Biomedical subjects

L Zastrow

Publications and source records attributed to L Zastrow.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effect of supplemented and topically applied antioxidant substances on human tissue.

Systemic and topical application of antioxidant substances for the medical treatment and prophylaxis of many diseases as well as additional protection of the skin against the destructive action of free radicals and other reactive species has become very popular during the past years. Stimulated by the positive results of a fruit and vegetable diet in supporting medical treatment and in cosmetics, artificial and extracted antioxidant substances have been broadly applied. Surprisingly, not only positive but also strong negative results have been obtained by different authors. According to study reports artificial and extracted antioxidant substances support different kinds of medical therapies, if they are applied in mixtures of different compounds at low concentration levels. In the case of the application of high concentration of some single compounds, side effects were often observed. Regarding skin treatment by systemically applied antioxidant substances for cosmetic purposes, positive cosmetic effects as well as no effects, but almost no side effects, apart from a number of allergic reactions, were reported. One reason for this seems to be the lower concentration of systemically applied antioxidant substances in comparison with a medical application. Topical application of antioxidant substances is closely related to cosmetic treatment for skin protection and anti-aging. Positive results were also obtained in this case. The present review is an attempt to classify and summarize the published literature concerning the efficiency of action of systemic and topical applications of antioxidant substances, such as carotenoids and vitamins, on human organism and especially on the skin. The available literature on this topic is very extensive and the results are often contradictory. Nevertheless, there are some clear tendencies concerning systemic and topical application of antioxidant substances in medicine and cosmetics, and we summarize them in the present paper.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2005

Reconstituted human corneal epithelium: a new alternative to the Draize eye test for the assessment of the eye irritation potential of chemicals and cosmetic products.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interest of a new three-dimensional epithelial model cultivated from human corneal cells to replace animal testing in the assessment of eye tolerance. To this end, 65 formulated cosmetic products and 36 chemicals were tested by means of this in vitro model using a simplified toxicokinetic approach. The chemicals were selected from the ECETOC data bank and the EC/HO International validation study list. Very satisfactory results were obtained in terms of concordance with the Draize test data for the formulated cosmetic products. Moreover, the response of the corneal model appeared predictive of human ocular response clinically observed by ophthalmologists. The in vitro scores for the chemicals tested strongly correlated with their respective scores in vivo. For all the compounds tested, the response of the corneal model to irritants was similar regardless of their chemical structure, suggesting a good robustness of the prediction model proposed. We concluded that this new three-dimensional epithelial model, developed from human corneal cells, could be promising for the prediction of eye irritation induced by chemicals and complex formulated products, and that these two types of materials should be tested using a similar protocol. A simple shortening of the exposure period was required for the chemicals assumed to be more aggressively irritant to the epithelial tissues than the cosmetic formulae.

Animal Testing Alternatives↗

PubMed2004

Sunscreen application at the beach.

BACKGROUND: The sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens is determined after application of a standard amount. The European Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) standard amount is 2 mg/cm(2). Real-life application of sunscreen is probably less than this. AIM: To determine the amount of sunscreen present on the skin of people at the beach. METHODS: Volunteers at the beach were selected randomly and were not aware of being tested for the adequacy of their sunscreen application. All volunteers had applied sunscreen. Application had been more than 30 min before testing (sometimes up to 4 h earlier). The amounts of sunscreen applied to different body sites were determined quantitatively by tape stripping. Actual amounts of sunscreen applied were compared with the COLIPA standard. Also, sunscreen containing a fluorescent dye was applied to the skin of volunteers in a laboratory setting. The distribution of sunscreen application was visualized by UVA photography in a darkened room. RESULTS: Sixty volunteers, 33 males and 27 females, aged 17-68 years (median 32 years), were recruited at the beach. Sunscreen coverage was inadequate at all body sites. Coverage at various body sites differed greatly. Most volunteers had applied 10% or less of the COLIPA standard amount to all body sites assessed. The best protected areas were the upper arm and décolleté but, even in these areas, most volunteers had only applied 10% of the COLIPA standard amount. The worst protected areas were the ears and top of the feet. The back was typically badly protected if treated by the volunteers themselves. The back was better protected if another person had applied the sunscreen. In the laboratory, the fluorescent dye-containing sunscreen showed the same pattern of sunscreen application as at the beach. CONCLUSIONS: In real life, at the beach, very little sunscreen remains present on the skin.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Electron spin resonance detection of UVA-induced free radicals.

Free radicals generated during UV irradiation of human skin biopsies were measured with electron spin resonance spectroscopy by using spin traps. The generation of hydroxyl and lipid radicals in skin is mainly caused by the UVA part of the solar spectrum.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Integrated sun protection factor: a new sun protection factor based on free radicals generated by UV irradiation.

The present work uses the initial step of the whole cascade of biological effects in the skin, the creation of free radicals by means of UVA/UVB radiation, to develop a total sun protection factor. Until now, existing in vivo indices have not been fully satisfying: SPF only reflects protection from UVB light, and persistent pigment darkening is restricted to the UVA part of the sun spectrum. The quantitative measurement of free radicals generated in human skin biopsies by means of electron spin resonance X-band spectroscopy allows to determine a new total SPF. This new sun protection index covers all UVA/UVB wavelengths taking into account their effects in the epidermis as well as the dermis. Use of skin biopsies avoids exposure of human volunteers to potentially harmful radiations. The new index is always practically equal or lower than the in vivo SPF depending on the level of a product's UVA/UVB photoprotection balance. With this, we propose to name this new protection index 'integrated sun protection factor'.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Efficiency of a continuous height distribution model of sunscreen film geometry to predict a realistic sun protection factor.

Irregularities in the geometry of sunscreen films spread on rough areas, like skin, is often presented as being the main cause of the degree of UV absorption achieved by the UV filters that are inside. Until now, only the step film, a model invented by O'Neill, was simple enough to calculate UV data close to in vitro experimental data, after determination of a limited number of fraction areas with their corresponding thickness. However, such models are obviously too simple to represent a real situation. In the present work, more complex distributions of film thickness were calculated, with an infinite number of individual heights. Realistic models were achieved via a probability function. The consequences for UV absorption were deduced, and the calculated UV data were compared to experimental in vitro data on sunscreen products measured after being spread on a roughened PMMA substrate. The latter substrate was previously selected for its ability to achieve a good correlation with in vivo SPF. An optimized version of the continuous mathematical model was finally determined in order to achieve UV curves, similar in shape and intensity to the experimental ones. The latter model can be used to predict realistic SPF values.

Models, Theoretical↗