A Split-face Study on Rejuvenation Efficacy According to Monopolar Radiofrequency Tip Size

Monopolar radiofrequency (RF) non-invasively tightens and rejuvenates the skin by stimulating collagen fiber production. Since the introduction of the monopolar RF device in the early 2000's, RF devices have advanced and they can rejuvenate of periorbital and forehead wrinkles, as well as skin laxity of the lower face and neck. We compared the differences in the treatment effects based on the tip size. This randomized split-face study comprised 31 participants aged 29 to 75 years old (three males and 28 females) who underwent one session of monopolar RF; one side of the face was treated with a 3cm2 tip and the other with a 4cm2 tip. Facial wrinkle scores were measured on the upper face and the lower face before and after treatment for up to three months. Significant improvement was observed in the periorbital area (p<0.001), forehead (p=0.72), and glabellar (p=0.63) treated with a smaller tip. However, nasolabial folds (p=0.8) and marionette lines (p=0.13) showed better improvement when treated with a larger tip.

Masks and Faces in the Setting at the Time of Coronavirus

The "health emergency" forced analysts to seek new ways of continuing with analysis. The article focuses, in particular, on the changes brought about in the setting by the presence of the sanitary mask, following a line that begins with the theme of the "mask" in the collective uses of human cultures, and develops through the Jungian concept of persona, as opposed to the "face" that may convey an authentic image of oneself. A clinical vignette illustrates the issues that the mask raises in the setting by obstructing the communication of emotions. When there is no transformative processing of concrete data, "unmasking" can also lead to an uncanny encounter and to moments of darkness and confusion in analysis, when the analyst experiences the kind of "unconscious identity" between therapist and patient that Jung defined as nigredo. The article is intended as a contribution to the analytic community's current reflections on the new and unforeseen challenges encountered in analysis at the time of the Coronavirus. It is possible to learn from these experiences with a view to integrating new elements and thus modify one's own internal setting, the compass with which each analyst orientates himself.

DNA-guided transcription factor cooperativity shapes face and limb mesenchyme

Transcription factors (TFs) can define distinct cellular identities despite nearly identical DNA-binding specificities. One mechanism for achieving regulatory specificity is DNA-guided TF cooperativity. Although in vitro studies suggest that it may be common, examples of such cooperativity remain scarce in cellular contexts. Here, we demonstrate how "Coordinator," a long DNA motif composed of common motifs bound by many basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and homeodomain (HD) TFs, uniquely defines the regulatory regions of embryonic face and limb mesenchyme. Coordinator guides cooperative and selective binding between the bHLH family mesenchymal regulator TWIST1 and a collective of HD factors associated with regional identities in the face and limb. TWIST1 is required for HD binding and open chromatin at Coordinator sites, whereas HD factors stabilize TWIST1 occupancy at Coordinator and titrate it away from HD-independent sites. This cooperativity results in the shared regulation of genes involved in cell-type and positional identities and ultimately shapes facial morphology and evolution.

Characteristic Dermatoscopic Features of Hyperpigmented Macules on the Faces of Young Children

The aim was to describe the characteristic dermatoscopic features of hyperpigmented macules on the faces of young children. Sixteen patients with typical clinical presentations of hyperpigmented macules on the faces of young children were included in this study. The lesions were evaluated using a dermatoscope. The clinical and dermatoscopic features were analyzed and summarized. There were 12 boys and 4 girls enrolled in the study. The hyperpigmented macules had an age of onset ranging from 1 to 18 months (mean, 6.12 months). The hyperpigmentation was distributed on the forehead and/or temple, as follows: forehead (n = 8 [50%]); temple (n = 3 [18.8%]); and both sites (n = 5 [31.2%]). Fifteen patients (93.7%) had pseudoreticular pigmentation, 1 patient (6.3%) had reticular pigment with pseudoreticular pigment, and 100% had erythema and linear/branching vessels. Light brown pseudoreticular pigment and linear vessels were shown to be the 2 major dermatoscopic manifestations of hyperpigmented macules on the faces of young children.

Customized planning of the visible maxillary arch width in harmony with interparopia width and smile width for female facial aesthetics

BACKGROUND

The visible maxillary arch width (VAW) is an important aesthetic-determining feature. To date, there is no well-established methodology to determine the aesthetically optimal VAW in customized treatment planning.

METHODS

In this study, the common traits of the dentofacial configuration were investigated in most attractive Asian and Caucasian female smiles. The smiling photo of a subject was digitally modified based on combined variations of VAW, smile width (SW), transverse facial dimensions (TFD), and vertical facial dimensions. These modified photos were assessed for aesthetics. The aesthetically essential parameters were identified, and their mathematic correlations and reference ranges were determined for different vertical facial patterns. Using the obtained results, a mathematic guidance was constructed for customized smile designing. The applicability of this guidance was tested in Asian females.

RESULTS

The most attractive Asian and Caucasian female smiles have intraracial and interracial commonalities in the VAW-to-TFD ratios. The interparopia width (IPD) predominated over facial widths in determining well-matched VAW and SW. For optimal smile aesthetics, the VAW and SW were correlated as simulated by the formula 1.92 IPD ≤ VAW + 2.3 SW ≤ 2.17 IPD, plus the VAW-to-IPD ratio within 0.54 to 0.62 and the SW-to-IPD ratio within 0.61 to 0.71, ranges tailored to vertical facial patterns. This constitutes a mathematic guidance for customized planning of the aesthetically optimal VAW. This guidance was preliminarily validated to be applicable to Asian females.

CONCLUSIONS

The VAW-to-TFD ratios were essential for Caucasian and Asian female smile aesthetics. The mathematic guidance could serve as a reference for customized smile designs for Asian females.

Comparison of face-based and voice-based first impressions in a Chinese sample

People often form first impressions of others based on face and/or voice cues. This study aimed to compare the first impressions formed under these two cues. First, we compared free descriptions based on face and voice cues and found differences in the content and frequency of the personality words. We then compiled three wordlists used for face-based and voice-based first impression evaluations separately or simultaneously. Second, using these wordlists, we compared face-based and voice-based first impression ratings and found that both had significant intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. However, using the mean of the actors' self-rating and their acquaintance rating as the validity criterion, only the ratings of 'ingenuous' and 'mature' traits in the face-based first impression evaluation were significantly correlated with the validity criterion. Factor analysis revealed that face-based first impression had the dimensions of capability and approachability, while voice-based first impression had capability, approachability and reliability. The findings indicate that stable first impressions can be formed by either face or voice cues. However, the specific composition of impressions will vary between the cues. These results also provide a foundation for studying first impressions formed by an integrated perception of voice and face cues.

Health Care Professional-Supported Co-Design of a Mime Therapy-Based Serious Game for Facial Rehabilitation

This research letter presents the co-design process for RG4Face, a mime therapy-based serious game that uses computer vision for human facial movement recognition and estimation to help health care professionals and patients in the facial rehabilitation process.

Balancing beauty and science: a review of facial implant materials in craniofacial surgery

Facial reconstruction and augmentation, integral in facial plastic surgery, address defects related to trauma, tumors infections, and congenital skeletal deficiencies. Aesthetic considerations, including age-related facial changes, involve volume loss and diminished projection, often associated with predictable changes in the facial skeleton. Autologous, allogeneic, and alloplastic implants are used to address these concerns. Autologous materials such as bone, cartilage, and fat, while longstanding options, have limitations, including unpredictability and resorption rates. Alloplastic materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics, offer alternatives. Metals like titanium are biocompatible and used primarily in fracture fixation. Polymers, such as silicone and polyethylene, are widely used, with silicone presenting migration, bony resorption, and visibility issues. Polyethylene, particularly porous polyethylene (MedPor), was reported to have one of the lowest infection rates while it becomes incorporated into the host. Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) exhibits mechanical strength and compatibility with imaging modalities, with custom PEEK implants providing stable results. Acrylic materials, like poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA), offer strength and is thus mostly used in the case of cranioplasty. Bioceramics, notably hydroxyapatite (HaP), offer osteoconductive and inductive properties, and HaP granules demonstrate stable volume retention in facial aesthetic augmentation. Combining HaP with other materials, such as PLA, may enhance mechanical stability. 3D bioprinting with HaP-based bioinks presents a promising avenue for customizable and biocompatible implants. In conclusion, various materials have been used for craniofacial augmentation, but none have definitively demonstrated superiority. Larger randomized controlled trials are essential to evaluate short- and long-term complications comprehensively, potentially revolutionizing facial balancing surgery.

Neural mechanisms of face familiarity and learning in the human amygdala and hippocampus

Recognizing familiar faces and learning new faces play an important role in social cognition. However, the underlying neural computational mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we record from single neurons in the human amygdala and hippocampus and find a greater neuronal representational distance between pairs of familiar faces than unfamiliar faces, suggesting that neural representations for familiar faces are more distinct. Representational distance increases with exposures to the same identity, suggesting that neural face representations are sharpened with learning and familiarization. Furthermore, representational distance is positively correlated with visual dissimilarity between faces, and exposure to visually similar faces increases representational distance, thus sharpening neural representations. Finally, we construct a computational model that demonstrates an increase in the representational distance of artificial units with training. Together, our results suggest that the neuronal population geometry, quantified by the representational distance, encodes face familiarity, similarity, and learning, forming the basis of face recognition and memory.

The Story behind the Mask: A Narrative Review on Hypomimia in Parkinson's Disease

Facial movements are crucial for social and emotional interaction and well-being. Reduced facial expressions (i.e., hypomimia) is a common feature in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and previous studies linked this manifestation to both motor symptoms of the disease and altered emotion recognition and processing. Nevertheless, research on facial motor impairment in PD has been rather scarce and only a limited number of clinical evaluation tools are available, often suffering from poor validation processes and high inter- and intra-rater variability. In recent years, the availability of technology-enhanced quantification methods of facial movements, such as automated video analysis and machine learning application, led to increasing interest in studying hypomimia in PD. In this narrative review, we summarize the current knowledge on pathophysiological hypotheses at the basis of hypomimia in PD, with particular focus on the association between reduced facial expressions and emotional processing and analyze the current evaluation tools and management strategies for this symptom, as well as future research perspectives.

Clinical outcomes of scalp or face angiosarcoma treatment with intensity-modulated radiotherapy: a multicenter study

Combined modality therapy, including radiotherapy (RT), is a common treatment for scalp or face angiosarcoma. Although intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can deliver homogeneous doses to the scalp or face, clinical data are limited. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate scalp or face angiosarcoma treated with definitive or post-operative IMRT. We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who received IMRT for scalp or face angiosarcoma at three institutions between January 2015 and March 2020. Local control (LC) rate, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), recurrence patterns and toxicity were evaluated. Fifteen patients underwent IMRT during the study period. Definitive RT was performed on 10 patients and post-operative RT was performed on 5 patients. The 1-year LC rate was 85.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53.9-96.2%). The 1-year OS and PFS rates were 66.7% (95% CI, 37.5-84.6%) and 53.3% (95% CI, 26.3%-74.4%), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that a clinical target volume over 500 cm3 was associated with poor LC. Distant metastasis was the most common recurrence pattern. All patients experienced Grade 2 or 3 radiation dermatitis, and five patients experienced grade ≥ 3 skin ulceration. One patient who underwent maintenance therapy with pazopanib developed Grade 5 skin ulceration. Fisher's exact test showed that post-operative RT was significantly associated with an increased risk of skin ulceration of grade ≥ 3. These results demonstrate that IMRT is a feasible and effective treatment for scalp or face angiosarcoma, although skin ulceration of grade ≥ 3 is a common adverse event in patients who receive post-operative RT.

A multi-study analysis enables identification of potential microbial features associated with skin aging signs

Introduction: During adulthood, the skin microbiota can be relatively stable if environmental conditions are also stable, yet physiological changes of the skin with age may affect the skin microbiome and its function. The microbiome is an important factor to consider in aging since it constitutes most of the genes that are expressed on the human body. However, severity of specific aging signs (one of the parameters used to measure "apparent" age) and skin surface quality (e.g., texture, hydration, pH, sebum, etc.) may not be indicative of chronological age. For example, older individuals can have young looking skin (young apparent age) and young individuals can be of older apparent age. Methods: Here we aim to identify microbial taxa of interest associated to skin quality/aging signs using a multi-study analysis of 13 microbiome datasets consisting of 16S rRNA amplicon sequence data and paired skin clinical data from the face. Results: We show that there is a negative relationship between microbiome diversity and transepidermal water loss, and a positive association between microbiome diversity and age. Aligned with a tight link between age and wrinkles, we report a global positive association between microbiome diversity and Crow's feet wrinkles, but with this relationship varying significantly by sub-study. Finally, we identify taxa potentially associated with wrinkles, TEWL and corneometer measures. Discussion: These findings represent a key step towards understanding the implication of the skin microbiota in skin aging signs.

The Critical Photographic Variables Contributing to Skull-Face Superimposition Methods to Assist Forensic Identification of Skeletons: A Review

When an unidentified skeleton is discovered, a video superimposition (VS) of the skull and a facial photograph may be undertaken to assist identification. In the first instance, the method is fundamentally a photographic one, requiring the overlay of two 2D photographic images at transparency for comparison. Presently, mathematical and anatomical techniques used to compare skull/face anatomy dominate superimposition discussions, however, little attention has been paid to the equally fundamental photographic prerequisites that underpin these methods. This predisposes error, as the optical parameters of the two comparison photographs are (presently) rarely matched prior to, or for, comparison. In this paper, we: (1) review the basic but critical photographic prerequisites that apply to VS; (2) propose a replacement for the current anatomy-centric searches for the correct 'skull pose' with a photographic-centric camera vantage point search; and (3) demarcate superimposition as a clear two-stage phased procedure that depends first on photographic parameter matching, as a prerequisite to undertaking any anatomical comparison(s).

Exploring the Multifaceted Impact of Acne on Quality of Life and Well-Being

A suitable portion of the total population still suffers through acne vulgaris, a widespread dermatological illness that mostly affects teens and young adults. Although acne is typically considered to be a cosmetic problem, recent research has concluded that certainly it has a significant role on impacting many physiological aspects of human health. This thorough investigation attempts to examine the intricate effects of acne on human physiology, taking into consideration both systemic and local effects. The study synthesizes research from a number of scientific disciplines, including dermatology, endocrinology, immunology, and psychoneuroimmunology. It investigates the complex interrelationships between several factors, such as sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, hormone imbalance, and Propionibacterium acnes colonisation, that lead to the development of acne. The study also sheds information on the intricate physiological mechanisms, oxidative stress, and immune response that contribute to the aetiology of acne. Along with it, the review investigates the relationship between endocrine problems and acne, emphasizing hormonal anomalies and their possible role in acne severity. The psychological effects of acne are also discussed, including the psychological problems, concerns with self-esteem, and decreased quality of life that acne sufferers encounter. On comprehensively examining the diverse physiological aspects affected by acne, this review provides a foundation for future research endeavours and informs the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. Ultimately, the integration of multidisciplinary approaches will enable healthcare professionals to address the physiological complexities of acne and improve the overall well-being of individuals affected by this common skin condition.

Perifollicular linear projections: A dermatoscopic criterion for the diagnosis of lentigo maligna on the face

BACKGROUND

Lentigo maligna (LM) can mimic benign, flat, pigmented lesions and can be challenging to diagnose.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a new dermatoscopic feature termed "perifollicular linear projections (PLP)" as a diagnostic criterion for LM on the face.

METHODS

Retrospective study on reflectance confocal microscopy and dermatoscopy images of flat facial pigmented lesions originating from 2 databases. PLP were defined as short, linear, pigmented projections emanating from hair follicles. Dermatoscopy readers were blinded to the final histopathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

From 83 consecutive LMs, 21/83 (25.3%) displayed "bulging of hair follicles" on reflectance confocal microscopy and 18 of these 21 (85.7%), displayed PLP on dermatoscopy. From a database of 2873 consecutively imaged and biopsied lesions, 252 flat-pigmented facial lesions were included. PLP was seen in 47/76 melanomas (61.8%), compared with 7/176 lesions (3.9%) with other diagnosis (P < .001). The sensitivity was 61.8% (95% CI, 49.9%-72.7%), specificity 96.0% (95% CI, 92.9%-98.4%). PLP was independently associated with LM diagnosis on multivariate analysis (OR 26.1 [95% CI, 9.6%-71.0]).

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective study.

CONCLUSION

PLP is a newly described dermatoscopic criterion that may add specificity and sensitivity to the early diagnosis of LM located on the face. We postulate that PLP constitutes an intermediary step in the LM progression model.

Facial growth and development trajectories based on three-dimensional images: geometric morphometrics with a deformation perspective

Developmental changes of facial shape are commonly investigated through geometric morphometrics. A limitation with this approach is the inability to investigate patterns of morphological changes at local scale. This could be addressed through quantifying the deformation required to deform one shape to another. This study aimed to investigate changes in mean, rate and variance of facial shape at local scale using geometric morphometrics through deformation perspective. A total of 2112 Europeans 3 to 40 years old from the three-dimensional Facial Norms project were included. Shape and rate trajectories from partial least-squares regressions revealed that the developmentally protrusive nasal bridge was due to local expansion in surrounding tissues as opposed to shape changes in nasal bridge per se. Local expansion of the supraorbital region, in particular the medial part in males, resulted in the sloping forehead and deep-situated eyes with development. Facial shape variation increased nonlinearly with age (p < 0.05), with features having larger rate of change becoming more developmentally diversified. In summary, our deformation perspective facilitates unravelling morphogenetic processes underlying shape changes. Our extended analytical scope inspires novel measures worthy of consideration while establishing facial growth charts. The analytical framework in this study is broadly applicable for analysis of shape changes in general.

Face-like pareidolia images are more difficult to detect than real faces in children with autism spectrum disorder

BACKGROUND

Research on the diagnosis, treatment and pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders is multifaceted, requiring the use of genetics, imaging, psychology, and artificial intelligence (AI). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a limited ability to communicate and a limited interest in social environments. Facial recognition is really important in daily life. Seeing faces in unusual objects, e.g., a face in a cloud, is called face pareidolia.

OBJECTIVES

Although more evidence points to a greater role of genetic factors in ASD, neuropsychological tests have an important role in diagnosing ASD. The aim of the study was to investigate how face perception is processed in children with autism using a new digital test that consists of faces and pareidolia images.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty typically developing (TD) children (8 male, 12 female) between 6 and 16 years of age and 21 children with ASD (14 male, 7 female) between 6 and 14 years of age were included in the study. A new neuropsychological test called the digital pareidolia test was administered to the participants. The study consisted of 2 stages: a face condition and a pareidolia condition.

RESULTS

Our results showed that children with autism (n = 21) were less successful in identifying both face and pareidolia images, and were slower to react in both conditions than children from the TD group. Both children with ASD and the TD group reacted faster to face images than pareidolia images.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings in this study are in agreement with atypical and different face perceptions in autism which cause social difficulties. We demonstrated that the digital face and pareidolia test has considerable potential for use as a neuropsychological test that can specify the diagnosis and progression of autism in subclinical areas. Pareidolia faces and real faces are processed in a common way.

The politics of face and the trouble with race: Exploring relations at the interface between the individual and the collective in forensic practice

This special issue interrogates race through the lens of face. Its central faces are those in forensic settings. Promising immediate legibility and access to the individual suspect, forensic faces nevertheless mobilize a variety of collectives. We offer conceptual and methodological tools to examine the face as both an individual and a collective phenomenon, and demonstrate through detailed cases how the face thus allows us to address the absent presence of race. Given its long and convoluted history in physical anthropology, as a marker of racial typology, the face forces us to reckon with colonial histories of ordering human difference. But the face also allows us to question a regime of visuality that congeals around the face in Western culture. In this introduction to The Politics of Face and the Trouble with Race we elaborate these concerns and introduce the contributions to this volume.

On the persistence of race: Unique skulls and average tissue depths in the practice of forensic craniofacial depiction

The (re-)surfacing of race in forensic practices has received plenty of attention from STS scholars, especially in connection with modern forensic genetic technologies. In this article, I describe the making of facial depictions based on the skulls of unknown deceased individuals. Based on ethnographic research in the field of craniofacial identification and forensic art, I present a material-semiotic analysis of how race comes to matter in the face-making process. The analysis sheds light on how race as a translation device enables oscillation between the individual skull and population data, and allows for slippage between categories that otherwise do not neatly map on to one another. The subsuming logic of race is ingrained - in that it sits at the bases of standard choices and tools - in methods and technologies. However, the skull does not easily let itself be reduced to a racial type. Moreover, the careful efforts of practitioners to articulate the individual characteristics of each skull provide clues for how similarities and differences can be done without the effect of producing race. Such methods value the skull itself as an object of interest, rather than treat it as a vehicle for practicing race science. I argue that efforts to undo the persistence of race in forensic anthropology should focus critical attention on the socio-material configuration of methods and technologies, including data practices and reference standards.

InterFaces: On the relationality of vision, face and race in practices of identification. A multimodal intervention

This article problematizes vision in practices of identification. It draws on the metaphor of the 'interface' to emphasize that vision emerges 'in between' eyes, faces, bodies, objects and ideas of belonging and otherness. As such, vision can be a material and political technology that enacts certain people as racial others. To attend to the materiality and politics of vision and its messy relationship with race, I bring together three European stories in which faces are drawn, seen or identified, while race hides or surfaces in intriguing ways. Through these stories we learn that race is saturated with affect and is recalled in objects and bodies. In addition, this article offers a novel methodological approach. It employs the eyes of the reader not only to read but also to watch. Vision itself becomes a technology, this time not to produce or reinforce, but to disturb and perhaps even undo ideas of racial otherness. Through the use of experimental montage, I attend to the complexities and incongruities of seeing faces and race without settling on a single narrative. I actively engage the eyes of the viewer to argue that vision is always relational and partial and therefore, it can also be harnessed to undo racial otherness by fragmenting, multiplying and affecting.

Face-to-face live eye-tracking in toddlers with autism: Feasibility and impact of familiarity and face covering

Studies utilizing eye-tracking methods have potential to promptly capture real-world dynamics of one of the core areas of vulnerability in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), selective social attention. So far, no studies have successfully reported utilizing the method to examine social attention in toddlers with neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities in real world and challenging settings such as an interactive face-to-face. This study examined the feasibility and validity of live eye-tracking method in response to live interaction occurring in several contexts in toddlers with and without ASD. Forty-seven toddlers with ASD, with atypical development (ATYP), or typically developing (TD), underwent a 30-s live eye-tracking procedure during a face-to-face interaction with a masked stranger using child-directed-speech (16 ASD, 14 ATYP, 17 TD; Mage  = 23.44 months, SD = 6.02). Out of this group of toddlers, 29 (10 ASD, 8 ATYP, 11 TD, Mage  = 21.97 months, SD = 5.76) underwent the same procedure with one of their maskless parent. Task completion rate, calibration accuracy, and affective response (feasibility measures) as well as attention to the task and the social partner (validity measures) were examined. Task completion rate and calibration accuracy were excellent. Despite the challenging context of face-to-face interaction, the toddlers exhibited a neutral affect, and high attention to the task and the speaker. As anticipated, toddlers with ASD looked less at the social partner compared with control groups. However, attention was comparable between the Stranger and Parent conditions, indicating that the effect was consistent regardless of presence of face covering or the familiarity of the interactive partner. The study demonstrates the high feasibility and validity of a live eye-tracking task involving face-to-face interaction in neurodiverse toddlers with social vulnerabilities. The effect of diminished attention to social partners in toddlers with autism is robust and present when interacting with an unfamiliar person and parent. The results suggest that a brief live eye-tracking method constitutes a promising ecologically valid candidate biomarker and potential intervention outcome in autism.

Evaluating the Impact of a Cream Containing Horse Placental Extract on Eye Corner Wrinkles in Healthy Women: Single-Blind Comparative Study

BACKGROUND

Placental extract has been mostly used in skin care for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of various placental extracts has been limited due to the lack of established and effective application methods.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated the antiwrinkle effect of a cream formulation-LNC wrinkle eye cream (LNC-EC)-containing horse placental extract as the main ingredient.

METHODS

A total of 24 healthy women, aged 37-54 years, with wrinkle grades 1-3, were treated with LNC-EC for 2 weeks. The cream was applied on one-half of the participants' faces, and the results were compared with the untreated half of the face.

RESULTS

Visual inspection, using the wrinkle grade standard, showed that the area treated with LNC-EC had a significantly lower wrinkle grade than the untreated area when comparing before and after the application of LNC-EC. In addition, replica analysis showed a significant reduction in both the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles in the LNC-EC-treated area in comparison to the untreated area before and after the application. These results suggest that LNC-EC has an antiwrinkle effect on the corners of the eyes based on parameters like the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles.

CONCLUSIONS

LNC-EC, with horse placental extract as its main ingredient, was shown to be effective in improving wrinkles at the eye corners, presumably due to a reduction in the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles. Interpretation of the results is limited because this study was conducted only in the intervention group. A randomized controlled trial with a placebo control group is necessary to verify the antiwrinkle effects of horse placental extract.

The complete anatomy of the transverse facial artery: a computed tomography angiography analysis

BACKGROUND

The transverse facial artery (TFA) provides blood supply to various structures of the lateral face, including the parotid gland, parotid duct, masseter muscle, and facial skin. Knowledge about its anatomy is of utmost importance in various plastic and reconstructive procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The results of 55 (110 hemifaces) consecutive patients who underwent head and neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the Department of Radiology of the Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland, were evaluated in July 2022.

RESULTS

TFA was found to originate from STA in 84 of the cases (95.5%), whereas from ECA only in 4 of the cases (4.5%). Median length of the TFA was found to be 43.39 mm (LQ = 38.53 ; UQ = 46.37). The median TFA diameter, at its origin, was established at 2.26 mm (LQ = 1.93 ; UQ = 2.54). Median TFA cross-sectional area, at its origin, was set to be 2.54 mm (LQ = 1.67 ; UQ = 3.10).

CONCLUSIONS

The TFA has an important role in the arterial blood supply to the face, and the present study has demonstrated its stable prevalence in the lateral face region. The most frequent origin of the artery was from the STA; however, it also originated from the ECA in some cases. Moreover, the topographic relationships between the TFA and nearby arteries and anatomical landmarks were measured and analyzed.

Periaqueductal/periventricular gray deep brain stimulation for the treatment of neuropathic facial pain

Background

The Periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the periventricular gray (PVG) are the anatomical targets for deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat severe, refractory neuropathic pain.

Methods

Seven (four female and three male) patients were qualified for PAG/PVG DBS because of neuropathic facial pain. Frame-based unilateral implantations of DBS were conducted according to indirect planning of the PAG/PVG, contralateral to reported pain (3389, Activa SC 37603, Medtronic). The efficacy of PAG/PVG DBS on pain was measured with Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) before surgery and 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

Results

The mean age of the group at the implantation was 43.7 years (range: 28-62; SD: 12.13). The mean duration of pain varied from 2 to 12 years (mean: 7.3; SD: 4.11). Five patients suffered from left-sided facial pain and two suffered right-sided facial pain. The etiology of pain among four patients was connected to ischemic brain stroke and in one patient to cerebral hemorrhagic stroke. Patients did not suffer from any other chronic medical condition The beginnings of ailments among two patients were related to craniofacial injury. NRS decreased by 54% at the 3 months follow-up. The efficacy of the treatment measured with mean NRS decreased at one-year follow-up to 48% and to 45% at 24 months follow-up. The efficacy of the treatment measured with NPSI decreased from 0.27 to 0.17 at 2 years follow-up (mean reduction by 38%). The most significant improvement was recorded in the first section of NPSI (Q1: burning- reduced by 53%). The records of the last section (number five) of the NPSI (paresthesia/dysesthesia- Q11/Q12) have shown aggravation of those symptoms by 10% at the two-years follow-up. No surgery- or hardware-related complications were reported in the group. Transient adverse effects related to the stimulation were eliminated during the programming sessions.

Conclusion

PAG/PVG DBS is an effective and safe method of treatment of medically refractory neuropathic facial pain. The effectiveness of the treatment tends to decrease at 2 years follow-up. The clinical symptoms which tend to respond the best is burning pain. Symptoms like paresthesia and dysesthesia might increase after DBS treatment, even without active stimulation.

Distinct patterns of neural response to faces from different races in humans and deep networks

Social categories such as the race or ethnicity of an individual are typically conveyed by the visual appearance of the face. The aim of this study was to explore how these differences in facial appearance are represented in human and artificial neural networks. First, we compared the similarity of faces from different races using a neural network trained to discriminate identity. We found that the differences between races were most evident in the fully connected layers of the network. Although these layers were also able to predict behavioural judgements of face identity from human participants, performance was biased toward White faces. Next, we measured the neural response in face-selective regions of the human brain to faces from different races in Asian and White participants. We found distinct patterns of response to faces from different races in face-selective regions. We also found that the spatial pattern of response was more consistent across participants for own-race compared to other-race faces. Together, these findings show that faces from different races elicit different patterns of response in human and artificial neural networks. These differences may underlie the ability to make categorical judgements and explain the behavioural advantage for the recognition of own-race faces.