Methylene Blue-Mediated Antimicrobial ​Photodynamic Therapy Against Clinical Isolates of Extensively Drug Resistant ​Gram-Negative Bacteria Causing Nosocomial Infections in Thailand, An In Vitro Study.

Background/Purpose: Some multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria as a global threat have been recently prioritized for research and development of new treatments. We studied the efficacy of methylene blue-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (MB-aPDT) for the reduction of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-AB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDR-PS) and multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-KP) isolated in a university hospital setting in Thailand. Method: Two isolates of each selected bacterium were collected, XDR-AB1 and AB2, XDR- PS1 and PS2, and MDR-KP1 and KP2. Three triplicate experiments using various MB concentrations alone, various red light fluences alone, as well as the selected non-toxic doses of MB and fluences of red light combined as MB-aPDT were applied on each selected isolate. The colonies were counted [colony forming units (CFU)/ml]. Estimation of the lethal treatment dose defined as reduction of > 2 log10 in CFU/ml compared with untreated bacteria. Result: There were generally negligible changes in the viable counts of the bacterial suspensions treated with all the MB concentrations (p > 0.05). In the second experiment with the only red light treatments, at fluences higher than 2 J/cm, reduction trend in viable counts across all the isolates was observed. Only for MDR-KP1, however, the lethal dose was achieved with the highest fluence of red light (80 J/cm). With the concentration of MB, 50 and 150 mg/L in the third experiment (MB-aPDT), the greater bacterial reduction was observed in all clinical isolates leading to their lethal viable cell reduction when escalating the light fluence to 80 J/cm. Conclusions: MB-aPDT evidently killed the selected XDR and MDR-gram negative bacteria. In highly drug-resistant crisis era, MB-aPDT could be a promising option, particularly for local infections and infection complicating chronic wounds.

Nagashima-Type Palmoplantar Keratosis with Compound Heterozygous Mutations in SERPINB7.

Nagashima-type palmoplantar keratosis (NPPK) is a diffuse, non-syndromic (isolated), autosomal recessive palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) with transgredients. It is characterized by non-progressive mild to moderate transgredient PPK. The mutation in SERPINB7 is reported to underlie the condition. Though many case reports/series have demonstrated various mutations in SERPINB7, the genotype-phenotype correlation in this disorder is still lacking. We herein report two brothers with NPPK. Both patients were found to be compound heterozygous for c.796C>T and c.650_653delCTGT in the SERPINB7 gene. We then summarize the previously reported cases of different mutations in SERPINB7 along with their clinical phenotypes in an attempt to shed some light on this correlation. Further investigations and systematic data collection are still needed to clarify this issue.

A cleanser formulated with Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and l-arginine significantly improves facial acne in male Thai subjects.

BACKGROUND: Acne is one of the most common skin problems among human populations. A facial cleanser formulated with alkyl ether carboxylate (AEC) and alkyl carboxylate (AC) can improve acne by cleansing sebum on facial skin but cannot effectively remove keratotic plugs in the skin pores. Recently, we confirmed that Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and L-arginine (Tris/Arg) is able to reduce sebum levels, disrupt keratotic plugs in vitro and decrease pore size on facial skin. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of the Tris/Arg-formulated cleanser with the AEC/AC cleanser in Thai subjects with acne. METHODS: We designed a randomized, double-blind, controlled, parallel trial. Thirty-four male Thai subjects with mild to moderate acne were assigned to one of two groups: one group used the Tris/Arg cleanser while the other used the AEC/AC-based cleanser twice a day for 4 weeks. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, significant decreases in noninflammatory acne were observed in both groups, yet significant decreases in inflammatory acne were only observed in the Tris/Arg cleanser group. The sebum level prior to and 30 minutes after facial washing showed no change in either group. The average pore size with keratotic plugs on the cheeks was significantly decreased in the Tris/Arg group. More than half of subjects in both groups observed acne improvement but more subjects in the Tris/Arg group noted pore size improvement. CONCLUSION: The Tris/Arg formulated cleanser has a high efficacy for significantly reducing both noninflammatory and inflammatory acne accompanied by decreases in pore size with keratotic plugs in male Thai subjects.

The Correlations between Follicular Fluorescence and Casual Sebum Levels in Subjects with Normal Skin.

Background: Performing objective measurements of skin oiliness requires a device that can directly measure the sebum level on the skin surface, while ultraviolet-induced red fluorescence (UVRF) can be used to indirectly assess the oiliness on the skin. There have been reports showing the association between these two methods in subjects with oily skin, acne-prone skin, but not in subjects with normal skin. Objectives: We sought to study the association between UVRF and casual sebum level in terms of assessing the facial oiliness in individuals with normal skin. Materials and Methods: Thirty subjects with normal skin were recruited for measurements of both casual sebum level and UVRF (porphyrin count) on specified areas of the face (i.e., forehead, nose, and cheek). Results: There were very strong positive correlations with statistical significance in the areas of the forehead, nose, and cheeks (r=0.88, p<0.001; r=0.89, p<0.001; and r=0.95, p<0.001, respectively) when porphyrin counts in each area were compared to those of the whole face. Porphyrin counts were also positively correlated with the casual sebum level with statistical significance on the cheeks (r=0.43, p=0.02), while the forehead and nose showed more modest correlations without statistical significance (r=0.35, p=0.06 and r=0.36, p=0.05, respectively). Conclusions: UVRF is correlated with casual sebum level. It might be useful for evaluating the facial oiliness of people with normal skin.

Topical 15% Zinc Oxide Ointment Significantly Reduces the Size of Common Warts After Four Weeks: A Randomized, Triple-blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Background: There are limited number of topical agents for the treatment of common warts. Few reports show efficacy of zinc oxide for such indication. Objectives: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of topical 15% zinc oxide ointment for the reduction in size of common warts. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients with two comparable palmar warts or verruca vulgaris were randomized to receive either 15% zinc oxide ointment or placebo three times a day for four weeks. Diameter, surface area, and volume change of warts in both groups were used as objective assessments, while patient and physician assessments were also recorded. Results: At Week 4, zinc oxide significantly reduced the median surface area compared to baseline (P<0.037). However, when the median percent changes between groups were compared, there were no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Zinc oxide can reduce the size of common hand warts after four weeks. We suggest that it can be used as an adjunctive therapy to enhance the efficacy of other treatments.