@article{355f04ed9a2c46e19c86afe1dcfd475e,
title = "Whole structural reconstruction and quantification of epidermal innervation through the suction blister method and skin-clearing technique",
abstract = "Three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) is conducted to advance assessment methods for peripheral neuropathies and pruritic skin disorders. The skin-clearing technique was proven to be a reliable method for 3-D imaging of IENFs. Nonetheless, it still requires further improvement in the imaging process. The aim of this study was to standardize the 3-D evaluation method of IENFs and to suggest promising 3-D biomarkers for clinical application. A total of nine healthy individuals were prospectively enrolled. The newly adopted suction blister method was combined with the tissue-clearing technique. The detailed structure of the IENFs was reconstructed and quantified using the neuron tracing software. The suction blister method showed improved linear integrity of IENFs compared with those obtained from the previously used salt-split skin test. The 3-D parameters most significantly related to natural aging were the convex hull two-dimensional perimeter and the total length (both p = 0.020). The meaningful correlations were followed by total volume (p = 0.025), ends (p = 0.026), convex hull 3-D surface, and complexity (both p = 0.030). Thus, the 3-D parameters could be utilized as possible biomarkers to identify ambiguous pathologies of peripheral neuropathies and pruritic skin disorders.",
author = "Kim, {Dai Hyun} and Lee, {Se Jeong} and Kim, {June Hoan} and Park, {Sung Jin} and Seo, {Soo Hong} and Ahn, {Hyo Hyun} and Woong Sun and Kim, {Byung Jo} and Rhyu, {Im Joo}",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by the Brain Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF), which was funded by the Korean Ministry of Science, information and communications technology (ICT), Future Planning (NRF-2015M3C7A1028790), and Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), which was funded by the Ministry of Education (2020R1I1A1A01075468). We wish to express our gratitude to Dr. William R. Kennedy, Professor in the Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, for his kind support by providing the original suction blister device. The modified prototype suction blister device was pilot-manufactured by Aligned Genetics Inc., formerly named Logos biosystems Inc. We would also like to express our sincerest gratitude to Peter Lang, a technical and product manager, for his expertise and assistance in using the nerve tracing software, Neurolucida 360. Funding Information: This research was supported by the Brain Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF), which was funded by the Korean Ministry of Science, information and communications technology (ICT), Future Planning (NRF-2015M3C7A1028790), and Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), which was funded by the Ministry of Education (2020R1I1A1A01075468). We wish to express our gratitude to Dr. William R. Kennedy, Professor in the Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, for his kind support by providing the original suction blister device. The modified prototype suction blister device was pilot-manufactured by Aligned Genetics Inc., formerly named Logos biosystems Inc. We would also like to express our sincerest gratitude to Peter Lang, a technical and product manager, for his expertise and assistance in using the nerve tracing software, Neurolucida 360. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",
year = "2022",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1038/s41598-022-16986-7",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",
}