Abstract: Topical anti-microbial compositions, and more particularly anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compositions, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-microbial agent, a starch, a hydroalcoholic solvent, and a volatile silicone compound having a viscosity of about 0.1 to about 50 centistokes. These compositions are capable of temporarily or permanently reducing, inhibiting, treating, ameliorating, or preventing microbial skin infections, as well as other related skin conditions. These compositions are further capable of restoring or repairing a skin lipid barrier of a mammal.

Abstract: Topical skin protectant compositions, and more particularly anti-pruritic skin protectant compositions, comprising a skin protective ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active agent comprising an anesthetic agent or derivative thereof, an oleaginous solvent comprising a substance other than the skin protective ingredient, and an aqueous solvent. These skin protectant compositions are capable of temporarily or permanently reducing, inhibiting, treating, ameliorating, or preventing pruritic skin conditions, as well as other related skin conditions. These compositions are further capable of restoring or repairing a skin lipid barrier of a mammal.

Abstract: Topical anti-pruritic compositions and methods of using the same to treat pruritus. These anti-pruritic compositions are capable of temporarily or permanently reducing, inhibiting, treating, ameliorating, and/or preventing pruritic skin conditions, as well as other related skin conditions. In a particular aspect, the present formulations provide a quicker and more effective treatment of pruritus than do certain present pruritus-treating compositions.

Abstract: Topical compositions and methods of using same for treating various skin disorders or conditions. In a particular aspect, these compositions comprise a storage-stable mixture of a benzoyl peroxide-containing composition, an antibiotic or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, and a retinoid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In an alternative embodiment, these compositions comprise a storage-stable mixture of a retinoid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and either a benzoyl peroxide-containing composition or an antibiotic or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for topical administration comprising an alpha hydroxy acid. In a particular aspect, these compositions exhibit improved tolerance on the skin upon topical application despite the presence of high levels of alpha hydroxy acids in the composition. These compositions are used for topical medical applications, particularly to treat various skin disorders.

Abstract: Methods for extracting nucleic acids by heating sample cells at about 80-95 degrees C. in a permeabilization reagent containing a non-ionic detergent and a metal chelating agent. The methods of the invention release large fragments of undegraded nucleic acids without physically disrupting the entire cell wall. The nucleic acids are released into solution without bursting the cells and are suitable for research and testing without further purification. The extraction method described herein is rapid, easy to perform, and applicable to a wide variety of cells, including microorganisms. Clinical samples may be screened for the presence or absence of a microorganism by heating the sample at 80-95 degrees Celsius in the presence of a non-ionic detergent and a metal chelating agent, adding to the sample a nucleic acid probe specific to the selected microorganism, incubating the sample under conditions which allow the probe to hybridize to released nucleic acid and detecting whether any hybridized probe is present.

Abstract: Methods for extracting nucleic acids by heating sample cells at about 80-95 degrees C. in a permeabilization reagent containing a non-ionic detergent and a metal chelating agent. The methods of the invention release large fragments of undegraded nucleic acids without physically disrupting the entire cell wall. The nucleic acids are released into solution without bursting the cells and are suitable for research and testing without further purification. The extraction method described herein is rapid, easy to perform, and applicable to a wide variety of cells, including microorganisms. Clinical samples may be screened for the presence or absence of a microorganism by heating the sample at 80-95 degrees Celsius in the presence of a non-ionic detergent and a metal chelating agent, adding to the sample a nucleic acid probe specific to the selected microorganism, incubating the sample under conditions which allow the probe to hybridize to released nucleic acid and detecting whether any hybridized probe is present.

Abstract: The present invention describes oligonucleotides targeted to Coccidioides immitis nucleic acid sequences which are particularly useful to aid in detecting Coccidioides immitis. The oligonucleotides can aid in detecting Coccidioides immitis in different ways such as by acting as hybridization assay probes, and/or amplification primers.