Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Research Articles

Contact allergy to polyhexamethylene biguanide (polyaminopropyl biguanide).

BackgroundPolyaminopropyl biguanide (INCI name) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) are polymeric biguanides. PHMB is a broad‐spectrum antimicrobial substance used as a preservative in many products. Due to our limited knowledge on PHMB contact allergy frequency and the fact that cases of allergic contact dermatitis to PHMB might be missed, we have included PHMB as a screening allergen since 2016.ObjectiveTo report the prevalence of positive patch test reactions to PHMB as a screening allergen in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 1760 patch tested patients from July 2016 to December 2018 was performed. Polyaminopropyl biguanide 2.0% aqua was included in the extended Malmö baseline series during the study period.ResultsOf all patients, 1204 (68.4%) were female. Positive patch test reactions were reported in 19 patients (1.1%). The most common sites of lesions were face, head, and neck (52.6%). There was a significant correlation between concomitant reactions to PHMB and other cosmetic‐related allergens.ConclusionThe prevalence of positive reactions to PHMB was higher than that previously reported. Patch testing with PHMB should be performed in patients with dermatitis who have lesions on the face, head, and neck.

Evidence Summary: Polyhexamethylene biguanide for chronic wounds

Evidence Summary: Polyhexamethylene biguanide for chronic wounds

Transmission resonances in silicon subwavelength grating slot waveguide with functional host material for sensing applications

A highly sensitive and selective CO2 gas sensor is presented based on a subwavelength grating (SWG) slot waveguide. Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) as a functional material fills the slot gap as well as the space between the silicon pillars of the SWG structure. Beyond the photonic bandgap of the SWG slot waveguide, there are transmission resonances sensitive to the refractive index changes of PHMB due to the infiltration of CO2 molecules into the functional material. The numerical simulations indicate that the sensitivity of the structure is S = 12.9 pm/ppm which is considerably higher than the previously designed gas sensors based on functional materials. The higher sensitivity of the proposed sensor is attributed to the strong confinement of the light in the slot gap filled with functional material while previous designs have limited light-matter interaction by placing the functional material in the cladding. The proposed structure may be used to design various sensors by utilizing different functional material sensitive to the desired analyte.

Safety and tolerability of topical polyhexamethylene biguanide: a randomised clinical trial in healthy adult volunteers

Background and AimsPolyhexamethyl biguanide (PHMB), a widely used topical treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), is unlicensed with no formal safety assessment. This study evaluated its safety and tolerability.MethodsA prospective, randomised,...

The Effect of Anti-Amoebic Agents and Ce6-PDT on Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites and Cysts, In Vitro.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to analyze the concentration-dependent effects of biguanides (polyhexamethylene biguanide [PHMB], chlorhexidine [CH]); diamidines (hexamidine-diisethionate [HD], propamidine-isethionate [PD], dibromopropamidine-diisethionate [DD]); natamycin (NM); miltefosine (MF); povidone iodine (PVPI), and chlorin e6 PDT on Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts, in vitro.MethodsStrain 1BU was cultured in peptone-yeast extract-glucose medium. Trophozoites or cysts were cultured in PYG medium containing each agent at 100%, 50%, and 25% of maximum concentration for 2 hours. The percentage of dead trophozoites was determined using a non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay and trypan blue staining. Treated cysts were also maintained on non-nutrient agar Escherichia coli (E. coli) plates and observed for 3 weeks.ResultsAll tested drugs displayed significant cytotoxic effects on 1BU cells based on the biochemical and staining-based viability assays tested. On non-nutrient agar E. coli plates, neither trophozoites nor freshly formed cysts were observed after PHMB, PD, NM, and PVPI treatment, respectively, within 3 weeks. However, CH-, HD-, DD-, and MF-treated cysts could excyst, multiply, and encyst again.ConclusionsThe off-label drugs PHMB, PD, NM, and PVPI are under in vitro conditions more effective against strain 1BU than CH, HD, DD, and MF. Our findings also suggest that the non-nutrient agar E. coli plate assay should be considered as method of choice for the in vitro analysis of the treatment efficacy of anti-amoebic agents.Translational RelevanceOphthalmologists may optimize the treatment regime against Acanthamoeba keratitis by pre-testing the in vitro susceptibilities of the Acanthamoeba strain against drugs of interest with the non-nutrient E. coli agar plate assay.

Application of Antiviral Polyoxometalates to Living Environments—Antiviral Moist Hand Towels and Stationery Items

Safe, secure, and environmentally friendly active substances should be developed. VB (virus block) refers to an antibacterial/antiviral mixture of two kinds of polyoxometalates (PMs), i.e., K11H[(VO)3(SbW9O33)2]·27H2O (VB2) and α-Na2[SbW9O33]9− (VB3), and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). VB was demonstrated to exert antiviral effects on cultured cells. The effects were maintained even in hygiene products or solids. The antiviral effects were analyzed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), and the results were correlated with TCID50, potentially eliminating the need for handling infectious viruses. VB was demonstrated to be extremely effective (up to 99.99% inhibition) in cultured cells, with antibacterial/antiviral effects maintained in VB-containing hygiene products. VB was applied to solids, demonstrating their high applicability and versatility. VB withstands high temperatures regardless of materials because its effects are enhanced by more frequent contact with viruses and bacteria due to the increased surface area of the compound.

The Effects of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) and TLR Agonists Alone or as Polyplex Nanoparticles against Leishmania infantum Promastigotes and Amastigotes.

Dogs are the main reservoir for Leishmania infantum, manifesting from a subclinical to a fatal disease. Limited treatments are available, although new antiparasitics and immunomodulators are pursued. Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) has a broad antimicrobial spectrum, including antiparasitic activity. Here, we evaluated the potential for Toll-like receptor agonists (TLRa) and PHMB alone, and as polyplex nanoparticles containing PHMB and TLR4 or TLR9 agonists, to selectively kill L. infantum. Susceptibility of L. infantum promastigotes to PHMB, miltefosine, and allopurinol was performed, and the half-maximum inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined. Then, DH-82 cells were infected and treated with PHMB alone or combined with TLR4a (MPLA-SM) or TLR9a (CpG ODNs) and allopurinol alone. The IC50 values of L. infantum promastigotes were PHMB (1.495 µM), miltefosine (9.455 µM), and allopurinol (0.124 µM). After infection, treated DH-82 cells displayed a lower percentage (p = 0.0316), intensity (p = 0.0002), and index of infection (p = 0.0022) when compared to non-treated cells. PHMB induced lower percentage of infection alone (p = 0.043), in combination with TLR9a (p = 0.043), and with TLR4a (p = 0.0213). Supernatants were collected and used to measure TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Increased TNF-α was observed after PHMB plus TLR4a, relative to uninfected and infected untreated macrophages (p = 0.043). PHMB combined with TLR4a shows promise as a potential anti-L. infantum drug combination, as well as inducer of proinflammatory response, as demonstrated by decreased infection and increased TNF-α production.

Efficacy of Wound Cleansers on Wound-Specific Organisms Using In Vitro and Ex Vivo Biofilm Models

In this study, the pre-clinical anti-biofilm efficacy of several wound cleansers was examined using the Calgary minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) and ex vivo porcine dermal explant (PDE) models on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Candida albicans biofilms. A surfactant-based cleanser and antimicrobial-based cleansers containing ionic silver, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) were tested on the MBEC model biofilms with a 10-minute application time. Select cleansers were then tested on the mature PDE biofilms with 10-minute applications followed by the application of cleanser-soaked gauze. The PDE model was further expanded to include single and daily applications of the cleansers to mimic daily and 72-hour dressing changes. In the MBEC model, PHMB- and HOCl-based cleansers reduced immature MRSA, C albicans, and P aeruginosa biofilm regrowth by > 3× when compared with silver, surfactant, and saline cleansers. The major differences could be elucidated in the PDE model in which, after daily application, 1 PHMB-based cleanser showed a statistically significant reduction (3-8 CFU/mL log reduction) in all mature biofilms tested, while a NaOCl-based cleanser showed significant reduction in 2 microorganisms (3-5 CFU/mL log reduction, P aeruginosa and MRSA).The other PHMB-based cleanser showed a statistically significant 3 log CFU/mL reduction in P aeruginosa. The remaining cleansers showed no statistically significant difference from the saline control. Results confirm that there are model-dependent differences in the outcomes of these studies, suggesting the importance of model selection for product screening. The results indicate that 1 PHMB-based cleanser was effective in reducing mature P aeruginosa, MRSA, and C albicans biofilms and that sustained antimicrobial presence was necessary to reduce or eliminate these mature biofilms.

Safety Assessment of Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Hydrochloride) as Used in Cosmetics.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) reviewed the safety of Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride), which functions as a preservative in cosmetic products. The Panel reviewed relevant data relating to the safety of this ingredient and concluded that Polyaminopropyl Biguanide is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment, when formulated to be nonirritating and nonsensitizing, which may be based on a quantitative risk assessment or other accepted methodologies. The Panel also concluded that the data are insufficient to determine the safety of Polyaminopropyl Biguanide in products that may be incidentally inhaled.

Effects of disinfectants and ciprofloxacin on quorum sensing genes and biofilm of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

BackgroundPseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most virulent bacteria and quorum sensing (QS) genes have an importance on virulence factors such as biofilm that provide resistance against disinfectants and antibiotics. ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the disinfectants, to investigate the effects of disinfectants and ciprofloxacin on biofilm production mature biofilm of clinical P. aeruginosa isolates, and it was aimed to investigate the effects of the agents on the expression levels of several QS-related genes in the isolates. MethodsMinimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), chlorhexidine (CHX), quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC), glutaraldehyde (GLU) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) against clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were evaluated by microdilution method. Effects of the agents on the biofilm producing capacities of clonally unrelated nine strains were investigated by spectrophotometric method. Alterations in the expression of QS-related genes (lasI, lasR, rhlI and rhlR) were investigated by qPCR in three isolates that were CIP-susceptible and strong biofilm producer. ResultsAccording to microdilution method results, three isolates were found as resistant, one isolate was found as intermediate susceptible and five isolates were found as susceptible to CIP, and CHX (7.81–31.25 μg/mL) had the lowest MIC against P. aeruginosa. CHX inhibited biofilm production levels of eight of nine isolates, and GLU and CIP inhibited six of nine isolates in the presence of agents at MIC levels. GLU inhibited the mature biofilm levels of three of nine isolates at MIC and MIC/4 levels and four of nine isolates at MIC/2 levels. Expression levels of QS-related genes were reduced or induced in the presence of different disinfectants. ConclusionsMore efforts are required to decrease the risk of ineffective and low-dose application of disinfectants and antimicrobials against bacteria. Targeting of QS-related genes may be a reasonable strategy for the inhibition of virulence factors in P. aeruginosa.

A new ophthalmic formulation containing antiseptics and dexpanthenol: In vitro antimicrobial activity and effects on corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells

Antibiotic resistance is increasing even in ocular pathogens, therefore the interest towards antiseptics in Ophthalmology is growing. The aim of this study was to analyze the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy and the in vitro effects of an ophthalmic formulation containing hexamidine diisethionate 0.05%, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) 0.0001% disodium edetate (EDTA) 0.01%, dexpanthenol 5% and polyvinyl alcohol 1.25% (Keratosept, Bruschettini, Genova, Italy) on cultured human corneal and conjunctival cells. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was tested on Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus mitis. For each microbial strain 10 μL of a 0.5 MacFarland standardized bacterial inoculum were incubated at 25 °C with 100 μL of ophthalmic solution for up to 6 h. After different periods of time, samples were inoculated on blood agar with 5% sheep blood. Moreover, a 0.5 MacFarland bacterial inoculum was seeded in triplicate on Mueller-Hinton Agar or on Mueller-Hinton Fastidious Agar; then a cellulose disc soaked with 50 μL of ophthalmic solution was applied on the surface of agar and plates were incubated for 18 h at 37 °C, in order to evaluate the inhibition of bacterial growth around the disc. Human corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells in vitro were incubated for 5, 10 and 15 min with Keratosept or its components. The cytotoxicity was assessed through the release of cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the medium immediately after exposure to the drugs; the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to evaluate the metabolic cell activity. Our results show that Keratosept ophthalmic solution gave an average logarithmic (log) reduction of bacterial load of 2.14 ± 0.35 within 6 h of exposure (p-value < 0.05 versus control saline solution). On agar plates, all microbial strains, excluding P. Aeruginosa, showed an inhibition zone of growth around the Keratosept-soaked discs. Keratosept and its components after 5 and 10 min did not show any cytotoxic effect on cultured corneal and conjunctival cells, and only after 15 min a significant reduction of cell viability and an increase of cytotoxicity compared to control (vehicle) was seen; dexpanthenol 5% and polyvinyl alcohol accelerated the wounding of corneal cells in vitro. In conclusion, Keratosept showed good antimicrobial activity on the tested strains; the ophthalmic solution and its components were safe and non-toxic for the corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells for 5 and 10 min at the concentrations analyzed, and dexpanthenol 5% and polyvinyl alcohol promoted the wounding of corneal cells.

Antibacterial-Integrated Collagen Wound Dressing for Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: An Evidence-Based Review of Clinical Studies.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic wound frequently delayed from severe infection. Wound dressing provides an essential barrier between the ulcer and the external environment. This review aimed to analyse the effectiveness of antibacterial collagen-based dressing for DFU treatment in a clinical setting. An electronic search in four databases, namely, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE(R), and ISI Web of Science, was performed to obtain relevant articles published within the last ten years. The published studies were included if they reported evidence of (1) collagen-based antibacterial dressing or (2) wound healing for diabetic ulcers, and (3) were written in English. Both randomised and non-randomised clinical trials were included. The search for relevant clinical studies (n) identified eight related references discussing the effectiveness of collagen-based antibacterial wound dressings for DFU comprising collagen impregnated with polyhexamethylene biguanide (n = 2), gentamicin (n = 3), combined-cellulose and silver (n = 1), gentian violet/methylene blue mixed (n = 1), and silver (n = 1). The clinical data were limited by small sample sizes and multiple aetiologies of chronic wounds. The evidence was not robust enough for a conclusive statement, although most of the studies reported positive outcomes for the use of collagen dressings loaded with antibacterial properties for DFU wound healing. This study emphasises the importance of having standardised clinical trials, larger sample sizes, and accurate reporting for reliable statistical evidence confirming DFU treatment efficiency.

Anti-biofouling nanofiltration membrane constructed by in-situ photo-grafting bactericidal and hydrophilic polymers

Membrane biofouling is a serious constraint to lifespan of polyamide thin film composite (PA TFC) membranes. However, improving the anti-biofouling ability of membranes with traditional surface modification technologies has negative effects on its performance. Herein, we designed a composite membrane bearing photoreactive PA (PPA) layer via introducing benzophenone acyl chloride (Bp-COCl) into interfacial polymerization (IP) at first. Then, the bactericidal and hydrophilic polymers, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), were in-situ photo-grafted on the membrane surface to form a polymer grafting (PG) layer. The conditions of Bp-COCl content and UV irradiation time were investigated, the optimum modified membrane showed high water permeability of 18.6 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and outstanding divalent ions rejection ability of 91.7% as well as long-term operation stability. Besides, in the anti-biofouling tests, the bacterial inhibition rate of membrane reached up to 98.6% and the flux recovery ratio (after four biofouling cycles) increased from 44.7% to 70.8% compared to pristine membrane. This work paves a novel way to fabricate anti-biofouling PA TFC nanofiltration (NF) membrane with high performance. Meanwhile, the PPA layer provides a universal platform for membrane surface modification.

In Vitro Effect of Pitavastatin and Its Synergistic Activity with Isavuconazole against Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) can occur in healthy individuals wearing contact lenses and it is a painful, blinding infection of the cornea caused by a free-living ameba Acanthamoeba. Current treatment for AK relies on a combination of chlorhexidine, propamidine isethionate, and polyhexamethylene biguanide. However, the current regimen includes an aggressive disinfectant and in 10% of cases recurrent infection ensues. Therefore, development of efficient and safe drugs is a critical unmet need to avert blindness. Acanthamoeba sterol biosynthesis includes two essential enzymes HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) and sterol 14-demethylase (CYP51), and we earlier identified a CYP51 inhibitor isavuconazole that demonstrated nanomolar potency against A. castellanii trophozoites. In this study, we investigated the effect of well-tolerated HMGR inhibitors and identified pitavastatin that is active against trophozoites of three different clinical strains of A. castellanii. Pitavastatin demonstrated an EC50 of 0.5 to 1.9 µM, depending on strains. Combination of pitavastatin and isavuconazole is synergistic and led to 2- to 9-fold dose reduction for pitavastatin and 11- to 4000-fold dose reduction for isavuconazole to achieve 97% of growth inhibition. Pitavastatin, either alone or in combination with isavuconazole, may lead to repurposing for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Increased Sensitivity of Amoeba-Grown Francisella Species to Disinfectants.

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious, intracellular bacterium and it is the causative agent of tularemia. The bacterium has been isolated from more than 250 species, including protozoa. Previous studies have shown that the growth of Legionella pneumophila within the amoeba results in a dramatic increase in the resistance to disinfectants. Since Francisella persists in the environment for years, this study investigates whether Acanthamoeba castellanii-grown F. novicida exhibits an alteration in the resistance to disinfectants. The disinfectants used are didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) combined with isopropyl alcohol (D1), benzalkonium chloride combined with DDAC and formic acid (D2), and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB, D3). The effect of disinfectants on the bacterial viability is determined by a colony-forming unit (CFU), by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), by fluorescence microscopy, and the damage of the bacterial membrane. Our data has shown that only a one-log10 loss in bacterial viability is exhibited upon treatment of agar-grown Francisella, while in amoeba-grown Francisella there was a three-log10 difference with D3. The D1 disinfectant sterilized the bacteria within 10 s. The treatment of agar-grown F. novicida with D2 reduces bacterial viability by seven-log10 within 10 s and 15 min, respectively. Surprisingly, the treatment of amoeba-grown F. novicida with D2 results in a total loss of bacterial viability. In conclusion, A. castellanii-grown F. novicida is more susceptible to many disinfectants.

IgE-mediated chlorhexidine allergy-Cross-reactivity with other biguanide disinfectants.

Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a widely utilized disinfectant that can cause IgE-mediated urticaria/anaphylaxis. The cross-reactivity of patients with IgE-mediated CHX allergy with other disinfectants, which share structural similarities with CHX like polyhexanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide; PHMB), alexidine (ALX), or octenidine (OCT), is unknown. Forty-four patients with anaphylaxis or urticaria upon CHX exposure and positive skin prick test (SPT) and/or positive CHX ImmunoCAP test (Phadia TFS, Uppsala, Sweden) were recruited. IgE to the biguanide and/or hexamethylene structure was investigated with PHMB ImmunoCAP (n=32) and by basophil activation tests (BAT) with CHX and ALX (n=37). Inhibition tests of CHX and PHMB ImmunoCAPs by CHX, ALX, PHMB, and OCT were performed. IgE reactivity to PHMB as surrogate marker for biguanide/hexamethylene reactivity was detected in 5/32 sera. Seven of 37 patients showed a positive BAT with ALX, but only under optimized conditions. Binding to CHX ImmunoCAP was inhibited by ALX in 1/32 sera, and binding to PHMB was blocked by ALX (1/5) and by OCT in another (1/5). In SPT, 9/10 patients were positive for CHX and 3 of them with ALX (only at highest concentration at 5 mg/mL). A further patient reacted primarily with OCT and showed IgE cross-reactivity with CHX, ALX, and PHMB. The IgE response to CHX seems polyclonal. The chloroguanide ending of CHX is the main epitope for the IgE and is suitable as screening assay to detect CHX reactivity. IgE-reactivities with the biguanide or hexamethylene components of other disinfectants (ALX, PHMB) can be detected by SPT, PHMB ImmunoCAP, and ALX-BAT in 15%-33% of CHX-allergic patients.

Facile preparation of core-shell structure β-cyclodextrin/diatomite as an efficient adsorbent for methylene blue

A core-shell structure based on β-cyclodextrin/diatomite (β-CD-DE) was formed via a facile and mild-conditioned emulsion polymerization of β-CD coated with DE. The structure and morphology of β-CD-DE was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Various controlling parameters were monitored during the static adsorption processes, including adsorption time, temperature, pH, β-CD-DE concentration and initial MB concentration. Under optimal temperature and pH conditions (20 °C and pH value of 7), a high adsorption capacity (90.0 mg·g−1) and high partition coefficient (120.4 mg·g−1·μM−1) at 10% BT for dynamic adsorption was obtained for β-CD-DE at an initial MB concentration of 100 mg·L−1. Subsequently, thermodynamic and kinetic fitting revealed that the adsorption process can be described by a Langmuir model and pseudo-first-order kinetic model, which indicates a spontaneous exothermic and physical adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to reach up to 271.7 mg·g−1, with the adsorption capacity in the fifth cycle still retaining 95.1% (258.4 mg·g−1) of the adsorption capacity of the first cycle.

A randomized masked pilot clinical trial to compare the efficacy of topical 1% voriconazole ophthalmic solution as monotherapy with combination therapy of topical 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide and 0.02% chlorhexidine in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

To compare the efficacy of topical voriconazole 1% and the combination therapy of 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and 0.02% chlorhexidine for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). This is a prospective, pilot, double-masked randomized comparative study. Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients with microbiologically (smear and/or growth on culture) confirmed AK were randomized to group BG (PHMB 0.02% and chlorhexidine 0.02%) or group VZ (voriconazole 1%). Primary outcome measure was change in geometric mean (GM) of the corneal ulcer size at final visit. Secondary outcome measures were change in visual acuity. Out of 71 patients with confirmed AK seen during study period, 23 patients were recruited and 18 patients completed minimum 2 weeks of treatment and further analyzed. Ten patients received BG, whereas eight received VZ. Median ulcer size measured as GM of infiltrate decreased from 5.7 mm (IQR, 5.3-6.5 mm) (p = 0.02) to 1 mm (IQR, 0-4.3 mm) in group BG and from 4.5 mm (IQR, 1.8-5.1 mm) (p < 0.05) to 0.7 mm (IQR, 0-1.6 mm) in VZ group. Median visual acuity improved from 1.79 (IQR, 1.48-2.78) to 1.10 (IQR, 0.48-1.79) in BG group (p = 0.02) and from 1.60 (IQR, 1.00-2.78) to 0.80 (IQR, 0.48-1.30) in VZ group (p = 0.18). These outcomes suggest that topical VZ as a monotherapy in AK treatment is effective and comparable to BG combination therapy but needs trials with larger sample size and longer follow-up to provide conclusive evidence.

Acanthamoeba keratitis: A 4-year review from a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a blinding condition reported from both developed and developing countries. Limited knowledge on the clinical characteristics of AK and scarce laboratory diagnostic facilities in such countries poses difficulties in the accurate diagnosis. To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as management of Acanthamoeba keratitis in a tertiary care hospital in North India. All clinically suspicious cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) presenting to our centre were screened for Acanthamoeba. All patients diagnosed as Acanthamoeba on microscopic examination, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were given Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) eye drops 0.02% half hourly for 1 week, then hourly for 1 week and then gradually tapered according to the response. Out of 300 consecutive patients evaluated, Acanthamoeba was detected in 11(3.6%) patients. A history of trauma was elicited in majority of the patients, 6 (55%). The most common complaints were eye pain, redness and watering in all of the patients, diminution of vision (8, 72.7%), photophobia (7, 63.6%) and foreign body sensation (2, 18.2%). Complete healing with vascularization and scarring was observed in 7 patients (63.6%) patients whereas progression to perforation of corneal ulcer and corneal melt was seen in 3 (27.3%) cases and these patients underwent therapeutic keratoplasty later. One patient did not come for follow up examination. The most common risk factor for the occurrence of Acanthamoeba Keratitis is trauma followed by contact lens use.

Efficacy and safety of bimatoprost 0.01% formulated in tight junction modulation technology compared to marketed benzalkonium chloride preserved bimatoprost 0.01% ophthalmic solution in healthy beagle dogs

Background: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of the new technology tight junction modulation (TJM) bimatoprost 0.01% (TJM-bimatoprost), containing polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride as a preservative, and marketed bimatoprost 0.01% (BKC-bimatoprost) in healthy beagle dogs.Methods: This was a cross-over study and all animals in the study were assigned to one of two treatment arms to receive either TJM-bimatoprost (n=6) or BKC-bimatoprost (n=6) ophthalmic solution. Dosing for period 1 was started on day 3 (8 am everyday) and it continued till day 12. Assessments were carried out every day at 8 am, 9 am, 2 pm and 8 pm throughout the study period till day 17.Results: For the pooled analysis (n=12 in each group) of period 1 and 2, there was a significant decrease (p&lt;0.001) in mean intra-ocular (IOP) 1 hour post administration as compared to the baseline and this trend continued all throughout the study in both treatment arms. Twenty fours after last dose, on day 12, IOP measurements were 14.20±1.59 mmHg and 13.89±1.5 mmHg in the TJM-bimatoprost and the BKC-bimatoprost group respectively. The analysis of the primary end point revealed that 95% confidence interval for the between group differences in mean IOP values were well within the pre-defined equivalence margin of ±1.5 mmHg. In terms of safety, there was no difference in mean pupillary diameter in the TJM-bimatoprost and BKC-bimatoprost group.Conclusions: The results of this study enhance our understanding of the proprietary TJM technology by establishing efficacy and safety of TJM-bimatoprost in animal models.