Background: Laser procedures are integral to dermatologic practice, yet safety measures- particularly regarding ocular protection and plume control- are poorly studied in real-world settings. Objective: To evaluate current practices in eye protection, infection control, and occupational risk awareness among Korean dermatologists performing laser treatments. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among board-certified dermatologists at the 2024 Korean Society for Dermatologic Laser Surgery meeting. The questionnaire covered demographics, laser frequency, use of goggles and masks, infection control strategies, ophthalmologic monitoring, and history of warts or cancer. Results: Seventy-nine respondents completed the survey. All reported using protective goggles, but only 26.6% and 22.8% did so for CO 2 and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet lasers, respectively. Only 24.1% underwent regular eye exams, and 13.9% reported eye conditions after starting laser practice. While 89.9% used masks, 40.8% used dental masks, which are inadequate for plume protection. Suction devices were used by 94.9%, though performance specifications were unclear. Warts were reported by 46.8% of respondents; two reported cancer diagnoses after initiating laser work. Conclusion Despite high overall adherence to basic safety practices, critical gaps remain. Our findings highlight the need for standardized guidelines and long-term occupational health monitoring to ensure safe laser practice.

Background: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by erythema, papules, ocular symptoms, and heightened sensitivity. Patients with neurogenic symptoms such as burning or stinging remain particularly difficult to manage. Current guidelines often underrepresent energy-based devices (EBDs), pigmentary sequelae, psychosocial burden, and ocular comorbidities. Objective: To examine Korean dermatologists’ expert perspectives on rosacea management, focusing on skin sensitivity, neurogenic symptoms, pigmentary changes, psychosocial impact, ocular involvement, and EBD use. Methods: A web-based, 29-item survey was administered to 25 board-certified Korean dermatologists (May–June 2025). Quantitative and qualitative responses were analyzed. Results: Erythematotelangiectatic and papulopustular phenotypes with sensitivity skin predominated. EBDs (pulsed dye laser, intense pulsed light) were frequently used but limited by cost and sensitivity issues. Neurogenic symptoms were recognized but rarely treated with neuromodulators. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation was infrequent, yet monitoring was inconsistent.Psychosocial and ocular aspects were acknowledged but seldomly systematically addressed.Respondents expressed interest in emerging adjunctive treatments such as cold plasma, skin boosters, and holistic care approaches. Conclusion Korean dermatologists adopt individualized strategies for rosacea, yet practice gaps remain regarding neurogenic symptoms, pigmentary complications, and psychosocial and ocular comorbidities. Findings support the need for updated multidisciplinary, phenotype-driven guidelines aligned with real-world practice.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of tamoxifen retinopathy and assess the utility of a screening protocol using non-mydriatic fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Between May and October 2024, patients on tamoxifen therapy at a breast surgery clinic were offered screening including non-mydriatic fundus photography and OCT. Among those who consented, 290 patients (580 eyes) were included after excluding other retinal diseases. We investigated tamoxifen duration, cumulative dose, central retinal thickness, BMI, underlying diseases, menopausal status, and history of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or oral contraceptives. Results: All patients were taking 20 mg of tamoxifen daily. The mean treatment duration was 55.7 ± 29.5 months for those treated longer than two years (n = 193), with a mean BMI of 22.1 ± 3.0 kg/m2. Systemic comorbidities included dyslipidemia (n = 27, 14.0%), hypertension (n = 19, 9.8%), diabetes mellitus (n = 13, 6.7%), and cardiovascular disease (n = 4, 2.1%). Additionally, patient histories included chemotherapy (n = 84, 43.7%), postmenopausal status (n = 56, 29.1%), hormone therapy (n = 52, 27.0%), and oral contraceptive use (n = 14, 7.2%). Tamoxifen retinopathy was not observed in any of the patients. Conclusions In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of tamoxifen retinopathy, as assessed by non-mydriatic fundus photography and OCT in this study, was 0%, which is lower than previously reported rates (0.9%–12%). Although specialized examination by an ophthalmologist, including a dilated fundus examination and OCT remains the diagnostic gold standard, practical constraints can limit its routine clinical use. Our study evaluated a screening protocol performed without ophthalmologist intervention. However, we found that limitations in image quality compromised the detection of subtle lesions, such as crystalline deposits. Consequently, this approach may be insufficient to serve as a primary screening strategy.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a disorder with significant vascular involvement, with microvascular damage and thromboinflammation often preceding classical amyloid pathology by several years. Elevated levels of prothrombin and thrombin, along with aberrant platelet activation, have been reported in individuals with AD. We hypothesized that platelet hyperactivity in AD results from an exaggerated response to thrombin in the presence of elevated amyloid beta 1-40 (Aβ₁₋₄₀), a peptide that accumulates during the early stages of AD. Platelet activation in response to Aβ₁₋₄₀ and thrombin was assessed using aggregation assays with an aggregometer, adhesion measurements by confocal microscopy, and spreading via both confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and integrin α IIbβ 3 activation were quantified by flow cytometry. The roles of NADPH oxidase (NOX), ROS, and integrin signaling were examined using selective inhibitors. Aβ₁₋₄₀ significantly enhanced thrombin-induced platelet adhesion, aggregation, and spreading via NOX-derived ROS and integrin α IIbβ 3 activation. Aβ₁₋₄₀ also promoted platelet binding to fibrinogen and cerebrovascular endothelial cells, accompanied by distinct morphological changes. Inhibition of NOX or integrin α IIbβ 3 significantly reduced these effects. These findings identify a novel Aβ₁₋₄₀–NOX–ROS–integrin α IIbβ 3 axis that drives platelet hyperactivation and cerebrovascular interactions in AD.Targeting this pathway with antithrombotic or antioxidative strategies may offer therapeutic potential in mitigating AD-associated vascular pathology.

Purpose: This 6-year post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted in South Korea to evaluate the real-world safety and effectiveness of eribulin in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Materials and Methods: During the study period (17 August 2012 to 16 August 2018), case-report files (CRFs) of patients receiving eribulin were collected. The main study endpoint was to assess the safety of eribulin. Evaluation of the effectiveness of eribulin was an exploratory endpoint. Patients were followed for 1 year after eribulin initiation. Results: CRFs were collected from 64 investigators at 64 sites for 1,079 patients. The safety analysis set (SAS) included 1,001 eribulin recipients; effectiveness was assessed in 244 patients. In the SAS, patients were predominantly female (99.6%), with a median age of 53.0 years, and diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (92.0%). Eribulin was administered as a median 4th line chemotherapy. A total of 2,124 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 661 patients (66.0%). Neutropenia was the most common TEAE (32.5% of patients), occurring at a median of 9-11 days from initial eribulin administration. Overall response and disease control rates were 31.7% and 95.6%, respectively, and the median duration of eribulin use (time to treatment failure) was 3.0 months. Conclusion This large real-world PMS analysis in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer demonstrated the effectiveness of eribulin and found no new safety concerns relative to safety information from prior clinical and real-world studies, and approvals in South Korea and other countries.

Objective: To examine the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: This study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance database. Patients aged ≥18 years who were newly diagnosed with AS between 2010 and 2018 and did not suffer prior CVD were included. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke. The secondary outcomes were specific endpoints of MI, stroke, or congestive heart failure. TNFi use was evaluated as a time-dependent variable. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to examine the association between TNFi use and risk of incident CVD. Results: Of 19,775 patients (mean age, 36.1 years; 75% male), 5,978 (30.2%) were exposed to TNFi treatment during the study period. During a follow-up of 4.8 (interquartile range, 2.9~7.2) years, 522 events of MI or stroke occurred. TNFi use was associated with a lower risk of MI or stroke than no TNFi use after adjusting for traditional CV risk factors and medications (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55~0.94). The lower risk of MI or stroke associated with TNFi use was consistently observed across subgroups. Risk of congestive heart failure did not differ between users and non-users of TNFi (aHR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.75~1.18). Conclusion In a real-world AS cohort, TNFi treatment was associated with a reduced risk of atherosclerotic CVD. However, TNFi use was not associated with risk of congestive heart failure.

Secondary rhabdoid tumors (RTs) with atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor-like features rarely arise from, or coexist with, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXAs), and their clinicopathological and molecular characteristics remain poorly understood. We report a 17-year-old girl with a temporal lobe mass that, upon gross total resection, pathologically contained both RT and PXA components. Immunohistochemistry revealed loss of INI1 expression restricted to the RT component, while the PXA area retained INI1. Next-generation sequencing identified a shared BRAF::TRIM24 fusion and homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/2B in both components, indicating a shared clonal origin. Additionally, a germline ATM frameshift mutation (c.5288_5289insGA) was identified in both tumor components, making the first such report in central nervous system tumors. SMARCB1 loss was confined to the RT component, further supporting the hypotheses of clonal evolution and secondary transformation. Despite gross total resection, craniospinal irradiation, and chemotherapy, the patient developed rapid leptomeningeal dissemination and died 5 months after surgery. This case provides clinicopathological and molecular evidence for clonal evolution and secondary transformation of PXA into an RT. The presence of germline ATM mutation may have therapeutic and biological relevance. Further studies are required to clarify the pathogenesis and optimal management of these rare and aggressive tumors.