The authors introduced a new method of measuring the range of wrist motion using the iPhone 4 Gyroscope application that is simpler to use and can be performed by the patient outside a clinical setting.

BackgroundMorphological changes that accompany aging, such as wrinkles and skin laxity, are particularly prominent on facial skin. Recently, facial rejuvenation using the hydrofilling effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler has been employed for improvement of skin texture. In this study, we studied rejuvenating effects of stabilized HA (Restylane Vital) through direct intradermal injections.MethodsA total of 30 female patients underwent a series of procedures on face, including three sessions at intervals of four weeks. A total of 2 mL of Restylane Vital was injected along the whole face using an automatic injector. Improvement of skin surface roughness, elasticity, brightness, moisture, and fine wrinkles was evaluated. Patient satisfaction was evaluated, and pictures of patients were taken at each visit and 6 months after last treatment session. Scoring for each patient was performed by three doctors according in five subjects. Moisture, oil and elasticity were measured before the procedure and before the last treatment in 10 patients.ResultsThe majority of patients (77%) were satisfied with the therapeutic outcomes. Approximately 66% of patients responded that the effects of this procedure persisted for longer than four months, and the majority of patients (77%) wanted to undergo this procedure again and would recommend this procedure to acquaintances. Regarding doctors' evaluation, scores for improvement of skin surface roughness, elasticity, and brightness were significantly higher than those for improvement of moisture and fine wrinkle.ConclusionsIntradermal injection of HA can have a rejuvenating effect on dry and tired facial skin, especially in improvement of skin surface roughness.

In recent years, natural polymers such as cellulose, alginate and chitosan have been used worldwide as biomedical materials and devices, as they offer more advantages over synthetic polymers. The aim of this study was to clarify the usefulness of microbial cellulose (MC) for use as a dressing and scaffold material. For evaluating the biodegradability and toxicity of MC, we divided the rats (n = 12) into two groups (the implanted group and the non-implanted group). In the implanted group, we implanted the film type of MC in the backs of six rats. In the non-implanted group, however, we did not implant the film type of MC in the backs of the six rats. Four weeks later, we compared two groups by the gross, histological and biochemical characteristics by using blood and tissue samples. To evaluate the wound healing effects of MC, three full-thickness skin defects were made on the backs of each rat (n = 20). Three wounds on the backs of the same rats were treated with other dressing materials, namely, Vaseline gauze (group Con), Algisite M(®) (group Alg) and MC (group MC). We analysed the gross, histological and biochemical characteristics by western blotting. MC was found to be biodegradable and non-toxic. On day 3, the MC film was visible under the subcutaneous tissue; however, after 4 weeks, no remnants of the film were visible under the subcutaneous tissue. Furthermore, there was no evidence of MC-induced toxicity. Moreover, group MC showed more rapid wound healing compared with group Con. On day 14 after skin excision, group MC showed greater decrease in wound size compared with group Con (33% versus 7·2%). The wound healing effects were also substantiated by the histological findings (greater reduction in inflammation and rapid collagen deposition as well as neovascularisation) and western blotting (decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1 in group MC on day 14 after skin excision, unlike group Con). This study showed that, in addition to having wound healing effects, MC is biodegradable and non-toxic and can, therefore, be used as a dressing and scaffold material.

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BackgroundNasal fractures have a tendency of resulting in structural or functional complications, and the results can vary according to the type of nasal bone fracture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the objective postoperative results according to the type of nasal bone fractures.MethodsWe reviewed 313 patients who had a closed reduction of nasal bone fracture. The classification of nasal bone fracture by Stranc and Robertson was used to characterize the fracture type: frontal impact group type I (FI), frontal impact group type II (FII), lateral impact group type I (LI), lateral impact group type II (LII), and comminuted fracture group (C). For each patient, we tried to use the same axial image section of computed tomographic (CT) scans before and immediately after operation. Postoperative outcomes were classified into 4 grades: excellent (E), good (G), fair (F), and poor (P). We also analyzed postoperative complications by fracture type.ResultsRegarding the postoperative CT images, 189 subjects showed E results, 99 subjects showed G, 18 subjects showed F, and 7 subjects showed P reduction. The rate of operation results graded as E by each fracture type was 66.67% in FI, 52.0% in FII, 64.21% in LI, 62.79% in LII, and 21.74% in C. Complications of FI (7.14%), LII (13.95%), and C (13.04%) groups occurred more than in the FII (4.00%) and LI (4.21%) groups.ConclusionIt seems that the operation result by fracture type was better in the FI, LI, and LII type than the FII and C type; after one month, however, LII type showed more complications than other types. The septal fracture can be thought to affect early reduction results in nasal bone fractures.