Suicide and the standardized mortality ratio among Republic of Korea Armed Forces personnel, 2011-2016.

PURPOSE: This study examined the number of suicides in the Republic of Korea (ROK) Armed Forces and compared the relative suicide risk of military personnel with that in the general population. METHODS: Age-, sex-, and calendar year-adjusted standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare the number of suicides between the ROK Armed Forces and the general population. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2016, there were 405 suicides by ROK Armed Forces Personnel. The ROK Armed Forces had significantly fewer suicides than expected compared with the general population (SMR = 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.41~0.50, based on 405 deaths). This was evident for both rank groups (soldiers and officers). In addition, a significant decrease was observed in the soldier group when comparing the SMR in 2016 with the previous 5-year average. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, during the period 2011-2016, the ROK Armed Forces had fewer suicides than expected when compared with the general population.

Cutaneous Plasmacytoma: Metastasis of Multiple Myeloma at the Fracture Site.

Multiple myeloma (MM) can be defined as a malignancy with monoclonal plasma cell proliferation. A 66-year-old man presented with pruritic erythematous to purplish plaque grouped nodule with black pigmentations and purpura on the right forearm. The patient was diagnosed with MM about five years prior to the visit at our hospital. Erythematous plaque on his right arm grew rapidly in size over one month and appeared about seven months after the fracture surgery. Skin biopsy showed multiple plasma cell infiltration with monoclonality for lambda light chain, which was consistent with cutaneous plasmacytoma. The patient refused to be treated and died two months later. We herein report an interesting case of cutaneous plasmacytoma at the surgical site of fracture repair.

Eccrine Squamous Syringometaplasia Associated with Pelubiprofen Therapy.

Eccrine squamous syringometaplasia (ESS) is a histologically distinctive skin eruption occurring predominantly in acral or intertriginous areas presenting as erythematous macules, papules or patches. The etiology of ESS remains unclear, but it is usually reported in patients receiving chemotherapy for various malignant neoplasms. To date, only two cases of ESS associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which has distinctive clinical features and pathogenesis, have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a rare and interesting case of ESS associated with pelubiprofen, a recently developed NSAID, which appeared after pelubiprofen therapy and resolved spontaneously after discontinuing the medication.

Self-Assembled Dendritic Pt Nanostructure with High-Index Facets as Highly Active and Durable Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction.

The durability issues of Pt catalyst should be resolved for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Nanocrystal structures with high-index facets have been recently explored to solve the critical durability problem of fuel cell catalysts as Pt catalysts with high-index facets can preserve the ordered surfaces without change of the original structures. However, it is very difficult to develop effective and practical synthetic methods for Pt-based nanostructures with high-index facets. The current study describes a simple one-pot synthesis of self-assembled dendritic Pt nanostructures with electrochemically active and stable high-index facets. Pt nanodendrites exhibited 2 times higher ORR activity and superior durability (only 3.0 % activity loss after 10 000 potential cycles) than a commercial Pt/C. The enhanced catalytic performance was elucidated by the formation of well-organized dendritic structures with plenty of reactive interfaces among 5 nm-sized Pt particles and the coexistence of low- and high-index facets on the particles.

Increased risk of comorbid rheumatic disorders in vitiligo patients: A nationwide population-based study.

Vitiligo is a common acquired depigmentation disorder. Previous studies have shown that vitiligo is associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders. However, a large-scale epidemiological study focused on comorbid rheumatic disorders has not been undertaken. To clarify the associations between vitiligo and various rheumatic disorders, we performed a cross-sectional study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database. Between 2009 and 2013, totals of 86 210 patients with vitiligo and 172 420 age- and sex-matched controls without vitiligo were enrolled in this study. Vitiligo patients were found to be at increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, but no significant association was found between vitiligo and dermatomyositis/polymyositis, Behçet's disease or ankylosing spondylitis. Subgroup analysis showed an increased risk of dermatomyositis/polymyositis in male and ankylosing spondylitis in female vitiligo patients. The risks of dermatomyositis/polymyositis or ankylosing spondylitis were higher in young vitiligo patients. Our study confirms a significant association between vitiligo and rheumatic disorders. Differences in comorbid rheumatic disorders by age group and sex suggest the need for patient-specific approaches. Careful consideration of rheumatic disorders is required for the proper management of comorbidities in vitiligo patients.

Subsequent vitiligo after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A nationwide population-based cohort study from Korea.

BACKGROUND: Subsequent vitiligo after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been described sporadically in case series. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of subsequent vitiligo after HSCT. METHODS: A nationwide, population-based cohort study was performed using the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database from 2009 to 2013. All HSCT recipients who had undergone HSCT between 2010 and 2011 and not treatment for vitiligo in 2009 (to exclude preexisting active vitiligo) were included in the HSCT recipient group, and an age- and sex-matched control group without HSCT was also established. RESULTS: A total of 2747 HSCT recipients and 8241 controls were enrolled. Newly acquired vitiligo occurred in 1.06% of HSCT recipients between 2010 and 2013, and there was a significant increase (OR 3.130, 95% CI 1.859-5.271) in cases of vitiligo in HSCT recipients compared with controls (0.34%). Allogeneic HSCT (OR 5.593, 95% CI 1.628-19.213) and bone marrow-sourced stem cells (as compared with peripheral blood-sourced stem cells; OR 2.492, 95% CI 1.114-5.576) were independently associated with the development of vitiligo after HSCT. LIMITATIONS: Medical record review was not available. CONCLUSION: Vitiligo developed at a significantly increased rate after HSCT compared with controls. Allogeneic HSCT and bone marrow-sourced stem cells were independent risk factors.

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory skin diseases: A population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract attributed to aberrant activity of the immune system. Increasing evidence suggests that patients with IBD are at an increased risk of inflammatory skin diseases (ISDs). OBJECTIVE: We sought to clarify the association between IBD and ISDs using a nationwide health claims database maintained in Korea. METHODS: We interrogated Korean health claim database data from 2009 to 2013. We enrolled all patients with IBD, and age- and sex-matched control subjects, and evaluated the risks of ISDs, including psoriasis, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis, and the risks of autoimmune skin diseases, including vitiligo and alopecia areata. We used multivariable logistic regression to this end. RESULTS: ISDs including rosacea, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis were significantly associated with IBD, whereas the associations between IBD and autoimmune skin diseases including vitiligo and alopecia areata were less marked or nonexistent. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were both associated with ISDs. LIMITATIONS: We were unable to distinguish phenotypes and severities of skin diseases. CONCLUSION: IBD was significantly associated with ISDs, but less so or not at all with autoimmune skin diseases.

Hidden Pictures of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Psoriatic Lesions: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a multifocal proliferative vascular tumor involving the skin and other organ and psoriasis is a chronic cutaneous disease with papules and plaques with white scale. Development of Kaposi's sarcoma in psoriasis patients has been reported rarely. A 71-year-old man presented with multiple brownish to violaceous plaques on both feet and arms which were found 4 months ago. The biopsy confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma. The patient was diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris 10 years ago and Kaposi's sarcoma lesions developed between psoriatic plaques. We herein report a rare case of simultaneous occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma and psoriasis vulgaris which need quite different treatment.

The Accuracy of Ultrasonography on the Location of Lipomas in the Forehead.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative recognition of tumor plane is important to avoid surgical complications in surgeries involving the scalp. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic tool to detect the depth of tumor noninvasively. However, some findings are not always in accordance with the actual locations of lipomas, especially in the forehead. OBJECTS: To evaluate the accuracy of preoperative ultrasonographic findings for the location of lipomas in the forehead. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 14 patients with lipomas in the forehead who all underwent preoperative ultrasonography and surgical excision of the lesions. The authors compared the diagnostic location of tumors by ultrasonography with the actual location in the surgical field. RESULTS: On ultrasonography, 10 of 14 cases were diagnosed as frontalis-associated lipomas. However, 13 cases were confirmed as frontalis-associated lipomas intraoperatively, and only 1 case as superficial lipoma, which did not correspond with the ultrasonographic finding. The ultrasonographic findings were accurate in 9 of 14 cases (64.3%). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of ultrasonography on the location of lipomas in the forehead is not as high as expected. Therefore, the surgeon must consider the possibility of deep lipoma even if a forehead lipoma is superficial in location on ultrasonography.

A simple synthesis of urchin-like Pt-Ni bimetallic nanostructures as enhanced electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction.

The synthesis of urchin-like Pt-Ni bimetallic nanostructures is achieved by a controlled one-pot synthesis. Pt-Ni nanostructures have superior oxygen reduction reaction activities in both with and without specific anion adsorption electrolytes due to the geometric and alloying effects.

Phototrichogram analysis of normal scalp hair characteristics with aging.

BACKGROUND: Phototrichogram analysis of normal scalp hair characteristics in Asian populations is not well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the normal hair characteristics of South Koreans using a phototrichogram. METHODS: We enrolled 674 males and 683 females between the ages of 10 and 69. Hair density, thickness and the white hair percentage were measured via phototrichogram. Six scalp sites, including front, top, the peak between top and back, back, and the right and left sides were targeted. RESULTS: The mean hair density, hair thickness, and the white hair percentages were not significantly different between genders at any scalp site. The mean hair density and thickness were significantly different according to scalp sites. Hair density declined with age, especially at the peak between the top and back. Males and females showed different patterns of aging in hair density. Hair thickness changed little with age. Mean hair thickness generally tended to increase until the 20s, reach a plateau between the 20s and 50s, and decrease after the 50s. The mean white hair percentages were 1.84 ± 4.24% in males and 1.66 ± 4.21% in females. The mean white hair percentages were significantly increased in subjects over 40 years of age. CONCLUSION: We described the normal characteristics and aging patterns of scalp hair in a Korean population.

Chemical tuning of electrochemical properties of Pt-skin surfaces for highly active oxygen reduction reactions.

Pt-skin surfaces were successfully fabricated by the chemical deposition of additional Pt on corrugated Pt-Ni nanoparticles with Pt-skeleton surfaces. Compared to the Pt-skin formed by heat annealing, the chemically-tuned Pt-skin had a higher Pt coordination number and surface crystallinity, which resulted in superior ORR activity and durability.

Correlation between platinum nanoparticle surface rearrangement induced by heat treatment and activity for an oxygen reduction reaction.

Heat treatment of nanoparticles could induce the surface rearrangement for more stable facet exposure induced by thermodynamics. By changing the heat treatment environment, we confirmed the correlation between the oxygen reduction activity and the effect of surface oxide and the degree of surface rearrangement of Pt nanoparticles. Native surface oxide was not a critical factor for oxygen reduction activity. However, the degree of surface rearrangement could affect the activity, which was confirmed by the surface sensitive techniques such as CO(ad) oxidation and potential of zero total charge. Analysis indicated that the driving force for nanoparticle surface rearrangement was affected by the heat treatment environment such as gas, in our case.

Surface structures and electrochemical activities of Pt overlayers on Ir nanoparticles.

Pt overlayers were deposited on carbon-supported Ir nanoparticles with various coverages. Structural and electrochemical characterizations were performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, high-resolution powder diffraction (HRPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), cyclic voltammetry (CV), CO stripping voltammetry, and N2O reduction. The surface of Ir nanoparticles was covered with Pt overlayers with thickness varying from the submonolayer scale to more than two monolayers. Surface analyses such as CV and CO stripping voltammetry indicated that the Pt overlayers were uniformly deposited on the Ir nanoparticles, and the resultant Pt overlayers exhibited gradual changes in surface characteristics toward the Pt surface as the surface coverage increased. The distinct CO stripping characteristics and the enhanced Pt utilization affected electrocatalytic activities for methanol oxidation. The electrochemical stability of the Pt overlayer was compared with a commercial carbon-supported Pt catalyst by conducting a potential cycling experiment.

Peptide deformylase inhibitors with non-peptide scaffold: synthesis and structure-activity relationships.

Peptide deformylase (PDF), which removes the formyl group at the N-terminal methionine residue of nascent protein, has been recognized as a potent target for antibacterial therapy. We report herein the synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of non-peptide PDF inhibitors.