ABSTRACT
Background
Therapeutic dogma has been to treat acne scars no less than 6 months after isotretinoin (ITN) cessation.
Objective
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of fractional radiofrequency ...(FRF) in patients treated concurrently with ITN.
Methods
We conducted a prospective randomized control 3‐arm comparative trial to evaluate the treatment of acne scars. Patients received one of three treatment options: (A) ITN and FRF concurrent treatment, (B) ITN monotherapy, and (C) FRF 6 months post‐ITN treatment. Patients in the FRF cohorts received three monthly sessions. Patients were followed for adverse effects up to 6–9 months post‐FRF treatment. Final cosmesis was scored by three independent dermatologists using two scales: the Echelle d'Evaluation Clinique des Cicatrices d'Acne (ECCA) and an internal 5‐point investigator's scale, indicating the percentage of improvement. Subjective analyses by patients were also assessed.
Results
Objective and subjective analyses revealed improvement in the ITN‐FRF cohort, which was superior to the delayed FRF cohort and the ITN monotherapy cohort. Specifically, the concurrently treated cohort (ITN‐FRF) had a significant reduction in acne scar volume from baseline mean (151.1 ± 44.7 to 97.0 ± 31.2, p < 0.005), outperforming both the delayed FRF and monotherapy ITN treatment cohorts, respectively (155.4 ± 37.8 to 122.0 ± 46.2, 144.6 ± 82.8 to 132.4 ± 62.7). Additionally, the concurrently treated cohort demonstrated improved ECCA scores (36.8 ± 15.5), significantly better than the ITN monotherapy cohort (101.5 ± 20.1, p < 0.01).
Limitations
Limited patient sample size: 38 patients completed the study; mostly Fitzpatrick Type II–III skin; photographic assessments utilized.
Conclusion
Per our prospective trial, concurrent treatment of ITN‐FRF is superior to delayed FRF treatment 6 months post‐ITN cessation.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is typically found in a latent, asymptomatic state in immunocompetent individuals. Perturbations of the host immune system can stimulate viral reactivation. Furthermore, ...there are a myriad of EBV-associated illnesses including various cancers, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, and autoimmune conditions. A thorough understanding of this virus, and the interplay between stress and the immune system, is essential to establish effective treatment. This review will provide a summary of the interaction between both psychological and cellular stressors resulting in EBV reactivation. It will examine mechanisms by which EBV establishes and maintains latency and will conclude with a brief overview of treatments targeting EBV.
Viral pathogens often exploit host cell regulatory and signaling pathways to ensure an optimal environment for growth and survival. Several studies have suggested that 5′-adenosine ...monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an intracellular serine/threonine kinase, plays a significant role in the modulation of infection. Traditionally, AMPK is a key energy regulator of cell growth and proliferation, host autophagy, stress responses, metabolic reprogramming, mitochondrial homeostasis, fatty acid β-oxidation and host immune function. In this review, we highlight the modulation of host AMPK by various viruses under physiological conditions. These intracellular pathogens trigger metabolic changes altering AMPK signaling activity that then facilitates or inhibits viral replication. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the regulation of AMPK signaling following infection can shed light on the development of more effective therapeutic strategies against viral infectious diseases.
Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers are effective at mitigating acne scars due to their filling effect. Complexes of high and low molecular weight HA demonstrated a delayed biostimulatory effect.
The ...authors sought to compare the results of acne scar treatment using a filler composed of complexes of high and low molecular weight HA versus a traditional cross-linking HA filler.
Thirty patients with moderate-to-severe atrophic acne scarring were included in this prospective, split-face, double-blinded, randomized controlled study. Each underwent 3 monthly injections of a novel formula of combined high and low molecular weight HA (P) to the base of acne scars on 1 side of the face and traditional cross-linking HA (JV) filler on the other. Patients were evaluated 6 months after their last treatment for objective and subjective improvements.
For JV, statistically significant reductions were observed in the acne scar volume but nearly no change in elasticity and stretch during early treatments. For P, no significant differences were observed in early treatments; however, statistically significant improvements were observed in later visits.
Although the traditional JV filler demonstrated an earlier impact than P, the latter produced delayed positive changes that were more pronounced than the traditional filler.
Background
Therapeutic dogma has been to treat acne scars with ablative fractional laser no less than 6 months after isotretinoin (ITN) cessation.
Objective
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ...fractional ablative CO2 laser (FACL) in patients treated concurrently with ITN.
Methods
We conducted a prospective split‐face randomized control trial in patients treated with FACL concurrently with ITN versus patients treated with FACL 6 months post‐ITN treatment. Patients received 3 monthly sessions of FACL with concurrent ITN treatment on half of the face; the other side of the face received the same FACL treatment regimen 6 months post‐ITN cessation. Patients were followed for adverse effects up to 6 months post‐FACL treatment. Final cosmesis was scored using the Quantitative Global Acne Scarring Grading System (GASGS) by three independent dermatologists.
Results
The GASGS of the concurrent ITN‐FACL treated side of the face was significantly lower than the side treated with delayed laser therapy (4.7 ± 2.5 vs. 7.7 ± 2.9, respectively, p < 0.001).
Limitations
The laser's settings were standardized, and not adjusted per patient skin type.
Conclusion
Per our prospective trial, concurrent treatment of FACL ‐ITN is superior to delayed FACL treatment 6 months post‐ITN cessation.
Fractional ablative laser treatment is effective in improving acne scars, which persist despite isotretinoin therapy.
Therapeutic dogma has been to treat acne scars with ablative fractional laser no less than 6 months after isotretinoin (ITN) cessation.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of fractional ablative CO
...laser (FACL) in patients treated concurrently with ITN.
We conducted a prospective split-face randomized control trial in patients treated with FACL concurrently with ITN versus patients treated with FACL 6 months post-ITN treatment. Patients received 3 monthly sessions of FACL with concurrent ITN treatment on half of the face; the other side of the face received the same FACL treatment regimen 6 months post-ITN cessation. Patients were followed for adverse effects up to 6 months post-FACL treatment. Final cosmesis was scored using the Quantitative Global Acne Scarring Grading System (GASGS) by three independent dermatologists.
The GASGS of the concurrent ITN-FACL treated side of the face was significantly lower than the side treated with delayed laser therapy (4.7 ± 2.5 vs. 7.7 ± 2.9, respectively, p < 0.001).
The laser's settings were standardized, and not adjusted per patient skin type.
Per our prospective trial, concurrent treatment of FACL -ITN is superior to delayed FACL treatment 6 months post-ITN cessation. Fractional ablative laser treatment is effective in improving acne scars, which persist despite isotretinoin therapy.
The human immune system boasts a diverse array of strategies for recognizing and eradicating invading pathogens. Human betaherpesviruses, a highly prevalent subfamily of viruses, include human ...cytomegalovirus (HCMV), human herpesvirus (HHV) 6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7. These viruses have evolved numerous mechanisms for evading the host response. In this review, we will highlight the complex interplay between betaherpesviruses and the human immune response, focusing on protein function. We will explore methods by which the immune system first responds to betaherpesvirus infection as well as mechanisms by which viruses subvert normal cellular functions to evade the immune system and facilitate viral latency, persistence, and reactivation. Lastly, we will briefly discuss recent advances in vaccine technology targeting betaherpesviruses. This review aims to further elucidate the dynamic interactions between betaherpesviruses and the human immune system.
There is a significant body of research examining the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, with a particular emphasis on the oncogenic proteins E5, E6, and E7. ...What is less well explored, however, is the relationship between cervical cancer and herpes simplex virus (HSV). To date, studies examining the role of HSV in cervical cancer pathogenesis have yielded mixed results. While several experiments have determined that HPV/HSV-2 coinfection results in a higher risk of developing cervical cancer, others have questioned the validity of this association. However, clarifying the potential role of HSV in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer may have significant implications for both the prevention and treatment of this disease. Should this relationship be clarified, treating and preventing HSV could open another avenue with which to prevent cervical cancer. The importance of this is highlighted by the fact that, despite the creation of an effective vaccine against HPV, cervical cancer still impacts 604,000 women and is responsible for 342,000 deaths annually. This review provides an overview of HSV and HPV infections and then delves into the possible links between HPV, HSV, and cervical cancer. It concludes with a summary of preventive measures against and recent treatment advances in cervical cancer.
Quantitative microscopy is becoming increasingly crucial in efforts to disentangle the complexity of organogenesis, yet adoption of the potent new toolbox provided by modern data science has been ...slow, primarily because it is often not directly applicable to developmental imaging data. We tackle this issue with a newly developed algorithm that uses point cloud-based morphometry to unpack the rich information encoded in 3D image data into a straightforward numerical representation. This enabled us to employ data science tools, including machine learning, to analyze and integrate cell morphology, intracellular organization, gene expression and annotated contextual knowledge. We apply these techniques to construct and explore a quantitative atlas of cellular architecture for the zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium, an experimentally tractable model of complex self-organized organogenesis. In doing so, we are able to retrieve both previously established and novel biologically relevant patterns, demonstrating the potential of our data-driven approach.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) are highly prevalent viruses estimated to infect approximately 300 million people and 12-72 million people worldwide, respectively. HDV ...requires the HBV envelope to establish a successful infection. Concurrent infection with HBV and HDV can result in more severe disease outcomes than infection with HBV alone. These viruses can cause significant hepatic disease, including cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and represent a significant cause of global mortality. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these viruses and the immune response they generate is essential to enhance disease management. This review includes an overview of the HBV and HDV viruses, including life cycle, structure, natural course of infection, and histopathology. A discussion of the interplay between HDV RNA and HBV DNA during chronic infection is also included. It then discusses characteristics of the immune response with a focus on reactions to the antigenic hepatitis B surface antigen, including small, middle, and large surface antigens. This paper also reviews characteristics of the immune response to the hepatitis D antigen (including small and large antigens), the only protein expressed by hepatitis D. Lastly, we conclude with a discussion of recent therapeutic advances pertaining to these viruses.
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