Background/Aim: Dandruff is a common scalp problem associated with flaky and inflamed skin. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a shampoo containing piroctone olamine and climbazole and the combination of t...Background/Aim: Dandruff is a common scalp problem associated with flaky and inflamed skin. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a shampoo containing piroctone olamine and climbazole and the combination of this shampoo with a scalp tonic containing piroctone olamine and licochalcone A, derived from Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, to reduce dandruff. Study Design/Methods: After conditioning, 102 subjects (♂ 56 and 46 ♀) with moderate to very strong dandruff affection underwent a randomized half head study for 4 weeks. The volunteers’ heads were washed regularly either with a placebo or the anti-dandruff shampoo, followed by the anti-dandruff tonic application or no treatment. In a 2-week post-treatment phase, subjects only applied placebo shampoo. Every two weeks, trained experts assessed dandruff affection based on a scale of 1 to 6. At study start and after every 2 weeks, cytokine concentrations and anti-fungal activity of test products were determined in scalp wash-ups by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays or a Malassezia colony-forming assay, respectively. Results: Results of expert grading and anti-fungal activity revealed a significant reduction in dandruff affection and Malassezia colony-forming units after treatment with the anti-dandruff shampoo or its combination with the tonic. Dandruff affection even remained reduced in the post-treatment phase when levels of Malassezia colony-forming units had returned to baseline. Cytokine analyses proved a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory dandruff markers after treatment with both anti-dandruff products. For the shampoo/tonic combination, a superior reduction of one scalp inflammatory marker was determined even after the post-treatment phase. Conclusion: Both the rinse-off shampoo as well as its combination with the leave-on tonic excellently alleviated dandruff and its associated micro-inflammation. Both treatments showed anti-fungal activity. The superior benefit, exerted by the combination, is primarily based on the known anti-inflammatory effect of licochalcone A and the improved scalp substantivity of the leave-on application.展开更多
Background:Candida species are the fourth most common etiological agents of late-onset infection in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)and are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality.Objectives:From No...Background:Candida species are the fourth most common etiological agents of late-onset infection in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)and are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality.Objectives:From November 2023 to February 2024,we investigated the association of mycotic pneumonia with septicemia in 60 neonates,and their roles of mycotic pneumonia in the morbidity and mortality of neonates in two NICUs in the Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children.Methods:All infants in this study had been diagnosed with septicemia and treated with empirical antimicrobial therapy.An early morning nasogastric tube(NG-tube)was used to collect swallowed sputum by suction for culture and sensitivity testing.Results:The average white blood count for the neonates was 8547±5884.5 cells/mm^(2).The mean C-reactive protein was 39.3±26 mg/l,the mean serum albumin was 2.9±0.2 g/dl and the positive bacterial blood culture was 28(46.7%).9(15%)neonates died during the study period.The NG-tube culture identified fungal growth in all samples.Of these,49(81.6%)were identified as Candida albicans,6(10%)as Candida tropicalis,and 5(8.3%)as Cryptococcus laurentii.The bacterial culture results from the NG-tube samples identified 13(21.6%)patients with gram-positive bacteria and 47(78.3%)with gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion:We found a prevalence of Candida spp.among neonates in addition to microbial oxygen tube contamination,indicating a biosafety breach in the neonatal unit.Mycotic infection requires global attention as a probable cause of respiratory failure in neonatal septicemia.展开更多
文摘Background/Aim: Dandruff is a common scalp problem associated with flaky and inflamed skin. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a shampoo containing piroctone olamine and climbazole and the combination of this shampoo with a scalp tonic containing piroctone olamine and licochalcone A, derived from Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, to reduce dandruff. Study Design/Methods: After conditioning, 102 subjects (♂ 56 and 46 ♀) with moderate to very strong dandruff affection underwent a randomized half head study for 4 weeks. The volunteers’ heads were washed regularly either with a placebo or the anti-dandruff shampoo, followed by the anti-dandruff tonic application or no treatment. In a 2-week post-treatment phase, subjects only applied placebo shampoo. Every two weeks, trained experts assessed dandruff affection based on a scale of 1 to 6. At study start and after every 2 weeks, cytokine concentrations and anti-fungal activity of test products were determined in scalp wash-ups by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays or a Malassezia colony-forming assay, respectively. Results: Results of expert grading and anti-fungal activity revealed a significant reduction in dandruff affection and Malassezia colony-forming units after treatment with the anti-dandruff shampoo or its combination with the tonic. Dandruff affection even remained reduced in the post-treatment phase when levels of Malassezia colony-forming units had returned to baseline. Cytokine analyses proved a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory dandruff markers after treatment with both anti-dandruff products. For the shampoo/tonic combination, a superior reduction of one scalp inflammatory marker was determined even after the post-treatment phase. Conclusion: Both the rinse-off shampoo as well as its combination with the leave-on tonic excellently alleviated dandruff and its associated micro-inflammation. Both treatments showed anti-fungal activity. The superior benefit, exerted by the combination, is primarily based on the known anti-inflammatory effect of licochalcone A and the improved scalp substantivity of the leave-on application.
文摘Background:Candida species are the fourth most common etiological agents of late-onset infection in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)and are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality.Objectives:From November 2023 to February 2024,we investigated the association of mycotic pneumonia with septicemia in 60 neonates,and their roles of mycotic pneumonia in the morbidity and mortality of neonates in two NICUs in the Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children.Methods:All infants in this study had been diagnosed with septicemia and treated with empirical antimicrobial therapy.An early morning nasogastric tube(NG-tube)was used to collect swallowed sputum by suction for culture and sensitivity testing.Results:The average white blood count for the neonates was 8547±5884.5 cells/mm^(2).The mean C-reactive protein was 39.3±26 mg/l,the mean serum albumin was 2.9±0.2 g/dl and the positive bacterial blood culture was 28(46.7%).9(15%)neonates died during the study period.The NG-tube culture identified fungal growth in all samples.Of these,49(81.6%)were identified as Candida albicans,6(10%)as Candida tropicalis,and 5(8.3%)as Cryptococcus laurentii.The bacterial culture results from the NG-tube samples identified 13(21.6%)patients with gram-positive bacteria and 47(78.3%)with gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion:We found a prevalence of Candida spp.among neonates in addition to microbial oxygen tube contamination,indicating a biosafety breach in the neonatal unit.Mycotic infection requires global attention as a probable cause of respiratory failure in neonatal septicemia.
