Soak and smear: a standard technique revisited.

Background: Atopic dermatitis, nummular eczema, chronic hand dermatitis, palmar plantar psoriasis, and xerotic eczema are common inflammatory skin conditions. They may be refractory to conventional topical and even systemic treatment. Little evidence is available that demonstrates the benefits of aggressive topical treatment of patients with these disorders.

Tea tree oil: cutaneous effects of the extracted oil of Melaleuca alternifolia.

The use of botanical extracts for their perceived therapeutic benefits has gained increased popularity in this country and abroad. In particular, tea tree oil (the extracted oil of Melaleuca alternifolia) has gained widespread use for its purported antimicrobial and therapeutic effects. In parallel with this increased use is an expanding series of reported adverse effects, including allergic contact dermatitis, systemic contact dermatitis, linear immunoglobulin A disease, erythema multiforme-like id reactions, and systemic hypersensitivity reactions.

Response to carbon dioxide by the infective larvae of three species of parasitic nematodes.

The response of infective third-stage larvae (L3) of three species of parasitic nematodes, Ancylostoma caninum, Strongyloides stercoralis, and Haemonchus contortus to carbon dioxide (CO(2)) at physiological concentrations was investigated. L3 of the skin-penetrating species, A. caninum and S.