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Background Correction of aging changes and contour deformities has been addressed largely by tissue augmentation agents whose volume is injected into tissues to achieve the required result. Polylactic acid (PLA) is an agent that is injected with the aim of enhancing the host's own collagen deposition. Objective We describe the development of multiple nodules and one case of a foreign-body granuloma formation following the administration of PLA to the face for correction of rhytides and contour deformities. Methods Four case presentations, including clinical history, injection protocol, histopathology, individual treatment, and their outcomes, are discussed with pertinent literature review. Results Four patients who received injections of PLA developed nodules that were clinically similar in size, shape, and consistency. Histopathologic examination revealed the presence of a foreign-body granulomatous inflammatory reaction in one of the patients. Conclusion Cosmetic treatment with PLA may be complicated by disfiguring nodules that may mask a granulomatous reaction. PLA-induced nodules and foreign-body granulomas have proven difficult to treat. Therefore, PLA should only be injected in the infraorbital area by experienced injectors who have had appropriate training. In addition to this, PLA should be injected in a “depot” method below the muscle at a significantly diluted volume. Due to the complications encountered after the use of PLA, we feel that a cautionary warning regarding the use of PLA in this area may be prudent regardless of the abovementioned precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many controversies concerning the structural basis of retrograde amnesia (RA). One view is that memories are held briefly within a medial temporal store ('hippocampal complex') before being 'consolidated' or reorganised within temporal neocortex and/or networks more widely distributed within the cerebral cortex. An alternative view is that the medial temporal lobes are always involved in the storage and retrieval (reactivation) of autobiographical memories (multiple trace theory). The present study used quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 40 patients with focal pathology/volume loss in different sites, to examine the correlates of impairment on three different measures of RA. The findings supported the view that widespread neural networks are involved in the storage and retrieval of autobiographical and other remote memories. Brain volume measures in critical structures could account for 60% of variance on autobiographical memory measures (for incidents and facts) in diencephalic patients and for 60-68% of variance in patients with frontal lesions. Significant correlations with medial temporal lobe volume were found only in the diencephalic group, in whom they were thought to reflect thalamic changes, but not in patients with herpes encephalitis or hypoxia in whom the temporal lobes were particularly implicated. The latter finding fails to support one of the main predictions of multiple trace theory, as presently expounded. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions whether or not developmental differences exist in children's organization of event memories and examines children's recall of standard features of a repeated event versus features that deviated from that event. Implications; Method; Results; Discussion.

(1) Large-scale trials, using applications of organic materials and pulverized fuel ash on zinc smelter waste, were set up in the Lower Swansea Valley in 1965 and monitored until 1970. (2) Growth on most of the treatments declined markedly in 1968 and 1969. Annual fertilization failed to prevent this decline, which was attributed to the recurrence of zinc toxicity. (3) The most successful treatments in the long term were 15·0 and 22·5 cm coverings of pulverized fuel ash, followed by annual NPK fertilization. Initial application of a 5 cm layer of sewage sludge, or a 7·5 cm layer of pulverized fuel ash, gave satisfactory cover of pasture at first but was not satisfactory in the long term. (4) Zinc-tolerant populations were not affected in this way and showed satisfactory long-term growth on waste amended with organic materials but required annual NPK fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Large-scale grassland trials, using applications of organic materials and pulverized fuel ash on copper smelter waste, were set up in the Lower Swansea Valley in 1965 and monitored until 1970. (2) Pasture growth on most of the treatments declined markedly in 1968 and 1969. Annual applications of fertilizer failed to prevent this decline, which was attributed to the recurrence of copper toxicity. (3) The most successful treatment in the long term was a 22.5 cm covering of pulverized fuel ash, followed by annual NPK fertilization. Initial application of 5cm layers of sewage sludge, or domestic refuse, or 7.5 and 15.0cm layers of pulverized fuel ash, gave satisfactory cover of pasture at first but were not satisfactory in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The light exposed areas of the head and neck, forearms and dorsa of the hands of two thousand adults aged forty years and older were examined at the Alfred Hospital between 1982 and 1983. There were 1,029 males and 971 females. Fifty-nine people (3 %) had at least one non-melanotic skin cancer and 754 (37.7%) had at least one solar keratosis. The results of this study confirm the impression that sunlight exposure is a major determining factor in development of these tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveys of Victorian dermatologists and pathologists were undertaken to determine the number of patients attending medical practitioners with non-melanotic skin cancers and solar keratoses. Results suggest that at least 1,000 patients per week are attending for diagnosis and treatment. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis studies suggest that the correct diagnosis of these tumours is being made clinically in approximately 70% of cases by experienced clinicians. It is suggested that histology be obtained in all lesions in which a clinical diagnosis of skin cancer is considered. The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma compared to that of basal cell carcinoma is seen to rise where histological examination is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the 50th Annual General Meeting of the British Ecological Society held at the Botany Lecture Room at the University of London in England on January 3, 1969. The minutes of the 49th Annual General Meeting were taken as read, approved and signed. The report of the Honorary Secretaries was presented for discussion of the members present.

Information about the winter and annual meeting of the British Ecological Society held at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on January 4-6, 1967 is presented. The conference discussed several topics including the presidential address titled "A Darwinian Approach to Plant Ecology," a talk about the tropical contribution to ecology, and the concept of the association in tropical rain forest. Speakers of the general meeting includes J. H. Burnett, J. L. Harper, and R. W. J. Keay.

Information about several issues related to ecology discussed at the winter and annual general meeting of the British Ecological Society in Oxford, England in January 4, 1965 is presented. The exhibit of books conducted during the conference are mentioned. Dr. T. C. Whitmore tackles the ecological study of a lowland in rain forest containing Agathis. The event also discusses the key mortality factor in determining the population density of winter moth caterpillars.

The article discusses the highlights of the summer meeting on freshwater ecology at Exeter held by the British Ecological Society on July 3-7, 1964. It was held at the University of Exeter in Devon, England, by invitation of Professor L. A. Harvey and the university authorities. H. Gruffydd's paper entitled "The Population Biology of Chaetogaster limnaei" pointed out there were morphological and behavioral differences between a form of Chaetogaster limnaei living in the kidney of Lymnaea pereger and a form living on the outer surface of this snail.

The article presents a discussion about the environmental factors which effect Skokholm as a plant habitat in Pembrokeshire Islands. The article explores the principal types of communities, vegetation, and ecology of the said island and offers knowledge regarding topography, soil, geography, climate, biotic factors, influence of wind, and rabbit activity. The article is also supplemented with details about major and minor land-surface, major cliff-face communities, presence of sylvestral species, and abundance of common species. It ends with a summary stating that animal occupation would probably destroy grazed vegetation and show marked changes upon cessation of animal activity.

An outbreak of dermatophytosis was diagnosed in a group of four L'Hoest's monkeys () housed in the primate section at a zoological collection. The affected animals presented with areas of non-pruritic alopecia, scaling and crusting. The diagnosis was based on culture and direct microscopy of hair plucks. Treatment was commenced with oral terbinafine at a dose of 8.25 mg/kg bodyweight, topical enilconazole washes and disinfectant fogging of the enclosure. Control measures were designed to limit the spread of infection and reduce the zoonotic risk. Treatment was successful, with no further clinical cases being diagnosed and with resolution of the clinical signs after four weeks and mycological cure after eight weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Focuses on the effect of Pieris japonica's toxicity on African spurred tortoise. Intoxication of the reptile; Detection of signs of severe abdominal pain; Incapacity of the tortoise to excrete feces.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the practice of medicine. Dermatologic laser and energy-based device (EBD) treatments carry a potential risk for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 both for the patient and the practitioner. These risks include close practitioner to patient proximity, the treatment of higher viral load areas such as the face, the potential for infective bioparticles being carried by generated plumes and aerosols, and the direct contact between device, practitioner and patient., Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 is a highly infective respiratory pathogen transmitted by respiratory droplets, respiratory/mucosal secretions, medically generated aerosols and via its transfer from contaminated fomites. This requires a review of the appropriateness of infection control protocols in regard to dermatologic laser and energy-based device treatments., Methods: A critical evaluation of patient skin preparation including skin asepsis, device disinfection, laser and electrosurgical plume management and PPE in regard to SARS-CoV-2 was performed., Results: The adherence to a high standard of skin preparation and asepsis, device disinfection, laser and electrosurgical plume and aerosol management and appropriate PPE should help mitigate or reduce some of the inherent treatment risks. Head and neck treatments along with aerosol and laser plume generating treatments likely carry greater risk., Conclusions: COVID-19 needs to be considered in the clinic set-up along with the planning, treatment and post-treatment care of patients utilising EBD procedures. Some of these treatment precautions are COVID-19 specific; however, most represent adherence to good infectious disease and established laser and EBD safety precautions., (© 2020 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

Objectives: To identify interaction structures (i.e., patterns of reciprocal interaction) that characterize the treatments of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in crisis., Design: A 6-month naturalistic psychotherapy process and outcome study in which interaction structures were correlated with outcome data., Methods: Five BPD patients in crisis participated in 6 months of three-times-per-week psychodynamic therapy. Patients completed a measure of psychological distress every week. One hundred and twenty-seven sessions were audiotaped and coded using the Psychotherapy Process Q-Set., Results: Four interaction structures were identified: (1) collaborative relationship with supportive, reassuring therapist (IS1), (2) therapist empathic attunement (IS2), (3) erotized therapeutic relationship (IS3) and (4) directive therapist with compliant patient (IS4). The magnitude of these four interaction structures varied within and between the five therapist-patient dyads over time. Interaction structures correlations with time were inversely proportional to interaction structures correlations with distress levels. IS2 was correlated with two different outcomes in patient 3's and patient 5's treatments--a positive outcome for patient 3's treatment and a negative outcome for patient 5's treatment., Conclusions: An effective treatment model for BPD patients in crisis needs to promote the emergence of empathically attuned interactions as well as supportive and directive interventions as dictated by the patient's individual needs. These treatments require flexibility to accommodate the patient's unique presentation in crisis. The therapeutic dyad senses which interaction structures to increase or decrease over time to reduce the patient's distress., (© 2012 The British Psychological Society.)

Lasers have been used in dermatology for nearly 50 years. Through their selective targeting of skin chromophores they have become the preferred treatment for many skin conditions, including vascular malformations, photorejuvenation and acne scars. The technology and design of lasers continue to evolve, allowing greater control of laser parameters and resulting in increased safety and efficacy for patients. Innovations have allowed the range of conditions and the skin types amenable to treatment, in both general and cosmetic dermatology, to expand over the last decade. Integrated skin cooling and laser beam fractionation, for example, have improved safety, patient tolerance and decreased downtime. Furthermore, the availability and affordability of quality devices continues to increase, allowing clinicians not only to access laser therapies more readily but also to develop their personal experience in this field. As a result, most Australian dermatologists now have access to laser therapies, either in their own practice or within referable proximity, and practical knowledge of these technologies is increasingly required and expected by patients. Non-laser energy devices utilising intense pulsed light, plasma, radiofrequency, ultrasound and cryolipolysis contribute to the modern laser practitioners' armamentarium and will also be discussed., (© 2013 The Authors. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2013 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

We report a series of 14 cases of nail unit squamous cell carcinoma in situ/ Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). MMS has been previously reported as an ideal treatment for nail unit SCC. This series adds to the current literature substantiating this claim, and also demonstrates the good outcomes achieved with secondary intention healing., (© 2011 The Authors. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2011 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

We present a retrospective audit on efficacy and impact of 35 units of botulinum toxin type A per axilla on quality of life in female patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. This audit shows that 35 units of botulinum toxin type A is a reasonable starting dose and could significantly improve patients' quality of life and reduce the cost of treatment., (© 2011 The Authors. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2011 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

Forty-three psychiatrically hospitalized prepubertal children were assessed regarding their assaultive and suicidal behaviors. These children were subsequently classified into two groups, assaultive/suicidal (AS) and assaultive-only (AO). AS children had higher aggression and suicidal-scale scores, but not higher depression scores, and were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD, child's aggression, and maternal depression and state anger accounted for 33% of the variance in suicidal-scale scores. Aggression mediated the relation between ADHD and suicidal behavior. Differences in symptom pattern between these two subtypes of assaultive inpatient children are interpreted as a basis for distinctive screening procedures.

Two patients with keloid scars are described. The first patient presented with extensive keloid scarring on both cheeks secondary to acne. The second patient developed a keloid scar on her chest following excision of a mole. Both patients' scars were diagnosed clinically and treated with fortnightly injections of a mixture of 5-fluorouracil and betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. At each injection session up to 1.6 mL of 5-fluorouracil at a concentration of 500 mg/10 mL and 0.4 mL of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate (as betamethasone acetate 3 mg in suspension and betamethasone sodium phosphate 3.9 mg in solution) were used. Multiple treatments were required to obtain resolution of the keloid scars. Improvement was maintained in both patients at 1 year post treatment.

Two patients are described with depressed atrophic scars. The first patient had undergone skeletal traction around the knee and the second patient developed an apparent anetoderma of the left side of the nose. Dermal undermining was performed as the only treatment with successful resolution of their contour abnormalities. Only a single treatment session was required in each case. A brief review of this technique is presented.

The onset of acne is an expected phenomenon in adolescence. However, its arrival produces long-term psychological and physical sequelae for the individual. A review of available data illustrates the pathophysiological sequence of the advent of post-acne scarring from its humble beginnings as a microscopic comedone to its eventual devastating end point of indented or exophytic scars. Acne scarring shows many different forms and is explainable by the depth and severity of the antecedent inflammation and the ability of the individual to heal these lesions. Post-acne scarring is debilitating and socially disabling for many and is the avoidable outcome of untreated or inadequately treated acne. Treatment will depend on the resultant scar topography.

The present article illustrates the effects of low dose botulinum toxin (BTx) injections for the improvement of hyperkinetic facial lines and presents a grading treatment chart designed to standardize the reporting of the improvement seen. A questionnaire of patient acceptance, the patients' impression of therapy and short-term results and complications are reported. Twelve patients with 26 injected-paired regions were charted and the response to injection was graded. Patients had hyperkinetic facial lines in glabella, periorbital regions or horizontal forehead lines. Diluted BTx type A (1 IU/0.1 mL) was injected and patients were assessed at 10 days. A second follow up injection was offered to patients at this stage if required. Objectively, all patients' hyperkinetic actions and lines improved or diminished. The degree of improvement was similar in all areas injected and a symmetry of results was always observed. In a minority of cases, all movement was lost (7/26) and in others it was weakened but present (19/26). In some injected areas the actual expression line that was visible at rest disappeared entirely (11/26): in the others it was diminished (15/26). Complications were few. Two patients had temporary brow ptosis that spontaneously recovered within the first week. No eyelid ptosis was noted. Bruising and headaches were the most common reported complications. Low dose BTx is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for hyperkinetic facial lines with few significant complications in this small pilot study. The grading chart may allow easier comparisons of results between studies on the effects of BTx therapy.

The Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the daily administration of 25,000 IU vitamin A and 30 mg beta-carotene for the prevention of lung cancer. Of close to 18,500 participants, more than 4,000 were asbestos-exposed men recruited from shipyard and construction trades at five study centers in the United States. While the primary endpoint of the trial was the incidence of lung cancer, a number of questions about the natural history of asbestos-related disease will also be addressed. The mean age at entry into the trial was 57 years and the mean duration of follow-up on active intervention was 4 years. With the exception of 133 never-smoker pilot participants (3%), all subjects recruited were by intention current (38%) or ex-smokers (58%), with a mean cumulative smoking exposure at entry of 43 pack-years. Mean years from first asbestos exposure were 35, and mean duration of asbestos exposure in a high-risk trade was 19 years. The distribution of radiographic abnormalities was as follows: normal, 34%; parenchymal opacities (ILO profusion score > 1/0) alone, 18%; pleural thickening alone, 27%; both parenchymal opacities and pleural thickening, 21%. The CARET cohort, when compared to previously reported asbestos-exposed cohorts, is characterized by substantial asbestos exposure and high proportion of asbestos-related radiographic findings. The active intervention was halted in 1996, after a mean duration of 40 years. Passive follow-up of the cohort will continue until the year 2000.

Facial skin resurfacing is now possible using short-pulse, high-energy carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers. The laser utilized in this particular paper is the Ultra-pulse CO2 laser. The Ultra-pulse laser represents the first CO2 laser able to vaporize tissue in a single pulse with the use of a large spot size. This laser utilizes the principles of selective photothermolysis. The high-power pulses are completed in less than the thermal relaxation time of skin, estimated to be less than 1 millisecond. This translates into rapid vaporization of tissue with little heat conduction to surrounding tissues. It also should allow a reproducibility of results between practitioners with set parameters not possible with previous CO2 lasers. Clinically, this laser is useful for the removal of skin lesions, and the resurfacing of areas of sun damage, wrinkles and scars. The immediate haemostasis and excellent visibility allows for precise vaporization of abnormal tissue. Rapid and pain-free wound healing is usual. The complication rate would appear to compare very favourably with dermabrasion and chemical peeling techniques.

A case is presented with tender swelling and nail bed hyperplasia in 2 fingers. Histopathology revealed Bowen's disease in both fingers and after amputation, invasive squamous cell carcinoma in one finger.