Combined Therapeutic Strategies for Keloid Treatment.

Background: Recent advances in keloid management favor the administration of combination therapy over monotherapy.

Objective: The authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of combination therapy to treat keloids using fractional lasers, cryotherapy, and intralesional corticosteroids.

Materials And Methods: The authors performed a retrospective study involving 35 Korean patients.

Clinical significance and biological role of cancer-derived Type I collagen in lung and esophageal cancers.

Background: Extracellular matrix (ECM) is remodeled during carcinogenesis. An abundant constituent of ECM is collagen. Type I collagen is secreted by fibroblasts, is important for tumor growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and may also be secreted by cancer cells.

Homology-independent multiallelic disruption via CRISPR/Cas9-based knock-in yields distinct functional outcomes in human cells.

Background: Cultured human cells are pivotal models to study human gene functions, but introducing complete loss of function in diploid or aneuploid cells has been a challenge. The recently developed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-independent knock-in approach permits targeted insertion of large DNA at high efficiency, providing a tool for insertional disruption of a selected gene. Pioneer studies have showed promising results, but the current methodology is still suboptimal and functional outcomes have not been well examined.

Insights into the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in skin function and associated diseases.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a mechanism that allows the protection of normal cellular functions in response to both internal perturbations, such as accumulation of unfolded proteins, and external perturbations, for example redox stress, UVB irradiation, and infection. A hallmark of ER stress is the accumulation of misfolded and unfolded proteins. Physiological levels of ER stress trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR) that is required to restore normal ER functions.

Particulate matter induces inflammatory cytokine production via activation of NFκB by TLR5-NOX4-ROS signaling in human skin keratinocyte and mouse skin.

Particulate matter (PM) increases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but its effects on the skin remain largely unknown. We investigated the signal transduction pathway and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying cellular inflammation induced by PM with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 (PM) in vitro and in vivo.

Insect-inspired neuromorphic computing.

The steady improvement in the performance of computing systems seen for many decades is levelling off as the miniaturization of semiconducting technology approaches the atomic limit, facing severe physical and technological issues. Neuromorphic computing is an emerging solution which makes use of silicon technology in a different way, inline with the computational principles observed in animal nervous systems. In this article, we argue that the nervous systems of insects in particular offer themselves as an ideal starting point for incorporation into realistic neuromorphic systems and review research in developing insect-inspired neuromorphic systems.

Herpes Zoster DNA Vaccines with IL-7 and IL-33 Molecular Adjuvants Elicit Protective T Cell Immunity.

Herpes zoster (HZ), or shingles, is caused by the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) from the sensory ganglia when VZV-specific T-cell immunity is decreased because of aging or immunosuppression. In the present study, we developed HZ DNA vaccine candidates encoding VZV proteins and cytokine adjuvants, such as IL-7 and IL-33. We immunized C57BL/6 mice with DNA plasmids encoding VZV glycoprotein E (gE), immediate early (IE) 63, or IE62 proteins and found that robust VZV protein-specific T-cell responses were elicited by HZ DNA vaccination.

Diallyl disulfide down-regulates calreticulin and promotes C/EBPα expression in differentiation of human leukaemia cells.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), the main active component of the cancer fighting allyl sulfides found in garlic, has shown potential as a therapeutic agent in various cancers. Previous studies showed DADS induction of HL-60 cell differentiation involves down-regulation of calreticulin (CRT). Here, we investigated the mechanism of DADS-induced differentiation of human leukaemia cells and the potential involvement of CRT and CCAAT enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα).

Comparison of treatment options for small to medium congenital melanocytic nevi: A retrospective review of 119 cases.

Objectives: For small to medium sized congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN), the treatment of choice is staged surgical excision. Ablative lasers or pigment-specific lasers have also been recommended for lesions difficult for surgical removal or to avoid surgery. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the results of several treatment options for CMN to find out the optimal treatment method.

Genetic divergence among Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating wild and cultivated Kummerowia spp. in China.

Distribution of rhizobial species is affected by geographical isolation and selected by leguminous hosts, however, little is known about the molecular evolution of rhizobia nodulating the same legume in different eco-environments. In present study, the microevolution of Bradyrhizobium associated with the leguminous grass Kummerowia grown in exurban areas and cultivated in urban areas in China was investigated. Total 14 genospecies, including seven new groups, were identified based on a concatenated sequence analysis of taxonomic markers (SMc00019, truA and thrA) for 94 representative strains.

Generation and Biological Characteristics of a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer that Copresents with Diabetes Mellitus.

Both diabetes and breast cancer are common diseases worldwide, and diabetes is also linked to higher rates of breast cancer. Epidemiological data also indicate that diabetes may be one of the risk factors for breast cancer. However, the effect of diabetes on breast cancer progression in vivo is rarely reported.

Circulating Eosinophil and Neutrophil Counts Correlate with Disease Severity in Bullous Pemphigoid.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease characterized by tissue-bound and circulating autoantibodies directed against BP180 and/or BP230 antigens. Various inflammatory cells are involved in the development of blister in BP.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between peripheral leukocyte counts and BP severity.

Centennial History of Yonsei University Dermatology in Korea: 1917 to 2017.

Yonsei Dermatology celebrated its centennial in 2017, marking 100 years since Kung Sun Oh established the first Department of Dermatology and Urology in Korea in 1917. Following the footsteps of Kung Sun Oh, a pioneer of Korean dermatology, its members united and worked to provide the best medical service and achieve academic milestones in dermatology. Over the past hundred years, Yonsei Dermatology has played a pivotal role in the advancement of medical science and academia in Korea.

Long-term outcomes of laser treatment for congenital melanocytic nevi.

Background: Although various laser treatments have been tried for congenital melanocytic nevi (CMNs), only small retrospective studies with short-term follow-up had been done to assess outcomes.

Objective: We analyzed the long-term outcomes of laser treatment for CMN and compared these outcomes with those of a combination treatment including partial excision and lasers.

Methods: Patients with CMN treated with lasers were retrospectively reviewed, and patients with >3 years of follow-up were grouped as the long-term follow-up group.

Expansion of cancer stem cell pool initiates lung cancer recurrence before angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is essential in the early stage of solid tumor recurrence, but how a suspensive tumor is reactivated before angiogenesis is mostly unknown. Herein, we stumble across an interesting phenomenon that s.c.

An overview of epidermal lamellar bodies: Novel roles in biological adaptations and secondary barriers.

The epidermal lamellar bodies (LBs) are specialized organelles that contain pro-barrier lipids imparting a fully lamellar internal structure, but also other cargoes such as enzymes (lipid metabolizing and proteolytic), enzyme inhibitors, and antimicrobial peptides. Thus, the LB secretory system, by virtue of delivering these cargoes to the stratum corneum (SC) interstices, is essential for forming the various skin barriers located in the SC. Ultrastructural studies have suggested that the morphologic features of LBs reflect the functional status of the SC.

Trichogenic Photostimulation Using Monolithic Flexible Vertical AlGaInP Light-Emitting Diodes.

Alopecia is considered an aesthetic, psychological, and social issue among modern people. Although laser-induced skin stimulation is utilized for depilation treatment, such treatment has significant drawbacks of high energy consumption, huge equipment size, and limited usage in daily life. Here, we present a wearable photostimulator for hair-growth applications using high-performance flexible red vertical light-emitting diodes (f-VLEDs).