Psychosocial issues and body dysmorphic disorder in aesthetics: Review and debate

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious and debilitating psychiatric condition that disproportionately presents in dermatologic and cosmetic surgery patients. BDD is currently underrecognized in cosmetic medical settings and is thought to be underdiagnosed by behavioral health professionals. The significant comorbidities associated with this disorder, as well as potential harm done to both patient and physician, raise ethical and medicolegal concerns regarding its treatment. Although cosmetic interventions have historically been discouraged in BDD, recent studies have provided controversial evidence of benefit in certain cohorts. The rise of “snapchat dysmorphia” and the proposed explanatory phenomenon of perception drift have generated further debate around the de novo development or unmasking of BDD. We critically review and summarize existing debates around the treatment of BDD in cosmetic medicine. We provide guidance for screening, clinical interviewing, and the provision of psychoeducation in cases of suspected BDD.     

Isolation and determination of lipophilic mycochemicals from a New Zealand edible native mushroom Hericium novae-zealandiae

Hericium novae-zealandiae is a native mushroom consumed by indigenous Māori people in New Zealand. The lipophilic mycochemicals of the mushroom were isolated using a normal column chromatography combined with a preparative HPLC. Structural characterisation based on spectroscopic methods, namely UV, MS, NMR and single crystal XRD have identified three lipophilic compounds as hericene B (a compound unique to Hericium), ergosterol and ergosterol peroxide. Following this, an HPLC-DAD method was developed and validated to quantify the hericene B and ergosterol. The method showed excellent selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness. The content of hericene B was determined as 28.53 mg/g by dry weight of H. novae-zealandiae (approximately 3%). This discovery indicates the potential utilisation of H. novae-zealandiae as a natural source of hericene B. Current research revealed for the first time, the lipophilic constituents of H. novae-zealandiae and the method development for quantification of hericene B in the above species.