA) and lumbar SNA (LSNA) in anesthetized rats, showing increased RSNA but unchanged LSNA in SHR vs. WKY. THir in skeletal muscle arterioles, NE content in femoral artery, and LSNA were simultaneously reduced by exercise training in the WKY group. Results indicate that THir is a valuable technique to simultaneously evaluate regional patterns of sympathetic activity.

SGLT1 protein expression in plasma membrane of acinar cells correlates with the sympathetic outflow to salivary glands in diabetic and hypertensive rats.

Salivary gland dysfunction is a feature in diabetes and hypertension. We hypothesized that sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) participates in salivary dysfunctions through a sympathetic- and protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated pathway. In Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), diabetic WKY (WKY-D), spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), and diabetic SHR (SHR-D) rats, PKA/SGLT1 proteins were analyzed in parotid and submandibular glands, and the sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) to the glands was monitored. Basal SNA was threefold higher in SHR (P < 0.001 vs. WKY), and diabetes decreased this activity (∼50%, P < 0.05) in both WKY and SHR. The catalytic subunit of PKA and the plasma membrane SGLT1 content in acinar cells were regulated in parallel to the SNA. Electrical stimulation of the sympathetic branch to salivary glands increased (∼30%, P < 0.05) PKA and SGLT1 expression. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the observed regulations of SGLT1, revealing its location in basolateral membrane of acinar cells. Taken together, our results show highly coordinated regulation of sympathetic activity upon PKA activity and plasma membrane SGLT1 content in salivary glands. Furthermore, the present findings show that diabetic- and/or hypertensive-induced changes in the sympathetic activity correlate with changes in SGLT1 expression in basolateral membrane of acinar cells, which can participate in the salivary glands dysfunctions reported by patients with these pathologies.