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European Urology Focus Sep 2019Penile paraffinoma is a rare cause of penile mass that can occur following injection of liquid paraffin, performed illicitly for penile augmentation. Over the past 2 yr,... (Review)
Review
Penile paraffinoma is a rare cause of penile mass that can occur following injection of liquid paraffin, performed illicitly for penile augmentation. Over the past 2 yr, we have observed an increasing number of cases presenting with the complications of penile paraffinoma; three patients of central European origin have required inpatient treatment at our institution and posed a significant management dilemma. This mini-review aims to review the literature on the aetiopathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of penile paraffinoma. A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus was performed with 10 case series and 26 case reports identified between 1956 and 2017. A total of 124 cases, with a mean age of 36.29 yr, were identified. The majority originated in Korea, and the most common injected material was liquid paraffin (80.6%). Patients presented with pain/swelling, ulceration/fistulae, and penile deformity. The majority required surgical excision of paraffinoma followed by reconstruction with a variety of procedures including split skin grafting, scrotal skin flap reconstruction, and prepuce grafting. Mean duration of follow-up was 15.8 mo. Penile paraffinoma remains a rare presentation; however, it can present management difficulties. We have had an increase in cases, with three patients presenting with complications following injection of paraffin in our unit in the past 2 yr. Definitive management includes surgical excision and reconstruction as required with early involvement of plastic surgeons. There may be a role for conservative management; however, long-term outcomes are unclear. There may be a need for targeted preventative measures through public health agencies in communities where the practice is more prevalent. PATIENT SUMMARY: Penile paraffinoma can occur following injection of liquid paraffin or similar substances, generally used by non-healthcare personnel for the purpose of penile augmentations, and can cause significant pain, ulceration, and penile deformity. Definitive management includes surgical excision with reconstruction as required. Prevention of its use through awareness and education may be required in communities where the practice is more common.
Topics: Body Modification, Non-Therapeutic; Foreign Bodies; Humans; Injections; Male; Paraffin; Penile Diseases
PubMed: 30007541
DOI: 10.1016/j.euf.2018.06.013 -
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Jun 2022Eczema (atopic dermatitis; AD) is a very common itchy skin condition affecting 1 in 5 children and up to 1 in 10 adults worldwide. The skin of eczema sufferers is prone... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Eczema (atopic dermatitis; AD) is a very common itchy skin condition affecting 1 in 5 children and up to 1 in 10 adults worldwide. The skin of eczema sufferers is prone to redness, irritation and dryness because it does not form an effective barrier, i.e. the ability of the skin to stop irritants, allergens and microorganisms getting into the body. Skin barrier dysfunction is a hallmark of AD. The regular and liberal (600 g/week for an adult) use of emollients is recommended for all patients with eczema), even between episodes of itching and redness, to soften and soothe the skin. In England alone, almost 9 million prescriptions for emollient creams were issued in 2018, at a cost of over £50 million. Despite this widespread use, relatively little is known about how commonly prescribed emollient creams affect the skin's barrier, and thus the role of moisturizers in AD development and progression remains unclear. We set out to compare three different types of emollient cream and a no-treatment control.
AIM
To compare the barrier-strengthening properties of a new moisturizer containing urea and glycerol (urea-glycerol cream; UGC), with those of a glycerol-containing moisturizer (glycerol cream; GC), a simple paraffin cream (PC) with no humectant, and a no-treatment control (NTC).
METHODS
This was an observer-blinded prospective Phase 2 within-subject multilateral single-centre randomized controlled trial in adults with AD (Clinical Trials #NCT03901144). The intervention involved 4 weeks of treatment, twice daily, with the three products applied to one of four areas on the forearms the (the fourth area was the untreated control, randomized allocation). Skin properties [dryness, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) levels] were assessed before, during and after treatment to see what happened to the skin's barrier. The primary outcome was skin sensitivity to the irritant sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) after treatment. We performed tests on the skin before and after treatment to see what happened to the skin's barrier.
RESULTS
In total, 49 patients were randomized, completed treatment and included in the analysis. UGC significantly reduced the response to SLS as indicated by a reduction in TEWL compared with NTC (-9.0 g/m /h; 95% CI -12.56 to -5.49), with PC (-9.0 g/m /h; 95% CI -12.60 to -5.44) and with GC -4.2 g/m /h; 95% CI 7.76 to -0.63). Skin moisturization improved at sites treated with UGC compared with NTC and PC, and this was accompanied by concordant changes in dryness and NMF levels. Subgroup analysis suggested FLG-dependent enhancement of treatment effects.
CONCLUSION
The study showed that not all emollient creams for eczema are equal. The simple paraffin-based emollient, which represents the most widely prescribed type of emollient cream in England, had no effect on the skin's barrier and reduced the skin's NMF. UGC markedly improved the skin's barrier and protected against irritation. GC performed better than PC, but not as well as UGC. UGC strengthened the skin barrier through a mechanism involving increased NMF levels in the skin, and imparted protection from SLS-induced irritation. By helping correct a major pathophysiological process, UGC has the potential to improve the long-term control of AD. The results show that different emollient creams have different effects on our skin, and only certain types have the ability to improve the skin's barrier and protect against irritants that trigger eczema.
Topics: Adult; Child; Dermatitis, Atopic; Eczema; Emollients; Glycerol; Humans; Irritants; Paraffin; Prospective Studies; Pruritus; Skin Cream; Urea; Water Loss, Insensible
PubMed: 35167133
DOI: 10.1111/ced.15141 -
Revista Internacional de Andrologia 2021A fifty-year-old healthy, Portuguese male, with prior history of paraffin injections into the penis 30 years ago, was referred for urological consultation because of a...
A fifty-year-old healthy, Portuguese male, with prior history of paraffin injections into the penis 30 years ago, was referred for urological consultation because of a large, hardened ulcerated mass on the base of the penis causing deformity and pain. The patient underwent a biopsy that showed a benign granulomatous lesion, and then excision of the mass and penile plasty with a scrotum flap in the same surgical time. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of paraffinoma. Three months after surgery, the patient is satisfied with the functional (urinary function and erectile function) and aesthetic results. Penile paraffinoma is a rare disease (most common in Asia and Eastern Europe) and results from an inflammatory response to the subcutaneous injection of paraffin, Vaseline or other mineral oils. Treatment is usually surgery.
Topics: Granuloma; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Paraffin; Penile Diseases; Penis; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Skin Ulcer; Surgical Flaps; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32778451
DOI: 10.1016/j.androl.2020.01.006 -
Pediatric Dermatology 2023Moisturizers are first-line therapy for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although there are multiple types of moisturizers available, head-to-head trials between... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Moisturizers are first-line therapy for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although there are multiple types of moisturizers available, head-to-head trials between different moisturizers are limited.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate if a paraffin-based moisturizer is as effective as ceramide-based moisturizer in children with AD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this double-blind, randomized comparative trial of pediatric patients with mild to moderate AD, subjects applied either a paraffin-based or ceramide-based moisturizer twice daily. Clinical disease activity using SCOring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), quality of life using Children/Infants Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI/IDLQI), and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured at baseline and at follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months.
RESULTS
Fifty-three patients were recruited (27 ceramide group and 26 paraffin group) with a mean age of 8.2 years and mean disease duration of 60 months. The mean change in SCORAD at 3 months in the ceramide-based and paraffin-based moisturizer groups was 22.1 and 21.4, respectively (p = .37). The change in CDLQI/IDLQI, TEWL over forearm and back, amount and days of topical corticosteroid required, median time to remission and disease-free days at 3 months were similar in both groups. As the 95% confidence interval (CI) of mean change in SCORAD at 3 months in both groups (0.78, 95% CI: -7.21 to 7.52) was not within the predefined margin of equivalence (-4 to +4), the conclusion of equivalence could not be proven.
CONCLUSION
Both the paraffin-based and ceramide-based moisturizers were comparable in improving the disease activity in children with mild to moderate AD.
Topics: Infant; Child; Humans; Dermatitis, Atopic; Emollients; Paraffin; Ceramides; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Double-Blind Method; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 37269189
DOI: 10.1111/pde.15355 -
Environmental Science & Technology Aug 2023Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are ubiquitous in the environment due to their large-scale usage, persistence, and long-range atmospheric transport. The oceans are a... (Review)
Review
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are ubiquitous in the environment due to their large-scale usage, persistence, and long-range atmospheric transport. The oceans are a critical environment where CPs transformation occurs. However, the broad impacts of CPs on the marine environment remain unclear. This review describes the sources, occurrence and transport pathways, environmental processes, and ecological effects of CPs in the marine environment. CPs are distributed in the global marine environment by riverine input, ocean currents, and long-range atmospheric transport from industrial areas. Environmental processes, such as the deposition of particle-bound compounds, leaching of plastics, and microbial degradation of CPs, are the critical drivers for regulating CPs' fate in water columns or sediment. Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of CPs in marine food webs may threaten marine ecosystem functions. To elucidate the biogeochemical processes and environmental impacts of CPs in marine environments, future work should clarify the burden and transformation process of CPs and reveal their ecological effects. The results would help readers clarify the current research status and future research directions of CPs in the marine environment and provide the scientific basis and theoretical foundations for the government to assess marine ecological risks of CPs and to make policies for pollution prevention and control.
Topics: Ecosystem; Paraffin; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Environmental Pollution; Food Chain; Environmental Monitoring; China
PubMed: 37503949
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02316 -
Environmental Science & Technology Nov 2023Polychlorinated dibenzo--dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) can be formed during the production of chlorinated paraffins...
Polychlorinated dibenzo--dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) can be formed during the production of chlorinated paraffins (CPs). Detection and accurate quantification of PCDD/Fs in CPs are challenging because of their matrix complexity. Therefore, the occurrence and formation mechanisms of PCDD/Fs from CPs have not been studied extensively in the past. In this study, 15 commercial samples including solid and liquid CPs were collected in 2022 from China. The average ΣSCCP concentrations detected in the solid and liquid CPs were 158 and 137 mg/g, respectively. The average International Toxic Equivalent (I-TEQ) values of 2,3,7,8-PCDD/F in solid and liquid CPs were 15.8 pg I-TEQ/g and 15.0 pg I-TEQ/g, respectively. The solid and liquid CPs had different predominant congener groups for SCCPs and PCDD/Fs. Possible formation routes for the generation of PCDD/Fs were analyzed by screening precursors in paraffin and laboratory-scale thermochemical experiments of CPs. The transformation between 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs and non-2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs was recognized by calculating the successive chlorination preference. The first reported occurrence of PCDD/Fs in CP commercial products indicated that exposure to CPs and downstream products might be an assignable source of PCDD/F emission, which is of great significance to further explore the control factors of PCDD/Fs in the whole life cycle of CPs.
Topics: Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; Paraffin; Dibenzofurans; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; Benzofurans; Mineral Oil; China; Environmental Monitoring; Dioxins
PubMed: 37905521
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06378 -
JAMA Dermatology May 2018
Topics: Dermal Fillers; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Paraffin; Prostheses and Implants
PubMed: 29801070
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.0122 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B Feb 2022Paraffin wax deposition has long been a vexing problem in industry. Especially, in offshore oil production, paraffin wax deposits and clogs pipes and containers because...
Paraffin wax deposition has long been a vexing problem in industry. Especially, in offshore oil production, paraffin wax deposits and clogs pipes and containers because of low temperature, causing severe economic loss. It has been known that the crystallization of n-alkanes mainly causes the deposition of paraffin wax, which is necessary to understand the mechanism of the crystallization behavior of paraffin wax. We solve the challenge of describing the crystallization behavior of the alkane mixture system and evaluate the contributions of every carbon atom to crystallization based on the occupied volume, structure entropy, and order parameter. These results demonstrate that the middle atoms are the main contributor to crystallization, and the end atoms of n-alkanes are unfavorable for the crystallization of n-alkanes, showing that increasing the number of end atoms, for example, adding branched alkanes, will hinder the crystallization of paraffin wax. Furthermore, perhydrosqualene is chosen to study the inhibition of crystallization by adding branched alkanes. As there are different properties between the end and the middle atoms, based on the principle of dissolution with similar properties, a small number of branched alkanes will promote crystallization. Also, an inhibitory effect of the end atoms is observed when the proportion of branched alkanes increases to a certain percentage. Our simulation work describes the crystallization behavior of paraffin wax in detail, providing theoretical assistance for preventing and controlling paraffin deposition.
Topics: Alkanes; Carbon; Crystallization; Paraffin; Waxes
PubMed: 35077173
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c10000 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2022The study highlights the potential of Environmental Specimen Banks (ESBs) for implementing the Zero Pollution Ambition and the Biodiversity Strategy of the European... (Review)
Review
The study highlights the potential of Environmental Specimen Banks (ESBs) for implementing the Zero Pollution Ambition and the Biodiversity Strategy of the European Green Deal. By drawing on recent monitoring studies of European ESBs, we illustrate the role ESBs already play in assessing the state of ecosystems in Europe and how they help to make developments over time visible. The studies reveal the ubiquitous presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, halogenated flame retardants, chlorinated paraffins, plasticizers, cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes, UV-filters, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics in the European environment. Temporal trends demonstrate the effectiveness of European regulations on perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, pentabrominated diphenylethers and diethylhexyl phthalate, but also point to the rise of substitutes such as non-phthalate plasticizers and short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances. Other studies are wake-up calls indicating the emergence of currently unregulated compounds such as long-chain chlorinated paraffins. Ecological studies show temporal trends in biometric parameters and stable isotope signatures that suggest long-term changes in environmental conditions. Studies on biodiversity of ecosystems using environmental DNA are still in their beginnings, but here too there is evidence of shifts in community composition that can be linked to changing environmental conditions. This review demonstrates the value of ESBs (a) for describing the status of the environment, (b) for monitoring temporal changes in environmental pollution and the ecologic condition of ecosystems and thereby (c) for supporting regulators in prioritizing their actions towards the objectives of the Green Deal.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Ecosystem; Plasticizers; Fluorocarbons; Flame Retardants; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Microplastics; DNA, Environmental; Plastics; Siloxanes; Paraffin; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 36055484
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158430 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Dec 2021As replacements for "old" organohalides, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "new" organohalides have been developed,... (Review)
Review
As replacements for "old" organohalides, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "new" organohalides have been developed, including decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), and perfluorobutyrate (PFBA). In the past decade, these emerging organohalides (EOHs) have been extensively produced as industrial and consumer products, resulting in their widespread environmental distribution. This review comprehensively summarizes the environmental occurrence and remediation methods for typical EOHs. Based on the data collected from 2015 to 2021, these EOHs are widespread in both abiotic (e.g., dust, air, soil, sediment, and water) and biotic (e.g., bird, fish, and human serum) matrices. A significant positive correlation was found between the estimated annual production amounts of EOHs and their environmental contamination levels, suggesting the prohibition of both production and usage of EOHs as a critical pollution-source control strategy. The strengths and weaknesses, as well as the future prospects of up-to-date remediation techniques, such as photodegradation, chemical oxidation, and biodegradation, are critically discussed. Of these remediation techniques, microbial reductive dehalogenation represents a promising in situ remediation method for removal of EOHs, such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and halogenated flame retardants (HFRs).
Topics: Animals; Environmental Monitoring; Flame Retardants; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Humans; Paraffin; Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PubMed: 34479159
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118060