The reovirus variant RP116 is oncolytic in immunocompetent models and generates reduced neutralizing antibodies to Type 3 Dearing.

The mammalian reovirus Type 3 Dearing (T3D) is a naturally occurring oncolytic virus. We previously identified a T3D variant isolated from persistently infected cancer cells that has a premature stop codon mutation in the gene, generating a truncated σ1-attachment protein that lacks the globular head. We now report on the molecular characterization of this variant, named RP116, and assess its antitumor potential in human cancer cells and syngeneic mouse models.

Pirfenidone inhibits TGF-β1-induced fibrosis via downregulation of Smad and ERK pathway in MDCK cells.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dogs increases with age, and renal fibrosis is an important pathophysiological mechanism in this process. However, only a few drugs that can effectively inhibit fibrosis in the kidneys of dogs are currently available. In this study, we aimed to determine whether pirfenidone, a drug that has shown antifibrotic effects in various clinical studies, also exerts antifibrotic effects on canine renal tubular epithelial cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK).

Survey on Resident Education for Surgical Dermatology in South Korea.

Background: With the increasing demand for surgical procedures in dermatology, resident education in surgical dermatology has become important for delivering high-quality treatment. However, it remains unclear if a sufficient number of residency programs with quality standards exist, as there has been little research on this subject in South Korea.

Objective: To identify the status of surgical dermatology education among residents and assess dermatologists' perceptions of the subject.

Evaluating a combination treatment of NK cells and reovirus against bladder cancer cells using an in vitro assay to simulate intravesical therapy.

Intravesical treatment using either reovirus or natural killer (NK) cells serves as an efficient strategy for the treatment of bladder cancer cells (BCCs); however, corresponding monotherapies have often shown modest cytotoxicity. The potential of a locoregional combination using high-dose reovirus and NK cell therapy in an intravesical approach has not yet been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of reoviruses and expanded NK cells (eNK) as potential strategies for the treatment of bladder cancer.

rhEGF Treatment Improves EGFR Inhibitor-Induced Skin Barrier and Immune Defects.

The mechanisms of epidermal growth factor (EGF) affecting EGF receptor inhibitor (EGFRI)-related skin toxicities are as yet unknown. We investigated which mechanisms are involved in EGF's positive effects. Two types of EGFRIs, cetuximab and gefitinib, were used to treat the cells or 3d-cultured human skin tissue with recombinant human EGF (rhEGF).

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Epidermal Growth Factor Ointment for Treating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor-Induced Skin Toxicities.

Background: The efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer (PC), or colorectal cancer (CRC) has been demonstrated. However, dermatological reactions to these inhibitors can cause significant physical and psychosocial discomfort. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of EGF ointment for EGFR inhibitor-related skin adverse events (ERSEs).

Comparison of the content of tobacco alkaloids and tobacco-specific nitrosamines in 'heat-not-burn' tobacco products before and after aerosol generation.

Standardized methods for collecting smoke and for measuring smoke components in heat not burn tobacco product (HTP) are yet to be established, and there is a lack of consensus as to whether the content of HTP cigarettes can be assayed in the same manner as for conventional cigarettes. Since HTPcigarettes do not generate ash when smoked, we compared the levels of tobacco alkaloids (TAs) and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) of HTP cigarettes before and after aerosol generation. HTP cigarettes were smoked according to two international standardization methods.

c-MYC Drives Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Brain, but Promotes Synthetic Lethality with TRAIL.

Brain metastasis in breast cancer is particularly deadly, but effective treatments remain out of reach due to insufficient information about the mechanisms underlying brain metastasis and the potential vulnerabilities of brain-metastatic breast cancer cells. Here, human breast cancer cells and their brain-metastatic derivatives (BrMs) were used to investigate synthetic lethal interactions in BrMs. First, it was demonstrated that c-MYC activity is increased in BrMs and is required for their brain-metastatic ability in a mouse xenograft model.

Ablative fractional laser-assisted photodynamic therapy provides superior long-term efficacy compared with standard methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy for lower extremity Bowen disease.

Background: Ablative fractional laser (AFL)-assisted methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) photodynamic therapy (PDT) (AFL-MAL-PDT) has shown significantly higher efficacy and lower recurrence rates at 12 months than conventional methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT) for the treatment of Bowen disease (BD). However, long-term follow-up data are not available.

Objective: To compare the 5-year efficacy and recurrence rates of AFL-MAL-PDT with those of conventional MAL-PDT for the treatment of lower extremity BD.

Clinical features and prognosis of Asian patients with acral lentiginous melanoma who have nodal nevi in their sentinel lymph node biopsy specimen.

Background: Nodal melanocytic nevi (NNs) encountered during sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLB) for malignant melanoma are usually difficult to distinguish from metastatic melanoma. However, NNs have not been well studied in acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) in Asian populations.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and significance of NNs in SLB specimens from patients with ALM.

Investigation of Health Effects According to the Exposure of Low Concentration Arsenic Contaminated Ground Water.

Recent epidemiological studies have reported adverse health effects, including skin cancer, due to low concentrations of arsenic via drinking water. We conducted a study to assess whether low arsenic contaminated ground water affected health of the residents who consumed it. For precise biomonitoring results, the inorganic (trivalent arsenite (As III) and pentavalent arsenate (As V)) and organic forms (monomethylarsonate (MMA) and dimethylarsinate (DMA)) of arsenic were separately quantified by combining high-performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy from urine samples.

Case-control study of chronic low-level exposure of inorganic arsenic species and non-melanoma skin cancer.

A significant relationship between arsenic exposure and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is well known. The toxicity of arsenics which develop NMSC is dependent on their species. Accordingly, total arsenic levels are unreliable for risk assessment of NMSC.

Variations in the concentrations of heavy metals through enforcement of a rest-year system and dredged sediment capping at the Yellow Sea-Byung dumping site, Korea.

In 2014, the concentrations of 13 heavy metals in surface sediments from 14 sampling stations were analyzed and compared to samples from previous years to evaluate the remediation effectiveness of the "rest-year" (RY) system and capping with dredged material at the Yellow Sea-Byung dumping site offshore Korea. Since the 2006 introduction of the RY system, annual variations in metal concentrations at stations within the RY zone have gradually decreased over time. Heavy metal concentrations at most stations were lower than sediment quality guidelines, indicating the success of the RY system.

The Contributory Roles of Th17 Lymphocyte and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte at the Hair Bulge Region as Well as the Hair Bulb Area in the Chronic Alopecia Areata Patients.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that targets hair follicles and interrupts hair regrowth. The microenvironment of the effector T cells and their related cytokines may affect immunopathogenesis around the hair bulb/bulge.

Objective: To determine the contributory roles of the effector T cell subsets and related cytokines to the pathogenesis of AA.

Effect of Methyl Aminolevulinate Photodynamic Therapy With and Without Ablative Fractional Laser Treatment in Patients With Microinvasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Surgical excision is the standard treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, microinvasive SCC (Clark level II) is limited to the papillary dermis, and it should be differentiated from invasive SCC. Ablative fractional laser-primed photodynamic therapy (AFL-PDT) may have enhanced efficacy.

Efficacy of iontophoresis-assisted ablative fractional laser photodynamic therapy with short incubation time for the treatment of actinic keratosis: 12-month follow-up results of a prospective, randomised, comparative trial.

Background: Iontophoresis is a transdermal drug-delivery technique that enhances the transport of ionic species across membranes and may have significant benefit for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) by ablative fractional laser-primed photodynamic therapy (AFL-PDT). The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy, recurrence rate, cosmetic outcome and safety of iontophoresis-assisted AFL-PDT with 2h of incubation vs. those of conventional AFL-PDT with 2- and 3-h incubation in patients with facial and scalp AK.