Application of plasma-combined regeneration technology in managing facial acne scars

Bilateral Thermal Keratopathy Due to Plasma Skin Regeneration

A 40-year-old woman underwent periocular plasma skin regeneration, a cosmetic treatment for periorbital rejuvenation. She subsequently developed bilateral thermal keratitis, manifesting as blurred vision, irritation, and redness, with a vision decrease to 20/60 and 20/50 in her OD and OS, respectively. Examination demonstrated bilateral large, irregular corneal epithelial defects and edema, necessitating treatment with amniotic membrane grafts, bandage contact lenses, and hypertonic saline. One year posttreatment, her visual acuity improved to 20/20 and 20/25, albeit with ongoing symptomatic dryness and bilateral anterior stromal haze. This case, as only the second reported instance of ocular damage from periocular plasma skin regeneration, underscores the need for heightened awareness of potential ocular complications following plasma skin regeneration and reinforces the importance of protective measures during periocular procedures.

Treatment of nasal depressed scars using micro-plasma radiofrequency technology combined with subcision

BACKGROUND

The nose is located in the middle of the face; therefore, nasal scarring will bring a significant psychological impact on patients. Although there are many treatment methods for depressed scars, these methods have varying degrees of efficacy and all carry certain adverse effects. A better treatment method is urgent to be found. In this study, the effect of micro-plasma radiofrequency technology combined with subcision to treat nasal depressed scars is evaluated.

METHODS

18 Chinese patients with nasal depressed scars participated in this study. All patients received one session of micro-plasma radiofrequency treatment first. 2 months later, subcision combined with micro-plasma radiofrequency technology was performed on them at 6-month intervals, and a total of 2 sessions of combined treatment were performed. Goodman and Baron Scale was used to evaluate nasal scars before treatment and 6 months after the final session.

RESULTS

All 18 patients in this study had Grade 4 nasal scars before treatment. 6 months after the end of treatment, 13 patients (72.2%) showed excellent or near total improvement, and 5 patients (27.8%) showed marked improvement. No adverse side effects were observed during treatment. Patient self-evaluation indicated that all patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we explored a new treatment method for nasal depressed scars. We used micro-plasma radiofrequency technology combined with subcision to treat nasal depressed scars and obtained relatively satisfactory results with no adverse effects.

Platelet-Rich Plasma: Evolving Role in Plastic Surgery

BACKGROUND

The use of platelet-rich plasma has emerged as one of the most desired nonsurgical treatments for facial rejuvenation and hair restoration. It has grown to encompass a wide variety of applications within the field of plastic surgery, including its use in combination with microneedling, laser, and fat-grafting procedures.

METHODS

In this article, the authors aim to (1) describe the preparation process of platelet-rich plasma; (2) discuss the proposed science behind platelet-rich plasma with regard to its evolving role in hair restoration and facial rejuvenation; and (3) highlight the recent literature examining its widespread use.

RESULTS

Based on the available literature, there is a therapeutic advantage to the use of platelet-rich plasma as a single treatment modality for alopecia and skin rejuvenation and in combination with laser skin treatment and fat grafting. There is, however, a considerable amount of variability in the processing, preparation, and treatment modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a lack of standardized protocols for platelet-rich plasma preparation and a scarcity of large-scale studies with long-term follow-up, there is convincing evidence with objective measurement modalities that display positive outcomes after treatment for skin rejuvenation, hair regrowth, wound healing, and fat graft take.

Phosphoproteome and Biological Evidence Revealed Abnormal Calcium Homeostasis in Keloid Fibroblasts and Induction of Aberrant Platelet Aggregation

Keloid is a benign tumor characterized by persistent inflammation, increased fibroblast proliferation, and abnormal deposition of collagen in the wound. The etiology of keloid is unclear. Here, we explored the phospho-signaling changes in human keloid fibroblasts via phosphoproteome mass spectrometry analysis. We found that comparative phosphoproteomics could statistically distinguish keloid from control fibroblasts. Differentially expressed phosphoproteins could predict the activation of known keloid-relevant upstream regulators including transforming growth factor-β1, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5. With multiple bioinformatics analyses, phosphorylated FLNA, TLN1, and VCL were significantly enriched in terms of calcium homeostasis and platelet aggregation. We biologically verified that keloid fibroblasts had a higher level of Ca²⁺ influx than the control fibroblasts upon ionomycin stimulation. Via co-cultivation analysis, we found that human keloid fibroblasts could directly promote platelet aggregation. As suggested by PhosphoPath and gene set enrichment analysis, pFLNA was centered as the top phosphoproteins associated with keloid phenotypes. We validated that pFLNA was upregulated both in keloid fibroblasts and keloid tissue section, implicating its biomarker potential. In conclusion, we reported the first phosphoproteome on keloid fibroblasts, based on which we revealed that keloid fibroblasts had aberrant calcium homeostasis and could directly induce platelet aggregation.