RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a common autoimmune-mediated blistering skin disease that is significantly associated with mortality and morbidity. However, few studies regarding the mortality and comorbidity profiles of BP have been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the mortality, comorbidity profiles, and risk factors between patients with BP who visited our clinic and an age-matched general population of Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 103 patients diagnosed with BP between 2006 and 2013 at Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, Korea. RESULTS: The 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year mortality rates of the patients were 18.44%, 28.16%, and 42.00%, respectively. The median age was 76 years (range, 41~96 years). The standardized mortality ratio of patients with BP was 1.83 times that of the age- and sex-matched general population of Korea. Old age at the time of diagnosis, cardiac disease and renal disease were associated with increased 5-year mortality. In addition, the prevalence of diabetes, stroke, dementia, and Parkinson's disease was higher among BP patients than in the general population. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate of patients with BP is higher than that of the general Korean population. Korean patients with BP are more likely to have dementia, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and stroke. Risk factors for increased 5-year mortality include old age at the time of diagnosis and medical comorbidities, especially cardiac disease and renal disease.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Citron is well known for an abundance of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as vitamin C, polyphenol compounds, flavonoids, and limonoids. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of citron essential oils on rosacea mediators in activated keratinocytes in vitro. METHODS: Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) were stimulated with 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) and interleukin 33 (IL-33) with LL-37 to induce rosacea mediators such as kallikrein 5 (KLK5), cathelicidin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). These mediators were analyzed by performing reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, immunocytofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after NHEKs were treated with citron seed and unripe citron essential oils. RESULTS: The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of KLK5 and LL-37 induced by VD3 were suppressed by citron seed and unripe citron essential oils. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of VEGF and TRPV1 induced by IL-33 with LL-37 were also suppressed by citron essential oils. CONCLUSION: These results show that citron essential oils have suppressive effects on rosacea mediators in activated epidermal keratinocytes, which indicates that the citron essential oils may be valuable adjuvant therapeutic agents for rosacea.
RESUMO
Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a condition of uncertain etiology, choriocarcioma, or placental-site hydatidiform moles, invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, and placental-site trophoblastic tumors. It arises from the abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue and spreads beyond the uterus hematogenously. The early diagnosis of GTD is important to ensure timely and successful management and the preservation of fertility. We report the unusual case of a metastatic choriocarcinoma that formed bullae on the lung surface and presented as recurrent pneumothorax in a 38-year-old woman with elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. She underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection of the involved lung and four subsequent cycles of consolidation chemotherapy. No other evidence of metastatic disease or recurrent pneumothorax was noted during 22 months of follow-up. GTD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous pneumothorax in reproductive-age women with an antecedent pregnancy and abnormal beta-hCG levels.
