Influence of ethnicity on aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics in Caucasian male and female faces.

Background: In an era where globalization and social media significantly reshape beauty standards, it is imperative to delve into the subjectivity of beauty and attractiveness. The lips, a key element in facial aesthetics, contribute significantly to the perception of attractiveness, and also have a profound impact on an individual's self-esteem.

Objective: To analyze the influence of ethnicity on the aesthetic preferences for lip characteristics, among male and female faces.

Horizontal necklines correction with absorbable braided polydioxanone threads: Case series.

Introduction: The prevalence of horizontal neck lines as a cosmetic concern is widely acknowledged, yet the available treatment options are limited, and no studies have investigated the use of polydioxanone-barbed threads. These threads, characterized by a finely braided structure, function as a scaffold to attract regenerative factors and facilitate the migration and proliferation of cells. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of concurrent application of braided polydioxanone-barbed threads for addressing horizontal neck wrinkles.

Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Oxygen-Ozone (OO) Injection Therapy in Patients with Lower Back Pain-An Interventional Two-Year Follow-Up Study of 321 Patients.

Objectives: To assess the effect of oxygen-ozone therapy guided by percutaneous Computed Tomography (CT) compared to corticosteroids in individuals experiencing lower back pain (LBP) not attributed to underlying bone-related issues.

Methods: A total of 321 patients (192 males and 129 females, mean age: 51.5 ± 15.

Body Weight and Prandial Variation of Plasma Metabolites in Subjects Undergoing Gastric Band-Induced Weight Loss.

Background: Bariatric procedures are safe and effective treatments for obesity, inducing rapid and sustained loss of excess body weight. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is unique among bariatric interventions in that it is a reversible procedure in which normal gastrointestinal anatomy is maintained. Knowledge regarding how LAGB effects change at the metabolite level is limited.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumour (PEComa): an unusual cause of painful defaecation.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComa) are rare tumours of mesenchymal origin. We report a 39-year-old patient who presented with painful defecation secondary to an anorectal mass. The diagnosis of anorectal PEComa was confirmed following excision and histopathological examination.

The Cleaner XT™ Device as an Endovascular Adjunct for Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis of Thrombosed Arteriovenous Fistulas and Grafts.

This paper documents our experience using the Cleaner XT™ device (Argon Medical Devices, Plano, TX, USA) for pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) of thrombosed haemodialysis arteriovenous grafts (AVG) and fistulas (AVF). This was a retrospective case series (n=17) over six months at Singapore General Hospital. We evaluated demographics, procedural data, technical and procedural success, patency rates and complications.

Impact of Microsurgical Anastomosis of Hepatic Artery on Arterial Complications and Survival Outcomes After Liver Transplantation.

Hepatic artery (HA) complications after liver transplant (LT) can lead to biliary complications, graft failure, and mortality. Although microsurgery has been established to improve anastomotic outcomes, it prolongs surgical time and has not reached widespread adoption at all transplant centers. We investigated the incidences of arterial, biliary complications and outcomes after using microsurgery to anastomose HA during LT.

The turricephaly index: A validated method for recording turricephaly and its natural history in Apert syndrome.

Introduction: We present the CT scan-derived turricephaly index (TI) as a quotient of the maximal occipito-frontal length of the skull to the distance from the centre of the sella to the highest point on the vertex as a validated tool for assessing turricephaly and evaluating surgical techniques aimed at reducing it.

Materials And Methods: Measurements taken from CTs of non-operated children with Apert syndrome and age-matched controls were analysed using Centricity PACS system (from the lateral scout image) and the thick-sliced Osirix tool. CTs from non-operated children with Apert syndrome were used to investigate the natural history of their turricephaly both as a group and individually.

New-onset ascites as a manifestation of virologic relapse in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C is the most common cause of cirrhosis in industrialized countries. Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis has significant benefits, including improvements in inflammation, fibrosis, and portal hypertension, with prevention of esophageal varices and clinical decompensation.

Case: In this report, we present two patients with well-compensated hepatitis C cirrhosis who achieved an end-of-treatment response on a direct-acting antiviral therapy-based triple regimen for hepatitis C virus, but subsequently presented with new-onset ascites associated with virologic relapse.