A comparative study of the in vitro dermal absorption of radiolabeled benzophenone through human skin.

Octocrylene is a common sun filter ingredient used to protect the skin from damaging UV rays. Benzophenone is an impurity found in formulations containing octocrylene. [14C]-Benzophenone was spiked (0.1 g/L) into 2 commercial sunscreen formulations; Neutrogena® Beach Defense Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 70 Aerosol, Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Aerosol, and an acetone vehicle. The formulations were applied (ca 2 µL/cm2) to dermatomed human skin mounted in static diffusion cells in vitro. Receptor fluid was collected up to 24 h post dose. All samples were analyzed by liquid scintillation counting. The dermal delivery of [14C]-Benzophenone was 10.02, 9.04 and 5.19% for the 3 formulations. However, the [14C]-Benzophenone mass balances were low; 81.5, 85.3 and 8.02%, respectively. A volatility test was performed replacing skin with aluminum foil for the sunscreen formulations only. The [14C]-Benzophenone mass balance at dosing was 99% but fell to 56.9 and 60.6% at 24 h post dose, confirming the losses were due to [14C]-Benzophenone volatility. A conservative dermal absorption value of 12.42% was proposed to cover [14C]-Benzophenone containing formulations.

Female offspring of mice perinatally exposed to benzophenone-3 showed early subfertility linked to a poor oocyte stockpile.

Previously, we found that the ultraviolet filter benzophenone-3 (BP3) causes fetal growth restriction in mice when is applied when implantation occurs (first week of gestation). However, whether BP3 can affect gestation and fertility after implantation period is unknown. We aimed to study the effects on reproductive physiology of the offspring caused by perinatal exposure to BP3. C57BL/6 pregnant mice were dermally exposed to 50 mg BP3/kg bw.day or olive oil (vehicle) from gestation day 9 (gd9) to postnatal day 21 (pnd1). We observed no differences in mother's weights, duration of gestation, number of pups per mother, onset of puberty or sex ratio. The weights of the pups exposed to benzophenone-3 were transiently lower than those of the control. Estrous cycle was not affected by perinatal exposure to BP3. Besides, we performed a fertility assessment by continuous breeding protocol: at 10 weeks of age, one F1 female and one F1 male mouse from each group was randomly chosen from each litter and housed together for a period of 6 months. We noticed a reduction in the number of deliveries per mother among dams exposed to BP3 during the perinatal period. To see if this decreased fertility could be associated to an early onset of oocytes depletion, we estimated the ovarian reserve of germ cells. We found reduced number of oocytes and primordial follicles in BP3. In conclusion, perinatal exposure to BP3 leads to a decline in the reproductive capacity of female mice in a continuous breeding protocol linked to oocyte depletion.

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF EIGHT DIFFERENT TOPICAL NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS ON REDUCING INTRAVITREAL INJECTION-INDUCED PAIN.

PURPOSE: To compare topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) efficacy on intravitreal injection-induced pain reduction and determine the most efficient topical NSAID. METHODS: This randomized-controlled study included 662 eyes of 662 patients. Based on the types of NSAID administered before intravitreal injection, eight subgroups were formed. In the control group, a sterile saline solution was applied instead of NSAIDs. The visual analog scale was used to assess pain scores after intravitreal injection. The visual analog scale scores were noted immediately and 6 hours following injection (sixth hour). RESULTS: Nepafenac 0.3%, nepafenac 0.1%, and bromfenac 0.09% had the lowest scores, immediately after and after 6 hours, with no significant differences. Diclofenac and ketorolac had higher visual analog scale scores than the first trio but lower scores than the control group. Flurbiprofen, pranoprofen, and indomethacin did not significantly affect immediate pain; however, at the sixth hour, the visual analog scale scores were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: Nepafenac 0.3%, nepafenac 0.1%, and bromfenac 0.09% were the most effective NSAIDs for pain reduction. Although some NSAIDs did not have a significant effect on immediate pain, they all provided significant benefits at the sixth hour.

Efficacy and safety of guttiferone E in melanoma-bearing mice.

Melanoma, an aggressive and potentially fatal skin cancer, is constrained by immunosuppression, resistance, and high toxicity in its treatment. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative antineoplastic agents. Therefore, this study investigated the antimelanoma potential of guttiferone E (GE). In an allogeneic murine B16 melanoma model, GE was administered subcutaneously and intraperitoneally. Antitumor evaluation included tumor volume/weight measurements and histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, the toxicity of the treatments was evaluated through body/organ weights, biochemical parameters, and genotoxicity. Subcutaneous administration of 20 mg/kg of GE resulted in a significant reduction in both tumor volume and weight, effectively suppressing melanoma cell proliferation as evidenced by a decrease in mitotic figures. The tumor growth inhibition rate was equivalent to 54%. This treatment upregulated cleaved caspase-3, indicating apoptosis induction. On the other hand, intraperitoneal administration of GE showed no antimelanoma effect. Remarkably, GE treatments exhibited no toxicity, evidenced by non-significant differences in body weight gain, as well as organ weight, biochemical parameters of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, and genotoxic damage. This study revealed, for the first time, the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of GE in reducing melanoma, in the absence of toxicity. Furthermore, it was observed that the apoptotic signaling pathway is involved in the antimelanoma property of GE. These findings offer valuable insights for further exploring GE's therapeutic applications in melanoma treatment.

PPARγ Alleviates Sepsis-Induced Liver Injury by Inhibiting Hepatocyte Pyroptosis via Inhibition of the ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. To investigate the potential effects of PPARγ on sepsis-induced liver injury and determine the related mechanisms, C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to create a sepsis model which was treated with GW1929 or GW9662 to upregulate or downregulate the expression of PPARγ. We found that upregulation of PPARγ decreased the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), and liver pathological damage and improved the 5-day survival rate. Increased expression of PPARγ also decreased sepsis-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) by promoting the expression of Nrf2. In addition, upregulated PPARγ inhibited the expression of the TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway by reducing ROS-induced injury in the liver during sepsis, which further reduced NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and the inflammatory response. The role of PPARγ was further examined in in vitro experiments, where lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) treated HepG2 and Hep3B cells were incubated with GW1929 or GW9662 to upregulate or downregulate the expression of PPARγ. We found that upregulated PPARγ ameliorated LDH release and improved cell viability. Our results indicated that increased expression of PPARγ reduced ROS levels and inhibited the TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway, resulting in decreased pyroptosis and reduced liver dysfunction during sepsis.

Facile surface functional polyetheretherketone with antibacterial and immunoregulatory activities for enhanced regeneration toward bacterium-infected bone destruction.

Existing biologically inert or unmodified implants to treat infectious bone defects or osteomyelitis still cannot effectively solve bacterial infection and osseointegration. In this work, a simple co-deposition strategy was developed to modify porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with improved antibacterial activity and controllable immunoregulatory ability. After PEEK was treated by H2SO4 to obtain porous PEEK (SPEEK), the self-polymerization of dopamine was operated on SPEEK in the solution of dopamine and gentamicin sulfate (GS) to prepare polydopamine (pDA) and GS layer-modified SPEEK (labeled as SPEEK-pDA-GS). The morphology, surface property, and molecular structure of SPEEK-pDA-GS were investigated. Besides the antibacterial property of SPEEK-pDA-GS ascribed to the successful immobilization of GS, SPEEK-pDA-GS exhibited promoted osseointegration through the results of mineralization, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and osteogenic gene expression. Furthermore, the evaluation of the cell proliferation suggested that SPEEK-pDA-GS possessed the biocompatibility and the immunoregulatory ability that induced macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Using rat as model, in vivo results containing X-ray, µ-CT, immunohistochemistry, and pathological analysis showed the excellent healing effect of SPEEK-pDA-GS on bone defect with infection with biological safety. This work illustrates a new insight into the simple and effective modification of PEEK and other implants with antibacterial, immunoregulatory, and osseointegration abilities for clinical requirement.

Is the commonly used UV filter benzophenone-3 a risk factor for the nervous system?

Benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, oxybenzone, or BP-3) is one of the most frequently used UV radiation absorbents, which are commonly referred to as sunscreen filters. Its widespread use in industrial applications provides protection against the photodegradation of a wide range of products but at the same time creates the risk of human exposure to benzophenone-3 unbeknownst to the individuals exposed. Topically applied benzophenone-3 penetrates individual skin layers, enters the bloodstream, and is excreted in the urine. In addition, benzophenone-3 easily crosses the placental barrier, which creates the risk of exposure to this substance in the prenatal period. Despite the widespread use and occurrence of benzophenone-3 in the human environment, little knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the effect of benzophenone-3 on the nervous system was available until recently. Only the most recent research, including studies by our group, has enabled the identification of new molecular mechanisms through which benzophenone-3 affects embryonic neuronal cells and the developing mammalian brain. Benzophenone-3 has been shown to induce neurotoxicity and apoptotic processes and inhibit autophagy in embryonic neuronal cells. Benzophenone-3 also alters expression and impairs function of receptors necessary for the proper development and function of the nervous system. The most worrying finding seems to be that benzophenone-3 contributes to an increased risk of developmental abnormalities and/or epigenetically based degeneration of neuronal cells by changing the epigenetic status of neuronal cells.

Effectiveness and Anticancer Activity of a Novel Phenolic Compound from Garcinia porrecta Against the MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line in vitro and in silico.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with breast cancer being the most common invasive cancer type in women. Several therapeutic strategies have been explored to reduce the mortality rates of breast cancer. Chemotherapy is the most commonly used systemic treatment, but associated with numerous side-effects. Development of anticancer agents with high efficacy and minimal negative effects is therefore an important focus of research. Natural materials provide an excellent source of bioactive compounds. For instance, Garcinia porrecta from the Clusiaceae family has multiple pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-HIV, antidepressant, and anticancer properties. PURPOSE: The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential anticancer effects of compounds extracted from the bark of G. porrecta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our experiments were divided into three steps: (1) chromatographic isolation of compounds using various separation techniques, such as extraction, separation and purification, (2) characterization via infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy, and (3) evaluation of anticancer activity in vitro (MTT assay) and in silico (via analysis of molecular docking against caspase-9, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)). RESULTS: Depsidone (1) and benzophenone (2) from the ethyl acetate extract of bark of G. porrecta were identified as bioactive components. Examination of the activities of these compounds against MCF-7 cells revealed an IC50 value of 119.3 µg/mL for benzophenone, whereas IC50 for depsidone could not be estimated. Benzophenone activity was lower than that of the positive control doxorubicin (6.9 µg/mL). Depsidone showed the highest binding affinity for HER-2 (-9.2 kcal.mol-1) and benzophenone for ER-α (-8.0 kcal.mol-1). CONCLUSION: Benzophenone displays potency as an anticancer agent through blocking ER-α.

Acidic Microenvironment Aggravates the Severity of Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Modulating M1-Polarization Through Regulating PPAR-γ Signal.

Hepatic injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion (HIRI) is a major clinical problem after liver resection or transplantation. The polarization of macrophages plays an important role in regulating the severity of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. Recent evidence had indicated that the ischemia induces an acidic microenvironment by causing increased anaerobic glycolysis and accumulation of lactic acid. We hypothesize that the acidic microenvironment might cause the imbalance of intrahepatic immunity which aggravated HIRI. The hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established to investigate the effect of the acidic microenvironment to liver injury. Liposomes were used to deplete macrophages in vivo. Macrophages were cultured under low pH conditions to analyze the polarization of macrophages in vitro. Activation of the PPAR-γ signal was determined by Western blot. PPAR-γ agonist GW1929 was administrated to functionally test the role of PPAR-γ in regulating macrophage-mediated effects in the acidic microenvironment during HIRI. We demonstrate that acidic microenvironment aggravated HIRI while NaHCO3 reduced liver injury through neutralizing the acid, besides, liposome abolished the protective ability of NaHCO3 through depleting the macrophages. In vivo and vitro experiment showed that acidic microenvironment markedly promoted M1 polarization but inhibited M2 polarization of macrophage. Furthermore, the mechanistic study proved that the PPAR-γ signal was suppressed during the polarization of macrophages under pH = 6.5 culture media. The addition of PPAR-γ agonist GW1929 inhibited M1 polarization under acidic environment and reduced HIRI. Our results indicate that acidic microenvironment is a key regulator in HIRI which promoted M1 polarization of macrophages through regulating PPAR-γ. Conversely, PPAR-γ activation reduced liver injury, which provides a novel therapeutic concept to prevent HIRI.

Application of a PBPK model to elucidate the changes of systemic and liver exposures for rosuvastatin, carotegrast, and bromfenac followed by OATP inhibition in monkeys.

The impact of organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) inhibition on systemic and liver exposures of three OATP substrates was investigated in cynomolgus monkeys. A monkey physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was constructed to describe the exposure changes followed by OATP functional attenuation. Rosuvastatin, bromfenac, and carotegrast were administered as a single intravenous cassette dose (0.5 mg/kg each) in monkeys with and without predosing with rifampin (RIF; 20 mg/kg) orally. The plasma exposure of rosuvastatin, bromfenac, carotegrast, and OATP biomarkers, coproporphyrin I (CP-I) and CP-III were increased 2.3, 2.1, 9.1, 5.4, and 8.8-fold, respectively, when compared to the vehicle group. The liver to plasma ratios of rosuvastatin and bromfenac were reduced but the liver concentration of the drugs remained unchanged by RIF treatment. The liver concentrations of carotegrast, CP-I, and CP-III were unchanged at 1 h but increased at 6 h in the RIF-treated group. The passive permeability, active uptake, and biliary excretion were characterized in suspended and sandwich-cultured monkey hepatocytes and then incorporated into the monkey PBPK model. As demonstrated by the PBPK model, the plasma exposure is increased through OATP inhibition while liver exposure is maintained by passive permeability driven from an elevated plasma level. Liver exposure is sensitive to the changes of metabolism and biliary clearances. The model further suggested the involvement of additional mechanisms for hepatic uptakes of rosuvastatin and bromfenac, and of the inhibition of biliary excretion for carotegrast, CP-I, and CP-III by RIF. Collectively, impaired OATP function would not reduce the liver exposure of its substrates in monkeys.

A phase 1 dose-escalation and dose-expansion study to assess the safety and efficacy of CKD-516, a novel vascular disrupting agent, in combination with Irinotecan in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Introduction The combination of an anti-angiogenic agent with cytotoxic chemotherapy is a standard treatment strategy for metastatic colorectal cancer. CKD-516 is an oral vascular disrupting agent that was preliminarily shown to be safe and efficacious as a monotherapy in refractory solid cancers. We evaluated the recommended phase 2 dose, safety, and preliminary efficacy of CKD-516 in combination with irinotecan in treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods This phase 1 dose-escalation and dose-expansion study included patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. CKD-516 tablets were administered for five consecutive days followed by two days off in combination with intravenous irinotecan (120 mg/m2) administered on day one of each treatment cycle every two weeks. A traditional 3 + 3 dose-escalation design was used. Results In total, 16 and 23 patients were enrolled in the dose-escalation and dose-expansion cohorts, respectively. The most common adverse events included diarrhea (79%), nausea (74%), vomiting (67%), and neutropenia (62%). No dose-limiting toxicity occurred, and the recommended phase 2 dose was determined at CKD-516/irinotecan doses of 11/120 mg/m2. No cases of cardiac ischemia, cardiac dysfunction, or thromboembolism were reported. Among the 34 patients with available tumor response assessments, one patient achieved partial response (3%) and 26 patients achieved stable disease (76%). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.1 and 11.6 months, respectively. Conclusion This phase 1 study showed that the combination of oral CKD-516 and irinotecan is safe and tolerable in metastatic, treatment-refractory colorectal patients and showed favorable efficacy outcomes. Further studies to confirm these preliminary findings are warranted. Trial registration number NCT03076957 (Registered at March 10, 2017).

Topical bromfenac reduces multiple inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humour of pseudophakic patients.

Intraocular surgery is associated with increased ocular inflammation. If maintained for a prolonged period after surgery, this inflammation can cause various complications, including subconjunctival fibrosis and bleb scarring. This clinical trial was a prospective, randomised, single-blind, interventional study comparing the efficacy and safety of 0.1% bromfenac sodium ophthalmic solution and 0.02% fluorometholone ophthalmic suspension in the inhibition of multiple inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humour of 26 patients with pseudophakic eyes who had undergone phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the trial drugs, and aqueous humour samples were collected before and after drug administration. Platelet-derived growth factor-AA levels significantly decreased in both drug groups, but they were significantly higher in the fluorometholone group than in the bromfenac group (P = 0.034). Bromfenac also significantly decreased vascular endothelial growth factor level (P = 0.0077), as well as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 level (P = 0.013), which was elevated for a prolonged period after phacoemulsification. These data suggest that bromfenac is useful to alleviate prolonged microenvironmental alterations in the aqueous humour of pseudophakic eyes.

Stability of Diazepam Solution for Injection Following Long-Term Storage in an Ambient Temperature of the Mediterranean Climate.

PURPOSE: Diazepam is utilized as a convulsion antidote following nerve gas attacks. As an emergency medicine, it requires storage at ambient temperatures which often doesn't meet manufacturers' requirements, leading to an early invalidation of the product. Current work investigated this issue. METHODS: Long-term stability of diazepam ampoules for injection stored in an ambient temperature of the Mediterranean climate for ~10 years vs storage at room temperature was studied. RESULTS: Diazepam assay and pH remained within pharmacopeial specifications irrespective of storage conditions. A major degradation product 2-methylamino-5-chlorobenzophenone (MACB) showed a clear trend of accumulation as a function of storage time, exceeding the permitted limit at ~2 years, irrespective of storage conditions. A strong correlation between the discoloration of the solutions and the concentration of MACB was obtained. Intravenous administration of MACB to rats at doses ~2200-fold higher than permissible specification levels caused neither mortality nor any toxicological nor post-mortem findings. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the parameters tested: diazepam assay, MACB assay, and pH, storing ampoules of diazepam solution for injection in field conditions of high temperatures of the Mediterranean climate did not cause accelerated degradation as compared to room temperature. These findings open an option for the usage of expired ampoules in special scenarios.

Efficacy and safety of sodium bromfenac eye drops in the treatment of postoperative inflammation in cataract surgery: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A cataract is a degenerative change in the optical quality of the lens caused by protein denaturation. Modern medicine is mainly based on surgical treatment. Cataract surgery is often accompanied by severe inflammation, and glucocorticoid therapy has many adverse reactions and side effects. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sodium bromfenac not only has good anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-allergic effects, but also does not produce side effects caused by hormone drugs. Clinical studies have shown that sodium bromfenac eye drops have a good curative effect in treating postoperative inflammation of cataract, with low recurrence rate and certain therapeutic advantages, but lack of evidence-based medicine evidence. The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium bromfenac eye drops in the treatment of postoperative inflammation of cataracts. METHODS: Use computer to search English and Chinese databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu, China Biomedical Database, and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry for randomized controlled trials on the treatment of postoperative postoperative inflammation in cataract surgery with sodium bromfenac eye drops from the establishment of the database to September 2020, and data extraction and literature quality evaluation were conducted independently by two researchers, and Meta analysis was conducted on the included literature using RevMan5.3 software. RESULTS: In this study, the efficacy and safety of sodium bromfenac eye drops in the treatment of postoperative inflammation of cataract surgery were evaluated by the effective rate, symptom score, adverse reactions, incidence, recurrence rate, etc. CONCLUSION:: This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of bromofenac sodium eye drops in the treatment of postoperative inflammation of cataract. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/3KP7R.

Anti-tumor efficacy of CKD-516 in combination with radiation in xenograft mouse model of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic tumors are known to be highly resistant to radiotherapy and cause poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. CKD-516, a novel vascular disrupting agent (VDA), mainly affects blood vessels in the central area of the tumor and blocks tubulin polymerization, thereby destroying the aberrant tumor vasculature with a rapid decrease in blood, resulting in rapid tumor cell death. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-tumor efficacy of CKD-516 in combination with irradiation (IR) and examined tumor necrosis, delayed tumor growth, and expression of proteins involved in hypoxia and angiogenesis in this study. METHODS: A xenograft mouse model of lung squamous cell carcinoma was established, and the tumor was exposed to IR 5 days per week. CKD-516 was administered with two treatment schedules (day 1 or days 1 and 5) 1 h after IR. After treatment, tumor tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and pimonidazole. HIF-1α, Glut-1, VEGF, CD31, and Ki-67 expression levels were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Short-term treatment with IR alone and CKD-516 + IR (d1) significantly reduced tumor volume (p = 0.006 and p = 0.048, respectively). Treatment with CKD-516 + IR (d1 and d1, 5) resulted in a marked reduction in the number of blood vessels (p < 0.005). More specifically, CKD-516 + IR (d1) caused the most extensive tumor necrosis, which resulted in a significantly large hypoxic area (p = 0.02) and decreased HIF-1α, Glut-1, VEGF, and Ki-67 expression. Long-term administration of CKD-516 + IR reduced tumor volume and delayed tumor growth. This combination also greatly reduced the number of blood vessels (p = 0.0006) and significantly enhanced tumor necrosis (p = 0.004). CKD-516 + IR significantly increased HIF-1α expression (p = 0.0047), but significantly reduced VEGF expression (p = 0.0046). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data show that when used in combination, CKD-516 and IR can significantly enhance anti-tumor efficacy compared to monotherapy in lung cancer xenograft mice.

Guavinoside B from Psidium guajava alleviates acetaminophen-induced liver injury via regulating the Nrf2 and JNK signaling pathways.

Benzophenone glycosides are a major type of polyphenols present in guava. To date, there is still poor understanding of the relationship between benzophenone glycosides and the hepatoprotective effects attributed to this edible fruit. Herein, the protective effects of guavinoside B (GUB), a main benzophenone glycoside present in guava fruit, against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Fluorescence measurement demonstrated that GUB (at a concentration of 30 µM) significantly reduced the intracellular ROS levels in APAP-treated HepG2 cells. In addition, GUB (100 mg kg-1 d-1) pretreatment markedly alleviated APAP-induced hepatocyte infiltration and necrosis in C57BL/6 mice, and improved serum and hepatic biochemical parameters, such as ALT, AST, SOD, GSH, ROS, MDA, and TNF-α levels. RT-PCR and western blot experiments revealed that GUB up-regulated Nrf2, GCLC and NQO1, while reducing p-JNK gene expression in the liver. The fermentation experiment further revealed that the displayed beneficial effects of GUB in vivo might be related to the gut microbial metabolite gallic acid. These promising data suggested that GUB showed potent hepatoprotective effects through regulating the Nrf2 and JNK signaling pathways. Further investigation of the absorption and metabolism of benzophenones would be warranted to promote the utilization of these phenolics as functional food ingredients against oxidative stress-induced chronic diseases.

Mild temperature photothermal assisted anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory nanosystem for synergistic treatment of post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis.

Rationale: Endophthalmitis, which is one of the severest complications of cataract surgeries, can seriously threaten vision and even lead to irreversible blindness owing to its complicated microenvironment, including both local bacterial infection and severe inflammation. It is urgent to develop a comprehensive treatment for both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: Herein, we developed AuAgCu2O-bromfenac sodium nanoparticles (AuAgCu2O-BS NPs), which was designed to combine anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects for integrated therapy of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. The AuAgCu2O-BS NPs could eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial strain relied on their photodynamic effects and the release of metal ions (Ag+ and Cu+) by the hollow AuAgCu2O nanostructures mediated mild photothermal effects. The anti-inflammatory drug, bromfenac sodium, released from the nanoparticles were able to significantly reduce the local inflammation of the endophthalmitis and promote tissue rehabilitation. In vivo bacterial elimination and anti-inflammation were confirmed by a postcataract endophthalmitis rabbit model. Results: Excellent antibacterial ability of AuAgCu2O-BS NPs was verified both in vitro and in vivo. Ophthalmological clinical observation and pathologic histology analysis showed prominent treatment of inflammatory reaction. Importantly, the mild temperature photothermal effect not only promoted the release of metal ions and bromfenac sodium but also avoided the thermal damage of the surrounding tissues, which was more suitable for the practical application of ophthalmology due to the complex structure of the eyeball. Moreover, superior biocompatibility was approved by the preliminary toxicity investigations, including low cytotoxicity, negligible damage to major organs, and stable intraocular pressure. Conclusions: Our studies of nanosystem provide a promising synergic therapeutic strategy for postcataract endophthalmitis treatment with favorable prognosis and promise in clinical translations.

Protective effect of bromfenac sodium on femtosecond laser­assisted cataract surgery via modulating cyclooxygenase­2 expression.

Cataract is a blinding­caused disease and affects millions of individuals worldwide. Although conventional phacoemulsification (CPCS) has been widely used for treatment of cataract, the incidence of cataract­caused blindness still increased year by year. Recently, femtosecond laser technology has been expanded to variety of clinical applications, including cataract surgery. The present study evaluated the curative effect of bromfenac sodium (BS) after femtosecond laser­assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and analyzed the mechanism of action. A total of 90 patients were randomly divided into five groups: Group I, conventional phacoemulsification treatment (CPCS) + dexamethasone (DEX)/tobramycin (TOB); group II, CPCS + bromfenac sodium (BS); group III, Femtosecond laser­assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) + DEX/TOB; group IV, FLACS + BS; and group V, FLACS + pranoprofen. Aqueous humor was collected from these patients post­surgery. For in vitro studies, SRA01/04 cells were irradiated using UV, followed by the collection of culture media and cell lysate. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, an indicator of inflammation, were measured using ELISA both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, cyclooxygenase (COX) and cleaved caspase­1 p20 expression levels were analyzed using western blotting. The findings suggested that BS was more effective and safer compared with glucocorticoids (GCs) after cataract surgery. BS can protect against post­operative inflammation by inhibiting PGE2 production. Under in vitro conditions BS prevented the SRA01/04 cells from undergoing apoptosis after UV treatment and also suppressed PGE2 release from UV­irradiated SRA01/04 cells by modulating COX­2 expression. Furthermore, BS may have an inhibitory effect on the inflammatory form of cell death. Overall, these results indicated that BS could replace existing GCs as a reliable drug for a perioperative period of cataract surgery. It was also identified that the inhibitory effect of BS on PGE2 production was mediated via the regulation of COX­2.

Dermal exposure to the UV filter benzophenone-3 during early pregnancy affects fetal growth and sex ratio of the progeny in mice.

The aim of this study was to analyze whether dermal exposure to benzophenone 3 (BP-3) during pregnancy affects critical parameters of pregnancy, and whether this exposure may affect the outcome of a second pregnancy in mice. Pregnant mice were exposed to 50-mg BP-3/kg body weight/day or olive oil (vehicle) from gestation day (gd) 0 to gd6 by dermal exposure. High-frequency ultrasound imaging was used to follow up fetal and placental growth in vivo. Blood flow parameters in uterine and umbilical arteries were analyzed by Doppler measurements. Mice were killed at gd5, gd10, and gd14 on the first pregnancy, and at gd10 and 14 on the second pregnancy. The weight of the first and second progenies was recorded, and sex ratio was analyzed. BP-3 levels were analyzed in serum and amniotic fluid. BP-3 reduced the fetal weight at gd14 and feto-placenta index of first pregnancy, with 16.13% of fetuses under the 5th percentile; arteria uterina parameters showed altered pattern at gd10. BP-3 was detected in serum 4 h after the exposure at gd6, and in amniotic fluid at gd14. Offspring weight of first progeny was lower in BP-3 group. Placenta weights of BP-3 group were decreased in second pregnancy. First and second progenies of mothers exposed to BP-3 showed a higher percentage of females (female sex ratio). Dermal exposure to low dose of BP-3 during early pregnancy resulted in an intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) phenotype, disturbed sex ratio and alterations in the growth curve of the offspring in mouse model.