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Supplementary Figures S1-S4. Figure S1. Limitations of fluorescence staining on melanoma tumor biopsy material. Figure S2. Equivalent circuit model for the tumor micro fragment - microcavity array system. Figure S3. Time and concentration dependent chemotherapeutic response pattern for tumor metastasis 2. Figure S4. Time and concentration dependent chemotherapeutic response pattern for tumor metastasis 2

The treatment of allergic reactions to red tattoo dye is challenging in most cases, as local therapy often does not offer long-term improvement and laser therapy is considered relatively contraindicated by many authors owing to the risk of generalized side effects. Therefore, surgical removal of these tattoos is favored; shave excision is the method of choice, particularly for the removal of the entire dye.The aim of this article was to retrospectively analyze the best post-operative outcome after surgical removal of allergic tattoo reactions using different excision techniques.We compared the different surgical procedures performed on seven patients with single and multiple allergic tattoo reactions treated between 2013 and 2018.The best aesthetic results were achieved by superficial ablation of the inflammatory reaction, partially leaving tattoo remains in the skin.Based on our experience with this small number of patients, a superficial removal of the tattoo without complete removal of the dye is, in most cases, sufficient to achieve healing. The remaining dye residues seem to be better tolerated by the immune system afterwards. Furthermore, the tattoo is often preserved in large parts.

This article describes experimental tests to determine PM fibers Panda style responses to a thermal source with different initial temperature. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of a polarization maintaining fiber to the radiating heat, and to upgrade the space configuration and time response when using the 635 nm light. The sensitivity of the polarization maintaining fiber during excitation of both polarization modes is the principle of this sensor function. This excitation is caused by temperature change and by absorption of thermal radiation. This mechanism is used as an indicator for detection of temperature field disturbance. This article also provides links to previously published results and compares them to the results in this article.

Stage III/IV melanoma remains incurable in most cases due to chemotherapeutic resistance. Thus, predicting and monitoring chemotherapeutic responses in this setting offer great interest. To overcome limitations of existing assays in evaluating the chemosensitivity of dissociated tumor cells, we developed a label-free monitoring system to directly analyze the chemosensitivity of undissociated tumor tissue. Using a preparation of tumor micro-fragments (TMF) established from melanoma biopsies, we characterized the tissue organization and biomarker expression by immunocytochemistry. Robust generation of TMF was established successfully and demonstrated on a broad range of primary melanoma tumors and tumor metastases. Organization and biomarker expression within the TMF were highly comparable with tumor tissue, in contrast to dissociated, cultivated tumor cells. Using isolated TMF, sensitivity to six clinically relevant chemotherapeutic drugs (dacarbazine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin, gemcitabine, and treosulfan) was determined by impedance spectroscopy in combination with a unique microcavity array technology we developed. In parallel, comparative analyses were performed on monolayer tumor cell cultures. Lastly, we determined the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents on TMF by impedance spectroscopy to obtain individual chemosensitivity patterns. Our results demonstrated nonpredictable differences in the reaction of tumor cells to chemotherapy in TMF by comparison with dissociated, cultivated tumor cells. Our direct impedimetric analysis of melanoma biopsies offers a direct ex vivo system to more reliably predict patient-specific chemosensitivity patterns and to monitor antitumor efficacy. Cancer Res; 74(22); 6408–18. ©2014 AACR.

The paper deals with the response of polarization maintaining (PM) fibers upon the variation of the temperature field, on condition both polarization axes are excited. Proper use can be applied in the area of optical fiber thermal field disturbance sensor. For a description of polarization properties the coherent Jones and Muller matrices were used. The Poincare sphere was applied to depict the development of the output of the polarization state of PM fibers for wavelengths 633 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm were arranged in a proposed sensor setup and were studied in the laboratory. A wide file of results containing dependencies of phase shift variations upon different configurations of measured PM fiber was obtained. The thermal field disturbance of the PM fiber was applied by an object with defined proportions and a defined range of temperatures. Dependencies of phase shift upon the object´s temperature, its distance from the fiber and exposed length of PM fiber were measured.

The principle of this sensor function is based on polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) sensi- tivity during excitation of both two polarization modes. This excitation is caused by temperature change, when absorbing thermal radiation. This mechanism is used for detection of temperature field disturbance as an in- dicator. In the case described below, attention was de- voted to temperature field disturbance on the part of the human body. Thus, this sensor system could be used for protection of some entity. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of PMF to radiating heat, the space configuration and time response.

Long-wavelength UVA (340-400 nm UVA-1) phototherapy has been reported to be effective in atopic dermatitis, localized scleroderma and T-cell-derived skin diseases. We retrospectively investigated 70 patients with acute cutaneous GVHD after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation or donor lymphocyte infusion. Complete and partial responses with a median duration of 10 months were achieved in 49 (70%) and 17 (24.3%) patients, respectively. Overall, 47 (67.1%) patients were not treated with systemic steroids. Furthermore, immunosuppression could be tapered in 24 (34.3%) patients while they were receiving UVA-1 treatment. Responses were seen irrespective of age or type of conditioning. Treatment was very well tolerated. After a median follow-up of 18 (range 10-60) months, three patients developed epithelial skin neoplasia. We conclude that UVA-1 therapy is feasible, well tolerated and can be an effective treatment for acute GVHD of the skin, thereby avoiding the use of systemic steroids and/or allowing a more rapid tapering of systemic immunosuppression in a substantial number of patients. The results of this retrospective analysis warrant larger, prospective studies and the effectiveness of UVA-1 therapy should be compared with other established treatment modalities.

Keratinocytes have the ability to take up oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) and plasmid DNA probably by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Despite the use of DNA for antisense and gene therapy little is known about the regulation of genes following exposure to nucleic acids. To systematically identify gene regulation in keratinocytes upon exposure to ODN we screened human cytokine DNA arrays containing 383 different genes and found interleukin (IL) 1alpha, IL-1beta, integrin-beta(1), alpha-tubulin, and follistatin highly induced, while most genes were unaffected. The time course and concentration dependence for IL-1alpha and follistatin expression were analyzed by standard northern blot technique. ODN of different length and sequence induced comparable amounts of IL-1alpha and follistatin. Their induction was independent of negative charge and of several proinflammatory compounds such as lipopolysaccharides, IL-1beta, and interferon-gamma but was partly inhibited by activin A. In summary, our study revealed several genes of the acute phase protein family that are induced in a non-sequence-specific manner following the exposure of normal human keratinocytes to ODN. Therefore it is tempting to speculate that upon internalization ODN bind to an intracellular receptor (e.g., Toll-like receptor 9) which mediates signaling.

Except of specialists, dealing with different photonics areas, the education of all technical professionals about basic photonics principles, components, applications and system solutions is necessary. Paper deals with the place of photonics in the basic range of education and also in other facultative subjects developing the basic photonics knowledge to the area of systems solution. Photonics education is carried in the three steps: in electrical engineering subjects, in the facultative subjects and in the professional subjects. Basic professional spheres of electrical engineering student education could be as follows: theory of field, theory of signals, theory of information, electronic signals and systems, and electronic measurements. In Electrical Engineering and Electronics Department we offer two facultative subjects for different professions: Opto-electronics, and Fiber Optics. Both subjects are based on the lectures and also on the laboratory practice.

The infection of woodchucks with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) provides an experimental model to study early immune responses during hepadnavirus infection that cannot be tested in patients. The T-cell response of experimentally WHV-infected woodchucks to WHsAg, rWHcAg, and WHcAg peptides was monitored by observing 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine and [2- 3 H]adenine incorporation. The first T-cell responses were directed against WHsAg 3 weeks after infection; these were followed by responses to rWHcAg including the immunodominant T-cell epitope of WHcAg (amino acids 97 to 110). Maximal proliferative responses were detected when the animals seroconvered to anti-WHs and anti-WHc (week 6). A decrease in the T-cell response to viral antigens coincided with clearance of viral DNA. Polyclonal rWHcAg-specific T-cell lines were established 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks postinfection, and their responses to WHcAg peptides were assessed. Five to seven peptides including the immunodominant epitope were recognized throughout the observation period (6 months). At 12 months after infection, T-cell responses to antigens and peptides were not detected. Reactivation of T-cell responses to viral antigens and peptides occurred within 7 days after challenge of animals with WHV. These results demonstrate that a fast and vigorous T-cell response to WHsAg, rWHcAg, and amino acids 97 to 110 of the WHcAg occurs within 3 weeks after WHV infection. The peak of this response was associated with viral clearance and may be crucial for recovery from infection. One year after infection, no proliferation of T cells in response to antigens was observed; however, the WHV-specific T-cell response was reactivated after challenge of woodchucks with WHV and may be responsible for protection against WHV reinfection.