Background: Cutaneous angiosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor, is associated with high mortality and poor prognosis. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathologic features of cutaneous angiosarcoma and identify the prognostic factors influencing survival. Methods: Medical records of patients diagnosed with cutaneous angiosarcoma between January 1995 and March 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, clinicopathologic features, and treatment modalities were analyzed to evaluate the correlation with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 70 patients were included in the study. Results: Their mean age at diagnosis was 71 years (range, 41–91 years). Of them, 57 (81.4%) were males. Five-year OS and PFS rates were 29.0% and 10.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, a mass in the frontal area of the scalp showed significant associations with poorer PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–3.55; p=0.029) and poorer OS (HR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.22–4.80; p=0.011). Mass size exceeding 3 cm had a notable impact on PFS (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.32–8.82; p=0.011) and remained a significant independent adverse prognosticator in multivariate analysis (HR, 4.55; 95% CI, 1.22–16.99; p=0.024). Conclusion Cutaneous angiosarcoma is characterized by an unfavorable prognosis, with a larger mass size identified as an independent prognostic factor.

Background: There is a growing demand for extending dosing intervals of dupilumab injections in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) due to treatment burden and side effects. However, studies on successful dose reduction in real-world settings are lacking. Objective: To assess the efficacy of a patient-centered dupilumab tapering regimen and to propose guidelines for target patients, appropriate intervals, and timing for tapering. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included moderate to severe adult AD patients who underwent at least 16 weeks of dupilumab treatment. Interval prolongation was considered in controlled patients assessed by Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score and serum inflammatory markers after at least 40 weeks of treatment with a standard regimen. Logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations was used to compare repetitive measurements over time between the two groups. Results: A total of 52 patients were included with 11 patients extending intervals to 3–4 weeks without flare-ups. The mean duration of dupilumab treatment before tapering was 53.27 weeks. The tapering group exhibited significantly lower body mass index. All patients of the tapering group showed EASI scores under 4 and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels under 1,000 IU/mL at week 40. EASI scores and IgE levels remained consistently low after dose reduction, with a mean follow-up time of 14.36 months. Conclusion Patients with extended dosing intervals demonstrated sustained effectiveness. Dose tapering might be a valuable option for non-obese patients with positive clinical response characterized by an EASI score under 4 and IgE levels under 1,000 at week 40.

Purpose: This multicenter, open-label, phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of bortezomib combined with dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in previously treated patients across 14 institutions in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Between September 2017 and July 2020, 29 patients with histologically confirmed CTCL received treatment, consisting of eight 4-week cycles of induction therapy followed by maintenance therapy, contingent upon response, for up to one year. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an objective global response. Results: Thirteen of the 29 patients (44.8%) achieved an objective global response, including two complete responses. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.8 months, with responders showing a median PFS of 14.0 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events were generally mild, with a low incidence of peripheral neuropathy and hematologic toxicities. Despite the trend toward shorter PFS in patients with higher mutation burdens, genomic profiling before and after treatment showed no significant emergence of new mutations indicative of disease progression. Conclusion This study supports the use of bortezomib and dexamethasone as a viable and safe treatment option for previously treated CTCL, demonstrating substantial efficacy and manageability in adverse effects. Further research with a larger cohort is suggested to validate these findings and explore the prognostic value of mutation profiles.

Purpose: This multicenter, open-label, phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of bortezomib combined with dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in previously treated patients across 14 institutions in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Between September 2017 and July 2020, 29 patients with histologically confirmed CTCL received treatment, consisting of eight 4-week cycles of induction therapy followed by maintenance therapy, contingent upon response, for up to one year. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an objective global response. Results: Thirteen of the 29 patients (44.8%) achieved an objective global response, including two complete responses. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.8 months, with responders showing a median PFS of 14.0 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events were generally mild, with a low incidence of peripheral neuropathy and hematologic toxicities. Despite the trend toward shorter PFS in patients with higher mutation burdens, genomic profiling before and after treatment showed no significant emergence of new mutations indicative of disease progression. Conclusion This study supports the use of bortezomib and dexamethasone as a viable and safe treatment option for previously treated CTCL, demonstrating substantial efficacy and manageability in adverse effects. Further research with a larger cohort is suggested to validate these findings and explore the prognostic value of mutation profiles.

Purpose: This multicenter, open-label, phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of bortezomib combined with dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in previously treated patients across 14 institutions in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Between September 2017 and July 2020, 29 patients with histologically confirmed CTCL received treatment, consisting of eight 4-week cycles of induction therapy followed by maintenance therapy, contingent upon response, for up to one year. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an objective global response. Results: Thirteen of the 29 patients (44.8%) achieved an objective global response, including two complete responses. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.8 months, with responders showing a median PFS of 14.0 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events were generally mild, with a low incidence of peripheral neuropathy and hematologic toxicities. Despite the trend toward shorter PFS in patients with higher mutation burdens, genomic profiling before and after treatment showed no significant emergence of new mutations indicative of disease progression. Conclusion This study supports the use of bortezomib and dexamethasone as a viable and safe treatment option for previously treated CTCL, demonstrating substantial efficacy and manageability in adverse effects. Further research with a larger cohort is suggested to validate these findings and explore the prognostic value of mutation profiles.

Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental pollutants that may impair maternal and fetal health by disrupting hormonal systems, including the thyroid. Both iodine deficiency and excess are associated with thyroid dysfunction and adverse obstetrical outcomes. However, the combined impacts of EDCs and iodine exposure on maternal-fetal thyroid homeostasis remain undetermined. We established the Investigating Birth and Thyroid Outcomes of Maternal-Fetal Environmental Exposures (IBM-E) cohort to prospectively assess the effects of maternal exposures to dietary iodine and EDCs on thyroid function, pregnancy complications, and offspring growth and development. Methods: In this prospective observational study, we aim to enroll 556 pregnant women between 2024 and 2027 at a tertiary hospital in Korea. Maternal blood and urine samples will be collected at six time points, spanning from early pregnancy through 15 months postpartum, with infant samples collected at three time points. EDCs will be quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Thyroid function and urinary iodine concentration will be measured in both mothers and infants. Results: As of the current interim analyses of 193 mothers and 229 neonates, 15.0% of mothers had thyroid dysfunction and 11.4% developed preeclampsia. Preterm birth occurred in 23.8% of cases, and 16.6% of neonates were small for gestational age. Conclusion The IBM-E cohort is designed to enable the longitudinal assessment of gestational environmental exposures and their potential impacts on maternal and fetal thyroid function, as well as pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. The findings of this study may inform preventive strategies and guide policy development in perinatal environmental health.

Background: Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a frequent complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), yet the relationship between serum magnesium (Mg) level and PHH remains unclear. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to specifically examine the association between admission serum Mg level and PHH in aSAH patients. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter study (October 2019–October 2024), 131 patients with confirmed aSAH were enrolled from four neuro-intensive care units. Patients were stratified by admission serum Mg level as <2.2 mg/dL or ≥2.2 mg/dL. The primary outcome was PHH incidence; secondary outcomes were cerebral vasospasm (CV), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and 30-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Serum Mg ≥2.2 mg/dL was not significantly associated with reduced vasospasm, DCI, or poor functional outcome. However, serum Mg >2.5 mg/dL correlated with lower PHH incidence in univariate analysis (odds ratio, 0.36; P=0.027) but not in multivariate analysis (P=0.136). Independent predictors of PHH were posterior circulation aneurysm, high Fisher grade, and high Hunt and Hess grade. Poor 30-day mRS was independently associated with high Fisher and Hunt and Hess grades. Conclusions Admission serum Mg level was not independently associated with PHH, although a potential protective trend was noted at higher levels (>2.5 mg/dL). These findings suggest a possible role of Mg in PHH prevention. Further prospective trials are warranted to clarify the therapeutic potential of Mg and to establish optimal monitoring and correction strategies in aSAH management.

Background: The cutaneous adverse effects (AEs) of amivantamab, a novel monoclonal bispecific antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor and mesenchymal-epithelial transcription factor, have not been investigated. Objective: To analyze the type and prevalence of cutaneous AEs in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with amivantamab. Methods: A single-institution retrospective medical record review was conducted on patients with NSCLC who were treated with amivantamab between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023. A total of 37 patients receiving amivantamab monotherapy for NSCLC were included in this study. Demographic data (age, sex, body mass index, age at cancer diagnosis, age at amivantamab therapy initiation, and duration of amivantamab use) and the types and severity of cutaneous AEs were evaluated. Results: Cutaneous AEs occurred in 59.5% of the patients. The most common AEs were maculopapular eruptions (37.8%), paronychia (24.3%), pruritus/xerosis (16.2%), acneiform eruptions (13.5%), pustulosis (5.4%), and scalp rashes (5.4%). No Grade 3 cutaneous AE, which led to the discontinuation of amivantamab therapy, was observed. Conclusion Our data describes an extensive review of cutaneous AEs caused by amivantamab. Further research with a larger patient population is necessary to reliably predict and manage cutaneous AEs associated with amivantamab.

The treatment of pathological scars, such as keloids and hypertrophic scars, can be challenging for dermatologists. The first-line treatment is intralesional corticosteroid injection, especially when patients complain of pain or discomfort. Laser treatment can also be used in patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, even after multiple sessions of intralesional corticosteroid injections and laser treatment, desirable outcomes may not be achieved, and recurrence is common. Recent studies on the efficacy of intralesional bleomycin injection (BLMILI) in treating keloids and hypertrophic scars have suggested that a significant improvement is observed after BLMILI. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of BLMILI for patients who do not respond to other treatments, such as intralesional corticosteroid injection or laser treatment. Here, we report four cases of BLMILI in keloids and hypertrophic scars that were unresponsive to previous intralesional corticosteroid injection and/or laser treatment.

Background: Various treatments exist for addressing volume loss in atrophic scars. Although laser therapy has gained traction in treating atrophic scars, it is associated with side effects, such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or erythema. Additionally, not all types of atrophic scars respond optimally to laser therapy, even after multiple sessions. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of punch elevation for atrophic scars that yielded unsatisfactory outcomes after repeated laser treatment sessions. Methods: Seven patients with atrophic scars on their facial area underwent punch elevation, concurrently supplemented by fractional CO2 laser application to the scar margins. Improvement in volume restoration of atrophic scars was assessed via investigator evaluation and 3-dimensional (3D) image analysis. Results: After 1 month, median volume (interquartile range) of depression improved from 4.39 mm3 (2.23∼9.90 mm3 ) to 1.97 mm3 (1.46∼7.50 mm3 ), indicating a statistically significant difference post-punch elevation (p=0.018). No serious adverse events were reported during follow-up. Conclusion The efficacy of the punch elevation was objectively evaluated. Punch elevation is a safe and effective therapeutic avenue for atrophic scars that exhibit resistance to laser or alternative interventions.