Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy that includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer (GBC). While BTC has a low global incidence, its regional variations are notable. Among nations, Korea has the second-highest incidence of BTC globally, with the highest mortality rate worldwide, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of this cancer. Liver fluke infection and hepatitis B virus infection are key risk factors unique to Korea, contributing to regional differences in BTC incidence. Additionally, genomic alterations in Korean patients with BTC differ from those in other populations, including lower frequencies of IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions in ICC and a higher prevalence of ERBB2 amplification in GBC. Recognizing the clinical significance of these alterations, ivosidenib and pemigatinib have been approved in Korea for BTC patients with IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, respectively. This review explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular features of BTC, along with corresponding targeted therapies. Furthermore, we compare the unique characteristics of BTC in Korea with global data to inform future research and clinical practice.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy that includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer (GBC). While BTC has a low global incidence, its regional variations are notable. Among nations, Korea has the second-highest incidence of BTC globally, with the highest mortality rate worldwide, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of this cancer. Liver fluke infection and hepatitis B virus infection are key risk factors unique to Korea, contributing to regional differences in BTC incidence. Additionally, genomic alterations in Korean patients with BTC differ from those in other populations, including lower frequencies of IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions in ICC and a higher prevalence of ERBB2 amplification in GBC. Recognizing the clinical significance of these alterations, ivosidenib and pemigatinib have been approved in Korea for BTC patients with IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, respectively. This review explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular features of BTC, along with corresponding targeted therapies. Furthermore, we compare the unique characteristics of BTC in Korea with global data to inform future research and clinical practice.

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy that includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer (GBC). While BTC has a low global incidence, its regional variations are notable. Among nations, Korea has the second-highest incidence of BTC globally, with the highest mortality rate worldwide, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of this cancer. Liver fluke infection and hepatitis B virus infection are key risk factors unique to Korea, contributing to regional differences in BTC incidence. Additionally, genomic alterations in Korean patients with BTC differ from those in other populations, including lower frequencies of IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions in ICC and a higher prevalence of ERBB2 amplification in GBC. Recognizing the clinical significance of these alterations, ivosidenib and pemigatinib have been approved in Korea for BTC patients with IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, respectively. This review explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular features of BTC, along with corresponding targeted therapies. Furthermore, we compare the unique characteristics of BTC in Korea with global data to inform future research and clinical practice.

Chloracne is a refractory acneiform eruption due to halogenated polyaromatic compound(eg. dioxin, dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, etc.). 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a kind of dioxin isomer, contained in the Agent Orange which was used for defoliating agent during Vietnam war. It is characterized by recalcitrant comedones and cyst predominantly in the malar and postauricular area. Lesions of the penis and scrotum are also relatively frequent. The key pathological feature is the non-inflammatory keratinization of pilosebaceous unit. The meibomian glands are typically affected. Xerosis, conjunctivitis, pigmentation, follicular hyperkeratosis, actinic elastosis are occasionally associated with chloracne. We report a case of typical chloracne due to exposure to defoliating agent during Vietnam war in a 54-year-old-man who shows typical clinical and histopathological features.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Actins ; Chloracne* ; Citrus sinensis ; Conjunctivitis ; Male ; Meibomian Glands ; Penis ; Pigmentation ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Scrotum ; Vietnam*

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is a benign, noninvasive form of fungal sinusitis. Histologically, AFS is characterized by allergic mucin, which consists of eosinophilic mucinous material with occasional laminar deposits of eosinophils. A diagnosis of AFS can be made when there is a demonstration of characteristic allergic mucin and an appearance of fungal hypae scattered within the mucin with no evidence of tissue invasion, or when fungi cultures yield positive results. Until now, no cases of AFS have been reported in Korea, though there have been many cases of mycetomas and a few cases of invasive fungal sinusitis. We present the first two cases of AFS in Korea. The patients demonstrated characteristic allergic mucin, fungal hypae scattered within the mucin, and no evidence of tissue invasion on histopathology. Nasal polyps, involvement of the unilateral sinuses, peripheral eosinophilia, an elevated total IgE, and hyperattenuated masses observed in the CT supported the diagnosis of AFS. The patients recovered and did not display recurrence after surgery and treatment with topical steroids and saline irrigation.
Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Mucins ; Mycetoma ; Nasal Polyps ; Recurrence ; Sinusitis* ; Steroids

Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in patients with end stage renal disease. The pathogenesis of this problem is complex, and includes psychological factors, vascular, and neurological disorders, drug therapy, uremic intoxication and hormonal disturbances. However, we don't have any valid report because pathogenesis and physiologic significance is not proved clearly. With the questionnaire that we provided to our patients, we evaluated the sexual dysfunction in patients with end stage renal disease, and we treated our patient with antidepressants for males and estrogen for females. The results are as follows: 1) Sixty patients among 70 answered the sexual question. Among these, 46 patients (76%) complained of sexual dysfunction, 75% of male patients and 58% of female patients complained of impotence and mensturation disturbance, respectively. Especially, female patients complained of loss of libido as a whole. Also they said that they never tried to do anything to recover their sexual dysfunction. 2) After starting dialysis, 57% of patients showed decrease in coital frequency than before. 58% of patients showed no significant change in subjective sezual symptoms after dialysis. 18% of patients showed significant change in sexual function after anemia treatment. 3) Eighty-eight percents of males and one hundred percents of females treated with antidepressants and estrogen, respectively showed no effect. Finally, we found that sexual dysfunction is a common problem in chronic renal failure, but they never try to recover their conditions. Our therapeutic approach was not effective, but dialysis in CRF patient must be used for lifting the value of life, not by way of life extension. In addition we can make more effective treatment through objective study and psychological examination.
Anemia ; Antidepressive Agents ; Coitus ; Dialysis ; Drug Therapy ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Libido ; Life Expectancy ; Lifting ; Male ; Nervous System Diseases ; Psychology ; Value of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires