Epidemiologic relationship between alcohol flushing and smoking in the Korean population: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Although facial flushing after drinking alcohol (alcohol flushing response) is common in Asian populations, the epidemiological features in a large sample have been investigated in only a few studies. This study assessed the epidemiologic characteristics and associated factors for alcohol flushing in a Korean population. This study was based on data collected during the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 5572 Korean adults was included in the general population group, and the alcohol flushing group consisted of 2257 participants. Smoking and physical activity were evaluated as possible associated factors for alcohol flushing. The overall prevalence of alcohol flushing was estimated at 40.56% of the general population (43.74% in males and 37.4% in females), and the prevalence was highest at 60-69 years of age and lowest in individuals older than 80 years. Occasional, frequent, and persistent alcohol flushing was reported by 11.9%, 3.7% and 15.0% of current flushers, among whom persistent flushers consumed the least amount of alcohol. Subjects who currently smoke had a higher propensity of alcohol flushing (adjusted OR 1.525, 95% CI 1.2-1.938), and subjects with smoking history of 20-29 pack-years (PYs) showed the highest association (adjusted OR 1.725, 95% CI 1.266-2.349) with alcohol flushing after adjustment for confounders. In contrast, significant association was not found between physical activity and alcohol flushing. The results demonstrated that current smoking status is shown to be significantly associated with alcohol flushing, and that current smokers with a history of smoking ≥ 20 PYs had a higher likelihood of alcohol flushing than non-smokers or ex-smokers.

Prurigo Nodularis: Pathogenesis and the Horizon of Potential Therapeutics.

Chronic pruritus that lasts for over 6 weeks can present in various forms, like papules, nodules, and plaque types, with prurigo nodularis (PN) being the most prevalent. The pathogenesis of PN involves the dysregulation of immune cell-neural circuits and is associated with peripheral neuropathies, possibly due to chronic scratching. PN is a persistent and challenging condition, involving complex interactions among the skin, immune system, and nervous system. Lesional skin in PN exhibits the infiltration of diverse immune cells like T cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and mast cells, leading to the release of inflammatory cytokines and itch-inducing substances. Activated sensory nerve fibers aggravate pruritus by releasing neurotransmitters, perpetuating a vicious cycle of itching and scratching. Traditional treatments often fail, but recent advancements in understanding the inflammatory and itch transmission mechanisms of PN have paved the way for innovative therapeutic approaches, which are explored in this review.

Atopic Disorders and Their Risks of Migraine: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Migraine is a relatively common neurologic disorder. A possible link between atopic disorders and migraine has been suggested. This study investigated atopic disorders and their risks of migraine in the Korean population. METHODS: From the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, patients aged ≥ 20 years who underwent health screening between January and December of 2009 were enrolled. To evaluate the risk of migraine, Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, the atopic dermatitis group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.33), asthma group (aHR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.30-1.34) and allergic rhinitis group (aHR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.44-1.46) had significantly increased risks of migraine compared to their respective control groups (P < 0.001). The patients with 1 (aHR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.42-1.44), 2 (aHR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.47-1.53), and 3 (aHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.43-1.88) atopic disorders had significantly increased risks of migraine compared to the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that patients with atopic disorders may have increased risk of migraine and that the larger the number of concomitant atopic disorders, the higher the risk of migraine.

Evaluation of Atopic Dermatitis and Cutaneous Infectious Disorders Using Sequential Pattern Mining: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

According to previous studies, the increased risk of cutaneous infectious disorders in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is related to impaired epidermal function, abnormal systemic immune function, and lower antimicrobial peptides. In this study, we analyzed the association between AD and cutaneous infectious disorders in the real world using sequential pattern mining (SPM). We analyzed National Health Insurance data from 2010-2013 using SPM to identify comorbid cutaneous infectious diseases and the onset durations of comorbidities. Patients with AD were at greater risk for molluscum contagiosum (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 5.273), impetigo (aOR, 2.852), chickenpox (aOR, 2.251), otitis media (aOR, 1.748), eczema herpeticum (aOR, 1.292), and viral warts (aOR, 1.105). In SPM analysis, comorbidity of 1.06% shown in molluscum contagiosum was the highest value, and the duration of 77.42 days documented for molluscum contagiosum was the shortest onset duration among all the association rules. This study suggests that AD is associated with an increased risk of cutaneous infectious disorders. In particular, care should be taken regarding its high relevance with impetigo, molluscum contagiosum, and otitis media, which may help in preventing AD from worsening through appropriately preventing and managing the condition.

Leukaemia Cutis: Clinical Features and Outcomes of 56 Patients.

Leukaemia is a malignant neoplasm of the haematopoietic system. Cutaneous manifestations of leukaemia are called leukaemia cutis, and are regarded as a sign of poorer prognosis and shorter survival time. A single-institution retrospective review was performed of medical records of patients diagnosed with leukaemia cutis in the dermatology department of Seoul St Mary's Hospital between January 2012 and April 2021. Fifty-six cases with cutaneous leukaemic involvement and underlying haematological malignancy were included (40 acute myelogenous leukaemia, 8 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, 3 chronic myeloid leukaemia, 2 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and 3 myelodysplastic syndrome). Male-female ratio 1.9:1, mean age at diagnosis 45.8 years. Plaques (28%) and papules (27%) were the most common skin lesions, followed by patches (18%) and nodules (16%). Mean time from diagnosis of leukaemia to development of leukaemia cutis was 12.3 months. Forty-six patients (84%) died during the 7-year follow-up; mean time from diagnosis of leukaemia cutis to death was 5.4 months. The results suggest that leukaemia cutis is associated with poor outcomes in patients with leukaemia. Comprehensive skin examination of these patients may help diagnose leukaemia cutis early, enabling prompt treatment.