Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated peptides suitable for disrupting an epithelial barrier, transepithelial dmg or vaccine formulations, drug delivery vehicles for delivering these formulations, and methods of using of these formulations for disrupting an epithelial barrier.

Abstract: This invention relates to dermatology and to treatments of infectious skin disease.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an agent that transiently disrupts claudin-1 within tight junctions. The agent includes a peptide having at least 40% polar, uncharged amino acid residues and a self-assembled ?-sheet secondary structure. According to aspects illustrated herein, there is also provided a transepithelial drug and vaccine formulations, as well as isolated peptides, pharmaceutical compositions, and transdermal delivery devices. Also described herein are methods of disrupting epithelial barrier and methods of administering the transepithelial formulations described herein.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an agent that transiently disrupts claudin-1 within tight junctions. The agent includes a peptide having at least 40% polar, uncharged amino acid residues and a self-assembled ?-sheet secondary structure. According to aspects illustrated herein, there is also provided a transepithelial drug and vaccine formulations, as well as isolated peptides, pharmaceutical compositions, and transdermal delivery devices. Also described herein are methods of disrupting epithelial barrier and methods of administering the transepithelial formulations described herein.

Abstract: This invention relates to a transdermal drug formulation that includes a pharmaceutically suitable carrier; an effective amount of a therapeutic agent; and a histamine type 4 receptor (“H4R”) agonist, as well as a transdermal vaccine formulation that includes a pharmaceutically suitable carrier; an effective amount of an antigen or antigen-encoding nucleic acid molecule present in the carrier, and optionally one or more adjuvants; and an H4R agonist. The present invention also relates to transdermal delivery device including such formulations and methods of administering such formulations. The present invention also relates to methods of enhancing epithelial barrier formation in a patient involving administering to the patient at a site of epithelial disruption an amount of a formulation that comprises an H4R antagonist.

Abstract: An epidermal sample is placed into a sample holder formed as a sandwich assembly. The sample holder is placed in an upper well within a lower well to be exposed to media in both wells. Properties of the sample can be studied, such as paracellular flux, transepidermal electric resistance, reaction to compounds, and epidermal barrier recovery.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of agents that modulate claudin-1 and/or -23 expression or activity for purposes of regulating tight junction (“TJ”) formation among keratinocytes that express claudin-1 and/or -23, or other cell types that over- or under-express claudin-1 and/or -23. Several aspects of the present invention relate to increasing claudin-1 and/or -23 expression or function to enhance tight junction formation among claudin-1 and/or -23 expressing cells, particularly keratinocyte and antigen presenting cells. Several other aspects of the invention relate to decreasing claudin-1 and/or -23 expression or function to diminish tight junction formation among claudin-1 and/or -23 expressing cells, particularly keratinocytes and antigen presenting cells.

Abstract: Methods are provided for modulating expression of claudin-1 and/or claudin-23, for purposes of regulating formation of tight junctions in keratinocytes or other types of cells such as antigen presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells and Langertians cells), by either increasing or decreasing expression of claudin-1 and/or claudin-23. Also provided are transdermal formulations that decrease expression of claudin-1 and/or claudin-23, thereby diminishing tight junction formation in cells expressing claudin-1 and/or claudin-23, as well as a transdermal patch for delivering the same.

Abstract: An oral carrier strip for the delivery of an oral care composition to the oral cavity of a human or animal subject is provided. The strip includes a first portion adapted to contact a front facing side of a plurality of teeth. A second portion is provided to be folded around the teeth so as to contact a back facing side of the teeth. The first portion has a first perimeter patterned to substantially match a shape of an outer gingival tissue, and the second portion has a second perimeter opposite the first perimeter and patterned to match a shape of an inner gingival tissue. The second perimeter defines an aperture disposed in the second portion having a rounded notch positioned in a center portion of the strip, configured to prevent the strip from tearing when folded around the teeth.

Abstract: A method for presenting relationships between data from a thrombosis-hemostasis assay on an unknown sample and data from a purality of assays on known samples, which can be in the form of a topological feature map wherein spatial locations within the map correspond to intrinsic features of the known samples. The position of the unknown sample is superimposed on the positions of the known samples. An alternative presentation is showing the distance of each of a purality of predictor variables from an unknown sample to the mean values of a known population.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for presenting the relationships between data from an assay relating to thrombosis-hemostasis on an unknown sample, and data from a plurality of assays relating to thrombosis-hemostasis from known sample populations including, (a) providing data from at least one time dependent measurement profile for each of a plurality of known blood samples; (b) measuring a respective property over time as to derive at least one time-dependent measurement for an unknown blood sample; (c) transforming data from steps (a) and (b) to a plurality of predicator variables which sufficiently capture the information content of both the time-dependent measurements from the known blood samples and unknown blood sample; (d) presenting the data from said unknown blood sample time-dependent measurement profile relative to the data from said known blood sample time-dependent measurement profiles using the presentation method of either steps (e), (f), and (g), or steps (h) and (i); namely, (e) creating a topological

Abstract: A sunshade comprising a plurality of U-shaped bails, pivotally joined together at each end by a plastic joint. A fabric web ensheathes the bails and creates a shade-providing canopy when the bails are spread apart from each other in fan-like fashion. A framing bail frames a fabric sleeve and provides means for supporting the sunshade in an upright position. The sleeve non-mechanically engages the sunshade to the back portion of a chair. A cover, that extends beyond the sleeve, is used when the portable sunshade is in a folded disposition. The ends of the cover are fastened together to keep the sunshade clamped shut. A strap is provided for ease of carrying the portable sunshade.