Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between mast cell (MC) density in rosacea-affected skin and the expression of key inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, and cathelicidin LL-37. By comparing lesions rich in MCs with those having fewer MCs, we sought to elucidate the role of MCs in the inflammatory mechanisms underlying rosacea pathogenesis.

Methods: Specimens were collected from 20 patients diagnosed with rosacea who attended the outpatient clinic between 2008 and 2013. Each specimen underwent staining using hematoxylin/eosin, Giemsa, IL-6, LL-37, and TNF-α for both histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The number of stained cells was counted across 10 randomly selected dermal layers at a magnification of ×400 using light microscopy. The results were categorized based on the number of MCs counted: more than 10 MCs were classified as MC-rich, and 10 or fewer MCs as MC-poor.

Results: Among the 20 patients (10 MC-rich and 10 MC-poor), the MC-rich group demonstrated significantly higher MC counts than the MC-poor group (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of IL-6, LL-37, or TNF-α between the two groups. Additionally, MC density did not show any significant associations with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, or systemic comorbidities.

Conclusion: Increased MC density was not associated with differences in IL-6, TNF-α, or LL-37 expression in rosacea lesions. These findings suggest that MC infiltration may not directly influence the inflammatory mediator profile in rosacea. Further research is required to identify distinctive pathological features or markers that can elucidate the mechanisms of rosacea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between mast cell (MC) density in rosacea-affected skin and the expression of key inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, and cathelicidin LL-37. By comparing lesions rich in MCs with those having fewer MCs, we sought to elucidate the role of MCs in the inflammatory mechanisms underlying rosacea pathogenesis.

Methods: Specimens were collected from 20 patients diagnosed with rosacea who attended the outpatient clinic between 2008 and 2013. Each specimen underwent staining using hematoxylin/eosin, Giemsa, IL-6, LL-37, and TNF-α for both histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The number of stained cells was counted across 10 randomly selected dermal layers at a magnification of ×400 using light microscopy. The results were categorized based on the number of MCs counted: more than 10 MCs were classified as MC-rich, and 10 or fewer MCs as MC-poor.

Results: Among the 20 patients (10 MC-rich and 10 MC-poor), the MC-rich group demonstrated significantly higher MC counts than the MC-poor group (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of IL-6, LL-37, or TNF-α between the two groups. Additionally, MC density did not show any significant associations with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, or systemic comorbidities.

Conclusion: Increased MC density was not associated with differences in IL-6, TNF-α, or LL-37 expression in rosacea lesions. These findings suggest that MC infiltration may not directly influence the inflammatory mediator profile in rosacea. Further research is required to identify distinctive pathological features or markers that can elucidate the mechanisms of rosacea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between mast cell (MC) density in rosacea-affected skin and the expression of key inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, and cathelicidin LL-37. By comparing lesions rich in MCs with those having fewer MCs, we sought to elucidate the role of MCs in the inflammatory mechanisms underlying rosacea pathogenesis.

Methods: Specimens were collected from 20 patients diagnosed with rosacea who attended the outpatient clinic between 2008 and 2013. Each specimen underwent staining using hematoxylin/eosin, Giemsa, IL-6, LL-37, and TNF-α for both histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The number of stained cells was counted across 10 randomly selected dermal layers at a magnification of ×400 using light microscopy. The results were categorized based on the number of MCs counted: more than 10 MCs were classified as MC-rich, and 10 or fewer MCs as MC-poor.

Results: Among the 20 patients (10 MC-rich and 10 MC-poor), the MC-rich group demonstrated significantly higher MC counts than the MC-poor group (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of IL-6, LL-37, or TNF-α between the two groups. Additionally, MC density did not show any significant associations with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, or systemic comorbidities.

Conclusion: Increased MC density was not associated with differences in IL-6, TNF-α, or LL-37 expression in rosacea lesions. These findings suggest that MC infiltration may not directly influence the inflammatory mediator profile in rosacea. Further research is required to identify distinctive pathological features or markers that can elucidate the mechanisms of rosacea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between mast cell (MC) density in rosacea-affected skin and the expression of key inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, and cathelicidin LL-37. By comparing lesions rich in MCs with those having fewer MCs, we sought to elucidate the role of MCs in the inflammatory mechanisms underlying rosacea pathogenesis.

Methods: Specimens were collected from 20 patients diagnosed with rosacea who attended the outpatient clinic between 2008 and 2013. Each specimen underwent staining using hematoxylin/eosin, Giemsa, IL-6, LL-37, and TNF-α for both histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The number of stained cells was counted across 10 randomly selected dermal layers at a magnification of ×400 using light microscopy. The results were categorized based on the number of MCs counted: more than 10 MCs were classified as MC-rich, and 10 or fewer MCs as MC-poor.

Results: Among the 20 patients (10 MC-rich and 10 MC-poor), the MC-rich group demonstrated significantly higher MC counts than the MC-poor group (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of IL-6, LL-37, or TNF-α between the two groups. Additionally, MC density did not show any significant associations with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, or systemic comorbidities.

Conclusion: Increased MC density was not associated with differences in IL-6, TNF-α, or LL-37 expression in rosacea lesions. These findings suggest that MC infiltration may not directly influence the inflammatory mediator profile in rosacea. Further research is required to identify distinctive pathological features or markers that can elucidate the mechanisms of rosacea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between mast cell (MC) density in rosacea-affected skin and the expression of key inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, and cathelicidin LL-37. By comparing lesions rich in MCs with those having fewer MCs, we sought to elucidate the role of MCs in the inflammatory mechanisms underlying rosacea pathogenesis.

Methods: Specimens were collected from 20 patients diagnosed with rosacea who attended the outpatient clinic between 2008 and 2013. Each specimen underwent staining using hematoxylin/eosin, Giemsa, IL-6, LL-37, and TNF-α for both histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The number of stained cells was counted across 10 randomly selected dermal layers at a magnification of ×400 using light microscopy. The results were categorized based on the number of MCs counted: more than 10 MCs were classified as MC-rich, and 10 or fewer MCs as MC-poor.

Results: Among the 20 patients (10 MC-rich and 10 MC-poor), the MC-rich group demonstrated significantly higher MC counts than the MC-poor group (P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of IL-6, LL-37, or TNF-α between the two groups. Additionally, MC density did not show any significant associations with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, or systemic comorbidities.

Conclusion: Increased MC density was not associated with differences in IL-6, TNF-α, or LL-37 expression in rosacea lesions. These findings suggest that MC infiltration may not directly influence the inflammatory mediator profile in rosacea. Further research is required to identify distinctive pathological features or markers that can elucidate the mechanisms of rosacea.

The most common aging-related neurodegenerative disorder is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), of which the main symptom is memory disturbance. Though the mechanism of AD pathogenesis is not fully defined, abnormal aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ ) plaques and tau have been considered as key factors and main histological hallmarks of the disease. Astrocyte is responsible for the control of cells and the environment around brain and spinal cord cells. Astrocytes have been implicated with AD. However, the exact function of astrocytes in AD has not been established. In this study, we investigated the regulation of astrocytes in the AD model using primary cultures. We have demonstrated that oligomerized Aβ is toxic to neurons and can induce cell death in primary cultures. In the primary cultures containing neurons and astrocytes, amyloid beta uptake was observed in both neurons and astrocytes. To verify if the uptake of amyloid beta in astrocytes is dependent on neurons, we separated and cultured primary astrocytes with no neurons. Amyloid uptake was still observed in this pure astrocyte culture, suggesting that the uptake of amyloid beta is a neuron-independent function of astrocytes. Astrocyte activation was observed in both pure and mixed cultures. Taken together, our data suggest that astrocyte is activated by oligomerized Aβ and uptakes it, which is independent of neurons.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI is clinically available to patients visiting pain intervention clinic for radicular pain. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 patients (mean age: 63.5 ± 16.1 years) with low back pain (LBP) or sciatica who underwent limited T2-weighted-only lumbar MRI using T2-weighted sagittal and axial sequences were enrolled. All MRI scans were reviewed by two radiologists for degenerative spinal lesions that most correlated with each patient’s symptoms. All patients received spinal injections. Treatment response was recorded based on patients’ subjective evaluations and an 11-point numerical rating scale. Clinical characteristics and changes in the diagnosis of patients who had undergone previous MRI or additional MRI within six months were also analyzed. Results: Using limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI, acquisition time and cost for imaging examinations were effectively reduced. Pathologic lesions corresponding to clinical symptoms were detected in most (95%) patients. Symptoms had improved in 78.1% of patients at the 6-month follow-up. Further imaging work-up was not performed for any subject during the study period because there was clear indication (no doubt) for other diagnoses on the limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI or during the clinical follow-up. Conclusion Limited T2-weighted-only lumbar spine MRI comprising T2-weighted sagittal and axial images may sufficiently detect degenerative changes of the lumbar spine in patients with LBP and sciatica. Treatment responses are satisfactory, effectively reducing scan time and costs.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGC-IPL) thickness measured by swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) following cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma. Methods: We included 42 glaucoma eyes and 42 case-matched normal eyes that underwent cataract surgery without complications. One matching set included one glaucoma eye and one case-matched normal eye. The age, sex, and cataract subtype scores were similar for each group. Before and within 3 months of surgery, we measured the pRNFL thickness and mGCIPL thickness by SS-OCT. Results: Following cataract surgery, the image quality (IQ) of SS-OCT improved in both groups. The thickness of the pRNFL and mGC-IPL increased in the mean values and all areas, except for pRNFL from 1 to 4 o’clock in the glaucoma group and at 1 o’clock in the normal group. Posterior subcapsular cataract was related to the change in IQ following surgery. The glaucoma and normal group showed greater pRNFL thickness change due to lesser preoperative pRNFL thickness. Furthermore, the mGC-IPL thickness change was greater in the glaucoma group because of lesser preoperative mGC-IPL thickness. By contrast, the normal group demonstrated greater mGC-IPL thickness change due to higher cortical cataract scores. Conclusions Cataracts caused the deterioration of the IQ in SS-OCT, thereby resulting in an undermeasurement of the pRNFL and mGC-IPL thickness. Preoperative pRNFL and mGC-IPL were negatively associated with postoperative pRNFL and mGCIPL thickness change in the glaucoma and normal groups. Therefore, ophthalmologists should particularly consider the effect of cataract while diagnosing glaucoma using SS-OCT.

Purpose: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare disease in children and there are some different characteristics between children and adult. We aimed to evaluate incidence, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of pediatric APL in Korea. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine pediatric APL patients diagnosed from January 2009 to December 2016 in 16 tertiary medical centers in Korea were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of 801 acute myeloid leukemia children, 79 (9.9%) were diagnosed with APL. The median age at diagnosis was 10.6 years (range, 1.3 to 18.0). Male and female ratio was 1:0.93. Thirty patients (38.0%) had white blood cell (WBC) count greater than 10×109/L at diagnosis. All patients received induction therapy consisting of all-trans retinoic acid and chemotherapy. Five patients (6.6%) died during induction chemotherapy and 66 patients (86.8%) achieved complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. The causes of death were three intracranial hemorrhage, one cerebral infarction, and one sepsis. Five patients (7.1%) suffered a relapse during or after maintenance chemotherapy. The estimated 4-year event-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 82.1%±4.4%, 89.7%±5.1%, respectively. The 4-year OS was significantly higher in patients with initial WBC < 10×109/L than in those with initial WBC ≥ 10×109/L (p=0.020). Conclusion This study showed that the CR rates and survival outcomes in Korean pediatric APL patients were relatively good. The initial WBC count was the most important prognostic factor and most causes of death were related to serious bleeding in the early stage of treatment.