Skin Signs Research Articles

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation, Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects.

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O2•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O2•− scavenging, (IC50 = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC25 = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC50 = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC50 = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O2•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.

Common skin signs of COVID-19 in adults: An update.

Cutaneous findings can be clues to diagnosis and infection severity in viral illnesses, including COVID-19. The authors provide an update on the diagnostic and prognostic value of the 5 most common cutaneous abnormalities associated with COVID-19 in adult patients: morbilliform rash, urticaria, vesicles, pseudo-chilblains, and vaso-occlusive lesions.

SARS-CoV2-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: data from Khimki hospital

PurposeMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) – the most severe status, associated with SARS-COV-2 infection. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of MIS-C, and treatment optimization are topical problems on current stage. Our aim to analyze main features of the MIS-C.Methods & MaterialsWe evaluated 41 children (21M/18F) 1 - 16 yrs. (8,45±0,677 yrs.) hospitalized in Khimki Regional Hospital with MIS-C from June 2020 to April 2021. 7 children had background disease (allergy, nephroblastoma, ulcerative colitis, diabetes mellitus, urologic pathology). 5 children were mongoloid race (12%). Excessive weight had 27%, according to BMI; 17% had high growth to age. 58% had A(II) blood group, Rh(+)-positive were 74%.ResultsAll children at the admission had fever more than 3 days. Anti-SARS-COV-2 IgM and IgG had 1 patient, IgG only - 25 (61%); 2 patients were positive SARS-Cov2 RNA in the oropharyngeal swab; 27% had family contact to СOVID-19. By severity 66% children were hospitalized to the ICU. Clinically skin and mucosal signs had 31 (76 %), gastro-intestinal symptoms – 22 (54%), pneumonia – 20 (49%), kidney injury –15 (40%), cardiovascular damage - 10 (24%), CNS –6 (15%). Simultaneous damage of 2 systems had 37% children, 3 – 46%, 4 - 12%, 5 – 1 patient, 6 – 1 patient. 5 cases developed acute kidney injury like hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), as the main MIS-C performance.Laboratory features: increased ESR (Мe 40,0 (IQR 30-50) мм/ч), elevated CRP (Мe 118,9 (IQR 71,5-129,4)), ferritin (Мe 471,0 (IQR 214,08-990,28)), D-dimer (Мe 2,81 (IQR 1,76 – 4,55)), LDH (Мe 594,0 (IQR 511,0-663,0)), CK (Мe 112,0 (IQR 61,35-288,7)), CK-MB (Мe 44,95 (IQR 33,0-80,1)), decreased albumin (Мe 27,4 (IQR 23,0-33,0)). In 76% patients were treated with methylprednisolone pulse, IVIG in 20%, standard doses of corticosteroids – 10%. All children discharged home with recovery.ConclusionMIS-C is the most severe form of COVID-19 in children. In Khimki Regional Hospital 41 patient were successfully treated. The main features are severe status (66%-ICU), 63% children had 3+ affected systems; the main symptoms are skin and mucosal damage, gastrointestinal signs and headache, high BMI. There were 5 patients with HUS, during SARS-Cov2 associated MIS-C.

Causal Variants of the GJB6 Gene are Associated with Hearing Loss and Skin Manifestations: A Case Report from Turkey

Introduction: The gap junction beta 6 (GJB6) gene encodes connexin 30. This protein plays critical role in tissues and is responsible for the formation of gap junctions, which have a wide variety of physiological functions. Disease-associated variants of GJB6 cause non-syndromic hearing loss (HL) and skin lesions. We herein describe a Turkish girl who was diagnosed with HL and in whom genetic analysis revealed a causal variant of GJB6. Case presentation: The 1-year-old girl patient was diagnosed with bilateral HL when she was 1 month old. Apart from this, the patient’s motor/mental development and physical examination were normal. As a result of the analysis with the multi-gene panel, the causative genomic change, c.175G&gt;A(p.Gly59Arg) in the GJB6 gene was determined as heterozygous. Segregation analysis proved the same genotype in the patient’s mother and grandfather. The patient’s mother and grandfather had bilateral HL and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis phenotype. The patient was diagnosed with Clouston syndrome, and genetic counseling was provided to her family. Discussion: Causal variants of GJB6 cause skin manifestations and signs of HL. Molecular diagnosis of these patients is a valuable tool for clinicians in reaching their optimal treatment and clinical management. Conclusion: In syndromic cases in which many organs are affected, the determination of the causative gene is important in directing the patients to appropriate observation, screening, and treatment strategies.

A mask R-CNN based automatic assessment system for nail psoriasis severity

Nail psoriasis significantly impacts the quality of life in patients with psoriasis, which affects approximately 2–3% of the population worldwide. Disease severity measures are essential in guiding treatment and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. However, due to subsidy, convenience and low costs of health care in Taiwan, doctor usually needs to manage nearly hundreds of patients in single outpatient clinic, leading to difficulty in performing complex assessment tools. For instance, Nail Psoriasis Severity index (NAPSI) is used by dermatologists to measure the severity of nail psoriasis in clinical trials, but its calculation is quite time-consuming, which hampers its application in daily clinical practice. Therefore, we developed a simple, fast and automatic system for the assessment of nail psoriasis severity by constructing a standard photography capturing system combined with utilizing one of the deep learning architectures, mask R-CNN. This system not only assist doctors in capturing signs of disease and normal skin, but also able to extract features without pre-processing of image data. Expectantly, the system could help dermatologists make accurate diagnosis, assessment as well as provide precise treatment decision more efficiently.

Zoonotic Episodes of Scabies: A Global Overview.

Zoonotic scabies (ZS), also referred to as “pseudoscabies”, is considered a self-limiting disease with a short incubation period and transient clinical skin signs. It is commonly thought that Sarcoptes scabiei mites from animals are unable to successfully reproduce and persist on human skin; however, several ZS case reports have mentioned the persistence of symptoms and occasionally mites for weeks. The aim of this review was to collect and organize the sparse literature explicitly referring to S. scabiei zoonotic transmission, focusing on the source of the outbreak, the circumstances leading to the transmission of the parasite, the diagnosis including the identification of the Sarcoptes “strain” involved, and the applied treatments. A total of 46 articles, one conference abstract and a book were collected describing ZS cases associated with twenty animal hosts in five continents. Dogs were by far the most common source among pet owners, while diverse livestock and wildlife contributed to the caseload as an occupational disease. Genetic epidemiological studies of ZS outbreaks are still limited in number, but tools are available to fill this knowledge gap in the near future. Further research is also needed to understand the apparent heterogeneity in the morbidity, disease severity and timing of the response to treatment among people infected with different animal-derived strains.

Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 in a tertiary COVID-19 referral hospital in the Philippines

BackgroundReports on COVID-19 skin manifestations and associated clinical outcomes are limited. Like viral diseases, cutaneous findings may be present and can help in confirmation and prognostication among those suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19.ObjectiveTo determine COVID-19 cutaneous manifestations and their association with disease severity and course.MethodsThis study was conducted in a designated COVID-19 referral hospital from January 1 to March 31, 2021. Skin manifestations recorded from January 1 to February 17 were retrospectively gathered. Reports from February 18 to March 31 were prospectively collected using a dermatologic checklist which was incorporated into all official medical records.ResultsA total of 507 confirmed patients with COVID-19 were included. COVID-19 skin signs were detected in 39 patients (7.7%). Morbilliform lesions were most common. Skin signs were significantly associated with severe or critical cases (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.3-8.7) and mortality (relative risk, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.0-4.2).LimitationsUnderestimation of prevalence of COVID-19 skin signs due to exclusion of outpatient and discharged patients and the subjective assessment in the retrospective part.ConclusionCutaneous signs were significantly associated with severe/critical COVID-19 as well as death among 507 hospitalized patients in a Philippine COVID-19 referral hospital.

Spaceflight Stressors and Skin Health

Traveling to space puts astronauts at risk of developing serious health problems. Of particular interest is the skin, which is vitally important in protecting the body from harmful environmental factors. Although data obtained from long-duration spaceflight studies are inconsistent, there have been indications of increased skin sensitivity and signs of dermal atrophy in astronauts. To better understand the effects of spaceflight stressors including microgravity, ionizing radiation and psychological stress on the skin, researchers have turned to in vitro and in vivo simulation models mimicking certain aspects of the spaceflight environment. In this review, we provide an overview of these simulation models and highlight studies that have improved our understanding on the effect of simulation spaceflight stressors on skin function. Data show that all aforementioned spaceflight stressors can affect skin health. Nevertheless, there remains a knowledge gap regarding how different spaceflight stressors in combination may interact and affect skin health. In future, efforts should be made to better simulate the spaceflight environment and reduce uncertainties related to long-duration spaceflight health effects.

Integration of Mind and Skin; Psychological Co-morbidity in Dermatology and Skin Signs in Psychiatry

Being the largest organ of the body, the skin is known to respond to both exogenous and endogenous stimuli. Whereas it is known that having a dermatological ailment can have a negative effect on one’s body image, in addition to one’s mental state, it should also be noted that the opposite is also true. That is to say that possessing psychological issues can subsequently lead to dermatological ailments. Considering this, the study aimed to analyze the co-integration of the skin and mind, analyzing the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and dermatological issues. 30 dermatological patients, 25 psychiatry patients, and 10 control patients were enrolled into the study. Patients were tasked to complete a 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (21-DASS) questionnaire and a 10-item Dermatology Life Quality Index. Each patient was then assessed by a dermatologist and a psychologist. It was found that when compared to the control group, the psychological out-patients were more likely to experience dermatological ailments (p&lt;0.001). In addition, it was found that when compared to the control group, the dermatological patients experienced an overall lower quality of life and a higher 21-DASS test result. Ultimately, it can be seen that one’s mental state does in fact, have the potential to affect one’s dermatological condition. With that in mind, it has been proposed to utilize stress reduction techniques and psychological intervention as adjuvant treatments for dermatological ailments.

Topical formulation containing peptides and vitamin C in ampoules improves skin aging signs: Results of a large, international, observational study.

Peptide-C ampoules (PC) contain peptides, 10% of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and Vichy volcanic mineralizing water. To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of PC. An observational study conducted in 9 countries in women ≥30years old with signs of facial skin aging (grade >0 for forehead and/or crow's feet wrinkles and bothered by skin quality). Investigator assessments and subject questionnaires were performed at initial visit and Day 30 after application of PC twice daily for 28days. Tolerance was assessed throughout the study. Effectiveness and safety were analyzed in 1382 and 1742subjects, respectively. Most subjects (mean age 48.5±8.6years) had skin phototype II or III (91.7%) and dry or combination skin (63.9%). PC was used as a standalone care or prior to a planned procedure (70%), or after a procedure (30%). Between baseline and Day 30, 63% and 64% of all subjects (N=1360) had an improvement in forehead wrinkles and crow's feet wrinkles, respectively. Skin hydration improved in 67.3% of subjects. According to investigator and subject assessments, skin quality, skin radiance, skin aging signs, wrinkles, complexion, and skin pores significantly improved by Day 30. Similar results were observed for subgroup analyses when PC was used as standalone skin care or after a procedure. Tolerance of PC was rated as good to very good by 97.7% of subjects. Peptide-C ampoules is effective in reducing visible signs of skin aging, and well tolerated, when used alone or as an adjunct to anti-aging procedures.

Effect of a Topical Collagen Tripeptide on Antiaging and Inhibition of Glycation of the Skin: A Pilot Study.

The glycation process has been recognized as one of the critical parameters that accelerate signs of skin aging, especially in skin exposed to environment factors, such as ultraviolet radiation. Although previous studies showed the anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties of the hydrolyzed collagen tripeptide (CTP), its exact mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we sought to investigate the effect of a topical CTP on facial skin. Our group designed a 4 week prospective, single-arm study of 22 Asian women who applied topical CTP. We observed significant improvements in skin wrinkles, elasticity, and density with a reduction in skin accumulation of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) at week 4 without any adverse effects. The in vitro study revealed a preventive effect of the topical CTP on the accumulation of AGEs, denatured collagen production, and reactive oxygen species in dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, treatment with the CTP decreased induction of matrix metalloproteinases while increasing the collagen 1 level. These results suggest that the application of a topical CTP might improve clinical aging phenotypes via the inhibition of glycation and oxidative stress, leading to a delay in cellular aging.

Management of a Rare Pathology in Children it is Lipomyelomenengocele about Casis Report

The lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC) is a type of congenital occult spinal dysraphism consistent with the presence of lipomatous tissue adhering to the epinetic marrow, which falls through a defect of the vertical colon with the former meninges and the marrow under posture the skin. LMMC is the cause of the most frequent congenital attache between the cadre of the syndrome of the attached cord and causes a neurological deterioration due to the compression of the medical bone and the root system which is superadded. It is therefore about a girl from 6 years ago with a swelling located in the region of Lombardy after the birth of the size of a tangerine which has increased the size gradually with age. He presented the interrogation of the signs of urinary incontinence and the fact that he confirmed that he left us to fellow therapists who sent him to us for support. The local examination of the lumbosacral region revealed a single mass without other distinctive skin signs, spherical in shape, 12 × 10 cm, soft and fixed in consistency. A medullary MRI with effect, which reveals a mass of lipomate consistency at the level of lumbosacral associated with a bone spina extending from L5 to S2. Surgical treatment was indicated as the patient had urinary problems. There were no postoperative complications and after a few months postoperative symptoms improved.

A dermocosmetic formulation containing Vichy volcanic mineralizing water, Vitreoscilla filiformis extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E regenerates and repairs acutely stressed skin.

The exposome has an impact on skin from life-long exposure. Acute short-term exposure to exposome stressors can also alter skin functions such as skin physical barrier and immune defenses, leading to skin dryness, sensitivity, flares of inflammatory skin conditions, or viral reactivations. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. An extract produced by lysing Vitreoscilla filiformis (VfeV) cultured in Vichy volcanic mineralizing water (VVMW) has properties of probiotic fractions. In this review, we present invivo and exvivo studies with a dermocosmetic formulation containing 80% VVMW, 5% VfeV, 4% niacinamide (vitamin B3), 0.4% hyaluronic acid, and 0.2% vitamin E (M89PF) to evaluate the clinical efficacy in preventing and repairing stressed skin. Skin barrier benefits of M89PF were shown in studies after the skin was exposed to sudden thermal changes, after skin irritation by tape stripping, and in sleep-deprived women. M89PF significantly accelerated skin renewal compared to untreated skin. Skin antioxidant defense activity of M89PF was shown after exposure to stress from UVA plus cigarette smoke aggression. Skin microbiome recovery after acute stress from a harsh cleanser was significantly better in M89PF-treated skin compared to bare skin. Clinical benefits of M89PF on correcting clinical signs of stressed skin were shown in both Caucasian and Asian women exposed to a stressful lifestyle and various external (pollution, tobacco smoking, solar radiation) and internal (poor sleep, stressful work, unbalanced diet, and alcohol consumption) exposome factors. M89PF also showed depigmenting properties on dark spots in Asian women. Further clinical studies are now warranted to evaluate the efficacy of M89PF as adjuvant care to prevent and repair skin barrier disruption and reinforce skin defenses in skin exposed to acute stresses.

Combined Therapy with Laser and Autologous Topical Serum for Facial Rejuvenation: A Multiple Case Series Report.

Lasers require several sessions to achieve significant results and may lead to adverse reactions. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a good adjuvant to laser therapies; however, repeated blood extractions and invasive injections are needed. A 100% autologous topical formulation based on the patient's proteins has been recently developed, known as Endoret-Serum (ES). Unlike other PRPs, ES provides a home care, storable, and topical needle-free application. Preliminarily assess the clinical performance of a single session of the combined therapy with nonablative laser and ES in the management of cutaneous pigmented and vasculature lesions. Nine patients with clinical signs of skin aging received a single session of nonablative laser. ES was topically applied twice daily. They were clinically assessed after 1 and 8 weeks. VISIA-CR System was used for high-resolution topographic analysis. Subjects were asked to complete a self-assessment questionnaire and an impression of improvement survey. An investigator's global assessment scale was fulfilled. The combined treatment improved cutaneous spots, wrinkles, and texture after 8 weeks, whereas significant pore reduction was observable at 1 week. Ultraviolet (UV) spots and porphyrins decreased at 1 week, whereas red area improvement was noticeable after 8 weeks. Overall wrinkle amelioration, periorbital hyperpigmentation decrease, softened skin, and tone recovery was observed. Patients referred to be very satisfied and felt that their cutaneous condition was much better. At the end of the study, subjects presented minimal dermatological symptoms like pigmented lesions, redness, or capillaries. No side effects were reported. Results presented herein suggest that one session of laser in combination with ES provides a good clinical outcome.

Evaluation of skin damage owing to protecting measures against COVID-19 among health staff in the west of Iran

Background So far, studies have not been performed regarding skin damage owing to protective measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by health staff in Iran. Therefore, the present study was performed to assess skin damages owing to protecting measures against COVID-19 among health workers in Hamadan City located in the west of Iran. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 273 health staff working in hospitals affiliated to Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The inclusion criteria were health personnel working in hospitals involved in the care and treatment of patients with COVID-19 in the city of Hamadan. The authors used a researcher-developed questionnaire to gather data. All the analyses were done using Stata version 14-2. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results The most common skin signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in health staff were dryness, redness, and itch, representing in 83.78, 53, and 40.99% of hospital staff, respectively. All participants used hand disinfectants, with a frequency in the range of 1–5 times in 29.33% and more than 20 times in 19.79% of them. Using a mask for more than 6 h in daily practice was significantly associated with skin dryness (P=0.007), skin redness (P=0.001), scaling (P=0.019), and skin pain (P=0.005). Conclusion The findings showed that the prevalence of skin damages related to using protective equipment is high, and simple interventions may help preserve health workers to care for patients infected by COVID-19.

Study of the effects of cosmetic preparations containing resveratrol on facial skin ageing process

Introduction. Skin ageing is a natural process occurring under the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors. Due to its properties, resveratrol can be used as an active ingredient of anti‑ageing cosmetics intended for skin protection against the photoaging process.Aim. The aim of this research paper was to assess the influence of a series of treatments and home skin care based on preparations containing resveratrol and other natural ingredients, on the facial skin ageing processes delay.Material and Methods. The study included 15 women, aged 30–65, with healthy facial skin and with minor or major signs of skin ageing, such as: loss of moisture, loss of skin firmness, enlarged pores, or wrinkles. The study consisted in performing a series of 3 Resveravit C Peel 50% Back To Comfort treatments at a beauty studio, supplemented with home skin care with the use of Resveravit C anti‑ageing preparations, and skin analysis with the use of POLDERMA EXPLORE 3D instrument, before and after the treatment. Statistical analysis was performed.Results. Skin parameters analysis has shown that Resveravit C Peel 50% Back To Comfort treatment and home treatment with Resveravit C anti‑ageing improved the skin firmness, reduced the number of wrinkles, and enlarged pores, and reduced brown spots.Conclusions. Treatments and cosmetic preparations containing resveratrol can effectively reduce the signs of skin ageing.

Treatment of Cutaneous Photoaging of Glabella with Autologous Platelet Concentrate

Introduction: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product obtained after centrifugation of the blood. Contains high concentrations of platelets and growth factors. It is currently a very popular therapy in dermatology; however, few studies objectively evaluate its efficacy. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal microinjection of autologous platelet concentrate (APC) in the treatment of glabella rejuvenation. Method: An observational, analytical and longitudinal study was carried out in 60 patients from the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico: “Hermanos Ameijeiras”, in the period between March 1, 2017 and March 31, 2020. The treatment was applied monthly. for 1 year. The final evaluation was carried out 3 months after the end of the treatment. Results: 60 women with an average age of 45 ± 4.3 years were treated. After treatment, there were significant changes in the Glogau Photo Damage Scale (P = 0.012), in the Photo numeric Scale for evaluating the severity of glabella wrinkles (P = 0.031) and in the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (P = 0.012). The adverse events found were pain, inflammation and ecchymosis. The degree of satisfaction reported by the patients was good (25.0%) and very good (75.0%) (P = 0.027). Conclusions: The autologous platelet concentrate proved to be effective and safe in reducing the signs of skin aging in glabella, associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Influence of combined use of gas-liquid peeling and PDT on quality of life of patients with visible signs of involutive skin changes

Objective of the study. To develop a questionnaire to determine the quality of life of a patient with visible signs of involutive skin changes. To determine the effect of the combined use of gas-liquid peeling and PDT on the quality of life of patients with visible signs of involutive skin changes.Materials and methods. The study involved 50 patients aged 35 to 45 years. The state of the emotional sphere was assessed before and after the course of treatment using the following methods: a scale for assessing discomfort; ‘The Scale of States’ methodology by А. B. Leonova, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI). The condition was assessed before and after treatment (gas-liquid peeling and photodynamic therapy).Results. The use of the questionnaire developed by us made it possible to determine the index for assessing the quality of life in persons with agerelated skin changes and to reveal the influence of the latter on the emotional sphere and behavior of the respondents. A clear positive trend was observed when comparing indicators of discomfort, anxiety, depression, quality of life. The data obtained make it possible to recommend an assessment of the dermatological index of the quality of life in patients with age-related skin changes as a criterion for the effectiveness of the therapy, and also focus on the need for further study and correction of factors that cause deterioration in life in this category of women.

Development and In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation of pH-Sensitive Polymeric Nanoparticles Loaded Hydrogel for the Management of Psoriasis.

Methotrexate (MTX), the gold standard against psoriasis, poses severe problems when administered systemically viz increased toxicity, poor solubility and adverse reactions. Hence, a topical formulation of MTX for the management of psoriasis can be an effective approach. The present study aimed to develop an MTX based nanoparticle-loaded chitosan hydrogel for evaluating its potential efficacy in an imiquimod-induced psoriatic mice model. MTX-NPs loaded hydrogel was prepared and optimized using the o/w emulsion solvent evaporation method. Particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation, skin irritation and deposition studies were performed. Psoriatic Area and Severity Index (PASI) score/histopathological examinations were conducted to check the antipsoriatic potential of MTX-NPs loaded hydrogel using an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic model. Optimized MTX-NPs showed a particle size of 256.4 ± 2.17 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 86 ± 0.03%. MTX-NPs loaded hydrogel displayed a 73 ± 1.21% sustained drug release in 48 h. Ex vivo permeation study showed only 19.95 ± 1.04 µg/cm2 of drug permeated though skin in 24 h, while epidermis retained 81.33% of the drug. A significant decrease in PASI score with improvement to normalcy of mice skin was observed. The developed MTX-NPs hydrogel displayed negligible signs of mild hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, while histopathological studies showed healing signs of mice skin. So, the MTX-NPs loaded hydrogel can be a promising delivery system against psoriasis.

Facial Skin Changes Produced by Treatment with Autologous Platelet Concentrate

Background: The tireless search for therapeutic options that alleviate the signs of skin aging is a challenge for the aesthetic practitioner. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous platelet concentrate (APC) in the treatment of facial cutaneous aging (FCA). Method: Between March 1, 2017 and March 31, 2021 at the “Hermanos Ameijeiras” hospital, a randomized, singlecenter, double-blind and controlled clinical trial was carried out in 164 patients with FCA. A group treated with APC was compared to another treated with fresh autologous plasma (FAP). The treatment was applied monthly for 1 year. Results: Three months after the end of the treatment, there were significant differences between the patients treated with APC compared to those treated with FAP in terms of improvement in the texture, tone, elasticity, hydration, pores, homogeneity of the skin, the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) and degree of satisfaction (p &lt;0.001). All adverse events were of mild intensity, did not imply changes before the intervention and were completely resolved. Conclusions: The autologous platelet concentrate proved to be effective and safe in reducing the signs of skin aging, associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.