In Ho Kwon

Association between Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Korean Patients

BACKGROUNDnPrevious studies have shown a possible association between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors.nnnOBJECTIVEnWe wanted to study the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors, including metabolic syndrome.nnnMETHODSnWe determined the relationship of psoriasis with the cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. For the proper level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, we calculated the proportion of psoriasis patients who needed lifestyle changes or drug therapy.nnnRESULTSnThis study included 197 patients with psoriasis and 401 controls. We found a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (17.8%, p=0.021), cardiovascular disease (4.6%, p=0.044), hypertension (32.5%, p=0.000) and hyperlipidemia (22.3%, p=0.025) in patients with psoriasis, as compared with that of the controls. To maintain proper LDL levels, 25.3% of the psoriasis patients needed lifestyle changes and 11.7% needed drug therapy.nnnCONCLUSIONnOur results demonstrate a possible association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors (metabolic syndrome, hypertension and hyperlipidemia) in Korean patients. We also demonstrated that a substantial portion of patients with psoriasis need lifestyle changes and drug therapy to prevent cardiovascular events. Further studies will be necessary to establish the association and causality between psoriasis and the cardiovascular risk factors.

Cross-sectional study on the correlation of serum uric acid with disease severity in Korean patients with psoriasis

Background.u2002 Hyperuricaemia is a common finding in patients with psoriasis. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent results about the association between serum uric acid concentration (SUAC) and psoriasis severity. Recent studies have also reported that SUAC is associated with metabolic dysregulation.

Concomitant use of an infrared fractional laser with low-dose isotretinoin for the treatment of acne and acne scars.

Background: Acne scarring has lifelong sequelae. Fractional photothermolysis (FP) has been shown to provide fast recovery from acne within a short period, thereby aiding skin rejuvenation. Isotretinoin is a well-known, effective drug for the treatment of severe recalcitrant acne. This study investigated the safety and the efficacy of infrared fractional laser treatment in conjunction with low-dose isotretinoin for the treatment of acne and acne scars. Materials: A 1550 nm Erbium-doped fiber laser was used to treat 35 patients with acne scarring. All the patients had taken isotretinoin (10 mg/day) for more than one month prior to the commencement of the fractional laser treatment. Results:There was no aggravation of acne scars, hypertrophic scars, or keloids. Most of the patients (33 patients) received reduced microthermal damage zone (MTZ) treatment. Eighty percent of the treated patients (28 patients) demonstrated more than a fair improvement. The total average score on the global acne scarring classification before treatment was 13.5, and the score after treatment was 11.2. Conclusion: Acne and acne scars can be treated more effectively by concomitant use of an infrared fractional laser with low-dose isotretinoin with reduced MTZ densities. Most patients showed more than a fair improvement, and there was no aggravation of the scars.

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.

A Two-week Interval Is Better Than a Three-week Interval for Reducing the Recurrence Rate of Hand-foot Viral Warts after Cryotherapy: A Retrospective Review of 560 Hand-foot Viral Warts Patients

BACKGROUNDnViral warts are a common infectious disease and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is one of the most common methods for treatment of these warts. Hand-foot viral warts frequently recur and reduce quality of life as well.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo find the ideal treatment interval between cryotherapy sessions that can influence not only the cure rate but also the recurrence rate for hand-foot viral warts.nnnMETHODSnA retrospective study was designed to compare a 2 week interval and a 3 week interval between cryotherapy sessions on hand-foot viral warts with respect to cure rate, recurrence rate, treatment number, duration of treatment, mean time to recurrence and adverse events.nnnRESULTSnA total of 560 patients were enrolled. The overall cure rate was 75.7% and the recurrence rate was 19.6%. The mean time to recurrence was 7.8 months (range 1~26 months). For the 2-week and 3-week groups, cure rates were, respectively, 76.6% (196) and 75.0% (228); recurrence rates were 13.3% (26) and 25.0% (57). The mean time to recurrence was 9.8 months and 6.9 months, respectively. Adverse events were not statistically different.nnnCONCLUSIONnWe suggested that 2-week cryotherapy is optimal not only because of the rapid cure but also because of the lower recurrence rate and similar adverse events.

Facial psoriasis log-based area and severity index (fPLASI): construct validity of a new facial psoriasis measurement tool.

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Three Cases of Lichen Nitidus Associated with Various Cutaneous Diseases

Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon, usually asymptomatic cutaneous eruption characterized by the presence of multiple, small, flesh-colored papules. The epidemiologic and pathophysiologic characteristics of LN have not yet been defined. Furthermore, LN has rarely been described in association with other cutaneous diseases. We herein report 3 cases of LN associated with various cutaneous diseases, including lichen striatus, oral lichen planus, and psoriasis vulgaris.

A case of sinusoidal hemangioma with lipoma.

Sinusoidal hemangioma is a distinctive subset of a group of lesions known collectively as cavernous hemangiomas. Clinically, it develops in adults, predominantly females, and presents as a solitary, painless, bluish, deep dermal or subcutaneous nodule. Lipoma is the most common benign soft tissue tumor. Lipoma is distinguished from sinusoidal hemangioma on both clinical and histological grounds. Several studies have suggested that adipocytes originate from perivascular cells during adipogenesis. Angiogenic cytokines released by adipocytes play a role in the vasoproliferative response. The rearrangement or loss of chromosome 13 can also be associated with hemangioma. However, no previous cases of sinusoidal hemangioma have been associated with benign tumors like lipoma. Here, we describe an unusual case of sinusoidal hemangioma that occurred together with a lipoma on the right upper arm of a 43-year-old male.

A Case of Becker's Nevus with Osteoma Cutis

Beckers nevus is a relatively common acquired focal epidermal melanotic hypermelanosis usually found in the region of the shoulder girdle of young men. Various skeletal malformations and cutaneous dermatoses have been reported in Beckers nevus. Osteoma cutis is a rare disorder characterized by compact bone formation in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. Secondary ossification on nevi has been reported, but not with Beckers nevus. Herein, we report a case of Beckers nevus with accompanying osteoma cutis in an 18-year-old female.

An immunohistochemical study of the origin of the solid strand in syringoma, using carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and cytokeratin 5

Backgroundu2002 Although much research has been conducted into the origin of syringoma, the histogenesis and differentiation of it remains controversial. The published studies examined various antibodies, and our study is an additional immunohistochemical work‐up.