Lee H, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2015 May;56(3):719-725. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2015.56.3.719

A novel bacteriophage that infects S. aureus, SA97, was isolated and characterized. The phage SA97 belongs to the Siphoviridae family, and the cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) was found to be a host receptor of the phage SA97. Genome analysis revealed that SA97 contains 40,592 bp of DNA encoding 54 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), and none of these genes were related to virulence or drug resistance. Although a few genes associated with lysogen formation were detected in the phage SA97 genome, the phage SA97 produced neither lysogen nor transductant in S. aureus. These results suggest that the phage SA97 may be a promising candidate for controlling S. aureus.

Background Little is known about factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of patients with vitiligo, and previous studies have shown conflicting results. Objectives To explore the QoL of patients with vitiligo and to identify factors affecting QoL. Methods A nationwide questionnaire‐based study was conducted with 1123 patients with vitiligo recruited from 21 hospitals in Korea from July 2015 to June 2016. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire for demographic information and the Skindex‐29 instrument. Mild or severely impaired QoL in patients with vitiligo was assessed according to each domain (symptoms, functioning and emotions) of Skindex‐29. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with QoL. Results Of the enrolled participants, 609 were male and 514 female, with a mean age of 49·8 years (range 20–84). The median duration of disease was 3·0 years (range 0–60). Using multivariate logistic regression modelling, the involvement of visible body parts and a larger affected body surface area were consistently associated with QoL impairment in all three domains of Skindex‐29. Additionally, the QoL of patients aged 20–59 years, who potentially had a more active social life than older patients, was associated with functional impairment. Furthermore, a higher educational background was associated with emotional impairment. Conclusions A multitude of factors significantly influence the QoL of patients with vitiligo. A better appreciation of these factors would help the management of these patients.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been recently considered as chronic systemic inflammatory disorders. Over the past decades, enormous evidence indicates that patients with psoriasis and PsA have a higher risk of developing various comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, cancers, infections, autoimmune disease, and psychiatric diseases. However, reported risks of some comorbidities in those with psoriasis and PsA are somewhat different according to the research design. Moreover, pathomechanisms underlying comorbidities of those with psoriasis and PsA remain poorly elucidated. The purpose of this review is to provide the most updated comprehensive view of the risk of systemic comorbidities in those with psoriasis and PsA. Molecular mechanisms associated with the development of various comorbidities in those with psoriasis and PsA are also reviewed based on recent laboratory and clinical investigations. Identifying the risk of systemic comorbidities and its associated pathomechanisms in those with psoriasis and PsA could provide a sufficient basis to use a multi-disciplinary approach for treating patients with psoriasis and PsA.

Choi MJ, et al. Ann Dermatol. 2010 May;22(2):163-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.5021/ad.2010.22.2.163