Claudia Gonzalez

Curiosity about Venezuelan runs deep among international students. Ideology and hostility toward US hegemony, however, keeps getting in the way of honest debate

BackgroundHand dorsum volumization is an increasingly used aesthetic procedure, but the ultrasonographic appearance of commonly injected materials has not been systematically described. High-resolution ultrasound with Doppler (HRUD) may provide an objective method to verify product placement and support safer, standardized hand rejuvenation. This descriptive study aimed to characterize the postprocedural high-resolution ultrasonographic features of dorsal hand volumization using commonly employed fillers and autologous fat grafting.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter, descriptive study at three aesthetic medicine centers in Bogotá, Colombia, and Mexico City, Mexico, between March and June 2025. Adults requesting dorsal hand volumization received hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)-hyaluronic acid mixture, a factory-prepared CaHA-hyaluronic acid hybrid filler, or autologous fat grafting. All products were injected into the subdermal plane using a standardized cannula technique. HRUD was performed at baseline, early post-procedure, and at follow-up. Baseline aging was graded using the Merz Hand Grading Scale, and outcomes were assessed at two months using the Modified Aesthetic Response Scale (MARS).ResultsTwelve patients were included (mean age, 56 years; range, 44-66 years; 11 women). HRUD enabled clear identification of dorsal hand anatomy and material-specific sonographic patterns: CaHA appeared as hyperechoic cloud-like bands, hybrid fillers as lobulated hyperechoic structures, hyaluronic acid as hypoechoic pseudocystic areas, PLLA-hyaluronic acid mixtures as diffuse echogenicity with linear bands, and fat grafts as elongated isoechoic structures. In all cases, injected material was located superficial to the extensor tendons, with transient postinjection vascularization observed on Doppler. No early or late complications were detected. At two months, most patients demonstrated favorable short-term aesthetic improvement.ConclusionHRUD provides a practical method for documenting dorsal hand anatomy, confirming correct subdermal placement of volumizing materials, and recognizing distinct sonographic signatures. Its use may assist experienced injectors in enhancing procedural safety and monitoring. Given the short follow-up, findings should be interpreted cautiously, and larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted.

Recent advancements in dermatologic imaging, such as dermoscopy and confocal microscopy, have transformed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to skin lesions. In this context, high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) has emerged as a valuable, accessible, and non-invasive modality for real-time visualization of cutaneous structures and skin pathology. Specifically, HRUS enables precise tumor margin delineation, supports biopsy guidance, and helps assess tumor extension, thereby optimizing surgical outcomes and reducing recurrence risk. While technical limitations and the need for operator expertise present challenges, continual technological advancements underscore its growing role in dermatology. This article reviews the applications of HRUS in enhancing surgical precision and outcomes through improved lesion characterization and procedural guidance. It provides a brief introduction to ultrasonography, its anatomical correlation, and representative clinical cases that illustrate its practical utility in dermatologic surgery. This narrative and illustrative review includes selectively chosen references emphasizing clinically relevant, high-impact studies, international consensus guidelines, and key illustrative publications. As high-frequency transducers and new ultrasound methods advance, clinicians will achieve even greater diagnostic and therapeutic precision. Nevertheless, dermatologists must continue to pursue specialized training in ultrasound-guided surgery and adhere to well-established protocols.

Student commencement speaker Rania Kartouch spent her time at ULV balancing leadership, national speech competition success, advocacy work, and interdisciplinary research while building toward a future career in international law and politics. (ULV Photo/Claudia Gonzalez) Kartouch’s address will reflect on communication, resilience, and the power of stepping beyond familiar spaces Selected as the University of […]

Lung cancer during pregnancy is rare, and placental metastases are exceptionally uncommon. Neuroendocrine lung tumours with RET point mutations have scarcely been reported in this setting.An early 40s G6P1031 woman at 33 weeks’ gestation presented with dyspnea and flank pain. Imaging revealed a right lower lobe lung mass with hepatic metastases. Liver biopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine features and next-generation sequencing identified a RET p.M918T mutation. Following multidisciplinary discussion, labor was induced at 35 weeks with uncomplicated delivery of a healthy infant. Placental pathology demonstrated metastatic carcinoma consistent with pulmonary origin. The patient was treated with selpercatinib, resulting in radiographic response and clearance of circulating RET-mutant DNA. She remains progression-free 10 months into therapy and the infant continues normal development. This is the first reported case of RET p.M918T-mutated neuroendocrine lung cancer with placental metastases diagnosed during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of molecular profiling and multidisciplinary care.

Marga Madhuri, professor of teacher education and chair of the Dyslexia Teacher Training Program, and Kim Ramirez, Reading Coach for Pomona Unified School District, work with a student receiving literacy support during a supervised practicum session, where educators gain hands-on experience applying evidence-based instructional strategies for students with dyslexia. (Courtesy of Marga Madhuri)

Members of the University of La Verne Chamber Singers will join more than 100 singers for the world premiere of A Triptych on Tabitha: She Was Full of Good Works at Carnegie Hall on May 29, 2027. (Courtesy of Clarissa Shan) Students, faculty, alumni, and community members invited to help create world premiere that will debut […]

New AI and financial analytics programs are preparing University of La Verne students to lead where business, technology, and data intersect. (ULV Photo/Brandon Le)

Jaheim Lewis, a business administration major and REACH counselor, mentors high school students through the same program that inspired him to pursue his education at ULV. (ULV Photo/Claudia Gonzalez) Former REACH participant and now University of La Verne student Jaheim Lewis mentors the next generation of student leaders. Lewis first came to the University of La Verne […]

University of La Verne President Risa Dickson, alumnus Greg Hafif ’87, chairman and president of the Hafif Foundation, and Craig Seiden, ULV vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer, attend Concert Under the Stars. ULV was one of eight nonprofit organizations selected to benefit from this year’s event. (Courtesy Karina Cummings) The return […]