No abstract available.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Dermatitis, Contact*

The prior long-term use of topical anti-glaucoma medications has been suggested as an adverse factor for the outcome of trabeculectomy. The mechanism of action is still unclear. This study investigates the effect of Trusopt and Xalatan on the proliferation and viability of human Tenon`s capsule fibroblasts in tissue culture. We examined the effect of two commercial drugs, Trusopt and Xalatan, and pure benzalkonium chloride, at various dilution, on the proliferation as assessed by MTT assay and assessed micro-scopically the viability of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in tissue culture. None of the tested compounds stimulated proliferation of fibroblasts in tissue culture and inhibited proliferation. All had toxic effects on cell morphology. These results show an antiproliferative and toxic effect of Trusopt and Xalatan on the fibroblasts in tissue culture and no direct stimulation of fibroblast proliferation.
Benzalkonium Compounds ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Tenon Capsule ; Trabeculectomy

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Gelrite (Gelrite gellan gum), a natural gelling agent, on the viability and proliferation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in tissue culture. METHODS: We studied the effect of two common preservatives, Gelrite and pure benzalkonium chloride (BAK) on the proliferation of primarily cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. After treatment of Gelrite and BAK with various serial dilutions, proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the morphologic changes were evaluated with by inverted phase contrast microscopic examination after 24 hours and 1 week respectively. RESULTS: Gelrite did not affect the proliferation of fibroblasts and revealed no apparent morphologic change or viability of the fibroblasts in tissue culture. Also BAK did not affect the proliferation but inhibited the proliferation of the fibroblasts with toxic effects on cell morphology. CONCLUSIONS: Gelrite showed no apparent effect on the proliferation and morphology of the primarily cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts.
Benzalkonium Compounds ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Tenon Capsule*

Infection by organisms in the anesthetic apparatus and in the operating theater is one of the important problems. Authors have studied the distribution of organisms that have been isolated from the anesthetic apparatuses and the operating theaters of some hospitals in Chung-Nam province. We have tested antibacterial activity and sensitivity by disinfectants and antibiotics. The results are follows: 1. Eleven strains of organisms were isolated from the anesthetic apparatus and the operating theatres: fstaphylococcus, B. subtilis, pseudomonas, E. coli, yeast-forms, both Gram positive or negative cocci and bacilli and fungi. 2. Antibacterial activity was stronger at a higher temperature (50degrees C) than at a lower temperature (20degrees C) and in comparison of effects between difference concentrations, there was not any noted difference in the phenol group and benzalkonium group but in the Hygien group, antibacterial activity was increased by increasing the concentratoin. 3. Staphylococci, Gram negative bacilli, Gram negative cocci, and Gram positive yeast-forms were sensitive to the majority of antibiotics but other organisms were resistantall to almost all antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Benzalkonium Compounds ; Disinfectants ; Fungi ; Phenol ; Pseudomonas

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), mitomycin C (MMC) and dexamethasone (DEX) on cellular stress in cultured human trabecular meshwork cell (HTMC) monolayers. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured in the inner Transwell chamber until confluence and then were exposed to BAC, MMC or DEX for 6 hours. The carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer was measured using a spectrofluorometer at 532 nm after 2 hours in the outer chamber. The 3-[4, 5 -dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate cellular viabilities. RESULTS: The carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer increased and cell survival decreased with 0.002% BAC (p < 0.05). Increased permeability without decreasing cell survival occurred with 0.05 microg/mL MMC. No effect on the permeability or cell survival was observed at 0.1 or 1.0 microm DEX (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BAC and MMC induced cellular toxicity and stress at lower concentrations but did not affect survival of cultured HTMCs.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Cell Survival ; Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Mitomycin* ; Permeability ; Trabecular Meshwork*

To evaluate the corneal epithelial barrier after exposure to Benzalkonium chloride(BAC) or commonly used eyedrops, we measured corneal uptake of 5, 6-carboxyfluorescein(CF) applied to the corneal epithelium of the albino rabbits(70 eyes). Four BAC solutions (0.001 %, 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1 %), ofloxacin solutions (Tarivid(R), Octacin(R), Ofloxacin(R)), fluorometholone solutions(Fumelon(R), Fluorometholone(R)), artificial tear solutions (Tears Naturale(R), Tears Naturale II(R), Tears naturale Free(R)) were evaluated. Balanced salt solution was used in control group. As the concentration of BAC increased, corneal epithelial permeability increased. In Octacin(R) group, corneal epithelial permeability increased about 5 times more than in Tarivid(R) and Ofloxacin(R) groups (p<0.01). Fluorometholone(R) group showed less increased permeability than in Fumelon group, but there was no statistical difference between them(p>0.05). Tears Naturale(R) showed the highest permeability among artificial tear solutions and there were no statistical differences between Tears Naturale II(R), Tears Naturale Free(R) and control group(p>0.1). This study showed that the higher concentration of BAC, the more damages to the barrier function of the corneal epithelium, and that clincally used eyedrops containing BAC made destructive influences on the corneal epithelial integrity.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Fluorometholone ; Ofloxacin ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Permeability ; Tears

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of bimatoprost on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC) monolayer. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner Transwell chamber and then exposed to benzalkonium chloride, brimonidine, latanoprost or bimatoprost for 1 week. Carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer was measured using a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viability was assessed using the MTT assay. RESULTS: Each drug diluted at 1/1000X did not affect the cellular survival (p > 0.05). Brimonidine, latanoprost and bimatoprost did not affect the carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer (p > 0.05). The carboxyfluorescein permeability was not different between latanoptost and bimatoprost after 1 week of exposure (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bimatoprost, a drug known to increase trabecular outflow, does not affect the carboxyfluorescein permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, the effect on the trabecular outflow of bimatoprost may not be significant.
Benzalkonium Compounds ; Humans ; Permeability* ; Trabecular Meshwork* ; Bimatoprost ; Brimonidine Tartrate

BACKGROUND: With the development of bioengineering techniques for noninvasive characterization of skin pathophysiology, the induction of irritant dermatitis by surfactants has been extensively studied. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to compare the skin responses in terms of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a well-known non-corrosive irritant, in comparison with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a representative corrosive irritant. METHOD: We applied 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2% solutions of BAC and SLS on volar forearm skin for 24 hours using a large Finn chamber with filter paper disc on 19 normal healthy subjects. TEWL and erythema index (E-index) were measured prior to testing, then at 30 minutes, one day, two days, three days, one week, and two weeks after the removal of the patches. RESULTS: TEWL values of BAC and SLS patch areas increased with concentration. However, BAC induced a significantly lower TEWL increase than SLS did at the corresponding concentrations. TEWL induced by BAC was highest at 30 minutes after the removal of the patch, whereas TEWL induced by SLS was highest at one day. TEWL values had recovered with the passage of time to baseline values at 2 weeks after removal of the patch at lower concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5%) of SLS, but still showed significantly high TEWL values at 1% and 2% concentration SLS patch areas. TEWL values of BAC in 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1% concentrations had recovered to the baseline values at 2 weeks after the removal of the patch, but not in 2% concentration BAC patch areas. E-indices of BAC and SLS increased with concentration in a similar reaction pattern. E-index induced by BAC was highest at 30 minutes after the removal of the patch, and E-index induced by SLS was highest at 30 minutes or 1 day after the removal of the patch. E-index of each concentration, except 2%, had recovered with the passage of time to baseline values on both BAC and SLS patch areas at 2 weeks, but E-indices of both 2% BAC and SLS did not recover at 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: Benzalkonium chloride showed much less damage to the skin barrier function compared to the corresponding concentration of SLS, whilst they showed a similar degree of erythema. Skin barrier function affected by the corrosive irritant SLS would need a more prolonged recovery time than skin barrier disruption by non-corrosive irritant BAC.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Bioengineering ; Dermatitis, Irritant ; Erythema ; Forearm ; Skin* ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate* ; Sodium* ; Surface-Active Agents

An experimental study was performed on 16 rabbits to evaluate the toxicity of benzalkonium chloride(BAK) on the corneal endothelium. Each rabbit received two drops of 0.01% BAK in the right eye and BSS in the left eye as control. The rabbits were divided into 4 groups: instillation of BAK 20 times at 6-minute intervals in normal cornea(group 1), instillation of BAK 40 times at 3-minute intervals in normal cornea (group 2), instillation of BAK 20 times at 6-minute intervals in de-epithelized condition with the size of 6mm diameter(group 3) and instillation of BAK 40 times at 3-minute intervals in deepithelized cornea(group 4). After the last instillation of BAK, histopathologic examination was performed with electron microscope. Group 1 showed nearly normal corneal endothelial findings, but group 2, 3 and 4 showed enlarged rough endoplasmic reticulum, partially distrupted Goigi apparatus and mitochodria, the presence of vacuoles and phagosomes. Group 4 showed severe destruction of subcellular structures. The results of this study indicate that an exaggerated use of topical drug containing 0.01% BAK may induce corneal endothelial damage, especially when the epithelium was already damaged.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Cornea ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Epithelium ; Phagosomes ; Rabbits* ; Vacuoles

Recently, some cases of paradoxical bronchoconsthction with the use of nebulized antiasthmatic respirator solutions have been reported. This study was performed to determine whether benzalkonium chloride, contained in several antiasthmatic respirator solutions as a preservative, may cause paradoxical bronchoconstriction. This was accomplished by comparing the FEV(1) change after Ventolin (benzalkonium containing salbutamol) nebulization with the FEV(1) change after Respolin autohaler (benzalkonium free sa1butamol) inhalation within the same patient. This study consisted thirty patients with stable asthma who regularly attend the allergy clinic at Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital. Patients were excluded from the study if they had respiratory disease or were taking any other medications. The results are as knows: 1) The baseline FEV(1) in the Ventolin group was 73+/-1O(% predicted) and 74+/-10(% predicted) in the Respolin autohaler group, showing no statistical difference in baseline FEV(1) between the two groups. 2) FEV(1) was decreased in 9 subjects(3096) after Ventolin nebu1ization and in 1 subject(3396) after Respolin autohaler inhalation, showing that the incidence of FEV(1) fall was higher in the Vento1in group than in the Respo1in autohaler group(p<0.OO5, one-tailed t-test). 3) Considering the cases with increased FEV(1) after inhalation, FEVl was increased by 9+/-7 (% predicted) in the Vento1in group and 7+/-5(% predicted) in the Respolin autohaIer group, suggesting that bronchodi1ator effects of both medications are similar. 4) Mild coughing occurred in 4 subjects(13396), and mild chest tightness in 1 subject(33%) in the Ventolin group. These symptoms resolved without any treatment. No side effects were reported by subjects in the Respolin autohaler group. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that the paradoxical bron-choconstriction occurring with nebulized antiasthmatic respirator solutions is due to the ingredient benzalkonium chloride. Therefore we recommend that a benzalkoniulm free salbutamol product should be used for asthmatic patients, or if a product such as Ventolin which contains benza1konium chloride must be used, we recommend that it should be administered cautiously.
Albuterol ; Asthma ; Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Bronchoconstriction* ; Cough ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Protestantism ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical*