Knockdown of moesin expression accelerates cellular senescence of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.

PURPOSE: Endothelial cells maintain the homeostasis of blood, which consists of plasma and cellular components, and regulate the interaction between blood and the surrounding tissues. They also have essential roles in vascular permeability, the circulation, coagulation, inflammation, wound healing, and tissue growth. The senescence of endothelial cells is closely related to the aging of the adjacent tissues and to age-related vascular disease. Recently, the expression of moesin was found to be decreased in elderly human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs), and an association between moesin and senescence has been suggested. This study examined the functional role of moesin in cellular senescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the effects of decreased moesin expression on cellular senescence and metabolism, HDMECs were transfected with short hairpin-RNA (shRNA) lentivirus to silence moesin gene expression. In addition, specimens from young and old human skin were stained with antimoesin and anti-p16 antibodies as an in vivo study. RESULTS: Using shRNAlentivirus, moesin knock-down HDMECs developed characteristics associated with aging and expressed senescence associated-beta-galactosidase during early passages. They also showed increased p16 expression, decreased metabolic activity, and cell growth retardation. Human skin tissue from elderly persons showed decreased moesin expression and increased p16 expression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there is a functional association between moesin expression and cellular senescence. Further study of the functional mechanism of moesin in the cytoskeleton and cellular senescence is needed. In addition, this study provides a useful model for developing anti-aging treatments.

Comparison of Mohs micrographic surgery and wide excision for extramammary Paget's Disease: Korean experience.

BACKGROUND: Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is an uncommon tumor that usually occurs on the genitalia. It almost always extends beyond clinically apparent margins and has a high rate of recurrence. OBJECTIVE: To establish treatment guidelines for EMPD in Asian patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was done on pertinent demographic data, tumor data, treatment characteristics, and follow-up data of 35 patients between 1996 and 2006. Review of literature for treatment modalities and recurrence rates of EMPD was also performed. RESULTS: Thirty-four of the 35 patients (30 men and 5 women) had lesions in the genital area and one patient in the axilla. Mean follow-up duration was 62.7 months (8-156 months) and two of 11 (18.2%) recurred after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), compared with eight recurrences of 22 (36.4%) after standard wide excision. Two patients treated with nonsurgical modalities did not achieve complete remission. Estimated 5-year tumor-free rate using Kaplan-Meier graph was 69.7% in all patients, with a rate of 81.8% for MMS and 63.6% for wide excision. CONCLUSIONS: MMS is more effective, with lower recurrence rate than wide excision, and should be regarded as the first-line treatment for nonmetastatic EMPD.

Efficacy of the fractional photothermolysis system with dynamic operating mode on acne scars and enlarged facial pores.

BACKGROUND: Current treatments for acne scars and enlarged facial pores have shown limited efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the fractional photothermolysis system (FPS) with dynamic operating mode on acne scars and enlarged pores. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with mild to moderate atrophic acne scars and enlarged pores were included in this study. Three sessions of FPS treatment were performed for acne scars and facial pores monthly. Two blinded dermatologists who compared before and after photos based on a quartile grading scale conducted objective clinical assessments of acne scar- and facial pore-treated areas. We took a biopsy immediately after one treatment with the laser from one of the authors to assess the histologic effects of the laser on facial pores. RESULTS: Follow-up results at 4 months after the last treatment revealed that, of the 12 patients, for acne scars, five demonstrated clinical improvements of 51% to 75% and three demonstrated improvements of 76% to 100%, and for facial pores, five demonstrated moderate clinical improvements of 26% to 50% and three demonstrated improvements of 76% to 100%. Side effects, including pain, post-treatment erythema, and edema, were resolved within 1 week. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the FPS may provide a new treatment algorithm in some cases with acne scars and enlarged pores. Considering the lack of placebo-controlled, split-face design of our study, optimized, prospective studies should be conducted to fully assess the efficacy of FPS with dynamic operating mode.

Clinical manifestations associated with high titer of anti-streptolysin O in Behcet's disease.

To evaluate the association of chronic infection with clinical features of Behcet's disease (BD), we studied epidemiological and clinical features of 149 patients with only aphthous ulcer and 294 patients with BD. The incidence of chronic infection history was compared between both groups with age- and sex-matching and clinical manifestations of BD associated with high anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titer were investigated. BD patients had more common history of tonsillitis and dental caries than aphthous ulcer patients (P = 0.002 and P = 0.043, respectively). BD patients with persistently high anti-streptolysin O titers had more frequent history of tonsillitis (P = 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53-5.82) and erythema nodosum (EN)-like lesions (P = 0.001, OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.54-5.93) and fewer history of genital ulcer (P = 0.027, OR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.84) than BD patients with normal anti-streptolysin O titer. Our results suggest persistently high ASO titers in BD patients could indicate that streptococcal infections such as tonsillitis are related to BD symptoms such as EN-like lesions. In these patients, ASO titer can be used in the evaluation of BD disease activity and antibiotic treatments might be effective to control the symptoms of BD.

Two cases of acute leukopenia induced by colchicine with concurrent immunosuppressants use in Behçet's disease.

Colchicine-induced leukopenia usually occurrs in intentional or accidental overdoses or inappropriate use in combination with intravenous and oral colchine; however, there have been several reports of hematologic toxicity in short-term and small-dose colchicine medication courses. We present two cases of leukopenia induced by colchicine use concurrent with immunosuppressants in Behçet's disease. We postulate that the mechanism of colchicine-induced leukopenia might be the destruction of circulating leukocytes and an inhibition of leukocyte production by the immediate and direct toxic effect of colchicine on idiosyncrasies unique to each patient. The concurrently administered immunosuppressant might decrease the threshold for hematologic toxicity of colchicine in the leukocytes and their precursor cells.

Burn scars treated by pinhole method using a carbon dioxide laser.

Many patients with burn injuries have various complications and emotional problems due to scars. Although various modalities to improve burn scars have been attempted, such as excision of scars, skin grafts, laser abrasion and silicone product usage, the cosmetic outcomes have not been satisfactory for a large portion of patients. Herein, we describe two cases which showed satisfactory cosmetic results after treatment of burns scars with the pinhole method using a carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser that allowed us to make deep, closely set holes reaching down to the upper dermis. A 20-year-old female patient with a scar on her neck and a 25-year-old female patient with a scar on her right forearm after burn injuries are presented. As early as only a few weeks after the treatment, the scars showed relaxation of contracture, reduction of wrinkles and improvement of texture and color compared to before the treatment. Treatment of burn scars with the pinhole method can be easily performed and results in dramatic improvement in scar quality with only a few side-effects.