Effects of Particulate Matter on Healthy Skin:A Comparative Study between High- and Low-Particulate Matter Periods

Background@#The influence of airborne particulate matter (PM) on skin has primarily been studied in patients with skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. Recently, the effect of PM on healthy human skin has gained attention. @*Objective@#To evaluate the relationship between PM concentration and objective skin changes in healthy subjects. @*Methods@#This prospective study enrolled 25 healthy volunteers without any skin disease. Data regarding daily meteorological parameters and air pollution were collected during a high-PM period and a low-PM period for 14 days. Environmental and lifestyle factors that might influence skin conditions of subjects were also collected during the study period. Biophysical parameters of the skin such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, erythema index, and melanin index were measured.Pores, wrinkles, sebum, and skin tone were evaluated using a facial analysis system. @*Results@#Mean TEWL value during the high-PM period was significantly higher than that during the low-PM period (10.16 g/m2 /h vs. 5.99 g/m2 /h; p=0.0005). Mean erythema index was significantly higher in the highPM period than that in the low-PM period (4.3 vs. 3.42; p=0.038). For facial analysis system indices, uniformity of skin tone was higher in the low-PM period than that in the high-PM period (p＜0.0001). In addition, with increasing PM 10 and PM2.5, TEWL also showed increase when other environmental components were constant (regression coefficient [RC]=0.1529, p＜0.0001 for PM10 ; RC=0.2055, p=0.0153 for PM 2.5). @*Conclusion@#Increased PM concentrations may contribute to disturbed barrier function, increased facial erythema, and uneven skin tone even in healthy human skin.

Analysis of the Dermatologic Side Effects and the Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Melanoma: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Programmed death 1 inhibitors enhance pre-existing immune responses by directly blocking anti-programmed cell death receptor-1. They have been widely used these days, but little is known about the dermatologic side effects and the factors affecting the response to therapy. @*Objective@#To determine the association between dermatologic side effects and oncologic response to programmed death 1 inhibitors and to investigate the factors affecting the response to programmed death 1 inhibitors. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with melanoma who were referred to the dermatology department for their newly arising skin lesions after treatment with pembrolizumab and nivolumab from January 1, 2015, to April 30, 2019. The oncologic outcomes of the patients were determined by medical records from the hemato-oncology department. Sex, stage, dermatologic side effects, and age at the time of initial diagnosis were analyzed as the factors affecting oncologic outcomes. Progression-free survival was analyzed between the patients with and those without dermatologic side effects. @*Results@#Of the 177 patients screened for the study, 14 were referred to the dermatology department for cutaneous side effects. There was no difference between the dermatologic side effect group and the non-dermatologic side effect group in terms of oncologic outcome and progression-free survival. Sex and stage significantly increased the risk of disease progression with pembrolizumab treatment. @*Conclusion@#Although it has been reported that there could be a strong association between dermatologic side effects and oncologic outcomes, we were not able to reach the same conclusion among melanoma patients.

Effects of Particulate Matter on Healthy Skin:A Comparative Study between High- and Low-Particulate Matter Periods

Background@#The influence of airborne particulate matter (PM) on skin has primarily been studied in patients with skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. Recently, the effect of PM on healthy human skin has gained attention. @*Objective@#To evaluate the relationship between PM concentration and objective skin changes in healthy subjects. @*Methods@#This prospective study enrolled 25 healthy volunteers without any skin disease. Data regarding daily meteorological parameters and air pollution were collected during a high-PM period and a low-PM period for 14 days. Environmental and lifestyle factors that might influence skin conditions of subjects were also collected during the study period. Biophysical parameters of the skin such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, erythema index, and melanin index were measured.Pores, wrinkles, sebum, and skin tone were evaluated using a facial analysis system. @*Results@#Mean TEWL value during the high-PM period was significantly higher than that during the low-PM period (10.16 g/m2 /h vs. 5.99 g/m2 /h; p=0.0005). Mean erythema index was significantly higher in the highPM period than that in the low-PM period (4.3 vs. 3.42; p=0.038). For facial analysis system indices, uniformity of skin tone was higher in the low-PM period than that in the high-PM period (p＜0.0001). In addition, with increasing PM 10 and PM2.5, TEWL also showed increase when other environmental components were constant (regression coefficient [RC]=0.1529, p＜0.0001 for PM10 ; RC=0.2055, p=0.0153 for PM 2.5). @*Conclusion@#Increased PM concentrations may contribute to disturbed barrier function, increased facial erythema, and uneven skin tone even in healthy human skin.

Analysis of the Dermatologic Side Effects and the Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Melanoma: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Programmed death 1 inhibitors enhance pre-existing immune responses by directly blocking anti-programmed cell death receptor-1. They have been widely used these days, but little is known about the dermatologic side effects and the factors affecting the response to therapy. @*Objective@#To determine the association between dermatologic side effects and oncologic response to programmed death 1 inhibitors and to investigate the factors affecting the response to programmed death 1 inhibitors. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with melanoma who were referred to the dermatology department for their newly arising skin lesions after treatment with pembrolizumab and nivolumab from January 1, 2015, to April 30, 2019. The oncologic outcomes of the patients were determined by medical records from the hemato-oncology department. Sex, stage, dermatologic side effects, and age at the time of initial diagnosis were analyzed as the factors affecting oncologic outcomes. Progression-free survival was analyzed between the patients with and those without dermatologic side effects. @*Results@#Of the 177 patients screened for the study, 14 were referred to the dermatology department for cutaneous side effects. There was no difference between the dermatologic side effect group and the non-dermatologic side effect group in terms of oncologic outcome and progression-free survival. Sex and stage significantly increased the risk of disease progression with pembrolizumab treatment. @*Conclusion@#Although it has been reported that there could be a strong association between dermatologic side effects and oncologic outcomes, we were not able to reach the same conclusion among melanoma patients.

A Case of Cutaneous Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Associated with Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor: An Unusual Presentation

Drug-induced vasculitis is an inflammation of small-sized blood vessel caused by the use of drugs. It accounts for approximately 10% of acute cutaneous vasculitis. Propylthiouracil, hydralazine, and allopurinol have been widely known as causative agents. The most common clinical feature of drug-induced vasculitis is palpable purpura on lower extremities. A 66-year-old Korean female presented with erythematous nodules on upper chest and back. She had been on medication for multiple myeloma. Laboratory results showed neutropenia. After a single injection of filgrastim (recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor), she developed cutaneous lesions with concurrent increase in absolute neutrophil count. A skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. After discontinuation of filgrastim injection, her skin lesions disappeared spontaneously.

Classic Mycosis Fungoides Concomitant with Hypopigmented Mycosis Fungoides / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Repigmentation of Eyebrow Leukotrichia in Segmental Vitiligo Treated with Suction Blister Epidermal Grafting Following Hair Plucking

No abstract available.

Hypoadiponectinemia and Insulin Resistance are Associated with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

We investigated the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and plasma adiponectin levels and insulin resistance. We recruited study subjects among one hundred and eighty one persons who were examined abdominal ultrasound at routine screening tests. A standard interview (consumption of alcohol and medical history), physical examination (height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure), and biochemical study (lipid parameters, aminotransferases, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and plasma adiponectin) were performed. Subjects who consumed alcohol more than moderate, evidence of viral hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, and serious cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease were excluded. Thirty-eight NAFLD patients and 53 control subjects diagnosed by ultrasound were finally analyzed. The plasma adiponectin level was significantly correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r=0. 38, p<0.001), triglycerides (r=-0.22, p=0.04), fasting insulin (r=-0.37, p<0.01), and insulin resistance by homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMAIR) (r=-0.39, p<0.01), after adjusting for age, sex, and adiposity. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that HOMA-IR was a significant predictor of having NAFLD (odds ratio [OR]=2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52-5.74), while adiponectin had a protective effect against NAFLD (OR=0.22; 95% CI: 0.09-0.55). We demonstrated that hypoadiponectinemia and insulin resistance are associated with NAFLD independent of obesity.

Travel Medicine Outlook Update

No abstract available.

Relationship between control measurement point (CMP) value of Electroacupucture according to Voll(EAV) and clinical laboratory findings and subjective symptoms of patients

BACKGROUND: The objective confirmation of subjective symptom of patient is important in the primary care consisted largely by functional disorders of which mechanisn could not explain the symptoms clearly. Definite diagnostic method is not established yet for the functional disorders desptie the fact that various investigations have been done. So, we tried to reveal the relationship between the value of indicator drop(ID) from electroacupunctrure point accordint to Voll and the clinical diagnosis and subjective symptom by using noninvasive electroacupuncture diagnosis according to Voll. METHODS: Among the patients of three university level hospital health care center from April to June 1997, consenting 203 persons were enrolled. Various laboratory finding and ID from EAV were measured by double blind test method. In parallel, Subjective symptom was classified by each organ. Validity was tested by the relationship between the gastrofiberscopy finding and the stomach control measurement point ID. RESULTS: There were statistically significant ID increases in the CMPs of endocrine, lung, circulation system, gastrointestinal system, kidney and bladder compared to alboratory findings or subjective symptom by the comparison between the variables of the assessed clinical or laboratory findings and organ specific CMP score. Especially, the ID increase of stomach shows 79.3%-90.9% positive predictive value to positve findings of gastrofiberscopy when gastofiberscopy is defined to confirmation test of gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the noninvasive electrodiagnostic method result by measuring EAV of organ system is related statistically to subjective symptoms and laboratory findings. Also they show that it could be useful tool as a clinical diagnostic method. We suggest that further study is needed to reveal organ specific sensitivity, specificity, positivE and negative predictive value by using ccnfirmation method of organ specific disease.