In Vitro Evaluation of a Hypobromous Acid Hygiene Stabilized Solution in the Reduction of Bacterial Load Associated to Blepharitis Conditions

Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the periocular skin area and it is characterized by eye itching, burning, dryness and irritation, with progression to chronic dry eye syndrome, where the eyelids margins of blepharitis patients are frequently colonized by bacteria.The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro bactericidal activity (BA) of a stabilized active bromine solution (MDI-102) at neutral pH for the potential use in the treatment and prevention of blepharitis.The time kill assays have been conducted both in clean and in dirty conditions (by using bovine albumin solution as the interfering substance) at different ranges of concentration.The results show the topical solution to be capable of inactivating, in less than 0.5 minutes, more than 99.9% of several bacterial species involved in the clinical manifestations of blepharitis: Enterococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens. Dirty condition tests confirm the results shown without albumin (clean conditions).This study demonstrates that MDI-102 active bromine solution can markedly reduce (in vitro) the bacterial activity, responsible of clinical manifestation of blepharitis. Thus, MDI-102 can be considered a promising tool for the periocular area and eyelids cleaning for blepharitis patients.The use of this formulation may contribute in the long-term prevention and hygienic treatment of blepharitis condition. Furthermore, MDI-102 can be considered as an alternative to reduce the use and the abuse of topical antibiotics in the daily practice, which may contribute to the increase of resistance to the antibiotics in the clinical setting.

Characterization of Ciprofloxacin-Bismuth-Loaded Antibacterial Wound Dressing

The research was focused on developing a potentially antibacterial wound dressing made of polyurethane foam and loaded with bismuth-ciprofloxacin (Cip-Bi). The Cip-Bi chemical structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. The sought after antibacterial wound dressing was obtained by modification of the raw dressing with an iodine or bromine solution and subsequently with a Cip-Bi hydrogel. The amount of Cip-Bi loaded into the dressing matrix was determined indirectly on the basis of the differences in Cip-Bi concentrations, before and after the modification process, and the determination was performed with the HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) method. The modified dressing was found to have a two-step release of Cip-Bi, a feature helpful in the treatment of locally infected wounds and prevention of secondary bacterial infection. The zone of inhibition test against the selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria confirmed the antibacterial activity of the Cip-Bi-modified dressing. Preliminary tests conducted so far have been indicative of the Cip-Bi dressing’s relatively high activity against the tested organisms.

Alternative pathway to brominate 2,13-benzothiadiazole: Preparation of 4,7-dibromobenzo[c]-1,2,5-thiadiazole via N-bromosuccinimide

This present work reports an alternative pathway to brominate the 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT). The conventional method to brominate a phenyl/benzene ring is to use the bromine solution (Br2) together with hydrobromic acid (HBr). This is because the phenyl/benzene rings exhibit high stability due to the delocalized -conjugation, which the substitution of bromines into the rings can only be done through a strong bromination source, e.g. the Br2/HBr. Besides that, there is another bromine source, known as N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), which is normally used for bromination of thiophene rings but not the phenyl/benzene ring. The bromination ability of NBS is relatively mild than the Br2/HBr. Herein, this research shows that bromination of benzene/phenyl ring through NBS is possible under a drastic condition that involved the usage of 96% concentrated sulphuric acid and chloroform at room temperature. This alternative pathway can be used when there is limit access to the Br2 and bromination through NBS is relatively less dangerous than the Br2/HBr.

M3A system (2000–2005) – operation and maintenance

During the pilot phase of the Mediterranean Forecasting System (MFSPP) (2000 2003), a prototype observing system (Mediterranean Moored Multi-sensor Array – M3A) was designed, developed and operated in the Cretan Sea for continuous oceanographic measurements in real time. The main problems encountered were associated with biofouling, underwater and aerial communication and with the design of the surface buoy. In the second phase of the MFS project named Mediterranean Forecasting System Towards Environmental Predictions (MFSTEP) (2003–2005), the aim was to solve those problems and to consolidate the M3A. For the minimisation of biofouling a pilot field study was performed and the techniques of bromine solution and copper shielding were evaluated. Additionally, the oligotrophy of the Aegean Sea dictated the need to ignore factory calibrations and to perform site-specific laboratory calibrations of the sensors. This procedure was proved necessary and produced calibration coefficients that gave results comparable to the measurements obtained with the laboratory analysis method. During the approximately five years of operation, there were 13 scheduled and 15 emergency visits, with a total duration of 65 days. The acquired experience through the maintenance program proved that the continuous observation of such a very important system with a relative low cost is feasible.

Modification of the AOAC Qualitative Test for the Determination of Fish Oils and Marine Oils

The current AOAC test for the detection of fish oil in vegetable oils, 28.098, can be readily modified through the use of diluted bromine solution and Wijs solution. This modification allows the precipitation of octabromides, which is indicative of the presence of fish oils, to be observed more clearly. Since the precipitate can be measured, the test can be semiquantitative when known fish oil mixtures are treated in a like manner. This modification has been adopted to replace 28.098.