Hyung-Ok Kim

Enhanced IL-18 expression in common skin tumors

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) has been found to have multiple effects upon various cells involved in inflammatory response. Recently we reported that B16 murine melanoma cells are able to produce IL-18, which is involved in the regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and Fas-ligand expression, indicating that IL-18 plays key role in the tumor activity of melanoma. In this study, we investigated the pattern of IL-18 expression in the human system. IL-18 production was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay in various tumor cell lines, including Raji (Burkitts lymphoma), IM-9 (B lymphoblast), Jurkat (acute T cell leukemia), SK-MES-1 (squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line), SK-MEL-2, G-361, DM-4, and DX-3 (melanoma cell lines). ELISA tests showed that IL-18 was highly expressed in malignant skin tumors such as SK-MES-1, SK-MEL-2, G-361, DM-4, and DX-3 cell lines, thus suggesting that IL-18 production may be associated with the malignancy of skin tumors. Here, we report that enhanced IL-18 expression is positively correlated with malignant skin tumors such as SCC and melanoma, suggesting the importance role of IL-18 in malignancy of skin tumors. Taken together, expression of IL-18 by tumor cells in human skin tissue may provide an important clue to understand the pathogenesis of malignant skin tumors.

Dose-related effect of urinary cotinine levels on bone mineral density among Korean females

SummaryTo evaluate the dose-dependent relationship between smoking and bone mineral density (BMD), the present study used the BMD dataset of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV (KNHANES IV). The linearity of BMD for urinary cotinine levels was demonstrated with statistical significance in postmenopausal females.IntroductionIt is well established that smoking is an important lifestyle risk factor for bone health (bone loss, osteoporosis, and fracture). However, several studies demonstrated conflicting evidence for a dose-dependent relationship between smoking and bone health. To evaluate the dose-dependent relationship between smoking and BMD, the present study estimated dose-related effects of smoking (urinary cotinine level) on BMD at various sites (femur neck, total femur, and lumbar spine) in females with controlling menopausal status.MethodsThe present study used the BMD dataset of the KNHANES IV, which was performed in 2008 and 2009. A total of 4,260 pre- and postmenopausal females were included in the present study. Dose–response relationships between BMD and urinary cotinine levels were estimated using analysis of covariance in pre-menopausal females and postmenopausal females, respectively.ResultsIn postmenopausal females, the regression coefficients for BMD with urinary cotinine levels were −0.006, −0.006, and −0.008 (g/cm2 per ng/ml) at femur neck, total femur, and lumbar spine, respectively (p value < 0.05). Thus, the linearity of BMD for urinary cotinine levels was demonstrated with statistical significance in postmenopausal females.ConclusionOur findings suggested a significant dose-related effect of urinary cotinine level with BMD at femur neck, total femur, and lumbar spine among postmenopausal females.

Perception of men with androgenetic alopecia by women and nonbalding men in Korea: how the nonbald regard the bald

Background Baldness has significant negative psychosocial effects. It has been asserted that the negative effects of baldness are often trivialized by the nonbald. Most studies concerning the perception of baldness have focused on the perceptions of the bald by themselves. In this study, we assessed the perception of baldness by the nonbald in Korea.

Relationship between neurokinin 2 receptor gene polymorphisms and serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma

Background Among the various pathogenic mechanisms of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)‐induced asthma, a contribution from neurogenic inflammation has been suggested.

Letter: Punctate Leucoderma After Low-Fluence 1,064-nm Quality-Switched Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser Therapy Successfully Managed Using a 308-nm Excimer Laser

Melasma is a common acquired pigmentary disorder in Asians that has significant psychological effect. In recent years, use of a largespot-size, low-fluence, multiple-pass qualityswitched 1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (QSNY), has gained much popularity in Asian countries for the treatment of melasma, with good results, but complications such as rebound hyperpigmentation, relapse, skin dryness, acneiform eruptions, milium formation, and punctate leucoderma are possible.

Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Melasma: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Tranexamic acid is a novel treatment option for melasma; however, there is no consensus on its use. This systematic review searched major databases for relevant publications to March 2016. Eleven studies with 667 participants were included. Pooled data from tranexamic acid-only observational studies with pre- and post-treatment Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) showed a decrease of 1.60 in MASI (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20-2.00; p<0.001) after treat-ment with tranexamic acid. The addition of tranexamic acid to routine treatment modalities resulted in a further decrease in MASI of 0.94 (95% CI 0.10-1.79; p = 0.03). Side-effects were minor, with a few cases reporting hypo-menorrhoea, mild abdominal discomfort, and transient skin irritation. These results support the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid, either alone or as an adjuvant to routine treatment modalities for melasma.

Leukemia cutis limited to the needle puncture sites

Figure 1. Multiple, painless, 1–2.5-cm, movable skin-colored nodules with rubbery consistency arranged in a linear fashion. Dear Editor, Leukemia cutis is a localized or disseminated skin infiltration by leukemic cells. An early and accurate identification of leukemia cutis is important as it implies poor prognosis. Although the incidence of leukemia cutis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not low (13% in overall incidence and 30% incidence in subtypes M4 and M5), those limited to trauma sites have rarely been reported. We herein present a case of leukemia cutis exclusively found at needle puncture sites in a patient with AML (M0). A 40-year-old man was referred to our department to identify the nature of persistent skin lesions of 1-month duration on his arms. Multiple, painless, 1–2.5-cm, movable skin-colored nodules of rubbery consistency were arranged in a linear fashion (Fig. 1). He had just recently been diagnosed with AML (without maturation, M0), and was on combined chemotherapy composed of idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside. The skin lesions were said to develop on the needle puncture sites (points of blood sampling and peripheral i.v line insertion) after an average interval of 2 days. At first we considered lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis and atypical mycobacterial infection because of the linear nature of the skin lesions. To confirm the diagnosis, we performed a skin biopsy with tissue culture. The punch biopsy specimen showed extensive infiltration of atypical cells in the dermis with minimal interruption of the epidermis (Fig. 2a). The cells dissecting the collagen bundles and surrounding the adnexal structures were morphologically identical to the blastic cells from the bone marrow. Immunohistochemically, the blasts were focally positive with myeloperoxidase (MPO), chloroacetate esterase (Leder’s stain) and CD117 (Fig. 2b–d). CD15 was negative. With such findings, we made a final diagnosis of AML (M0) cutis. Our patient was not able to receive full-dose chemotherapy due to the subtle signs of pneumonia at the time of AML diagnosis, but even with the titrated dose, he eventually developed

Medallion-Like Dermal Dendrocyte Hamartoma: Differential Diagnosis with Congenital Atrophic Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

382 Ann Dermatol Received October 9, 2012, Accepted for publication October 18, 2012 Corresponding author: Young Min Park, Department of Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2258-6223, Fax: 82-2-599-9950, E-mail: yymmpark6301@hotmail.com This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Dermatol 1994;11:241-245. 6. Elder DE. Dysplastic naevi: an update. Histopathology 2010; 56:112-120. 7. Misago N, Takahashi M, Kohda H. Unilateral dysplastic nevi associated with malignant melanoma. J Dermatol 1991;18: 649-653. 8. Sterry W, Christophers E. Quadrant distribution of dysplastic nevus syndrome. Arch Dermatol 1988;124:926-929. 9. Marghoob AA, Blum R, Nossa R, Busam KJ, Sachs D, Halpern A. Agminated atypical (dysplastic) nevi: case report and review of the literature. Arch Dermatol 2001;137:917-920. 10. Bragg JW, Swindle L, Halpern AC, Marghoob AA. Agminated acquired melanocytic nevi of the common and dysplastic type. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:67-73.

Eosinophilic cellulitis in a patient with gastric cancer.

© 2009 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-0698 Journal Compilation

Case of juvenile localized scleroderma with joint sclerosis and Sjögren’s syndrome in a child with precocious puberty

venous insufficiency or nodular fat necrosis, calcification is not necessarily associated with the inflammatory cell infiltration as seen in the present case (Fig. 2a,b). Therefore, the membranocystic degeneration per se might be a direct trigger of the dystrophic calcification resulting in the progressive calcification despite sufficient PSL dose controlling inflammation in our case. For the treatment of cutaneous calcinosis, no evidence-based protocol has been established. Although low-dose warfarin, calcium blocker, aluminum hydrochloride or minocycline have been applied for cutaneous calcinosis, these are effective only for small calcium deposition. Therefore, the surgical procedure seems to be the only reliable maneuver for massive calcinosis. Abrasion using CO2 laser on the painful lesion was not effective for the markedly thickened calcification in our case. In our case, extensive calcinosis with LEP was manifested in spite of well-controlled SLE and only surgical resection was effective. LEP should be carefully evaluated during the clinical course of SLE, because LEP might induce massive calcified lesions with considerable morbidity.