Efficacy of long pulse Nd:YAG laser versus fractional Er:YAG laser in the treatment of hand wrinkles

There are different modalities for hand rejuvenation. Fractional Er:YAG laser and long pulse Nd:YAG laser were introduced for treating hand wrinkles. We plan to compare fractional Er:YAG laser and long pulse Nd:YAG laser in a randomized controlled double-blind design with multiple sessions and larger sample size in comparison with previous studies. Thirty-three participants with hand wrinkles entered this study. They were randomly allocated to undergo three monthly laser treatments on each hand, one with a fractional Er:YAG laser and the other with a long pulse Nd:YAG laser. The evaluations included assessment of clinical improvement determined by two independent dermatologists not enrolled in the treatment along with measuring skin biomechanical property of hands using a sensitive biometrologic device with the assessment of cutaneous resonance running time (CRRT). Moreover, potential side effects and patients’ satisfaction have been documented at baseline, 1 month after each treatment, and 3 months after the final treatment session. Clinical evaluation revealed both modalities significantly reduce hand wrinkles (p value < 0.05), with no significant difference between two lasers. Mean CRRT values also decreased significantly after the laser treatment compared to those of the baseline in both laser groups. There was no serious persistent side effect after both laser treatments. Both fractional Er:YAG and long pulse Nd:YAG lasers show substantial clinical improvement of hand skin wrinkles with no serious side effects. However, combination treatment by these lasers along with the other modalities such as fat transfer could lead to better outcomes in hand rejuvenation. Trial registration: IRCT2016032020468N4     

Radiography of soft tissue of the foot and ankle with diffraction enhanced imaging

Non-calcified tissues, including tendons, ligaments, adipose tissue and cartilage, are not visible, for any practical purposes, with conventional X-ray imaging. Therefore, any pathological changes in these tissues generally necessitate detection through magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound technology. Until recently the development of an X-ray imaging technique that could detect both bone and soft tissues seemed unrealistic. However, the introduction of diffraction enhanced X-ray imaging (DEI) which is capable of rendering images with absorption, refraction and scatter rejection qualities has allowed detection of specific soft tissues based on small differences in tissue densities. Here we show for the first time that DEI allows high contrast imaging of soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and adipose tissue, of the human foot and ankle.     

Biorthogonal multiwavelets on the interval for solving multidimensional fractional optimal control problems with inequality constraint

This article proposes a new numerical approach for solving fractional optimal control problems including state and control inequality constraints using new biorthogonal multiwavelets. The properties of biorthogonal multiwavelets are first given. The Riemann-Liouville fractional integral operator for biorthogonal multiwavelets is utilized to reduce the solution of optimal control problems to a nonlinear programming one, to which existing, well-developed algorithms may be applied. In order to save the memory requirement and computation time, a threshold procedure is applied to obtain algebraic equations. The method is computationally very attractive and gives very accurate results.     

Lifestyle-related risk factors and risk of future nursing home admission

BACKGROUND: While risks of disease, hospitalization, and death attributable to lifestyle-related factors such as smoking, inactivity, and obesity have been well studied, their associations with nursing home admission are less well known. These risk factors are usually established by middle age, but nothing is known about how they relate to long-term risk of nursing home admission in this age group. METHODS: Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to analyze risk of nursing home admission over 2 decades of follow-up (1971-1975 to 1992) in a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of community-dwelling adults aged 45 to 74 years at baseline. Middle-aged (45-64 years at baseline) and elderly persons (aged 65-74 years at baseline) were analyzed separately: 230 (6.5%) of 3526 middle-aged respondents and 728 (24.7%) of 2936 elderly ones had 1 or more nursing home admissions. Baseline risk factors included smoking, inactivity, obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated total cholesterol level, and diabetes mellitus, which were defined according to national guidelines. RESULTS: All lifestyle-related factors, except total cholesterol level, were associated with higher risk of nursing home admission during follow-up in one or both age groups. Risk ratios were higher in middle-aged than in elderly persons. In those aged 45 to 64 years at baseline, diabetes more than tripled the risk of nursing home admission (relative risk, 3.25; 95% confidence interval, 2.04-5.19); smoking, inactivity, and elevated systolic blood pressure had relative risks of 1.56, 1.40, and 1.35, respectively. Obesity was a risk factor for those aged 65 to 74 years at baseline, but not for the middle-aged subjects. Persons with 2 lifestyle-related factors were at greatly increased risk, especially if 1 was diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors are important contributors to the long-term risk of nursing home admission. Modifying lifestyle, especially in middle age, may reduce the risk of admission.     

The Relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,Interpersonal Sensitivity and Specific Distress Symptoms: the Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation

Psychiatric Quarterly - This study examined 1) the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from past trauma, interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity, and 2) whether...     

Combination effect of red light irradiation and Traychspermum ammi essential oil on colorectal cancer cells (SW480)

Lasers in Medical Science - Colon cancer is the third significant reason for death related to cancers in the world. There are various treatments for colon cancer, which have several side effects....     

Comparative assessment of the anti-Limnatis nilotica activities of Zingiber officinale methanolic extract with levamisole

The aim of this study was the evaluation of a methanolic extract of ginger compared with levamisole on Limnatis nilotica. In September 2010, 30 leeches from the southern area of Ilamprovince were prepared, and the effects of the methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale with levamisole were evaluated. The results of this study showed that methanolic extract of Z. officinale (600 mg/ml) could kill leeches at an average time of 33.3?±?11.4 min. The average time for death with levamisole (100 mg/ml) was 10.7?±?1.9 min. It was determined that both had an intensity of 4+, and distilled water used as negative control showed no effect on death and paralysis of L. nilotica. The present study has shown that Z. officinale has anti-leech effects and may be used in the treatment of infestation with L. nilotica in the future.     

Performance of different data sources in identifying adverse drug events in hospitalized patients

Purpose  

The incidence of adverse drug events (ADE) is an important parameter in determining the quality of medical care. We identified the probability that a specific data source would identify ADEs in patients on the oncology ward, that could be assigned to one substance.