Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

The European Union's ban on animal testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients, combined with the lack of validated animal-free methods, poses challenges in evaluating their potential repeated-dose organ toxicity. To address this, innovative strategies like Next-Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) are being explored, integrating historical animal data with new mechanistic insights from non-animal New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). This paper introduces the TOXIN knowledge graph (TOXIN KG), a tool designed to retrieve toxicological information on cosmetic ingredients, with a focus on liver-related data. TOXIN KG uses graph-structured semantic technology and integrates toxicological data through ontologies, ensuring interoperable representation. The primary data source is safety information on cosmetic ingredients from scientific opinions issued by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety between 2009 and 2019. The ToxRTool automates the reliability assessment of toxicity studies, while the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) notation standardizes chemical identification, enabling in silico prediction of repeated-dose toxicity via the implementation of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Toolbox (OECD QSAR Toolbox). The ToXic Process Ontology, enriched with relevant biological repositories, is employed to represent toxicological concepts systematically. Search filters allow the identification of cosmetic compounds potentially linked to liver toxicity. Data visualization is achieved through Ontodia, a JavaScript library. TOXIN KG, filled with information for 88 cosmetic ingredients, allowed us to identify 53 compounds affecting at least one liver toxicity parameter in a 90-day repeated-dose animal study. For one compound, we illustrate how TOXIN KG links this observation to hepatic cholestasis as an adverse outcome. In an ab initio NGRA context, follow-up in vitro studies using human-based NAMs would be necessary to understand the compound's biological activity and the molecular mechanism leading to the adverse effect. In summary, TOXIN KG emerges as a valuable tool for advancing the reusability of cosmetics safety data, providing knowledge in support of NAM-based hazard and risk assessments. Database URL: https://toxin-search.netlify.app/.

BACKGROUND: Cell-assisted lipotransfer (CAL) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-assisted lipotransfer have been used to overcome the low survival rate of conventional lipotransfer. However, there is still insufficient evidence to determine which technique is the best strategy for autologous fat grafting in breast cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of traditional fat transplantation, CAL, and PRP-assisted lipotransfer. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Embase, concluding on January 21, 2024, to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies were included after a rigorous selection process based on predefined criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted using R version 4.0.5 software with the netmeta and dmetar packages, utilizing a frequentist approach with a random-effects model. A network meta-analysis was performed to compare different fat graft procedures with regard to fat survival rate and complication events. RESULTS: CAL and PRP-assisted lipotransfer were better than traditional fat grafting in terms of fat survival rate. In addition, there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications among the CAL, PRP, and traditional groups. CONCLUSIONS: Given the results of network meta-analysis, it appears that both CAL and PRP-assisted lipotransfer have a higher fat survival rate for autologous fat grafting in breast augmentation and reconstruction. However, the transplantation strategy still needs to be analyzed based on actual conditions in clinical applications.

BACKGROUND: Interest in noninvasive treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has been increasing. For superficial BCC, it has been demonstrated that imiquimod cream, 5%, has high long-term efficacy, but for nodular BCC (nBCC), long-term evidence is sparse. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether superficial curettage (SC) followed by imiquimod cream, 5%, is noninferior to surgical excision (SE) in nBCC after 5 years of treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this secondary analysis of the noninferiority Surgery Versus Combined Treatment With Curettage and Imiquimod for Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma (SCIN) randomized clinical trial, patients with a primary nBCC of 4 to 20 mm were assigned to either SC plus imiquimod, 5%, or SE between January 1, 2016, to November 30, 2017, at 2 outpatient dermatology departments in the Netherlands. The primary outcome of the SCIN trial was the 1-year probability of remaining free from treatment failure; the prespecified secondary trial outcomes were the probability after 5 years of follow-up, completed September 7, 2022. Both an intention-to-treat analysis and per-protocol analysis were planned. INTERVENTION: SC plus imiquimod vs SE. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The 5-year probability of remaining free from treatment failure (ie, freedom from recurrence; with 95% CI) was estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis using data on treatment response from 3 planned follow-up visits at 3 months and 1 and 5 years after the end-of-treatment date. Additional analyses accounting for death as competing risk were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients (77 [53.1%] male; median age, 68 [IQR, 31-89] years) with a primary, histologically proven nBCC were randomized to treatment with SC plus imiquimod (n = 73) or SE (n = 72). In total, 15 treatment failures occurred in the SC plus imiquimod group (5 treatment failures occurred between 1 and 5 years after treatment) and 1 in the SE group. The 5-year probability of remaining free from treatment failure was 77.8% (95% CI, 65.7%-86.0%) after SC plus imiquimod and 98.2% (95% CI, 88.0%-99.8%) after SE. The relative risk of treatment failure was 15.93 (95% CI, 2.10-120.64). The 95% CI does not exclude the noninferiority margin of 5.22. Death due to causes unrelated to BCC occurred in 20 patients, and the subhazard ratio from competing risk regression was 16.16 (95% CI, 2.18-119.72). CONCLUSIONS: This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that although it cannot be concluded that SC plus imiquimod is noninferior to SE, SC plus imiquimod was substantially less effective at 5 years after treatment. Most treatment failures occurred in the first year after treatment, and the probability of tumor-free survival 5 years after treatment with SC plus imiquimod was still 77.8%. The information in this trial can be used to counsel patients on the relative benefits and trade-offs of the different treatment options for nBCC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicialTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02242929.