A Study of Clinical Characteristics in Korean Patients with Chronic Actinic Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Chronic actinic dermatitis is a rare, acquired, persistent eczematous eruption of photo-distributed areas.There are limited data available on the clinical characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis. @*Objective@#To evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of chronic actinic dermatitis patients in Korea. @*Methods@#Sixty-two Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis through clinical findings, phototesting, and skin biopsy from six hospitals were included in this study, and their clinical characteristics were evaluated. @*Results@#Among the 62 patients, 51 were men, and the mean age at diagnosis was 60.3±12.8 years. Phototesting was performed for 27 patients, with results available for 18 patients. Patch tests were performed for only 4.8% of the patients. Skin pathology tests were performed for 47 patients and showed the following: spongiosis, acanthosis, actinic elastosis, and pseudo-lymphomatous change. Twelve patients were clinically diagnosed without using diagnostic tools such as phototesting, patch testing, and skin biopsy. The most commonly used systemic treatments were antihistamine, cyclosporine, steroid, and azathioprine. Although avoiding ultraviolet irradiation and outdoor activities are critical, only 22.6% of patients used sunscreen. @*Conclusion@#Although phototesting is highly recommended for diagnosing chronic actinic dermatitis, phototesting was performed for less than half of the patients to diagnose chronic actinic dermatitis. Patch tests and photopatch tests are also recommended to disclose a causative agent.

A Study of Clinical Characteristics in Korean Patients with Chronic Actinic Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Chronic actinic dermatitis is a rare, acquired, persistent eczematous eruption of photo-distributed areas.There are limited data available on the clinical characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis. @*Objective@#To evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of chronic actinic dermatitis patients in Korea. @*Methods@#Sixty-two Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis through clinical findings, phototesting, and skin biopsy from six hospitals were included in this study, and their clinical characteristics were evaluated. @*Results@#Among the 62 patients, 51 were men, and the mean age at diagnosis was 60.3±12.8 years. Phototesting was performed for 27 patients, with results available for 18 patients. Patch tests were performed for only 4.8% of the patients. Skin pathology tests were performed for 47 patients and showed the following: spongiosis, acanthosis, actinic elastosis, and pseudo-lymphomatous change. Twelve patients were clinically diagnosed without using diagnostic tools such as phototesting, patch testing, and skin biopsy. The most commonly used systemic treatments were antihistamine, cyclosporine, steroid, and azathioprine. Although avoiding ultraviolet irradiation and outdoor activities are critical, only 22.6% of patients used sunscreen. @*Conclusion@#Although phototesting is highly recommended for diagnosing chronic actinic dermatitis, phototesting was performed for less than half of the patients to diagnose chronic actinic dermatitis. Patch tests and photopatch tests are also recommended to disclose a causative agent.

Regional Variation of Human Skin Surface Temperature

No abstract available.

Senile Purpura: Clinical Features and Related Factors

No abstract available.

Topical or oral treatment of peach flower extract attenuates UV-induced epidermal thickening, matrix metalloproteinase-13 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in hairless mice skin

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of skin photoaging. Previous studies reported that ethanol extract (PET) of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch flowers (PPF, peach flowers) and its subfractions, particularly the ethylacetate (PEA) and n-butanol extracts (PBT), have potent antioxidant activity and attenuate the UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in human skin cells. In this study, we investigated the protective activity of PPF extract against UV-induced photoaging in a mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Hairless mice were treated with PET or a mixture of PEA and PBT either topically or orally along with UV irradiation. Histological changes and biochemical alterations of mouse skin were examined. Major phenolic compounds in PPF extract were analyzed using an ACQUITY UPLC system. RESULTS: The overall effects of topical and oral treatments with PPF extract on the UV-induced skin responses exhibited similar patterns. In both experiments, the mixture of PEA and PBT significantly inhibited the UV-induced skin and epidermal thickening, while PET inhibited only the UV-induced epidermal thickening. Treatment of PET or the mixture of PEA and PBT significantly inhibited the UV-induced MMP-13 expression, but not typeⅠ collagen expression. Topical treatment of the mixture of PEA and PBT with UV irradiation significantly elevated catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) activities in the skin compared to those in the UV irradiated control group, while oral treatment of the mixture of PEA and PBT or PET elevated only catalase and SOD activities, but not GPx. Thirteen phytochemical compounds including 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, cimicifugic acid E and B, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and kaempferol glycoside derivatives were identified in the PPF extract. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that treatment with PET or the mixture of PEA and PBT, both topically or orally, attenuates UV-induced photoaging via the cooperative interactions of phenolic components having anti-oxidative and collagen-protective activities.

Deeper Wrinkle Formation and Less Melanin Production in Aged Korean Women with B Blood Type

No abstract available.

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based metabolite pathway analyses of myeloma and non-hodgkin's lymphoma patients

Objective: This study attempted to identify altered metabolism and pathways related to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] and myeloma patients

Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we collected plasma samples from 11 patients-6 healthy controls with no evidence of any blood cancers and 5 patients with either multiple myeloma [n=3] or NHL [n=2] during the preliminary study period. Samples were analyzed using quadrupole time-of-flight liquid chromatography mass spectrometry [LC-MS]. Significant features generated after statistical analyses were used for metabolomics and pathway analysis

Results: Data after false discovery rate [FDR] adjustment at q=0.05 of features showed 136 for positive and 350 significant features for negative ionization mode in NHL patients as well as 262 for positive and 98 features for negative ionization mode in myeloma patients. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes [KEGG] pathway analysis determined that pathways such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, ABC transporters, and arginine and proline metabolism were affected in NHL patients. In myeloma patients, pyrimidine metabolism, carbon metabolism, and bile secretion pathways were potentially affected by the disease

Conclusion: The results have shown tremendous differences in the metabolites of healthy individuals compared to myeloma and lymphoma patients. Validation through quantitative metabolomics is encouraged, especially for the metabolites with significantly expression in blood cancer patients

Platelet Shape Changes and Cytoskeleton Dynamics as Novel Therapeutic Targets for Anti-Thrombotic Drugs

Platelets play an essential role in hemostasis through aggregation and adhesion to vascular injury sites but their unnecessary activation can often lead to thrombotic diseases. Upon exposure to physical or biochemical stimuli, remarkable platelet shape changes precede aggregation or adhesion. Platelets shape changes facilitate the formation and adhesion of platelet aggregates, but are readily reversible in contrast to the irrevocable characteristics of aggregation and adhesion. In this dynamic phenomenon, complex molecular signaling pathways and a host of diverse cytoskeleton proteins are involved. Platelet shape change is easily primed by diverse pro-thrombotic xenobiotics and stimuli, and its inhibition can modulate thrombosis, which can ultimately contribute to the development or prevention of thrombotic diseases. In this review, we discussed the current knowledge on the mechanisms of platelet shape change and also pathological implications and therapeutic opportunities for regulating the related cytoskeleton dynamics.

A Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Originating from Oral Lichen Planus / 대한피부과학회지

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disease of uncertain etiology. OLP lesions rarely undergo spontaneous remission and have the potential to undergo malignant transformation. The risk of malignant transformation in OLP is estimated to be between 0.4% and 5.3%; two clinical studies in Korea reported the frequency of malignant change as 2.9% and 2.85%. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no individual case report in the Korean dermatological literature to date regarding the malignant transformation of OLP. Herein, we report the case of a 77-year-old Korean woman with long-standing OLP that underwent transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma. This is the first well-documented case report of squamous cell carcinoma that developed from OLP.

Acute UV Irradiation Increases Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Levels in Human Skin

Glycosaminoglycans are important structural components in the skin and exist as various proteoglycan forms, except hyaluronic acid. Heparan sulfate (HS), one of the glycosaminoglycans, is composed of repeated disaccharide units, which are glucuronic acids linked to an N-acetyl-glucosamine or its sulfated forms. To investigate acute ultraviolet (UV)-induced changes of HS and HS proteoglycans (HSPGs), changes in levels of HS and several HSPGs in male human buttock skin were examined by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) after 2 minimal erythema doses (MED) of UV irradiation (each n = 4-7). HS staining revealed that 2 MED of UV irradiation increased its expression, and staining for perlecan, syndecan-1, syndecan-4, CD44v3, and CD44 showed that UV irradiation increased their protein levels. However, analysis by real-time qPCR showed that UV irradiation did not change mRNA levels of CD44 and agrin, and decreased perlecan and syndecan-4 mRNA levels, while increased syndecan-1 mRNA level. As HS-synthesizing or -degrading enzymes, exostosin-1 and heparanase mRNA levels were increased, but exostosin-2 was decreased by UV irradiation. UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression was confirmed for proper experimental conditions. Acute UV irradiation increases HS and HSPG levels in human skin, but their increase may not be mediated through their transcriptional regulation.

A Rapidly Regressing Wart Following Biopsy

No abstract available.

Transcriptional Regulation of Proteoglycans and Glycosaminoglycan Chain-synthesizing Glycosyltransferases by UV Irradiation in Cultured Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Various kinds of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) have been known to be involved in structural and space-filling functions, as well as many physiological regulations in skin. To investigate ultraviolet (UV) radiation-mediated regulation of GAGs and PGs in cultured human dermal fibroblasts, transcriptional changes of many types of PGs and GAG chain-synthesizing enzymes at 18 hr after 75 mJ/cm2 of UV irradiation were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction methods. Hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)-1, -2, and -3 and hyaluronidase-2 mRNA expressions were significantly increased by UV irradiation. Expressions of lumican, fibromodulin, osteoglycin, syndecan-2, perlecan, agrin, versican, decorin, and biglycan were significantly decreased by UV irradiation, while syndecan-1 was increased. Expressions of GAG chain-synthesizing glycosyltransferases, xylosyltransferase-1, beta1,3-glucuronyltransferase-1, beta1,4-galactosyltransferase-2, -4, exostosin-1, chondroitin polymerizing factor, and chondroitin sulfate synthase-3 were significantly reduced, whereas those of beta1,3-galactosyltransferase-6, beta1,4-galactosyltransferase-3, -7, beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltran sferase-2, and -7 were increased by UV irradiation. Heparanase-1 mRNA expression was increased, but that of heparanase-2 was reduced by UV irradiation. Time-course investigation of representative genes showed consistent results. In conclusion, UV irradiation may increase hyaluronic acid production through HAS induction, and decrease other GAG productions through downregulation of PG core proteins and GAG chain-synthesizing glycosyltransferases in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.

Pemphigus Foliaceus Associated with Psoriasis during the Course of Narrow-Band UVB Therapy: A Simple Coincidence?

Although psoriasis and bullous diseases are considered to be completely different disease entities, the literature has reported a few cases of psoriasis associated with bullous diseases, most of which are bullous pemphigoid. In limited cases, pemphigus foliaceus has also been reported in association with psoriasis. In most of them, pemphigus lesions usually developed on an untreated patient with a chronic history of psoriasis. Herein, we report a case of 53-year-old male with a chronic history of psoriasis who first developed generalized erosive lesions after 26 cycles of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy. A diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus was made based on skin biopsy and direct immunofluorescence assay. Pemphigus lesions were well controlled with combination therapy of oral steroid and azathioprine. This is the first case where pemphigus foliaceus co-occurred with psoriasis during NBUVB therapy.

Cholesterol, a Major Component of Caveolae, Down-regulates Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression through ERK/JNK Pathway in Cultured Human Dermal Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Cholesterol is a major component of specialized membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts or caveolae, which modulate the fluidity of biological membranes. Membrane cholesterol therefore plays an important role in cell signaling and vesicular transport. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the effects of cholesterol on matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression in human dermal fibroblasts. METHODS: MMP-1 mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. AP-1 DNA binding activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The amount of cholesterol was analyzed by cholesterol assay kit. RESULTS: We observed that MMP-1 mRNA and protein expression was dose-dependently decreased by cholesterol treatment. In contrast, cholesterol depletion by a cholesterol depletion agent, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (M beta CD) in human dermal fibroblasts, increased MMP-1 mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Also, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of M beta CD-induced MMP-1 expression: cholesterol depletion by M beta CD, activated ERK1/2 and JNK, but not p38 MAPK cascade, and it also significantly increased c-Jun phosphorylation, c-Fos expression and activator protein-1 binding activity. Furthermore, the inhibition of ERK or JNK with specific chemical inhibitors prevented M beta CD-induced MMP-1 expression, which indicates that ERK and JNK play an important role in cholesterol depletion-mediated MMP-1 induction. In addition, M beta CD-induced phosphorylation of ERK and JNK and MMP-1 expression were suppressed by cholesterol repletion. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cholesterol regulates MMP-1 expression through the control of ERK and JNK activity in human dermal fibroblasts.

Skin Aging and Photoaging Alter Fatty Acids Composition, Including 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic Acid, in the Epidermis of Human Skin

We investigated the alterations of major fatty acid components in epidermis by natural aging and photoaging processes, and by acute ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in human skin. Interestingly, we found that 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (ETA), which is one of the omega-3 polyunsaturated acids, was significantly increased in photoaged human epidermis in vivo and also in the acutely UV-irradiated human skin in vivo, while it was significantly decreased in intrinsically aged human epidermis. The increased ETA content in the epidermis of photoaged human skin and acute UV-irradiated human skin is associated with enhanced expression of human elongase 1 and calcium-independent phophodiesterase A2. We demonstrated that ETA inhibited matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression after UV-irradiation, and that inhibition of ETA synthesis using EPTC and NA-TCA, which are elongase inhibitors, increased MMP-1 expression. Therefore, our results suggest that the UV increases the ETA levels, which may have a photoprotective effect in the human skin.

The evaluation of periodontal ligament cells of rat teeth after low-temperature preservation under high pressure / 대한치과보존학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of periodontal ligament cells of rat teeth after low-temperature preservation under high pressure by means of MTT assay, WST-1 assay. 12 teeth of Sprague-Dawley white female rats of 4 week-old were used for each group. Both side of the first and second maxillary molars were extracted as atraumatically as possible under tiletamine anesthesia. The experimental groups were group 1 (Immediate extraction), group 2 (Slow freezing under pressure of 3 MPa), group 3 (Slow freezing under pressure of 2 MPa), group 4 (Slow freezing under no additional pressure), group 5 (Rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen under pressure of 2 MPa), group 6 (Rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen under no additional pressure), group 7 (low-temperature preservation at 0degrees C under pressure of 2 MPa), group 8 (low-temperature preservation at 0degrees C under no additional pressure), group 9 (low-temperature preservation at -5degrees C under pressure of 90 MPa). F-medium and 10% DMSO were used as preservation medium and cryo-protectant. For cryo-preservation groups, thawing was performed in 37degrees C water bath, then MTT assay, WST-1 assay were processed. One way ANOVA and Tukey HSD method were performed at the 95% level of confidence. The values of optical density obtained by MTT assay and WST-1 were divided by the values of eosin staining for tissue volume standardization. In both MTT and WST-1 assay, group 7 (0degrees C/2 MPa) showed higher viability of periodontal ligament cells than other group (2-6, 8) and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but showed lower viability than group 1, immediate extraction group (no statistical significance). By the results of this study, low-temperature preservation at 0degrees C under pressure of 2 MPa suggest the possibility for long term preservation of teeth.

Prevention of UV-Induced Skin Damages by 11,14,17-Eicosatrienoic Acid in Hairless Mice In Vivo

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are known to play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have shown that some omega-3 (omega-3) PUFAs, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and dodecahexaenoic acid (DHA), have protective effects on acute and chronic UV-induced changes. However, the effects of other omega-3 PUFAs including 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (20:3) (ETA) on UV-induced skin damages are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the cutaneous photoprotective effects of ETA in hairless mice in vivo. Female HR-1 hairless mice were topically treated with vehicle (ethanol:polyethylene glycol=30:70) only, 0.1% ETA, or 1% ETA once a day for 3 successive days after one time UV irradiation (200 mJ/cm2) on dorsal skins. Skin biopsy was carried out on the fourth day (72 hr after UV irradiation). We found that topical treatment with ETA attenuated UV-induced epidermal and dermal thickness and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and impairment of skin barrier function. In addition, ETA suppressed the expression of IL-1beta, COX-2, and MMP-13 induced by UV irradiation. Our results show that the topical application of ETA protects against UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice and suggest that ETA can be a potential agent for preventing and/or treating UV-induced inflammation and photoaging.

Induction of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 by cholesterol depletion leads to the conversion of proMMP-2 into active MMP-2 in human dermal fibroblasts

Cholesterol is one of major components of cell membrane and plays a role in vesicular trafficking and cellular signaling. We investigated the effects of cholesterol on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activation in human dermal fibroblasts. We found that tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) expression and active form MMP-2 (64 kD) were dose-dependently increased by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD), a cholesterol depletion agent. In contrast, cholesterol depletion-induced TIMP-2 expression and MMP-2 activation were suppressed by cholesterol repletion. Then we investigated the regulatory mechanism of TIMP-2 expression by cholesterol depletion. We found that the phosphorylation of JNK as well as ERK was significantly increased by cholesterol depletion. Moreover, cholesterol depletion-induced TIMP-2 expression and MMP-2 activation was significantly decreased by MEK inhibitor U0126, and JNK inhibitor SP600125, respectively. While a low dose of recombinant TIMP-2 (100 ng/ml) increased the level of active MMP-2 (64 kD), the high dose of TIMP-2 (> or = 200 ng/ml) decreased the level of active MMP-2 (64 kD). Taken together, we suggest that the induction of TIMP-2 by cholesterol depletion leads to the conversion of proMMP-2 (72 kD) into active MMP-2 (64 kD) in human dermal fibroblasts.

Dietary Aloe Vera Supplementation Improves Facial Wrinkles and Elasticity and It Increases the Type I Procollagen Gene Expression in Human Skin in vivo

BACKGROUND: No studies have yet been undertaken to determine the effect of aloe gel on the clinical signs and biochemical changes of aging skin. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to determine whether dietary aloe vera gel has anti-aging properties on the skin. METHODS: Thirty healthy female subjects over the age of 45 were recruited and they received 2 different doses (low-dose: 1,200 mg/d, high-dose: 3,600 mg/d) of aloe vera gel supplementation for 90 days. Their baseline status was used as a control. At baseline and at completion of the study, facial wrinkles were measured using a skin replica, and facial elasticity was measured by an in vivo suction skin elasticity meter. Skin samples were taken before and after aloe intake to compare the type I procollagen and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) mRNA levels by performing real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: After aloe gel intake, the facial wrinkles improved significantly (p<0.05) in both groups, and facial elasticity improved in the lower-dose group. In the photoprotected skin, the type I procollagen mRNA levels were increased in both groups, albeit without significance; the MMP-1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the higher-dose group. Type I procollagen immunostaining was substantially increased throughout the dermis in both groups. CONCLUSION: Aloe gel significantly improves wrinkles and elasticity in photoaged human skin, with an increase in collagen production in the photoprotected skin and a decrease in the collagen- degrading MMP-1 gene expression. However, no dose- response relationship was found between the low-dose and high-dose groups.

Acidic pH-activated Cl- Current and Intracellular Ca2+ Response in Human Keratinocytes

The layers of keratinocytes form an acid mantle on the surface of the skin. Herein, we investigated the effects of acidic pH on the membrane current and [Ca2+](c) of human primary keratinocytes from foreskins and human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Acidic extracellular pH (pHe< or =5.5) activated outwardly rectifying Cl- current (I(Cl,pH)) with slow kinetics of voltage-dependent activation. I(Cl,pH) was potently inhibited by an anion channel blocker 4,4`-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2`-disulphonic acid (DIDS, 73.5% inhibition at 1micrometer). I(Cl,pH) became more sensitive to pHe by raising temperature from 24degrees C to 37degrees C. HaCaT cells also expressed Ca2+ -activated Cl- current (I(Cl,Ca)), and the amplitude of I(Cl,Ca) was increased by relatively weak acidic pHe (7.0 and 6.8). Interestingly, the acidic pHe (5.0) also induced a sharp increase in the intracellular [Ca2+] (delta[Ca2+](acid)) of HaCaT cells. The delta[Ca2+](acid) was independent of extracellular Ca2+, and was abolished by the pretreatment with PLC inhibitor, U73122. In primary human keratinocytes, 5 out of 28 tested cells showed delta[Ca2+](acid). In summary, we found I(Cl,pH) and delta[Ca2+](acid) in human keratinocytes, and these ionic signals might have implication in pathophysiological responses and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes.