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Background: Combinational therapy such as taking tranexamic acid while using laser treatment has been proved potential efficacy by many experiments. However, there is few research which contains large samples and consistent observations. Objective: We evaluated clinical efficacy and safety of a new systemic treatment of drug‐laser‐photon therapy. Methods: Retrospective and randomized investigator‐blinded study of 75 patients with mixed type melasma was analyzed. At each visit, standardized photographs were taken using VISIA. Modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) scores were marked using photographs by two dermatologists. Results: The mMASI score decreased significantly from 6.92 to 3.84 after the treatment. The VISIA analyze right cheek data shows: Spots (from 49.67 ± 3.43 to 56.09 ± 3.31), UV spots (from 41.39 ± 24.45 to 44.56 ± 25.86), and Brown spots (from 23.97 ± 17.89 to 28.16 ± 21.28) are statistically increased (p = 0.035, p = 0.018, p = 0.07). All patients feel varying degrees of improvement, about 10.17% felt very much improved, 30.51% felt much improved (51%–75%), 45.76% felt moderately improved (26%–50%), and 13.56% felt little improved (1%–25%). Limitations: This study was no control group. Conclusion: The efficacy and safety profile of the combination of drug‐laser‐photon therapy systemic treatment in melasma patients has been proved. It has potential possibility to become a new, reliable, widely suitable therapy strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional CO2 laser is a good option for treating acne scars. However, the clinical efficacy of this treatment modality requires further evidence. To perform a meta‐analysis to assess clinical improvements in acne scars with fractional CO2 laser and non‐CO2 laser therapies. Databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library) were searched using the search strategy to identify eligible studies. All statistical analyses were performed using the Review Manager 5.0, and a meta‐analysis was conducted to assess the effects of fractional CO2 laser used as a treatment for acne scars. Eight studies were included for further analysis. There was no significant difference between fractional CO2 laser and non‐CO2 laser therapies in terms of clinical improvement, observer assessment (P =.19), patient assessment (P =.91), and incidence of post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (P =.69). The subgroup analyses showed that the duration of follow‐up had little effect on the evaluation of treatment effect. The efficacy of fractional CO2 laser therapy in acne scars appeared to be equal to that of non‐CO2 laser therapies. More well designed randomized controlled trials and more credible and standard evaluation criteria are needed, and the efficiency of combination therapy requires further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dressings are necessary during the process of wound healing. Since the early 1980s, several types of wound dressings have been produced, but they cannot always take into account some effects include antibacterial effect, wound healing promotion, and other properties. In this study, we would like to develop an effective dressing with the above properties, especially accelerating wound healing effect. A chitosan‐calcium alginate dressing (CCAD) was developed by coating mixture of chitosan with high‐low molecular weight on calcium alginate dressing (CAD). We investigated the structural characteristics of CCAD with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electron microscopy. The cytotoxicity and antibacterial property were evaluated in vitro using CCK‐8 and inhibition zone method. Moisture retention was tested on the skin of Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats, and wound healing studies were performed on a full‐thickness skin wound model in SD rats. CCAD showed good moisturizing and antibacterial properties with no cytotoxicity. CCAD could inhibit inflammation by decreasing IL‐6, and it could also promote angiogenesis by increasing VEGF, resulting in better wound healing than CAD. CCAD is a better choice in wound care due to its antibacterial property, biocompatibility, moisture retention, healing promotion, and non‐cytotoxicity characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis has long been an area of interest. However, the clinical application of PEMFs remains limited because of the poor understanding of the PEMF action mechanism. Here, we report that PEMFs promote bone formation by activating soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), and cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) signaling pathways. First, it was found that 50 Hz 0.6 millitesla (mT) PEMFs promoted osteogenic differentiation of rat calvarial osteoblasts (ROBs), and that PEMFs activated cAMP–PKA–CREB signaling by increasing intracellular cAMP levels, facilitating phosphorylation of PKA and CREB, and inducing nuclear translocation of phosphorylated (p)‐CREB. Blocking the signaling by adenylate cyclase (AC) and PKA inhibitors both abolished the osteogenic effect of PEMFs. Second, expression of sAC isoform was found to be increased significantly by PEMF treatment. Blocking sAC using sAC‐specific inhibitor KH7 dramatically inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of ROBs. Finally, the peak bone mass of growing rats was significantly increased after 2 months of PEMF treatment with 90 min/day. The serum cAMP content, p‐PKA, and p‐CREB as well as the sAC protein expression levels were all increased significantly in femurs of treated rats. The current study indicated that PEMFs promote bone formation in vitro and in vivo by activating sAC–cAMP–PKA–CREB signaling pathway of osteoblasts directly or indirectly. Our results indicated that 50 Hz 0.6 millitesla pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) promote osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts and augment peak bone mass attainment in young rats, and that PEMFs stimulate osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts by activating soluble adenylyl cyclase–cyclic adenosine monophosphate–protein kinase A–cAMP response element‐binding protein signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of computed tomography–assisted auricular cartilage grafting for treating alar base depression secondary to unilateral cleft lip. Design and Setting: For patients with obvious depression of the alar base, the difference in heights of the alar base and the piriform margin between the cleft side and the noncleft side were measured with computed tomography. If both were >3.0 mm, the cartilage was harvested postauricularly and subdivided into 2 to 4 pieces. A multiple layer graft was inserted under the depressed alar base. The procedure was performed from 2006 to 2013, and the follow-up period was 3 to 15 months. Participants: Chinese patients with alar base depression secondary to unilateral cleft lip were selected. Intervention: Suture and cartilage graft techniques. Main Outcomes Measures: Differences in bilateral alar base heights and piriform apertures. Results: There was no wound dehiscence, exposure of bone, or donor site morbidity. The difference in heights in the bilateral alar bases and piriform apertures decreased. There were no obvious scars in any of the cases. Conclusions: This technique has several advantages including ease of operation, minimal trauma, satisfactory outcomes, and useful references for operation provided by computed tomography. It is a superior alternative for reconstruction of secondary alar depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]