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Development of newer generation of cost-effective ultrasonic devices in recent years has increased the use of ultrasonography in dermatology. Several lesions can be diagnosed and managed using ultrasonography. Calcinosis cutis involves the deposition of insoluble calcium salts in the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. On ultrasonography, it specifically presents as hyperechoic deposits with a posterior acoustic shadowing artifact due to the acoustic properties of calcium. A 62-year-old female patient presented with a solitary, skincolored, palpable nodule on the inner side of the right lower leg. The lesion was beneath the intact skin and detectable only on palpation. However, ultrasonography demonstrated a clear delineation of the lesion, showing hyperechoic deposits with a posterior acoustic shadow (15 MHz, linear probe). Skin biopsy and curettage were performed, revealing histological features consistent with calcinosis cutis. Four weeks after the procedure, ultrasonography performed to evaluate the outcome of treatment, showed recurrence. Another 18-year-old female patient presented with a skin-colored deep-seated nodule on the left temple. On ultrasonography, linear hyperechoic deposits with a posterior acoustic shadow were visible. Skin biopsy was performed, and histopathologic features showed calcified material in the subcutaneous tissue. These two cases of calcinosis cutis highlight the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in dermatology.
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Purpose@#The aim of this study was to investigate the educational status and needs of premature birth prevention, and to identify factors associated with preconception health behaviors. @*Methods@#The study design was a crosssectional descriptive study. Data were collected through an online questionnaire survey, and the subjects were 192 women of childbearing age in Korea. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. @*Results@#The proportion of subjects who received education on premature birth prevention was 8.9%, and 75.5% of subjects answered that they needed education on premature birth prevention. They demanded education through online media, small groups, cases, cartoons (webtoon) with stories, pictures, and videos. A related factor of preconception health behavior was self-efficacy for high-risk pregnancy health care (β=.20, p=.012), which accounted for 8.2% of the total variance related to preconception health behavior. @*Conclusion@#There was a need for more development of education programs to prevent premature birth for women of childbearing age. Its education programs should be applied with online, small group activities using various educational media. It is also required to promote preconception health behavior through self-efficacy for high-risk pregnancy health care.
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Background@#: In the case of simulation practice, if the visual information obtained through observation is described in text along with video observation learning, students will be able to reinforce their memory of the acquired content, promote the learning process, and further enhance nursing performance skills. The purpose of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of communication training through observational learning and recording of simulation practice videos and to provide basic data for developing strategies to improve learning effects. @*Methods@#: We conducted a simulation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient nursing with fourth-year students in the department of nursing at University B in A City. The described communication contents while watching a video of a colleague’s team’s implementation in real time, were analyzed by content analysis method. @*Results@#: In this study, nursing students have an opportunity to think critically by recording their judgments on effective or ineffective situations in therapeutic communication with patients, information transfer, and cooperative communication between professionals and used it for reflection and application. @*Conclusion@#: Creating a structured observation sheet while observing the simulation situation of a peer team in real time is a way to reinforce the memory of the learned content by allowing more focus on observational learning and elaborate processing of visual information through recording.
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Background@#The adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) on the skin have been concerning recently. @*Objective@#We investigated PM induced inflammation on barrier-interrupted skin and relieving effects of plant extracts on PM-induced skin irritation. @*Methods@#A total of 20 participants were enrolled for the induction of skin irritation. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) patch was affixed to the forearm for 24 hours. After patch removal, total suspended particulates (TSPs) were applied. After inducing skin irritation using SLS and TSP, cream containing 0.1% mixture of plant extracts (Citrus sunki, Sceptridium ternatum (Botrychium ternatum), and Korthalsella japonica) was applied. The a* value, erythema index (EI), and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured. @*Results@#The a* value was significantly higher at the site where TSPs were applied than that at the site where TSPs were not applied at 1 and 2 days after SLS patch removal. The a* value, EI, and TEWL were significantly low in the cream-applied area 7 days after the introduction of the SLS patch and TSPs. @*Conclusion@#PM induced skin irritation in a previously disrupted skin barrier. Topical application of plant extracts alleviated skin irritation symptoms caused by dust exposure.
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Background@#The adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) on the skin have been concerning recently. @*Objective@#We investigated PM induced inflammation on barrier-interrupted skin and relieving effects of plant extracts on PM-induced skin irritation. @*Methods@#A total of 20 participants were enrolled for the induction of skin irritation. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) patch was affixed to the forearm for 24 hours. After patch removal, total suspended particulates (TSPs) were applied. After inducing skin irritation using SLS and TSP, cream containing 0.1% mixture of plant extracts (Citrus sunki, Sceptridium ternatum (Botrychium ternatum), and Korthalsella japonica) was applied. The a* value, erythema index (EI), and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured. @*Results@#The a* value was significantly higher at the site where TSPs were applied than that at the site where TSPs were not applied at 1 and 2 days after SLS patch removal. The a* value, EI, and TEWL were significantly low in the cream-applied area 7 days after the introduction of the SLS patch and TSPs. @*Conclusion@#PM induced skin irritation in a previously disrupted skin barrier. Topical application of plant extracts alleviated skin irritation symptoms caused by dust exposure.
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Background@#Recent studies have revealed that particulate matter induces inflammation, oxidative stress, and several skin diseases. Experimental results have also shown that negative air ions are highly effective in removing particulate matter-induced inflammation. @*Objective@#The present study aimed to investigate whether negative air ions can inhibit inflammatory responses and reduce oxidative stress in HaCaT cells exposed to particulate matters. @*Methods@#HaCaT cells were treated with particulate matter in the presence or absence of negative air ions and the viability was evaluated by the MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was quantified by the dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay. The expression of genes and proteins was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Levels of inflammatory cytokines were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. @*Results@#Negative air ions were observed to downregulate the mRNA and protein levels of particulate matter-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines in HaCaT cells. In addition, negative air ion treatment suppressed particulate matter-induced intracellular ROS generation, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, and activator protein 1 (c-Fos and c-Jun) activation. @*Conclusion@#Our findings indicate that negative air ions exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in HaCaT cells exposed to particulate matter. Therefore, negative air ions can be used for the prevention and treatment of particulate matter-related inflammatory skin diseases.
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Myopericytoma, previously called as hemangiopericytoma, is a rare, soft tissue neoplasm. It usually presents as an asymptomatic solitary lesion, and it most commonly affects the lower extremities. It is characterized by the distinctive perivascular organization of oval-to-spindle-shaped cells in a concentric pattern. Here we report a case of myopericytoma, which was diagnosed in a 60-year-old woman who presented with a one-year history of a deep-seated nodule and reviewed previous cases in the Korean literature and found a predominance of female cases of myopericytoma, contrary to known predilections. Hence, we have reported a typical case and summarized clinical findings in the Korean population.
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Background@#Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that air pollution is associated with the inflammatory response and may aggravate inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). However, it is unclear whether particulate matter (PM) aggravates AD symptoms. @*Objective@#The aim of this study was to investigate whether PM exposure affects the skin barrier dysfunction and aggravates AD symptoms using human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells and a mouse model of oxazolone-induced AD-like skin. @*Methods@#Standard reference material (SRM) 1649b, which mainly comprises polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was used as the reference PM. HaCaT cells and mouse model of oxazolone-induced AD-like skin were treated with PM. The mRNA or protein expression levels of stratum corneum (SC) and tight junction (TJ) proteins, inflammatory cytokines, as well as clinical and histological changes of the AD-like skin of mouse model were evaluated. The expression of genes and proteins was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. @*Results@#The results revealed that PM downregulates the expression levels of several SC and TJ-related proteins in the mouse model with AD-like skin. Clinically, epidermal and dermal thickness was significantly increased and dermal inflammation was prominent in PM treated AD-like skin. @*Conclusion@#In conclusion, we found that PM aggravates skin barrier dysfunction, clinically augmenting epidermal and dermal thickening with dermal inflammation in AD-like skin. These results suggest that PM may trigger the exacerbation of AD symptoms via skin barrier dysfunction-related mechanisms.
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BACKGROUND: Wound healing mechanisms is believed to have effects similar to wound healing disorders in diabetic patients, including abnormal inflammatory cells, angiogenesis disorders, and reduced collagen synthesis. Therefore, reestablishment of structural and promoted angiogenesis could be beneficial to promote wound healing process. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, we investigated whether the polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) that was self-production in Korea, could be useful as an intradermal injection for promoting wound healing. Also, we validate for wound healing effect of PDRN using healing-impaired (db/db) mice. METHODS: In this study, we confirmed the effects of PDRN by creating wound models in in vitro and in vivo model. Using an in vitro wound healing assay, we observed that PDRN stimulated closure of wounded monolayers of human fibroblast cells. PDRN (8.25 mg/ml) or phosphate-buffered saline (0.9% NaCl) was injected once daily into the dermis adjacent to the wound for 12 days after skin injury. RESULTS: Time course observations revealed that mice treated with PDRN showed accelerated wound closure and epidermal and dermal regeneration, enhanced angiogenesis. The wound area and depth decreased at 3, 6, 9, and 12 days after skin injury. Histological evaluation showed an increase of vascular endothelial growth factor, CD31, and collagen fibers in the PDRN group compared with the control group, indicating that PDRN was effective in the treatment of delayed wound healing caused by diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that our PDRN has a wound healing effect in transgenic animal models with cells and diabetes through angiogenesis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Animals , Humans , Mice , Animals, Genetically Modified , Collagen , Dermis , Fibroblasts , In Vitro Techniques , Injections, Intradermal , Korea , Models, Animal , Polydeoxyribonucleotides , Regeneration , Skin , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A , Wound Healing , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
Lipedematous alopecia (LA) is a rare disease entity that manifests as increased thickness of subcutaneous fatty tissue in the scalp with a variable degree of acquired, non-scarring alopecia. Although the pathogenesis of alopecia in LA is not clear, it is assumed that the increased thickness of subcutaneous fat retards hair growth by disturbing the peripheral microenvironment of the hair bulb. LA is clinically distinguishable from lipedematous scalp (LS) in that LS is not associated with any hair abnormalities, while LA is characterized by variable degree of hair loss. However, both LA and LS share increased scalp thickness. Here, we describe a rare case of LA on the frontal scalp of an Asian woman, further characterize the clinical and histologic features, and suggest applying an integrated diagnosis as lipedematous diseases of the scalp.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Adipose Tissue , Alopecia , Asian People , Diagnosis , Hair , Lipomatosis , Rare Diseases , Scalp , Subcutaneous FatABSTRACT
Autism spectrum disorder is a rapidly increasing heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndrome, remarked by persistent deficit in social communication, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interest. Lately, maternal immune activation and micgroglial dysfunction in the developing brain have been gaining mounting evidence and leading to studies of various novel agents as potential treatment options. A few immunomodulatory treatment options—luteolin, minocycline, suramin, vitamin D, gut microbiota—are discussed in the current article, regarding the current understanding of their mechanisms and evidence for potential clinical use. More studies are warranted to understand their exact mechanisms of action and to verify efficacy and safety in human subjects.
Subject(s)
Humans , Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic Disorder , Brain , Immunomodulation , Microglia , Minocycline , Suramin , Vitamin DABSTRACT
Focal acral hyperkeratosis (FAH) is a rare genodermatosis inherited by autosomal dominant transmission; however, some sporadic cases have also been reported. FAH is characterized by multiple late-onset crateriform hyperkeratotic papules with a yellow color on the border of the hands and feet. A 31-year-old man presented with yellowish discrete flat-topped papules on the lateral side of his palms and fingers. The patient had a family history of similar lesions throughout three generations. The histological findings revealed hyperkeratosis with mild hypergranulosis in the epidermis, and the dermis showed no specific changes including elastorrhexis. These clinicopathologic findings were consistent with the diagnosis of FAH. Herein, we report a rare case of FAH with autosomal dominant inheritance.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Dermis , Diagnosis , Epidermis , Family Characteristics , Fingers , Foot , Hand , WillsABSTRACT
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a series of neurodevelopmental disorder with a large genetic component. However, the pathogenic genes and molecular mechanisms of ASD have not been clearly defined. Recent technological advancements, such as next-generation sequencing, have led to the identification of certain loci that is responsible for the pathophysiology of ASD. Three functional pathways, such as chromatin remodeling, Wnt signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction are potentially involved in ASD. In this review, we will focus on recent studies of the involvement of Wnt signaling pathway components in ASD pathophysiology and related drugs used in ASD treatment.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic Disorder , beta Catenin , Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly , Neurodevelopmental Disorders , Wnt Signaling PathwayABSTRACT
PURPOSE: A colorectal adenoma (CRA) is a well-defined precursor to colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, smoking is a potent risk factor for developing a CRA, as well as CRC. However, the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and the risk for developing a CRA has not yet been fully evaluated in epidemiologic studies. We performed a cross-sectional analysis on the association between exposure to ETS at the workplace and the risk for developing a CRA. METHODS: The study was conducted on subjects who had undergone a colonoscopy at a health promotion center from January 2012 to December 2012. After descriptive analyses, overall and subgroup analyses by smoking status were performed by using a multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 1,129 participants, 300 (26.6%) were diagnosed as having CRAs. Exposure to ETS was found to be associated with CRAs in all subjects (fully adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.44; P = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, exposure to ETS in former smokers increased the risk for developing a CRA (fully adjusted OR, 4.44; 95% CI, 2.07-9.51; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Exposure to occupational ETS at the workplace, independent of the other factors, was associated with increased risk for developing a CRA in all subjects and in former smokers. Further retrospective studies with large sample sizes may be necessary to clarify the causal effect of this relationship.
Subject(s)
Adenoma , Colonoscopy , Colorectal Neoplasms , Cross-Sectional Studies , Epidemiologic Studies , Health Promotion , Logistic Models , Odds Ratio , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sample Size , Smoke , Smoking , Tobacco Smoke Pollution , TobaccoABSTRACT
Protothecosis is an unusual human infection, caused by the genus prototheca, especially Prototheca wickerhamii. A 80-year-old immunocompetent man presented with a 1-month history of multiple reddish brown lobulated plaques on the scalp and face. He denied any history of trauma and had no evidence of underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus or malignancy. On histopathological examination, characteristic morula-like sporangia in the dermis was revealed. After treatment with oral itraconazole for 8 weeks, the patient's skin lesions are almost healed.
Subject(s)
Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Dermis , Diabetes Mellitus , Itraconazole , Prototheca , Scalp , Skin , SporangiaABSTRACT
Bee venom-induced anaphylaxis usually causes urticaria, angioedema, respiratory distress, nausea, and vomiting. Occasionally, it leads to unusual complications such as acute myocardial infarction, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, rhabdomyolysis, intravascular hemolysis, and acute kidney injury. Renal complications are rare, and there are only two cases of acute kidney injury associated with rhabdomyolysis due to multiple bee stings reported in Korea. We report a 67-year-old woman who presented at our emergency department with confusion, respiratory distress, and dizziness after multiple bee stings. She was diagnosed with anaphylactic shock. There was acute kidney injury associated with rhabdomyolysis and heart failure related to takotsubo cardiomyopathy, all of which indicated unusual and fatal complications. Her condition worsened, almost requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. However, the patient recovered without cardiac or renal complications within 30 days of therapy with hydration and diuretics.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Acute Kidney Injury , Anaphylaxis , Angioedema , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Bee Venoms , Bees , Bites and Stings , Diuretics , Dizziness , Emergency Service, Hospital , Heart Failure , Hemolysis , Intubation , Korea , Myocardial Infarction , Nausea , Respiration, Artificial , Rhabdomyolysis , Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy , Urticaria , VomitingABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the characteristics and factors related to problem drinking in male workers. METHODS: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey and 232 male workers, who completed self-reported questionnaires addressing alcohol consumption, drinking motives, job stress, supervisor/coworker support, and family support. Multivariate analysis was used to uncover factors associated with problem drinking. RESULTS: As compared with normal alcohol users, problem drinkers were more likely to smoke and had greater family support and coping motivations, and fewer confirmatory motives. Problem drinking was found to be related to perceived health status (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.64, 0.95]), current smoking (adjusted OR = 2.79, 95% CI [1.26, 6.18]), family support (adjusted OR = 2.04, 95% CI [1.23, 3.39]), confirmatory motivation (adjusted OR = 0.60, 95% CI [0.37, 0.96]), and coping (adjusted OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.04, 3.07]). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that any interventions targeting problem drinking among male workers must address smoking cessation, control of stress, and the improvement of drinking subculture in the workplace.