Search

Claudia Palacio-Pastrana,1 Eduardo Chávez-Mondragón,2 Abraham Soto-Gómez,3 Rubén Suárez-Velasco,4 Miguel Montes-Salcedo,5 Lourdes Fernández de Ortega,6 Linda Nasser-Nasser,7 Leopoldo Baiza-Durán,8 Oscar Olvera-Montaño,8 Patricia Muñoz-Villegas8 1Fundación Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Luz, IAP, CDMX, Mexico; 2Fundación de Asistencia Privada Conde de Valenciana, IAP, CDMX, Mexico; 3Catarata y Glaucoma de Occidente SA de CV, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 4Private Office, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 5Aris Vision Institute, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 6Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, IAP, CDMX, Mexico; 7Visión Cirugía Ambulatoria, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; 8Medical Affairs, Laboratorios Sophia, SA de CV, Zapopan, Jalisco, MexicoCorrespondence: Patricia Muñoz-Villegas Tel +52 3001 4200 ext 1018Email patricia.munoz@sophia.com.mxBackground: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of difluprednate 0.05% (PRO-145) versus prednisolone acetate 1% (Prednefrin® SF), for management of postoperative inflammation and pain, after cataract surgery.Methods: This was a Phase III, multicenter, prospective, double-blind, clinical trial. Intent-to-treat population included 178 post-phacoemulsification patients that were assigned to receive either PRO-145, or prednisolone. One day after unilateral eye surgery, patients instilled a drop 4 times a day for 14 days (then tapering the dose downward for 14 days). The primary efficacy endpoints were anterior chamber (AC) cell grade and flare. Other parameters measured included: retinal central thickness (measured via OCT), conjunctival hyperemia, edema, pain and photophobia. Tolerability and safety were assessed through burning, itching, foreign body sensation, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and incidence of adverse events (AE).Results: A total of 171 subjects were randomized (1:1) and completed the study. Compared to day 1, there was a significant improvement in the AC cell count and flare in both groups by the final visit (80.2% vs 88.4%, p=1.000). Conjunctival hyperemia improved in a similar fashion (81.2% vs 79%, p=0.234) in both PRO-145 and prednisolone groups, without differences between them. This was also observed for edema (82.4% vs 82.5%, p=0.246), pain (15.3% vs 7%, p=0.497) and photophobia (16.4% vs 15.1%, p=0.246), respectively. There was no significant difference between treatments for any tolerability parameter studied. Finally, at the 4-week postoperative visit, there were no significant differences between treatments for VA, IOP and AE results (p-values; 0.095, 0.053 and 0.099, respectively).Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that PRO-145 is as effective and safe as prednisolone acetate in treating postoperative inflammation and pain in patients undergoing phacoemulsification. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03693989.Keywords: difluprednate, dose-reduction, cataract surgery, ophthalmic corticosteroids

The objective of this work was to determine the viability of the most important agro-industrial coproducts, such as cacao husk and coffee pulp, as sources of bioactive compounds, as prebiotic fiber, and polyphenols as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Main carbohydrates and prebiotic activity score were determined, as well as the characterization of main polyphenols, antimicrobial and antioxidant capability. The flours presented a higher dietary fiber content (64 % for coffee pulp and 70 % for cacao husk), with a higher glucose content in cacao husk flour. This explained the higher prebiotic activity score obtained, as compared to coffee pulp. During lactic acid fermentation, the SCFA was adequate, with a higher production of lactate and acetate when coffee pulp was employed as a carbon source. Total polyphenols content was higher in cacao husk, and although TEAC was higher with this flour, DPPH, and total antioxidant activity were higher for coffee pulp. Cacao husk flour or coffee pulp can be employed as functional ingredients to improve intestinal health promoting the selective growth of probiotics, as well as inhibiting pathogens microorganisms due to their antimicrobial activity. Both ingredients can be employed as natural antioxidants as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new information on the latitudinal and altitudinal distribution of five species of recently-described or poorly-known glassfrogs from eastern Ecuador. We include novel data on its body size and natural history. Information on the diversity and biogeography of the centrolenid frogs of Eastern Ecuador is discussed, finding them associated with six vegetation formations distributed between the eastern Andean slopes and lowland Amazonia. We identify three important zones of diversity and endemism in Eastern Ecuador associated with the Napo, Pastaza, and Santiago river basins. The ecosystems of Low Montane and Foothill forests have the largest diversity and endemism of centrolenid frogs, however, 77% are threatened. It is vital to join effort to research and preserve this particular group of the Ecuadorian fauna.