Background: Skin diseases associated with Malassezia species include malassezia folliculitis, pityriasis versicolor, and seborrheic dermatitis. Although several treatment options are available for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor, there is a lack of research data on sulfur preparation, which is a time-honored therapeutic agent; furthermore, data comparing topical antifungal agent and sulfur preparation is not available. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and usefulness of a mixture of diflucortone valerate 1 mg/g and isoconazole nitrate 10 mg/g ointment (Travocort) and sodium thiosulfate solution 25% for pityriasis versicolor. Methods: A retrospective review was performed with 185 patients diagnosed with pityriasis versicolor who presented to the Department of Dermatology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center between August 2002 and December 2021. Results: Of the 185 patients, 82 used Travocort while 103 used sodium thiosulfate solution. The average duration of the treatment was 19.3 days for Travocort and 28.8 days for sodium thiosulfate solution (p=0.001). The success rate of the treatment after 2 weeks was 65.8% for Travocort and 56.3% for sodium thiosulfate solution. Side effects occurred in 12.1% and 4.8% of the patients in the Travocort and sodium thiosulfate solution group, respectively. Conclusion Travocort had a faster healing rate than sodium thiosulfate solution. However, topical antifungal agents can cause side effects like localized cutaneous reaction. Furthermore, the glucocorticoid portion in combination therapy may induce various side effects with long-term use. Therefore, considering the side effects of Travocort, sodium thiosulfate solution can be used as a safe alternative when long-term treatment is required.

Background: Only a few studies have tried to assess factors relevant to the satisfaction of the participants in atopic dermatitis (AD) educational programs. More systematic modeling of this issue is needed. Objective: To examine the benefit of a conjoint educational program for AD on patients and caregivers in a clinical setting. Methods: In a half-day educational program called “AD school”, 831 people (493 patients and 338 family members) participated for 8 years. Various educational and entertaining programs were provided. The on-site survey was administered to measure participants’ satisfaction and perception of the benefit. We applied structural equation modeling to identify the relations among satisfaction and perception. Results: A total of 209 family survey data was obtained and analyzed. The survey items were grouped into four categories. The categories were classified as individual education, group education, fun activity, and overall satisfaction (fun, benefit, intention to re-join and recommend to others). According to the model that we built, comprehensive group education was demonstrated to be the most relevant factor affecting overall satisfaction. Conclusion Our holistic approach would allow dermatologists to improve the efficacy of the conjoint educational program for AD.

Background: Only a few studies have tried to assess factors relevant to the satisfaction of the participants in atopic dermatitis (AD) educational programs. More systematic modeling of this issue is needed. Objective: To examine the benefit of a conjoint educational program for AD on patients and caregivers in a clinical setting. Methods: In a half-day educational program called “AD school”, 831 people (493 patients and 338 family members) participated for 8 years. Various educational and entertaining programs were provided. The on-site survey was administered to measure participants’ satisfaction and perception of the benefit. We applied structural equation modeling to identify the relations among satisfaction and perception. Results: A total of 209 family survey data was obtained and analyzed. The survey items were grouped into four categories. The categories were classified as individual education, group education, fun activity, and overall satisfaction (fun, benefit, intention to re-join and recommend to others). According to the model that we built, comprehensive group education was demonstrated to be the most relevant factor affecting overall satisfaction. Conclusion Our holistic approach would allow dermatologists to improve the efficacy of the conjoint educational program for AD.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is secreted by a class of helper T cells called Th17 cells, which stimulates keratinocytes to secrete proinflammatory mediator and to recruit other inflammatory cells in psoriatic skins. IL-17A inhibitor was approved for the management of psoriatic arthritis by FDA. It is the one of the biologics approved as first-line therapy for the management of psoriasis. But several studies show some side effects of IL-17A inhibitor such as upper respiratory infection and fungal infection like Candida albicans. Herein we report a widespread dermatophytosis during IL-17A inhibitor treatment. A 66-year-old male patient, with tinea unguium and chronic plaque psoriasis for several decades, presented with multiple erythematous scaly macules and patches for 2 weeks. He medicated IL-17A inhibitor for treating psoriasis total 3 times and last injection was 1 week ago. Dermatological examination revealed the involvement of 20% body surface area in the form of erythematous scaly macules and patches. KOH mount revealed the presence of numerous hyphae. The patient was started on oral terbinafine, topical isoconazole and efinaconazole. His skin lesions were improved after 1 month of anti-fungal therapy. IL-17 plays an important role in mucocutaneous microbial defense. So, fungal infection should be checked in using IL-17A inhibitor patients periodically.

BACKGROUND: Several studies about bee venom components have reported anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Malassezia species are components of skin flora, and also associated with many dermatologic diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, folliculitis, and atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antifungal activity of bee venom components, melittin, and apamin, against Malassezia strains. METHODS: With 10 Malassezia species, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were tested with bee venom, and Zinc pyrithione as a reference antifungal agent. RESULTS: Whole bee venom, melittin, and apamin did not show any antifungal activity against Malassezia species at the concentrations tested. CONCLUSION Although bee venom do not have anti-Malassezia activities, it is known to have antifungal activities against other fungal strains. Therefore, further study should consider revealing the mechanism of antifungal activity against fungus and other possible target strains of fungi.

BACKGROUND: Exposure and sensitization to fungal allergens can evoke the development and worsen allergic diseases. Many patients with allergies show multiple positive reactions to different allergens. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between fungal allergens that are mostly found in South Korea and other positive reactions to the allergens of the multiple allergosorbent simultaneous test chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA). METHODS: We enrolled 1,040 (588 men, 452 women) patients who showed positive reactions to three fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cladosporium herbarum, using MAST-CLA at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center from January 2010 to July 2017. The epidemiology and relationship between positive reactions to multiple fungal allergens and positive reactions to the allergens of the MAST-CLA were investigated. RESULTS: A. alternata was the most common fungal species, followed by C. herbarum and A. fumigatus (78.8% vs. 52.1% vs. 20.1%). Patients who showed positive reactions to all fungal allergens had 4.97 other antigens on average. Statistically significant results were obtained when comparing positive reactions to all fungal allergens to other allergens (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.129, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients should be educated on allergic diseases caused by other antigens if they are sensitized to fungal antigens.

No abstract available.
Eccrine Porocarcinoma ; Poroma*