The impact of methoxypropylamino cyclohexenylidene ethoxyethylcyanoacetate (MCE) UVA1 filter on pigmentary and ageing signs: An outdoor prospective 8-week randomized, intra-individual comparative study in two populations of different genetic background.

Background: Of all ultraviolet (UV) radiations reaching the earth, UVA1 rays have a higher potential of penetrating and producing clinically harmful consequences. While UV radiations up to 370 nm are well-blocked by current sunscreens, a photoprotection gap remains for the UVA1 wavelengths between 370 and 400 nm.

Objective: This study was to assess under outdoor summer conditions the impact on pigmentation and skin ageing signs of a protection against UVA1 using methoxypropylamino cyclohexenylidene ethoxyethylcyanoacetate (MCE) filter added to a reference SPF50 sunscreen, in comparison with the same sunscreen without the MCE filter.

Sunscreens with the New MCE Filter Cover the Whole UV Spectrum: Improved UVA1 Photoprotection In Vitro and in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: UVA1 rays (340-400 nm) contribute to carcinogenesis, immunosuppression, hyperpigmentation, and aging. Current sunscreen formulas lack sufficient absorption in the 370-400 nm wavelengths range. Recently, a new UVA1 filter, Methoxypropylamino Cyclohexenylidene Ethoxyethylcyanoacetate (MCE) exhibiting a peak of absorption at 385 nm, was approved by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety for use in sunscreen products.

New combination of ultraviolet absorbers in an oily emollient increases sunscreen efficacy and photostability.

Introduction: It is now recognized that to adequately protect skin from sun damage, sunscreens require a photostable combination of ultraviolet (UV) filters with a suitable level of UVA protection. The total amount of UV filters should be as low as possible to avoid adverse skin reactions, potential environmental impact, and to ensure acceptable texture for better application and usage.

Methods: A synergistic combination of UV filters was selected to obtain a high sun protection factor (SPF) and UVA protection factor (UVA-PF).

Importance of sunscreen products spreading protocol and substrate roughness for in vitro sun protection factor assessment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of substrate roughness and of product spreading method on in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) measurement and to define the experimental conditions most appropriate to reach the best level of correlation to in vivo SPF. In vitro SPF assessment was carried out on 13 products (including different formulation types with SPF from 20 to 75) using various in vitro SPF protocols and comparing related predictive potential regarding in vivo SPF. In the first part, two spreading methods were compared on two types of PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate plate with different roughness.

Access to medicines in Senegal: results of a sample survey.

The survey was conducted in Senegal in April 2001 on a representative sample of providers and clients. Results show that access to medicines in Senegal was limited for three main reasons: (1) the supply of drugs was inadequate, and even critical drugs were often missing in health centres, and were somewhat less in pharmacies; (2) the health infrastructures appeared insufficient to cover the needs of the whole population, creating high opportunity costs; (3) the cost of the drugs prescribed was higher than the minimum price, sometimes exceeding the capacity of poorer people, although high cost was seldom reported as the main reason for not acquiring prescribed drugs. Improving access to medicine is a priority to help reduce health inequalities in developing countries.

[Measuring drug affordability (Senegal)].

This article presents the results of a global survey on drug accessibility conducted in Senegal in 2001. The original tool we developed to measure drug affordability for this study considered 5 marker diseases and their corresponding medical treatments and determined the theoretical amount that each population quintile can devote to the purchase of these treatments at market prices without damaging their economic status (affordability threshold). These results were then compared with those obtained as part of a field survey of 987 patients at 41 health centres and 51 private chemists (pharmacists).

[Why drug prices are high in sub-Saharan Africa. Analysis of price structure: the case of Senegal].

This article seeks to shed light on the reasons for the lack of correlation between the price of drugs in this very poor sub-Saharan country and the population's ability to pay for them. The analysis is based on: (i) a comparison between the wholesale (exclusive of VAT and other taxes) and government-fixed retail prices and the corresponding prices of the same drugs in their country of origin (France); (ii) a description of the price-setting mechanisms in Senegal in both the public and private sectors; and (iii) an evaluation of public-sector retail price in Senegal, by end users and prescribing professionals in both sectors. The study found that: (i) patient expenditure would be one-fifth as high if all the drugs in the sample were sold at their government-fixed public-sector retail prices; (ii) the most cost effective drugs are sold at fixed retail prices higher than those of drugs not reimbursed by the national health insurance in France because considered less cost-effective; (iii) the mechanism for setting public retail prices seems to be unrelated to public health objectives, does not consider specific population groups, target diseases, or the drugs' therapeutic value, and therefore cannot be considered an effective tool for implementing national drug policies.