Influence of ethnicity on aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics in Caucasian male and female faces.

BACKGROUND: In an era where globalization and social media significantly reshape beauty standards, it is imperative to delve into the subjectivity of beauty and attractiveness. The lips, a key element in facial aesthetics, contribute significantly to the perception of attractiveness, and also have a profound impact on an individual's self-esteem. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of ethnicity on the aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics, among male and female faces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study encompassed a sample of 231 study participants (153 women and 78 men) with an average age of 23.2 ±â€¯2.8 years, representing ethnicities such as African, Caucasian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian. Participants were asked to rate a series of images showcasing various lip variants, providing insights into their aesthetic preferences. RESULTS: Demographic analysis revealed gender and ethnic variations in aesthetic preferences for all the investigated lip parameters. Women were 2.42 times more likely than men to prefer no Cupid's indentation on a female model (p = 0.0019). CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the importance of understanding cultural influences on beauty standards and challenges the notion of a universal beauty ideal. The evolving role of social media trends, such as Cupid's bow indentation elimination, raises questions about the dynamic nature of aesthetic preferences among different ethnicities.

Horizontal necklines correction with absorbable braided polydioxanone threads: Case series.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of horizontal neck lines as a cosmetic concern is widely acknowledged, yet the available treatment options are limited, and no studies have investigated the use of polydioxanone-barbed threads. These threads, characterized by a finely braided structure, function as a scaffold to attract regenerative factors and facilitate the migration and proliferation of cells. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of concurrent application of braided polydioxanone-barbed threads for addressing horizontal neck wrinkles. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective case series involving four female participants (aged 41, 43, 45, and 46) treated with polydioxanone-barbed threads for horizontal neck wrinkles between January 2023 and July 2023 was conducted. Adult patients were assessed at an 8-week follow-up, revealing a significant reduction in wrinkle intensity based on the Horizontal Neck Wrinkle Severity Scale. RESULTS: The analysis of horizontal neck lines demonstrated a notable decrease in wrinkle intensity according to the Horizontal Neck Wrinkle Severity Scale at the 8-week mark, and this improvement maintained statistical significance. Both patient Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) scores (90%-100%) and physician GAIS scores (100%) were rated as excellent. CONCLUSION: The subdermal application of polydioxanone-barbed threads for horizontal neck lines proves to be a secure and efficacious approach for treating horizontal neck wrinkles, with no observed Tyndall effect. This technique shows promise for rejuvenating the skin in the horizontal neckline region.

Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Oxygen-Ozone (O2O3) Injection Therapy in Patients with Lower Back Pain-An Interventional Two-Year Follow-Up Study of 321 Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of oxygen-ozone therapy guided by percutaneous Computed Tomography (CT) compared to corticosteroids in individuals experiencing lower back pain (LBP) not attributed to underlying bone-related issues. METHODS: A total of 321 patients (192 males and 129 females, mean age: 51.5 ± 15.1 years) with LBP were assigned to three treatment groups: group A) oxygen-ozone only, group B) corticosteroids only, group C) oxygen-ozone and corticosteroids. Treatment was administered via CT-guided injections to the intervertebral disc (i.e., intradiscal location). Clinical improvement of pain and functionality was assessed via self-reported pain scales and magnetic resonance (MR) and CT imaging. RESULTS: At all follow-up times, the mean score of the numeric rating scale and the total global pain scale (GPS) of study groups receiving oxygen-ozone (groups A and C) were statistically significantly lower than the study group receiving corticosteroids only (group B), with p < 0.001. There was a statistically significant difference between groups A and C at 30 days for the numeric rating scale. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous application of oxygen-ozone in patients with LBP due to degeneration of the lumbosacral spine showed long-lasting significant pain reduction of up to two years post-treatment when compared to corticosteroids alone. Combination therapy of oxygen-ozone and corticosteroids can be useful as corticosteroids showed statistically significant improvement in LBP earlier than the oxygen-ozone-only treatment.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa): an unusual cause of painful defaecation.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComa) are rare tumours of mesenchymal origin. We report a 39-year-old patient who presented with painful defecation secondary to an anorectal mass. The diagnosis of anorectal PEComa was confirmed following excision and histopathological examination. We review the literature and discuss the management of this uncommon entity.

Body Weight and Prandial Variation of Plasma Metabolites in Subjects Undergoing Gastric Band-Induced Weight Loss.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric procedures are safe and effective treatments for obesity, inducing rapid and sustained loss of excess body weight. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is unique among bariatric interventions in that it is a reversible procedure in which normal gastrointestinal anatomy is maintained. Knowledge regarding how LAGB effects change at the metabolite level is limited. OBJECTIVES: To delineate the impact of LAGB on fasting and postprandial metabolite responses using targeted metabolomics. SETTING: Individuals undergoing LAGB at NYU Langone Medical Center were recruited for a prospective cohort study. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed serum samples from 18 subjects at baseline and 2 months after LAGB under fasting conditions and after a 1-hour mixed meal challenge. Plasma samples were analyzed on a reverse-phase liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry metabolomics platform. The main outcome measure was their serum metabolite profile. RESULTS: We quantitatively detected over 4,000 metabolites and lipids. Metabolite levels were altered in response to surgical and prandial stimuli, and metabolites within the same biochemical class tended to behave similarly in response to either stimulus. Plasma levels of lipid species and ketone bodies were statistically decreased after surgery whereas amino acid levels were affected more by prandial status than surgical condition. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in lipid species and ketone bodies postoperatively suggest improvements in the rate and efficiency of fatty acid oxidation and glucose handling after LAGB. Further investigation is necessary to understand how these findings relate to surgical response, including long term weight maintenance, and obesity-related comorbidities such as dysglycemia and cardiovascular disease.

Impact of Microsurgical Anastomosis of Hepatic Artery on Arterial Complications and Survival Outcomes After Liver Transplantation.

Hepatic artery (HA) complications after liver transplant (LT) can lead to biliary complications, graft failure, and mortality. Although microsurgery has been established to improve anastomotic outcomes, it prolongs surgical time and has not reached widespread adoption at all transplant centers. We investigated the incidences of arterial, biliary complications and outcomes after using microsurgery to anastomose HA during LT. Retrospective cohort of consecutive LT performed from 2006 to 2018 was reviewed for operative details and postoperative outcomes. Cox-regression models were used to investigate the relationship between variables and outcomes. Eighty (62.5%) LTs (Group 1) were performed without and compared with 48 (Group 2) with microsurgical anastomosis of HA. Both groups were comparable in terms of arterial and biliary anastomoses performed. Incidence of early HA thrombosis was similar (6.2% vs 2.1%, P = .28). Group 2 had lower incidence of short- and long-term arterial complications, especially amongst living donor liver transplantations (LDLT) (5.3% vs 35.0%, P = .022). On multivariate analysis, microsurgery was associated with lower risk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.71) of, and LDLT had higher risk (HR 4.23, 95% CI 1.46-12.27) of arterial complications. Biliary complications were associated with LDLT (HR 3.91, 95% CI 1.30-11.71) and dual biliary anastomoses (HR 5.26, 95% CI 1.15-24.08) but not with occurrence of HA complications. Worse patient survival was associated with the occurrence of any HA complication (HR 4.11, 95% CI 1.78-9.48). Hepatic arterial complications can be reduced using microsurgical techniques for the anastomosis, resulting in improved patient survival outcomes after liver transplantation.

The Cleaner XT™ Device as an Endovascular Adjunct for Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis of Thrombosed Arteriovenous Fistulas and Grafts.

Objective: This paper documents our experience using the Cleaner XT™ device (Argon Medical Devices, Plano, TX, USA) for pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) of thrombosed haemodialysis arteriovenous grafts (AVG) and fistulas (AVF). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective case series (n=17) over six months at Singapore General Hospital. We evaluated demographics, procedural data, technical and procedural success, patency rates and complications. Results: There were 8 (47%) males and the patients' mean age was 66 (± 5.7) years. The mean age of AVF/AVG was 1605 (± 1099) days. All procedures were performed under local anaesthetic. PMT was performed within a mean time of 40 (±34.3) hours from the presentation. Technical, clinical and procedural success was 15/17 (88%). The thrombolysis agents used were tissue plasminogen activator (52.9%) and urokinase (41.2%). Mean primary patency time was 114 (± 116) days, with a 65% 1-month and 47% 3-month primary patency rates. The mean secondary patency time was 155 (±132) days, with 76% one-month and 65% three-month secondary patency rates, respectively. AVF rupture occurred in 3/17 (18%) cases but did not involve loss of the access circuit. Conclusion: The Cleaner XT™ device is a safe, minimally invasive endovascular tool for PMT in thrombosed AVF/AVG, with relatively high success and low complication rates.

The turricephaly index: A validated method for recording turricephaly and its natural history in Apert syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: We present the CT scan-derived turricephaly index (TI) as a quotient of the maximal occipito-frontal length of the skull to the distance from the centre of the sella to the highest point on the vertex as a validated tool for assessing turricephaly and evaluating surgical techniques aimed at reducing it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements taken from CTs of non-operated children with Apert syndrome and age-matched controls were analysed using Centricity PACS system (from the lateral scout image) and the thick-sliced Osirix tool. CTs from non-operated children with Apert syndrome were used to investigate the natural history of their turricephaly both as a group and individually. RESULTS: There was statistically significant agreement between measurements taken from the CT scout and Osirix for 42 control children (R2 = 0.97) and 42 children with Apert syndrome (R2 = 0.98) and between two separate observers. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between CT scout-derived TI value between controls (1.73 ± 0.12, range 1.46-1.99) and Apert children (1.42 ± 0.15, range 1.13-1.73). Analysis of 113 CTs of 65 non-operated children with Apert syndrome showed a decrease in turricephaly with age (positive spearman correlation: r = 0.50, p < 0.001). Analysis of 37 CTs of those with multiple (>2) CT's showed a similar decrease in turricephaly in the individual child (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TI derived from the CT scout view provides a simple, objective and validated method for assessing turricephaly. We recommend it for monitoring and for the prospective evaluation of reconstructive techniques in children with complex/syndromic craniosynostosis.

New-onset ascites as a manifestation of virologic relapse in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C is the most common cause of cirrhosis in industrialized countries. Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis has significant benefits, including improvements in inflammation, fibrosis, and portal hypertension, with prevention of esophageal varices and clinical decompensation. CASE: In this report, we present two patients with well-compensated hepatitis C cirrhosis who achieved an end-of-treatment response on a direct-acting antiviral therapy-based triple regimen for hepatitis C virus, but subsequently presented with new-onset ascites associated with virologic relapse. CONCLUSION: We propose that the development of ascites in this setting is due to the adverse impact of inflammation of the virologic relapse on portal hypertension. Our observation that ascites formation can be a manifestation of virologic relapse has potentially important clinical implications, as it highlights not only the importance of close monitoring of cirrhotic patients after achieving end-of-treatment response but also the impact of active inflammation on the severity of portal hypertension.