This study reports part of the findings of a study of Korean EFL students' skill in summarizing an English text. The participants were 70 freshmen who were assumed to possess the typical Korean EFL students' characteristics related to summary writing. The two English texts employed were expository texts taken from a college‐level ESL reading book. One of the texts (i.e., Text A)was assumed to be easier than the other (i.e., Text B). Data gathered from two summaries were analyzed in terms of the content idea units included in the summary, the idea units on four importance levels, use of three summarization rules (i.e., deletion, selection, and transformation), and accuracy. According to the results, the participants in this study were sensitive, though not fully, to importance. The most frequently used rule was the deletion rule, and the least frequently used rule was the transformation rule. Analysis of data also revealed that text difficulty can affect the summary writer's behavior Changes in the writers' behaviors due to text difficulty were noted in the proportion of content idea units included in the summary, the use of selection and transformation rules, and in the accuracy rate, but not in the use of the deletion rule or total rule use. Results indicate that Korean EFL students do not possess effective summarization skills and are in need of appropriate instruction and practice to improve these skills.

Psoriasis is a hyperproliferative inflammatory skin disease; therefore, it is highly likely that psoriatic skin lesions may transform into malignancies. However, malignant transformation is not common. We performed immunohistochemical studies using anti-cyclin D1, anti-cyclin E, anti-pRb, anti-p53, anti-p16INK4a, and anti-Ki-67 antibodies in normal skin, psoriatic epidermal tissue, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissue. Furthermore, western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining were performed to ascertain differences in cyclin D1, cyclin E, pRb, and Ki-67 expression before and after treatment for psoriasis. Cyclin D1 expression was higher in chronic psoriatic lesions than that in normal epidermis. Psoriasis lesions showed a strong intensity of positive nuclear staining for cyclin D1 among several normally stained nuclei in the basal layer. Cyclin E expression in psoriasis was stronger in the granular and spinous layer than in the normal epidermis. Expression levels of pRb and p53 were found to be higher in the psoriasis group compared with the normal epidermis. Total basal layer cell counts for p53WT expression were found to be significantly higher in the psoriasis group compared with the normal group. However, p16 expression was very weak in the normal and psoriasis groups compared with that in the SCC group. Ki-67 immunoreactivity was significantly higher in psoriasis compared with normal epidermis and was similar with that in the SCC group. According to immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis, the expression levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E, pRb, and Ki-67 in psoriasis lesions decreased after treatment and were similar with those in the normal group. Thus, increased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E may be involved in cell cycle progression in psoriatic epidermis, and pRb and p53 may play important roles in the prevention of malignant transformation under the hyperproliferative state in psoriasis.

Background: Laser toning using a low-fluence 1,064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is one of the most frequently used treatment modalities for melasma. However, this therapy is time consuming because it requires a lot of treatment sessions. Recently, it has been reported that transdermal radiofrequency (RF) is effective for the treatment of melasma. Objective: To determine whether microneedle RF conduction could be an adjunct therapy for melasma, we have studied the effect of simultaneous treatments with laser toning and RF for melasma. Methods: Fifteen patients with melasma underwent five sessions of laser toning and microneedle RF on the right side of the face, and only laser toning on the left side. Responses to treatments were evaluated using the Mexameter Ⓡ (Courage Khazaka, Germany) score, the pigmentation and severity index (PSI) score, and the patient's overall assessment. Additionally, an electron microscopic study of a skin biopsy was performed. Results: Both laser toning and combination therapy showed significant decreases in the Mexameter Ⓡ and PSI score after five treatment sessions. Combination therapy showed a more significant improvement of melasma than laser toning. No remarkable side effects were reported. Electron microscopic analysis showed a greater number of vacuolar changes and increased loosening of melanocytes and adjacent epidermal cells after combination therapy. Conclusion: The combination treatment of laser toning and microneedle RF therapy showed a better therapeutic effect for melasma than laser toning alone. Therefore, the microneedle RF technique could be a new and safe adjunct therapy for the treatment of melasma. (Ann Dermatol 31(2) 133∼138, 2019

The occurrence of malignant tumor in proximity to an arthroplasty prosthesis has been a matter of debate since it was first reported in 1978. Upon considering the number of orthopedic implants used, the occurrence of malignancy is rare. Especially in case of angiosarcoma, only a few cases have been reported worldwide. In this case, we report an extremely rare case of angiosarcoma arising at the site of a revision total hip arthroplasty. A 69-year-old female had received total hip replacement on her left hip due to osteoarthritis 8 months ago. Four months later, she complained pain on her operated area, X-ray showed loosening of implanted cup on her left hip. Thereafter, erythematous and purpuric papules and nodules were developed and spread around on her left hip. Through the skin biopsy she was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, and then she died of a sharp deterioration. Herein, we report a rare case of angiosarcoma occurred after total hip replacement with a review of the literature.