The 125th Anniversary of Aspirin-The Story Continues.

The year 2024 marks the 125th anniversary of aspirin, still one of the most frequently used drugs worldwide. Despite its veritable age, it is still relevant in pharmacotherapy and its use has spread to new areas over time. Due to aspirin's multiple pharmacological actions unified in one single molecule (i.e., analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and antiviral effects), it continues to attract considerable attention in the scientific community and is subject to intense basic and clinical research. In fact, recent results confirmed aspirin's potential role as an antiviral drug and as an agent that can block harmful platelet functions in inflammatory/immunological processes. These features may open up new horizons for this ancient drug. The future of aspirin looks, therefore, bright and promising. Aspirin is not yet ready for retirement; on the contrary, its success story continues. This 125th anniversary paper will concisely review the various therapeutic uses of aspirin with a particular emphasis on the latest research results and their implications (e.g., use as an antiviral agent). In addition, the reader is provided with future perspectives for this remarkable drug.

Targeted dry skin treatment using a multifunctional topical moisturizer.

OBJECTIVE: The development of dry skin is a complex process, with a wide variety of factors each playing different roles in its evolution. Given this, it is important when designing a formulation to tackle dry skin that these varied aspects of skin behaviour are addressed. Presented here are the results of a 3-week moisturization study carried out on dry legs. A wide range of traditional and more recently developed biophysical measurement methods have been combined with visual assessment of skin condition to enable multiple aspects of skin function to be determined. The observed changes in the skin are discussed in terms of the ingredients used in the moisturizing formulation. METHODS: A range of novel and traditional skin assessment methods and techniques were used to assess the effects of an oil in water-based moisturizing product compared to an untreated site during a 3-week in vivo study on dry lower leg skin. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were observed in a range of skin parameters as a result of product usage. Skin hydration assessed using Corneometer®, Epsilon® and visual dry skin grading all increased after 3 weeks of use. Skin barrier function measured using transepidermal water loss also improved. Levels of cholesterol, free fatty acids and Ceramide NH increased, as well as the average length of the stratum corneum (SC) lipid lamella bilayers, and the ratio of lipid to protein increased (measured using Lipbarvis® and in vivo Confocal Raman Spectroscopy). Increases in the levels of Ceramide EOS and NP were also observed, along with an improvement in corneocyte maturity, although these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Using a variety of traditional and novel skin assessment techniques, a wide range of factors associated with the evolution of dry skin have been assessed upon treatment with a new topical moisturizer. Product usage resulted in significant improvements to skin hydration and barrier function, the levels and morphology of SC barrier lipids, and overall epidermal differentiation. As a result there was a significant reduction in the characteristics associated with the development of dry skin after use of the test product.

OBJECTIF: le développement de la sécheresse cutanée est un processus complexe, une grande variété de facteurs jouant chacun des rôles différents dans son évolution. De ce fait, il est important d'aborder ces différents aspects du comportement de la peau lors de la conception d'une formulation pour lutter contre la sécheresse cutanée. Les résultats d'une étude de 3 semaines sur l'hydratation des jambes sèches sont présentés ci-dessous. Un large éventail de méthodes de mesure biophysiques traditionnelles et plus récemment développées ont été combinées à une évaluation visuelle de l'état de la peau pour permettre de déterminer de multiples aspects de la fonction cutanée. Les changements observés sur la peau sont abordés en termes des ingrédients utilisés dans la formulation hydratante. MÉTHODES: une série de méthodes et de techniques nouvelles et traditionnelles d'évaluation de la peau ont été utilisées pour évaluer les effets d'un produit hydratant à base d'émulsion huile dans eau par comparaison à un site non traité au cours d'une étude in vivo de 3 semaines sur la peau sèche de la partie inférieure des jambes. RÉSULTATS: des améliorations statistiquement significatives ont été observées au niveau d'une gamme de paramètres cutanés suite à l'utilisation du produit. L'hydratation cutanée évaluée à l'aide de Corneometer®, Epsilon® et de la cotation visuelle de la sécheresse cutanée s'est améliorée selon toutes ces méthodes après 3 semaines d'utilisation. La fonction de barrière cutanée mesurée d'après la perte d'eau transépidermique s'est également améliorée. Les taux de cholestérol, d'acides gras libres et de céramides NH ont augmenté, ainsi que la longueur moyenne des bicouches des lamelles lipidiques de la couche cornée (CC), et il en a été de même pour le rapport lipide/protéine (mesuré à l'aide du Lipbarvis® et de la spectroscopie confocale de Raman in vivo). Des augmentations des taux de céramides EOS et NP ont également été observées, ainsi qu'une amélioration de la maturité des cornéocytes, bien qu'elles n'aient pas été statistiquement significatives. CONCLUSION: à l'aide d'une gamme de techniques d'évaluation de la peau traditionnelles et nouvelles, un large éventail de facteurs associés à l'évolution de la sécheresse cutanée a été évalué lors du traitement avec un nouveau produit hydratant topique. L'utilisation du produit a entraîné une amélioration significative de l'hydratation et de la fonction de barrière de la peau, des taux et de la morphologie des lipides de la barrière SC , et de la différenciation épidermique globale. Cela a entraîné une amélioration significative des facteurs associés au développement de la sécheresse cutanée.

A new topical panthenol-containing emollient for maintenance treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis: results from a multicenter prospective study.

PURPOSE: A study was conducted with a new topical panthenol-containing emollient (NTP-CE) to investigate the efficacy and safety of a 3-month maintenance treatment in infants and children with stabilized mild atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: After the stabilization phase (up to 2 months) using a corticosteroid-free topical medical device, 108 subjects (aged 2-49 months) with a SCORing AD (SCORAD) on the target area of <5, were randomized to receive NTP-CE (N = 52) or reference emollient (N = 56) twice-daily for ∼3 months. SCORAD scores, occurrence of flares, and tolerability were assessed at regular intervals. RESULTS: In both groups, local SCORAD decreased during the study with a mean change from baseline (=end of stabilization phase) of -1.2 ± 1.3 (NTP-CE) and -1.0 ± 1.9. Kaplan-Meier analysis provided success rates (i.e. proportion of subjects without flares at study end) of 96 and 77% for the NTP-CE and reference group, respectively (p =.083, log-rank test). Mean time to flare-up was 47 days (range: 29-65) in the NTP CE group and 50 days (6-100). Study products were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that NTP-CE is efficacious and safe when used for maintenance treatment of mild childhood AD.

A new topical panthenol-containing emollient: skin-moisturizing effect following single and prolonged usage in healthy adults, and tolerability in healthy infants.

PURPOSE: Two studies were conducted with a new topical panthenol-containing emollient (NTP-CE) to investigate the skin-moisturizing effect in healthy adults and tolerability in healthy infants. METHODS: In Study 1 (N = 44), a single skin application of NTP-CE was performed followed by a 4-week twice-daily application. Skin hydration and stratum corneum (SC) water content change (using Raman spectroscopy) were measured. In the 4-week Study 2 (N = 65, aged 3-25 months), NTP-CE tolerability was assessed using a 5-point scoring system; skin hydration was determined in a subset (N = 21). RESULTS: In Study 1, mean AUC0 - 24 h for skin capacitance change from baseline was 302.03 i.u. with NTP-CE and -15.90 i.u. in control areas (p < .001). With NTP-CE (at 4 h), the water content within the upper SC part was reduced (-45.10 vs. -13.39 g/cm2, p = .013) and the water gradient increased (0.51 vs. 0.11 g/cm4, p = .036), indicating relocation of water into deeper layers. In Study 2, there was no statistically significant change from baseline in mean cutaneous tolerability scores. At days 7, 14, and 28, skin hydration had increased by 42%, 54%, and 49%, respectively (all p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Single and prolonged NTP-CE usage is associated with sustained and deep skin moisturization. NTP-CE is well tolerated by healthy infants.

A new topical panthenol-containing emollient: Results from two randomized controlled studies assessing its skin moisturization and barrier restoration potential, and the effect on skin microflora.

PURPOSE: Two randomized, intra-individual comparison studies were performed in healthy subjects to evaluate the skin moisturization and barrier restoration potential of a new topical panthenol-containing emollient (NTP-CE) (Study 1), and its effect on skin microflora (Study 2). METHODS: In Study 1 (N = 23), two skin areas, one challenged with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution and one unchallenged, were treated with NTP-CE for 3 weeks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae (ICLL) organization were measured at regular intervals during the study. In Study 2 (N = 20), quantitative bacterial cultures were obtained over 6 h from a skin area undergoing wash stress with 10% SDS with subsequent single application of NTP-CE. RESULTS: In Study 1, mean AUC for TEWL reduction from baseline was more pronounced with NTP-CE compared with control (-168.36 vs. -123.38 g/m2/h, p = 0.023). NTP-CE use was also associated with statistically significant improvements in stratum corneum hydration and an increase in mean ICLL length from baseline (day 22: 120.61 vs. 35.85 nm/1000 nm2, p < 0.001). In Study 2, NTP-CE use had no negative impact on bacterial viability. CONCLUSIONS: NTP-CE use has favorable and lasting effects on barrier function and repair as well as skin hydration without negatively influencing bacterial viability.