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Study highlights AI’s potential in clinical settings

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have demonstrated an artificial intelligence (AI) system that excels at answering medical quiz questions.

A study by experts from NIH’s National Library of Medicine (NLM) and Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that an AI designed to assess health professionals’ diagnostic skills using clinical images and brief text summaries performed with high accuracy. However, physician-graders noted that the AI often made errors in describing images and explaining its reasoning process. These findings highlight AI’s emerging potential in clinical settings.

“Integration of AI into healthcare holds great promise as a tool to help medical professionals diagnose patients faster, allowing them to start treatment sooner,” said NLM acting director, Stephen Sherry. “However, as this study shows, AI is not advanced enough yet to replace human experience, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis.”

The results showed both the AI model and the physicians scored highly in selecting the correct diagnosis. Notably, the AI outperformed physicians in closedbook settings, while physicians with access to external resources performed better than the AI, particularly on more challenging questions.

BACN and BDNG announce new collaboration

The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) and the British Dermatological Nursing Group (BDNG) have announced a collaboration aimed at enhancing professional development and educational opportunities for nurses in the fields of dermatology and aesthetics.

“We have spent the past few months working together on a number of exciting initiatives,” said BACN education and training committee chair Rachel Goddard. “I’m pleased to announce the input of BDNG in reviewing modalities within our BACN career and competency framework. This will include the accredited BDNG dermatology nurse competency framework within the appendices, enabling BACN nurse members to utilise it for professional development.”

Optical Express Group absorbs Sk:n Group

Sk:n, The Harley Medical Group, Skinbrands, The Skin Experts and ABC Medical have been acquired by Optical Express Group. The eye care experts finalised the acquisition on July 26, with David Moulsdale, the company’s chair and chief executive, issuing a statement on its LinkedIn page.

The Sk:n Group ceased trading on July 17, posting a statement on its website which read: “It is with regret that we advise that the Sk:n Group, including Sk:n, The Harley Medical Group, Skinbrands, The Skin Experts and ABC Medical has ceased trading as of July 17. We recognise that this outcome will have a significant impact on our team members and customers, and we are deeply sorry for the stress and inconvenience this has caused. We are doing all we can to address the concerns of those affected.”

Sk:n ran more than 60 aesthetics clinics across the UK with over 450 consultant doctors, nurses and medical practitioners.

Skinbrands, which was part of the Sk:n Group, distributed brands including Medik8, Epionce and Grande Cosmetics, some of which have now appointed new professional distributors. Medik8 has partered with Wigmore Medical as its distributor for the UK and Ireland, while Epionce joins Dermapure Clinical’s portfolio.

85% of women admit to skipping sunscreen, even when it’s warm

Concerning new data has revealed that 85% of women go out without sunscreen, even when it’s warm. The research, conducted by Japanese skincare brand, Hada Labo Tokyo, also found that 69% of women only put sunscreen on their body during warm, sunny days, neglecting their face.

This is despite the fact that 91% of those surveyed correctly believed the sun can cause skin damage, and 88% thought skin damage and skin ageing are connected. Eight in 10 (79%) were also concerned about the sun’s impact on their skin’s ageing.

“We live in an age where every year, come summer, we’re reminded of the need to wear sunscreen,” said GP and medical broadcaster, Dr Hilary Jones. “The sun does provide health benefits yes, such as helping provide the body with vitamin D, but it can also cause skin cancer and it has a huge impact on skin ageing. Ultraviolet (UV) rays have been shown to damage skin, and areas that are exposed more frequently such as the face, hands and feet, often age more rapidly than other parts of the body.”

Harley street doctor banned for carrying out penis filler operation during lockdown

Dr Mohammed Sefahn Chaudhry has been banned from practicing for five months after performing a £3,500 non-essential penis filler operation during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Dr Chaudhry, also known as “Dr Sef,” continued to run his clinic, PenisFill.co.uk, despite lockdown regulations.

The General Medical Council (GMC) acted after a patient, identified as Patient A, complained that the procedure left his genitalia misshapen, and that Dr Chaudhry posted ‘before and after’ pictures without consent. Additionally, Patient A alleged Dr Chaudhry forged paperwork and raised his voice during complaints.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic my understanding and belief was that the treatments I offer are medical,” Dr Chaundhry said. “Therefore, I never viewed them as non-essential. Every client that came to us during the pandemic, who was seeking treatments for purely cosmetic reasons, was not seen and advised to come after restrictions had been lifted.”

New guidelines state medics don’t need to know gender identity of patients

In newly released guidelines, medical professionals treating transgender patients have been advised that knowing a patient’s gender identity is not necessary.

Developed by experts from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge, this is the first guidance of its kind addressing the care of transgender individuals undergoing surgery.

One key recommendation stipulates that a patient’s transgender status should only be disclosed to other medical staff and patients with the individual’s consent and if it is “medically necessary.”

The guidelines were created to address a “lack of knowledge and confidence among anaesthetists in caring for transgender and gender-diverse patients,” according to the authors. Although neither the NHS nor the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence contributed to the development of these guidelines, hospitals may choose to adopt them locally.

“Supermodel Granny” drug shows promise in extending lifespan

A new drug has shown the potential to extend the lifespans of laboratory mice by nearly 25%, offering hope that it might also slow human ageing.

Dubbed “supermodel grannies” in the lab, the treated mice displayed a youthful appearance, improved health, strength, and fewer incidences of cancer compared to their untreated counterparts.

The team conducted two experiments: one involved genetically modifying mice to prevent the production of interleukin-11, and the other administered a drug to eliminate interleukin-11 in older mice (around 75 weeks old, roughly equivalent to a 55-year-old human). The findings revealed that lifespans increased by 20-25%, varying by experiment and the sex of the mice. These mice showed significantly lower cancer rates, better muscle function, leaner bodies, healthier fur, and improved frailty scores.

Currently undergoing human trials, the drug’s effectiveness in humans remains uncertain.

Teoxane reveals ‘Age Of Wellness’ report

Independent research agency DRG Global and global filler brand Teoxane have published research into what’s really driving consumers through the doors of clinics.

Despite six out of 10 saying they were worried about being judged for having fillers, the findings published in The Age of Wellness report showed a change in filler treatment stigma, with confidence-boosting (45%) and doing something ‘just for them’ (30%), being the highest emotional drivers.

Fillers were also shown to boost self-esteem, with 65% saying they felt more confident after treatment and 74% revealing they were more confident having photographs taken.

Looking to the future, Gen Z appears to be firmly in favour of aesthetic treatments. Over a third of 18–25-year-olds state they are likely to have an aesthetic treatment in the future, and 53% cite confidence as the key reason, with skin quality a secondary driver (32%).

Leading doctors are putting this down to the increased usage of social media but warn this could be driving unrealistic expectations.

78% of overweight patients avoid the doctor

A new survey has revealed that over three quarters of overweight patients have avoided going to the doctor, due to “fatphobic attitudes” displayed towards them.

Despite needing to see the doctor, a study commissioned by the Harley Street Health Centre, found that patients who consider themselves overweight are less likely to seek help for fear of being “fat shamed”. Complaints that were shared by significant numbers of respondents included dismissive attitude towards their health concerns and health advice being limited to weight loss. Founder of the Harley Street Health Centre, Dr Enam Abood, commented, “Medical fatphobia keeps patients away, prevents patients seeking the medical support they need in a timely way and prevents the opportunity to counsel and support them with lifestyle improvement.”

Study finds higher toxin doses needed in sunnier climates

Arecent study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has revealed that higher doses of botulinum toxin may be required to achieve optimal results in regions with higher sun exposure. This finding could have significant implications for cosmetic practitioners, particularly those working in sunnier climates.

The research compared the outcomes of glabellar treatments between two groups of women. The first group, consisting of 292 women, was treated in Malta during the summer, while the second group, comprising 231 women, was treated in London during the winter. The results showed that the Malta group required a higher average dose of toxin – 29.2 units compared to 27.3 units in the London group. Additionally, the Malta group also needed more frequent top-up doses, averaging 2.24 units versus 1.98 units in the London group.

The study’s lead author, Dr Kim Borsky, a surgical trainee, suggested that the increased dosage requirement in sunnier climates could be due to several factors. One possibility is that higher temperatures or direct sunlight affect the body’s response to the toxin. Another theory is that the glabellar muscles, which are more active in summer due to increased squinting from bright sunlight, may require a higher dose for effective paralysis.

“Our results indicate that practitioners may need to adjust their toxin dosing protocols to account for the effects of climate on the results of this cosmetic treatment,” Dr Borsky commented. The study’s findings underscore the importance of considering environmental factors in cosmetic procedures, particularly in regions with significant sun exposure.

One in three men don’t like their photo being taken due to skin concerns

A new survey by laser brand Cynosure has found that 28% of men say their skin concerns affect their mental health.

“I have definitely seen an increase in men opting for treatments,” said Dr Raquel Amado, aesthetics practitioner at Skin and Medical Cosmetics, “The most popular treatments have been toxin, polynucleotides under the eyes and hair loss treatments. However men are now starting to be more open about skin treatments and dermal fillers.”

Lips and nasolabial folds revealed as two most popular dermal filler treatment areas

New research has revealed that lips and nasolabial folds are the most popular treatment targets in Brazil, Germany, and the UK.

Guidepoint Qsight’s recent global survey of aesthetics practitioners highlights surprising similarities between geographies despite highly distinct beauty standards.

Covering over 500 practitioners from 10 countries, it asked practitioners to share which areas of the body their patients were most treated using dermal filler procedures.

Marionette lines and the forehead were shown to be the third and fourth most popular treatments in Brazil, Germany, and the UK, respectively. In Brazil, the fifth most common area of treatment was the undereye/ tear trough, compared to the jawline in Germany and the UK.