Addition of lidocaine to a filler resulted in significantly less pain associated with the procedure without compromising outcomes.

The GGS is a reproducible method of grading the severity of NLF wrinkles. Treatment effectiveness of a dermal filler can be reliably evaluated using the GGS by comparing "live" assessments with the standard GGS photographic panel.

Background. Bleeding from coagulopathic hemodialysis puncture sites can contribute to anemia in dialysis patients, and current compressive dressings may contribute to graft thrombosis. We studied the safety and efficacy of a new chitosan-based bandage with an active clotting surface and compared its time to hemostasis and compression strap usage in dialysis access puncture wounds with that of conventional gauze dressings. Methods. Fifty patients received both the chitosan-based and conventional gauze dressings in random order on 2 successive visits. Time to hemostasis and compression strap usage were compared between the visits. Time to hemostasis was analyzed using the binary response variable at 2 and 4 minutes. A compression strap was used if dressing application was unsuccessful at 4 minutes. Covariates included coagulation state as measured by laboratory analysis and anticoagulation therapy. Results. Hemostasis was achieved by 2 minutes in 30% of the chitosan-based and 38% of the conventional dressings (p ¼ 0.608) and by 4 minutes in 86% of the chitosan-based and 72% of the conventional dressings (p ¼ 0.040). Compression strap usage was reduced by 50% in the chitosan-based group compared to the conventional group (7 vs. 14 patients; p ¼ 0.052). No adverse events were reported with either dressing. Conclusions. The chitosan-based bandage from HemCon is a safe and effective hemostatic agent to reduce prolonged posthemodialysis puncture site bleeding and may reduce the use of occlusive compression straps.

SUMMARY The design and execution of prevention trials for OA have methodological issues that are distinct from trials designed to impact prevalent disease. Disease definitions and their precise and sensitive measurement, identification of high-risk populations, the nature of the intervention (pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, behavioral) and its potential pleiotropic impacts on other organ systems are critical to consider. Because prevention trials may be prolonged, close attention to concomitant life changes and co-morbidities, adherence and participant retention in the trial is of primary importance, as is recognition of the potential for “preventive misconception” and “behavioral disinhibition” to affect the ability of the trial to show an effect of the intervention under study. None of these potential pitfalls precludes a successful and scientifically rigorous process and outcome. As technology improves the means to measure and predict the OA process and its clinical consequences, it will be increasingly possible to screen individuals for high-risk phenotypes, combining clinical factors with information from imaging, genetic, metabolic and other biomarkers and to impact this high-risk condition to avoid or delay OA both structurally and symptomatically.

DGE is a firm HA gel that required significantly less volume and fewer touch-ups to provide equivalent efficacy to NASHA for NLF correction; both dermal gels were well tolerated. DGE will provide a comfortable and cost-effective dermal filler option for clinicians and patients.