naphthoquinones and Conjunctivitis--Allergic

To propose a new scoring system in the assessment of ocular surface epithelial damage in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).. 25 consecutive patients with VKC (50 eyes) were evaluated using the Quality of Life in children with VKC (QUICK) questionnaire and objective clinical measures: fluorescein and lissamine green staining and cornea confocal microscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomography 3). Oxford, Van Bljsterweld and a new system, the VKC-Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus study (CLEK) (VKC-CLEK) scores, were used to evaluate the epithelial damage after staining.. Mean Oxford and VKC-CLEK scores were significantly different after fluorescein staining (P<0.001), but significantly correlated (P<0.001; r=0.649). The same data were obtained comparing Van Bljsterweld and VKC-CLEK after lissamine green staining (P<0.001; r=0.760). In patient with limbal VKC, a statistically significant difference was found comparing new VKC-CLEK scores and Oxford or Van Bljsterweld scores (P<0.001), but not in tarsal VKC. A statistically superior concordance was found between QUICK and VKC-CLEK scores compared with standard staining scores values (P<0.001).. Oxford and Van Bijsterveld scores are not adequate for the evaluation of the epithelial damage in patients with limbal VKC because the staining patterns considered for these tests do not correspond to the staining patterns in patients with VKC. We propose a new scoring system, VKC-CLEK, to better evaluate both limbal and tarsal epithelial damage in patients with VKC.

Topics: Child; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Cornea; Female; Fluorescein; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Male; Microscopy, Confocal; Naphthalenesulfonates; Naphthoquinones; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Severity of Illness Index; Staining and Labeling; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was undertaken to evaluate possible antiallergic effects of an extract of pigments from green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) shells. Effects were studied on animal models - guinea pig ileum contraction, rabbit eyes allergic conjunctivitis, and rabbit local skin irritation. The extract significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the histamine-induced contractions of the isolated guinea pig ileum with ID50 =1.2 µg/mL (in equivalents of spinochrome B), had an inhibitory effect on the model of ocular allergic inflammation surpassing the reference drug olopatadine, and did not show any irritating effect in rabbits. The extract predominantly contained polyhydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone which would be responsible for the pharmacological activity. The active compounds of the extract were evaluated in silico with molecular docking. Molecular docking into H1R receptor structures obtained from molecular dynamic simulations showed that all spinochrome derivatives bind to the receptor active site, but spinochrome monomers fit better to it. The results of the present study suggest possibilities for the development of new agents for treating allergic diseases on the base of pigments from sea urchins shells.

Topics: Animal Shells; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Dibenzoxepins; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guinea Pigs; Histamine; Ileum; Male; Molecular Docking Simulation; Naphthoquinones; Olopatadine Hydrochloride; Pigments, Biological; Rabbits; Skin; Strongylocentrotus

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) can induce immediate or - more often - delayed hypersensitivity. We report the case of 48-year old female admitted to the out-patient allergy clinic a day after her visit in a beauty parlour, where she had her eyelashes and eyebrows dyed with henna. Physical examination revealed prominent edema of the upper part of the face including forehead, cheeks and eyes causing severe narrowing of the palpebral chink. Skin prick tests (SPT) with common allergens were positive for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and moulds, while the SPT with PPD was negative. Patch test to PPD was positive. Further investigations revealed eosinophilia in the tear fluid. To our knowledge, this is the first case of PPD-induced contact blepharoconjunctivitis (CB) with concomitant increased eosinophilia in the tear fluid.

Topics: Blepharitis; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Eosinophilia; Eyebrows; Eyelashes; Female; Hair Dyes; Humans; Middle Aged; Naphthoquinones; Tears

Topics: Aged; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Hair Dyes; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Male; Naphthoquinones; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Skin Tests