Phototherapy and Photochemotherapy
Ultra violet (UV) rays can be used for the purpose of treatment, either alone (generally UV-b rays are used) or in combination with topically applied agents, as is used in treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, for inducing remission and health state of skin. When UV is combined with a topically applied agent or systemically administered agent, than it is called photochemotherapy.
Examples of photochemotherapy in psoriasis:
Topically applied psoralens or systemically administered psoralens (psoralens are tricyclic furocoumarins which if intercalated into DNA and exposed to UV-A eventually form DNA cross-links) are combined with UV-A (called as PUVA) is effective in treating psoriasis and in the early stages of cutaneous T cell lymphoma and vitiligo. The structural changes that occur in DNA thought to decrease DNA synthesis and is responsible for the improvement that is seen in psoriasis. But how PUVA (psoralen ultra-violet-A) photochemotherapy is useful in cutaneous T cell lymphoma is not clearly understood.
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Photoprotection: The Need
Photosensitivity of the skin results from exposure to sunlight, so absolute avoidance of the sun would eliminate these disorders. Unfortunately, modern contemporary life-styles make this an impractical alternative for most individuals, and this has led to a search for better approaches to photoprotection.
The structural proteins in the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) confer natural photoprotection, in particular keratins and melanin (pigment responsible for color of the skin). The amount of melanin and its distribution in cells is genetically regulated, and individuals of darker complexion (skin types IV–VI) are at decreased risk for the development of acute sunburn and cutaneous malignancy and other photosensitivity diseases.
Categories: Skin Care Tags: Photosensitivity, SPF
Weight Loss by Pills
Overweight and obesity has many ill effects on our health (which everybody is aware of) and it is also regarded as ‘not normal’ in society and peer groups to be obese or overweight. Due to sedentary lifestyle of modern times and habit of eating junk unhealthy foods have made the problem of obesity in every society (may it be a society of developed nation or an under developed nation or a developing nation) a major risk factor for ill health, morbidity and mortality.
These days due to busy life schedules it may not be possible or even if possible some persons may not like to do regular exercise for shedding extra pounds of fat from body.
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Phototoxic & Photo-allergic Drugs
There are many drugs which can cause photoallergy and phototoxicity. The commonly used drugs which can cause phototoxicity and photoallergy are given below:
Some examples of phototoxic drugs are given here:
-5- Fluorouracil
-amiodarone
-dacarbazine
-fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin etc.)
-furosemide
-nalidixic acid
-phenothiazines
-psoralens
-retinoids
-sulfonamides
-sulfonylureas (e.g. glimeperide used in treatment of diabetes)
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Importance of Drug Rehabilitation
Drug addiction is a general social evil, which every society suffer from, some societies suffer more and some societies suffer less in compare to others. But the problem of drug addiction, alcohol addiction are global phenomena and present all over the world. No country or society is immune to drug addiction. Like communicable and infectious diseases, drug addiction should be under control and it should be below the level, where it becomes a threat to the general well being of the society or country as a whole. Multidisciplinary approach is required to achieve the control level of drug addiction.
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Phototoxicity & Photoallergy
These photosensitivity (phototoxicity and photoallergy) disorders are related to the topical and/or systemic administration of drugs and as well as other chemicals. Both reactions (phototoxicity and photoallergy) require the absorption of energy by a drug or chemical resulting in the production of an excited-state photosensitizer that can transfer its absorbed energy to a bystander molecule or to molecular oxygen, thereby generating tissue-destructive chemical species.
Phototoxicity is a nonimmunologic reaction caused by drugs and chemicals. The clinical manifestations of phototoxicity include erythema (redness of skin) resembling a sunburn reaction that quickly "peels," within several days. In addition there may also be edema, vesicles, and bullae.
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Photosensitivity Diseases
Exposure to sun may cause various medical problems due to photosensitivity and/or photoallergy. The diseases which can occur and affect patients’ health due to exposure to sun can be classified as genetic, metabolic, phototoxic, photoallergic, photoaggravated, idiopathic, neoplastic and degenerative.
The diseases which are due to photosensitivity are listed below:
- Genetic: Albinism, Bloom syndrome, Cockayne's disease, Erythropoietic porphyria, Erythropoietic protoporphyria, Familial Porphyria cutanea tarda, Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria, Variegate porphyria, Kindler syndrome, Phenylketonuria, Rothmund-Thompson disease, Xeroderma pigmentosum.
- Metabolic: Carcinoid syndrome, Hartnup disease, Kwashiorkor, Pellagra (commonly caused by deficiency of niacin, a B complex vitamin), Sporadic Porphyria cutanea tarda.
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Vitamin D Synthesis: Acute Effect of Sun Exposure
The effects of acute exposure to sun are sunburn and synthesis of vitamin D. vitamin D is one of the vitamin (other vitamin which is synthesized in the body is vitamin K in the gut, by gut flora but not adequate for human requirement) which human body can synthesize in the body in adequate amount and vitamin D is required by human body for good health state. Vitamin-health is an important aspect for good health state and vitamin D is vital for this.
How vitamin D is synthesized in the skin?
Upon exposure of skin to sunlight (UV-B or ultraviolet B, which consists of wavelengths between 290 and 320 nm), there occurs photolysis of epidermal 7-dehydrocholesterol converting it to pre-vitamin D3. This pre-vitamin D3 than then undergoes isomerization which is temperature-dependent to form the stable hormone vitamin D3.
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Refrigeration in Medical Field
Refrigeration is an essential requirement in various field of medicine. Refrigeration is required in Hospitals, Nursing homes, Laboratories and Clinical Research Organizations and also in the field of every medical research. Different types of refrigerators are available for medical use and this refrigerators provide suitable for medical refrigeration. Medical refrigerators generally comes with CFC free refrigeration system and insulation.
The required temperature for medical refrigeration is +2ºC and +8ºC. But in general the household refrigerators maintain internal air temperature between +4ºC and +8ºC. Apart from maintaining internal air temperature between +2ºC and +8ºC there are also few special facilities required for the refrigerators to be used in the field of medicine. These special features in the refrigerators include
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Chronic Nonmalignant Effects of Sun Exposure
Chronic exposure to direct sun may result in malignant (cancerous) and non malignant effects on skin. The and non malignant effects of chronic sun exposure are discussed here.
Exposure to sun cause photo-damage to the skin. The sun-exposed skin (long and chronic exposure) consist of wrinkling, blotchiness, and a roughened, irregular, "weather-beaten" leathery appearance. Whether this effect (photoaging) represents accelerated chronologic aging or a separate and distinct process is not clear.
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