ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: There is a clear need for new strategies of leishmaniasis treatment. This work was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the co-administration of tamoxifen and meglumine antimoniate (SbV ) in a phase II pilot clinical trial in localised cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. METHODS: A randomised controlled pilot clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral (40 mg/day for 20 days) or topical tamoxifen (0.1% tamoxifen citrate for 20 days) combined with meglumine antimoniate (20 mg SbV /kg/day for 20 days) vs. a standard SbV protocol (20 mg/kg/day for 20 days) for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Primary outcome was complete epithelisation of the lesion 6 months after the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes were lesion healing 2 months after the end of treatment and frequency and severity of adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 38 subjects were included in the trial, 15 were treated with standard SbV and 23 with the combination of tamoxifen and SbV . Of the patients treated with the co-administration scheme, 12 received tamoxifen orally and 11 were treated with topical tamoxifen. Tamoxifen administered by the oral or topical routes was well tolerated. Cure rates 6 months after the end of treatment per intention to treat were 40% in the group treated with the standard SbV scheme, and 36.4% and 58%, respectively, for groups treated with SbV plus topical or oral tamoxifen. CONCLUSIONS: In the doses and schemes used in this study, co-administration of oral tamoxifen and SbV resulted in higher cure rates in comparison with the standard scheme of treatment, although not to statistically significant levels.
Subject(s)
Antiprotozoal Agents/therapeutic use , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/drug therapy , Meglumine Antimoniate/therapeutic use , Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/therapeutic use , Tamoxifen/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Administration, Topical , Adult , Antiprotozoal Agents/administration & dosage , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Male , Meglumine Antimoniate/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/administration & dosage , Tamoxifen/administration & dosage , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
The efficient synthesis of sixteen 5-arylidene-2,4-thiazolidinediones by aldol condensation reaction of 2,4-thiazolidinedione, mono- and di-substituted arenealdehydes and KOH using ultrasound irradiation is reported. The desired compounds were obtained in a few min (10-30 min) with moderate to good yields (25-81%).
Subject(s)
Thiazolidinediones/chemical synthesis , Thiazolidinediones/radiation effects , Ultrasonics/methods , Catalysis , Hydroxides/chemistry , Hydroxides/radiation effects , Indicators and Reagents , Potassium Compounds/chemistry , Potassium Compounds/radiation effectsABSTRACT
Self-organized TiO(2) nanotube (NT) arrays were produced by anodization in ethylene glycol (EG) electrolytes containing 1-n-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF(4)) ionic liquid and water. The morphology of the as-formed NTs was considerably affected by changing the anodization time, voltage, and water and ionic liquid electrolyte concentrations. In general, a nanoporous layer was formed on the top surface of the TiO(2) NTs, except for anodization at 100 V with 1 vol % of BMI.BF(4), where the NT's mouth was revealed. The length and bottom diameter of the NTs as well as the pore diameter of the top layer showed a linear relationship with increased anodization voltage. These TiO(2) NTs were tested as photocatalysts for methyl orange photodegradation and hydrogen evolution from water/methanol solutions by UV light irradiation. The results show that the TiO(2) NTs obtained by anodization in EG/H(2)O/BMI.BF(4) electrolytes are active and efficient for both applications.
