1.Treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis combined with inflammatory bowel disease
You Sun KIM ; Edward H. HURLEY ; Yoojeong PARK ; Sungjin KO
Intestinal Research 2023;21(4):420-432
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholestatic, inflammatory, and fibrotic disease that is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PSC-IBD represents a unique disease entity and patients with this disease have an increased risk of malignancy development, such as colorectal cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. The pathogenesis of PSC-IBD involves genetic and environmental factors such as gut dysbiosis and bile acids alteration. However, despite the advancement of disease characteristics, no effective medical therapy has proven to have a significant impact on the prognosis of PSC. The treatment options for patients with PSC-IBD do not differ from those for patients with PSC alone. Potential candidate drugs have been developed based on the pathogenesis of PSC-IBD, such as those that target modulation of bile acids, inflammation, fibrosis, and gut dysbiosis. In this review, we summarize the current medical treatments for PSC-IBD and the status of new emerging therapeutic agents.
3.Comparative Analysis of Cutaneous Fungi in Atopic Dermatitis Patients and Healthy Individuals
Yoojeong CHOI ; Kui Young PARK ; Hye Sung HAN ; Mi-Kyung LEE ; Seong Jun SEO
Annals of Dermatology 2022;34(2):118-124
Background:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease triggered by diverse factors. Microbes are one of the crucial risk factors for AD development or exacerbation. However, the effect of a fungal burden on AD has been overlooked compared to bacteria.
Objective:
This study aimed to comparatively analyze cutaneous fungal distribution between AD patients and healthy individuals by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis.
Methods:
Skin samples of AD outpatients and healthy individuals collected at the ChungAng University were analyzed. Representative AD-associated fungal genera, Candida, dermatophytes, and Malassezia, were analyzed using specific primer and amplification methods. Amplicons were sequenced, and the fungal distribution of both groups were compared.
Results:
Totally, 211 patients and 23 healthy individuals were studied. Of the 211 patients, 10.90% (23/211) had Candida species, whereas 0% (0/23) healthy individuals showed its presence. The most frequently detected species in patients was Candida albicans (5.21%) followed by Candida parapsilosis (3.79%). For dermatophytes, 1.42% (3/211) of patients showed positive results, whereas 0% (0/23) healthy individuals showed positive results. Malassezia species were identified in 20.85% (44/211) and 8.70% (2/23) in patients and healthy individuals, respectively. Malassezia restricta was the most frequently identified species in the AD patient group, and the only species found in the healthy control group.
Conclusion
The distribution of Candida spp., dermatophytes, and Malassezia spp. are altered with AD development.