Facial Dermatoses Associated With Mask-Wearing in the COVID-19 Era: A Nationwide, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter, Questionnaire-based Study.

BACKGROUND: Daily usage of facial masks during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic influenced on facial dermatoses. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of mask-wearing habits on facial dermatoses. METHODS: A nationwide, observational, questionnaire-based survey was conducted from July through August 2021, involving 20 hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: Among 1,958 facial dermatoses, 75.9% of patients experienced aggravation or development of new-onset facial dermatoses after wearing masks. In aggravated or newly developed acne patients (543 out of 743), associated factors were healthcare provider, female gender, and a long duration of mask-wearing. Irritating symptoms, xerosis, and hyperpigmentation were more frequently observed in this group. Aggravated or newly developed rosacea patients (515 out of 660) were likely to be female, young, and have a long duration of mask-wearing per day. Seborrheic dermatitis patients who experienced aggravation or de novo development (132 out of 184) were younger, and they more frequently involved the chin and jaw in addition to the nasolabial folds and both cheeks. Contact dermatitis patients (132 out of 147) with aggravation or de novo development tended to be female, involve both cheeks, and complain of pruritus. Aggravated or newly developed atopic dermatitis patients (165 out of 224) were more likely to be female, and had a higher baseline investigator global assessment score before mask-wearing. CONCLUSION: Clinical features and factors related to aggravation were different according to the types of facial dermatoses.

Dose-response analysis between alcohol consumption and psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The association between psoriasis and alcohol consumption has been inconsistent across various studies. However, to the best of our knowledge, no dose-response meta-analysis has been performed to date. This study aims to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and psoriasis. The search was performed on July 27, 2021, using Embase and MEDLINE. The restricted cubic spline analysis was used to perform a dose-response analysis. We identified 3,904 studies, of which 48 studies with 1,702,847 individuals across 24 countries were included. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with psoriasis (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-1.70). In addition, a significantly increased OR for psoriasis was observed in males (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.13-3.01) but not in females (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.97-1.54). Based on eight studies, including three cohort and five case-control studies, the analysis revealed that with each additional gram of daily alcohol intake, the OR for psoriasis increased by 4%. We found a positive association between alcohol consumption and psoriasis. The association is more prominent in the group drinking more than 45 g of alcohol per day (3.2 alcoholic drink equivalent).

Review of Scoring Systems for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by chronic deep-seated nodules, abscesses, fistulae, sinus tracts, and scars in apocrine gland-bearing regions. Assessing its severity is challenging because of its clinical heterogeneity, lack of a standardized tool, and increasing severity scores. This article provides a chronological overview of HS grading scales to aid in the understanding and comparison of different scoring systems. A literature review of articles published in English on PubMed was conducted searched from 1989 to 2023. The review includes 15 scores that are the most relevant and widely used and acknowledges the existence of over 30 scoring systems for HS. The expanding landscape of HS scoring systems presents challenges when patients evaluated using different systems are compared. A universally accepted scoring system is required for consistent application across diverse populations. A comprehensive assessment should balance subjective and objective items, considering observer-reported signs and patient-reported symptoms to make meaningful treatment decisions.

Association between the skin microbiome and lichen striatus hypopigmentation: Cutibacterium acnes as a potential cause.

BACKGROUND: Lichen striatus (LS) is an acquired skin disorder with a linear pattern along Blaschko's lines. It commonly occurs in childhood, and the lesions spontaneously regress within several months. OBJECTIVES: Although up to 50% of LS cases exhibit hypopigmentation that can persist for several months to years, it is unknown why LS is associated with such a high incidence of hypopigmentation compared to other inflammatory skin diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the differences in the skin microbiome between LS patients with and without hypopigmentation. METHODS: Differences in skin microbiome were analysed using whole genome sequencing of skin biopsies and subsequent bioinformatics analyses. RESULTS: Some microbes commonly found in hypopigmented skin disorders, including Cutibacterium acnes, were more abundant in patients with LS showing hypopigmentation than in those not showing hypopigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: The skin microbiota may be involved in the development of hypopigmentation in LS and may be considered a treatment target to reduce LS duration and hypopigmentation.

The safety of systemic Janus kinase inhibitors in atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have been recently approved by the FDA and are widely used in the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis. However, a comprehensive safety profile of JAK inhibitors in patients with atopic dermatitis has not been analysed. This study aimed to establish clinical evidence for the safety of systemic JAK inhibitors in patients with atopic dermatitis. Medline, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) were considered for search databases. Randomized controlled trials reporting the adverse events of systemic therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis were included. The risk of 11 adverse events was compared between the JAK inhibitors and placebo groups. Fourteen randomized controlled trials were analysed published between 2019 and 2022. The JAK inhibitors included in the analysis were abrocitinib (10, 30, 100 and 200 mg), baricitinib (1, 2 and 4 mg) and upadacitinib (7.5, 15 and 30 mg). The risk of herpes zoster, headache, acne, elevated blood creatinine phosphokinase and nausea was significantly increased, but the risk of serious infection, non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), malignancies other than NMSC, major adverse cardiovascular event, venous thromboembolism and nasopharyngitis was not increased. This study provides comprehensive clinical evidence on the risk of various adverse events in patients with atopic dermatitis. However, since the follow-up periods of the studies analysed in this review were mostly limited to 16 weeks or less, it is recommended that comprehensive long-term observational studies be conducted to determine any potential adverse events associated with major cardiovascular events or malignancies, which typically have prolonged courses.

A Case of Cavernous Sinus Syndrome Due to Extranodal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma accounting for approximately one-third of all cases. DLBCL can present as a lymph node or extranodal tumor. Cavernous sinus (CS) is a small but complex structure in which various arteries, sympathetic plexuses, and cranial nerves are passing through. Cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS) results from any disease process that affects CS including tumor, vascular disease, infection, or inflammation. Herein, we report a case of extranodal DLBCL diagnosed by skin biopsy presenting as CSS. A 58-year-old male presented with a 3-week-old, gradually growing subcutaneous nodule on the left upper lip. He also suffered from ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, diplopia, and headache confined to the right side for 3 months. Histopathologic examination of the left upper lip showed dense dermal infiltration of atypical large tumor cells resembling centroblasts and immunoblasts. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed that the tumor cells were positive for CD20, BCL2, BCL6, MUM1, and MYC. After additional radiologic evaluation with positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), brain magnetic resonance imaging, and orbital CT, he was finally diagnosed with extranodal DLBCL involving the right CS, oculomotor muscles, and left upper lip.

High-fluence 1064nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment for ectopic Mongolian spot.

Q-switched neodymium-yttrium aluminum-garnet (Q-switched Nd:YAG) laser has been reported as an effective treatment for nevus of Ota and acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (ABNOM). Data on ectopic Mongolian spots have rarely been reported.The present study was performed to investigate the treatment efficacy of a high-fluence 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser without tissue whitening in ectopic Mongolian spots.We included 61 patients with ectopic Mongolian spots, and 70 lesions were examined. Thirty-three lesions were treated with a high-fluence 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, and 38 lesions were observed without treatment. The results were assessed using a 5-quantile grading scale and melanin index using a Mexameter®.Mean follow-up duration was 14.1 ± 6.8 months for the treatment group and 17.8 ± 10.0 months for the observation group. Mean 5-quintile grading scale at final follow-up was statistically different (p < 0.001) between the two groups (treatment: 2.85 ± 1.00, observation: 0.49 ± 0.73). There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the Δ melanin index (initial melanin index - final melanin index) between the observation (7.1 ± 62.7) and treatment (156.7 ± 78.4) groups.High-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser without tissue whitening showed good results and was well-tolerated in treating ectopic Mongolian spots.

Effects of the multi-channeled oral irrigation (MCOI) unit in preventing dental plaque formation and gingivitis: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of COMORAL a new multi-channeled oral irrigation (MCOI) unit with pulsating water jet, in plaque score reduction and gingivitis. METHODS: This was a single-blinded clinical randomized controlled trial (NCT05031260). Forty-two healthy subjects between 18 to 35 years old were initially recruited, and the control group (n = 20) and the intervention group (n = 17) were randomly assigned. Both groups were asked to brush their teeth one or two times a day without any supplementary oral hygiene products while the intervention group used COMORAL 3 times a day, 5 days a week. Clinical indices including gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were obtained at the baseline (D0), day 14 (D14), and day 28 (D28). Saliva was collected to examine the presence of periodontal pathogens. The repeated measures analysis of variance or generalized estimating equation was used to compare the interaction between groups and time points. The independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test were used for intergroup differences at each time point. RESULTS: At V0, PI, GI, BOP, and PD scores showed no differences between the two groups. At V1 and V2, these scores showed significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05) such that the intervention group showed gradual decreases while the control group showed no change. There were no differences in GR, CAL, and periodontal pathogens between the two groups. COMORAL showed improvement in reducing gingival inflammation and dental plaque formation adjuvant to routine toothbrushing in healthy adults. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study can be useful to clinicians when selecting oral hygiene devices that can help improve patients' routine oral hygiene practice and their overall oral health.

Unilateral Psoriasis on the Left Leg and Poliomyelitis of the Right Leg: A Case Report and Review of the Etiology.

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease. However, unilateral psoriasis is rare and few cases have been reported. A 59-year-old male with a polio-affected right leg presented with exfoliative skin on the left leg for three months. He had been treated under the diagnosis of contact dermatitis with secondary infection. After the exfoliative skin lesions improved, psoriatic papules were noted, which was ultimately diagnosed as psoriasis and successfully treated with topical steroid and vitamin D agents. We propose that the Koebner phenomenon has acted as the triggering and aggravating factor of unilateral psoriasis in this patient.

Orai3 Calcium Channel Contributes to Oral/Oropharyngeal Cancer Stemness through the Elevation of ID1 Expression.

Emerging evidence indicates that intracellular calcium (Ca2+) levels and their regulatory proteins play essential roles in normal stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are subpopulations of cancer cells that retain characteristics similar to stem cells and play an essential role in cancer progression. Recent studies have reported that the Orai3 calcium channel plays an oncogenic role in human cancer. However, its role in CSCs remains underexplored. In this study, we explored the effects of Orai3 in the progression and stemness of oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). During the course of OSCC progression, the expression of Orai3 exhibited a stepwise augmentation. Notably, Orai3 was highly enriched in CSC populations of OSCC. Ectopic Orai3 expression in non-tumorigenic immortalized oral epithelial cells increased the intracellular Ca2+ levels, acquiring malignant growth and CSC properties. Conversely, silencing of the endogenous Orai3 in OSCC cells suppressed the CSC phenotype, indicating a pivotal role of Orai3 in CSC regulation. Moreover, Orai3 markedly increased the expression of inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1), a stemness transcription factor. Orai3 and ID1 exhibited elevated expression within CSCs compared to their non-CSC counterparts, implying the functional importance of the Orai3/ID1 axis in CSC regulation. Furthermore, suppression of ID1 abrogated the CSC phenotype in the cell with ectopic Orai3 overexpression and OSCC. Our study reveals that Orai3 is a novel functional CSC regulator in OSCC and further suggests that Orai3 plays an oncogenic role in OSCC by promoting cancer stemness via ID1 upregulation.

Geographic differences in atopic dermatitis risk between urban and rural area: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting children. Some studies have reported a higher risk of atopic dermatitis in urban areas than in rural areas. We systematically reviewed and carried out a meta-analysis to investigate the differences in the development of atopic dermatitis between urban and rural areas. The search was performed on April 19, 2021, using Embase and MEDLINE databases. Eligible for inclusion were observational studies. Subgroup analyses were performed for age, publication year, and country. We identified 2,115 studies, and 43 studies with 1,728,855 subjects were finally included. Urban residency was associated with an increased risk of atopic dermatitis, with an odds ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.43-1.71). A significantly increased risk was observed only in children, with an odds ratio of 1.55 (95% confidence interval, 1.39-1.73), but not in adults, with an odds ratio of 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.67). The risk has increased in recent decades, with a higher risk in developing countries (odds ratio, 1.95) compared to developed countries (odds ratio, 1.35). Our study provides evidence of an association between atopic dermatitis and urban compared to rural living.