Jiehyun Jeon

Molecular Phenotyping Small (Asian) versus Large (Western) Plaque Psoriasis Shows Common Activation of IL-17 Pathway Genes but Different Regulatory Gene Sets.

Psoriasis is present in all racial groups, but in varying frequencies and severity. Considering that small plaque psoriasis is specific to the Asian population and severe psoriasis is more predominant in the Western population, we defined Asian small and intermediate plaque psoriasis as psoriasis subtypes and compared their molecular signatures with the classic subtype of Western large plaque psoriasis. Two different characteristics of psoriatic spreading-vertical growth and radial expansion-were contrasted between subtypes, and genomic data were correlated to histologic and clinical measurements. Compared with Western large plaque psoriasis, Asian small plaque psoriasis revealed limited psoriasis spreading, but IL-17A and IL-17-regulated proinflammatory cytokines were highly expressed. Paradoxically, IL-17A and IL-17-regulated proinflammatory cytokines were lower in Western large plaque psoriasis, whereas T cells and dendritic cells in total psoriatic skin area were exponentially increased. Negative immune regulators, such as CD69 and FAS, were decreased in both Western large plaque psoriasis and psoriasis with accompanying arthritis or obesity, and their expression was correlated with psoriasis severity index. Based on the disease subtype comparisons, we propose that dysregulation of T-cell expansion enabled by downregulation of immune negative regulators is the main mechanism for development of large plaque psoriasis subtypes.

The Antimicrobial Activity of (-)-Epigallocatehin-3-Gallate and Green Tea Extracts against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli Isolated from Skin Wounds

Background Skin infections with Gram-negative bacteria are sometimes challenging to treat, because these bacteria show multidrug resistance against commonly used antibiotics and patients with Gram-negative bacterial infection overall have deteriorated in conditions in many cases. Studies have shown that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and green tea extracts (GTE) inhibit the growth of several Gram-positive bacteria species. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EGCG and GTE in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and assess the use of these chemicals as an alternative or adjunct topical antimicrobial agent against P. aeruginosa and E. coli with multidrug resistance. Methods The MICs of EGCG, GTE, and other tested antibiotics were measured and compared to determine the antibacterial efficacy and the differences in pattern of resistance. Results The P. aeruginosa and E. coli strains used in this study showed multidrug resistance. EGCG inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa at a MIC level of 200~400 µg/ml. The MIC of GTE was a 1 : 16 dilution for P. aeruginosa. EGCG showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli at a MIC of 400 µg/ml. In the case of GTE, the MIC was a dilution between 1:8 and 1:4 for E. coli. Conclusion EGCG and GTE showed potential as alternative or adjunct topical antimicrobial agents for infections that are resistant to traditional antibiotic therapy.

Severity of acute and chronic urticaria correlates with D-dimer level, but not C-reactive protein or total IgE

Although various scoring systems for measuring urticaria severity have been introduced, most rely on subjective criteria. Therefore, additional objective criteria such as laboratory markers would be helpful adjuncts in making this assessment.

Dual-color, break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization probe for distinguishing clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue from malignant melanoma

Background Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) of soft tissue is a rare soft tissue sarcoma with melanocytic differentiation and shares morphologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular features with malignant melanoma (MM). Because the prognosis of CCS is much different from MM, it is important to distinguish each other by selective method. CCS is well‐recognized as having the t(12;22)(q13;q12) translocation, on the other hand MM is not. Therefore, detecting Ewing sarcoma region 1 (ESWR1) gene rearrangement can serve as a crucial diagnostic determinant.

Eccrine poroma and eccrine porocarcinoma in linear epidermal nevus

INTRODUCTION Epidermal nevi arise from pluripotential germinative cells in the basal layer of the embryonic epidermis. These cells give rise to keratinocytes and skin appendages such as sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and apocrine glands. Therefore, epidermal nevi can be classified according to their predominant components, and terms such as nevus verrucosus, nevus sebaceus, nevus comedonicus, and nevus syringocystadenosus papilliferus are given to appropriate lesions. However, the division is not absolute, and overlap may be seen both clinically and histologically between classifications, forming a continuous spectrum. There are occasional reports of benign or malignant tumors developing in the preexisting verrucous, solitary, or linear epidermal nevi. However, these secondary neoplasms seem to be much rarer in epidermal nevi than in sebaceous or apocrine nevi. The majority of neoplasms that originate in epidermal nevi are epithelial tumors such as basal cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma, Bowen disease, and squamous cell carcinoma. Skin appendageal secondary tumors are rare, and to the best of our knowledge, only 1 case report of eccrine poroma and eccrine porocarcinoma that developed within a linear epidermal nevus has been published.

Updated view on epidemiology and clinical aspects of pilomatricoma in adults

Clinically, pilomatricoma offers potential for a wide spectrum of differential diagnoses. It typically occurs in pediatric patients with the head being the most common location. A second peak of clinical presentation occurs in adults at age 50–65 years, suggesting a bimodal pattern of occurrence.

Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from skin infections and its implications in various clinical conditions in Korea.

Periodic investigations into patterns of antimicrobial resistance can help to optimize the efficacy of treatment and limit the development of resistance.

An unusual case of nevus of Ota combined with nevus spilus.

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Dynamic thermal imaging on actinic keratosis patients: A preliminary study

Diagnosis of actinic keratosis (AK) based only on clinical findings can be misleading, and histopathological diagnosis results in scars. Dynamic thermal imaging is a potential non‐invasive tool for the diagnosis of AK. This imaging technique quantifies the infrared (IR) radiation emitted by a subject after exposure to external thermal stimuli, such as heat or cold.

Disseminated cryptococcosis presenting as cellulitis

Sir, Cryptococcosis is commonly associated with immunosuppression and the primary site of infection is usually lungs; however, a cutaneous form of infection is seen in about 6–10% of patients. The cutaneous lesions develop as a result of dissemination or rarely, through direct inoculation. Major cutaneous findings include umbilicated or acneiform papules, pustules progressing to crusted plaques, or nodules.1,2 Cryptococcal cellulitis is not commonly considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or history of undergoing organ transplant. We report cryptococcal infection presenting as cellulitis in a patient with renal failure, undergoing oral steroid therapy.