The efficacy of NAFL in the treatment of striae distensae (SD) has been demonstrated. Nevertheless, the base for this improvement has not been clarified yet. The aim of this study is to describe in vivo variations occurring in the skin after the treatment, using reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). Ten patients asking for the treatment of SD were enrolled. Clinical and RCM images were acquired before the treatment, immediately after 1 and 6 months after the first treatment. One thousand five hundred forty-nanometer laser treatments were performed every 4 weeks for 6 sessions. Efficacy was estimated through the evaluation of pre- and post-treatment clinical pictures by two expert and independent physicians and with GAIS. Improvement of SD was observed in 80% of patients. Temporary erythema and edema were reported. RCM revealed the dissolution of collagen bundles and the appearance of new papillae, as compared to baseline. NAFL represents an effective and safe treatment modality for SD. We report herein in vivo variations occurring in SD after NAFL treatment.

Background and Objectives: The efficacy of picosecond laser (PSL) in the treatment of striae distensae (SD) has been recently reported; otherwise, the base for this improvement has not been clarified yet. The aim of this study is to treat long-lasting SD with PLS and to describe their in vivo morphological variations after treatment using three-dimensional (3D) imaging and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). Study Design/Materials and Methods: A total of 27 patients asking for treatment for SD were treated with four monthly sessions of PLS. Clinical improvement was estimated through a blinded evaluation performed by two independent dermatologists, Global Assessment Improvement Scale (GAIS), patients′ satisfaction, 3D imaging, and RCM assessments at baseline and 6 months after the last laser session. Results: Although a clinical improvement of SD was observed in 81.4% of patients according to physicians′ GAIS, only 66.6% of patients reported subjective improvement and satisfaction after treatment (P = 0.04). 3D imaging revealed a significant improvement in terms of skin texture (P < 0.001) and mean SD depth (P < 0.001). Otherwise, RCM highlighted collagen remodeling and the appearance of new dermal papillae in all the treated SD compared with baseline. Conclusions: The present study confirms that PLS represents a safe treatment option for SD; herein, we report morphological documentation of skin variations after PLS treatment. Lasers Surg. Med.

1. Four women suffering from senile osteoporosis have been treated for 55-60 days with 25 MRC Units per day of porcine thyrocalcitonin with the following metabolic results : (a) slight diminution of plasma, urinary and endogenous faecal calcium levels ; (b) slight diminution of plasma phosphate level and urinary phosphate clearance ; (c) lowering of serum alkaline phosphatase values ; (d) diminution of urinary hydroxyproline excretion ; (e) modification of calcium balance toward positive, due to decreased urinary 2. 47Calcium kinetic studies demonstrated: (a) a slower decline in the specific activity curve after thyrocalcitonin treatment; (b) a slower decline in bone uptake values; (c) a decrease of 'calcium miscible pool', 'calcium turnover rate', 'accretion rate' 3. Differences in radiological bone patterns were not observed despite an improve-and faecal calcium and to an improvement in intestinal absorption. and 'resorption rate' calculated by the method of Aubert & Milhaud (1960). ment in the pain after treatment.The possibility that thyrocalcitonin may be of clinical value in senile osteoporosis is of great interest, but its use in this condition has been studied only for short periods in a limited number of subjects (Foster et al., 1968). More recently Baud et al. (1969) reported histological changes after 4 weeks treatment of three osteoporotic patients : diminution of enlarged osteocytes, increase of small osteocytes and of highly mineralized areas of bone. This paper reports the result of metabolic studies in four women suffering from senile osteoporosis who were treated with thyrocalcitonin for 55-60 days.

BACKGROUND Postsurgical skin healing can result in different scars types, ranging from a fine line to pathologic scars, in relation to patients' intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Although the role of nutrition in influencing skin healing is known, no previous studies investigated if the vegan diet may affect postsurgical wounds. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare surgical scars between omnivore and vegan patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS This is a prospective observational study. Twenty-one omnivore and 21 vegan patients who underwent surgical excision of a nonmelanoma skin cancer were enrolled. Postsurgical complications and scar quality were evaluated using the modified Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale. RESULTS Vegans showed a significantly lower mean serum iron level (p < .001) and vitamin B12 (p < .001). Wound diastasis was more frequent in vegans (p = .008). After 6 months, vegan patients had a higher modified SCAR score than omnivores (p < .001), showing the worst scar spread (p < .001), more frequent atrophic scars (p < .001), and worse overall impression (p < .001). CONCLUSION This study suggests that a vegan diet may negatively influence the outcome of surgical scars.