The clinical severity score of chronic actinic dermatitis correlates with in vivo photoallergic reactions and the immunologic parameters related to a shift towards Th2 immunity from the Th2/Th1 balanced status in patients with chronic actinic dermatitis.

Background: Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) has a more complicated pathogenetic basis than others. The clinical grading system and its correlations with the clinical and immunological parameters still remained to be investigated to define the nature of CAD in a more detailed manner.

Objectives: We investigated correlations of the clinical severity score of CAD (CSS-CAD) with the clinical and immunological parameters.

Comparative Study of Photodynamic Therapy with Topical Methyl Aminolevulinate versus 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for Facial Actinic Keratosis with Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Few studies have compared the efficacy, cosmetic outcomes, and adverse events between 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) and methyl aminolevulinate-PDT (MAL-PDT) for actinic keratoses (AKs) in Asian ethnic populations with dark-skin.

Objective: We retrospectively compared the long-term efficacy, recurrence rates, cosmetic outcomes, and safety of ALA-PDT versus MAL-PDT for facial AKs in Koreans.

Methods: A total of 222 facial AKs in 58 patients were included in this study.

Frequency of BRAF Mutation and Clinical Relevance for Primary Melanomas.

Background: This study was conducted to clarify the frequency of the BRAF mutation in primary melanomas and its correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.

Methods: We analyzed the frequency of BRAF mutation in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma (n=58) or non-cutaneous one (n=27) by performing dual priming oligonucleotide-based multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction to isolate and to purify the DNA from the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumors.

Results: The BRAF mutation was found in 17.