Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of combining high-frequency ultrasound, sound touch elastography (STE), and ultramicro angiography (UMA) for the diagnosis and short-term postoperative follow-up of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 50 CTS patients (78 wrists), classified by severity into mild (n = 22), moderate (n = 32), and severe (n = 24) groups, along with 35 healthy volunteers (70 wrists) as controls. All participants underwent multimodal ultrasound examination combining high-frequency ultrasound, STE, and UMA to measure median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA), shear wave velocity (SWV), and color pixel percentage (CPP) within 2 cm proximal to the carpal tunnel inlet. Patients with moderate and severe CTS underwent carpal tunnel release surgery followed by repeat ultrasound evaluation at 3 months postoperatively. Statistical comparisons included the following: (1) ultrasound parameters between preoperative CTS patients and controls; (2) parameter differences across severity subgroups; (3) pre-versus postoperative changes in CTS patients; and (4) diagnostic performance of individual and combined parameters for CTS identification. RESULTS: Significant elevations in median nerve CSA, SWV, and CPP were observed at the carpal tunnel inlet in the CTS group compared to controls (all P < 0.001). Among CTS patients, CPP demonstrated progressive increases with severity across all subgroups (all P < 0.001). CSA was significantly larger in severe cases than in mild and moderate wrists (P < 0.001), while SWV values were higher in both moderate and severe cases compared to mild CTS (all P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the combination of CSA, SWV, and CPP provided optimal diagnostic accuracy for CTS with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.990, with 96.2% sensitivity and 98.6% specificity. Postoperative assessment at 3 months revealed significant reductions in all three parameters compared to preoperative values (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Multimodal ultrasound provides clinical value in carpal tunnel syndrome by supporting early diagnosis and severity stratification, and it may serve as a useful tool for short-term postoperative monitoring.

Evaluating skin sensitization is crucial for the safety of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Regulatory bans on animal testing have spurred the development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), Integrated Testing Strategies (ITS), and Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA). Defined Approaches (DAs) that combine various NAMs have been developed to assess skin sensitization hazards and potency, as recognized by the OECD. However, deriving a quantitative point of departure (PoD) through NAMs in accordance with NGRA remains challenging. This study evaluated the skin sensitization hazard and potency of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and 5,5'-oxydimethylenebis(2-furfural) (OBMF), which are by-products of saccharide-containing botanical ingredients in cosmetics and preparations, using an NGRA workflow that integrated ITS DAs and read-across. Within the NGRA framework, NAMs classified 5-HMF and OBMF as weak to moderate skin sensitizers based on the Schiff base formation mechanism. Case studies on hypothetical consumer exposure scenarios (leave-on and rinse-off) for 5-HMF and OBMF derived PoDs and acceptable concentration thresholds raise safety concerns regarding human skin sensitization from topical exposure to 5-HMF and OBMF. The study assessed uncertainties in NGRA and NAMs for exposure-driven risk assessments without animal testing. It advocated for further research to refine tiered NGRA workflows, enhance the protective sufficiency of NAMs, and expand their applicability to botanical ingredients.

BACKGROUND: Robotic neck dissection has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to conventional open surgery, providing enhanced surgical precision, reduced morbidity, and improved cosmetic outcomes. Advances in technology and refinement of surgical techniques have broadened the applicability of robotic approaches in head and neck oncology. This study aims to describe a novel robotic approach for neck dissection and assess its technical feasibility, safety, and short-term perioperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma who did not require neck access for flap reconstruction were selected for the procedure. A bilateral infraclavicular approach for robotic neck dissection (BIRD) was performed with the Intuitive da Vinci Xi Surgical System. Outcomes assessed included lymph node yield, as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Three patients underwent the BIRD procedure. All underwent selective neck dissection (levels I-IV) without a visible cervical scar. Lymph node yield ranged from 24 to 39, with a mean of 30. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 150 to 225 ml (mean 183 ml). No major intraoperative complications, including vascular injury, chyle leak, conversion to open surgery, or re-exploration, were observed. Drain output was <25 ml per 24 hours by postoperative day 4 in all patients. Postoperative assessment revealed normal function of the spinal accessory, hypoglossal, and marginal mandibular nerves in all cases. CONCLUSION: BIRD is a technically feasible approach for prophylactic neck dissection in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. It respects established oncologic principles in terms of lymph node yield, and is associated with acceptable short-term functional and cosmetic outcomes.