Lam Man Ching. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-114). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendices also in Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction and Literature Review / Chapter 1.1 --- General introduction of atopic dermatitis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Definition and its nature --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Epidemiology and prevalence of atopic dermatitis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Factors and triggers related to high risk of atopic dermatitis --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Nature of complexity of pathogenesis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Role of T-helper cell in atopic dermatitis and its paradigm model --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Nature of immunoglobulin-E and its role in atopic dermatitis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Chemokines in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis: CTACK and TARC --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Role of antimicrobial peptides and innate immunity --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Measurements of atopic dermatitis severity and related quality of life impairment --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Scoring of atopic dermatitis severity and the SCO Ring Atopic Dermatitis Index --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Quality of life measurement --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Pruritus in atopic dermatitis and its underlying mechanisms --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Introduction to pruritus --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Difference between pruritus and pain --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Pathogenesis and neuronal pathways of pruritus --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Neurogenic itch --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Role of histamines in pruritus of AD --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.6 --- Substance-P --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.7 --- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other recent mediators in pruritus --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- "Scratching, nocturnal scratching and sleeping behavior in atopic dermatitis subjects and related research progress" --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Overview --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- "Interrelationship between pruritus, scratching and sleep disturbance" --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Current methodologies in nocturnal scratching and sleep quality measurement --- p.18 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Objectives --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodologies and Materials / Chapter 3.1 --- Validation of a new methodology /device --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Device selection --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Study design --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Validation of the Digitrac with laboratory markers --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Factor and statistical analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- Application of Digitrac in traditional Chinese herbal medication (TCHM / TCM) clinical trial --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Current AD treatment using corticosteroids and their drawbacks --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Recent trend on TCM treatment --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Study plan --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- "Validation with laboratory markers, Staphylococcus aureus infection and statistical analysis" --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Application of Digitrac in a trial of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in treatment of atopic dermatitis --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Topical immunomodulators as a treatment approach of AD --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Mechanism of tacrolimus in suppressing AD and pruritus --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Study plan --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4 --- Further application of Digitrac in pruritus of other medical fields --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results and Discussions / Chapter 4.1 --- Digitrac validation --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- General demographic background data --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Wrist activities --- p.53 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Laboratory markers and factor analysis --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Interpretation of results --- p.55 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Drawbacks of the validation --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- Summary --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2 --- Digitrac in traditional Chinese herbal medication clinical trial --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- General information --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- "SCORAD, wrist activities and CDLQI" --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Laboratory findings --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Interpretation of results --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Safety of TCM use --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Summary --- p.74 / Chapter 4.3 --- Tacrolimus clinical trial --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- Application of Digitrac in other areas of study --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Pemphigoid gestationis case study --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- T-cell lymphoma case study --- p.92 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Further Discussions and Conclusion --- p.98 / References --- p.101 / Appendices --- p.116