Naturally derived diosmetin and its glycoside diosmin are known to be effective in treating inflammatory disease. This study was performed to determine whether diosmin and diosmetin have the effect of improving atopic dermatitis in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzen (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) model. DNCB was used to establish AD model in hairless mice. Skin moisture, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and histological analysis were performed to measure the effectiveness of diosmin and diosmetine to improve AD. IL-4 levels were also measured in RBL-2H3 cells. Administration of diosmetin or diosmin orally inhibited the progress of DNCB-induced AD-like lesions in murine models by inhibiting transdermal water loss (TEWL) and increasing skin hydration. Diosmetin or diosmin treatment also reduced IgE and IL-4 levels in AD-induced hairless mouse serum samples. However, in the in vitro assay, only diosmetin, not diosmin, reduced the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in RBL-2H3 cells. Diosmin and diosmetine alleviated the altered epidermal thickness and immune cell infiltration in AD. Diosmin is considered effective in the cure of AD and skin inflammatory diseases by being converted into diosmetin in the body by pharmacokinetic metabolism. Thus, oral administration of diosmetin and diosmin might be a useful agent for the treatment of AD and cutaneous inflammatory diseases.

This erratum is being published to correct the error on page 650 of the article. The number of participating research institution should be corrected.

PURPOSE: Many studies have reported that pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) can cause anaphylaxis. No comprehensive investigations into anaphylaxis in PFAS have been conducted, however. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations and risk factors for anaphylaxis in PFAS in Korean patients with pollinosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationwide cross-sectional study that previously reported on PFAS in Korean patients with pollinosis. Data from 273 patients with PFAS were collected, including demographics, list of culprit fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. We analyzed 27 anaphylaxis patients and compared them with patients with PFAS with oropharyngeal symptoms only (n=130). RESULTS: The most common cause of anaphylaxis in PFAS was peanut (33.3%), apple (22.2%), walnut (22.2%), pine nut (18.5%), peach (14.8%), and ginseng (14.8%). Anaphylaxis was significantly associated with the strength of sensitization to alder, hazel, willow, poplar, timothy, and ragweed (p<0.05, respectively). Multivariable analysis revealed that the presence of atopic dermatitis [odds ratio (OR), 3.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–10.23; p=0.017]; sensitization to hazel (OR, 5.27; 95% CI, 1.79–15.53; p=0.003), timothy (OR, 11.8; 95% CI, 2.70–51.64; p=0.001), or ragweed (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.03–9.87; p=0.045); and the number of culprit foods (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.15–1.37; p<0.001) were related to the development of anaphylaxis in PFAS. CONCLUSION: The most common culprit foods causing anaphylaxis in PFAS were peanut and apple. The presence of atopic dermatitis; sensitization to hazel, timothy, or ragweed; and a greater number of culprit foods were risk factors for anaphylaxis in PFAS.
Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Nuts ; Panax ; Pollen ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Risk Factors ; Salix ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy in pollinosis patients caused by raw fruits and vegetables and is the most common food allergy in adults. However, there has been no nationwide study on PFAS in Korea. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PFAS in Korea. METHODS: Twenty-two investigators participated in this study, in which patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or bronchial asthma with pollen allergy were enrolled. The questionnaires included demographic characteristics, a list of fruits and vegetables, and clinical manifestations of food allergy. Pollen allergy was diagnosed by skin prick test and/or measurement of the serum level of specific IgE. RESULTS: A total of 648 pollinosis patients were enrolled. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7% (n = 270). PFAS patients exhibited cutaneous (43.0%), respiratory (20.0%), cardiovascular (3.7%) or neurologic symptoms (4.8%) in addition to oropharyngeal symptoms. Anaphylaxis was noted in 8.9% of the PFAS patients. Seventy types of foods were linked to PFAS; e.g., peach (48.5%), apple (46.7%), kiwi (30.4%), peanut (17.4%), plum (16.3%), chestnut (14.8%), pineapple (13.7%), walnut (14.1%), Korean melon (12.6%), tomato (11.9%), melon (11.5%) and apricot (10.7%). Korean foods such as taro/taro stem (8.9%), ginseong (8.2%), perilla leaf (4.4%), bellflower root (4.4%), crown daisy (3.0%), deodeok (3.3%), kudzu root (3.0%) and lotus root (2.6%) were also linked to PFAS. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first nationwide study of PFAS in Korea. The prevalence of PFAS was 41.7%, and 8.9% of the PFAS patients had anaphylaxis. These results will provide clinically useful information to physicians.
Adult ; Ananas ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Asthma ; Codonopsis ; Crowns ; Cucurbitaceae ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Juglans ; Korea ; Lotus ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Perilla ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Prunus armeniaca ; Prunus domestica ; Prunus persica ; Pueraria ; Research Personnel ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal* ; Skin ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: Scabies is an old and common contagious skin disease. The incidence of scabies has decreased through the economic growth of Korea. However, recent outbreaks in medical facilities have created a suspicion that the infection of scabies is an emerging public health problem. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients diagnosed with scabies in Korea. This prospective study follows the retrospective study already performed by the same authors in 2011. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective study of scabies was performed at 25 hospitals in Korea. We included 914 patients who were diagnosed with scabies. Microscopic examination revealed scabies mites or eggs, or clinical improvement after treatment. Patients were asked to provide information on scabies, especially regarding the contact source, and the physicians examined them. RESULTS: Of the participants, 432 patients were men and 482 were women. Patients aged younger than 10 years and 60~69 years were the most common groups. Scabies more commonly affected patients during the fall and winter. Of the patients, 68.0% were thought to be infected at their homes, followed by nursing homes or hospitals (25.7%), and 31.6% through contact with other patients or, occasionally, staff members, including caregivers. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that scabies is an emerging threat in institutions, especially medical facilities. In addition, we suggest that public and in-hospital education is essential to minimize the problems associated with scabies.
Caregivers ; Disease Outbreaks ; Economic Development ; Education ; Eggs ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mites ; Nursing Homes ; Ovum ; Prospective Studies* ; Public Health ; Scabies* ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: Scabies is one of the common skin diseases observed in developing countries. The incidence of scabies has decreased dramatically since the late 1980s in Korea. However, recent outbreaks in nursing homes or hospitals have been raising public health concerns. OBJECTIVE: We intended to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical aspects of patients diagnosed with scabies in Korea. In particular, we tried to investigate the changing trend of contact sources in our society. METHODS: A multi-center cross sectional study was performed at 25 hospitals in Korea. We included 1,539 patients who were diagnosed with scabies. These patients showed scabies mites or eggs under microscopic examination, or clinical improvement after treatment. Their medical records with information of contact sources were reviewed. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety-three patients were males and 826 were females. Patients' age from 70 to 79 was the most common followed by patients below 10 years of age. More patients were found in the fall and winter months. 66.7% of patients were thought to be infected at their homes which were situated next to nursing homes or hospitals (23.1%). Place of infection could not be verified in 39.3% of patients. 25.8% of patients were suggested to be infected through contact with medical staff or patients from hospitals or nursing homes. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that the contact sources of scabies are changing in our society; nursing homes and hospitals are emerging sources of infection. The majority of patients are old or very young who are vulnerable to many diseases. Therefore, dermatologists should pay attention to new contact sources and appropriate care of patients.
Developing Countries ; Disease Outbreaks ; Eggs ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff ; Mites ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Nursing Homes ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Ovum ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Scabies ; Skin Diseases

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to provide guidelines in order to decrease the incidence of nerve injury during mandibular ramus bone harvesting, and to improve understanding of the anatomical structure of the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) to include its distance from the exterior buccal cortex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In January and February 2009, 20 patients who visited the Wonkwang University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery reporting various conditions underwent cone beam computed tomography and were included in this study. Patients with missing left or right mandibular first molars or incisors, or who had jaw fracture or bone pathologies, were excluded. The reference point (R point) was defined as the point where the occlusal plane reached the anterior ramus of the mandible. The position of the IAC in relation to the R point, the buccal bone width (BW), the alveolar crest distance (ACD), the distance from the alveolar crest to the occlusal plane (COD), and the distance from the IAC to the sagittal plane (CS) were determined using proprietary image analysis software which produced cross-sectional coronal and axial images. RESULTS: The distance medially from the R point to the IAC along the axial plane was 6.19+/-1.21 mm. The HD from the R point, posteriorly to IAC, in the lateral view was 13.07+/-2.45 mm, the VD from the R point was 14.24+/-2.41 mm, and the ND from the R point was 10.12+/-1.76 mm. The pathway of the IAC was positioned almost in a straight line along a sagittal plane within 0.56+/-0.70 mm. The distance from the buccal bone surface to the IAC increased anteriorly from the R point. CONCLUSION: Marking osteotomy lines in the retromolar area in procedures involving bone harvesting should be discouraged due to the risk of damage to IAC structures. Our measurements indicated that the area from the R point in the ramus of the mandible to 10 mm anterior can be safely harvested for bone grafting purposes.
Bone Transplantation ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Occlusion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Incisor ; Jaw Fractures ; Mandible ; Mandibular Nerve ; Molar ; Osteotomy ; Surgery, Oral

Many longitudinal studies have reported the successful osseointegration of dental implants, with survival rates approaching 90-95%. However, implants regarded as a "success" may have also failed to undergo osseointegration. A variety of complications and failures have been observed, including implant fracture - a rare and delayed biomechanical complication with serious clinical outcomes. Given the increasing popularity of dental implants, an increase in the number of failures due to late fractures is expected. This study sought to determine the rate of implant fractures and factors associated with its development. This retrospective evaluation analyzed implants placed at Wonkwang Dental Hospital (from 1996 to the present). In our study we found that the frequency of dental implant fractures was very low (0.23%, 8 implant fractures out of 3,500 implants placed). All observed fractures were associated with hybrid-surface threaded implants (with diameter of 4.0 or 3.75 mm). Prosthetic or abutment screw loosening preceded implant fracture in a majority of these cases.
Dental Implants ; Electrons ; Osseointegration ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Metformin is a biguanide oral hypoglycemic agent commonly used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Metfofmin is excreated largely by the kidney and binds only negligibly to plasma proteins. Toxicity is usually seen when metformin is prescribed to patients with renal insufficiency. Lactic acidosis in diabetics on metformin therapy is rare but still associated with poor prognosis. For an early diagnosis, clinical symptoms of intoxication should be well known by physicians and patients. First-line therapy for correction of lactic acidosis and effective elimination of metformin is bicarbonate hemodialysis. We report a case of acute renal failure due to metformin-associated lactic acidosis in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patient and she was successfully treated by hemodialysis with bicarbonate buffer.
Acidosis, Lactic* ; Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged* ; Blood Proteins ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Metformin ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency

Polymyositis is uncommon connective tissue disease of autoimmune etiology in which the skeletal muscle is damaged by a inflammatory process dominated by lymphocytic infiltration. Polymyositis has been associated with several viral infections, and a spectrum of immune-related diseases may occur with hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. However, no association between polymyositis and HCV infection has been reported previously. We report a case of polymyositis combined with liver cirrhosis who had evidence of HCV infection.
Connective Tissue Diseases ; Hepatitis C ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Polymyositis