View clinical trials related to Ultraviolet Rays.
Filter by:The threat of MRSA and multi-drug resistant pathogens have been growing in recent years. A new means of countering the infectious threat is required and one such modality is the use of UV light for disinfection. The aim of the study is to proof the efficacy of the 222nm UV light in disinfection on patients with sacral sores. This is a first in human proof-of-concept study
Ultraviolet (UV) light is part of normal sunlight and has many effects on human skin and health. One of the harmful effects of long-term UV light exposure is that it can cause skin cancer. The mechanism by which UV light causes skin cancer is not entirely understood. One of the ways UV light causes cancer is by modifying DNA molecules in the cells of the skin. Another mechanism involved in cancer formation by UV light is immunosuppression. By this mechanism, UV light inactivates cells of the immune system of the skin. The immune cells are responsible for the detection and destruction of foreign substances and organisms such as bacterias and viruses but they also recognize and destroy cancer cells. UV light is known to prevent cells of the immune system to destroy cancer cells. In laboratory experiments, a medication called denosumab has been shown to diminish the inhibition of ultraviolet-induced suppression of skin immunity. In other words, this medication could block the effect of UV on cells of the immune system and might allow patients taking this drug to be better protected from skin cancer. The objective of this study is to test whether denosumab blocks the immunosuppressive effect of UVB light in healthy subjects. This study is divided into two stages. In the first stage, ten subjects (Cohort 1) will be sensitized to diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), a topical sensitizer commonly used for the treatment of alopecia areata and cutaneous warts. By reexposing the subjects to DPCP in incremental doses, dose-response levels of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions in normal skin will be obtained. This will allow comparison of the normal levels of DPCP-induced cutaneous hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction in non UV-exposed skin (Cohort 1) to the CHS obtained from the two UVB-exposed experimental groups of Cohort 2. In the second stage of the study, 20 subjects (Cohort 2) will be exposed to an immunosuppressive dose of ultraviolet B (UVB) 24 hours prior to DPCP sensitization. This is expected to result in the abolition of CHS upon rechallenge with DPCP. In order to assess whether denosumab can reverse UVB-induced immunosuppression, the subjects will have previously been randomized to receive a single 1mL injection of either 60 mg denosumab (group A; 10 subjects) or 1 mL saline (group B; 10 subjects) two weeks before UVB exposure. CHS reactions elicited by DPCP rechallenge will be compared between the denosumab and saline groups.
The specific aims of this research are: Aim 1 - To describe the UV protection behaviors and beliefs of young adult patients in a dermatology clinic. Aim 2 - To examine whether or not the UV protection behaviors and beliefs of young adult dermatology patients are associated with age, gender, level of education, marital status, contact with skin cancer, time outdoors, skin type, the reason for their visit, and the date of data collection. Aim 3 - To test the efficacy of a motivational enhancement approach to UV protection counseling for young adult dermatology patients, as manifested by favorable changes in UV protection stages of change, UV protection self-efficacy, and UV protection attitudes.
With the increasing tourism and adventure travel into extreme environments comes the need to reassess the required protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation and possible other oxidative stresses. This is an observational study of UV radiation exposure and skin erythema while at extreme altitude (Mt. Everest). In addition to UV exposure, skin erythema, antioxidant use (such as vitamins C and E) will be measured. Hypothesis: 1. UV radiation at extreme altitude has larger effects on the skin than at sea level; therefore requiring an adjustment of the antioxidant use for adequate protection. 2. The skin is an accurate reflection of UV and oxidative stress exposure 3. The efficacy of oxidatives stress is reflective of the ethnicity of the individual.