Melasma is a commonly acquired hypermelanosis that affects sun-exposed areas of the skin, with frequent facial involvement. Its histologic manifestations are evident in the epidermis, extracellular matrix, and dermis. In addition to epidermal pigmentation, pathologic findings of melasma include extracellular matrix abnormality, especially solar elastosis. The disrupted basement membrane has been described in melasma with variable incidences. In the dermis, an increase in vascularity and an increase in the number of mast cells were observed, indicating that dermal factors have critical roles in the pathogenesis of melasma, despite the fact that melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation. This review discusses such histologic characteristics of melasma, with consideration to their implications for melasma treatment.

H. pylori eradication may be a preventative strategy for intestinal-type gastric cancer by regression of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia.

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The level of serum inflammatory cytokines differs according to morphological phenotype. Also, the PASI does not seem to be a suitable tool to assess disease severity in patients with psoriasis with EI characteristics.

Background The operative link on gastric atrophy (OLGA) and operative link on gastric intestinal metaplasia (OLGIM) stages have been suggested for risk estimation of gastric cancer (GC). However, usefulness of OLGA/OLGIM systems in diffuse type of GC was not investigated so far. The aims of this study were to evaluate the OLGA/OLGIM systems in estimating the GC risk according to Lauren's classification and to investigate the interaction among the risk factors. Materials and methods The OLGA/OLGIM stages were evaluated in 1398 (765 control and 633 GC patients) who were prospectively enrolled in the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Synergistic interaction among the risk factors for GC was calculated using an additive model. Results Among 387 intestinal‐type GC patients, 71 (18.3%) were high‐risk OLGA stages (III, IV) and 113 (29.2%) were high‐risk OLGIM stages (III, IV). Of the 246 patients with diffuse‐type GC, 36 (14.6%) were high‐risk OLGA stages and 39 (15.9%) were high‐risk OLGIM stages. Multivariable analysis revealed family history of GC, Helicobacter pylori infection, high‐risk OLGA stages, and high‐risk OLGIM stages as independent risk factors for GC regardless of histologic type (odds ratios [ORs] 1.78, 1.94, 2.63, and 3.18, respectively). There was no significant risk modification among the H. pylori infection, family history of GC, and high‐risk OLGA/OLGIM stages. Conclusion High‐risk OLGA/OLGIM stages are important prediction markers for GC regardless of H. pylori infection or family history of GC not only for the intestinal type but also for diffuse‐type GC.

Recently, studies of partially insulated, high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils have shown application in the design and construction of compact, stable and self-protecting HTS coils. This article presents the electrical characteristics of HTS coils based on the turn-to-turn inserted materials and conditions. Three partially co-wound pancake coils were fabricated and tested. Each coil was partially co-wound with Kapton, stainless steel and copper tape at every fourth turn of the winding. Tested coils were co-wound on every turn with Kapton, stainless steel and copper tape, and coils without turn-to-turn insulation were the control group. Chargedischarge, sudden-discharge and over-current tests were performed to evaluate the performance of the fabricated coils. The experimental results show that the properties of materials inserted into the coil can control the time constant (τ). Therefore, HTS coils can be designed for specific purposes according to the time constant control. The experimental results of the study could be useful in designing HTS coil applications.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is assumed that the plaque phenotype of psoriasis is associated with T helper (Th) 1 immune response activation, while the guttate phenotype is associated with the Th17 immune response. Previous investigations of differences in the serum levels of cytokines relative to the clinical psoriatic phenotype have yielded conflicting results. This study compared the levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines and LL-37 relative to the morphological phenotype in patients with psoriasis. Seventy-four age-matched patients with psoriasis (32 with guttate psoriasis and 42 with plaque psoriasis) and 12 healthy controls were included. A multiplex cytokine assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure levels of Th1- and Th17-derived cytokines and LL-37, respectively. Circulating levels of interferon- (IFN)-γ, interleukin- (IL)-1RA, IL-2, and IL-23, and LL-37 were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy controls. However, the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-7, IL-22, and IL-23) and LL-37 did not differ significantly between the guttate and plaque phenotypes of psoriasis. There was a positive correlation between serum inflammatory cytokine levels and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. The findings of this study suggest that the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines reflect the disease activity rather than determine the morphological phenotype.