Therapeutic Efficacy of Topical 5-Fluorouracil vs. Topical Imiquimod vs. Cryosurgery for Single-Lesion Actinic Keratosis in Korea / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common precancerous cutaneous lesion. There are various AK treatment methods; however, no specific method is considered superior. Most existing studies on AK treatment are Caucasian-based and include patients with multiple lesions. @*Objective@#This study aimed to compare the treatment duration, financial costs, and success rates of topically applied 5% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) solution, 5% imiquimod (IMIQ) cream, and cryosurgery in the treatment of histologically proven single-lesion AK in Korean patients. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with single-lesion AK at a single Korean center from January 2018 to February 2021. Each patient was treated using the three aforementioned local treatments. @*Results@#The study included 58 patients. Nineteen of 23 (82.6%), 27 of 27 (100%), and eight of eight patients (100%) were successfully treated after topical 5-FU, topical IMIQ, and cryosurgery, respectively. Further analysis on treatment success by subgroup revealed the following: mean number of outpatient visits, 3.78 vs. 4.41 vs. 3.75;mean treatment duration, 5.79 vs. 6.00 vs. 9.38 weeks; and mean total treatment cost, 79,380 vs. 170,023 vs. 173,116 won; for the 5-FU, IMIQ, and cryosurgery subgroups, respectively. The total treatment cost was significantly different among the subgroups (p≤0.001). @*Conclusion@#Topical IMIQ and cryosurgery were superior in terms of treatment efficacy, but considering its low cost, 5-FU may also be a reasonable option. Hence, an individualized approach to treating localized AK should be taken.

Differences in Clinical Responses to Ustekinumab Treatment among Body Regions: Results from a Real-World Prospective, Observational, and Multi-Center Study in Korea

Background@#In psoriasis treatment, not all body regions improve simultaneously after clinical interventions. @*Objective@#This study was aimed at evaluating clinical responses across body regions, which may differentially influence patient treatment plans. @*Methods@#This prospective, observational, and multi-center study was conducted in Koreans who adhered to ustekinumab treatment based on criteria per local label and reimbursement guidelines. A total of 581 were included in this analysis. @*Results@#The mean (±standard deviation) psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score at baseline, age, disease duration, and body surface area (%) were 18.9±9.69, 44.2±13.29 years, 11.3±9.65 years, and 27.8±17.83, respectively. Across the head and neck, upper extremities, trunk, and lower extremities, the correlation between the PASI sub-scores for the upper and lower extremities was the highest (r=0.680). The mean PASI sub-score for the lower extremities was the highest at baseline. PASI90 and PASI100 scores were the highest for the head and neck region, indicating the highest response rates, while those for the lower extremities were consistently low at all visits. @*Conclusion@#We found differences in regional ustekinumab responses, with the lower extremities being the most difficult to treat. These findings should be considered in psoriasis treatment.

Incidence and Prevalence of Skin Cancers in South Korea from 2008 to 2016: A Nation-Wide Population Based Study

Background@#In South Korea, there have been few nationwide epidemiologic studies about premalignant actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease), nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), malignant melanoma of the skin (MM), Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), connective and soft tissue cancers, or mycosis fungoides (MF). @*Objective@#Using a nationwide population-based study, we attempted to measure the incidence and the prevalence of the above-mentioned tumors in South Korea. @*Methods@#The database we used included all claims in the Korean National Health Insurance program and the Korean Medical Aid program from 2008 to 2016. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) was used to record diagnoses in this database. This data included AK, Bowen’s disease, NMSC, MM, KS, connective and soft tissue cancers, and MF. @*Results@#The age-standardized incidence and prevalence rate of AK, Bowen’s disease, NMSC, MM, KS, connective and soft tissue cancers, as well as MF increased during the periods we investigated. The incidence and prevalence rate of AK and NMSC have increased two- to three-fold. In the case of Bowen’s disease, MM, KS, connective and soft tissue cancers, or MF, we observed no significant tendency in age-standardized incidence or prevalence. @*Conclusion@#We confirmed that the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of NMSC and AK tended to increase. These results might contribute to developing preventive and therapeutic strategies for skin cancers and may become a source for further studies.

Impact of COVID-19 on Clinicopathological Spectrum of Pityriasis Rosea in Korea

Background@#Pityriasis rosea (PR) is a papulosquamous eruption with generally unknown origin but suspected to be related to viral etiologies. The clinicopathological spectrum of several disorders with viral etiologies has been altered after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The author group could experience coherent histological alterations in PR after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate how the clinicopathological findings of PR were changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. @*Methods@#Patients (n = 11) diagnosed with PR based on the clinical manifestations and skin biopsies between February 2018 and October 2019 and 11 patients in February 2020 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed by investigating the medical records. @*Results@#The patients with PR during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated statistically significant histopathological alterations from classic brisk and dense infiltration pattern to dormant and sparse infiltration and psoriasiform-dominant patterns (P = 0.019). PR was associated with more frequent pruritus during the pandemic period (P = 0.027). @*Conclusion@#In conclusion, PR demonstrated a significant histopathological alteration with more frequent pruritus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The comparative results about clinicopathological findings of PR will provide a useful reference for dermatologists in the diagnostic process of PR in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Short-Term Dermatology Medical Mission and Global Health: A Retrospective Analysis of Climate Change / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#The coronavirus disease pandemic has directly impacted global health. In developing countries, health service problems are more serious because of the lack of healthcare infrastructure. In this situation, if medical needs could be predicted, it would be helpful to bridge the medical gap with the provision of appropriate medical support. @*Objective@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between climate change and skin diseases in developing countries to better prepare for medical missions. @*Methods@#From 2012 to 2016, except for 2014, we visited a mission site located in Luzon, Philippines, every July.We retrospectively reviewed 499 patient data as well as weather information. @*Results@#The total number of patients decreased each year. The climate change analysis using Pearson correlation showed that the temperature and ultraviolet index tended to increase every year (r2 =0.99, 0.93, respectively; p＜ 0.05). Conversely, humidity and rainfall decreased (r2 =−0.99, −0.96, respectively; p＜0.05). The Cochran–Armitage test showed that the rate of infectious skin disease diagnoses decreased every year compared to that of eczematous diseases. @*Conclusion@#The total number of patients decreased by approximately 50% during medical service. We believe that the improvement in living standards and hygiene through continuous medical support has influenced the change in the incidence of skin diseases. Climate change was also thought to have affected the rate of skin disease diagnoses; in fact, the rate of infectious disease diagnoses tended to decrease compared to that of eczematous diseases. This analysis would be helpful for preparing for medical support.

Short-Term Dermatology Medical Mission and Global Health: A Retrospective Analysis of Climate Change / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#The coronavirus disease pandemic has directly impacted global health. In developing countries, health service problems are more serious because of the lack of healthcare infrastructure. In this situation, if medical needs could be predicted, it would be helpful to bridge the medical gap with the provision of appropriate medical support. @*Objective@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between climate change and skin diseases in developing countries to better prepare for medical missions. @*Methods@#From 2012 to 2016, except for 2014, we visited a mission site located in Luzon, Philippines, every July.We retrospectively reviewed 499 patient data as well as weather information. @*Results@#The total number of patients decreased each year. The climate change analysis using Pearson correlation showed that the temperature and ultraviolet index tended to increase every year (r2 =0.99, 0.93, respectively; p＜ 0.05). Conversely, humidity and rainfall decreased (r2 =−0.99, −0.96, respectively; p＜0.05). The Cochran–Armitage test showed that the rate of infectious skin disease diagnoses decreased every year compared to that of eczematous diseases. @*Conclusion@#The total number of patients decreased by approximately 50% during medical service. We believe that the improvement in living standards and hygiene through continuous medical support has influenced the change in the incidence of skin diseases. Climate change was also thought to have affected the rate of skin disease diagnoses; in fact, the rate of infectious disease diagnoses tended to decrease compared to that of eczematous diseases. This analysis would be helpful for preparing for medical support.

Lightening Effect of a Light-Emitting Diode Mask on Facial Skin: A Colorimetric Assessment

No abstract available.

Tissue-Clearing Technique and Cutaneous Nerve Biopsies: Quantification of the Intraepidermal Nerve-Fiber Density Using Active Clarity Technique-Pressure Related Efficient and Stable Transfer of Macromolecules Into Organs

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cutaneous nerve biopsies based on two-dimensional analysis have been regarded as a creditable assessment tool for diagnosing peripheral neuropathies. However, advancements in methodological imaging are required for the analysis of intact structures of peripheral nerve fibers. A tissue-clearing and labeling technique facilitates three-dimensional imaging of internal structures in unsectioned, whole biological tissues without excessive time or labor costs. We sought to establish whether a tissue-clearing and labeling technique could be used for the diagnostic evaluation of peripheral neuropathies. METHODS: Five healthy individuals and four patients with small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were prospectively enrolled. The conventional methods of indirect immunofluorescence (IF) and bright-field immunohistochemistry (IHC) were adopted in addition to the tissue-clearing and labeling method called active clarity technique-pressure related efficient and stable transfer of macromolecules into organs (ACT-PRESTO) to quantify the intraepidermal nerve-fiber density (IENFD). RESULTS: The mean IENFD values obtained by IF, bright-field IHC, and ACT-PRESTO in the healthy control group were 6.54, 6.44, and 90.19 fibers/mm², respectively; the corresponding values in the patients with SFN were 1.99, 2.32, and 48.12 fibers/mm², respectively, and 3.06, 2.87, and 47.21 fibers/mm², respectively, in the patients with PHN. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that a tissue-clearing method provided not only rapid and highly reproducible three-dimensional images of cutaneous nerve fibers but also yielded reliable quantitative IENFD data. Quantification of the IENFD using a tissue-clearing and labeling technique is a promising way to improve conventional cutaneous nerve biopsies.

A Case of Molluscum Contagiosum Developed Symmetrically on Both Heels That Are Weight-bearing Area / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

A Case of Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Exophiala oligosperma Showing Multiple Cysts / 대한피부과학회지

Exophiala species are dark pigmented fungi associated with phaeohyphomycosis that exhibit yeast-like or hyphal forms of the fungus in superficial subcutaneous locations or systemic disease. The incidence of subcutaneous tissue infection of Exophiala species has recently increased, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. In Korea, E. jeanselmei, E. dermatitidis, and E. salmonis were isolated from patients with phaeohyphomycosis. However, there have been no case reports of phaeohyphomycosis caused by E. oligosperma. Here we report the first case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by E. oligosperma in Korea. An 82-year-old female with competent immune function presented with multiple subcutaneous masses on the dorsum of the left hand and wrist. A histopathological examination of the skin specimen revealed granulomatous inflammation with fungal hyphae and yeast. Molecular identification was performed using internal transcribed spacer sequences analysis. The sequence showed 100% identity with the E. oligosperma strains. She was treated with oral itraconazole and showed improvement.

Xerosis Cutis with Secondary Bacterial Infection: An Occupational Disease of Scrubbers in Public Bathhouses / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Rosacea Subtypes Visually and Optically Distinct When Viewed with Parallel-Polarized Imaging Technique

BACKGROUND: Parallel-polarized light (PPL) photography evaluates skin characteristics by analyzing light reflections from the skin surface. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the significance of quantitative analysis of PPL images in rosacea patients, and to provide a new objective evaluation method for use in clinical research and practice. METHODS: A total of 49 rosacea patients were enrolled. PPL images using green and white light emitting diodes (LEDs) were taken of the lesion and an adjacent normal area. The values from the PPL images were converted to CIELAB coordinates: L* corresponding to the brightness, a* to the red and green intensities, and b* to the yellow and blue intensities. RESULTS: A standard grading system showed negative correlations with L* (r=−0.67862, p=0.0108) and b* (r=−0.67862, p=0.0108), and a positive correlation with a* (r=0.64194, p=0.0180) with the green LEDs for papulopustular rosacea (PPR) types. The xerosis severity scale showed a positive correlation with L* (r=0.36709, p=0.0276) and a negative correlation with b* (r=−0.33068, p=0.0489) with the white LEDs for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR) types. In the ETR types, there was brighter lesional and normal skin with white LEDs and a higher score on the xerosis severity scale than the PPR types. CONCLUSION: This technique using PPL images is applicable to the quantitative and objective assessment of rosacea in clinical settings. In addition, the two main subtypes of ETR and PPR are distinct entities visually and optically.

A Type II Segmental Vitiligo Developed under Infliximab Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis

No abstract available.

Dermoscopic Finding of Angioma Serpiginosum and Treatment / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Cutaneous Metastatic Rectal Adenocarcinoma in Zosteriform Distribution

No abstract available.

Pathogenesis of Plantar Epidermal Cyst: Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Analysis

No abstract available.

Application of Analytic Technique Using Green Light Parallel-Polarized Light Images in Various Skin Diseases

No abstract available.

Application of Analytic Technique Using Green Light Parallel-Polarized Light Images in Various Skin Diseases

No abstract available.

Polycyclic Annular Lesion Masquerading as Lupus Erythematosus and Emerging as Tinea Faciei Incognito

Tinea incognito is a dermatophytic infection induced by immunosuppressive agents that lacks the classic features of a typical fungal infection. Although the treatment of tinea incognito is simple and relatively easy, its clinical manifestation varies and can masquerade as various skin disorders, causing misdiagnosis and thus preventing prompt and appropriate treatment. Here, we report an interesting case of tinea incognito occurring after topical steroid administration in an immunosuppressed patient with dermatitis artefacta. A 40-year-old female patient who had been taking systemic glucocorticoid for 4 years for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy presented with itching multiple erythematous erosive lesions on the face and upper chest for 2 months. Initial biopsy produced nonspecific findings. The skin lesion was aggravated and became polycyclic and erythematous; after azathioprine was added, her chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy became aggravated. A second biopsy confirmed hyphae in the cornified layer. Complete remission was achieved after admonishing oral terbinafine and topical amorolfine.

Characteristics and Clinical Manifestations of Pigmented Purpuric Dermatosis

BACKGROUND: Pigmented purpuric dermatoses (PPD) are a spectrum of disorders characterized by a distinct purpuric rash. Although PPD can be easily diagnosed, the disease entity remains an enigma and a therapeutic challenge. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and clinical manifestations of PPD and to elucidate the relationship between assumed etiologic factors and the clinical manifestations of PPD and treatment responses. METHODS: Retrograde analyses were performed to identify appropriate PPD patients who visited Korea University Medical Center Anam Hospital from 2002 to 2012. RESULTS: Information on 113 patients with PPD was analyzed, and 38 subjects with skin biopsy were included for this study. Schamberg's disease was the most frequent clinical type (60.5%). Concomitant diseases included hypertension (15.8%), diabetes (10.5%), and others. Associated medication histories included statins (13.2%), beta blockers (10.5%), and others. Possibly associated etiologic factors were recent upper respiratory infection (5.3%), high orthostatic pressure due to prolonged standing (2.6%), and strenuous exercise (2.6%). A total of 36 patients (94.7%) were treated with one or more treatment methods, including oral antihistamines, pentoxifylline, topical steroids, and/or phototherapy. There was no significant difference in disease progress according to underlying diseases, medications, or association factors (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our overall results were grossly consistent with the existing literature, excluding several findings. Although a possible relationship between PPD and cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular medication was proposed at the beginning of the study, no statistically significant correlations were found according to the specific clinical types and treatment responses (p>0.05).