Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a well-defined hyperpigmented patch that recurs in a fixed location each time a particular drug is taken. Common causative agents of FDE are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, non-narcotic analgesics, sedatives, anticonvulsants, sulfonamides, and tetracycline. We report a 33-year-old male who presented with a recurrent, localized, brownish-to-erythematous macule and papules on the peri-philtrum area two hours after taking valacyclovir. Three episodes of valacyclovir ingestion for treatment of Herpes simplex virus infection provoked a similar skin rash at the same site. Histopathology results showed vacuolar degeneration in the basal layer of the epidermis, pigmentary incontinence, and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration in the papillary dermis. Although patch test and skin prick test showed negative responses to acyclovir and valacyclovir, an intradermal test showed a positive reaction only to valacyclovir. The oral provocation test to acyclovir and valacyclovir showed a positive reaction only to valacyclovir. Through drug history, histopathological examination, patch test, intradermal test, and oral provocation test, we established a final diagnosis of FDE due to valacyclovir without cross-reactivity to acyclovir. To find alternative therapeutic drugs, we suggest diagnostic tests with not only the suspected drugs, but also other drugs in the same class.

Objectives: . When performing middle ear operations, such as ossiculoplasty or stapes surgery, patients and surgeons expect an improvement in air conduction (AC) hearing, but generally not in bone conduction (BC). However, BC improvement has often been observed after surgery, and the present study investigated this phenomenon. Methods: . We reviewed the preoperative and postoperative surgical outcomes of 583 patients who underwent middle ear surgery. BC improvement was defined as a BC threshold decrease of >15 dB at two or more frequencies. Subjects in group A underwent staged ossiculoplasty after canal wall up mastoidectomy (CWUM), group B underwent staged ossiculoplasty after canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM), group C underwent ossiculoplasty only (thus, they had no prior history of CWUM or CWDM), and group D received stapes surgery. We created a hypothetical circuit model to explain this phenomenon. Results: . BC improvement was detected in 12.8% of group A, 9.1% of group B, and 8.5% of group C. The improvement was more pronounced in group D (27.0%). A larger gain in AC hearing was weakly correlated with greater BC improvement (Pearson’s r=0.395 in group A, P<0.001; r=0.375 in group B, P<0.001; r=0.296 in group C, P<0.001; r=0.422 in group D, P=0.009). Notably, patients with otosclerosis even experienced postoperative BC improvements as large as 10.0 dB, from a mean value of 30.3 dB (standard error [SE], 3.2) preoperatively to 20.3 dB (SE, 3.2) postoperatively, at 1,000 Hz, as well as an improvement of 9.2 dB at 2,000 Hz, from 37.8 dB (SE, 2.6) to 28.6 dB (SE, 3.1). Conclusion . BC improvement may be explained by a hypothetical circuit model applying the third window theory. Surgeons should keep in mind the possibility of BC improvement when making a management plan.

Background: It has become important to identify and manage risk factors for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) with an increase in its detection rate. Thus, this research aimed to investigate whether alcohol consumption contrib‑ utes to the development of subclinical AF. Methods: This prospective study enrolled 467 patients without AF from a multicenter pacemaker registry. The incidence of subclinical AF (episodes of atrial rate > 220 beats per minute without symptoms) was compared between alcohol-drinking and non-drinking groups. Results: During followup (median 18 months), the incidence and risk of long-duration atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) ≥ 24 h were increased in the alcohol group compared to the non-alcohol group [5.47 vs. 2.10 per 100 personyears, adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14–7.04; P = 0.03]. After propensity score match‑ ing, the incidence and risk of long-duration AHRE were higher in the alcohol group (6.97 vs. 1.27 per 100 personyears, adjusted HR, 7.84; 95% CI, 1.21–50.93; P = 0.03). The mean burden of long-duration subclinical AF was higher in the alcohol group than in the non-alcohol group (0.18 vs. 1.61% during follow-up, P = 0.08). Conclusion Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of subclinical AF. Long-duration AHRE inci‑ dence and AHRE burden were higher in alcohol drinkers than in non-drinkers.

Background: Denosumab (DMB) is a bone antiresorptive agent used to treat osteoporosis or metastatic cancer of the bones. However, denosumab-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (DRONJ) has become a common complication in cancer patients. The prevalence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in cancer patients is estimated to be similar for both bisphosphonate-related cases (1.1 to 1.4%) and denosumab-related cases (0.8 to 2%), with the addition of adjunctive therapy with anti-angiogenic agents reportedly increasing its prevalence to 3%. (Spec Care Dentist 36(4):231–236, 2016). The aim of this study is to report on DRONJ in cancer patients treated with DMB (Xgeva ® , 120mg).Case presentation In this study, we identified four cases of ONJ among 74 patients receiving DMB therapy for meta‑ static cancer. Of the four patients, three had prostate cancer and one had breast cancer. Preceding tooth extraction within 2 months of the last DMB injection was found to be a risk factor for DRONJ. Pathological examination revealed that three patients had acute and chronic inflammation, including actinomycosis colonies. Among the four patients with DRONJ referred to us, three were successfully treated without complications and had no recurrence following surgical treatment, while one did not follow up. After healing, one patient experienced a recurrence at a different site.Sequestrectomy in conjunction with antibiotic therapy and cessation of DMB use proved to be effective in managing the condition, and the ONJ site healed after an average 5-month follow-up period. Conclusion Conservative surgery, along with antibiotic therapy and discontinuation of DMB, was found to be effec‑ tive in managing the condition. Additional studies are needed to investigate the contribution of steroids and antican‑ cer drugs to jaw bone necrosis, the prevalence of multicenter cases, and whether there is any drug interaction with DMB.

The soft palate of carcinoma limited to the uvular region is infrequent among oropharyngeal cancers. The oropharynx regulates swallowing and speech through dynamic motions. Failure to reconstruct after surgical resection of the oropharynx structure can lead to permanent velopharyngeal insufficiency. Therefore, suitable reconstruction is important in establishing proper functional outcomes while maintaining oncological safety.
We present a case of a 66-year-old male who was diagnosed with oropharynx cancer limited in the uvula accompanied by lymph node metastasis. After surgical resection, reconstruction was performed with the united arrangement of bilateral palatal mucomuscular flap and superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap. There was no aspiration or reflux after feeding and epithelialization completely occurred after 1 month postoperatively. We report a successful case that the reconstruction with the local flap described above could preserve proper oropharyngeal function after primary surgery in small-sized oropharyngeal cancer.

Cutaneous metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) present as rapidly growing erythematous or purple-round nodules. An 88-year-old male presented with a solitary, deep-seated firm mass on his left forearm that had persisted for 3 years. Ultrasonography revealed an hypervascular mass with rich vessels. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1.6×1.6×3.3 cm sized, high T2-weighted signal intensity mass at brachioradialis muscle. Histopathologic examination revealed cells with atypical, pleomorphic, oval to spindle-shaped nuclei, and clear cytoplasm with an alveolar pattern within an unencapsulated, lobulated mass. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the tumor cells were positive for PAX8, CD10, epithelial membrane antigen, and vimentin. Ultrasonography of the urinary tract revealed a lesion suspected to be RCC, which was thought to be the primary tumor. As our patient showed peculiar clinical symptoms and the primary tumor was later diagnosed as a metastatic lesion inversely, we report a rare case of metastatic RCC with an intramuscular mass on the forearm.

Background: Cyclosporine is an effective drug for the treatment of psoriasis. Nonetheless, little is known about the factors associated with its effectiveness. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the treatment efficacy of cyclosporine in patients with psoriasis. Methods: ‘Good treatment response’ and ‘treatment failure’ were each defined as achievement of 75% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index and failure to achieve 50% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index, respectively. The factors affecting good treatment response were investigated by comparing the group that achieved psoriasis area and severity index 75 to the not achieved group. Similarly, we also analyzed the factors affecting treatment failure and the time required to achieve psoriasis area and severity index 75. Results: In total, 78 patients (63 males and 15 females) were analyzed. Age of onset, body surface area, accompanying hypertension, accompanying psoriatic arthritis, induction phase mean dose, and cumulative dose showed a relationship with good treatment response. Body surface area, initial dose, and accompanying hypertension were correlated with treatment failure. The mean time taken to achieve psoriasis area and severity index 75 was 6.70±3.17 weeks and it did not correlate with any factor. Conclusion In patients with psoriasis vulgaris, maintaining an adequate mean dose in the induction phase may be necessary for successful treatment with cyclosporine, especially in the patients with early-onset psoriasis, severe psoriasis, or accompanying psoriatic arthritis. In addition, a sufficiently high start dose may be needed to prevent treatment failure, particularly in patients with severe psoriasis vulgaris.

Background: Cyclosporine is an effective drug for the treatment of psoriasis. Nonetheless, little is known about the factors associated with its effectiveness. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the treatment efficacy of cyclosporine in patients with psoriasis. Methods: ‘Good treatment response’ and ‘treatment failure’ were each defined as achievement of 75% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index and failure to achieve 50% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index, respectively. The factors affecting good treatment response were investigated by comparing the group that achieved psoriasis area and severity index 75 to the not achieved group. Similarly, we also analyzed the factors affecting treatment failure and the time required to achieve psoriasis area and severity index 75. Results: In total, 78 patients (63 males and 15 females) were analyzed. Age of onset, body surface area, accompanying hypertension, accompanying psoriatic arthritis, induction phase mean dose, and cumulative dose showed a relationship with good treatment response. Body surface area, initial dose, and accompanying hypertension were correlated with treatment failure. The mean time taken to achieve psoriasis area and severity index 75 was 6.70±3.17 weeks and it did not correlate with any factor. Conclusion In patients with psoriasis vulgaris, maintaining an adequate mean dose in the induction phase may be necessary for successful treatment with cyclosporine, especially in the patients with early-onset psoriasis, severe psoriasis, or accompanying psoriatic arthritis. In addition, a sufficiently high start dose may be needed to prevent treatment failure, particularly in patients with severe psoriasis vulgaris.