Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ex vivo activated and expanded natural killer (NK) cell therapy (SNK01) plus pembrolizumab in a randomized phase I/IIa clinical trial. Materials and Methods: Overall, 18 patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a programmed death ligand 1 tumor proportion score of 1% or greater who had a history of failed frontline platinum-based therapy were randomized (2:1) to receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks +/– 6 weekly infusions of SNK01 at either 2×109 or 4×109 cells per infusion (pembrolizumab monotherapy vs. SNK01 combination). The primary endpoint was safety, whereas the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and quality of life. Results: Since no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, the maximum tolerated dose was determined as SNK01 4×109 cells/dose. The safety data did not show any new safety signals when SNK01 was combined with pembrolizumab. The ORR and the 1-year survival rate in the NK combination group were higher than those in patients who underwent pembrolizumab monotherapy (ORR, 41.7% vs. 0%; 1-year survival rate, 66.7% vs. 50.0%). Furthermore, the median PFS was higher in the SNK01 combination group (6.2 months vs. 1.6 months, p=0.001). Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, the NK cell combination therapy may consider as a safe treatment method for stage IV NSCLC patients who had a history of failed platinum-based therapy without an increase in adverse events.

Purpose: To compare serum selenium levels in Graves patients and non-Graves control participants and to evaluate associations between serum selenium levels and clinical features of Graves orbitopathy (GO). Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective case-control study among 33 patients with Graves disease without GO (GD), 31 patients with diagnosed GO, and 27 unaffected healthy participants enrolled between 2013 and 2020 at Severance Hospital. We compared serum selenium concentrations between the GD, GO, and healthy control groups, and analyzed associations between serum selenium and GO patients’ clinical activity scores, severity (assessed through modified NOSPECS scores), and other clinical features using multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: Mean serum selenium levels were 109.30 ± 16.39, 111.39 ± 14.04, and 126.09 ± 21.09 ng/mL in GO patients, GD patients, and healthy control participants, respectively. Mean serum selenium levels in Graves patients with and without orbitopathy were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (p < 0.05), and mean selenium levels were slightly lower in GO than those in GD patients (p = 0.594). Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in GO patients with eyelid retraction than in patients without retraction (p = 0.038). However, serum selenium levels were not associated with clinical activity scores and modified NOSPECS scores (p = 0.241 and 0.801, respectively). Conclusions Serum selenium levels were significantly lower in Graves patients with or without GO, compared to non-Graves control participants. Selenium levels were not associated with clinical activity scores or NOSPECS scores, though we observed an association with eyelid retraction.

Mastocytosis is characterized by an accumulation of mast cells in various organs, most frequently in the skin. A solitary mastocytoma is a clinical variant of cutaneous mastocytosis. It is defined as a localized collection of mast cells in the skin without evidence of extracutaneous organ involvement. Here we report on a 2-year-old female patient presenting with Solitary erythematous bulla on her lower back. The patient had a history of spinal tap on the lower back for evaluation of meningitis at 5 months of age, which resulted in trauma at the site. Histopathology showed mast cells infiltrating the papillary and reticular dermis and metachromatic purple cytoplasmic granules seen with Giemsa staining. As a result, the patient was diagnosed with a solitary bullous mastocytoma and administered antihistamine. The patient showed complete remission at 3 months. Herein, we report a rare case of solitary bullous mastocytoma occurring at a trauma site.
Azure Stains ; Child, Preschool ; Cytoplasmic Granules ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytoma* ; Mastocytosis ; Mastocytosis, Cutaneous ; Meningitis ; Skin ; Spinal Puncture*

BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared the efficacy, cosmetic outcomes, and adverse events between 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) and methyl aminolevulinate-PDT (MAL-PDT) for actinic keratoses (AKs) in Asian ethnic populations with dark-skin. OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively compared the long-term efficacy, recurrence rates, cosmetic outcomes, and safety of ALA-PDT versus MAL-PDT for facial AKs in Koreans. METHODS: A total of 222 facial AKs in 58 patients were included in this study. A total of 153 lesions (29 patients) were treated with 5-ALA, and 69 lesions (29 patients) with MAL. ALA and MAL creams were applied for 6 hours and 3 hours, respectively; the lesions were then illuminated with a halogen lamp at 150 J/cm2 for ALA-PDT and a diode lamp at 37 J/cm2 for MAL-PDT. RESULTS: The complete response rates of ALA-PDT and MAL-PDT were 56.9% and 50.7%, respectively, with no significant difference at 12 months after treatment. No significant difference in recurrence rates was observed between the 2 PDT modalities at either 6 or 12 months after treatment. There was no significant difference in the cosmetic outcomes between the 2 treatment modalities at 12 months after PDT. However, ALA-PDT caused significantly more painful than MAL-PDT (p=0.005). The adverse events were mild to moderate, transient, and self-limiting for both modalities. CONCLUSION: MAL-PDT was similar to ALA-PDT in terms of long-term efficacy, recurrence rates, cosmetic outcomes, and adverse events; however, it was a significantly less painful procedure than ALA-PDT in our study.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) is characterized histopathologically by the presence of granulomatous inflammation with or without leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It has been associated with multiple systemic diseases, particularly autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Behcet's disease. We report a 52-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who presented with a single, non-tender, rapidly growing nodule on her right elbow. Histologic examination of the nodule revealed degenerated collagen, neutrophils, neutrophilic dust, fibrin, and mucin present in the centers of the palisades of histiocytes throughout the dermis. Herein, we report the abrupt onset of PNGD in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Collagen ; Dermatitis* ; Dermis ; Dust ; Elbow ; Female ; Fibrin ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Neutrophils* ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Psoriasis*

No abstract available.
Hair ; Humans ; Piedra ; Scalp ; Trichosporon

The other generalized type of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a genetic blistering skin disease, caused by a mutation of the genes encoding keratin 5 and 14. EBS starts at birth and is characterized by generalized blisters following a minor trauma that heals with hyperpigmentation. A 19-year-old man presented with 19-year history of multiple erythematous vesicles in a herpetiform arrangement on the trunk, axilla, and thigh with post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentations. On light and electron microscopy, the biopsy specimen showed intraepidermal blisters that formed within the basal keratinocyte. The serum from a patient with bullous pemphigoid antibody and laminin 5 antibody showed the linear deposition at the floor of the blister on immunofluorescence mapping study. On the basis of our clinical, microscopic, and immunofluorescence findings, we diagnosed the patient as having a generalized type of EBS. Herein, we report on an interesting case of the other generalized type of EBS.
Axilla ; Biopsy ; Blister ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Keratin-5 ; Keratinocytes ; Laminin ; Light ; Methylmethacrylates ; Microscopy, Electron ; Parturition ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; Polystyrenes ; Skin Diseases ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors, especially basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma (MM), has continuously increased in Korea. However, there has been little research into the distribution and incidence of malignant skin tumors in the south-eastern part of Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze recent trends in incidence and clinical patterns of cutaneous malignant tumors in Busan city and the eastern Gyeongnam Province. METHODS: We reviewed 714 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors that include BCC, SCC, and MM from January 1996 to December 2010 at the Department of Dermatology in Dong-A University Hospital. RESULTS: The average annual incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors among the total number of outpatients was 1.18% and has continuously increased from 0.63% to 1.91% over the last 15 years (1996~2010). In particular, the average annual incidence of BCC and SCC has markedly increased from 0.35% and 0.25% to 0.94% and 0.79%, respectively. The most common cutaneous malignant tumor was BCC (48.32%), followed by SCC (41.18%) and MM (10.50%). The mean age of onset in patients who had been diagnosed with cutaneous malignant tumors was 65.07 years (males: 62.04, females: 67.87). There was a similar incidence between males and females in cutaneous malignant tumors (1:1.08). The most common site of cutaneous malignant tumors was the face (66.25%); the cheek (34.04%) was the most preferential site on the face, followed by the nose (30.23%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors has gradually increased in Busan city and the eastern Gyeongnam Province, which was relatively higher than the incidence in other areas. It was thought to be due to the higher proportion of the elderly than in other areas of the country and skin cancer centers in our hospital.
Age of Onset ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cheek ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Melanoma ; Nose ; Outpatients ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Statistics as Topic

No abstract available.
Microsporum ; Tinea Capitis