The influence of concentration/meditation on autonomic nervous system activity and the innate immune response: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: In this case study, we describe the effects of a particular individual's concentration/meditation technique on autonomic nervous system activity and the innate immune response. The study participant holds several world records with regard to tolerating extreme cold and claims that he can influence his autonomic nervous system and thereby his innate immune response. METHODS: The individual's ex vivo cytokine response (stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) was determined before and after an 80-minute full-body ice immersion during which the individual practiced his concentration/meditation technique. Furthermore, the individual's in vivo innate immune response was studied while practicing his concentration/mediation technique during human endotoxemia (intravenous administration of 2 ng/kg LPS). The results from the endotoxemia experiment were compared with a historical cohort of 112 individuals who participated in endotoxemia experiments in our institution. RESULTS: The ex vivo proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response was greatly attenuated by concentration/meditation during ice immersion, accompanied by high levels of cortisol. In the endotoxemia experiment, concentration/meditation resulted in increased circulating concentrations of catecholamines, and plasma cortisol concentrations were higher than in any of the previously studied participants. The individual's in vivo cytokine response and clinical symptoms after LPS administration were remarkably low compared with previously studied participants. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration/meditation technique used by this particular individual seems to evoke a controlled stress response. This response is characterized by sympathetic nervous system activation and subsequent catecholamine/cortisol release, which seems to attenuate the innate immune response.

Patient perceptions of 595 nm pulsed dye laser through glass compression in the treatment of thick port wine stains and superficial venous malformations.

In treating thickened port wine stains and superficial venous malformations with the 595 nm pulse dye laser, we have sometimes compressed the lesion with a glass slide to enable the laser beam to penetrate more deeply. In order to evaluate the patients' perception of this modality, 54 subjects were treated with glass compression using ice applications to cool the skin surface and without glass compression using a cryospray to cool the surface. The subjects were asked to rate the difference in 2 questionnaires after the first and second treatments as to effectiveness, pain of procedure, and overall preference. Of those subjects who perceived a difference between modalities, a significant number perceived treatments with glass compression to be more effective than without (p=0.0002 and p=0.0006), but more painful (p<0.0001). There was no significant difference in overall preference. Blistering occurred in 5 subjects when the glass slide was left on the skin more than 1 minute between ice applications.

The use of high-phosphorus supplements to inhibit dental enamel demineralisation by ice lollies.

Five new formulations of water ice lollies with a high-phosphorus (low Ca) supplementation ratio were tested for their erosiveness of dental enamel or hydroxylapatite in vitro. Compared with the basic unsupplemented lolly, all five formulations that had been prepared with additional calcium and phosphorus, but in a low Ca/P ratio, as potential inhibitors of demineralisation, were associated with significantly less attack on dental mineral, as measured by the dissolution of calcium and phosphorus.