Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

PURPOSE: To investigate whether granuloma formation following self-administered cosmetic oil injections affects mineral homeostasis, specifically calcium, magnesium, phosphate, iron, sodium, and potassium, and to assess the potential impact of prednisolone treatment on these mineral levels. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed blood samples from baseline through a follow-up period of 48 months in patients referred to a tertiary center at Herlev Hospital, Denmark. Changes in serum minerals over time were assessed by a linear mixed model for repeated measures. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were included. Men who injected > 2,000 mL paraffin oil had higher total and ionized calcium (p = 0.029 and p < 0.001), lower PTH (p < 0.001), but also lower magnesium (p < 0.001) and higher sodium (p = 0.048) compared to those who had injected < 500 mL. Men with manifest hypercalcemia at baseline (n = 32) compared to men with normocalcemia (n = 79) experienced an increase in serum PTH and phosphate concentrations over time (p = 0.042 at 48 months), and also a transient increase in iron concentration, although this reached baseline levels again after 24 months. Prednisolone lowered calcium in hypercalcemic men but also decreased serum magnesium (p = 0.027 after 36 months), phosphate, and increased serum iron concentration. CONCLUSION: Men who had injected large volumes of paraffin oil were more likely to have hypercalcemia, lower magnesium, and higher sodium concentrations. Minor aberration in serum minerals was more frequent in patients with more pronounced disease and this may likely be a poor prognostic sign although the mechanism behind this observation remains unclear.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and advantages of microwave ablation (MWA) compared to lobectomy in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: A total of 105 patients were included in the study, 49 in the MWA group and 56 in the surgical group. The mean age of the patients in the MWA group was 49.5 (±12.8) and 40.2 (±10.1) in the surgical group (p < 0.001). 81.6% of the patients in the MWA group were female and 18.4% were male. 83.9% of the patients in the surgical group were male and 16.1% were female (p = 0.75). Patients were followed for at least 12 months. The study was completed by comparing the two groups in terms of surgery-procedure times, complications, nodule sizes, thyroid function tests, symptoms, volume reduction rates (VRR), and cosmetic improvement scores. RESULTS: The mean maximum nodule diameter in the patient group who underwent MWA was 3.5 (±1) cm at the beginning and 2.3 (±0.9) cm at the end of the 12th month (p < 0.001). VRR was 73.4% (±14.8) at the end of the 12th month (p < 0.001). Cosmetic score was 2.5 (±1) at the first month, 1.7 (±1.1) at the third month, 1 (±1) at the sixth month, and 0.6 (±0.7) at the 12th month (p < 0.001). The procedure time was 15.4 (±4.4) minutes in the patients in the MWA group, while it was 70.7 (±17.2) minutes in the surgical group (p < 0.001). No complications developed in 48 patients (98%) in the MWA group and 38 patients (67.9%) in the surgical group (p = 0.005). Voice change occurred in three patients (5.4%) in the surgical group, hematoma in two (3.6%) patients and voice change in one (1.8%) patient in the MWA group. Hypothyroidism developed in eight patients in the surgical group, while hypothyroidism did not develop in the MWA group (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: MWA is a safe and effective treatment method for benign thyroid nodules. It has many advantages over thyroidectomy, such as fewer complications, shorter procedure time, no need for hospitalization and general anesthesia, and good cosmetic results. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Compared with surgery, MWA is a safe, effective, and cost-effective treatment for benign thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND: Reports of skin infections associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) following cosmetic procedures are increasing. The diagnosis and treatment of these infections remain a significant challenge for clinicians. OBJECTIVE: We examined the clinical characteristics, microbiology, histopathology, and treatment strategies of NTM infections following cosmetic procedures, including botulinum toxin injection, lipolysis injection, hyaluronic acid injection, mesotherapy, autologous fat grafting, and other related procedures. METHODS: This retrospective study of cosmetology-related cutaneous NTM infections diagnosed based on culture or molecular identification was conducted at a tertiary dermatology hospital in China. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, pathological biopsy, management, and outcome data were also collected. RESULTS: The series enrolled 28 patients, four diagnosed by molecular identification and histology, and 24 by positive culture. All 24 NTM cultures were rapid-growing mycobacteria, mainly CONCLUSION: Cosmetology-related cutaneous NTM infections are frequently underrecognized and challenging to diagnose, leading to delayed treatment. We aimed to enhance clinician awareness of NTM infections to facilitate early detection and prompt treatment. Empirical therapy with clarithromycin and moxifloxacin may be considered in the absence of susceptibility results, but treatment decisions should be carefully guided by susceptibility testing results. Surgical intervention may be beneficial, and tigecycline is a viable option when resistant to clarithromycin.