Results of the MRI analysis showed that cellulite depressions on the buttocks were significantly associated with the presence of underlying fibrous septa.

BACKGROUND. Cellulite is defined as skin relief alterations that give the skin an orange peel or mattress appearance. The lesions tend to be asymptomatic and may be considered the anatomic expressions of the structures in the affected area, such as the fat and subcutaneous septa.

Aims Although loop diuretics are widely used to treat heart failure (HF), there is scarce contemporary data to guide diuretic adjustments in the outpatient setting. Methods and results In a prospective, randomized and double-blind protocol, we tested the safety and tolerability of withdrawing low-dose furosemide in stable HF outpatients at 11 HF clinics in Brazil. The trial had two blindly adjudicated co-primary outcomes: (i) symptoms assessment quantified as the area under the curve (AUC) of a dyspnoea score on a visual-analogue scale evaluated at 4 time-points (baseline, Day 15, Day 45, and Day 90) and (ii) the proportion of patients maintained without diuretic reuse during follow-up. We enrolled 188 patients (25% females; 59 ± 13 years old; left ventricular ejection fraction = 32 ± 8%) that were randomized to furosemide withdrawal (n = 95) or maintenance (n = 93). For the first co-primary endpoint, no significant difference in patients’ assessment of dyspnoea was observed in the comparison of furosemide withdrawal with continuous administration [median AUC 1875 (interquartile range, IQR 383–3360) and 1541 (IQR 474–3124), respectively; P = 0.94]. For the second co-primary endpoint, 70 patients (75.3%) in the withdrawal group and 77 patients (83.7%) in the maintenance group were free of furosemide reuse during follow-up (odds ratio for additional furosemide use with withdrawal 1.69, 95% confidence interval 0.82–3.49; P = 0.16). Heart failure-related events (hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and deaths) were infrequent and similar between groups (P = 1.0). Conclusions Diuretic withdrawal did not result in neither increased self-perception of dyspnoea nor increased need of furosemide reuse. Diuretic discontinuation may deserve consideration in stable outpatients with no signs of fluid retention receiving optimal medical therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02689180.

The results confirm the possibility of injecting 500 U of BT-A up to 15 days after its reconstitution safely and without loss of efficacy.

Injections of Dysport and BOTOX at an equivalence ratio of 2.5:1 U, respectively, applied at the same volume and depth, using the same technique resulted in similar action halos with regard to muscular and sweat gland activity. Both products seem to be safe and very predictable.