33rd New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference: October 8, 9 and 10, 1937, New York City

Excursion A-2: A Geological Traverse from the Hudson River to Long Island Sound; Excursion B-3: Paleontological Trip to the New Jersey Coastal Plain; Excursion C-1: Progressive Metamorphism of the Hudson River Series; Excursion C-2: Glacial Geology of Long Island; Excursion C-3: Engineering Projects in New York City

Glycerol accelerates recovery of barrier function in vivo.

Two studies were performed to evaluate the influence of glycerolon the recovery of damaged stratum corneum barrier function.Measurements of transepidermal water loss and capacitancewere conducted in a 3-day follow-up after tape stripping (study1) and a 7-day follow-up after a barrier damage due to arepeated washing with sodium lauryl sulphate. In study 1 afaster barrier repair (transepidermal water loss) was monitoredin glycerol-treated sites. Significant differences between glycerolopen vs. untreated and glycerol occluded vs. untreated wereobserved at day 3. Stratum corneum hydration showedsignificantly higher values in the sites treated with glycer-olzocclusion, compared with all other sites. In study 2 a fasterbarrier repair was seen in glycerol-treated sites, with significantdifferences against untreated and base-treated sites 7 days afterthe end of the treatment. Stratum corneum hydration showedhighest values in the glycerol treated sites after 3 days oftreatment. Glycerol creates a stimulus for barrier repair andimproves the stratum corneum hydration; stratum corneumhydration is not strictly related to barrier homeostasis and canbe optimized by different mechanisms and pathways. Theobserved effects were based on the modulation of barrier repairand were not biased by the humectant effect of glycerol. As theglycerol-induced recovery of barrier function and stratumcorneum hydration were observed even 7 days after the endof treatment, glycerol can be regarded as a barrier stabilizingand moisturizing compound. Key words: tape stripping; SLSwashing; transepidermal water loss (TEWL); capacitance;occlusion; barrier repair.(Accepted May 19, 1999.)Acta Derm Venereol 1999; 79: 418–421.Joachim Fluhr, Department of Dermatology, KarlsruheHospital, Sta¨dt. Klinikum, Moltkestrasse 120, D-76133Karlsruhe, Germany.The mechanisms promoting barrier repair in vivo afterstripping of the stratum corneum (SC) and repeated irritationwith sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) are not completely clear:the modulation of water flux is probably a key factor involvedin barrier repair (1–7). It is known, that glycerol represents ahygroscopic compound capable of absorbing water from theenvironment and deeper parts of the SC.The purpose of the present study was to evaluate in vivothe effects of glycerol and occlusion in the promotion ofbarrier repair. Two studies were performed to evaluate theeffect of a repeated application of glycerol on damaged SCbarrier. The barrier disruption was performed by tapestripping (study 1) and by repeated washing with SLS over4 days (study 2).MATERIALS AND METHOD

How to turn the Fast-Track into a Fast-Track: Process integration for evaluation of the quality of Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) on the example of the German Fast-Track Process

In this paper, we address the research question of which integration points in the \textit{German Fast-Track process} are particularly well suited for the integration of evaluation platforms for digital health applications. For this purpose, possible integration points are first identified and then analyzed with the help of a utility analysis with regard to the posed research question. Finally, a recommendation for action is made based on the results of the conducted utility analysis

Genomic organization, sequence analysis and expression of all five genes encoding the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from tomato

We have cloned and sequenced all five members of the gene family for the small subunit (rbcS) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum cv. VFNT LA 1221 cherry line. Two of the five genes, designated Rbcs-1 and Rbcs-2 , are present as single genes at individual loci. Three genes, designated Rbcs-3A, Rbcs-3B and Rbcs-3C , are organized in a tandem array within 10 kb at a third independent locus. The Rbcs-2 gene contains three introns; all the other members of the tomato gene family contain two introns. The coding sequence of Rbcs-1 differs by 14.0% from that of Rbcs-2 and by 13.3% from that of Rbcs-3 genes. Rbcs-2 shows 10.4% divergence from Rbcs-3 . The exon and intron sequences of Rbcs-3A are identical to those of Rbcs-3C , and differ by 1.9% from those of Rbcs-3B . Nucleotide sequence analysis suggests that the five rbcS genes encode four different precursors, and three different mature polypeptides. S 1 nuclease mapping of the 5′ end of rbcS mRNAs revealed that the mRNA leader sequences vary in length from 8 to 75 nucleotides. Northern analysis using gene-specific oligonucleotide probes from the 3′ non-coding region of each gene reveals a four to five-fold difference among the five genes in maximal steady-state mRNA levels in leaves.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47566/1/438_2004_Article_BF00329650.pd

In Vivo Methods for the Assessment of Topical Drug Bioavailability

This paper reviews some current methods for the in vivo assessment of local cutaneous bioavailability in humans after topical drug application. After an introduction discussing the importance of local drug bioavailability assessment and the limitations of model-based predictions, the focus turns to the relevance of experimental studies. The available techniques are then reviewed in detail, with particular emphasis on the tape stripping and microdialysis methodologies. Other less developed techniques, including the skin biopsy, suction blister, follicle removal and confocal Raman spectroscopy techniques are also described

Conservation of chloroplast genome structure among vascular plants

We have constructed the first physical map of a gymnosperm chloroplast genome and compared its organization with those of a fern and several angiosperms by heterologous filter hybridization. The chloroplast genome of the gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba consists of a 158 kb circular chromosome that contains a ribosomal RNA-encoding inverted repeat approximately 17 kb in size. Gene mapping experiments demonstrate a remarkable similarity in the linear order and absolute positions of the ribosomal RNA genes and of 17 protein genes in the cpDNAs of Ginkgo biloba , the fern Osmunda cinnamomea and the angiosperm Spinacia oleracea . Moreover, filter hybridizations using as probes cloned fragments that cover the entirety of the angiosperm chloroplast genome reveal a virtually colinear arrangement of homologous sequence elements in these genomes representing three divisions of vascular plants that diverged some 200–400 million years ago. The only major difference in chloroplast genome structure among these vascular plants involves the size of the rRNA-encoding inverted repeat, which is only 10 kb in Osmunda , 17 kb in Ginkgo , and about 25 kb in most angiosperms. This size variation appears to be the result of spreading of the repeat through previously single copy sequences, or the reverse process of shrinkage, unaccompanied by any overall change in genome complexity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46955/1/294_2004_Article_BF00418529.pd

Natural moisturizing factor components in the stratum corneum as biomarkers of filaggrin genotype: evaluation of minimally invasive methods

Background The carriers of loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) have reduced levels of natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the stratum corneum. The concentration of NMF components which are formed by filaggrin protein breakdown in the stratum corneum might therefore be useful as a biomarker of the FLG genotype. Objectives To investigate the feasibility of different sampling methods for the determination of two NMF components, 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (PCA) and urocanic acid (UCA), in the stratum corneum as biomarkers for the FLG genotype. Methods PCA and UCA from the stratum corneum were sampled by using a tape stripping technique and an extraction technique using skin patches containing potassium hydroxide (KOH). The concentrations of PCA and UCA were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Eleven carriers of an FLG mutation and 10 individuals wild type for the two most common FLG mutations (R501X and 2282del4) were included in the study. Results The most significant difference between the FLG genotypes was found for PCA sampled by the tape stripping technique. The mean values of PCA obtained by the tape stripping technique were, respectively, 0 18, 0 50 and 1 64 mmol g(-1) protein in homozygous (or compound heterozygous), heterozygous and wild-type genotypes (P <0 005 homozygous vs. heterozygous; P <0 0001 heterozygous vs. wild type). The tape stripping technique showed less intrasubject variation compared with the KOH patches, in particular when the concentrations of UCA and PCA on the tape strips were normalized for protein amount. Conclusions The concentration of PCA in the stratum corneum collected by tape stripping showed it to be a feasible biomarker of the FLG genotyp