Search

Contact lenses (CL) provide visual correction but their use may also induce several adverse effects causative of discomfort and conditions that lead to stop or discontinue their use. Discomfort is mainly caused by insufficient wetting, impairment of the antioxidant defence system and eye infections. The current work reports on a single step sonochemical coating of CL with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), chitosan (CS) and gallic acid (GA). GA and CS are expected to improve the comfort of CL by imparting respectively antioxidant properties and enhanced wettability, while their combination with ZnO NPs provides the CL with antimicrobial properties. The ternary composite coating presents high antibacterial efficiency (>4.5 logs reduction) against S. aureus causative of CL-related conditions, and maintains good biocompatibility (>72%) with human cell lines. The obtained multi-functionality on the CL did not affect their geometry and refractive properties., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Antioxidant may provide anti-arthritic effect that contributes to resolution of inflammation. Gallic acid (GA) and its derivatives were reported to be effective in treatment of arthritis. But GA-suppressed cell proliferation may compromise its effect on chondro-protection. In this study, we synthesized sulfonamido-based gallate-JEZTC and investigated its effect on rabbit articular chondrocytes through examination of the cell proliferation, morphology, viability, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, and cartilage-specific gene expression. Results showed that JEZTC could effectively promote chondrocyte growth and enhance secretion and synthesis of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) by upregulating expression levels of aggrecan, collagen II, and Sox9 genes. Expression of collagen I which marked chondrocyte dedifferentiation was effectively downregulated by JEZTC. In addition, hypertrophy that may lead to chondrocyte ossification could not be detected in JEZTC groups. The results indicated JEZTC can well preserve the phenotype of chondrocytes. Range of 2.344 to 9.375 μg/ml is the recommended dose of JEZTC, which showed increased cell proliferation. Especially, JEZTC of 4.688 μg/ml showed the best performance. This study might provide a basis for development of a novel agent for the treatment of symptomatic chondral and osteochondral lesions.

Backgrounds & Aims: The long term therapeutic effect of ferulic acid (FA) and gallic acid (GA) in treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been lacking., Methods: Doxorubicin (DR, Adriamycin)-induced CKD rat model was established for this study., Results: DR significantly reduced levels of serum albumin, GOT, GPT, RBC, TNF-α, and urinary creatinine and elevated serum cholesterol, TG, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, WBC, platelet count, and IL-6. In DRCKD rats, FA and GA significantly increased kidney weight and glomerular volume. FA reduced glomerular filtration rate but GA did not. FA enhanced more collagen deposition than GA in renal cortex and glomeruli. Both FA and GA showed crucial hyperlipidemic activity. The inhibitory effects of FA and GA on MMP-2 were very comparable. GA suppressed MMP-2 more effectively than FA in DRCKD rats. Both FA and GA induced SOD elevation and MDA elimination. In DRCKD rats, Western blot analysis indicated that FA further up-regulated CD34, α-SMA, tissue pDGFR, p-PDGFR, and TGF-β; and down-regulated p-PI3K, and p-Akt. Since both PDGF-BB and TGF-β are considered to induce kidney prefibrosis stage, GA was proved to be more beneficial in this regard., Conclusions: GA tends to protect the CKD while FA is not recommended for the long term CKD therapy., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Octyl gallate is an antioxidant (European Community number 311). It is used as a preservation agent in a wide variety of foods and other non-dietary substances. We report a case of a 49-year-old female with a 10-year history of 'burning mouth' and clinical erythema of the tongue, who, after investigation, proved to be allergic to octyl gallate. Management with an exclusion diet proved effective in both controlling the burning sensation and resolving the erythema of the tongue.

In a search for contact sensitivity to antioxidants we patch tested consecutive patients referred with eczematous dermatitis. Six cases of allergic contact sensitivity to nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA) were observed. Three had been sensitized by one brand of cream containing 0.1% NDGA, in three patients the source of sensitization could not be traced. In four patients we found positive patch tests to butylated hydroxyanisole and/or to butylated hydroxytoluene. In two cases the positive patch tests were relevant, since both patients remained asymptomatic when antioxidants were avoided in food. They both had acute flares of vesicular eczema on the fingers after oral administration of small amounts. Gallate esters and Vitamin E (d,l-alpha-tocopherol) each gave one unexplained positive patch test. The present data suggest that further search for hidden sensitizers in topical medicaments and cosmetics is warranted. A declaration of all ingredients in industrial products should be placed on the label.