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BACKGROUND Topical application of epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes wound healing and may reduce the risk of laser-induced postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of an EGF-containing cream on the incidence of laser-induced PIH. METHODS Twenty-five Korean patients with senile lentigines were recruited and underwent 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment. Postoperatively, patients applied either an EGF-containing cream or a control cream to the laser-treated area. Skin color and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured on Days 0, 3, 7, and 35 using a Mexameter and Tewameter, respectively. RESULTS The EGF-containing cream resulted in a nonsignificant reduction in the laser-induced increase in TEWL (p = .052 on Day 7) but significantly decreased the melanin index and incidence of PIH on Day 35 (p = .031 and p = .027, respectively). CONCLUSION Epidermal growth factor-containing creams may be an effective measure to prevent laser treatment-induced PIH in Asian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal stem cells (SC) are believed to be resistant to environmental damage for the purpose of self renewal. Most promising SC markers include integrin α6 and p63. The aim of our study was to determine whether the integrin α6+p63+ cell fraction representative of the epidermal progenitor or SC is increased after ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and to clarify the hypothesis that epidermal SC are resistant to high-dose UVB damage. We irradiated early passage normal human keratinocytes (NHK) with 0, 25, 50, and 100 mJ/cm² UVB. The percentage of cell death was calculated. Real-time reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and western blotting analyses were performed to identify integrin α6 and p63, and flow cytometry analysis with integrin α6 and p63 antibodies was done. After 50 and 100 mJ/cm² UVB, integrin α6+p63+ cells were found to be much increased by fluorescenceactivated cell sorting. Expression of integrin α6 and p63 was increased in NHK after UVB irradiation, which was shown with real-time RT-PCR and western blotting analyses. We concluded that an increase of integrin α6+p63+ cells after high-dose UVB may suggest that the putative progenitor or SC are resistant to UVB irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a patient presented with a four month history of multiple violaceous scaly tender patches on both lower legs. The patient underwent transbronchial lung biopsy and showed alveolar pneumocyte hyperplasia with intra-alveolar hyaline membranes. Following a skin biopsy from the right lower leg, it found no evidence of lymphoma and there was scanty lymphocytic cell infiltration.

Patients with chronic itch describe their pruritus in a wide variety of ways. However, these subjective descriptions are often not taken into consideration by physicians. This study aimed to validate patients' descriptions of pruritus, and to investigate the relationship between various descriptions of pruritus and the patient burden of chronic pruritus by examining the mediating effects of sleep disturbance and sexual dysfunction on patient's quality of life, as predicted by various descriptions of pruritus. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to identify the factor structure measured by 11 descriptions of pruritus. The study then analysed differences in the degree of sleep disturbance, sexual dysfunction, and quality of life deterioration factors using a structural equation modelling method. Using data from 419 patients with chronic pruritus, 11 descriptions of pruritus were classified into 2 groups: (i) sensory pruritus (i.e. stinging, stabbing, burning, painful, formication, throbbing, and cold) that are linked with descriptions of pruritus patterns; and (ii) affective pruritus (i.e. annoying, unbearable, worrisome, and warm) from patient reports of psychological or emotional distress. The study found that affective pruritus decreases patient's quality of life either directly or indirectly through sleep disturbance. In conclusion, clues about a patients' sleep disturbance or poor quality of life can be obtained through their descriptions of pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Enlarged facial pores can be an early manifestation of skin aging and they are a common aesthetic concern for Asians. However, studies of improving the appearance of enlarged pores have been limited. OBJECTIVE The authors aimed to study the application of CO2 fractional laser treatment in patients with enlarged facial pores. METHODS A total of 32 patients with dilated facial pores completed 3 consecutive sessions of low energy level treatments with a fractional CO2 laser at 4-week intervals. Image analysis was performed to calculate the number of enlarged pores before each treatment session and 12 weeks after the final treatment. RESULTS After application of laser treatments, there was a significant decrease in the number of enlarged pores. The mean number of enlarged pores was decreased by 28.8% after the second session and by 54.5% at post-treatment evaluation. Post-treatment side effects were mild and transitory. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated clear increases in the number of collagen fibers and the expression of transforming growth factor-β1. CONCLUSION The short-term results showed that treatment with low energy level CO2 fractional laser therapy could be a safe and effective option for patients with Fitzpatrick skin Types III and IV who are concerned with enlarged pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimized therapeutic regimen involving a nonablative fractionated laser or radiofrequency therapy for acne scars has not yet been established. To evaluate whether the combination of a non-ablative fractional laser (NAF) and fractional micro-needling radiofrequency (FMR) has clinical advantages for the treatment of atrophic acne scars compared with NAF alone, a 16-week prospective, randomized split-face study was performed. Each facial side of a patient was treated with 3 sessions of either NAF with FMR or NAF alone, with a 4-week interval between each session. Although both sides demonstrated significant decreases in the échelle d'évaluation clinique des cicatrices d'acné (ECCA) score, the facial side treated using the combination regimen demonstrated greater improvement in ECCA score regarding degree and onset time than the NAF-treated side. Histopathological and immunohistochemical results confirmed the clinical findings. This study demonstrated that a combination regimen involving NAF and FMR could be a viable option with satisfactory efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]