OBJECTIVE: This study explored the rejuvenation mechanisms of Thai polyherbal medicines using different approaches, including in vitro methods, as well as a well-defined nematode model, Caenorhabditis elegans. METHODS: THP-R-SR012 decoction was selected from 23 polyherbal medicines, based on metal-chelating and chain-breaking antioxidant capacities. The influences of this extract on the survival and some stress biomarkers of C. elegans under paraquat-induced oxidative stress were evaluated. Furthermore, lifespan analysis and levels of lipofuscin accumulation were examined in senescent nematodes. The phytochemical profile of THP-R-SR012 was analyzed. RESULTS: Supplementation with THP-R-SR012 decoction significantly increased the mean lifespan and reduced the oxidative damage to C. elegans under oxidative stress conditions. Further, THP-R-SR012 supplementation slightly influenced the lifespan and the level of lipofuscin accumulation during adulthood. Antioxidant-related phytochemical constituents of THP-R-SR012 decoction were rutin, naringenin, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, demethoxycurcumin and 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid. CONCLUSION The antioxidant potential of THP-R-SR012 was due to its scavenging properties, its enhancement of antioxidant-related enzyme activities, and the presence of the antioxidant-related compound. These results support the traditional use of THP-R-SR012 decoction as a tonic for nourishing and strengthening the whole body.
Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism* ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rejuvenation ; Thailand

The field of biomaterials has seen a strong rejuvenation due to the new potential to modulate immune system in our body. This special class of materials is called “immunomodulatory biomaterials”. Generally, three fundamental strategies are followed in the design of immunomodulatory biomaterials: (1) immuno-inert biomaterials, (2) immuno-activating biomaterials, and (3) immuno-tolerant biomaterials. While many applications of immuno-inert biomaterials such as biocompatible medical implants have been already proposed in the past decades, the ability to engineer biological activity into synthetic materials greatly increases the number of their potential uses and improves their performance in more traditional applications. The major focus of researchers is now set on developing immuno-tolerant biomaterials for anti-inflammatory therapies. In this review, we therefore introduce recent developments of immuno-tolerant biomaterials. Especially we introduce an apoptotic cell membrane-inspired polymer and its post-inflammatory effects on immune cells in this article.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Apoptosis ; Biocompatible Materials ; Immune System ; Immunomodulation ; Phosphatidylserines ; Polymers* ; Rejuvenation

Conventional sub-orbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) lifting during lower blepharoplasty is performed by anchoring the SOOF to the periosteum of the infraorbital rim. This procedure helps to improve the concavity at the central portion of the lower eyelid and the lid-cheek junction. However, over time, the periosteum becomes progressively weaker, diminishing the anchoring effect. This paper introduces a new lower blepharoplasty technique in which the SOOF is fixed to a bony hole to strengthen the holding force and provide sustainability.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged ; Aging ; Blepharoplasty ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Lifting ; Periosteum ; Rejuvenation

BACKGROUND: Barbed thread lifting is known to be a minimally invasive procedure compared with standard incisional surgery for facial rejuvenation. However, some studies have pointed out that the effects of thread lifting do not last long and disappear after several months. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and duration of anchoring-type absorbable thread lifting combined with liposuction for facial rejuvenation. METHODS: A retrospective review of 27 cosmetic patients who underwent absorbable barbed thread lifting with liposuction between July 2013 and December 2015 was undertaken. The efficiency of facial rejuvenation was evaluated through a patient satisfaction score and the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS). RESULTS: Subjects were divided into two groups: thread lifting only and thread lifting combined with liposuction. The mean follow-up period of each group was 8.5 and 9.3 months, respectively. In the thread lifting-only group, the average patient satisfaction score was 2.36 (1=unsatisfied to 4=very satisfied), and the average GAIS score was 2.54 (1=very much improved to 5=worsen). In the thread lifting with liposuction group, the average patient satisfaction score was 3.06, and the average GAIS score was 1.85. CONCLUSIONS: Thread lifting combined with liposuction showed better patient satisfaction and GAIS results than thread lifting alone, even over a long follow-up period.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lifting ; Lipectomy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Rejuvenation ; Retrospective Studies ; Suture Anchors

BACKGROUND: Conventional upper blepharoplasty through a supratarsal incision is commonly performed for periorbital rejuvenation. However, the drawbacks of this technique include insufficient removal of lateral hooding and an unnatural postoperative appearance. Subbrow upper blepharoplasty with submuscular fascia fixation was developed to avoid these shortcomings. Herein, we report our experiences with this technique and present an objective analysis of the results. METHODS: Subbrow upper blepharoplasty was performed in 30 patients between June 2016 and October 2017. All patients had preoperative frontal view photographs, and the distance from the upper lid margin to the lower edge of the eyebrow was measured at the lateral limbus (LBD-L). RESULTS: Between preoperative and postoperative measurements, the LBD-L was shortened by an average of 0.800 and 0.833 mm on the right and left, respectively (P=0.047 and P=0.070). Most patients were satisfied with their aesthetic appearance and the improvement of their visual field. CONCLUSIONS: The lid-to-brow distance was minimally changed by the procedure, but the results were aesthetically favorable. This seemingly paradoxical finding is explained by the characteristics of the surgical procedure and the related anatomy. Among the various possible blepharoplasty techniques, subbrow upper blepharoplasty with submuscular fascia fixation has definite value for Asians.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blepharoplasty ; Eyebrows ; Eyelids ; Fascia ; Humans ; Rejuvenation ; Visual Fields

BACKGROUND: Subbrow blepharoplasty (SBB) has advantages over traditional blepharoplasty in that it results in more natural-looking creases and contours and is more effective for lateral periorbital rejuvenation. However, in older patients with sunken upper eyelid, this procedure might make the superior eyelid sulcus appear worse because the thicker upper eyelid tissue in the subbrow area is replaced by thinner tissue. To overcome this limitation, we developed a de-epithelialized musculocutaneous flap for SBB. METHODS: From August 2016 to January 2018, 13 patients with sunken upper eyelid deformity underwent SBB. For each of these patients, a typical SBB incision was made, but the tissue usually removed in SBB was dissected as a flap based on the branch of the ophthalmic vessel. After elevation, the flap was transposed or folded to correct the sunken deformity. The results were assessed by the patients themselves and by three plastic surgeons at 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63 years (range, 47–81 years). There were no postoperative complications related to wound dehiscence, hypertrophic scarring, or sensory changes. All patients and plastic surgeons provided scores indicating good to excellent results and were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes. All patients reported improved functional visual acuity after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique is simple and effectively addresses both sunken upper eyelid deformity and dermatochalasis. Unlike fat or dermofat grafting, our new technique does not require an additional donor site, and it is more reliable in terms of vascularity.
Blepharoplasty ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Plastics ; Postoperative Complications ; Rejuvenation ; Surgeons ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Visual Acuity ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Age-related changes in facial skin is a major concern in women. This study aimed to objectively evaluate normal skin elasticity and age-related differences in the faces of East Asian women. There are no standard values for data related to normal skin on East Asian women. METHODS: We studied 129 healthy East Asian women without a history of cosmetic procedures or surgeries. Skin elasticity was assessed at the cheek and lower eyelid points, which were assessed on both the right and left sides of the face. RESULTS: The age of the subjects showed significant negative correlations with the R2 and R7 parameters, which represent skin elasticity after deformation. CONCLUSION: We therefore concluded that the primary decrease in skin elasticity in East Asian women occurs in the midface region.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cheek ; Elasticity ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Rejuvenation ; Skin Aging ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Few scales are currently available to evaluate changes in hand volume. We aimed to develop a hand grading scale for quantitative assessments of dorsal hand volume with additional consideration of changes in skin texture; to validate and prove the precision and reproducibility of the new scale; and to demonstrate the presence of clinically significant differences between grades on the scale. METHODS: Five experienced plastic surgeons developed the Hand Volume Rating Scale (HVRS) and rated 91 images. Another five plastic surgeons validated the scale using 50 randomly selected images. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was calculated using the weighted kappa statistic and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Paired images were also evaluated to verify whether the scale reflected clinical differences. RESULTS: The intra-rater agreement was 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.922–0.974). The interrater ICCs were excellent (first rating, 0.94; second rating, 0.94). Image pairs that differed by 1, 2, and 3 grades were considered to contain clinically relevant differences in 80%, 100%, and 100% of cases, respectively, while 84% of image pairs of the same grade were found not to show clinically relevant differences. This confirmed that the scale of the HVRS corresponded to clinically relevant distinctions. CONCLUSIONS: The scale was proven to be precise, reproducible, and reflective of clinical differences.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Hand ; Humans ; Plastics ; Rejuvenation ; Skin ; Skin Aging ; Surgeons ; Weights and Measures

Periorbital dermatochalasis with upper eyelid hooding, brow ptosis, and sunken eyelids may appear with age. Because classic blepharoplasty is unable to correct all these issues, we developed a single operation, which we present herein, to correct dermatochalasis accompanied by sunken eyelids. This sub-brow approach is used with simultaneous browpexy by fixing the orbital portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM) to the periosteum immediately above the supraorbital rim using sutures with 3 or 4 points of fixation and correcting sunken eyelids by burying the elevated dermis, fat, and OOM after de-epithelization in the lower flap of the sunken upper eyelid along the submuscular plane. This method enables the correction of sunken eyelids during the same operation without requiring an additional procedure, and offers the advantages of a shortened operation time and decreased cost. The presence of sunken eyelids in patients with dermatochalasis and severe lateral hooding may be corrected by the procedure described herein, thereby achieving periorbital rejuvenation while maintaining the original shape of the eyes.
Blepharoplasty ; Dermis ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Periosteum ; Rejuvenation ; Skin Aging ; Sutures

Erythema ab igne (EAI) is a persistent chronic skin condition that is characterized by reticulated macular hyperpigmented lesions caused by repeated exposure to infrared radiation. EAI has reemerged in recent years because of the increasing infrared exposure due to the use of new technologies, such as portable computers and automobile seat heaters. We report a case of a 54-year-old female patient presenting with asymptomatic mottled brownish plaque on both sides of her neck for 1 month prior to the visit. Patient history revealed that she had used a home skincare device for skin rejuvenation and relaxation. The clinicopathological features suggested a diagnosis of EAI. To our knowledge, there has only been one reported case of EAI on the neck related to a thermal pillow, and this was the first case of EAI related to the self-skincare devices. Herein, we report a rare case of EAI presenting on both sides of the neck due to the use of a modern home skincare device.
Automobiles ; Diagnosis ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Rejuvenation ; Relaxation ; Skin