Western culture is increasingly obsessed with physical appearance and beauty, but vanity is nothing new, nor is it limited to just one culture. Moreover, differences in our perception of physical beauty have an enormous impact on the fashion, cosmetics, and weight control industries, and more recently on aesthetic surgery trends. Understanding how culture and region alter the perception of beauty is therefore not only of anthropological and social interest but underpins multibillion dollar industries across the globe.
According to Anil Mathur of Hofstra University in New York and colleagues there and at the City University of New York, marketers can hope to expand their reach into overseas markets but they cannot build brand equity if they lack regional knowledge and an understanding of consumer characteristics and preferences across cultures. Mathur and colleagues have now tested a physical vanity scale across China, India and USA and have established that the scale could be used across culturally diverse countries.
"Given that modern consumer research and theory building have been largely conducted in the West, a recurring concern is the need to verify if the same theories and findings are applicable to other non-Western cultures," the team explains.
The team found that while the details concerning beauty perception may differ, their data supports the notion that physical vanity is a universal construct that applies across cultures. "While the research found that not all measurement properties of the physical vanity scale match exactly across the three countries studied in this research, we have demonstrated the value of physical vanity scales in terms of reliability and validity," the team says.
"Physical vanity relates to a person's, often excessive, concern for physical appearance and/or positive view of appearance," says Mathur. "The study presented in the paper attempted to examine whether a scale developed in the West (Netemeyer et al, 1995) to measure physical vanity could also be used as a consumer measure in non-Western cultures. Data collected from three culturally diverse countries (China, India and USA) were used to assess this and verify if physical vanity is a universal trait. The results from a series of confirmatory factor analyses indicate that the physical vanity scale is indeed applicable to culturally diverse countries."
"Physical vanity across cultures: measurement and validation" in J. Global Business Advancement, 2010, 3, 313-324
Source:
Anil Mathur
Inderscience Publishers
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Friday, 4 June 2010
Sugary Band-Aid Might Aid Healing Post-Operative Tissue
A compound found in sunless tanning spray may help to heal wounds following surgery, according to new results published by plastic surgeons from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City and biomedical engineers at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where the novel compound was developed.
Results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that a sticky gel composed of polyethylene glycol and a polycarbonate of dihydroxyacetone (MPEG-pDHA) may help to seal wounds created by surgery.
Procedures to remove cancerous breast tissue, for example, often leave a hollow space that fills with seroma fluid that must typically be drained by a temporary implanted drain. "This is an unpleasant side effect of surgery that is often unavoidable," explains Dr. Jason Spector, co-author of the study and plastic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
The gel could potentially be used in all different reconstructive surgeries to prevent seroma formation. "The new substance would act to glue together the hole left behind to prevent seroma buildup," says Dr. Spector.
DHA is a compound that sticks to compounds in biological tissues, called amines. The sticky properties of DHA are what allows sunless tanner to adhere to the skin without being wiped off. However, it is biodegradable and water soluble as well, which means that the compound does not stay tacked onto the body's tissues forever. Currently used "bio-glues" are made from animal products and take a long time to degrade in the body -- both factors that raise the risk of infection.
"DHA is a compound that is naturally produced in the body," explains Dr. David Putnam, the study's senior author and a biomedical engineer from Cornell University's Department of Biomedical Engineering and School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. "The glue is broken down, or metabolized, and then safely removed by the body."
Dr. Putnam's lab and his collaborators work to create safe, synthetic compounds from chemicals found in nature. DHA is an intermediary compound produced during the metabolism of glucose, a sugar used by the body for fuel.
To create the new compound, MPEG-pDHA, Dr. Putnam and his lab first bound the single molecule monomer of DHA, which is highly reactive, to a protecting group molecule, making it stable enough to manipulate. This allowed the engineers to bind the monomers together to form a polymer, or chain of molecules, along with MPEG. Doing so allows the polymer gel to be injected through a syringe.
"Making a polymer from DHA has eluded chemical engineers for about 20 years," says Dr. Putnam.
Now in gel form, the compound has the ability to stick tissues together, preventing the pocket from filling with seroma fluid, like an internal Band-Aid, explains Dr. Putnam. The researchers found that the gel prevented or significantly lowered seroma formation or fluid buildup in rats that had breast tissue removed.
"The next step would be to test the gel on larger animals and then in clinical trials in human surgical cases," says Dr. Spector.
Previous results, published by Drs. Putnam and Spector, in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, showed that the gel also prevented bleeding in a rat liver.
"This is another aspect of the compound that would be greatly beneficial if proven to be applicable in humans," says Dr. Spector. "The gel could speed the healing and decrease bleeding within the body."
This research was supported in part from a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a grant from the Morgan Tissue Engineering Fund, an Early Career Award from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, and the New York State Center for Advanced Technology.
Co-authors of the study include Dr. Peter Zawaneh from Cornell University, Dr. Sunil Singh and Dr. Peter Henderson from Weill Cornell, and Dr. Robert Padera from the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Source: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that a sticky gel composed of polyethylene glycol and a polycarbonate of dihydroxyacetone (MPEG-pDHA) may help to seal wounds created by surgery.
Procedures to remove cancerous breast tissue, for example, often leave a hollow space that fills with seroma fluid that must typically be drained by a temporary implanted drain. "This is an unpleasant side effect of surgery that is often unavoidable," explains Dr. Jason Spector, co-author of the study and plastic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
The gel could potentially be used in all different reconstructive surgeries to prevent seroma formation. "The new substance would act to glue together the hole left behind to prevent seroma buildup," says Dr. Spector.
DHA is a compound that sticks to compounds in biological tissues, called amines. The sticky properties of DHA are what allows sunless tanner to adhere to the skin without being wiped off. However, it is biodegradable and water soluble as well, which means that the compound does not stay tacked onto the body's tissues forever. Currently used "bio-glues" are made from animal products and take a long time to degrade in the body -- both factors that raise the risk of infection.
"DHA is a compound that is naturally produced in the body," explains Dr. David Putnam, the study's senior author and a biomedical engineer from Cornell University's Department of Biomedical Engineering and School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. "The glue is broken down, or metabolized, and then safely removed by the body."
Dr. Putnam's lab and his collaborators work to create safe, synthetic compounds from chemicals found in nature. DHA is an intermediary compound produced during the metabolism of glucose, a sugar used by the body for fuel.
To create the new compound, MPEG-pDHA, Dr. Putnam and his lab first bound the single molecule monomer of DHA, which is highly reactive, to a protecting group molecule, making it stable enough to manipulate. This allowed the engineers to bind the monomers together to form a polymer, or chain of molecules, along with MPEG. Doing so allows the polymer gel to be injected through a syringe.
"Making a polymer from DHA has eluded chemical engineers for about 20 years," says Dr. Putnam.
Now in gel form, the compound has the ability to stick tissues together, preventing the pocket from filling with seroma fluid, like an internal Band-Aid, explains Dr. Putnam. The researchers found that the gel prevented or significantly lowered seroma formation or fluid buildup in rats that had breast tissue removed.
"The next step would be to test the gel on larger animals and then in clinical trials in human surgical cases," says Dr. Spector.
Previous results, published by Drs. Putnam and Spector, in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, showed that the gel also prevented bleeding in a rat liver.
"This is another aspect of the compound that would be greatly beneficial if proven to be applicable in humans," says Dr. Spector. "The gel could speed the healing and decrease bleeding within the body."
This research was supported in part from a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a grant from the Morgan Tissue Engineering Fund, an Early Career Award from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, and the New York State Center for Advanced Technology.
Co-authors of the study include Dr. Peter Zawaneh from Cornell University, Dr. Sunil Singh and Dr. Peter Henderson from Weill Cornell, and Dr. Robert Padera from the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Source: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Top-Line Human Clinical Study Results Demonstrate Safety And Preliminary Effectiveness Of Cohera Medical's TissuGlu(R)
Cohera Medical, Inc.® announced that top-line clinical study results demonstrate the safety and preliminary effectiveness of the company's lead surgical adhesive product, TissuGlu®.
The prospective, open-label, randomized study involving 40 patients at three sites in Germany met its primary endpoints of safety and preliminary effectiveness related to time to drain removal and secondary endpoints of associated wound healing complications, cumulative wound drainage, number of additional procedures and visits, and improved quality of life. In the trial, investigators compared standard wound closure techniques used in abdominoplasty surgeries, or "tummy tuck," to standard wound closure techniques plus the application of TissuGlu. The purpose of the study was to determine TissuGlu's effect on wound drainage and associated complications in the surgeries.
"We are pleased that the top-line clinical trial results demonstrate both the safety and preliminary effectiveness of TissuGlu," said Klaus Walgenbach, M.D., Ph.D., of the Universitatsklinikum Bonn and the principal investigator for the study. "The product has the potential to change the way plastic surgeons address the wound drainage challenges of abdominoplasty procedures. We look forward to presenting detailed study results at an upcoming medical conference as well as submitting them for publication."
The positive results from the first-in-man study of Cohera's surgical adhesive in abdominoplasty procedures move the product toward CE Mark application in Europe and a larger clinical study in the U.S. this year.
"We are moving quickly to address a significant unmet medical need while helping plastic surgeons to improve the overall care of their patients," said Patrick Daly, president and chief executive officer of Cohera Medical. "The positive study results add to the extensive preclinical data that show the safety and effectiveness of TissuGlu. We envision the TissuGlu market opportunity in plastic surgery to encompass applications beyond tummy tuck, such as breast reconstruction and body contouring. This is a large opportunity that can exceed $700 million world wide."
Currently, patients who undergo abdominoplasty require the insertion of drains to remove fluids that accumulate under the skin at the surgical site. In some cases, drainage is inadequate, and the excess fluid accumulation called seroma requires an additional procedure for removal. TissuGlu adheres the tissue flaps created during the procedure to reduce fluid accumulation, and, ultimately, the duration of use of the surgical drains. With the use of TissuGlu, patients may experience a significant reduction of fluid accumulation and a more comfortable recovery, which may lead to a quicker return to normal activity.
About Cohera Medical
Cohera Medical, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that is developing a revolutionary line of surgical adhesives. Cohera Medical's products are based on a unique chemical design that is purely synthetic, easy to use, biocompatible and fully resorbable. The company's lead product in development, TissuGlu, is an adhesive for plastic surgery procedures. TissuGlu adheres flaps of tissue after surgical procedures, eliminating the spaces where fluid accumulates and reducing wound drainage. Cohera Medical is also developing surgical adhesives targeting mesh fixation, small bone fixation and other plastic surgery indications that will fill similar market needs in plastic, orthopedics and general surgery. For more information, visit www.coheramed.com. TissuGlu and the other Cohera products are currently indicated for investigational use only and have not yet been approved for medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. or in any other market.
Certain statements made throughout this news release that are not historical facts contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future plans, objectives and expected performance. Any such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, but are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties and, therefore, there can be no assurance that actual results may not differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Source: Cohera Medical, Inc.
The prospective, open-label, randomized study involving 40 patients at three sites in Germany met its primary endpoints of safety and preliminary effectiveness related to time to drain removal and secondary endpoints of associated wound healing complications, cumulative wound drainage, number of additional procedures and visits, and improved quality of life. In the trial, investigators compared standard wound closure techniques used in abdominoplasty surgeries, or "tummy tuck," to standard wound closure techniques plus the application of TissuGlu. The purpose of the study was to determine TissuGlu's effect on wound drainage and associated complications in the surgeries.
"We are pleased that the top-line clinical trial results demonstrate both the safety and preliminary effectiveness of TissuGlu," said Klaus Walgenbach, M.D., Ph.D., of the Universitatsklinikum Bonn and the principal investigator for the study. "The product has the potential to change the way plastic surgeons address the wound drainage challenges of abdominoplasty procedures. We look forward to presenting detailed study results at an upcoming medical conference as well as submitting them for publication."
The positive results from the first-in-man study of Cohera's surgical adhesive in abdominoplasty procedures move the product toward CE Mark application in Europe and a larger clinical study in the U.S. this year.
"We are moving quickly to address a significant unmet medical need while helping plastic surgeons to improve the overall care of their patients," said Patrick Daly, president and chief executive officer of Cohera Medical. "The positive study results add to the extensive preclinical data that show the safety and effectiveness of TissuGlu. We envision the TissuGlu market opportunity in plastic surgery to encompass applications beyond tummy tuck, such as breast reconstruction and body contouring. This is a large opportunity that can exceed $700 million world wide."
Currently, patients who undergo abdominoplasty require the insertion of drains to remove fluids that accumulate under the skin at the surgical site. In some cases, drainage is inadequate, and the excess fluid accumulation called seroma requires an additional procedure for removal. TissuGlu adheres the tissue flaps created during the procedure to reduce fluid accumulation, and, ultimately, the duration of use of the surgical drains. With the use of TissuGlu, patients may experience a significant reduction of fluid accumulation and a more comfortable recovery, which may lead to a quicker return to normal activity.
About Cohera Medical
Cohera Medical, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that is developing a revolutionary line of surgical adhesives. Cohera Medical's products are based on a unique chemical design that is purely synthetic, easy to use, biocompatible and fully resorbable. The company's lead product in development, TissuGlu, is an adhesive for plastic surgery procedures. TissuGlu adheres flaps of tissue after surgical procedures, eliminating the spaces where fluid accumulates and reducing wound drainage. Cohera Medical is also developing surgical adhesives targeting mesh fixation, small bone fixation and other plastic surgery indications that will fill similar market needs in plastic, orthopedics and general surgery. For more information, visit www.coheramed.com. TissuGlu and the other Cohera products are currently indicated for investigational use only and have not yet been approved for medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. or in any other market.
Certain statements made throughout this news release that are not historical facts contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future plans, objectives and expected performance. Any such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, but are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties and, therefore, there can be no assurance that actual results may not differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Source: Cohera Medical, Inc.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Are Obese Adolescents Too Young For Bariatric Surgery?
Severely obese adolescents may desire or potentially benefit from bariatric surgery. However, half of primary care physicians say they would not recommend the procedure to a patient under the age of 18, according to research published in Obesity Surgery.
Childhood obesity has increased dramatically since the 1970s. Obese adolescents are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, hypertension, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis, sleep apnea, choleolithiasis and premature death as adults.
Researchers surveyed a national random sample of pediatricians and family physicians for their opinions on referring adolescents for bariatric surgery. They discovered half of these physicians would not consider it for adolescent patients.
"We still have a lot to learn about the long term effects of bariatric surgery among adolescents," says Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center at the University of Michigan, "But recent studies suggest that it can be helpful to improve the health outcomes of severely obese adolescents."
"Physicians worry whether the risks will outweigh the benefits," adds Woolford, who is also an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and communicable diseases at U-M. "How long adolescents will be able to sustain the weight loss and what the psychological outcomes would be in their future, are questions that are still being explored. If findings are similar to those in adults, there could be significant weight loss and health benefits."
Physicians who support the possibility of bariatric surgery for adolescents may do so because studies have indicated that obesity in adolescents has long-term health effects even if patients eventually lose weight, the authors write. Adolescent years can also be difficult socially and emotionally for extremely obese youth.
"With the increasing media presentations of surgeries for weight loss among the general public and Hollywood celebrities, more obese adolescents and their parents are likely to consider it," the authors write. Primary care physicians should be prepared to discuss this treatment option with families.
"Primary care physicians are on the front line of obesity treatment," says Woolford, "Their attitudes regarding bariatric surgery may affect whether or not an adolescent pursues the procedure."
The study also found almost all physicians endorsed participation in a monitored weight loss program as a prerequisite for bariatric surgery, though the minimum suggested duration for participation varied from three months to over 5 years.
For adolescents, participating in these programs could be helpful by providing time to make a stable decision regarding surgery and to adopt healthy habits that will improve their post-operative course, but the delay in surgery could also lead to further weight gain.
The authors suggest further studies should explore primary care physicians' knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery for adolescents and the basis upon which they make referral decisions regarding bariatric surgery for their obese patients.
Additional authors: Along with Woolford, Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., Achamyeleh Gebremariam, M.S., Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P. and Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H., all of the University of Michigan.
Source: University of Michigan Health System
Childhood obesity has increased dramatically since the 1970s. Obese adolescents are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, hypertension, non-alcoholic steotohepatitis, sleep apnea, choleolithiasis and premature death as adults.
Researchers surveyed a national random sample of pediatricians and family physicians for their opinions on referring adolescents for bariatric surgery. They discovered half of these physicians would not consider it for adolescent patients.
"We still have a lot to learn about the long term effects of bariatric surgery among adolescents," says Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Weight Management Center at the University of Michigan, "But recent studies suggest that it can be helpful to improve the health outcomes of severely obese adolescents."
"Physicians worry whether the risks will outweigh the benefits," adds Woolford, who is also an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and communicable diseases at U-M. "How long adolescents will be able to sustain the weight loss and what the psychological outcomes would be in their future, are questions that are still being explored. If findings are similar to those in adults, there could be significant weight loss and health benefits."
Physicians who support the possibility of bariatric surgery for adolescents may do so because studies have indicated that obesity in adolescents has long-term health effects even if patients eventually lose weight, the authors write. Adolescent years can also be difficult socially and emotionally for extremely obese youth.
"With the increasing media presentations of surgeries for weight loss among the general public and Hollywood celebrities, more obese adolescents and their parents are likely to consider it," the authors write. Primary care physicians should be prepared to discuss this treatment option with families.
"Primary care physicians are on the front line of obesity treatment," says Woolford, "Their attitudes regarding bariatric surgery may affect whether or not an adolescent pursues the procedure."
The study also found almost all physicians endorsed participation in a monitored weight loss program as a prerequisite for bariatric surgery, though the minimum suggested duration for participation varied from three months to over 5 years.
For adolescents, participating in these programs could be helpful by providing time to make a stable decision regarding surgery and to adopt healthy habits that will improve their post-operative course, but the delay in surgery could also lead to further weight gain.
The authors suggest further studies should explore primary care physicians' knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery for adolescents and the basis upon which they make referral decisions regarding bariatric surgery for their obese patients.
Additional authors: Along with Woolford, Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., Achamyeleh Gebremariam, M.S., Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P. and Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H., all of the University of Michigan.
Source: University of Michigan Health System
Monday, 3 May 2010
Too Much Of 1 Protein Identifies Abnormal Growth In Breasts Considered 'Healthy'
By examining tissue removed during breast reduction surgery in healthy women, researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Center have found a molecule they say identified women who had atypical hyperplasia, a potentially precancerous condition in which cells are abnormally increased.
Their findings, presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010, suggest that this protein, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), could be part of a panel of genes and proteins that physicians might one day use to identify women who are at future risk of developing breast cancer. Such a test would allow women at risk to receive appropriate monitoring, counseling, and potential preventive treatment.
"Our study indicates that higher than normal levels of TGF-β1 in breast cells may be important in the very beginning of the cancer process," says the study's lead investigator, Jose Angel Montero Santamaria, a tumor biology PhD student who is conducting research in the laboratory of Peter Shields, MD, professor in the departments of oncology and medicine and deputy director of Lombardi.
TGF-β1 is essential for the normal housekeeping of a cell, which requires a balance of cell growth and cell death, Santamaria says. Normally, it exhibits a Dr. Jekyll-like role, controlling normal growth, but once a cell begins to morph toward cancer, TGF-β1 is over-produced and exhibits its Mr. Hyde side, promoting the malignant transformation process.
In this study, Santamaria examined breast tissue samples donated from 92 healthy women undergoing breast reduction surgery. Santamaria's team examined RNA and protein expression from 75 of these samples. By examining the cells carefully, they were able to identify nine women with proliferative lesions, and a molecular and histological test showed over production of TGF-β1 in all of these women's breast tissue samples.
"The changes in their tissue can not be seen on a mammogram any other screening process we use today, which is why we are trying to develop a panel of molecular tests that will accurately determine an individual woman's future risk of developing breast cancer," Santamaria says.
Santamaria reports no potential financial disclosures.
Source:
Karen Mallet
Georgetown University Medical Center
Their findings, presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010, suggest that this protein, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), could be part of a panel of genes and proteins that physicians might one day use to identify women who are at future risk of developing breast cancer. Such a test would allow women at risk to receive appropriate monitoring, counseling, and potential preventive treatment.
"Our study indicates that higher than normal levels of TGF-β1 in breast cells may be important in the very beginning of the cancer process," says the study's lead investigator, Jose Angel Montero Santamaria, a tumor biology PhD student who is conducting research in the laboratory of Peter Shields, MD, professor in the departments of oncology and medicine and deputy director of Lombardi.
TGF-β1 is essential for the normal housekeeping of a cell, which requires a balance of cell growth and cell death, Santamaria says. Normally, it exhibits a Dr. Jekyll-like role, controlling normal growth, but once a cell begins to morph toward cancer, TGF-β1 is over-produced and exhibits its Mr. Hyde side, promoting the malignant transformation process.
In this study, Santamaria examined breast tissue samples donated from 92 healthy women undergoing breast reduction surgery. Santamaria's team examined RNA and protein expression from 75 of these samples. By examining the cells carefully, they were able to identify nine women with proliferative lesions, and a molecular and histological test showed over production of TGF-β1 in all of these women's breast tissue samples.
"The changes in their tissue can not be seen on a mammogram any other screening process we use today, which is why we are trying to develop a panel of molecular tests that will accurately determine an individual woman's future risk of developing breast cancer," Santamaria says.
Santamaria reports no potential financial disclosures.
Source:
Karen Mallet
Georgetown University Medical Center
Friday, 30 April 2010
New Anti-Cellulite And Laser Lipolysis Adjunct Delivers Results
Breaking new ground in the battle against cellulite, Eleme Medical Inc. launched new SmoothShapes® XV, at the American Society for Lasers Medicine and Surgery in Phoenix, Arizona last week and will debut the system to plastic surgeons April 23, at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. "The original SmoothShapes has proven itself as the first medical approach to treating cellulite that delivers long lasting visible changes in creating smoother and tighter looking skin. This new system increases heat deposition in the fat cell three times faster while maintaining higher temperatures at the treatment site so I'm looking forward to the potential for even better results with fewer treatments," explains, Kenneth Beer MD, PA, a Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist with practices in West Palm Beach and Jupiter, Florida.
Based on the company's proprietary Photomology® technology, which treats cellulite by combining dynamic laser and light energy with mechanical manipulation of vacuum and massage, this second generation device is portable and has 50% more power for a quicker, more reproducible procedure. The new system has also been enhanced to assure clinical consistency among treatment providers, offering a single treatment setting, audible treatment guidance and an interactive training screen to answer questions and provide basic clinical training.
"Consumer demand for non-invasive body shaping continues to grow," says Nancy Briefs, President and CEO of Eleme Medical which manufactures SmoothShapes XV. The device is co-marketed and sold by both Eleme Medical and Osyris Medical USA, a subsidiary of Osyris Medical, Lille, France. Ms. Briefs explains, "In a recent survey of physicians this consumer demand was validated by the physicians who said that the two largest categories in which they planned to purchase new equipment and grow their business were cellulite and laser lipolysis."
Many physicians have incorporated SmoothShapes into their laser lipolysis protocols and the popularity of these new combination therapies is growing. Miles Graivier, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon from Atlanta developed some of the early protocols for combination body shaping. He says, "We can now improve our overall body shaping results while decreasing the patient's post treatment bruising, swelling and pain management. We believe the combined therapies are allowing us to deliver a new level of body shaping results to our patients."
About Eleme Medical:
Eleme Medical Inc., headquartered in Merrimack, N.H., is dedicated to providing market-leading technology in all areas of body shaping. SmoothShapes® system with pioneering Photomology® technology is a medical device with FDA clearance to market. The Company's name, when spoken phonetically, suggests "lasers, medicine and aesthetics."
Source: Eleme Medical
Based on the company's proprietary Photomology® technology, which treats cellulite by combining dynamic laser and light energy with mechanical manipulation of vacuum and massage, this second generation device is portable and has 50% more power for a quicker, more reproducible procedure. The new system has also been enhanced to assure clinical consistency among treatment providers, offering a single treatment setting, audible treatment guidance and an interactive training screen to answer questions and provide basic clinical training.
"Consumer demand for non-invasive body shaping continues to grow," says Nancy Briefs, President and CEO of Eleme Medical which manufactures SmoothShapes XV. The device is co-marketed and sold by both Eleme Medical and Osyris Medical USA, a subsidiary of Osyris Medical, Lille, France. Ms. Briefs explains, "In a recent survey of physicians this consumer demand was validated by the physicians who said that the two largest categories in which they planned to purchase new equipment and grow their business were cellulite and laser lipolysis."
Many physicians have incorporated SmoothShapes into their laser lipolysis protocols and the popularity of these new combination therapies is growing. Miles Graivier, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon from Atlanta developed some of the early protocols for combination body shaping. He says, "We can now improve our overall body shaping results while decreasing the patient's post treatment bruising, swelling and pain management. We believe the combined therapies are allowing us to deliver a new level of body shaping results to our patients."
About Eleme Medical:
Eleme Medical Inc., headquartered in Merrimack, N.H., is dedicated to providing market-leading technology in all areas of body shaping. SmoothShapes® system with pioneering Photomology® technology is a medical device with FDA clearance to market. The Company's name, when spoken phonetically, suggests "lasers, medicine and aesthetics."
Source: Eleme Medical
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Innovative Digital Technologies Assist Specialists In Anatomical Reconstruction
Techniques for using digital technology in separating conjoined twins, developing facial prostheses and acquiring data from anthropologic specimens will be among the topics presented at a symposium sponsored by the American Association of Anatomists (AAA; http://www.Anatomy.org) on April 28. The symposium is part of the Experimental Biology 2010 conference being held April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
"The common thread of digital technology in fields from prosthetics to surgery to anthropology is its ability to enhance outcomes," said Suzanne N. Verma, MAMS, Assistant Professor and Anaplastologist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Texas A & M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, who will co-chair the symposium. "Technology is the palette and the specialist's creativity is the brush."
Kenneth E. Salyer, MD, FACS, FAAP, of the World Craniofacial Foundation in Dallas will discuss how he used technology in planning the surgery performed to separate Egyptian conjoined twins Mohamed and Ahmed Ibrahim in 2003. The twins were joined at the top of their heads. Lessons learned from the successful separation and reconstruction of the twins are opening up new opportunities for future work in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Douglas Owsley, PhD, Curator and Head of the Division of Physical Anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., will discuss scientists' perspective of Kennewick Man, one of the earliest skeletons ever found in the Americas. Kennewick Man is more than 9,000 years old, and Dr. Owsley used digital technology to scan the specimen's skull and help to physically determine what it would look like with facial muscles and skin.
Ms. Verma will speak about how digital technology assists her in planning surgery and designing facial prostheses. "For example, we can use radiographic data to virtually create a 3D model of our patients, allowing us to preoperatively plan where to place an implant, plan the surgical approach for removing a tumor, or use the data to create a physical model of the missing anatomy" she said.
Andy Christensen, President of Medical Modeling Inc. in Golden, Colo. and co-chair of the symposium will discuss tactile medical modeling and the digital reconstruction process. In tactile medical modeling, specialists use data from digital imaging processes such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to create accurate plastic models.
Other topics to be presented at the symposium include the assessment of hard tissue structure and mechanics using digital models, and synchronizing sound, spatial positioning and anatomic visualizations in real time.
The symposium, "Digital Technologies in Anatomical Reconstruction: Rebuilding the Past and Engineering the Future," will be held Wednesday, April 28, at 8:00 a.m. in Room 212AB of the Anaheim Convention Center.
Note
The symposium is part of the Experimental Biology 2010 conference being held April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Source
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
"The common thread of digital technology in fields from prosthetics to surgery to anthropology is its ability to enhance outcomes," said Suzanne N. Verma, MAMS, Assistant Professor and Anaplastologist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Texas A & M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, who will co-chair the symposium. "Technology is the palette and the specialist's creativity is the brush."
Kenneth E. Salyer, MD, FACS, FAAP, of the World Craniofacial Foundation in Dallas will discuss how he used technology in planning the surgery performed to separate Egyptian conjoined twins Mohamed and Ahmed Ibrahim in 2003. The twins were joined at the top of their heads. Lessons learned from the successful separation and reconstruction of the twins are opening up new opportunities for future work in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Douglas Owsley, PhD, Curator and Head of the Division of Physical Anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., will discuss scientists' perspective of Kennewick Man, one of the earliest skeletons ever found in the Americas. Kennewick Man is more than 9,000 years old, and Dr. Owsley used digital technology to scan the specimen's skull and help to physically determine what it would look like with facial muscles and skin.
Ms. Verma will speak about how digital technology assists her in planning surgery and designing facial prostheses. "For example, we can use radiographic data to virtually create a 3D model of our patients, allowing us to preoperatively plan where to place an implant, plan the surgical approach for removing a tumor, or use the data to create a physical model of the missing anatomy" she said.
Andy Christensen, President of Medical Modeling Inc. in Golden, Colo. and co-chair of the symposium will discuss tactile medical modeling and the digital reconstruction process. In tactile medical modeling, specialists use data from digital imaging processes such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to create accurate plastic models.
Other topics to be presented at the symposium include the assessment of hard tissue structure and mechanics using digital models, and synchronizing sound, spatial positioning and anatomic visualizations in real time.
The symposium, "Digital Technologies in Anatomical Reconstruction: Rebuilding the Past and Engineering the Future," will be held Wednesday, April 28, at 8:00 a.m. in Room 212AB of the Anaheim Convention Center.
Note
The symposium is part of the Experimental Biology 2010 conference being held April 24-28, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Source
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
Laser Lipoplasty: Cutting Through The Hype
The pros and cons of laser-assisted lipoplasty will be discussed by leading experts at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), being held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center April 23-27, 2010. "Point/Counterpoint - Laser Lipoplasty - Hype or Useful Tool?" will be moderated by Franklin DiSpaltro, MD, and will include Barry DiBernardo, MD and Jeffrey M. Kenkel, MD.
According to the Society's statistics, lipoplasty is the second most popular surgical procedure in the United States, with 283,735 performed in 2009. Laser-assisted lipoplasty, in which a laser is used to disrupt fat cells prior to suctioning, has been hotly debated by plastic surgeons since the first laser-assisted device received FDA clearance in late 2006. "The past two decades have been highly technology-driven, with the introduction of many advanced liposuction-assisting devices," said Dr. DiSpaltro, a past president of ASAPS from West Orange, NJ. "Each new technology has spurred great interest and enthusiasm. It is our role to determine if it is hype or a useful tool."
With laser-assisted lipoplasty, a laser probe is inserted into the target area through a small incision, which the surgeon aims at fatty tissue to rupture the fat cells. The laser is then directed toward the skin layer to initiate a stimulation of these cells to achieve a reported tightening of the skin. Fat and disrupted tissue is then suctioned out. The technique received significant media attention as a popular "fat-melting" treatment with a celebrity following.
However, initial data showed that this procedure was no better than traditional liposuction. Additionally, it could present some risks to the liver and kidneys by releasing fatty acids from the fat cells if the recommended concurrent liposuction step approved by the FDA and included in current teaching is not performed. In the wake of the media storm around the fat-melting "phenomenon", a task force was assembled and charged with investigating the technology, analyzing any safety issues and efficacy as compared to other devices, developing a teaching protocol, and educating 2,500 surgeons in how to effectively perform the procedure.
"Over the last two-and-a-half years there has been extensive research and development into laser-assisted lipoplasty, including multiple rounds of research and comparative studies published in peer-reviewed journals," said Dr. DiBernardo, a plastic surgeon in Montclair, NJ. "Ultimately, laser-assisted lipolysis has come to be an important tool in the fat loss armamentarium."
While laser-assisted lipolysis has since been found to be a safe, effective, and teachable technique for body contouring, the bottom line is that no tool on its own is a replacement for the skill and experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon.
"It is important to note that no device is a magic wand," added Dr. Kenkel, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX. "Despite any hype generated by manufacturers, physicians, patients, or the media, results are ultimately practitioner-driven."
Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
According to the Society's statistics, lipoplasty is the second most popular surgical procedure in the United States, with 283,735 performed in 2009. Laser-assisted lipoplasty, in which a laser is used to disrupt fat cells prior to suctioning, has been hotly debated by plastic surgeons since the first laser-assisted device received FDA clearance in late 2006. "The past two decades have been highly technology-driven, with the introduction of many advanced liposuction-assisting devices," said Dr. DiSpaltro, a past president of ASAPS from West Orange, NJ. "Each new technology has spurred great interest and enthusiasm. It is our role to determine if it is hype or a useful tool."
With laser-assisted lipoplasty, a laser probe is inserted into the target area through a small incision, which the surgeon aims at fatty tissue to rupture the fat cells. The laser is then directed toward the skin layer to initiate a stimulation of these cells to achieve a reported tightening of the skin. Fat and disrupted tissue is then suctioned out. The technique received significant media attention as a popular "fat-melting" treatment with a celebrity following.
However, initial data showed that this procedure was no better than traditional liposuction. Additionally, it could present some risks to the liver and kidneys by releasing fatty acids from the fat cells if the recommended concurrent liposuction step approved by the FDA and included in current teaching is not performed. In the wake of the media storm around the fat-melting "phenomenon", a task force was assembled and charged with investigating the technology, analyzing any safety issues and efficacy as compared to other devices, developing a teaching protocol, and educating 2,500 surgeons in how to effectively perform the procedure.
"Over the last two-and-a-half years there has been extensive research and development into laser-assisted lipoplasty, including multiple rounds of research and comparative studies published in peer-reviewed journals," said Dr. DiBernardo, a plastic surgeon in Montclair, NJ. "Ultimately, laser-assisted lipolysis has come to be an important tool in the fat loss armamentarium."
While laser-assisted lipolysis has since been found to be a safe, effective, and teachable technique for body contouring, the bottom line is that no tool on its own is a replacement for the skill and experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon.
"It is important to note that no device is a magic wand," added Dr. Kenkel, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX. "Despite any hype generated by manufacturers, physicians, patients, or the media, results are ultimately practitioner-driven."
Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Less Frequent Doses Of Botox Still Result In Reduced Wrinkles
Patients can decrease the frequency of Botox© Cosmetic injections after approximately two years and still receive most of the same wrinkle-smoothing cosmetic benefits, according to new research at Oregon Health & Science University.
"After two years of treatment at recommended intervals, patients can potentially cut the frequency, and thus the cost, of their Botox© treatments by half," said Roger A. Dailey, M.D., F.A.C.S., professor and Lester Jones Endowed Chair of oculofacial plastic surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine. The results of Dailey's work were presented at a meeting of American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon on April 24 in Washington, D.C. The research was sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from Allergen, Inc., the maker of Botox© Cosmetic.
The Botox© research effort also demonstrated that the injections have a wrinkle preventing - or prophylactic - effect. Patients who begin receiving injections between their 30s and 50s are able to prevent wrinkles from forming and eliminate existing wrinkles, said Dailey, head of the Casey Aesthetic Facial Surgery Center, which opened in 1991 as part of Casey Eye Institute.
Based on previous studies, doctors advised patients who wished to reduce wrinkles in the glabellar region - the area between the eyebrows - that they needed to have Botox© Cosmetic injections every three months to maintain the cosmetic wrinkle-smoothing benefits. Such frequent treatment, however, deterred some patients, Dailey said.
Dailey studied 50 women ages 30 to 50, who received regular Botox© injections for two years. "We found that after the patient receives Botox© Cosmetic injections every four months for two years, the frequency of the injections can be changed to every six months and still achieve good results," Dailey said. "This demonstrates patients have the ability to achieve good results with broader treatment schedules and ultimately at a lower overall treatment cost.
Botox© has been approved for cosmetic use for eight years. In 2008, more than 5 million patients in the United States received cosmetic Botox© treatments, according to Allergen, the manufacturer. About 313,000 of those patients were men.
Source:
Ken Olsen
Oregon Health & Science University
"After two years of treatment at recommended intervals, patients can potentially cut the frequency, and thus the cost, of their Botox© treatments by half," said Roger A. Dailey, M.D., F.A.C.S., professor and Lester Jones Endowed Chair of oculofacial plastic surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine. The results of Dailey's work were presented at a meeting of American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon on April 24 in Washington, D.C. The research was sponsored by an unrestricted educational grant from Allergen, Inc., the maker of Botox© Cosmetic.
The Botox© research effort also demonstrated that the injections have a wrinkle preventing - or prophylactic - effect. Patients who begin receiving injections between their 30s and 50s are able to prevent wrinkles from forming and eliminate existing wrinkles, said Dailey, head of the Casey Aesthetic Facial Surgery Center, which opened in 1991 as part of Casey Eye Institute.
Based on previous studies, doctors advised patients who wished to reduce wrinkles in the glabellar region - the area between the eyebrows - that they needed to have Botox© Cosmetic injections every three months to maintain the cosmetic wrinkle-smoothing benefits. Such frequent treatment, however, deterred some patients, Dailey said.
Dailey studied 50 women ages 30 to 50, who received regular Botox© injections for two years. "We found that after the patient receives Botox© Cosmetic injections every four months for two years, the frequency of the injections can be changed to every six months and still achieve good results," Dailey said. "This demonstrates patients have the ability to achieve good results with broader treatment schedules and ultimately at a lower overall treatment cost.
Botox© has been approved for cosmetic use for eight years. In 2008, more than 5 million patients in the United States received cosmetic Botox© treatments, according to Allergen, the manufacturer. About 313,000 of those patients were men.
Source:
Ken Olsen
Oregon Health & Science University
Facial Rejuvenation And The Jowl: How Far Should We Go?
One facial change that really bothers people is the appearance of jowls - those fleshy, droopy folds at the jaw line that typically come with age. Many surgeons consider jowl correction as the single most important part of a facelifting procedure. The issue will be debated by leading experts at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), being held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center April 23-27, 2010. "The Jowls - Their Importance in Achieving Successful Facial Rejuvenations" will be moderated by Charles H. Thorne, MD, and will include Fritz E. Barton, MD, Alain Fogli, MD, James C. Grotting, MD, and Nigel Mercer, MD.
Jowls eventually appear in a large percentage of people. The appearance of jowls is a "double whammy" because it also brings with it a distinct change in facial shape (wider and more rectangular in the lower face) characteristic of "older" people. At first glance it appears that the jowls simply drop from the face and are a result of gravity; research, however, suggests that atrophy of surrounding fat may be as important as gravity in the etiology of jowls.
"A theme in recent years has been the maintenance and enhancement of facial volume. Patients, however, do not want volume in their jowls. Should fat be excised or suctioned? Should the fat be pulled up into the face by tension on the SMAS (musculature of the face)? Should the pre-jowl area be filled with fat to make the transition from chin to jaw line smoother? Or are jowls so difficult that they require all of the above maneuvers?" said Dr. Thorne, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan and moderator of the panel. "The panel will address all of these questions, and it promises to be a fascinating and potentially controversial discussion."
The formation of jowls is one of the earlier signs of aging along with laxity in the neck. Generally part of an overall facelift procedure, correction may be accomplished by trimming fat, repositioning the jowl fat at a higher level, disguising the jowl by injecting more fat along the jaw line, or by a combination of these procedures. There were 94,927 surgical facelift procedures performed in the U.S. in 2009, according to ASAPS statistics.
"There is no 'one size fits all' approach to jowl correction," said Dr. Grotting, a plastic surgeon in Birmingham, AL. "We will examine various techniques for improving the jowls in different types of patients."
Panelists have been assembled from the U.S. and Europe in order to get diverse opinions on the subject of jowl correction.
"Europeans are reacting against a 'look different' facelift that delivers dramatic results - the trend in Europe is toward less invasive surgery when it comes to facelift procedures," added Dr. Mercer, a plastic surgeon from the United Kingdom. "Toward this end, a 'short scar lift' with minimal incision and more subtle result has developed, and has broadened the scope of facelifting."
When it comes to facial rejuvenation, many considerations must be made when determining the most appropriate approach for correcting the jowl, not the least of which being patient expectations, physical characteristics of the face and a patient's medical history, and an ever-increasing number of potential procedures. Thus, selecting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon is the first and most important step toward safely achieving the ideal result.
Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Jowls eventually appear in a large percentage of people. The appearance of jowls is a "double whammy" because it also brings with it a distinct change in facial shape (wider and more rectangular in the lower face) characteristic of "older" people. At first glance it appears that the jowls simply drop from the face and are a result of gravity; research, however, suggests that atrophy of surrounding fat may be as important as gravity in the etiology of jowls.
"A theme in recent years has been the maintenance and enhancement of facial volume. Patients, however, do not want volume in their jowls. Should fat be excised or suctioned? Should the fat be pulled up into the face by tension on the SMAS (musculature of the face)? Should the pre-jowl area be filled with fat to make the transition from chin to jaw line smoother? Or are jowls so difficult that they require all of the above maneuvers?" said Dr. Thorne, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan and moderator of the panel. "The panel will address all of these questions, and it promises to be a fascinating and potentially controversial discussion."
The formation of jowls is one of the earlier signs of aging along with laxity in the neck. Generally part of an overall facelift procedure, correction may be accomplished by trimming fat, repositioning the jowl fat at a higher level, disguising the jowl by injecting more fat along the jaw line, or by a combination of these procedures. There were 94,927 surgical facelift procedures performed in the U.S. in 2009, according to ASAPS statistics.
"There is no 'one size fits all' approach to jowl correction," said Dr. Grotting, a plastic surgeon in Birmingham, AL. "We will examine various techniques for improving the jowls in different types of patients."
Panelists have been assembled from the U.S. and Europe in order to get diverse opinions on the subject of jowl correction.
"Europeans are reacting against a 'look different' facelift that delivers dramatic results - the trend in Europe is toward less invasive surgery when it comes to facelift procedures," added Dr. Mercer, a plastic surgeon from the United Kingdom. "Toward this end, a 'short scar lift' with minimal incision and more subtle result has developed, and has broadened the scope of facelifting."
When it comes to facial rejuvenation, many considerations must be made when determining the most appropriate approach for correcting the jowl, not the least of which being patient expectations, physical characteristics of the face and a patient's medical history, and an ever-increasing number of potential procedures. Thus, selecting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon is the first and most important step toward safely achieving the ideal result.
Source
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
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