Kenalog
Regulated gene expression by glucocorticoids in cultured Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.) cells.

Tang W, Newton RJ.

Department of Biology, Howell Science Complex, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA. tangw mail.ecu.edu

The effects of six glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, 6-methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone) on inducible gene expression, based on the chimaeric transcriptional activator GVG and carried by the binary expression vector pINDEX3-m-gfp5-ER, were evaluated in transgenic Virginia pine cell cultures. The concentration that activated GVG transcription factor activity, the level of inducible m-gfp5-ER expression, and the kinetics of inducible m-gfp5-ER expression were determined for each glucocorticoid. Transgenic cells produced green fluorescence upon blue light excitation after treatment with prednisolone, prednisone, 6-methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone, and hydrocortisone. Green fluorescence was observed at 6-12 h after treatment of all six glucocorticoids at concentrations of 1, 3, 5, and 10 mg l(-1). Differential expression of gfp was confirmed by northern blot analysis and by quantitative fluorescence analyses of confocal images taken by a LSM 510 Laser Scanning Microscope. Fresh and dry weight increases of transgenic cell cultures were not affected by all six glucocorticoids at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mg l(-1). It is shown that triamcinolone had the most potent effect on the GVG system. Different glucocorticoids can therefore be used to regulate the GVG transcriptional activator and to induce gene expression in transgenic plant cells, and this property could be useful in establishing an optimum system of transgene regulation.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15181111&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Serum levels of triamcinolone acetonide after intravitreal injection.

Degenring RF, Jonas JB.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty for Clinical Medicine Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. robert.degenring augen.ma.uni-heidelberg.de

PURPOSE: To evaluate serum levels of triamcinolone acetonide after intravitreal high-dose injection. DESIGN: Prospective, interventional case series study. METHODS: For 20 consecutive patients, venous blood samples were taken before and 13 +/- 19 days (range 4 to 92) after an intravitreal injection of 20 to 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of edematous macular diseases. RESULTS: Serum levels of triamcinolone acetonide did not differ significantly (P =.174; t test for paired matches) preoperatively (0 microg/l) and postoperatively (0.065 microg/l +/- 0.21 microg/l). In 18 eyes (90%), triamcinolone acetonide could not be detected in serum samples. For two patients (10%), serum samples taken 5 days and 7 days after the injection, respectively, contained 0.5 microg/l triamcinolone acetonide and 0.8 microg/l triamcinolone acetonide, respectively. CONCLUSION: After an intravitreal high-dose injection of 20 to 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone acetonide is not, or only marginally, detectable in serum samples obtained within 4 to 92 days after the injection.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15183810&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
The effect of preapplication of corticosteroids on skin irritation and performance of the GlucoWatch G2 Biographer.

Tamada JA, Davis TL, Leptien AD, Lee J, Wang B, Lopatin M, Wei C, Wilson D, Comyns K, Eastman RC.

Cygnus Inc., Redwood City, California 94063, USA.

Skin irritation due to iontophoresis may limit the frequency of use of devices for drug delivery or transdermal extraction of analytes of clinical interest. This study examined whether preapplication of corticosteroid preparations could reduce skin irritation from iontophoresis used by the GlucoWatch G2 Biographer (Cygnus, Inc., Redwood City, CA) in monitoring interstitial glucose levels frequently and automatically. Numerous corticosteroid preparations were screened to identify formulations that did not interfere with adhesion of the Biographer to the skin or glucose sensing. Kenalog (Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Buffalo, NY) (triamcinolone acetonide) and Cortizone-10 Quick Shot (Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY) (hydrocortisone) sprays were selected and, in a double-masked, randomized, controlled trial, were applied to the forearms of 66 subjects with diabetes and allowed to dry. Biographers were applied and worn for 15 h, and home blood glucose measurements were taken every 30 min to assess accuracy. Irritation was assessed periodically by trained observers and study subjects. Skin irritation was reduced by both corticosteroid sprays, with the fraction of subjects who experienced moderate irritation reduced by 57% and 43% for the Kenalog and Cortizone-10 Quick Shot sprays, respectively. The treatment effect persisted at the 1-week assessment. Preapplication of these preparations did not affect the clinical utility of interstitial glucose readings. Preapplication of Kenalog or Cortizone-10 Quick Shot sprays significantly reduced skin irritation due to iontophoresis, and did not interfere with glucose measurements. This approach may enable the minority of users who experience moderate to severe skin irritation to use the Biographer more frequently for diabetes management.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15198839&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Exudative age-related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. A prospective comparative nonrandomized study.

Jonas JB, Degenring RF, Kreissig I, Friedemann T, Akkoyun I.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Mannheim of the University, Heidelberg, Germany. Jost.Jonas ma.augen.uni-heidelberg.de

PURPOSE: To report on visual outcome of patients receiving an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of progressive exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: The prospective comparative nonrandomized clinical interventional study included 187 consecutive patients with progressive exudative age-related macular degeneration, divided into a study group of 115 patients receiving an intravitreal injection of 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide, and a control group of 72 patients without treatment. The mean follow-up was 6.0+/-4.2 months. RESULTS: Visual acuity increased significantly (P=0.03) in the study group, and decreased significantly (P=0.01) in the control group, at 1 month and 3 months after start of the study. Between the study group and control group, the differences in change of visual acuity were significant (P=0.001). In the study group, the number of patients with an increase in visual acuity of 2 or more Snellen lines was significantly (P=0.001) larger than in the control group. Correspondingly, the number of patients with a decrease of 2 or more Snellen lines was significantly (P=0.007) smaller in the study group. In all, 43 (37.4%) patients of the study group experienced an increase in best visual acuity by 2 or more Snellen lines. CONCLUSIONS: Visual acuity increased in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration at 1 month and 3 months after an intravitreal injection of 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15218517&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Duration of the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as treatment for diffuse diabetic macular edema.

Jonas JB, Degenring RF, Kamppeter BA, Kreissig I, Akkoyun I.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Jost.Jonas ma.augen.uni-heidelberg.de

PURPOSE: To evaluate the duration of the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on visual acuity in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema. DESIGN: Clinical interventional case series. METHODS: Subjects were 31 patients (38 eyes) with diffuse diabetic macular edema who received an intravitreal injection of 20- to 25-mg triamcinolone acetonide. Mean follow-up time was 13.2 +/- 6.0 months (6.03-25.2 months). RESULTS: Visual acuity and intraocular pressure began to increase significantly (P =.003) within the first week, reaching a plateaulike maximum at 1 to 7 months postinjection, returning to baseline values 8 to 9 months postinjection. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of an intravitreal injection of approximately 20- to 25-mg triamcinolone acetonide in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema lasts approximately 7 to 8 months. This information may be helpful in determining the optimal dosage of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15234306&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog



Kenalog
Triamcinolone acetonide facilitates removal of the epiretinal membrane and separation of the residual vitreous cortex in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole.

Yamamoto N, Ozaki N, Murakami K.

Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. naruy cick.jp

PURPOSE: To study the usefulness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection during vitrectomy in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 6 patients with retinal detachment resulting from a highly myopic eye with a macular hole. After separation of the posterior hyaloid and removal of any visible epiretinal membrane, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. Excised specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the entire epiretinal membrane and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex were completely removed. Successful reattachment was performed without retinal damage in all cases. Electron microscopy revealed a cellular epiretinal membrane within a collagenous matrix lining the smooth internal surface of the internal limiting membrane. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide were encountered. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative visualization of the epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex with triamcinolone acetonide was found to be a useful adjunct to vitrectomy. Using triamcinolone acetonide during vitrectomy may facilitate both removal of the epiretinal membrane around the macular hole and separation of the residual vitreous cortex from the retina in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15258413&dopt=Abstract triamcinolone Kenalog