Genome-wide Association Study of Susceptibility Loci for Self-Reported Atopic Dermatitis and Allergic Rhinitis in the Korean Population.

BACKGROUND: Allergic diseases include atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic rhinitis (AR), which are chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders of the skin or mucosa that usually accompany immunoglobulin E-mediated immune responses. They are complex, multifactorial diseases with an etiology involving interactions between genetic and environmental factors. OBJECTIVE: We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with allergic diseases in the Korean population. METHODS: A total of 8,840 samples were obtained from the Korean Association Resource Consortium dataset of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Ansan-Anseong cohort. The allergic disease phenotype was determined based on self-reported physician diagnoses. After quality control, 8,823 subjects with 877,242 variants remained for the final analysis. The GWAS was performed using logistic regression analysis in an additive model adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: A total of 636 patients with allergic disease and 8,176 controls were analyzed. Three SNPs were associated with allergic disease at a level of genome-wide suggestive significance (p<1.0×10-5) in the Korean population: rs7275360, located in neural cell adhesion molecule 2; rs698195; and rs3750552, located in family with sequence similarity 189, member A2. These polymorphisms were on chromosomes 21q21.1, 7q31.1, and 9q21.12, respectively. CONCLUSION: We identified 3 novel SNPs significantly associated with allergic diseases in the Korean population. Further research is required to confirm the association between these novel SNPs and allergic disease in the Korean population and in other ethnicities.

Rational Design of Naphthol Groups Functionalized Bipolar Polymer Cathodes for High Performance Alkali-Ion Batteries.

Redox-active organic compounds gather significant attention for their potential application as electrodes in alkali ion batteries, owing to the structural versatility, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. However, their practical applications of such compounds are impeded by insufficient active sites with limited capacity, dissolution in electrolytes, and sluggish kinetics. To address these issues, a naphthol group-containing triarylamine polymer, namely poly[6,6'-(phenylazanediyl)bis(naphthol)] (poly(DNap-OH)) is rationally designed and synthesized, via oxidative coupling polymerization. It is capable of endowing favorable steric structures that facilitate fast ion diffusion, excellent chemical stability in organic electrolytes, and additional redox-active sites that enable a bipolar redox reaction. By exploiting these advantages, poly(DNap-OH) cathodes demonstrate remarkable cycling stability in both lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), showcasing enhanced specific capacity and redox reaction kinetics in comparison to the conventional poly(4-methyltriphenylamine) cathodes. Overall, this work offers insights into molecular design strategies for the development of high-performance organic cathodes in alkali-ion batteries.

Effect of environmental water activity on microbial inactivation by intense pulsed light (IPL).

In this study, the effect of environmental aw on microbial inactivation by intense pulsed light (IPL) was investigated. Three different microorganisms (Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast) were used as test organisms. The effect of environmental aw was assessed by irradiating each microbial suspension in sodium chloride solutions with different environmental aw levels (0.99-0.80). As the aw decreased, the aggregation of intracellular material of cell interior was changed and the cell number was increased. However, there was no significant difference in microbial reduction according to the aw after the 0.23-3.05 J/cm2 of IPL treatment. It was confirmed that yeast had the highest resistance to IPL because of the differences in cell structure and cell wall components between yeast and bacteria. Additional research is needed to clearly understand the inactivation mechanism according to the type of microorganism by controlling aw using various solutes.

Primary Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma and Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum Arising in Nevus Sebaceus: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Nevus sebaceus is a hamartomatous lesion characterized by epidermal, follicular, sebaceus, and apocrine gland abnormalities. Approximately 25% of affected individuals may develop benign or malignant secondary neoplasms within the preceding nevus sebaceus. Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (PCAC) is a rare malignant skin tumor affecting elderly adults in their sixth decade of life. Histologically, PCAC appears as a dermal tumor displaying apocrine differentiation with decapitation secretion and malignant features. Secondary malignancy arising from nevus sebaceus is a rare complication, especially for apocrine carcinoma. To date, approximately 200 cases of PCAC have been reported in the literature, and only a few cases have developed PCAC on the scalp. Very few cases (approximately only 12) of PCACs developing in nevus sebaceus have been reported. Here, we report an extremely rare case of the coexistence of PCAC and syringocystadenoma papilliferum arising within nevus sebaceus of the scalp.

Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer: A Case Report of Pilar Leiomyomatosis with History of Kidney Cancer and Review of the Literature.

Pilar leiomyoma or piloleiomyoma is a benign neoplasm of the smooth muscle arising from the arrector pili muscle. It manifests as brown to red firm papulonodules with sites of predilection being the face, trunk, and extensor surfaces of the extremities. Histologically, the lesions exhibit ill-defined dermal tumors with interlacing fascicles of spindle cells. Some genodermatoses are characterized by the development of visceral tumors and cutaneous leiomyomatosis such as Reed's syndrome, and hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). A 55-year-old male presented with reddish-brown papules and nodules on the face and upper back, accompanied by sharp episodic pain on the face. He had undergone nephrectomy for renal cancer 9 years ago, and his younger brother had similar cutaneous manifestation. Histopathologic findings were consistent with pilar leiomyoma, showing bundles of smooth muscle tumors in the dermis. Based on the clinical information including clinical features, past medical history, and family history, HLRCC was highly suspected. To confirm the diagnosis, whole exome sequencing was performed using peripheral blood, which revealed a novel point mutation (c.739G>A, p.Glu247Lys) in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. We describe a confirmed case of HLRCC, which is a genetic disorder with a potential to cause visceral cancers, which dermatologists might overlook as a benign condition.

A Case Report of Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome Presenting with Extensive Keloid Formation and Review of Literature.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder affecting multi-organ systems. A tendency to form keloid is one of the common dermatologic manifestations. We describe a 23-year-old female presented with extensive keloids which developed spontaneously. She had typical facial features, broad thumbs, and dental defects, which were suspicious features of genetic syndrome. Direct sequencing for cyclic-AMP-regulated enhancer binding protein revealed a novel mutation. So far, 23 cases of RSTS have been reported in Korean literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in Korea to describe confirmed case of RSTS with extensive keloids as a chief manifestation.

Association between cardio-cerebrovascular disease and systemic antipsoriatic therapy in psoriasis patients using population-based data: A nested case-control study.

The effect of antipsoriatic therapy on cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) is not well described. Thus, we performed a population-based nested case-control study to investigate the effect of systemic antipsoriatic therapy on CCVD in psoriasis patients. Using nationwide cohort data from the Korean National Health Insurance Claims database, newly diagnosed psoriasis patients were identified. Among the enrolled participants, postenrollment development of CCVD events (ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage) was investigated. To evaluate the effect of systemic antipsoriatic therapy on CCVD risk, we calculated the proportion of the treatment period with systemic antipsoriatic therapy during the study period (PTP [%]: the sum of all systemic antipsoriatic therapy durations divided by total observation period). Among 251 813 participants, 6262 experienced CCVD events during the study period (CCVD group). Controls included 245 551 patients without CCVD history during the study period (non-CCVD group). The non-CCVD group had greater PTP than the CCVD group (CCVD 2.12 ± 7.92, non-CCVD 2.64 ± 9.64; P < 0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, PTP was inversely associated with the CCVD risk after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. A 10% increase in PTP reduced CCVD risk by 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.93 to 0.99). Reduced CCVD risk was robust for both conventional antipsoriatic therapy and biologics. Our study found that systemic antipsoriatic therapy use was inversely associated with CCVD risk in psoriasis patients. These findings suggested that systemic antipsoriatic therapy could reduce CCVD development in patients with psoriasis.

Development of a new classification and scoring system for scalp conditions: Scalp Photographic Index (SPI).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There has been no validated tool for objectively quantifying the overall condition and characteristics of the scalp. This study aimed to establish and validate a new classification and scoring system for evaluating scalp conditions. METHODS: The Scalp Photographic Index (SPI) using a trichoscope grades five features of scalp conditions (dryness, oiliness, erythema, folliculitis, and dandruff) on a score of 0-3. To evaluate the validity of SPI, SPI grading was performed by three experts on the scalps of 100 subjects along with a dermatologist's assessment of the scalps and a scalp-related symptom survey. For reliability assessment, 20 healthcare providers performed SPI grading for the 95 selected photographs of the scalp. RESULTS: SPI grading and the dermatologist's scalp assessment showed good correlations for all five scalp features. Warmth showed a significant correlation with all features of SPI and the subjects' perception of a scalp pimple had a significant positive correlation with the folliculitis feature. SPI grading demonstrated good reliability with excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90) and strong inter- and intra-rater reliability (Kendall's W = 0.84, ICC(3,1)=0.94). CONCLUSIONS: SPI is an objective, reproducible, and validated numeric system for classifying and scoring scalp conditions.

Efficacy and Safety of the Micro-insulated Needle Radiofrequency Device for Reduction of Submental Fat.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been reported that a micro-insulated needle radiofrequency (RF) system is effective at achieving subcutaneous fat reduction; however, no study has yet applied this technique to reduce submental fat. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fractional RF device with a micro-insulated needle to reduce submental fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, single-blinded, pre-post comparative study, 24 adults with excess submental fat were treated once using a micro-insulated needle RF device. Outcomes included efficacy (submental fat rating by an independent investigator, fat volume quantified with a 3-dimensional camera, and patient satisfaction), assessed 1 and 2 months after the procedure, and safety (adverse events), assessed throughout the study. RESULTS: The patients' Physician-Assisted Submental Fat Rating Scale score significantly decreased after 1 month and further decreased after 2 months. The average volume of submental fat was significantly decreased after 2 months (20.44 ± 5.53 cc to 16.41 ± 4.58 cc, p < .001). Patient satisfaction was high. Transient and mild local skin reactions without long-term sequelae were observed in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: The micro-insulated needle RF device is beneficial for the reduction of submental fat and has tolerable safety profiles. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05517824.

Early Postoperative Injections of Polydeoxyribonucleotide Prevent Hypertrophic Scarring After Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is known to enhance wound healing, but there has been no clinical trial investigating the effect of PDRN on scar prevention in surgical wounds. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PDRN administration in preventing postoperative scars. Approach: In this randomized controlled trial (NCT05149118), 44 patients who underwent open thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to the PDRN treatment or untreated control group. Only patients in the treatment group received two consecutive injections of PDRN 1 and 2 days after surgery. The modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS), patients' subjective symptoms, erythema index (EI), melanin index (MI), and scar height were assessed 3 months after surgery. Results: Patients in the treatment group had lower mVSS scores (1.619 ± 1.244 vs. 2.500 ± 1.540, respectively; p = 0.059) and a significantly lower vascularity subscore (0.476 ± 0.512 vs. 0.900 ± 0.447, respectively; p = 0.010) than those in the control group at the 3-month follow-up. Compared with the control group, the level of subjective symptoms, EI, and scar height were all significantly lowered in the PDRN injection group. No specific side effects related to PDRN injection were observed. Innovation: This is the first clinical study that demonstrated that PDRN injections rapidly decreased postsurgical wound erythema and as a result, significantly reduced both excessive scar formation and accompanying symptoms. Conclusion: Early postoperative injection of PDRN is an effective and safe treatment to prevent hypertrophic scars and improve scar outcomes.

Simple and rapid electrochemical monitoring for depolymerization of polyamic acid.

Excellent thermal and mechanical properties of aromatic polyimides (PIs) make them attractive materials in various fields. PIs is performed using polyamic acid (PAA) precursors due to their limited solubility. However, PAAs can be easily depolymerized by moisture and heat, which can degrade the properties of PIs. Therefore, quality control of PAAs is an important task in researches and industrial applications. Here, we propose a simple, rapid, and novel method to observe the depolymerization of PAAs. The method is based on the principle that, as the molecular weight of the polymer decreases, the solution viscosity decreases, and the viscosity of the solution can be easily and rapidly measured using electrochemistry. We accelerated depolymerization by applying heat to a PAA solution and measured the change in viscosity of the solution through cyclic voltammetry. The proposed method, which also makes it possible to determine the dynamic viscosity of a polymer solution, is presented as a model system to observe state changes in various polymers.

Association between the cumulative dose of cyclosporine and liver enzyme abnormalities in dermatology patients managed with a low-dose regimen.

Cyclosporine (CsA) is an immunosuppressive agent that specifically inhibits T cell-related immune responses. There is little evidence regarding the association between low-dose CsA administration and abnormal hepatic function in dermatology patients. This study aimed to examine the association between the cumulative dose of CsA and liver enzyme abnormalities obtained from peripheral blood tests in patients with skin diseases. A retrospective single-center study of 697 patients who were prescribed CsA for skin disease in the outpatient dermatology clinic between 2015 and 2019 were performed. Multiple logistic regression with confounder adjustment was performed to assess the association between the cumulative dose of CsA and liver enzyme abnormalities. Compared to patients with the lowest cumulative dose of CsA (˂7.0 g), patients with the highest cumulative dose of CsA (≥30.6 g) were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of developing liver enzyme abnormalities (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-3.79). In the stratified analysis, patients with the highest cumulative dose of CsA (≥30.6 g) were significantly associated with a 1.5-or higher alanine aminotransferase elevation from baseline (OR = 2.26, CI = 1.08-4.73). Patients prescribed long-term, low-dose CsA up to a high cumulative dose (≥30.6 g) may be associated with an increased risk of developing liver enzyme abnormalities. However, these liver enzyme elevations were not severe in magnitude and were reversible.

Risk of Psoriasis in Postgastrectomy Gastric Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Although patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of cancers, little is known about the risk of psoriasis in cancer patients. Objective: We aimed to comparatively analyze the incidence and risk factors of psoriasis in gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy and in the general population. Methods: A nationwide retrospective cohort of 52,608 gastric cancer survivors (2007~2015) was compared to 123,438 matched controls from the general population to estimate the incidence and hazard ratio (HR) of new-onset psoriasis. We also calculated the HRs for psoriasis according to adjuvant cancer treatment, obesity, and vitamin B12 supplementation in gastric cancer survivors. Results: During a mean follow-up of 6.85 years, 645 of the 52,608 gastric cancer patients developed psoriasis, while 1,806 in the 123,438 matched control group developed psoriasis. Gastric cancer patients had a decreased risk of psoriasis (HR, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.79~0.94), especially those who underwent subtotal gastrectomy. We found that vitamin B12 supplementation for more than 3 years had an additive effect on decreasing the risk of psoriasis in gastric cancer patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy. Total gastrectomy, radio/chemotherapy, and obesity did not affect the risk of psoriasis in gastric cancer survivors. Conclusion: The incidence of psoriasis is slightly lower in gastric cancer survivors than in the general population. Our results suggest that the development of psoriasis may be reduced by removing the source of systemic inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori infection through subtotal gastrectomy in gastric cancer survivors.

Basal cell carcinoma of the scalp shows distinct features from the face in Asians.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) affecting different sites has been reported to have different clinicopathological features. In previous studies, the scalp was commonly classified to the head and neck region. However, the scalp has distinct characteristics from those of other parts of the skin. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent surgical treatment for BCC. A total of 734 lesions were examined, and 13.2% originated from the scalp. The nodular type was the most common histologic subtype; however, the proportion of the superficial type was significantly higher than that of facial BCC (p < 0.001). Compared with facial BCC, younger age (p = 0.046) and larger tumor size (p < 0.001) were observed in scalp BCC. These characteristics were similar to those of truncal BCC in that they demonstrated a higher proportion of the superficial type (p < 0.001), younger age (p = 0.001), and larger tumor diameter (p < 0.001) compared with BCC in the head and neck region. Scalp BCC and truncal BCC were not significantly different in terms of age (p = 0.052) and tumor size (p = 0.230). In conclusion, despite the anatomical proximity, features of scalp BCC were similar to those of truncal lesions compared with facial lesions. Scalp BCC might be a separate entity from facial BCC.