Protein generation has numerous applications in designing therapeutic antibodies and creating new drugs. Still, it is a demanding task due to the inherent complexities of protein structures and the limitations of current generative models. Proteins possess intricate geometry, and sampling their conformational space is challenging due to its high dimensionality. This paper introduces novel Markovian and non-Markovian generative diffusion models based on fractional stochastic differential equations and the Lévy distribution, allowing for a more effective exploration of the conformational space. The approach is applied to a dataset of 40,000 proteins and evaluated in terms of Fréchet distance, fidelity, and diversity, outperforming the state-of-the-art by 25.4%, 35.8%, and 11.8%, respectively.

The appearance of skin scars is known as one of the main side effects of skin burns. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF), as a rich source of cell populations with tissue regeneration properties, plays an important role in the healing of skin lesions. Fractional CO2 lasers have occupied a special place in treating skin lesions, particularly skin scars, since their introduction. Our study aimed to compare the combination of SVF and fractional CO2 laser with fractional CO2 laser alone in the treatment of burn scars.
This double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on ten patients with burn scars that were treated three times with a fractional CO2 laser at site of burn lesions, and one of the two areas studied was randomly injected with SVF. Two months after completion of the procedure, patients\' scars were assessed using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS), biometric criteria, and physician and patient satisfaction ratings.
The results confirmed a significant improvement in VSS, cutometry, R7 criteria, complete density sonography, and skin density sonography in the fractional CO2 laser-treated group. The VSS criteria, epidermal thickness sonography, complete density sonography, and skin density sonography in the group treated with the combination of fractional CO2 laser and SVF also showed significant improvement. The VSS criteria and melanin index of Mexameter in the group treated with SVF in combination with fractional CO2 laser were significantly better than the group treated with fractional CO2 laser alone. Also, physician and patient satisfaction in the group treated with SVF injection in combination with fractional CO2 laser was significantly higher than the other group.
The results confirm the efficacy of SVF injection in combination with fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of burn scars and can be considered as a treatment option for better management of these lesions.
The study protocol was retrospectively registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with code: IRCT20210515051307N1, Registration date: 2021-11-14, URL: https://www.irct.ir/trial/56337 .

UNASSIGNED: Acne is very common among adolescents, which may sometimes persist into adulthood, and acne scars continue to have a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. Of all the various modalities available, fractional lasers have shown effective results.
UNASSIGNED: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing in atrophic facial acne scars.
UNASSIGNED: The study included 104 subjects aged ≥18 years with atrophic acne scars on face of more than 6 months of duration recruited over a period of 1 year. All the patients were treated with fractional CO2 laser (600 W power and wavelength 10,600 nm). Four sessions of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing were done at 6-week intervals in each patient. We compared the improvement rate of scars after every session at 6-week interval, 2 weeks after the last session, and finally 6 months after the last laser session.
UNASSIGNED: The difference between the mean baseline score (3.43) and mean final score (1.83) using Goodman and Baron\'s qualitative scar scale was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.001). Mean improvement increased from first treatment session to the end of the treatment course from 0.56 to 1.62 indicating the role of the number of sessions in the overall improvement of acne scars. With regard to overall satisfaction, maximum number of patients were either very satisfied (55.8%) or satisfied (25%) as compared to those who were only slightly satisfied (11.5%) or completely unsatisfied (7.7%).
UNASSIGNED: Fractional ablative laser gives excellent results in the management of acne scars and has emerged as an appealing non-invasive option for this indication. Being a safe and effective option for atrophic acne scar treatment, it can be recommended wherever available.

Treating nail psoriasis is often a time-consuming challenge with an unsecure outcome. Response to the treatment is variable and relapses are common. Systemic treatments have multiple systemic side effects and lack of the patient compliance makes intra-lesional therapies not the best choice for treatment of nail psoriasis. We aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and side effects of methotrexate versus calcipotriol plus betamethasone two-compound formula when applied topically to psoriatic nails after fractional CO2 laser. This comparative pilot study included 20 patients with nail psoriasis. One side was treated with fractional CO2 laser followed by the application of topical methotrexate (Group A) and the other side with fractional CO2 laser followed by topical (Calcipotriol 0.05 mg/gm + Betamethasone 0.5 mg/gm) (Group B). 4 sessions were done, once every 2 weeks. There was a high statistical significant decrease in total NAPSI score in group A at 1(P = 0.000) and 2 months (P = 0.000). There was a high statistical significant decrease in total NAPSI score in group B at 1(P = 0.001) and 2 months (P = 0.001). There was no statistical significant difference regarding total NAPSI score between both group A and B at 0 (P = 0.271), 1(P = 0.513) and 2 months (P = 0.647). Combined fractional CO2 laser with either topical MTX or topical betamethasone plus calcipotriol two-compound formula is effective treatment for nail psoriasis.

Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) is the most popular fractal analytical technique used to evaluate the strength of long-range correlations in empirical time series in terms of the Hurst exponent, H. Specifically, DFA quantifies the linear regression slope in log-log coordinates representing the relationship between the time series\' variability and the number of timescales over which this variability is computed. We compared the performance of two methods of fractal analysis-the current gold standard, DFA, and a Bayesian method that is not currently well-known in behavioral sciences: the Hurst-Kolmogorov (HK) method-in estimating the Hurst exponent of synthetic and empirical time series. Simulations demonstrate that the HK method consistently outperforms DFA in three important ways. The HK method: (i) accurately assesses long-range correlations when the measurement time series is short, (ii) shows minimal dispersion about the central tendency, and (iii) yields a point estimate that does not depend on the length of the measurement time series or its underlying Hurst exponent. Comparing the two methods using empirical time series from multiple settings further supports these findings. We conclude that applying DFA to synthetic time series and empirical time series during brief trials is unreliable and encourage the systematic application of the HK method to assess the Hurst exponent of empirical time series in behavioral sciences.

The sequential application of fractional ablative/10,600 nm/CO2 followed by 1570 nm non-ablative laser treatment might produce better results than applying either laser treatment alone. However, histological data regarding the safety of this combination is lacking. This study aimed to assess and compare clinical effects, histological tissue damage, and wound healing after monochromatic and sequential fractional laser treatments. In this prospective porcine model study, three adult female pigs were each irradiated using three different wavelengths: (a) monochromatic fractional ablative CO2 laser; (b) monochromatic fractional non-ablative 1570 nm laser; (c) sequential fractional 10,600 nm/CO2 followed by 1570 nm laser treatment. There were six power levels in the monochromatic 1570 nm laser, five in the 10,600 nm/CO2, and five in the sequential treatment. The immediate skin reaction (ISR), crusting and adverse effects, was evaluated across different time points throughout the healing process. Wound biopsies were taken at immediately after (0) and at 3, 7, and 14 days after irradiation. Depth and width of craters, and width of coagulation zone were measured and compared. Similar ISR and crusting score values were obtained following the monochromatic and sequential irradiation in a similar dose-response manner. During 14 days of follow-up, the skin looked intact and non-infected with no signs of necrosis. The mean depth and width of craters were comparable only at the maximal energy level (240 mJ) of CO2 laser, with the coagulation size greater after the sequential treatment. In histology, a similar wound healing was evident. On day 3, crusts were observed above all lesions as was epithelial regeneration. The sequential irradiation with 10,600 nm/CO2 and 1570 nm lasers did not pose any additional risk compared to the risk of each laser alone.

BACKGROUND: Fractional radiofrequency (RF) microneedling technologies have shown effectiveness in treating skin laxity and wrinkles. We report the first experience using a novel device with 1-mm long ultrathin electrodes that utilizes a smooth RF-assisted ablation mode.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of treatment with a fractional RF device using 1.0-mm long × 0.15-mm diameter ultrathin electrode tips for improvement of facial skin texture and wrinkles. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a prospective, open-label, intraindividual-controlled trial. Nine participants (mean age: 47.6, Fitzpatrick skin type II-IV, Fitzpatrick Elastosis Wrinkle Scale [FEWS] score: 3-6) underwent six treatment sessions with a fractional RF technology utilizing an array of 6 × 6 1-mm long ultrathin electrodes. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by FEWS and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Safety and tolerance were evaluated.
RESULTS: Three months after the sixth treatment session, blinded, investigator-assessed FEWS decreased from baseline 4.33 ± 0.67-3.33 ± 0.67 (p < 0.005); 88.9% of participants showed overall skin improvement using the physician-assessed GAIS, and all of the participants reported improvement in skin texture and wrinkles. Treatment was well tolerated, with no adverse events and no downtime. Histological analysis in a porcine model showed a fractional pattern of epidermal ablation and dermal coagulation with intervening zones of normal healthy tissue. These changes were followed by progressive epithelialization over a period of 13 days.
CONCLUSIONS: The fractional RF technology with the novel 1.0 long × 0.15 mm ultrathin electrodes tips was effective in improving skin texture and wrinkles without impacting the participants\' daily activities.

This work presents an identification procedure of flexural behavior of toenail plates in twenty subjects with no history of feet or nail injury as of in-vivo measurements. In particular, four different mechanical models are considered to describe such properties, ranging from the pure elastic to viscoelastic behavior, the latter from the classical and fractional points of view. The quality of the adjustment of each model is examined by a group of performance indices. Experimental data show that the best identification is achieved by the fractional order viscoelastic model for all subjects. These novel results in modeling flexural behavior of toenails are consistent with the published literature suggesting that viscoelastic materials may be successfully modeled with derivatives of fractional order. This could contribute, together with additional variables, to help health professionals, and more especially podiatrists, to have reliable and quantitative measures of the nail flexural behavior which can be susceptible of treatment or for prevention.

Both fractional micro-plasma radiofrequency (RF) and fractional microneedle RF are novel devices that can be applied for the treatment of atrophic acne scars, and they have both been proved to be effective. To compare the clinical effectiveness and adverse reactions of fractional micro-plasma RF and fractional microneedle RF for the therapy of facial atrophic acne scars in a randomized split-face study.
Sixty patients with facial atrophic acne scars received three applications at 2-month intervals in a randomized split-face study using fractional micro-plasma RF and fractional microneedle RF on different sides of the face. Three independent dermatologists evaluated the improvement in acne scars using the ECCA grading scale (Echelle d\'Evaluation Clinique des Cicatrices d\'Acné) by comparing the digital images and graded the improvement in the acne scars. Patients were asked to provide a self-evaluation of satisfaction for efficacy and safety. Adverse effects were also recorded after each treatment.
In total sixty patients completed the entire study. A significant improvement was observed in the appearance of acne scars, and the mean ECCA scores improved significantly after both modalities. The mean decrease in ECCA scores from the baseline was significantly more pronounced in fractional micro-plasma RF as compared with fractional microneedle RF (41.33 ± 20.19 vs 32.17 ± 17.35; P < 0.05). The degree of clinical improvement was also significantly better for fractional micro-plasma RF. Pain, erythema, and swelling were observed in all patients after both treatments. The pain was more intense during micro-plasma RF treatment (P = 0.000), and the duration of pain and erythema were longer than with fractional microneedle RF (P = 0.000). Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) was observed in one patient on the fractional micro-plasma RF side while no PIH was observed on the fractional microneedle RF side. No infections or worsening of scarring was observed with either treatment. No subject was dissatisfied with the efficacy of either device. Rolling scars tended to respond better to fractional micro-plasma RF treatment compared with fractional microneedle RF (P = 0.000).
Both fractional micro-plasma RF and fractional microneedle RF are effective and safe methods for improving atrophic acne scars. Fractional micro-plasma RF is significantly more effective for atrophic acne scars, especially for rolling scars. However, fractional microneedle RF has fewer side effects plus shorter downtime, and patients are more comfortable after the treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

It is generally believed that ablative laser therapies result in prolonged healing and greater adverse events when compared with nonablative lasers for skin resurfacing. To evaluate the efficacy of ablative laser use for skin resurfacing and adverse events as a consequence of treatment in comparison to other modalities, a PRISMA-compliant systematic review (Systematic Review Registration Number: 204016) of twelve electronic databases was conducted for the terms \"ablative laser\" and \"skin resurfacing\" from March 2002 until July 2020. Studies included meta-analyses, randomized control trials, cohort studies, and case reports to facilitate evaluation of the data. All articles were evaluated for bias. The search strategy produced 34 studies. Of 1093 patients included in the studies of interest, adverse events were reported in a total of 106 patients (9.7%). Higher rates of adverse events were described in nonablative therapies (12.2% ± 2.19%, 31 events) when compared with ablative therapy (8.28% ± 2.46%, 81 events). 147 patients (13.4%) reported no side effects, 68 (6.22%) reported expected, transient self-resolving events, and five (0.046%) presented with hypertrophic scarring. Excluding transient events, ablative lasers had fewer complications overall when compared with nonablative lasers (2.56% ± 2.19% vs 7.48% ± 3.29%). This systematic review suggests ablative laser use for skin resurfacing is a safe and effective modality to treat a range of pathologies from photodamage and acne scars to hidradenitis suppurativa and posttraumatic scarring from basal cell carcinoma excision. Further studies are needed, but these results suggest that ablative lasers are a superior, safe, and effective modality to treat damaged skin.