Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacillus involved in biofilm production in several lung diseases. In this study, the in vitro anti-biofilm effect of both N-acetylcysteine (NAC)—a well-known antioxidant compound and GSH prodrug—and NACESOLTM—a new multicomposite based on NAC, resveratrol, and cyclodextrins—was investigated by evaluation of reduction of bacterial colonies growth. Physico-chemical analysis of NACESOLTM was performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) techniques. The anti-biofilm activity of NAC and NACESOLTM, expressed as percentage of biofilm reduction, revealed an increased biological activity of multicomposite at low concentrations. Furthermore, the NAC activity against P. aeruginosa biofilm was also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) joined to the energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) technique, which is able to evaluate the reduction of sulfur element on biofilm surface. The use of SEM-EDS highlights the biofilm amount decrease with increasing NAC concentration. This work permitted us to highlight the minimum concentration of NAC able to interact in the P. aeruginosa biofilm formation process and the promising use of a new composite based on NAC and cyclodextrins.

N-acetylcysteine is the acetylated form of the amino acid L-cysteine and a precursor to glutathione (GSH). It has been known for a long time as a powerful antioxidant and as an antidote for paracetamol overdose. However, other activities related to this molecule have been discovered over the years, making it a promising drug for diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Its antioxidant activity plays a key role in CF airway inflammation and redox imbalance. Furthermore, this molecule appears to play an important role in the prevention and eradication of biofilms resulting from CF airway infections, in particular that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of CF and the role that NAC could play in preventing and eliminating biofilms, as a modulator of inflammation and as an antioxidant, restoring the redox balance within the airways in CF patients. To do this, NAC can act alone, but it can also be used as an adjuvant molecule to known drugs (antibiotics/anti-inflammatories) to increase their activity.

The skin harbors a huge number of different microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, and it acts as a protective shield to prevent the invasion of pathogens and to maintain the health of the commensal microbiota. Several studies, in fact, have shown the importance of the skin microbiota for healthy skin. However, this balance can be altered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, leading to the development of skin disease, such as acne vulgaris (AV), atopic dermatitis (AD) and rosacea(RS). Although these diseases are widespread and affect both adolescents and adults, the scientific correlation between these disorders and the skin microbiota and physiological parameters (TEWL, hydration and lipid composition) is still unclear. This review aims to investigate the current literature regarding the correlation between the skin microbiota and its imbalance underlying microbiological aspects, how the skin microbiota changes over the course of the disease and the current possible treatments. The following reported studies show a general imbalance of the bacterial flora. For this reason, more in-depth studies are necessary to explore the different subspecies and strains involved in all three diseases.

Purpose. To investigate the effects of age on the prevalence of ocular surface diseases (OSD), adherence to treatment, and recovery rates. Patients and Methods. Retrospective analysis of 3000 clinical records from a first-level general ophthalmology clinic. Patients with OSD were prospectively submitted a questionnaire to assess compliance and recovery rates. Results. OSD prevalence was 10.3%. Patients with OSD were significantly older than patients without it: 67.5 ± 20.3 versus 57.0 ± 22.0 years (P = 0.036). No significant difference in season distribution was shown. Dry eye disease (DED) represented 58% of OSD; its prevalence increased with age until 80 years old and suddenly decreased thereafter. Asymptomatic DED was 37%. Adherence to treatment in OSD was very high (94%); recovery rates were lower in patients aged 21–40 and 61–80 (resp., 65.5% and 77.8%) and this was associated with higher OSDI scores. Tear substitutes represented 50% of all prescribed medications; their use increased with age. Discussion. In a “real-life” low-tech setting, OSD showed a prevalence of 10.3%. DED was the most prevalent disease, and it was asymptomatic in more than 1/3 of cases.