Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis
Analyzed 8 papers and selected 3 impactful papers.
Summary
Three studies inform cosmetic-related clinical practice and biomaterials safety: pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies in pregnant women/newborns are linked to cosmetic use and maternal age; a randomized trial shows electrosurgery yields scar outcomes comparable to scalpel; and PDD-guided excision plus PDT improves margin negativity and aesthetics in high-risk basal cell carcinoma.
Research Themes
- Cosmetic exposure and biomaterial immunogenicity
- Dermatologic surgical technique and scar outcomes
- Optical guidance and adjunctive photodynamic therapy in skin cancer
Selected Articles
1. Pre-existing anti-polyethylene glycol antibodies in pregnant women and newborns.
In a paired maternal–newborn cross-sectional analysis (n=256 pairs), anti-PEG seropositivity was 19.14% in pregnant women and 5.47% in newborns, with IgG3/IgG4/IgE undetectable. Median IgG1/IgG2/IgM concentrations were quantified, and maternal age, take-out food consumption, and cosmetic use influenced maternal antibodies; newborn antibodies were associated with maternal age and cosmetic use.
Impact: This is the first detailed seroepidemiology of anti-PEG antibodies in pregnancy, identifying lifestyle factors including cosmetic use that may modulate immunogenicity relevant to PEGylated therapeutics and vaccines.
Clinical Implications: Clinicians should consider pre-existing anti-PEG immunity when prescribing or studying PEGylated drugs in pregnancy and the neonatal period; counseling on potential exposures (including cosmetic products containing PEG) and stratification in clinical trials may be warranted.
Key Findings
- Anti-PEG seropositivity in pregnant women was 19.14%; in newborns, 5.47%.
- Isotypes detected included IgG1 (2.34%), IgG2 (7.03%), and IgM (10.94%) in mothers; newborn IgG1 and IgG2 were each 2.73%, with IgM 0%.
- IgG3, IgG4, and IgE anti-PEG antibodies were undetectable in all samples.
- Median maternal anti-PEG concentrations: IgG1 273.88 ng/mL, IgG2 748.35 ng/mL, IgM 175.07 ng/mL; newborn IgG1 207.92 ng/mL, IgG2 336.52 ng/mL.
- Maternal age, take-out food consumption, and cosmetic use influenced maternal anti-PEG antibodies; newborn antibodies were associated with maternal age and cosmetic use.
Methodological Strengths
- Paired maternal and cord blood sampling enabling mother–infant comparisons
- Isotype-specific quantitative measurement of anti-PEG antibodies
- In-depth statistical analyses examining lifestyle and demographic influencing factors
Limitations
- Single-center study in China may limit generalizability
- Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference and clinical outcome correlations
- Potential residual confounding from unmeasured exposures
Future Directions: Multicenter longitudinal studies linking anti-PEG status to clinical responses/adverse events with PEGylated therapeutics in pregnancy and infancy; mechanistic work on exposure sources (e.g., cosmetics) driving antibody induction.
Pre-existing anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) antibodies represent risk factors for reduced efficacy and increased adverse reactions in seropositive individuals, but neither the seropositivities, nor levels nor influencing factors have been investigated in pregnant women or newborns. Herein, maternal and cord blood samples were respectively collected from 256 pregnant women and corresponding 256 newborns at the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China for further determination of pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies, along with questionnaire interviews, demographic and clinical data collections. Our data showed that the seropositivities of total anti-PEG antibodies, anti-PEG IgG1 and IgG2, anti-PEG IgM, and coexistence of anti-PEG IgM and IgG were 19.14%, 2.34%, 7.03%, 10.94% and 1.17%, respectively, in pregnant women, and 5.47%, 2.73%, 2.73%, 0% and 0%, respectively, in newborns. Anti-PEG IgG3, IgG4 and IgE were undetectable in all blood samples. Median anti-PEG IgG1, IgG2 and IgM concentrations were 273.88 ng/mL, 748.35 ng/mL and 175.07 ng/mL, respectively, in pregnant women. Median anti-PEG IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations were 207.92 ng/mL and 336.52 ng/mL, respectively, in newborns. Interestingly, in-depth statistical analyses revealed that maternal age, take-out food consumption and cosmetic use were influencing factors of maternal anti-PEG antibodies, while newborn anti-PEG antibodies were affected by maternal age and cosmetic use. These seroepidemiological characteristics raise concerns over the clinical use of PEGylated drugs in pregnant women and newborns, and provide valuable insight into the induction of risky pre-existing anti-PEG antibodies.
2. Use of electrosurgery for skin incision and dissection: randomized comparative study in 85 patients.
In a randomized, parallel-group trial of 85 dermatologic excisions on trunk/extremities, electrosurgery with a Colorado microdissection needle produced scar outcomes (OSAS/PSAS) comparable to those of a cold scalpel at 3 months. Complication rates were low (4.7%) and similar between groups.
Impact: Provides randomized evidence within dermatologic surgery that electrosurgical skin incision does not worsen scar quality, supporting broader adoption where efficiency and hemostasis are advantageous.
Clinical Implications: For simple excisions on trunk/extremities, electrosurgical incision/dissection can be used without compromising cosmetic scarring, aiding efficiency and hemostasis; further data are needed for cosmetically sensitive areas.
Key Findings
- No statistically significant differences in mean PSAS or OSAS scar scores between electrosurgery and scalpel groups at 3 months.
- Independent observers found no differences in local scar characteristics.
- Overall complication rate was 4.7% (n=4) with no between-group differences.
- Supports noninferiority of the Colorado microdissection needle for skin incisions and subcutaneous dissection in dermatologic surgery.
Methodological Strengths
- Randomized, comparative, parallel-group design
- Use of validated scar assessment scales (OSAS/PSAS) with independent observers
Limitations
- Single-center study limits generalizability
- Excluded anatomically and cosmetically critical locations; 3-month follow-up only
Future Directions: Larger multicenter RCTs including facial and high-tension sites, longer-term scar assessment, and cost-effectiveness analyses of electrosurgery versus scalpel.
INTRODUCTION: The use of electrosurgery for skin incision has been evaluated in other surgical fields outside dermatology, without finding differences in cosmetic outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the healing outcomes obtained with a Colorado microdissection needle or a conventional cold scalpel for skin incision and subcutaneous tissue dissection. METHODS: Longitudinal, randomized, comparative, parallel-group study in patients requiring simple excisions on the trunk or extremities, randomly assigned to undergo surgery with a Colorado microdissection needle or a conventional cold scalpel. Three months after surgery, scars were assessed using the Observer Scar Assessment Scale (OSAS) and the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS). RESULTS: The study included a total of 85 patients. No statistically significant differences were found in mean PSAS and OSAS scores or in local scar characteristics according to the assessments of independent observers. The complication rate was 4.7% (n = 4), with no differences across groups. LIMITATIONS: Its single-center design and the exclusion of anatomic locations with greater cosmetic impact. CONCLUSIONS: The Colorado microdissection needle for skin incisions and tissue dissection in dermatologic surgery is not inferior to the cold scalpel in terms of healing and cosmetic scar outcomes.
3. Efficacy of PDD-guided tumor excision combined with photodynamic therapy in high-risk basal cell carcinoma.
In a retrospective cohort of 19 high-risk BCC patients, PDD-guided excision plus adjunctive ALA-PDT achieved a higher negative margin rate (95.3% vs 75.5%), required fewer frozen sections, and improved cosmetic outcomes and satisfaction compared with wide local excision without PDD.
Impact: Demonstrates that intraoperative optical guidance integrated with PDT can enhance oncologic clearance and aesthetics in high-risk BCC, pointing to a potentially practice-changing multimodal approach pending confirmation.
Clinical Implications: PDD-guided excision with adjunctive PDT may reduce resection uncertainty and improve cosmetic outcomes in high-risk BCC; centers should consider evaluating this workflow, while awaiting larger prospective validation.
Key Findings
- Negative margin rate was higher with PDD-guided excision (95.3%) versus non-PDD wide local excision (75.5%).
- PDD group required fewer intraoperative frozen section analyses.
- Cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction were better in the PDD group; PDT targeted subclinical residual disease intra- or postoperatively.
- Safety profile was favorable; however, the study was small and nonrandomized.
Methodological Strengths
- Comparative cohort with concurrent frozen section analysis in both groups
- Integration of PDD for margin mapping and adjunctive PDT to address subclinical disease
- Assessment of efficacy, aesthetics, satisfaction, and quality of life
Limitations
- Retrospective, nonrandomized design with small sample size (n=19)
- Short-term outcomes; limited follow-up duration reported
- Potential selection and performance biases
Future Directions: Prospective randomized trials comparing PDD-guided excision ± PDT versus standard care, with long-term local control, cosmetic metrics, cost-effectiveness, and patient-reported outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common non-pigmented cutaneous malignancy. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) can distinguish tumor tissues from normal tissues by visible fluorescence. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely used in the treatment of non-melanoma skin tumors. This study aims to illustrate the efficacy and safety of PDD-guided tumor excision combined with ALA-PDT in patients with BCC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 19 patients diagnosed with high-risk BCC, who were grouped based on the actual treatment they had received in clinical practice: the PDD group (n=9) and the non-PDD group (n=10). Patients were not randomized. The PDD group were treated with PDD-guided tumor excision, and the non-PDD group were treated with wide local excision (WLE). Both groups underwent frozen section analysis, and PDT was performed intraoperatively or postoperatively as an adjunctive therapy to target potential subclinical residual tumor cells. Clinical outcomes were analyzed, including efficacy, aesthetic outcome, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. RESULTS: The negative rate of tumor margins in PDD group was 95.3%, compared to 75.5% in the non-PDD group. PDD group needed fewer times of frozen section analysis and observed better cosmetic outcomes and superior patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: PDD can reveal tumor margins in high-risk BCC to guide the extent of surgical resection. The combination of PDD-guided tumor resection with PDT demonstrates high safety and efficacy in the treatment of BCC, particularly in managing potential subclinical residual disease. However, it still needs to be verified in studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods.