Development of photoprotective, antiphototoxic, and antiphotogenotoxic formulations of ocular drugs with fluoroquinolones.

The development of innovative solutions in photosafety of photolabile pharmaceutical products may help to reduce the adverse effects of these products, caused by light exposure. Providing new data in this area of study is particularly important in case of drugs applied topically on sensitive organs such as eyes. The main goal of this research is to investigate whether two potential excipients, namely: p-coumaric acid and benzophenone-4, affect the photodegradation, phototoxicity and photogenotoxicity of water solutions of four fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, fleroxacin and clinafloxacin. We conducted a set of bioassays combined with the application of high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. The significant reduction of phototoxic and photogenotoxic abilities was evaluated in mixtures with ciprofloxacin and p-coumaric acid by using the umu test with Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002, the methylthiazol tetrazolium reduction assay, and the micronucleus assay with the V79 cell line. In the bacterial assay the opposite effect was observed for the formulation with lomefloxacin and p-coumaric acid. This may be explained by the significant differences in the profile of the lomefloxacin photodegradation products. Further, the photoprotective and antiphotomutagenic abilities of ciprofloxacin mixed with benzophenone-4 were assessed. Promising results obtained in compositions with ciprofloxacin may be a basis for further research. Nevertheless, the increase in the DNA damage potential in mixtures with p-coumaric acid and two other antibiotics shows the importance of the safety evaluation of such innovative combinations.

The "PsychoZak" program - an example of using positive concepts of mental health in practice. / Program "PsychoZak" ­ przyklad zastosowania pozytywnych koncepcji zdrowia psychicznego w praktyce.

For years experts have been advocating the need to develop an individual's health potential, which enables him/her to maintain health and improve his/her effective functioning in difficult situations. A number of positive mental health models have been created, among others: the functional model of mental health, the complete state model of health, the salutogenic model and the model of psychological well-being. They cover both optimal and unfavorable aspects of human functioning. The article presents an authorial program for mental health promotion - "PsychoZak", which is based on the positive concepts of mental health, a review of empirical reports concerning health promotion and on the target group's expectations. The program is addressed to young adults studying at universities as well as final-year secondary school students. Its aim is to strengthen students' psychological, emotional, somatic, and social well-being. It can be used by higher education institutions and thus be a tool satisfying the demand for mental health promotion at universities.