Repair of cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers in human skin: variability among normal humans in nucleotide excision and in photorepair.

Background/aims: Photoreactivation (PR) of cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in human skin remains controversial. Recently Whitmore et al. (1) reported negative results of experiments using two photorepair light (PRL) sources on UV-irradiated skin of volunteers.

Isolation of high-molecular-length DNA from human skin.

An agarose plug method for isolating high-molecular-length DNA from mammalian tissues has been developed, including from those that are difficult, such as skin. It gives high yields of DNA that contain a minimum of single-strand breaks and is readily digested by restriction and other nucleases. The method requires only simple equipment and is readily adaptable to field or clinical studies.

Treatment of nevus of Ota by Q-switched ruby laser.

Background: There are few reports on therapy for nevus of Ota. Moreover, traditional treatments are largely palliative or risk permanent pigmentary changes and/or scarring.

Objective: The efficacy of the Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm, 40 nsec) as a therapy for nevus of Ota was investigated.