Naphthol AS as a cause of pigmented contact dermatitis

Naphthol AS is a coupling agent of cotton dyeing. 2 elderly women with hyperpigmentation of the neck and limbs are described. Both felt itching on the neck, forearms, and lower extremities and noted hyperpigmentation a month later. Both had worn cotton flannel nightdresses in winter. Patch testing with cotton flannel and methanol extracts were positive, but after estraction with methanol, the residual flannel did not react. The methanol extracts of cotton flannel, were analysed. The patients were tested with 5 extracted components; Naphthol AS was found to be the causative agent.

Patch testing for nickel allergy. The influence of the vehicle on the response rate to topical nickel sulphate

A group of 43 patients with a clinical history of nickel allergy who exhibited an equivocal or no allergic reaction to a patch test at 48 h were further challenged using several different formulations of nickel sulphate. This experimental test battery comprised aqueous, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and propylene glycol (PG) solutions of nickel sulphate, and nickel sulphate incorporated into cetomacrogol cream and yellow soft paraffin (PMF). Although some of these vehicles were irritant, a formulation-dependent test response was observed, such that in terms of the number of responses per unit weight of nickel sulphate applied to the skin, the vehicles could be ranked: DMSO greater than PG greater than aqueous solution greater than cetomacrogol cream greater than PMF preparations. This ranking could be correlated with the relative ease with which nickel sulphate could be dialysed from each vehicle in vitro. This study demonstrates that for nickel sulphate, the vehicle can influence the outcome of patch testing apparently by modifying the quantity of nickel released into the skin for elicitation of the allergic response.

Treatment of dermatitis from parthenin

Composites and some other plants containing sesquiterpene lactones, frequently cause allergic contact dermatitis in man. No treatment is available to control this disease successfully. We have used an amino acid, cysteine, to treat allergic contact dermatitis in guinea pigs sensitized to parthenin, a major sesquiterpene lactone of an allergenic weed, Parthenium hysterophorus L. Cysteine treatment of the allergic reaction induced by parthenin resulted in (a) reduced time of recovery and (b) reduced intensity of the skin reaction.

[Allergic phenomena in the treatment of leg ulcer]

First mentioning the immunological processes of contact dermatoses, the authors study the six contact allergies encountered most frequently by them during the course of 133 cases of leg ulcers which they treated. They consider in detail the allergenic action of the following six substances: lanolin, neomycin, balsam of Peru, paraben, phenylenediamine and benzocaine. They pioneer therapies intended to prevent the risk of sensitization.

Induction of tolerance to urushiol by epicutaneous application of this hapten on dinitrofluorobenzene-treated skin

The application of a sensitizing dose of urushiol on a dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-treated skin area significantly diminished the intensity of the urushiol challenge test in guinea pigs. Furthermore, the animals which had been first exposed to urushiol through DNFB-treated skin failed to become sensitized in a second sensitization attempt even when painted on a previously untreated area. This tolerance is hapten-specific and may be reversed by treatment with cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) shortly before another contact sensitization attempt to urushiol. In a previous work, we have shown that most of the Langerhans cells present in the DNFB-treated skin area are ATPase-negative and that there exists a link between the membranous ATPase system and the formation of Langerhans cell granules. The latter seem to develop in the course of a mechanism of adsorptive pinocytosis during which ATPase activity "disappears." Thus we suggest that the "unavailability" of ATPase-negative Langerhans cells for adequate processing a second hapten may result from the incapacity of cells lacking their ATPase system to activate the intracellular events that depend on this system and that normally lead to sensitization.

Mechanism of anthralin inflammation. 2. Effect of pretreatment with glucocorticoids, anthralin and removal of stratum corneum

The inflammatory dose-response to anthralin was measured in human skin 24 h after pretreatment with topical corticosteroids and anthralin, and 48 h after removal of the stratum corneum with adhesive tape. Anthralin inflammation was increased after 1% hydrocortisone application and decreased by 0.1% betamethasone valerate and 0.05% clobetasol propionate; although the difference between these effects was not significant, the difference between the effect of hydrocortisone and clobetasol propionate was. Anthralin inflammation was not significantly affected by pretreatment with anthralin and was reduced, although not significantly by removal of the stratum corneum. The finding that anthralin inflammation is not altered in skin in which aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity is increased and that anthralin inflammation may be altered in situations in which AHH activity is unchanged, excludes a direct relationship between anthralin inflammation and AHH activity.

Contact dermatitis to Biobrane

Contact dermatitis to Biobrane has not been reported previously. We report a patient who developed a bullous skin reaction directly related to a second exposure to Biobrane. The second exposure occurred 18 days after initial use of Biobrane, and the bullous reaction developed within 48 hours of repeat exposure. Sensitivity was confirmed by patch testing. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of contact dermatitis to Biobrane.

Contact dermatitis in cystic fibrosis

Contact dermatitis has not been previously reported in association with cystic fibrosis. We present the case of a 19-year-old nonatopic patient with cystic fibrosis who experienced erythema and vesicles in an area exposed to nickel.

[Therapy of alopecia areata with diphenylcyclopropenone]

Induction and maintenance of contact dermatitis of the scalp has proved effective in producing regrowth of hair in patients with alopecia areata. We observed regrowth of hair in 17 out of 20 patients after local application of the contact allergen, diphenylcyclopropenone. Only 3 patients were treated without success. In 3 patients regrowth of hair was also seen in areas that were not treated with diphenylcyclopropenone, suggesting that this treatment has an additional systemic effect. Patient acceptance of the induced dermatitis was excellent.

Collagen injections: two years' experience

A total of 165 patients with varying indications have been treated with Zyderm Collagen Implant. Among these patients, only 4 allergic reactions were found: 3 local and 1 general. Results obtained depend on the type of lesion treated; it is suggested that the treatment of rhytids provides the best indication for collagen implant.

Carcinogenicity and toxicity of malathion and malaoxon

Malathion and its oxygen analogue, malaoxon, are carcinogenic in Osborne-Mendel and Fischer-344 rats. Benign and malignant neoplasms at all sites were increased in Osborne-Mendel and Fischer-344 male and female rats ingesting malathion. Both Osborne-Mendel and Fischer-344 male rats were more susceptible than the female rats. The organ sites were not the same for Fischer-344 and Osborne-Mendel rats. Osborne-Mendel rats developed neoplasms of the endocrine organs, brain, and liver. Fischer-344 rats had neoplasms of the adrenal medulla, organs with squamous cells, lung, and hematopoietic system. Fischer-344 male rats given malathion were more susceptible to chronic renal disease, parathyroid hyperplasia, metastatic calcification, and atrophy of the testes than were Osborne-Mendel male rats. They also had ulcers of the forestomach. Chronic renal disease and atrophy of the testes affected the health of the animals and interfered with the development of neoplasms. Malathion increased the incidence of neoplasms of the liver in B6C3F1 male mice. Male mice also had atrophy of the testes. Benign and malignant neoplasms at all sites, and in the endocrine organs, were increased in Fischer-344 male and female rats ingesting malaoxon. Neoplasms were present in the adrenal medulla, organs with squamous cells, liver, and hematopoietic system. Both male and female Fischer-344 rats receiving malaoxon had chronic renal disease and the male rats had parathyroid hyperplasia and metastatic calcification.

Immunotoxicity screening of drugs and chemicals: value of contact hypersensitivity to picryl chloride in the mouse

Contact hypersensitivity to picryl chloride in the mouse is proposed as a valuable tool for the in vivo immunotoxicological testing of new compounds. Reproducibility was found to be excellent. Results obtained in the present work with chlorpromazine, cyclophosphamide, diazepam, haloperidol, hydrocortisone, promethazine and lead acetate, nickel chloride and selenium were similar to those previously reported regarding the effects of these compounds on cell-mediated immunity.

Possible mechanisms of hydrocarbon-associated glomerulonephritis

Many hydrocarbons have properties which make them candidates for causing glomerulonephritis. They alter most immune functions and create a state of immunity deficiency; they damage the tubules which may lead to interstitial fibrosis and increased postglomerular capillary resistance furthering the trapping of macromolecules in the glomeruli; and they probably increase tissue permeability to macromolecules. The idea that hydrocarbons cause glomerulonephritis is supported by findings of an association between glomerulonephritis and hydrocarbon exposure, by findings of a relationship between tubulointerstitial damage and glomerular filtration rate in glomerulonephritis, and by findings of immunity deficiency in most subgroups of glomerulonephritis.

Injectable collagen: a six-year clinical investigation

An injectable form of bovine dermal collagen has been developed for use in correcting cutaneous contour deficiencies. This material is a sterile device composed predominantly of highly purified type I collagen dispersed in phosphate-buffered physiological saline containing 0.3% lidocaine. The safety and efficacy of injectable collagen, which is now in widespread clinical use in the United States, Canada, England, Germany, France, Switzerland, Brazil, and 11 other countries, were evaluated in a 6 1/2-year investigation in which 5,109 patients were evaluated by 728 dermatologists and plastic surgeons. The incidence of adverse treatment reactions was 1.3%, most of which manifested with localized swelling and erythema. Current data covering an estimated 100,000 patients indicate that the incidence of treatment reactions has not increased during the 3 1/2 years since the material was cleared for marketing by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Subjective assessment of efficacy indicated that the material may be employed successfully to elevate dermal contour defects associated with various etiological factors.

Textile dye dermatitis. A review

The occurrence of dermatologic problems caused by consumer exposure to dyes on clothing is reviewed. Thirty-one dyes, mainly disperse with anthraquinone or azo structures, have caused allergic contact dermatitis. Phototoxic dye dermatitis is rare.