PURPOSE: Long-term treatment with inhaled steroids (ICS), especially fluticasone that developed lately, may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This study investigated the relationship between ICS use and HPA axis suppression in asthmatics under ICS treatment for average 4.5 years. METHODS: The medical records of 129 adult asthmatics who received ICS treatment for 6 months or more and underwent a corticotropin stimulation test from January 2005 to August 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The patients received ICS only (n=87) were found to have an abnormal response to the corticotropin test in as high as 32.2%, and those received ICS in combination with oral steroids (n=42) had a significantly higher prevalence of the response (71.4%, P<0.001). Abnormal responses to corticotropin occurred depending on ICS daily doses (low, n=8, 12.5%; medium, n=19, 36.8%; high, n=102, 49.0%; chi2=4.384, P=0.036). Among the subjects received ICS only, nasal steroid doses (P=0.016) but not ICS doses (P=0.159) were significantly higher in those with abnormal responses than the others. Among all the subjects, oral steroid use (odds ratio [OR], 4.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.35-11.80; P<0.001) and nasal steroid dose (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.04; P=0.015) were significant risk factors for HPA axis suppression. CONCLUSION: One-third of asthmatics under long-term treatment with ICS showed a suppression of the HPA axis in a dose-dependent manner. Oral or nasal steroid use may be a risk factor for the suppression. However, since our results may have been overestimated due to subject selection bias, further prospective case-control studies are warranted.
Adrenal Glands ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Adult ; Asthma* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Selection Bias ; Steroids* ; Fluticasone

Some parts of Tables 1 and 2 in this paper was described incorrectly.

On page 289 of this paper, the x-axis title in Fig. 3A has been incorrectly spelled.

The monokaryotic strain, Schizophyllum commune strain IUM1114-SS01, was generated from a basidiospore of dikaryotic parental strain IUM1114. It even showed the decolorizing activities for several textile dyes much better than its parental strain. Based on the results of a single-molecule real-time sequencing technology, we present the draft genome of S. commune IUM1114-SS01, comprising 41.1 Mb with GC contents of the genome were 57.44%.Among 13,380 protein-coding genes, 534 genes are carbon hydrate-active enzyme coding genes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Burns ; Depression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

Sebaceous neoplasms are rare adnexal tumors that can present a challenge to clinicians. Only four cases of sebaceous carcinoma with sebaceoma have been reported in the literature. Herein, we describe the case of a sebaceous carcinoma originating from a sebaceoma in a solitary nodule of the posterior neck. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for epithelial membrane antigen and p53. It is possible that adnexal carcinomas may arise from malignant transformation of their benign counterparts as well as de novo. Malignant transformation was likely in this case because the lesion was composed of distinct benign and malignant components, and the benign component showed the typical histopathological features of sebaceoma. This case underscores the fact that partial and superficial biopsies sometimes may not provide the correct diagnosis. If a surgeon suspects malignancy based on a clinical examination, then it is mandatory to perform a deep biopsy.

Retrobulbar hemorrhage is a disastrous condition that can lead to permanent blindness. As such, rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical. Here, we report a patient who presented with retrobulbar hemorrhage following an orbital floor fracture. Restoration of inferior orbital wall with porous polyethylene implant was underwent. Four days after the orbital floor reconstruction, the patient smoked a cigarette outdoors in –3˚C weather. Cold temperature and smoking caused an increase in his systemic blood pressure. The elevated blood pressure increased intraorbital pressure to the extent of causing central retinal artery occlusion and exacerbated oozing. During exploratory surgery, 3 mL of hematoma and diffuse oozing without arterial bleeding were observed. Prompt diagnosis and treatment prevented vision impairment. Few studies have reported on the risk factors for retrobulbar hemorrhage. This case showed that daily activities, such as exposure to cold weather or tobacco smoking, could be risk factors for retrobulbar hemorrhage.

Head and neck cutaneous metastasis of advanced gastric cancer is uncommon, and scalp metastasis is particularly rare. We present the case of a 60-year-old man who was diagnosed with cutaneous metastasis on the scalp originating from advanced gastric cancer. The patient was referred to the plastic surgery department for a scalp mass near the hairline. He had been diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer and undergone total gastrectomy and Roux esophagojejunostomy 3 years previously. The differential diagnosis for a single flesh-colored nodule on the scalp included benign tumors such as epidermal cyst or lipoma; therefore, the patient underwent excision and biopsy. In the operative field, the mass was found to be located in the frontalis muscle. The biopsy result showed that the mass was a metastatic lesion of advanced gastric cancer. Whole-body computed tomography revealed a gastric tumor with blood vessel infiltration, peritoneal carcinomatosis, liver metastasis, and multiple disseminated subcutaneous metastases. Although scalp metastasis originating from an internal organ is extremely rare, plastic surgeons should always consider a metastatic lesion in the differential diagnosis if a patient with a scalp lesion has a history of malignant cancer.

Isolated head and neck metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is relatively rare and metastasis to the temple area is very rare. Here, we present the case of a 51-year-old man who was diagnosed with RCC 2 years earlier and had a contralateral metastatic temple area lesion. The patient who was diagnosed with renal cell cancer and underwent a nephrectomy 2 years ago was referred to the plastic surgery department for a temple mass on the contralateral side. In the operative field, the mass was located in the temporalis muscle with a red-to-purple protruding shape. Biopsy of the mass revealed a metastatic RCC lesion. Computed tomography imaging showed a lobulated, contoured enhancing lesion. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging showed high-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the right temporalis muscle. The patient underwent wide excision of the metastatic RCC including the temporalis muscle at the plastic surgery department. Skeletal muscle metastasis of head and neck lesions is extremely rare in RCC. Isolated contralateral temporalis muscle metastasis in RCC has not been previously reported in the literature. If a patient has a history of malignant cancer, plastic surgeons should always consider metastatic lesions of head and neck tumors. Because of its high metastatic ability and poor prognosis, it is very important to keep this case in mind.

Sebaceous neoplasms are rare adnexal tumors that can present a challenge to clinicians. Only four cases of sebaceous carcinoma with sebaceoma have been reported in the literature. Herein, we describe the case of a sebaceous carcinoma originating from a sebaceoma in a solitary nodule of the posterior neck. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for epithelial membrane antigen and p53. It is possible that adnexal carcinomas may arise from malignant transformation of their benign counterparts as well as de novo. Malignant transformation was likely in this case because the lesion was composed of distinct benign and malignant components, and the benign component showed the typical histopathological features of sebaceoma. This case underscores the fact that partial and superficial biopsies sometimes may not provide the correct diagnosis. If a surgeon suspects malignancy based on a clinical examination, then it is mandatory to perform a deep biopsy.