Atrial septal defect repair through limited lateral thoracotomy in children

Objective We have developed a surgical method for atrial septal defect repair through a limited right lateral thoracotomy in which the incision line begins 2 cm caudal from the lower angle of the scapula and ends at the midaxial line, thereby improving patient satisfaction with the cosmetic results of treatment. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 28 patients who underwent isolated atrial septal defect repair through a limited right lateral thoracotomy between January 2002 and August 2004. The mean age and mean body weight at the time of the operation were 85.8 months (range 9–236 months) and 23.0 kg (range 8.0–56.0 kg), respectively. All repaired defects were the ostium secundum type. Results There was no operative or late mortality and no late morbidity after a mean follow-up of 26 months (range 12–41 months). Echocardiography showed no residual shunt in any of the patients. The mean length of the skin incision was 7.8 cm (range 5.0–11.0 cm), and almost all the patients had satisfactory cosmetic results. Conclusion The atrial septal defect repair through a limited right lateral thoracotomy in pediatric patients showed satisfactory surgical results and excellent cosmetic results.     

新银盐法测定化妆品中微量砷的研究

本文以硝酸——硝酸银——聚乙烯醇——乙醇为砷化氢吸收显色剂测定化妆品中的微量砷,操作简便快速,灵敏度高,重现性好。摩尔吸光系数为二乙氨基二硫代甲酸银法(DDC—Ag法)的5.7倍。     

The biomolecules of beauty: biochemical pharmacology and immunotoxicology of cosmeceuticals

ABSTRACT

Many ingredients in cosmetic products help to develop complex formulations that improve the quality of life in terms of disease prevention, health maintenance, beauty enhancement, and building self-esteem. The beneficial effects promoted from the use of biomolecule-rich substances into the formulations of various topical application products are considered useful ingredients in cosmetic and therapeutic applications. This review article attempts to understand the various biomolecules found in cosmetic products, particularly macromolecules, which may have an important role in prevention or preservation. Increasing demand of cosmetics all over the world has increased the awareness related to safety issue. Cosmetic products may contain potential contact allergens or precursors that can be oxidized or metabolized to generate contact allergens which can potentially cause allergic reactions or dermatitis. These substances can pose hazards to human health due to their ability to activate T cells that can cause allergic contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease. Finally, the simultaneous on-site measurement of different substances from a single sample, called multiplexed point-of-care testing, has recently become increasingly important for the in vitro quantification of pathological or toxicological samples. Hence, the technological advancements in clinical sciences will be helpful in the identification of ingredients in cosmetic preparations.     

A better incision for pectus excavatum repair: avoiding the keloid triangle

The most common approach to the pepair of pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum deformities is via a central transverse submammary incision. The subsequent suprasternal scar is conspicuous and prone to hypertrophic and keloid scarring. To avoid the keloid triangle and to produce a less noticeable scar, we have utilized bilateral inframammary incisions for repairs of five female and two male patients with pectus defects. This approach provides excellent access for cartilage resection, sternotomy, and sternal tupport without increasing opearative time or compromising operative exposure. On follow-up for up to 25 months, all patients have had excellent cosmetic and functional results. Chest wall configuration and stability, wound healing, and scar formation have all been without complication. No keloid or hypertrophic scars have developed. To date, there has been no recurrence of pectus defects. We believe bilateral inframammary incisions are a superior approach for pectus repairs by enchancing cosmesis with less noticeable scars and fewer hypertropic and keloid scars, all without compromising operative exposure or increasing operative time.     

微量元素在化妆品中的应用

本文对七种常应用于化妆品中的微量元素的功能、作用机理、研究现状作了较为详细的讨论。     

The benefits of the 3T3 NRU test in the safety assessment of cosmetics: long-term experience from pre-marketing testing in the Czech Republic

We have introduced the 3T3 NRU cytotoxicity test for methodological, economical and ethical reasons as a regular part of tier pre-marketing testing to assess local tolerance of raw materials for cosmetics, household chemicals and final cosmetic products. Using the 3T3 cell line according to the standard INVITTOX protocol No.64 (NRU Assay) the borderline concentration, relevant to the highest tolerated dose, is determined for each material. The toxic effect is reached at different concentration levels specific for individual cosmetics categories, depending on their chemical characteristics. Typical ranges of cytotoxicity for specific categories of cosmetics were established after testing of hundreds of materials. The range lies between 1 μg/ml (anti-dandruff shampoos), up to 2000 μg/ml (toothpastes and mouthwashes). The 3T3 NRU cytotoxicity test is a sensitive tool able to identify more agressive products, that are also more likely to evoke irritation in human skin. It was even possible to detect protective effects of one natural herbal ingredient. The comparative study of cytotoxicity test results and human patch test results from a group of essential oils is presented. Cytotoxicity tests represent a highly ethical approach for estimation of irritancy. On the basis of in vitro test results suggesting low risk we can proceed to confirmatory tests in human volunteers.     

Novel database for exposure to fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products

Exposure of fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products to the population can be determined by way of a detailed and robust survey. The frequency and combinations of products used at specific times during the day will allow the estimation of aggregate exposure for an individual consumer, and to the sample population. In the present study, habits and practices of personal care and cosmetic products have been obtained from market research data for 36,446 subjects across European countries and the United States in order to determine the exposure to fragrance ingredients. Each subject logged their product uses, time of day and body application sites in an online diary for seven consecutive days. The survey data did not contain information on the amount of product used per occasion or body measurements, such as weight and skin surface area. Nevertheless, this was found from the literature where the likely amount of product used per occasion or body measurement could be probabilistically chosen from distributions of data based on subject demographics. The daily aggregate applied consumer product exposure was estimated based on each subject’s frequency of product use, and Monte Carlo simulations of their likely product amount per use and body measurements. Statistical analyses of the habits and practices and consumer product exposure are presented, which show the robustness of the data and the ability to estimate aggregate consumer product exposure. Consequently, the data and modelling methods presented show potential as a means of performing ingredient safety assessments for personal care and cosmetics products.     

化妆品相关皮肤不良反应512例临床特点及致病成分分析

【摘要】 目的 分析化妆品相关皮肤不良反应的临床特点及主要致病成分，为化妆品不良反应起到预警作用并提供客观的风险评估依据。方法 收集2018年3月至2019年10月在重庆市中医院门诊就诊的512例化妆品不良反应可疑患者，男14例，女498例，通过填写统一制定的化妆品不良反应报告卡，记录患者的病史资料和所使用化妆品的相关信息；对其中103例（男3例，女100例）进行化妆品原物斑贴试验及化妆品成分斑贴试验，结合48和72 h斑贴试验结果综合判定并汇总分析。结果 512例可疑化妆品不良反应病例中，主要表现类型为接触性皮炎（495例，96.7%）。化妆品不良反应的皮损形态主要为红斑501例（97.9%）、丘疹313例（61.1%）、水肿249例（48.6%）、鳞屑166例（32.4%）；症状主要为瘙痒480例（93.8%），其次为灼热感359例（70.1%）和紧绷感297例（58.0%）。103例化妆品成分斑贴试验显示，阳性71例，最易引起化妆品不良反应的变应原分别为硫柳汞（31例，30.1%）、十二烷基硫酸钠（29例，28.2%）、秘鲁香脂（17例，16.5%）、布罗波尔（12例，11.7%）及三乙醇胺（10例，9.7%）。将化妆品变应原系列分为14个类别，阳性率前4位的类别分别为乳化剂54例（45.8%）、防腐剂47例（39.8%）、芳香剂17例（14.4%）和表面活性剂10例（8.5%）。2例男性和69例女性斑贴试验阳性，男女阳性率差异无统计学意义（2/3比69/100，χ2 = 0.01，P > 0.05）；18 ~ 29岁组、30 ~ 49岁组及50 ~ 70岁组阳性率分别是34%、34%、32.4%，各组间阳性率差异无统计学意义（χ2 = 0.693，P > 0.05）。结论 化妆品不良反应最常见的表现为接触性皮炎，致病成分具有多样性，最易引起化妆品皮肤不良反应的变应原分别为硫柳汞、十二烷基硫酸钠、秘鲁香脂、布罗波尔及三乙醇胺。     

MatriDerm Decreases Donor Site Morbidity After Radial Forearm Free Flap Harvest in Transgender Surgery

BackgroundPhalloplasty with the radial forearm free flap is associated with a large donor site defect.AimTo compare two methods of donor site closure for functional and cosmetic long-term results: full-thickness skin grafting vs split-thickness skin grafting with MatriDerm.MethodsThirty-seven transgender patients had a neophallus created from a radial forearm free flap, and all were operated on by the same senior surgeon. Eight patients had their donor site defect closed by total skin grafting and 29 patients, operated on after 2009, received a split-thickness skin graft with MatriDerm closure. All 37 patients were evaluated by questionnaire and by careful clinical examination. Pressure perception was assessed with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. Sensory recovery, skin quality, and cosmetic result also were compared. The contralateral arm was used as the control.OutcomesPressure perception values showed better sensory return in the MatriDerm group. Split-thickness skin grafting with MatriDerm achieved superior results in skin sensibility, superficial radial nerve recovery, and cosmetic aspect.ResultsOur findings support the hypothesis that MatriDerm can be used to preserve sensory function and decrease morbidity of the donor site.Clinical ImplicationsThe use of a dermal substitute decreases the morbidity of the forearm free flap donor site.Strengths and LimitationsThe strength of this study is its retrospective nature conducted of a prospectively maintained database of 37 consecutive radial forearm free flaps with superimposable dimensions and location performed by the same surgeon, thus limiting biases. A limitation is its small sample (particularly for the control group).ConclusionOur experience showed that the combination of a split-thickness skin graft with MatriDerm substantially decreases postoperative complications at the donor site defect on the forearm of transgender patients.Watfa W, di Summa PG, Meuli J, et al. MatriDerm Decreases Donor Site Morbidity After Radial Forearm Free Flap Harvest in Transgender Surgery. J Sex Med 2017;14:1277–1284.     

Mercury content in marketed cosmetics: analytical survey in Shijiazhuang,China

Context: Mercury is one of the skin-lightening ingredients in cosmetics as mercury ions are thought to inhibit the synthesis of the skin pigment melanin in melanocyte cells.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the mercury levels of cosmetics currently marketed in Shijiazhuang, a northern city in China.

Methods: We collected 146 random cosmetic samples and analyzed for mercury concentrations or levels by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results: Among the 146 samples, 134 (91.8%) were positive for mercury, and the concentrations of mercury ranged from not detectable to 592?ng/g. Cosmetic samples for children and babies had the highest detection rate (100%), followed by shampoo and hair conditioner (92.3%) and skin-lightening cream (92.0%). All of them were lower than the acceptable limit (1?μg/g) in China.

Discussion and conclusions: Cosmetics for skin had the highest mean mercury content (45?ng/g), followed by hair products (42.1?ng/g). The concentrations of mercury detected in samples were lower than the current legal limit in China, indicating it may not pose a risk to consumers.