Use of Topical Rapamycin as Maintenance Treatment after a Single Session of Fractionated CO Laser Ablation: A Method to Enhance Percutaneous Drug Delivery.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder with an incidence of approximately 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 live births. TSC has various clinical manifestations such as multiple hamartomas in systemic organs, including the skin. Angiofibromas are the most common skin lesions in patients with TSC.

Male sex and Breslow thickness are important risk factors for recurrence of localized melanoma in Korean populations.

Background: Predicting the recurrence of localized melanoma is important; however, studies investigating risk factors for recurrence of localized melanoma are lacking in Asian populations.

Objective: To identify risk factors for recurrence of localized melanoma in Korean patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with cutaneous melanoma without evidence of metastasis from 2000 to 2017.

Effect of Radiotherapy Combined With Pembrolizumab on Local Tumor Control in Mucosal Melanoma Patients.

Mucosal melanoma is an aggressive malignancy with a poor response to conventional therapies. The efficacy of radiotherapy (RT), especially combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), for this rare melanoma subtype remains unknown. We investigated the reciprocal effect of RT and ICI on mucosal melanoma patients.

Particulate matter-induced senescence of skin keratinocytes involves oxidative stress-dependent epigenetic modifications.

Ambient air particulate matter (PM) induces senescence in human skin cells. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We investigated how epigenetic regulatory mechanisms participate in cellular senescence induced by PM with a diameter <2.

Application of secondary intention for the restoration of the apical triangle after Mohs micrographic surgery.

Background: Restoring the apical triangle (AT) to maintain the symmetry of the face after Mohs micrographic surgery can be challenging. We have applied secondary intention (SI) after partial closure in cases with large defects.

Objective: To compare the cosmetic results between immediate closure (IC) and SI.

Congenital Transmission of : A Review About the Interactions Between the Parasite, the Placenta, the Maternal and the Fetal/Neonatal Immune Responses.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan parasite , is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Congenital transmission of CD is an increasingly relevant public health problem. It progressively becomes the main transmission route over others and can occur in both endemic and non-endemic countries.

LECT2, a Ligand for Tie1, Plays a Crucial Role in Liver Fibrogenesis.

Liver fibrosis is a very common condition seen in millions of patients with various liver diseases, and yet no effective treatments are available owing to poorly characterized molecular pathogenesis. Here, we show that leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) is a functional ligand of Tie1, a poorly characterized endothelial cell (EC)-specific orphan receptor. Upon binding to Tie1, LECT2 interrupts Tie1/Tie2 heterodimerization, facilitates Tie2/Tie2 homodimerization, activates PPAR signaling, and inhibits the migration and tube formations of EC.

Antifibrotic Effects of High-Mobility Group Box 1 Protein Inhibitor (Glycyrrhizin) on Keloid Fibroblasts and Keloid Spheroids through Reduction of Autophagy and Induction of Apoptosis.

Overabundance of extracellular matrix resulting from hyperproliferation of keloid fibroblasts (KFs) and dysregulation of apoptosis represents the main pathophysiology underlying keloids. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) plays important roles in the regulation of cellular death. Suppression of HMGB1 inhibits autophagy while increasing apoptosis.

Increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among patients with psoriasis in Korea: A 15-year nationwide population-based cohort study.

The association between psoriasis and risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has not been thoroughly evaluated in a large longitudinal cohort of an Asian population. We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study encompassing more than 1.7 million Koreans with a 15-year follow-up period.

Comparative and functional genomics of the protozoan parasite Babesia divergens highlighting the invasion and egress processes.

Babesiosis is considered an emerging disease because its incidence has significantly increased in the last 30 years, providing evidence of the expanding range of this rare but potentially life-threatening zoonotic disease. Babesia divergens is a causative agent of babesiosis in humans and cattle in Europe. The recently sequenced genome of B.

Chitinase 3-like 1 drives allergic skin inflammation via Th2 immunity and M2 macrophage activation.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by defective skin barrier and Th2 immune responses. Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), also known as breast regression protein 39 (BRP-39) in mice and human homologue YKL-40, plays important roles in Th2 inflammation and allergen sensitization. CHI3L1 has been implicated in a variety of diseases including asthma characterized by inflammation, apoptosis and tissue remodelling, but its role in AD remains elusive.

Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule Modulates Th2 Immune Response in Atopic Dermatitis.

Purpose: Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is highly expressed on dendritic cells. ALCAM and its receptor CD6 are co-stimulatory molecules in the immunological synapse; their interaction is required for T cell activation. While atopic dermatitis (AD) is recognized as a T helper 2 (Th2)-mediated allergic disease, the role of ALCAM in its pathogenesis is unclear.

The effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell media containing serum on recovery after laser treatment: A double-blinded, randomized, split-face controlled study.

Background: Ablative CO2 fractional laser (AFL) is a common cosmetic procedure to improve skin laxity. However, due to prolonged downtime and the risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, laser-assisted delivery of active ingredients as post-laser treatment has gained interest in past years. Among various active ingredients, human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCBMSCs) can be a promising agent promoting skin regeneration.

Risk of malignancy in patients with psoriasis: a 15-year nationwide population-based prospective cohort study in Korea.

Background: The association between psoriasis and risk of malignancy has not been thoroughly evaluated in a large longitudinal cohort of Asian population.

Objective: To determine the long-term risk of malignancy in Korean adult patients with psoriasis.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based prospective cohort study with a 15-year observational period.

Phenformin Induces Caspase-dependent Apoptosis of FaDu Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

Background/aim: The present study aimed to investigate the apoptotic effects of phenformin, a therapeutic agent for diabetes, on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: Cytotoxicity was measured by the MTT and live/dead cell assay. Phenformin-induced apoptotic FaDu cell death and its associated cellular signaling pathways were investigated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, caspase-3 activity assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and western blotting.

Validity and reliability of itch assessment scales for chronic pruritus in adults: A prospective multicenter study.

Background: Several tools can provide a reliable and accurate evaluation of pruritus, including the visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), verbal rating scale (VRS), and multidimensional questionnaires such as the Itch Severity Scale (ISS). However, no single method is considered a gold standard.

Objective: We evaluated the validity and reliability of VAS, NRS, VRS, and ISS and their correlation with a pruritus-specific quality of life instrument, ItchyQoL.

Current Status of Patient Education in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Korea.

Patient education is important for successful management of atopic dermatitis; however, due to limited time and resources, patient education remains insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the current state of education provided by Korean dermatologists, pediatric allergists, and allergists to patients with atopic dermatitis. A questionnaire survey consisting of items regarding educational programs for patients with atopic dermatitis was conducted via e-mail.

Activation of Slit2/Robo1 Signaling Promotes Tumor Metastasis in Colorectal Carcinoma through Activation of the TGF-β/Smads Pathway.

Slit2 (slit guidance ligand 2), a ligand of the Roundabout1 (Robo1) transmembrane receptor, is often overexpressed in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). In this study, we performed data mining in the Metabolic gEne RApid Visualizer (MERAV) database and found that Slit2 and TGF-β1 (Transforming growth factor-β1) are highly expressed in carcinomas relative to those in tumor-free tissues from healthy volunteers or wild type mice. Furthermore, expression of Slit2 and TGF-β1 in CRCs increases with pathological stages.

Paraneoplastic Pemphigus: Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Disease of the Skin and Mucosa.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare but life-threatening mucocutaneous disease mediated by paraneoplastic autoimmunity. Various neoplasms are associated with PNP. Intractable stomatitis and polymorphous cutaneous eruptions, including blisters and lichenoid dermatitis, are characteristic clinical features caused by humoral and cell-mediated autoimmune reactions.

Checkmark rotation flap for nasal tip reconstruction in Asian patients.

Nasal tip reconstruction (NTR) of the Mohs defect is challenging, especially in Asians who have a relatively low nasal bridge and thin cartilages. To evaluate the usefulness of a new flap design, the checkmark rotation flap (CRF), for NTR in Asians We retrospectively reviewed 31 cases of NTR. Among these, 15 cases underwent CRF, which uses skin from the columellar or infra-tip area with a checkmark v-shaped incision (CRF group).

mTORC2 Suppresses GSK3-Dependent Snail Degradation to Positively Regulate Cancer Cell Invasion and Metastasis.

mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) positively regulates cell invasion and metastasis by enhancing translation of Snail. A connection between mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) and cell invasion and metastasis has also been suggested, yet the underlying biology or mechanism is largely unknown and thus is the focus of this study. Inhibition of mTOR with both mTOR inhibitors and knockdown of key components of mTORC, including rictor, Sin1, and raptor, decreased Snail protein levels.

Primed PMNs in healthy mouse and human circulation are first responders during acute inflammation.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the most abundant circulating leukocytes, and the first cells recruited to sites of tissue inflammation. Using a fixation method to preserve native CD marker expression prior to immunophenotyping, we identified a distinct population of "primed for recruitment" PMNs in healthy mouse and human blood that has high expression of adhesion and activation markers compared with the bulk resting-state PMNs. In response to acute tissue inflammation, primed PMNs (pPMNs) were rapidly depleted from the circulation and recruited to the tissue.

Hypoxia-Induced Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition Mediates Fibroblast Abnormalities via ERK Activation in Cutaneous Wound Healing.

Previous studies described the involvement of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) in systemic fibrotic diseases, but the role of ERK in cutaneous scarring is unknown. Although hypoxia drives tissue fibrosis by activating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), the specific roles of hypoxia and associated ERK phosphorylation in abnormal fibroblast activity during cutaneous scarring are unclear. Here, we investigated whether pathologic myofibroblast-like keloid fibroblast activity is promoted by hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by ERK activation.