Intranasal irradiation with the xenon chloride ultraviolet B laser improves allergic rhinitis

We earlier reported that the 308 nm xenon chloride (XeCl) ultraviolet B (UVB) laser is highly effective for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Since UVB irradiation has been shown to exert both local and systemic immunosuppression, we investigated the clinical efficacy of UVB irradiation in allergic rhinitis. In an open study, groups of patients with severe allergic rhinitis received intranasal irradiation with a 308 nm XeCl UVB excimer laser for two weeks. In the low-dose group (n=10), treatment was given twice weekly, starting with 0.25x the individual minimal erythema dose (MED), whereas patients in the medium-dose group (n=8) were treated four times weekly, starting with 0.4x MED. In each group, the dosage was gradually increased. Evaluation was based on the symptom scores. The effect of the XeCl laser on the skin prick test reaction was also studied. In the low-dose group, seven patients completed the study, and there was no improvement in the nasal symptoms. In the medium-dose group, the XeCl UVB irradiation significantly inhibited the rhinorrhoea, the sneezing, the nasal obstruction and the total nasal score (p<0.05). The XeCl UVB excimer laser also inhibited the allergen-induced skin prick test in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the XeCl UVB excimer laser might serve as a new therapeutic tool in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.     

Intranasal phototherapy is more effective than fexofenadine hydrochloride in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: results of a pilot study

We recently showed that intranasal phototherapy represents an efficient therapeutic modality for the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). The aim of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of intranasal phototherapy with that of the new generation antihistamine fexofenadine HCl in SAR. A randomized open study was conducted in patients with a history of moderate-to-severe ragweed-induced SAR. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive either intranasal irradiation three times a week for 2 weeks, or 180 mg fexofenadine HCl per day for 2 weeks. Each patient kept a diary of symptoms for nasal obstruction, nasal itching, rhinorrhea, sneezing and palate itching. Total nasal score (TNS), a sum of scores for nasal symptoms, was also calculated. In the rhinophototherapy group the individual scores significantly decreased compared with baseline for all of the parameters. In the fexofenadine HCl group none of the scores improved significantly at the end of the treatment except sneezing. TNS was significantly decreased in the rhinophototherapy group, but no significant change was observed in the fexofenadine HCl group after 2 weeks of treatment. In conclusion, we found that intranasal phototherapy is more efficient than fexofenadine HCl in reducing clinical symptoms for SAR.     

Characterization of Porous Graphitic Carbon LC Phase with some Carbohydrate Derivatives

Stereoselective CE method for investigations of pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen enantiomers (KTP) in patients taking also other drugs is proposed, to establish relation between levels of KTP enantiomers in blood and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Resolution of the analytes was obtained in silica capillary filled with chiral selector-heptakis 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl–β-cyclodextrin in triethanolamine-phosphate buffer. Calibration curves for enantiomers in plasma and synovial fluid were linear in the range of 0.25–50.0 mg L⁻¹, but 1.0–250.0 mg L⁻¹ in urine. Concentrations of KTP enantiomers in synovial fluid measured at 4 h after the administration of a tablet with racemic KTP were insignificantly greater [(−)-R = 1.07 ± 0.66; (+)-S-KTP = 1.13 ± 0.65 mg L⁻¹] than in plasma [(−)-R = 0.86 ± 0.37; (+)-S-KTP = 0.96 ± 0.42 mg L⁻¹]. The validated method has been successfully applied for the determination of KTP enantiomers in biological fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

     

Origin Identification of Hungarian Honey Using Melissopalynology,Physicochemical Analysis,and Near Infrared Spectroscopy

The objective of the study was to check the authenticity of Hungarian honey using physicochemical analysis, near infrared spectroscopy, and melissopalynology. In the study, 87 samples from different botanical origins such as acacia, bastard indigo, rape, sunflower, linden, honeydew, milkweed, and sweet chestnut were collected. The samples were analyzed by physicochemical methods (pH, electrical conductivity, and moisture), melissopalynology (300 pollen grains counted), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS:740–1700 nm). During the evaluation of the data PCA-LDA models were built for the classification of different botanical and geographical origins, using the methods separately, and in combination (low-level data fusion). PC number optimization and external validation were applied for all the models. Botanical origin classification models were >90% and >55% accurate in the case of the pollen and NIR methods. Improved results were obtained with the combination of the physicochemical, melissopalynology, and NIRS techniques, which provided >99% and >81% accuracy for botanical and geographical origin classification models, respectively. The combination of these methods could be a promising tool for origin identification of honey.     

Selective Transformation of Norbornadiene into Functionalized Azaheterocycles and β-Amino Esters with Stereo- and Regiocontrol

Novel functionalized azaheterocycles with multiple chiral centers have been accessed from readily available norbornene β-amino acids or β-lactams across a stereocontrolled synthetic route, based on ring-opening metathesis (ROM) of the staring unsaturated bicyclic amino esters, followed by selective cyclization through ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The RCM transformations have been studied under various experimental conditions to assess the scope of conversion, catalyst, yield, and substrate influence. The structure of the starting norbornene β-amino acids predetermined the structure of the new azaheterocycles, and the developed synthetic route took place with the conservation of the configuration of the chiral centers.     

Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis: Symptoms of Silent Progression,Biomarkers and Neuroprotective Therapy—Kynurenines Are Important Players

Neurodegeneration is one of the driving forces behind the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Progression without activity, pathopsychological disturbances (cognitive impairment, depression, fatigue) and even optic neuropathy seems to be mainly routed in this mechanism. In this article, we aim to give a comprehensive review of the clinical aspects and symptomology, radiological and molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets of neurodegeneration in connection with MS. As the kynurenine pathway (KP) was evidenced to play an important role in the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative conditions (even implied to have a causative role in some of these diseases) and more and more recent evidence suggest the same central role in the neurodegenerative processes of MS as well, we pay special attention to the KP. Metabolites of the pathway are researched as biomarkers of the disease and new, promising data arising from clinical evaluations show the possible therapeutic capability of KP metabolites as neuroprotective drugs in MS. Our conclusion is that the kynurenine pathway is a highly important route of research both for diagnostic and for therapeutic values and is expected to yield concrete results for everyday medicine in the future.     

Effect of mobile phase composition on the liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of bulky monoterpene‐based β‐amino acids by applying chiral stationary phases based on Cinchona alkaloid

Stereoselective HPLC separations of five sterically constrained monoterpene‐based 2‐aminocarboxylic acid enantiomers were carried out by using the newly developed zwitterionic chiral stationary phases Chiralpak ZWIX(+)? and ZWIX(?)? based on Cinchona alkaloid. In order to optimize the retention and enantioselectivity parameters, the ratio of the different organic solvents in the mobile phase and the nature of the acid and base additives (counter‐ and co‐ions) were systematically varied. The effects of structure variants of the analytes on the resolution were investigated. The elution sequence was determined in all cases and observed to be opposite on ZWIX(+)? and ZWIX(?)?.     

Diffusion-driven pattern formation in ionic chemical solutions

The driving force in diffusion-driven pattern formation is the difference in the diffusional flux of the key species, which in the case of ionic systems builds up a local electric field at the concentration gradients. The arising additional migrational flux not only decreases but also enhances the instability of the base state, depending on the charge distribution among the components. The opposite charges on the slower diffusing autocatalyst and its reacting counterpart favor pattern formation and shift the onset of instability to a smaller difference in the diffusion coefficients. The same charges, in addition to having the opposite effect, may even lead to the complete stabilization of planar reaction fronts unstable in the neutral system.     

Revealing the Effect of Heat Treatment on the Spectral Pattern of Unifloral Honeys Using Aquaphotomics

In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of heat treatment on the spectral pattern of honey using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). For the research, sunflower, bastard indigo, and acacia honeys were collected from entrusted beekeepers. The honeys were not subject to any treatment before. Samples were treated at 40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C, and 100 °C for 60, 120, 180, and 240 min. This resulted in 17 levels, including the untreated control samples. The 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content of the honeys was determined using the Winkler method. NIRS spectra were recorded using a handheld instrument. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA for the HMF content and multivariate analysis for the NIRS data. For the latter, PCA, PCA-LDA, and PLSR models were built (using the 1300–1600 nm spectral range) and the wavelengths presenting the greatest change induced by the perturbations of temperature and time intervals were collected systematically, based on the difference spectra and the weights of the models. The most contributing wavelengths were used to visualize the spectral pattern changes on the aquagrams in the specific water matrix coordinates. Our results showed that the heat treatment highly contributed to the formation of free or less bonded water, however, the changes in the spectral pattern highly depended on the crystallization phase and the honey type.     

Inhibition of immediate type hypersensitivity reaction by combined irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light

Recently we found that ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation in erythematous doses significantly inhibited the immediate type hypersensibility reaction in the skin. In the present study we investigated the effects of different wavelengths on the skin prick test reaction (SPT). The forearm of ragweed allergic patients was irradiated with increasing doses of ultraviolet A (UVA), visible light (VIS) or combined UVB, UVA and VIS light, referred to as mUV/VIS. SPTs were performed 24 h after irradiation both on irradiated and non-irradiated control skin areas using ragweed extract. UVA and VIS irradiation led to a slight, not significant inhibition of allergen-induced wheal formation. Mixed irradiation with mUV/VIS light resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the allergen-induced wheal formation. The inhibition was significant already at suberythematous doses. As there is a good correlation between SPT and the nasal symptoms in patients with hay fever these data suggest that phototherapy with mUV/VIS light might be an effective and safe treatment modality for immediate type hypersensibility reactions in the skin and nasal mucosa.