Fingolimod Hydrochloride Gel for Dermatological Applications: Optimization of Formulation Strength and Effect of Colloidal Oatmeal (Aveeno®) as Penetration Enhancer.

Fingolimod (FNGL) is an immune-modulatory agent prescribed for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Because of its mechanism of action, FNGL is potentially a treatment for chronic, non-curable T-lymphocyte-driven inflammatory skin diseases (TLDISD) such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Since severe side effects limit the systemic administration of FNGL, the objective of this study is to develop a hydroxypropyl cellulose (2%) FNGL gel for dermatological applications. First, the effect of FNGL strength (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.50%, and 1.00%) on skin permeability and retention was investigated. We carried out several permeation studies with vertical Franz diffusion cells and (i) cellulose or (ii) excised dorsal porcine ear skin (EDPES) as membrane. We also quantified FNGL in the stratum corneum and in dermis with the tape-stripping method. Permeability parameters as well as the amount retained in skin increased significantly (p < 0.01) with strength; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the 0.50% and 1.00% gels for both cellulose and EDPES. Therefore, we selected the 0.50% gel to investigate the effect of colloidal oatmeal (0%, 1%, 3%, 6%, and 10%) on FNGL in vitro permeability and skin retention. Colloidal oatmeal has beneficial dermatological properties for TLDISD and may complement FNGL activity. Permeability increased significantly (p < 0.001) with colloidal oatmeal at the 6% and 10% strength with an enhancement ratio of 3.5 and 2.4, respectively, whereas the amount retained in the skin decreased significantly (p < 0.001) compared to the base gel. In conclusion, the 0.50% FNGL(.)HCL gel with 6% Aveeno® has very promising permeability characteristics for delivery of FNGL to the skin.

Effects of penetration enhancers on in vitro permeability of meloxicam gels.

Meloxicam (MLX) was formulated as a 0.3% hydroxypropylcellulose (Klucel) gel. The effect of four different combinations of co-solvents (ethanol, glycol-PEG-400, propylene glycol, and water) on MLX permeability was determined in vitro throughout isopropyl myristate (IPM)-saturated cellulose membranes. The gel consisting of 2.5% Klucel, propylene glycol, ethanol, and water (1:1:1) showed superior permeability properties and it was selected as the base-gel to investigate the effect of three levels of the penetration enhancers: dimethylsulfoxide (1, 5, and 10% DMSO), tween20 (1, 2, and 5% TW20), oleic acid (0.4, 1, and 5% OA), and menthol (1, 2.5, and 5% MT). In vitro permeability was determined throughout IPM-saturated cellulose membranes and human cadaver skin. DMSO and TW20 did not improve permeability of MLX compared to the control gel at any of the levels tested. Menthol produced a statistically significant (P<0.001), dose proportional increase in MLX flux with a peak at 5% (2.43+/-0.47 microg/cm2/h). Conversely, addition of OA peaked at 1% but decreased at the higher level (5%). There was no significant difference between the MLX amount recovered in stratum corneum and dermis across the different formulations tested. These findings show that the 0.3% MLX gel formulation containing 5% menthol can possibly deliver therapeutically relevant doses of MLX.

Fatal haemolytic uraemic syndrome in an AIDS patient with disseminated adenovirus and cytomegalovirus co-infection.

We describe a fatal case of haemolytic uraemic syndrome in a young woman with AIDS, and disseminated adenovirus (ADV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection. We hypothesize that ADV/CMV co-infection may have a causative role in this clinical picture.

Nosocomial spondylodiskitis with epidural abscess and CSF fistula cured with quinupristin/dalfopristin and linezolid.

Nosocomial infections after spinal surgery are relatively uncommon but potentially serious. The goal of diagnostic evaluation is to determine the extent of infection and identify the microorganism involved. Neuroimaging provides accurate information on correct topography, localization and propagation of the infection. Microbiological data are able to give aetiological causes. In this patient with severe, chronic polymicrobial spine infection with epidural abscess and CSF fistula due to multidrug-resistant organisms, the cure was achieved with long-term antimicrobial specific therapy with quinupristin-dalfopristin (50 days) and linezolid (100 days) with mild side effects. This positive result was due to combined medical and surgical treatment.

The pp65 antigenaemia test as a predictor of cytomegalovirus-induced end-organ disease in patients with AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of pp65 antigenaemia quantitative test for cytomegalovirus (CMV) end-organ disease in patients with advanced HIV infection. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A prospective study in AIDS patients or HIV-infected subjects with CD4 count < 150 x 10(6)/l or CD4 percentage < 10% was carried out. Patients with a history of CMV disease or positive viraemia or antigenaemia tests and subjects under anti-herpes suppressive therapy were excluded. Clinical, ophthalmoscopic, biochemical and virological (antigenaemia test) evaluations were performed at baseline and every 1-3 months until the onset of CMV end-organ disease. SETTING: Institutional tertiary care centre. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were evaluable for this study. End-organ disease was observed in 13 patients, 11 with at least one positive test, two with persistently negative assays. Thirteen patients without CMV disease had at least one positive test, whereas 23 always had negative tests. The 12-month Kaplan-Meier estimate of the incidence of CMV disease in our population was 30.9% and was 75% in antigenaemia-positive subjects. The negative predictive value (NPV) of the test was 92%, and the positive predictive value (PPV) was 45.8%. However, the NPV of quantitative (> 20 cells) antigenaemia assay was 92.1% and the PPV was 90.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The antigenaemia test is a quick, simple and easy to perform assay for diagnosing CMV infection. The NPV is fairly good, as is the PPV when the quantitative method (> 20 positive cells) is used. This test could be used as an alternative to polymerase chain reaction in order to select patients at higher risk of CMV disease who can be treated with pre-emptive anti-CMV therapy.

Electrochemical studies on nitroimidazole sensitizers: interaction with Co(II), Zn(II), and Fe(III) in biological media.

Misonidazole and desmethylmisonidazole react in chemical systems with metal ions such as Zn(II), Co(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III). The experiments carried out in the present work show that these reactions may involve the formation of a complex between the nitroimidazoles and the metal ions. Other experiments demonstrate that Co(II) and Zn(II) react differently with the nitroimidazoles when these reactions are studied in 20% serum solutions.

Clinical trials with cyclophosphamide and misonidazole combination for maintaining treatment after radiation therapy of lung carcinoma.

Fifteen patients with inoperable non oat cell lung carcinoma, who had already been treated with telecobalt therapy in the mediastinum-hilar region, were treated with continuing therapy with misonidazole (MISO) and cyclophosphamide (Cy). MISO was administered in single doses of 1000 mg/m2 and 500 mg/m2, orally. Cy was administered in single doses of 500 mg/m2 and 250 mg/m2, i.v. This treatment was given every 4 weeks. All patients (15/15) suffered from hyporexia, nausea and vomiting within 48 hours from administration; furthermore, 2 patients had hemoragic cystitis, 2 had peripheral neurotoxicity, 3 had fever, and 2 had serious nervous depression. Leukopenia occurred in all patients immediately after drug administration, although it was not present in any patient by the time of the next administration. This clinical trial was concluded in December 1981. The follow-up at 18 months shows 7/15 cases of relapse (3 patients dead and 1 patient alive with recurrence, 2 patients dead and 1 patient alive with metastasis without recurrence). Eight of 15 patients are alive with progression of disease from 8 to 18 months.

Thioridazine dose-related effects on biomechanical force platform measures of sway in young and old men.

OBJECTIVE: Thioridazine (TDZ) is associated with an increased risk of falls. The purpose of this study was to determine whether (1) thioridazine increases Biomechanics Force Platform (BFP) measures of sway in a dose-related manner, (2) there is a difference in sway between young and old men, (3) there is a correlation between sway and orthostatic changes in BP and HR. DESIGN: Seven younger (aged 20-42) and five older (aged 70-76) healthy male volunteers received, in a randomized order double-blind design, a single oral dose of 0, 25, and 50 mg of TDZ on three separate days at least 7 days apart and 75 mg on the fourth day of the study. Sway and blood pressure were measured for 24 hours. SETTING: A general clinical research center. MEASUREMENTS: Biomechanics force platform measures of postural sway were measured as the movement of the center of pressure. The elliptical area (EA) and average velocity (AV) were calculated with eyes open and eyes closed. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured for 5 minutes supine and 5 minutes standing. RESULTS: Thioridazine increases BFP sway in a dose-dependent manner. EA increased from 0.56 (SD = .51) cm2 for placebo to 0.88 (SD = 1.09) cm2 for 75 mg TDZ. AV increased from 1.07 (SD = .27) cm/sec, placebo, to 1.43 (SD = .55) cm/sec, 75 mg TDZ. Older men swayed more than younger men. Changes followed the expected time course for TDZ. EA and AV were associated with HR and BP, e.g., SBP versus ln(EA) and ln(AV) (r = -0.21 and r = -0.22, respectively; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Thioridazine increases validated measures of fall risk dose dependently in young and old men. This may explain the effects of neuroleptic drugs on fall risk in older people.

Thermoregulatory reflexes and cutaneous active vasodilation during heat stress in hypertensive humans.

During dynamic exercise in the heat, increases in skin blood flow are attenuated in hypertensive subjects when compared with normotensive subjects. We studied responses to passive heat stress (water-perfused suits) in eight hypertensive and eight normotensive subjects. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous-occlusion plethysmography, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured by Finapres, and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated. Bretylium tosylate (BT) iontophoresis was used to block active vasoconstriction in a small area of skin. Skin blood flow was indexed by laser-Doppler flowmetry at BT-treated and untreated sites, and cutaneous vascular conductance was calculated. In normothermia, FVC was lower in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects (P < 0.01). During heat stress, FVC rose to similar levels in both groups (P > 0.80); concurrent cutaneous vascular conductance increases were unaffected by BT treatment (P > 0.60). MAP was greater in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects during normothermia (P < 0.05, hypertensive vs. normotensive subjects). During hyperthermia, MAP fell in hypertensive subjects but showed no statistically significant change in normotensive subjects (P < 0.05, hypertensive vs. normotensive subjects). The internal temperature at which vasodilation began did not differ between groups (P > 0.80). FVC is reduced during normothermia in unmedicated hypertensive subjects; however, they respond to passive heat stress in a fashion no different from normotensive subjects.

Intradermal microdialysis: kinetics of iontophoretically delivered propranolol in forearm dermis.

Intradermal microdialysis permits us to measure the concentration in dermis of drugs applied to the skin. Microdialysis is especially efficient in sampling water-soluble molecules. Consequently, it appears particularly suitable to study current based delivery systems like iontophoresis that deliver ions or highly polar molecules. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the adequacy of a skin microdialysis technique to characterize and quantify the dermatopharmacokinetics of iontophoretically delivered propranolol in the dermis of healthy human volunteers. Linear microdialysis probes were inserted in the subject's forearm skin and an iontophoresis device was installed above them. Constant current was applied for two periods of 1 h each separated by a 1-h interval. Dialysate samples were collected every 6 min for 4.4 h and analyzed by HPLC. Probes were always placed in the dermis as measured by ultrasonography. Propranolol was detectable in the dialysate. It was possible to build detailed concentration vs. midtime profiles that mirrored the current applied. Elimination rate from the dermis had first-order kinetics and was similar in all subjects. Quantification of the absorption process, indexed by lag-time and area under the concentration curve showed a high inter- and intrasubject variability that did not correlate with probe depth.

Iontophoretic current and intradermal microdialysis recovery in humans.

When microdialysis (MD) is used to study dermal delivery by iontophoresis, the effects of current may alter MD recovery through an increase in temperature, a change of pH, hyperemia, and dermal hydration. The objective of this work is to assess whether these effects of current may cause a measurable change in the retrodialysis of a model compound (sodium fluorescein, Fl). Two linear MD-probes were inserted in the forearm dermis of healthy human volunteers and perfused with Ringer's solution containing Fl. Two identical iontophoresis chambers (IC, filled with NaCl in propylene glycol) were placed over the MD-probes. Each IC included a laser Doppler flowmetry probe to monitor skin blood flow. At one IC, current was applied for two periods of 30 min each, separated by 30 min of no current. No current was applied to the control site. Dialysate samples were collected every 5 min and analyzed for Fl by HPLC. Skin blood flow increased in response to iontophoresis, on average, 570% compared to the control site. However, there was no difference in the recovery of Fl between the current-active site versus the control site, and between the period with applied current versus the period with no current. In conclusion, iontophoretic current did not affect intradermal MD recovery.

Post operative surveillance of human hydatidosis: evaluation of immunodiagnostic tests.

We investigated the kinetics of antibodies detected by indirect hemagglutination (IHA), IgE Elisa and immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) in patients with hydatid disease operated on and continuously followed in the pre-operative and post-operative periods. In the pre-operative phase the IgE Elisa test was found to be adequately sensitive (68.4%) compared with IHA (79%), with a ratio of IgE Elisa/IHA positivity of 87%, while IEP was positive in 55.3% of cases (IEP/IHA ratio = 70%). During post-operative follow-up IHA became negative late in patients who were cured (7 out of 11 were still positive after 4 yrs), whereas IEP and IgE Elisa became negative within 2 yrs of operation (apart from 1 patient with a persisting positive IgE Elisa 3 yrs later). However, IgE Elisa appeared clearly more sensitive in revealing postoperative recurrences (13 out of 13 patients had positive IgE Elisa, vs. 6 out of 13 IEP).

Human pharmacokinetics of betaxolol enantiomers.

Betaxolol is a cardioselective beta-adrenergic antagonist effective in the treatment of hypertension. The pharmacokinetic behavior of betaxolol enantiomers in healthy male subjects is reported. Betaxolol enantiomer concentrations were determined in samples collected up to 48 h after iv administration of a 10-mg dose over a 30-min period by constant-rate infusion in 12 subjects and after oral administration of 40-mg capsules to eight of the same subjects. Betaxolol extracted from whole blood was reacted with (+) or (-)-1-naphthylethyl isocyanate. The resulting diastereoisomeric derivatives were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorimetric detection. Following the iv dose, there were no differences in clearance or volume of distribution for the two enantiomers (15.6 +/- 4.4 versus 16.4 +/- 4.1 L/h and 342 +/- 62 versus 340 +/- 65 L, respectively). Likewise, after the oral dose, there were no differences in the maximum concentration, time of maximum concentration, bioavailability, or apparent absorption rate constant (41.0 +/- 8.6 versus 42.0 +/- 7.0 ng/mL, 214 +/- 59 versus 215 +/- 56 min, 0.89 +/- 0.26 versus 0.94 +/- 0.23, and 1.0 +/- 0.6 versus 1.2 +/- 0.6 h-1, respectively). Thus, the pharmacokinetic behavior of racemic betaxolol accurately reflects the behavior of betaxolol enantiomers in this subject group.

[Importation dengue]. / Dengue d'importazione.

We describe two cases of dengue fever (DF) serologicaly confirmed. In both, the clinical features are characterized by: fever, severe headache, myalgias and arthalgias, transient macule-papule rash, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. The entire illness last few days and terminates abruptly without therapy. A history of travel to dengue-endemic areas and occurrence of other cases in a community are important reminders to include this disease in the differential diagnosis. The hemoagglutination inhibition test for DF at the Laboratory of Virology of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità on two collected sera, during the acute and convalescent phases, has showed a seroconversion. A problem is to advise patients to avoid endemic areas because the second exposure could induce DHF/dengue shock syndrome.

ABR and HIV-induced impairment of the central nervous system.

This in vivo study used Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to evaluate nerve transmission integrity in the course of HIV infection. 48 normoacoustic HIV+ patients (40 men, 8 women) and 10 healthy age, sex and risk-factor matched controls underwent Brainstem Evoked Auditory potentials using a standard technique. Potentials were tested at cadences of 11 and 51 stimuli per second. ANOVA and Student's T test were used for inter Center for disease Control (CDC) classes and CDC classes vs control analysis of the values of the principal wave latencies (I, III, V) and interpeak intervals (I-III, III-V, I-V). Significant impairments in nerve transmission, shown best at the 51 pps cadence, were present from the earliest stages of HIV infection and worsened as the disease progressed. These results suggest that the upper part of the brainstem may be the main target of involvement in the tract being tested. Since electrophysiological tests allow detection of nervous dysfunction in subjects while still asymptomatic, these procedures could be usefully employed in order to better define the real onset of brain damage in HIV-1 seropositive patients and monitor the speed with which these lesions evolve.

Clonal spread of Acinetobacter baumannii in a general intensive care unit.

The epidemiological characterization of multiply resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from a six-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is described. Investigations for A. baumannii were performed in three subsequent surveillance studies. In the first study, surveillance cultures were taken from patients, health care personnel and the environment; in the second study surveillance cultures were taken at 0, 4, and 7 days from all patients admitted consecutively to the ward; and in the third study surveillance cultures were taken from patients, health care personnel and the environment. During the first study all four hospitalized patients were found to harbour A. baumannii. Hand cultures did not grow any A. baumannii when staff entered the ward from home, but 7 positive health care workers were identified out of 25 samples taken during work, and two cultures of environmental specimens grew A. baumannii. During the second study, 4 of 86 (4.6%) patients resulted colonized with A. baumannii. In the third epidemiological study, no A. baumannii was cultured from either patients, health care personnel or the environment. All isolates recovered from various patients or sources produced conserved macrorestriction Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns and showed the same antibiotic resistance; therefore, they can be considered indistinguishable. The same antibiotic resistance and macrorestriction patterns were observed in previously isolated A. baumannii strains in the ward during May 1997, suggesting the persistence of a single A. baumannii in the ICU. The present study confirms that molecular typing is an essential tool in the epidemiology and control of nosocomial infections, showing here the persistence of a single A. baumannii clone in the ICU. The origin of this strain remains unknown but, when basic infection control measures were reinforced, emphasizing the importance of hand antisepsis and judicious use of gloves, control of A. baumannii spread in the ward was achieved.