Comparison of the fractionated Nd: YAG 1064-nm picosecond laser with holographic optics and the fractional CO2 laser in atrophic acne scar treatment: a prospective, randomized, split-face study.

KEY POINT: The 1064-nm picosecond laser with holographic optics demonstrated significant efficacy in treating atrophic acne scars. BACKGROUND: Picosecond lasers with fractionated optics have enabled the development of a breakthrough skin rejuvenation method. The authors compared the fractionated, non-ablative neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet 1064-nm picosecond laser with holographic optics and the fractional CO2 laser in treating atrophic acne scars. METHODS: One side of each patient's face was randomly allocated and treated with three sessions of the 1064-nm picosecond laser with holographic optics at 2-month intervals. In contrast, the other side was treated with the fractional CO2 laser. Participants were followed up 3 months after the final session. The primary outcome included the physicians' evaluation using the ECCA grading scale and a four-point scale to assess improvement. The patients' assessment of progress, their overall satisfaction and preferences, and the side effects were also evaluated. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the two lasers in terms of the mean ECCA scores after treatments (P = 0.209). The physicians' improvement assessment was more significant for the fractional CO2 laser (P = 0.001). The patients' evaluation of improvement and subjective satisfaction were consistent with physicians' four-point scale results. The picosecond laser side had fewer adverse effects (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The fractionated, non-ablative Nd: YAG 1064-nm picosecond laser with holographic optics and the fractional CO2 laser were effective and safe in treating atrophic acne scars. Significantly better clinical outcomes were observed with the fractional CO2 laser, whereas fewer adverse effects were noted with the 1064-nm picosecond laser with holographic optics.

Efficacy and safety of fractional micro-needling radiofrequency for the treatment of enlarged pores on the cheeks of a chinese cohort: a retrospective study.

To explore the efficacy and safety of fractional micro-needling radiofrequency (FMRF) in the treatment of enlarged pores on the cheek in a Chinese cohort. Patients with enlarged facial pores who underwent FMRF between January 2020 and December 2022 were included in this study. Blinded clinical assessments were performed by two independent dermatologists using a six-grade photographic enlarged pore scale and a quartile grading scale. Patients were asked to rate the degree of pain related to treatment on a visual analog scale (VAS), with scores ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain ever). A paired t-test was used to analyze the six-grade photographic enlarged pore scores. A total of 22 patients received three consecutive sessions of FMRF treatment, with intervals of 1-3 months, and underwent follow-up as scheduled. The mean six-grade photographic enlarged score was 3.55 ± 0.96 at baseline, while the score decreased significantly to 2.59 ± 0.59 after three treatment sessions (P < 0.05). The improvement score of the patients, assessed by two independent dermatologists, was 2.31 ± 0.71, according to the quartile grading scale. The mean VAS score was 6.42 ± 1.44. FMRF is effective and safe for the treatment of enlarged facial pores after three sessions.

Comparison of the 1064-nm picosecond laser with fractionated microlens array and 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser for the treatment of enlarged pores: a randomized, split-face, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This split-face randomized study compared the efficacy and safety between 1064-nm picosecond laser with fractionated microlens array (MLA) and 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser to treat enlarged pores. METHODS: Participants with enlarged facial pores were enrolled and underwent three consecutive sessions at 2-week intervals with either a 1064-nm picosecond laser with MLA or a 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser. Images were captured at each visit. Objective (pore number) and subjective assessments, including patient self-evaluations and quartile improvement scales, were used to evaluate the treatment efficacy. The pain levels and adverse effects were recorded at each subsequent visit. RESULTS: The participants were 3 men and 22 women with enlarged facial pores. At the initial and 2-month checkups after the last treatment, the pore numbers were significantly decreased bilaterally for both lasers. The respective quartile improvement scale scores for the 1064-nm picosecond and 1565-nm fractional lasers were 2.22 ± 1.06 and 2.14 ± 1.11, while those for patient self-assessment were 3.72 ± 0.74 and 3.68 ± 0.75. The pore number, quartile improvement scale score, and patients' self-assessments did not differ significantly between the two lasers. Treatment with the 1064-nm picosecond laser better reduced pain compared with the 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser (4.11 ± 1.33 vs. 4.83 ± 1.17). The occurrence of pigmentation did not differ significantly between the lasers. CONCLUSION: Both the 1064-nm picosecond laser with MLA and the 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser are viable options for treating enlarged pores, and showed comparable respective efficacies; however, the former was less likely to cause hyperpigmentation and was better tolerated.

Application and development of zero-valent iron (ZVI)-based materials for environmental remediation: A scientometric and visualization analysis.

Zero-valent iron (ZVI)-based materials are among the most widely used engineered particles in the field of environmental remediation. To provide a comprehensive overview of the status and trend of the research on them, this study conducted a quantitative and visual analysis of 6296 relevant publications obtained from Web of Science between 1994 and 2022 using CiteSpace software. By using the bibliometric method, this work systematically analyzed the knowledge structure, research hotspots and trends of ZVI-based materials in this field. The results show that the research on ZVI-based materials in this field developed rapidly over the past 28 years. China is the greatest contributor with the most published articles and collaborations. Still, the USA has the most academic influence with the highest average citations per article. Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tongji University are the primary establishments that produced the greatest number of publications and had the highest h-index. Keyword cluster analysis indicates that the primary research topics are related to reductive dechlorination, sulfate radical, arsenic removal, graphene oxide, porous media, peroxymonosulfate, groundwater remediation, and permeable reactive barrier. Meanwhile, keyword burst analysis reveals that the primary research hotspots and frontiers of ZVI focus on its modification, the refractory and emerging contaminants treatment, persulfate activation, and electron transfer. However, no keywords or topics related to the environmental impact and toxicity of ZVI-based materials are available in the keyword clustering and burst analysis results, indicating this direction deserves more attention in future research. Through a comprehensive and in-depth bibliometric analysis, this paper provides new insight into the research hotspots and development trends of the research on ZVI-based materials in environmental remediation.

Interface Optimization and Performance Enhancement of Er2O3-Based MOS Devices by ALD-Derived Al2O3 Passivation Layers and Annealing Treatment.

In this paper, the effect of atomic layer deposition (ALD)-derived Al2O3 passivation layers and annealing temperatures on the interfacial chemistry and transport properties of sputtering-deposited Er2O3 high-k gate dielectrics on Si substrate has been investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses have showed that the ALD-derived Al2O3 passivation layer remarkably prevents the formation of the low-k hydroxides generated by moisture absorption of the gate oxide and greatly optimizes the gate dielectric properties. Electrical performance measurements of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with different gate stack order have revealed that the lowest leakage current density of 4.57 × 10-9 A/cm2 and the smallest interfacial density of states (Dit) of 2.38 × 1012 cm-2 eV-1 have been achieved in the Al2O3/Er2O3/Si MOS capacitor, which can be attributed to the optimized interface chemistry. Further electrical measurements of annealed Al2O3/Er2O3/Si gate stacks at 450 °C have demonstrated superior dielectric properties with a leakage current density of 1.38 × 10-9 A/cm2. At the same, the leakage current conduction mechanism of MOS devices under various stack structures is systematically investigated.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of a 730 nm picosecond titanium sapphire laser and a 755 nm picosecond alexandrite laser for the treatment of freckles in Asian patients: A two-center randomized, split-face, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The 730 nm picosecond titanium sapphire laser is a novel laser that shows promising results in treating freckles. This study aimed to further investigate the efficacy and safety of the 730 nm picosecond titanium sapphire laser for treating freckles in Asian patients compared with those of the 755 nm picosecond alexandrite laser. METHODS: Each face of 86 participants was split into two parts and randomly assigned either one session of 730 or 755 nm picosecond-laser treatment each. Efficacy and safety were determined based on blinded visual evaluations and self-reports at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: The treatment outcomes of the 730 nm picosecond laser for the treatment of freckles were comparable to those of the 755 nm picosecond laser, with 68.99 ± 7.42% and 69.27 ± 7.75% clearance, respectively (p > 0.05). Participants achieved similar Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale scores (4.04 ± 0.31 vs. 4.02 ± 0.30, respectively [p > 0.05]). Additionally, the 730 nm picosecond laser was perceived to be less painful than the 755 nm picosecond laser (4.69 ± 1.63 vs. 5.65 ± 1.80 nm, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The 730 nm picosecond laser is safe and effective for the treatment of freckles in Asian patients. Besides, the 730 nm picosecond laser is less painful than the 755 nm picosecond laser.

Synergistic effect and mechanism of Cd(II) and As(III) adsorption by biochar supported sulfide nanoscale zero-valent iron.

Biochar derived from bamboo was used to support sulfide nanoscale zero-valent iron (S-nZVI@BC) for simultaneous removal of Cd(II) and As (III) from aqueous media. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) characterization confirmed the successful synthesis of the S-nZVI@BC. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms indicated that co-adsorption of Cd(II) and As(III) onto S-nZVI@BC was well represented by pseudo-second-order model (R2Cd(II) = 0.990, R2As(III) = 0.995) and Langmuir model (R2Cd(II) = 0.954, R2As(III) = 0.936). The maximum adsorption was 162.365 and 276.133 mg/g for Cd(II) and As(III), respectively, in a co-adsorption system, which was significantly higher than that in a single adsorption system (103.195 and 223.736 mg/g, respectively). Batch experiments showed that the Cd(II)-to-As(III) concentration ratio significantly affected the co-adsorption with the optimal ratio of 1:2. Ca2+ and Mg2+ significantly inhibited Cd(II) removal. In contrast, phosphate and humic acid significantly inhibited As(III) removal. Electrochemical analysis indicated S-nZVI@BC had a lower corrosion potential and resistance than nZVI@BC, making it more conducive to electron transfer and chemical reaction. Electrostatic adsorption, complexation, co-precipitation, and redox were the primary mechanisms for Cd(II) and As(III) removal. Overall, the present study provides new insights into the synergistic removal of Cd(II) and As(III) by S-nZVI@BC, which is a very promising adsorbent for the effective removal of Cd(II) and As(III) from contaminated wastewater.

Treatment of nevus of Ota with 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser: A retrospective study.

Nevus of Ota has been successfully treated by lasers. Currently, 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG lasers have become available for the treatment of pigmented disorders. However, there are few studies concerning the application of 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser in nevus of Ota. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of nevus of Ota. We conducted a retrospective analysis of Chinese patients with nevus of Ota who had been treated with a 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser. Those who had any other laser treatment during the period of picosecond laser treatment were excluded. Via a visual analog scale for percentage of pigmentary clearance in standard photographs, the treatment efficacy was assessed by three blinded physician evaluators. A total of 16 subjects were included in this retrospective study. The average age at the beginning of treatment was 16.87 years old (range of 4 months to 59 years), and all patients were of Fitzpatrick skin type IV. Total treatment ranged from 1 to 5 sessions. A 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser with a mean fluence of 1.8-4.3 J/cm2 was used at 3-12 month intervals. The mean efficacy score for all 16 patients was 2.56 after one session, and the mean efficacy score of 13 patients who completed two sessions and nine patients who completed three sessions were 3.15 and 3.51, respectively. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation after treatment was only observed in 1 (1/16, 6.25%) patient. The 1064 nm picosecond Nd:YAG laser is an effective and safe approach for treating nevus of Ota.

Construction and Evaluation of a Deep Learning Model for Assessing Acne Vulgaris Using Clinical Images.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate assessment is the basis for the effective treatment of acne vulgaris. The goal of this study was to achieve standardised diagnosis and treatment based on a deep learning model that was developed according to the current Chinese Guidelines for the Management of Acne Vulgaris. METHODS: The first step was to divide each image of acne vulgaris into four regions. Each of these four regions of the same patient was then combined to form a complete facial region. The second step was to classify the images based lesion type, in accordance with the current Chinese guidelines, and by treatment strategy adopted by experienced dermatologists. The final step was to evaluate the performance of the deep learning model in patients with acne vulgaris. RESULTS: The results showed that the average F1 value of the assessment model is 0.8 (optimum value = 1). The weighted kappa coefficient between the evaluation according to the artificial intelligence model and the evaluation by the attending dermatologists was 0.791 (95% confidence interval 0.671-0.910, P < 0.001), indicating a high degree of consistency. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment model based on deep learning and according to the Chinese guidelines had a slightly higher overall performance is comparable to that of the attending dermatologist.

Comparison of 1064-nm and Dual-Wavelength (532/1064-nm) Picosecond-Domain Nd:YAG Lasers in the Treatment of Facial Photoaging: A Randomized Controlled Split-Face Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of 1064-nm and dual-wavelength (532/1064 nm) picosecond Nd:YAG lasers with a holographic optic in the treatment of facial photoaging. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomized split-face study, each half of each participant's face was randomly treated with a 1064-nm or 532/1064-nm picosecond laser. All participants underwent five treatment sessions and follow-up visits 1 and 3 months after the final treatment. The primary outcomes were measured as the global photoaging scores, determined by two physicians who were blinded to the treatments. The secondary outcomes were the participant-assessed Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and satisfaction scores. Histopathological examinations were performed. RESULTS: Global photoaging scores decreased significantly after treatment with either laser. The global photoaging scores, GAIS scores, and satisfaction scores did not differ significantly between the 1064-nm and 532/1064-nm picosecond laser treatments. Histological changes were similar between the two groups. Intraepidermal vacuoles and dermal hemorrhaging were observed immediately and 24 h after treatment. After five treatments, neocollagenesis was observed in the upper dermis of both groups, and elastic fibers were more elongated and orderly. CONCLUSIONS: Treatments with 1064-nm and 532/1064-nm picosecond Nd:YAG lasers were comparably effective at improving photodamaged facial skin by remodeling the collagen and elastin network through laser-induced optical degradation and vascular damage.

Histological Characteristics of Skin Treated With a Fractionated 1064-nm Nd: YAG Picosecond Laser With Holographic Optics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Picosecond lasers (PSL) constitute a significant technological advancement and exert rejuvenating effects upon the skin. This study was conducted to investigate changes in the skin upon treatment with the fractionated 1064-nm Nd: YAG PSL through in vivo and ex vivo human histological analysis. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo back skin specimens were treated with a fractionated 1064-nm PSL at 1.3, 2.1, and 2.9 mJ fluence for two passes, and 2.9 mJ for 10 passes, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Ex vivo foreskin specimens after circumcision surgery were treated with a PSL at 1.3, 2.1, and 2.9 mJ fluence for two and 10 passes, followed by H&E staining. Ex vivo skin tissue sections treated with a PSL at 2.9 mJ fluence for 10 passes were also immunostained for Melan-A and CD31. RESULTS: Intraepidermal vacuoles were observed, along with pigment accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the vacuoles at 24 hours after PSL treatment in the in vivo skin specimens. The vacuoles expanded as the fluence increased. Numerous intraepidermal vacuoles were observed, with dermal hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration upon high-fluence, multi-pass PSL treatment in the in vivo skin specimens. PSL treatment yielded both epidermal and dermal vacuoles in ex vivo skin specimens. Melan-A-positive cells were seen in the cystic wall of vacuoles in the epidermal basal layer, whereas CD31-positive cells were detected in the cystic wall of some dermal vacuoles. CONCLUSIONS: The fractionated 1064-nm PSL produced epidermal vacuoles and dermal lesions, with histological differences between the in vivo and ex vivo skin specimens. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Development and validation of two artificial intelligence models for diagnosing benign, pigmented facial skin lesions.

OBJECTIVE: This study used deep learning for diagnosing common, benign hyperpigmentation. METHOD: In this study, two convolutional neural networks were used to identify six pigmentary diseases, and a disease diagnosis model was established. Because the distribution of lesions in the original training picture is very complex, we cropped the image around the lesions, trained the network on the extracted lesion images, and fused the verification results of the overall picture and the extracted picture to assess the model performance in identifying hyperpigmented dermatitis pictures. Finally, we evaluated the image recognition performance of the two convolutional neural networks and the converged networks in the test set through a comparison of the converged network and the physicians' assessments. RESULTS: The AUC of DenseNet-96 for the overall picture was 0.98, whereas the AUC of ResNet-152 was 0.96; therefore, we concluded that DenseNet-96 performed better than ResNet-152. From the AUC, the converged network has the best performance. The converged network model achieved a comprehensive classification performance comparable to that of the doctors. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic model for benign, pigmented skin lesions based on convolutional neural networks had a slightly higher overall performance than the skin specialists.

[Effect of 5-aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamics Therapy on Biofilm of Propionibacterium Acnes].

Objective To investigate the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) on Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) biofilm. Methods P.acnes biofilms were constructed on a cell slide and treated with ALA-PDT.According to different light doses,the biofilms were divided into six groups:ALA-PDT group [ALA-PDT1 (50 J/cm2),ALA-PDT2 group (100 J/cm2),ALA-PDT3 group (200 J/cm2)],ALA-only group (ALA group),light-only group (LED),and a negative control group (ALA-PDT-group).The biofilm structure and the ratio of the dead bacteria/live bacteria were observed using a laser confocal microscope (CLSM).Biofilm viability was measured using the XTT assay. Results CLSM showed that the biofilm structures of ALA group and LED group were not significantly different from that of ALA-PDT-group,whereas the biofilm structure was more seriously damaged in ALA-PDT1 group,ALA-PDT2 group,and ALA-PDT3 group than in the ALA-PDT-group.The ratios of the dead/live bacteria in ALA-PDT-group,ALA group,LED group,ALA-PDT1 group,ALA-PDT2 group,and ALA-PDT3 group were 0.350±0.033, 0.305±0.046, 0.330±0.032, 1.525±0.439, 2.293±0.148 and 3.092±0.189,respectively.ALA group(md=0.003, P=1.000)and LED group(md=-0.025, P=1.000)did not significantly differ from the ALA-PDT-group.However,the ratio of dead/live bacteria in ALA-PDT-group was significantly lower than those in ALA-PDT1 group (md=-0.162, P<0.001),ALA-PDT2 group (md=-0.254, P<0.001),and ALA-PDT3 group (md=-0.352, P<0.001).The values of the XTT assay were were 0.462±0.028,0.465±0.044,0.437±0.047,0.301±0.040,0.207±0.001,and 0.110±0.007,respectively,in ALA-PDT-group,ALA group,LED group,ALA-PDT1 group,ALA-PDT2 group,and ALA-PDT3 group.Although the values of XTT assay in ALA(md=-0.044, P=1.000)and LED groups (md=-0.020, P=1.000)did not significantly differ from that in ALA-PDT-group,it was significantly higher in ALA-PDT-group than in ALA-PDT1 group (md=1.175, P<0.001),ALA-PDT2 group (md=1.942, P<0.001),and ALA-PDT3 group (md=-0.352, md=2.742, P<0.001). Conclusions ALA-PDT has an inhibitory effect on P.acnes biofilm.ALA-PDT destroys biofilm structure and inhibits biofilm viability.

Efficacy and prognosis analyses of apatinib combined with S-1 in third-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: To explore the efficacy and safety of apatinib (an anti-angiogenic drug) combined with S-1 (a fluorouracil drug) in the third-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer, and to analyze the factors influencing the prognosis. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with advanced gastric cancer, who did not respond to second-line or above chemotherapy and were treated in our hospital were enrolled and divided into Apatinib+S-1 group (n=42) and S-1 group (n=42), based on different treatments applied. Next, the clinical responses and adverse reactions of patients were observed and recorded. The patients were followed up through the outpatient service and telephone to record their survival and disease progression. Additionally, the factors affecting the prognosis of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) in the Apatinib+S-1 group were 9.5% (4/42) and 71.4% (30/42), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the S-1 group. The main adverse reactions after therapy included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, stomatitis, hypertension, proteinuria, hand-foot syndrome and gastrointestinal reaction, which were mostly of grade I-II. The incidence rates of hypertension, proteinuria and hand-foot syndrome were 42.9%, 26.2%, and 23.8%, respectively, in the Apatinib+S-1 group, which were overtly higher than those in the S-1 group. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall survival (OS) of patients between two groups (p=0.063), while the progression free survival (PFS) of patients was overtly longer in the Apatinib + S-1 group than that in S-1 group. Univariate analysis of PFS showed that the PFS of patients with high differentiation of tumor or post-treatment proteinuria or hand-foot syndrome was evidently higher than that of patients without high differentiation of tumor or post-treatment proteinuria or hand-foot syndrome. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced gastric cancer achieve relatively satisfactory short-term therapeutic effects after treatment with apatinib combined with S-1 in the third-line therapy, whose PFS is notably better than those treated with S-1 alone, and they are tolerant to adverse reactions. Highly differentiated tumors and post-treatment proteinuria and hand-foot syndrome are predictable factors for the PFS of patients.

Hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether photodynamic therapy for the treatment of facial port-wine stains resistant to pulsed dye laser.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed dye laser is the first treatment choice for port-wine stains. However, as some facial port-wine stains are resistant to this modality, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (hemoporfin) photodynamic therapy for the treatment of such resistant port-wine stains. METHODS: Patients were treated with two sessions of hemoporfin photodynamic therapy in our department. Patients received an intravenous injection of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (5 mg/kg) followed by 532 nm LED green light therapy. Three physicians graded the improvement in the port-wine stain, using a 4-level scale. Patients' satisfaction, reaction to treatment, and adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (mean age, 23.9 ± 11.9 years, range, 3-48 years) were enrolled in this study. Hypertrophic lesions accounted for 48.4% of port-wine stain, with 80.6% of lesions being larger than 40 cm2. With regard to location, 41.9% were located on the central face and 32.3% involved a mix of the central and peripheral face. After one session, a treatment response was identified in 87.1% of cases, with the response deemed 'significant' in 29.0%. After two sessions, these rates increased to 100.0% and 61.3%, respectively. The clinical effect after two sessions was significantly greater than that after one session. Treatment reactions and adverse effects were well tolerated, and included pruritus, burning sensation, pain, edema, purpura-like change, blister, crust, and hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Hemoporfin photodynamic therapy is a promising treatment for port-wine stains resistant to pulsed dye laser therapy.

A split-face comparison of a fractional microneedle radiofrequency device and fractional radiofrequency therapy for moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris.

PURPOSE: Radiofrequency equipment, including invasive fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) and noninvasive fractional radiofrequency (FR), has facilitated progress in the field of active acne treatment, but clinical data are limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of FMR and FR in the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris. METHODS: Ten patients with moderate-to-severe acne were enrolled in a 24-week, prospective, single-blind, randomized, comparative clinical trial with a split-face design. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment was provided on one side of the face and FR on the opposite side. Three consecutive treatments were performed at 4-week interval. Objective assessment of efficacy was performed using the Acne Severity Index (ASI), and acne inflammatory lesions and noninflammatory lesions were evaluated. RESULTS: After the first treatment, ASI and both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions of the FMR-treated side were improved to a greater degree than the FR-treated side. Patients' subjective satisfaction was also better regarding the FMR-treated side. After subsequent treatments, efficacy improves for both groups, and no significant differences in the above efficacy parameters between the two groups were observed. Pain scores were significantly higher for the FR-treated side than the FMR-treated side. CONCLUSION: Fractional microneedle radiofrequency is faster and more effective than FR for the treatment of moderate and severe acne after only one treatment. However, after several treatment sessions, both FMR and FR proved to be safe and effective for long-term treatment of moderate-to-severe acne. Therefore, invasive radiofrequency, such as FMR, or noninvasive radiofrequency, such as FR, can successfully treat active acne.

Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of a Picosecond Alexandrite Laser With DLA for Acne Scars in Chinese Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recently, picosecond laser treatment has been used as an effective treatment for acne scars. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a picosecond alexandrite laser with a diffractive lens array in the treatment of acne scars in Chinese patients. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with facial acne scars were treated with a picosecond alexandrite laser in three sessions at 4- to 6-week intervals and followed up for 2 months. Primary outcomes were measured by physicians' blinded evaluation of the acne scar using the ECCA (échelle d'éva physicians'luation clinique des cicatrices d'acné) grading scale. The secondary outcomes included the investigator global assessment (IGA) on the improvement of post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), patients' assessment of improvement on a 4-point scale and of satisfaction on a 5-point scale. Pain scores and adverse effects were also evaluated. RESULT: Twenty patients with Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV were enrolled in the study and completed all treatment and follow-up visits. The mean ECCA scores fell from 197.75 ± 35.26 to 142.00 ± 35.92 (a 28% improvement), and the change was significant (P = 0.000). The mean IGA score of PIE improvement was 3.03 ± 0.75 (0 = no improvement and 4 = 76-100% improvement). On the basis of the patients' self-assessment, the average improvement scores were 2.30 ± 0.98 (0 indicating 0-25% improvement and 3 indicating >75% improvement). In total, 50% and 30% of the patients were "satisfied" and "very satisfied," respectively, with the treatment. The mean pain score was 3.20 ± 0.50 (0 = no pain, 10 = maximum pain) with topical anesthesia. The adverse effects included transient and mild erythema, edema, and scabbing. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with a picosecond alexandrite laser with a diffractive lens array is effective and safe for acne scars in Chinese patients. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Comparison of a picosecond alexandrite laser versus a Q-switched alexandrite laser for the treatment of nevus of Ota: A randomized, split-lesion, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Novel picosecond lasers have been available for various pigmentary disorders. However, there are limited data directly comparing picosecond lasers and Q-switched lasers for treatment of nevus of Ota. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of a picosecond alexandrite laser (PSAL) with a Q-switched alexandrite laser (QSAL) for the treatment of nevus of Ota. METHODS: Each lesion of 56 enrolled participants was split into 2 parts and randomly assigned to either the PSAL or QSAL treatment arm. Each lesion was treated in up to 6 sessions in 12-week intervals. Efficacy and safety were determined using blinded visual evaluation and self-report at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: The PSAL arm achieved a significantly better clearance (5-point scale, PSAL 4.53 vs QSAL 4.0) with fewer sessions (PSAL 5.26 vs QSAL 5.87) and less severe pain (Visual Analog Scale, PSAL 5.61 vs QSAL 6.40). Patients were more satisfied with PSAL than QSAL (Likert scale, 4.5 vs 4.0). Occurrences of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PSAL 26% vs QSAL 34%) and hypopigmentation (PSAL 21% vs QSAL 47%) were also lower in PSAL than QSAL arm. LIMITATIONS: Lack of objective assessments and outcome measures. CONCLUSION: PSAL demonstrated better clinical results and fewer adverse events than QSAL for the treatment of nevus of Ota.

HDAC inhibitors induce proline dehydrogenase (POX) transcription and anti-apoptotic autophagy in triple negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer with poor clinical outcomes and without effective targeted therapies. Numerous studies have suggested that HDAC inhibitors (TSA/SAHA) may be effective in TNBCs. Proline oxidase, also known as proline dehydrogenase (POX/PRODH), is a key enzyme in the proline metabolism pathway and plays a vital role in tumorigenesis. In this study, we found that HDAC inhibitors (TSA/SAHA) significantly increased POX expression and autophagy through activating AMPK. Depletion of POX decreased autophagy and increased apoptosis induced by HDAC inhibitors in TNBC cells. These results suggest that POX contributes to cell survival under chemotherapeutic stresses and might serve as a potential target for treatment of TNBC.