Abstracts

A summary of the latest clinical studies

Title: An Attempt to Explain Visual Aesthetic Appreciation Authors: Bjørn Grinde, et al. Published: Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, May 2022 Keywords: Evolution, Supernormal Stimuli, Visual Stimuli Abstract: We suggest an evolutionary based explanation for why humans are preoccupied with aesthetic aspects of visual input. Briefly, humans evolved to be swayed by positive and negative feelings in the form of rewards and punishments, and to pursue situations that induce rewards, even when the feeling is not sufficiently strong to be recognized as a reward. The brain is designed to offer rewards when a person focuses on certain types of visual stimuli. For example, warm colors are typically pleasant because they are associated with edible fruits, and complex images appeal to curiosity. At some point people began exploiting these types of brain rewards by beautifying objects and creating art. The utility of objects, and the associative aspects of art, may dominate the design, but the artist tends to add aesthetic elements. These elements imply visual aspects that do not add to the functional value or evoke memories or associations based on easily recognized features in the picture. The adaptive rationale for the rewards offered by the aesthetic elements should help explain human aesthetic appreciation.

Title: Use of Micro Botulinum Toxin for a Face-lifting Effect Authors: Zhi Yang Ng, et al. Published: Dermatologic Surgery, May 2022 Keywords: Facial Rhytides, Face-Lifting, Facial Asymmetry Abstract: Micro-Botox was described in 2000 for the paralysis of superficial muscle fibers to address facial rhytides. Increasingly, there are reports of its off-label use for a face-lifting effect. A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA; only Level evidence from 2000 to 2020 were included. Data extracted include patient demographics, type of botulinum toxin, dilution, dosage, injection sites and spacing, needle size and syringe, follow-up, patient and physician assessment, and complications. 372 patients (average 35.2 years) underwent different botulinum toxin injections of varying dilutions with 30- to 32-G needles, typically with 1-mL syringes, by forming 0.2- to 0.5-cm wheals 1 cm apart. Follow-up averaged 10.5 weeks with both subjective and objective assessments. Facial asymmetry and minor bruising were common. Subjective assessment of face-lifting effects between patients and physicians was highly discordant and injection sites reported were highly variable. Much heterogeneity in dosage, injection sites, definition of “face-lifting,” and assessment methods remain, all of which preclude accurate and objective evaluation of the current evidence for micro-btx.

Title: Effectiveness Of Jawline, Jaw Angle, and Marionette Lines Correction in Combination with Double Needles Threads and a Collagen-Stimulating Dermal Filler Authors: Samad Rezaee Khiabanloo , et al. Published: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, May 2022 Keywords: APTOS Threads; Ageing Face, Dermal Fillers Abstract: Facial aging is a multifactorial process in which considerable changes occur in different face structures. Thread lifting is one of the most common minimally invasive treatments related to facial rejuvenation. 50 patients with ptosis candidates for lower face correction were included between October 2019 and February 2020. To perform correction of the jawline, jaw angle, and marionette lines, APTOS thread (LLN2GS) and ELLANSE M type were used through an innovative technique. The efficacy and safety were assessed by two surgeons independently. In this study, 50 patients (4 male and 46 female) with were included. Regarding the results, patients’ level of satisfaction increased from 74% at 6 months after the surgery to 86% at 12 months after the surgery. Moreover, the level of satisfaction obtained from surgeons decreased from 96% to 86% at 6 and 12 months after the surgery, respectively. Based on the results, there were substantial and perfect agreements between the surgeon and the independent surgeon to evaluate the surgery efficacy of facial rejuvenation 6 and 12 months after the surgery. No side effects were reported. Due to rare complications, deep satisfaction, and short downtime, the correction of the lower face through our innovative technique be considered an efficient and safe treatment.

Title: Vaginal Hormone-Free Moisturising Cream is not Inferior to an Estriol Cream for Treating Symptoms of Vulvovaginal Atrophy Authors: Susana Garcia de Arriba , et al. Published: PLOS One, May 2022 Keywords: Post-Menopausal, Vulvovaginal Dryness, Estriol Cream Abstract: This prospective, open-label, multicentre, multinational, randomised trial investigated the non-inferiority of treatment with a vaginal hormone-free moisturising cream compared to a vaginal estriol (0.1%) cream in a panel of postmenopausal women suffering from symptoms of vulvovaginal dryness in a parallel group design. In total, 172 post-menopausal women were randomly allocated to either one of the two treatments, each administered for 43 days. The primary endpoint was the total severity score of subjective symptoms of the respective treatment period. Secondary endpoints were severity of single subjective symptoms as well as assessment of safety. In both groups, women treated with hormone-free moisturising cream and those treated with estriol cream, total severity score improved significantly compared to baseline by 5.0 and by 5.4, respectively, after 43 days of treatment. One-sided test of baseline differences confirmed the hormone-free moisturising cream to be non-inferior to the estriol cream. Subgroup analysis of women with mild or moderate impairment of daily life at baseline caused by “vaginal dryness” symptoms benefited from both creams, while women with severe impairment showed a significantly greater benefit from the estriol cream. Both treatments were well tolerated with no serious adverse events occurring. This study provides clinical evidence that a hormonefree vaginal moisturising cream cannot only improve vaginal dryness compared to an 0.1% estriol cream but also can relieve dyspareunia as well as improve woman’s impairment of daily life, justifying its use as a first choice for mild or moderate vulvovaginal dryness symptoms.