Solar Freckles: Long-Term Photochromic Tattoos for Intradermal Ultraviolet Radiometry

While tattooable nanotechnology for in-skin sensing and communication has been a popular concept in science fiction since the 1990s, the first tattooable intradermal nanosensors have only emerged in the past few years, and none have been demonstrated in human skin. We developed a photochromic tattoo that serves as an intradermal ultraviolet (UV) radiometer that provides naked-eye feedback about UV exposure in real time. These small tattoos, or "solar freckles", comprise dermally implanted colorimetric UV sensors in the form of nanoencapsulated leuco dyes that become more blue in color with increasing UV irradiance. We demonstrate the tattoos' functionality for both quantitative and naked-eye UV sensing in porcine skin ex vivo, as well as in human skin in vivo. Solar freckles offer an alternative and complementary approach to self-monitoring UV exposure for the sake of skin cancer prevention. Activated solar freckles provide a visual reminder to protect the skin, and their color disappears rapidly upon removal of UV exposure or application of topical sunscreen. The sensors are implanted in a minimally invasive procedure that lasts only a few seconds, yet remain functional for months to years. These semipermanent tattoos provide an early proof-of-concept for long-term intradermal sensing nanomaterials that provide users with biomedically relevant information in the form of an observable color change.

Protection against programmed electrical stimulation-induced ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death by NE-10064, a class III antiarrhythmic drug

The electrophysiologic and antifibrillatory properties of NE-10064 were studied in vivo in a conscious canine model of sudden cardiac death. Purpose bred male mongrel dogs weighing 14.5-21.5 kg were anesthetized, and surgical anterior myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by a 2-h occlusion, with reperfusion, of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Three to 5 days after induction of anterior wall MI, animals were subjected to testing by programmed electrical stimulation (PES). As compared with predrug incidence (12 of 12), NE-10064 (10 mg/kg intravenously, i.v.) reduced (p < 0.05) the incidence (8 of 12) of PES-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT). All but 1 control animal remained inducible after vehicle (5% dextrose in water). The cycle length of induced VT was not prolonged by NE-10064 (0.245 +/- 0.046 s predrug vs. 0.301 +/- 0.060 s postdrug). NE-10064 increased ventricular effective refractory period (VERP 166 +/- 5 ms predrug vs. 194 +/- 13 ms postdrug, p = 0.013), prolonged QTc interval (310 +/- 12 ms predrug vs. 350 +/- 16 ms postdrug, p = 0.004) and prolonged the effective refractory period (ERP) of noninfarcted myocardium (p = 0.045). The drug did not affect ECG-indexes of conduction velocity: QRS and P-R intervals were not affected, nor were activation delay and conduction time of noninfarcted and infarcted myocardium. In the sudden cardiac death protocol, NE-10064 protected (p = 0.018) against ischemia-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF, 75% survival with drug vs. 25% survival without drug). NE-10064 afforded protection (p = 0.040) throughout 14 h posterolateral ischemia in the presence of the previous anterior infarct.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of the effects of intravenous LNC-834, a new antiarrhythmic agent, and quinidine in canine models of arrhythmia

The effects of intravenous LNC-834, a new antiarrhythmic agent, and quinidine sulfate were evaluated and compared in 24-h infarction, programmed electrical stimulation (PES), and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) canine models of cardiac arrhythmias. In the 24-h infarction model (24 h after myocardial infarction), animals averaged 85% arrhythmic beats before treatment. LNC-834 gave greater suppression of these spontaneous arrhythmias (97%) and had a longer duration of action (150 min) than did quinidine (70% and 85 min, respectively) at 10 mg of base/kg, although plasma levels were comparable (1.82 +/- 0.19 and 1.50 +/- 0.27 micrograms/ml of plasma for LNC-834 and quinidine, respectively). At 10 mg of base/kg, LNC-834 and quinidine increased effective refractory periods by 9 and 7%, respectively. In the PES model, LNC-834 (3 mg of base/kg) suppressed ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 33% (2/6) of the dogs tested: none of the six quinidine-treated animals displayed suppression of VT at cumulative doses of 0.3 to 30 mg of base/kg. In PES dogs, inducible and noninducible, mortality was less with LNC-834 treatment than with quinidine [9% (1/11) and 36% (4/11), respectively]. Neither LNC-834 nor quinidine elevated VFT in naive, anesthetized dogs. Although no treatment significantly affected the intrinsic heart rate in VFT dogs, both LNC-834 and quinidine produced significant hypotension; however, LNC-834 caused less hypotension than did quinidine at equal doses. This study demonstrates that LNC-834 may be a useful antiarrhythmic agent with efficacy comparable to and hemodynamic advantages over quinidine.

A simple device for exteriorizing chronically implanted catheters in dogs

A device, consisting of a round base and cap made of polytetrafluoroethylene, was made to exteriorize and protect chronically implanted arterial and venous catheters in conscious dogs. In experiments lasting as long as 9 months, the subcutaneously implanted button-like appliance did not cause tissue reactions and was well tolerated by 98% of a group of 200 dogs. Being maintenance-free, having the capacity to exteriorize several catheter or wire outputs, and needing no protective harness were advantages of the device.

Isolation, identification, and synthesis of 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-3-quinolinol, the major metabolite of amiquinsin hydrochloride in rats and humans

The metabolism of amiquinsin hydrochloride (4-amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinoline hydrochloride monohydrate, I) was studied in rats and humans. The major metabolite isolated from human urine was identified through synthesis as 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-3-quinolinol hydrochloride hydrate (II). Acid hydrolysis of the major metabolite from rat urine also gave II. The structure of the rat metabolite subsequently was tentatively identified as the potassium salt of the 3-O-sulfate of II. The pharmacological and toxicological properties of I and II are discussed.

A comparison of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle actions of dantrolene sodium--a skeletal muscle relaxant

Dantroline sodium, a skeletal muscle relaxant, has been proposed to inhibit the relase of Ca++ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Such a mechanism suggests that other muscle contractile systems operating with the same Ca++ denominator should also be affected by the drug. In the present studies dantrolene sodium effects on smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscle have been evaluated with in situ and in vitro techniques. In anesthetized dogs in situ skeletal muscle contractions were inhibitied in a dose-dependent manner, but cardiac muscle contractions were not. Effects on intestinal smooth muscle responses were highly variable and of short duration. In vitro, ED50 values were developed with dantrolene sodium (0.15-120 mg/l) in DMSO for each tissue. Skeletal muscle was the most sensitive (ED50 = 4.1 mg/l), cardiac muscle contractions were not inhibited by the drug and intestinal smooth muscle (ED50 = 59.0 mg/l) was approximately 1/14 as sensitive as skeletal muscle. It is concluded that skeletal muscle is uniquely sensitive to dantrolene sodium. A hypothesis for this specific action is offered.