Dry Eye Para-Inflammation Management: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence on a Novel 0.2% Hyaluronic Acid-Based Tear Substitute with 0.001% Hydrocortisone Sodium Phosphate.

An innovative eyedrop formulation based on a combination of 0.2% hyaluronic acid and 0.001% hydrocortisone sodium phosphate (Idroflog, Alfa Intes, Italy; HAC eyedrops) was granted a European Patent in 2016 and has been available on the market since 2019 in Europe and in other countries around the world.

Efficacy of a Fixed Combination of Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol, and Colistimethate Sodium for Treatment of Candida albicans Keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the antifungal activity of a fixed antibiotic combination (AC) containing tetracycline (TET), chloramphenicol (CAF), and colistimethate sodium (CS).

Methods: In vitro: Candida ATCC and clinical strains were used. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AC and of each antibiotic were determined.

Design, Synthesis, and Antibacterial Activity of a Multivalent Polycationic Calix[4]arene-NO Photodonor Conjugate.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) as an antimicrobial and anticancer agent continues to stimulate the search of compounds generating NO in a controlled fashion. Photochemical generators of NO are particularly appealing due to the accurate spatiotemporal control that light-triggering offers. This contribution reports a novel molecular construct in which multiple units of 3-(trifluoromethyl)-4-nitrobenzenamine NO photodonor are clustered and spatially organized by covalent linkage to a calix[4]arene scaffold bearing two quaternary ammonium groups at the lower rim.

Potential Eye Drop Based on a Calix[4]arene Nanoassembly for Curcumin Delivery: Enhanced Drug Solubility, Stability, and Anti-Inflammatory Effect.

Curcumin is an Indian spice with a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities but poor aqueous solubility, rapid degradation, and low bioavailability that affect medical benefits. To overcome these limits in ophthalmic application, curcumin was entrapped in a polycationic calix[4]arene-based nanoaggregate by a simple and reproducible method. The calix[4]arene-curcumin supramolecular assembly (Calix-Cur) appeared as a clear colloidal solution consisting in micellar nanoaggregates with size, polydispersity index, surface potential, and drug loading percentage meeting the requirements for an ocular drug delivery system.

Ocular flora and their antibiotic susceptibility in patients having cataract surgery in Italy.

Purpose: To characterize the ocular flora in a consecutive group of patients having cataract surgery and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of isolates to several ophthalmic antibiotics.

Setting: Hospital Di Stefano, Catania, Italy.

Design: Observational case series.

Ex vivo efficacy of gemifloxacin in experimental keratitis induced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In recent years, the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains has been observed in ocular infections. Resistance of MRSA to second- and third-generation fluoroquinolones has increased interest in the fourth-generation fluoroquinolones. In this study, the antibacterial activity of gemifloxacin against MRSA ocular isolates in vitro and in a modified ex vivo rabbit keratitis model was investigated.

Photo-antimicrobial polymeric films releasing nitric oxide with fluorescence reporting under visible light.

A novel photoresponsive molecular hybrid has been embedded in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to give an antibacterial polymeric film generating nitric oxide (NO) under visible light, with concomitant fluorescence reporting of NO release. The molecular hybrid integrates a nitroaniline NO photodonor and a coumarin latent fluorophore in the same molecular skeleton and results in quite homogeneous distribution in the polymer matrix where it preserves well the photobehavior exhibited in solution. The doped PLGA film shows an excellent optical transparency and can be excited by visible light leading to the production of NO and the parallel fluorescence revival of the coumarin fluorophore, which acts as an optical NO reporter.

A bactericidal calix[4]arene-based nanoconstruct with amplified NO photorelease.

A hydrophobic N-dodecyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-4-nitrobenzenamine has been synthesized as a suitable NO photodonor and encapsulated in a nanocontainer based on a polycationic calix[4]arene derivative, leading to a supramolecular micellar-like nanoassembly ca. 45 nm in diameter. Visible light excitation of this nanoconstruct triggers NO generation with an efficiency remarkably higher than that observed for the free NO photoreleaser.

Antioxidant effect of 0.2% xanthan gum in ocular surface corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: Oxidative damage and inflammation are expected to be involved in age-related functional decline of lachrymal gland, that induces lachrymal dysfunction; this resulting in dry eye disease. Therefore, we investigated the potential antioxidant effect of 0.2% xanthan gum (XNT) in human corneal epithelial cells (HCE), in comparison with other widely used tear substitute polymers, such as 0.

Staphylococcal biofilm formation as affected by type acidulant.

Staphylococcal growth and biofilm formation in culture medium where pH was lowered with weak organic (acetic and lactic) or strong inorganic (hydrochloric) acids were studied. The effects were evaluated by biomass measurements, cell-surface hydrophobicity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results demonstrated that the inhibition was related to type of acidulant and pH value.

Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococci clinical isolates to netilmicin and other antibiotics commonly used in ophthalmic therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the activity of selected antimicrobial agents commonly used in the treatment of ocular infections against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) isolates.

Methods: A total of 43 staphylococci from respiratory tract and ocular infections were characterized for methicillin resistance using the Epsilometer test (E-test), the polymerase chain reaction for mecA gene detection and the PBP2' latex agglutination test. A perfect agreement among them was observed in 20 isolates (8 MRSA and 12 MRSE) which were then employed in the susceptibility test by using the agar disk diffusion test (NCCLS).

Enhanced activity of carvacrol against biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in an acidic environment.

Carvacrol is an antimicrobial monoterpenic phenol which occurs in many plant essential oils. The aim of this study was to investigate its activity at acidic pH on staphylococcal forming and yet established biofilms, with particular focus to improve its effectiveness on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm. The results showed that the subinhibitory doses (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC) of carvacrol determined a higher reduction of S.

Effect of alkaline pH on staphylococcal biofilm formation.

Biofilms are a serious problem, cause of severe inconvenience in the biomedical, food and industrial environment. Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis are important pathogenic bacteria able to form thick and resistant biofilms on various surfaces.

Effects of a new lipid tear substitute in a mouse model of dry eye.

Purpose: The present investigation is aimed to evaluate the effect of a new lipid artificial tear on tear volume and ocular surface signs in a mouse model of dry eye and to test the hypothesis that the combined application with sodium hyaluronate can improve the performance of the treatments.

Methods: A new oil-in-water emulsion, a 0.2% sodium hyaluronate solution, or their combined administration were given to dry eye mice maintained in a controlled environment chamber and treated with scopolamine (0.

In vitro activity of carvacrol against staphylococcal preformed biofilm by liquid and vapour contact.

Carvacrol is an important component of essential oils and recently has attracted much attention as a result of its biological properties, such as a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carvacrol in liquid and vapour phase on preformed biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis by determining biofilm biomass and cultivable cell numbers, and by using epifluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Carvacrol was able to reduce biofilm biomass and cell viability more effectively when used with liquid contact rather than with vapour phase.

Effects of oregano, carvacrol and thymol on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol on biofilm-grown Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, as well as the effects of the oils on biofilm formation. For most of the S. aureus (n=6) and S.

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits biofilm formation by ocular staphylococcal isolates.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), the main polyphenol component of green tea, has several antibacterial properties. Here we show that sub-MICs of EGCg appear to decrease slime production, therefore inhibiting biofilm formation by ocular staphylococcal isolates previously characterized for the presence of ica genes by the Congo red agar plate assay and for adhesion to microtiter plates.

Epigallocatechin-gallate enhances the activity of tetracycline in staphylococci by inhibiting its efflux from bacterial cells.

Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCg), the major catechin present in green tea extracts, has been shown to have several antibacterial activities, limiting bacterial growth and invasion and acting in synergy with beta-lactam antibiotics. In this article, we report that EGCg at doses half and below its calculated MIC of 100 microg/ml, is able to reverse tetracycline resistance in staphylococcal isolates expressing the specific efflux pump Tet(K) and appears to improve the MICs of tetracycline for susceptible staphylococcal isolates as well. The visible effect of EGCg is an increased accumulation of tetracycline inside bacterial cells.

Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MSS, MRS) to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol. The commercial aerial parts of Origanum vulgare L. were hydrodistilled and the essential oil analysed by gas- chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry.

(-)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits gelatinase activity of some bacterial isolates from ocular infection, and limits their invasion through gelatine.

The objective of this paper is to assess the gelatinase production by some ocular pathogenic bacterial strains, and evaluate the ability of (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) to inhibit this gelatinase activity and thus limit bacterial invasion. The effect of EGCg on bacterial gelatinase activity was tested by classic zymography methods, while its effect on bacterial invasion was evaluated through the ability of growing bacteria to liquefy and thus penetrate a semisolid gelatine substrate. It was found that EGCg inhibits bacterial gelatinases with an IC(50) of about 0.

Treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis with topical netilmicin.

Purpose: This study compares the clinical and microbiologic value of topical netilmicin with that of gentamicin in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, prospective, controlled study was performed in 209 patients. One to two drop(s) of either antibiotic was applied to the affected eye(s) four times a day for up to 10 days.