Synergistic Effect and Antibiofilm Activity of a Skin and Wound Cleanser.

INTRODUCTION: Biofilm in chronic wounds impedes the wound healing process. Each biofilm has differing characteristics requiring a multifaceted approach for removal while maintaining a surrounding environment conducive to wound healing. OBJECTIVE: In this study, 3 of the components in a wound cleanser are tested to determine synergy in eradicating biofilms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 3 components assessed for synergy were ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid sodium salts (EDTA), vicinal diols (VD; ethylhexylglycerin and octane-1,2-diol), and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). Each component was assessed individually and in combination while dissolved in a base solution. The Calgary assay method was used for biofilm growth and treatment. Kull Equation analysis for synergy was conducted using viable count results. RESULTS: Synergy is defined as the interaction of components to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. The base solution containing all 3 components (EDTA, VD, and PHMB) reduced biofilm viability by more than 5 logs, demonstrating statistically significant synergy. The 3 components tested individually in the base solution resulted in the following: EDTA did not reduce bacteria viability; VD reduced viability by about 1 log; and PHMB reduced P aeruginosa viability by about 2.5 logs and MRSA viability by about 4 logs. Of importance, the MRSA biofilm failed to regrow in the recovery plates after combined treatment, indicating complete elimination of the biofilm bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental and calculated results indicate the 3 components (VD, EDTA, and PHMB) when used together act synergistically to eradicate MRSA and P aeruginosa biofilms in vitro.

Head lice.

INTRODUCTION: Head louse infection is diagnosed by finding live lice, as eggs take 7 days to hatch (but a few may take longer, up to 13 days) and may appear viable for weeks after death of the egg. Infestation may be more likely in school children, with risks increased in children with more siblings or of lower socioeconomic group. Factors such as longer hair make diagnosis and treatment more difficult. METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of physically acting treatments for head lice? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to March 2014 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS: We found six studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: 1,2-octanediol, dimeticone, herbal and essential oils, and isopropyl myristate.

The hepatoprotective effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate in an experimental model of acute hepatic injury induced by the use of carbon tetrachloride.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate extracted from the Vitis vinifera L. plant in a rat model of acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. METHODS: The study was performed on 54 Sprague-Dawley male rats. The animals were divided into 9 study groups with 6 rats in each. At the end of the 7-day study period, the animals were sacrificed. The effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate on hepatic injury were evaluated based on the comparisons of the changes in the weight, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and histopathological changes in the liver. RESULTS: Dihydromyrcenol significantly reduced the carbon tetrachloride-associated ballooning degeneration and apoptotic cell counts; this reduction was moderate with low doses of geranyl formate, while no reductions were observed with high doses of geranyl formate. The changes in the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were in accordance with these findings. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that in an experimental model of acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, dihydromyrcenol presents a hepatoprotective effect, while geranyl formate presents partial hepatoprotective effects at low doses and no hepatoprotective effects at high doses.

Octanediol treatment of glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium: evidence of anticalcification efficacy in the subcutaneous rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Anticalcification strategies of glutaraldehyde-fixed xenograft tissue aim to extract lipids or to neutralize toxic aldehyde residuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of octanediol compared to standard treatments of glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine pericardium in the subdermal rat model. Octanediol treatment is an ethanolic solution (40%) containing a long chain aliphatic alcohol (5% 1,2-octanediol) that removes lipids without diminishing the stability of collagen. METHODS: Octanediol and standard glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium were both implanted in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats, explanted after 30-75 days (12 animals each) and submitted to X-ray (score 0-4), histology, electron microscopy and elemental analysis by spectroscopy (Ca and P content). Unimplanted octanediol and standard glutaraldehyde fixed pericardium served as control. RESULTS: At 30 days octanediol-treated pericardium showed calcium content of 0.20+/-0.1 vs 20.07+/-36.79 mg/g dry weight for standard pericardium. The difference was also evident at 75 days: calcium content of 2.36+/-7.38 mg/g dry weight for octanediol vs 165.61+/-23.35 mg/g dry weight for standard (p<0.0001). Differences were also detected at X-ray (mean score 0.7+/-0.6 octanediol vs 3.8+/-0.4 standard at 75 days). Equally, mean P content was 11.69+/-21.33 mg/g dry weight for standard vs 0.60+/-1.45 mg/g dry weight for octanediol samples at 30 days, and 90.90+/-12.61 mg/g dry weight for standard vs 1.42+/-4.34 mg/g dry weight for octanediol at 75 days (p<0.0001). At electron microscopy collagen appeared well preserved regardless of the type of treatment; in octanediol treated pericardium cell membranes almost disappeared and only few profiles of endoplasmic reticulum and rare mitochondria were visible. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with octanediol strongly prevents calcification of glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium in rat subdermal model, even in the long-term. Evidence of octanediol efficacy may entail important implications for new generation bioprosthetic valves.