Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation has been shown to enhance penetration of clinically used topically applied substances in humans through investigation of functional effects of penetrated substances like vasoconstriction by cortisone. read more
We have been investigating a microfluidics platform for high-speed, low-cost sequencing of single DNA molecules using novel "charge-switch" nucleotides. A significant challenge is the design of a flowcell suitable for manipulating bead-DNA complexes and sorting labeled polyphosphate molecules by charge. The flowcell is part of a single-molecule detection instrument, creating fluorescence images from labeled polyphosphates. These images would ultimately be analyzed by signal processing algorithms to identify specific nucleotides in a DNA sequence. Here we describe requirements of the fluidics system for loading, identifying, tracking, and positioning beads. By dynamically modulating pressure gradients in the plenum chambers of a multi-channel network, we could guide individual beads with high precision to any desired coordinate and reversibly trap them in stepped channels. We show that DNA immobilized on pressure-trapped beads can be physically extended into a downstream channel under electric force for analysis. Custom dynamic algorithms for automated bead control are described. read more
Atopic eczema (AE) is a chronically pruritic inflammatory skin disease. Although the mediators and exact mechanisms eliciting and sustaining pruritus are not completely known, AE patients in clinical trials have been shown to benefit under treatment with morphine antagonists. Naltrexone (NAL) is a relatively pure morphine antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids twice as much as naloxone. NAL exhibits minimal pharmacological activity and displaces endorphines at mu- and kappa-receptors without its own intrinsic activity. NAL's excellent oral bioavailability and linear increases in the area under plasma concentration-time curve make it ideal for use in experimental studies. We designed our present experiments similar to former experiments evaluating both peripheral cutaneous sensations and central itch procession in order to gain more information about the possible distribution of opioid receptors and their involvement in the pathophysiology of pruritus. Eleven AE patients participated in our double-blind study. Either 25 mg of NAL (Nemexin) or a placebo (PLA) was given to the participants 60 min prior to the acetylcholine (ACH) injection [intracutaneous (i.c.) injection of 0.02 ml of 0.55 M]. A PLA stimulus with buffered saline served as control on the opposite forearm. We used laser Doppler flowmetry to measure the vasomotoric changes after ACH injection and recorded the duration and intensity of itch with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Following the evaluation of wheal and flare sensation, we obtained the area of itchy skin around the injection site (alloknesis) by gently stroking the surrounding skin with a brush in the centripetal direction towards the injection site. The results were planimetrically evaluated. Oral NAL reduced the perifocal itch significantly (P < 0.009). In four of our observations the area of alloknesis completely disappeared. Itch duration was reduced by 20 s and the intensity of itch was diminished, yet not significantly. NAL had no significant effects on cholinergic vasoreactions measured by the laser Doppler (P > 0.50) and especially failed to decrease the initial flux response, which is a typical sign of an altered vascular reaction (P > 0.25). The decrease of wheal (P = 0.008) and flare (P = 0.01) extension indicates an appropriate dosage of our treatment for this experiment. The most significant effects of NAL were observed in parameters of itch processing such as alloknesis (P = 0.009) and flare extension (P = 0.01). Therefore we favour the concept that NAL might have a stronger impact on central nervous mechanisms than on peripheral nociceptive structures. read more
Atopic eczema (AE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with strong itching as the prominent symptom. The pathology of itch is still in discussion, but acetylcholine (ACH) seems to be a relevant pruritogenic mediator in AE. Since efficient benefit on pruritus and excoriations has been demonstrated with tricyclic agents, we investigated how the topical treatment with doxepin (5%, Boehringer Standard, Mannheim, Germany), a tricyclic compound with anticholinergic properties, may influence ACH induced itch and cutaneous sensations (erythema, wheal, axonreflex flare). read more
