Traditional hyperthermia involves increasing the temperature at the tumor site to above 39 ℃, inducing death in cancer cells. Although hyperthermia is an effective cancer treatment, its clinical application has decreased due to potential complications, including damage to surrounding normal tissue. In recent years, modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) has emerged as an effective and safe treatment modality. mEHT selectively heats tumor cells to 42–43 °C, while reducing the average temperature in the treatment area, including the surrounding normal tissue, compared to conventional methods. Additionally, mEHT may be used in combination with systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy in tumor treatment, providing a synergistic effect to increase efficacy. As chemotherapy and radiation therapy technologies advance, the application of combined mEHT may improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we review and discuss reports on the clinical outcomes of mEHT combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, which are established anticancer treatments.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the death of thousands of patients worldwide. Although age is known to be a risk factor for morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, critical illness or death is occurring even in the younger age group as the epidemic spreads. In early 2022, omicron became the dominant variant of the COVID-19 virus in South Korea, and the epidemic proceeded on a large scale. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine whether young adults (aged ≤ 50 years) with critical COVID-19 infection during the omicron period had different characteristics from older patients and to determine the risk factors for mortality in this specific age group. Methods: We evaluated 213 critical adult patients (high flow nasal cannula or higher respiratory support) hospitalized for polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 in nine hospitals in South Korea between February 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022. Demographic characteristics, including body mass index (BMI) and vaccination status; underlying diseases; clinical features and laboratory findings; clinical course; treatment received; and outcomes were collected from electronic medical records (EMRs) and analyzed according to age and mortality. Results: Overall, 71 critically ill patients aged ≤ 50 years were enrolled, and 142 critically ill patients aged over 50 years were selected through 1:2 matching based on the date of diagnosis. The most frequent underlying diseases among those aged ≤ 50 years were diabetes and hypertension, and all 14 patients who died had either a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 or an underlying disease. The total case fatality rate among severe patients (S-CFR) was 31.0%, and the S-CFR differed according to age and was higher than that during the delta period. The S-CFR was 19.7% for those aged ≤ 50 years, 36.6% for those aged > 50 years, and 38.1% for those aged ≥ 65 years. In multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR], 1.084; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.043–1.127), initial low-density lipoprotein > 600 IU/L (OR, 4.782; 95% CI, 1.584–14.434), initial C-reactive protein > 8 mg/dL (OR, 2.940; 95% CI, 1.042–8.293), highest aspartate aminotransferase > 200 IU/L (OR, 12.931; 95% CI, 1.691–98.908), and mechanical ventilation implementation (OR, 3.671; 95% CI, 1.294–10.420) were significant independent predictors of mortality in critical COVID-19 patients during the omicron wave. A similar pattern was shown when analyzing the data by age group, but most had no statistical significance owing to the small number of deaths in the young critical group. Although the vaccination completion rate of all the patients (31.0%) was higher than that in the delta wave period (13.6%), it was still lower than that of the general population. Further, only 15 (21.1%) critically ill patients aged ≤ 50 years were fully vaccinated. Overall, the severity of hospitalized critical patients was significantly higher than that in the delta period, indicating that it was difficult to find common risk factors in the two periods only with a simple comparison. Conclusion Overall, the S-CFR of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the omicron period was higher than that in the delta period, especially in those aged ≤ 50 years. All of the patients who died had an underlying disease or obesity. In the same population, the vaccination rate was very low compared to that in the delta wave, indicating that non-vaccination significantly affected the progression to critical illness. Notably, there was a lack of prescription for Paxlovid for these patients although they satisfied the prescription criteria. Early diagnosis and active initial treatment was necessary, along with the proven methods of vaccination and personal hygiene. Further studies are needed to determine how each variant affects critically ill patients.

Background: This study was conducted to compare the job stress, resilience, and burnout levels of small and medium-sized hospital nurses working at National safety hospitals and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) dedicated hospitals, and to identify influencing factors on burnout. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study and research participants were nurses at small and medium-sized hospitals working at National safety hospitals and COVID-19 dedicated hospitals. Data from 292 nurses collected using a structured questionnaires from April 1 to 30, 2020 were used. Data was analyzed using multiple regression analyses. Results: As a result of this study, there was a significant difference in stress on job demand and job resources of nurses working at National safety hospital type B and COVID-19 dedicated Hospital. There was no difference in job stress and resilience of nurses among types of hospitals. As a result of multiple regression, stress to job demands and resilience were factors influencing the level of exhaustion of nurses. Stress to job demands and job resources and resilience were factors influencing the level of disengagement of nurses. Conclusions Considering the results of this study, it is suggested to introduce strategies to reduce nurses’ job stress and burnout caused by COVID-19.

Dermatofibroma is a fibrohistiocytic tumor of the skin that commonly occurs as a solitary lesion on the lower extremities of young women. Multiple eruptive dermatofibromas (MEDFs), defined as the presence of 5 to 8 dermatofibromas appearing within a period of 4 months, are rare, and the etiology of MEDFs remains unknown. However, MEDFs are frequently thought to be associated with altered immunity, such as autoimmune diseases and immunosuppression. It is unclear why MEDFs occur in association with these conditions, but this relationship may suggest that MEDFs are the result of an abortive immunoreactive process. We herein describe a middle-aged woman who developed multiple dermatofibroma. She had myasthenia gravis for 8 years, and developed MEDFs after undergoing oral corticosteroid treatment (245 mg/week) for 3 months. Therefore, our case suggests that the use of immunosuppressants is a more dominant factor for the development of MEDFs than underlying autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Lower Extremity ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Skin

No abstract available.
Acupuncture ; Foreign Bodies ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous

BACKGROUND: Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE) is a disseminated viral infection primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus in the setting of an underlying chronic skin disease. Few studies have reported the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors for recurrent KVE.OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical features and predisposing factors for recurrent KVE.METHODS: This retrospective comparative study of recurrent vs. single-episode KVE was performed at the Pusan National University Hospital between 2004 and 2017.RESULTS: A total of 84 episodes occurred in 60 patients, and of these, 13 patients developed recurrence (21.7%). No statistically significant intergroup difference was observed in the mean age and sex distribution. The face was the most common site of involvement in both groups, followed by the trunk and the upper and lower extremities. Atopic dermatitis was the most common pre-existing disease in both groups; however, Darier's disease was more common in the recurrent KVE group, and this difference was statistically significant. Most patients with KVE (66.7%) showed aggravation of the underlying skin disease within 3 months of KVE onset. This finding was more prominent in patients with recurrent episodes (91.7%) than in those with single-episode KVE (58.3%), (p=0.040).CONCLUSION: This study can contribute to a better understanding of recurrent KVE and guide clinicians in treating patients with conditions predisposing to KVE.
Busan ; Causality ; Darier Disease ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption ; Lower Extremity ; Preexisting Condition Coverage ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Simplexvirus ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: Secukinumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin (IL)-17A, which is a central cytokine in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, has emerged as a promising treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. However, to date, there are no real-world data for secukinumab in Korean patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of secukinumab in Korean patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Prospective data were gathered during follow-up from 28 consecutive patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis treated with secukinumab for minimum of 12 weeks at a single referral center. Patient demographics, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, Physicians' Global Assessment (PGA), Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI), and adverse events were investigated. RESULTS: The mean PASI score was significantly decreased after the induction period of secukinumab treatment (paired t-test, p<0.05). Of the 28 patients, 17 (60.7%) had obtained near complete clearance (PASI 90) at the last follow-up visit. No unexpected adverse events, other than nasopharyngitis, were observed. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab can be of benefit for the treatment of Korean patients with psoriasis, as the treatment was associated with a rapid and satisfactory response and safety profile.
Demography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukins ; Korea* ; Nasopharyngitis ; Prospective Studies ; Psoriasis* ; Quality of Life ; Referral and Consultation ; Treatment Outcome

Granuloma annulare is a benign granulomatous skin disease, clinically characterized by dermal papules tending to form annular shapes. Granuloma annulare is classified into localized, generalized, subcutaneous, and perforating types. Localized granuloma annulare is likely to resolve spontaneously, while generalized granuloma annulare usually takes a chronic course. Topical steroids, phototherapy, isotretinoin, dapsone, hydroxychloroquine, and other various treatments have been proposed, but some cases have been resistant to all of those treatment modalities. We experienced 3 cases of generalized granuloma annulare demonstrating a recalcitrant course that were successfully treated with methotrexate and propose that methotrexate may be an effective option for recalcitrant generalized granuloma annulare treatment.
Dapsone ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Isotretinoin ; Methotrexate* ; Phototherapy ; Skin Diseases ; Steroids

No abstract available.
Eosinophils* ; Folliculitis* ; Humans ; Infant

No abstract available.
Nipples*