Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the sebaceous glands, with approximately 80% of individuals experiencing it at some point in their lives. Among adolescents, the incidence is reported to exceed 85%. The disease can significantly impact both physical and emotional aspects of a person’s quality of life, leading to permanent scarring, poor self-image, depression, and anxiety. The standard first-line treatment for acne vulgaris includes conventional pharmacological approaches such as keratolytics, topical or oral antibiotics, retinoids, and hormonal agents. However, these treatments are not universally effective due to patient noncompliance, adverse drug effects, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in Cutibacterium acnes, often resulting in high rates of recurrence. Consequently, non-pharmacological therapies have been developed as safe and effective alternatives or supplements to pharmacological treatment. These non-pharmacological approaches can serve as standalone treatment modalities, adjuncts to pharmacological therapy, or maintenance treatments. Current literature lacks comprehensive data on the classification of these non-pharmacological treatment options. This paper aims to provide a brief overview of recent research on the practical applications and potential mechanisms of nonpharmacological therapies for both acne and acne scars. Through elucidating the distinct mechanisms and therapeutic roles of these treatments, we aim to assist dermatologists and other healthcare providers in formulating more effective disease management strategies, thereby encouraging further research in this area.

Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the sebaceous glands, with approximately 80% of individuals experiencing it at some point in their lives. Among adolescents, the incidence is reported to exceed 85%. The disease can significantly impact both physical and emotional aspects of a person’s quality of life, leading to permanent scarring, poor self-image, depression, and anxiety. The standard first-line treatment for acne vulgaris includes conventional pharmacological approaches such as keratolytics, topical or oral antibiotics, retinoids, and hormonal agents. However, these treatments are not universally effective due to patient noncompliance, adverse drug effects, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in Cutibacterium acnes, often resulting in high rates of recurrence. Consequently, non-pharmacological therapies have been developed as safe and effective alternatives or supplements to pharmacological treatment. These non-pharmacological approaches can serve as standalone treatment modalities, adjuncts to pharmacological therapy, or maintenance treatments. Current literature lacks comprehensive data on the classification of these non-pharmacological treatment options. This paper aims to provide a brief overview of recent research on the practical applications and potential mechanisms of nonpharmacological therapies for both acne and acne scars. Through elucidating the distinct mechanisms and therapeutic roles of these treatments, we aim to assist dermatologists and other healthcare providers in formulating more effective disease management strategies, thereby encouraging further research in this area.

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

Fine particulate matter (FPM) is a major component of air pollution and has emerged as a significant global health concern owing to its adverse health effects. Previous studies have investigated the correlation between bone health and FPM through cohort or review studies. However, the effects of FPM exposure on bone health are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FPM on bone health and elucidate these effects in vitro and in vivo using mice. Micro-CT analysis in vivo revealed FPM exposure decreased bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume/total volume ratio, and trabecular number in the femurs of mice, while increasing trabecular separation. Histological analysis showed that the FPM-treated group had a reduced trabecular area and an increased number of osteoclasts in the bone tissue. Moreover, in vitro studies revealed that low concentrations of FPM significantly enhanced osteoclast differentiation. These findings further support the notion that short-term FPM exposure negatively impacts bone health, providing a foundation for further research on this topic.

Background/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits significant sex disparities in incidence, yet its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We explored the role of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) genetic alterations and hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration, both known major contributors to HCC, in sex-specific risk for HBV-related HCC. Methods: We examined 310 HBV-related HCC tissues to investigate sex-specific TERT promoter (TERT-pro) mutations and HBV integration profiles, stratified by sex and age, and validated with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Results: Tumors predominantly exhibited TERT-pro mutations (26.0% vs. 0%) and HBV-TERT integration (37.0% vs. 3.0%) compared to non-tumorous tissues. While TERT-pro mutations increased with age in both sexes, younger males (≤60 years) showed marked predominance compared to younger females. Males had significantly more HBV integrations at younger ages, while females initially had fewer integrations that gradually increased with age. Younger males' integrations showed significantly greater enrichment in the TERT locus compared to younger females, alongside a preference for promoters, PreS/S regions, and CpG islands. Overall, TERT genetic alterations were significantly sex-differential in younger individuals (75.3% in males vs. 23.1% in females) but not in older individuals (76.9% vs. 83.3%, respectively). These alterations were associated with increased TERT expression. The skewed TERT abnormalities in younger males were further corroborated by independent scRNA-seq data. Conclusions Our findings highlight the critical role of TERT alterations and HBV integration patterns in the male predominance of HCC incidence among younger HBV carriers, offering insights for future exploration to optimize sex-specific patient care and HCC surveillance strategies.

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

Fine particulate matter (FPM) is a major component of air pollution and has emerged as a significant global health concern owing to its adverse health effects. Previous studies have investigated the correlation between bone health and FPM through cohort or review studies. However, the effects of FPM exposure on bone health are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FPM on bone health and elucidate these effects in vitro and in vivo using mice. Micro-CT analysis in vivo revealed FPM exposure decreased bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume/total volume ratio, and trabecular number in the femurs of mice, while increasing trabecular separation. Histological analysis showed that the FPM-treated group had a reduced trabecular area and an increased number of osteoclasts in the bone tissue. Moreover, in vitro studies revealed that low concentrations of FPM significantly enhanced osteoclast differentiation. These findings further support the notion that short-term FPM exposure negatively impacts bone health, providing a foundation for further research on this topic.