Patch tests with potassium dichromate removed after 24 and 48 hours.

The rate of release in vitro of four potassium dichromate concentrations (0.5, 0.1, 0.

Sensitizing and irritating properties of star anise oil.

Star anise oil in 2 and 1% concentrations produced active sensitization in 5% of test subjects, and positive patch tests in 36 and 34%, respectively, of consecutive patients with dermatitis. A comparison of the results of tests with balsams and other essential oils showed that star anise oil does not give cross-reactions and pseudo cross-sensitivity. Patients positive to this oil are frequently positive to anethole and to other constituents of this oil: alpha-pinene, limonene and safrole.

Cross-reactions between ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine.

A consecutive series of 1544 patients and 137 patients in occupational contact with epoxy resins were tested with ethylenediamine and/or triethylenetetramine; some were tested with diethylenetriamine. Guinea pigs sensitized to triethylenetetramine were tested with ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine. The results showed that cross-reactions may occur between triethylenetetramine and ethylenediamine, although the majority of the patients were sensitized to only one of the compounds.

Sensitivity to 35 essential oils.

Two hundred consecutive patients and 50 subjects positive to balsams were tested with the 35 essential oils most frequently used in Polish cosmetics. The frequency of sensitivity to the particular oils is noted and the index of sensitization calculated as the amount of oil/kg used annually for the production of Polish cosmetics per one patient positive to this oil. The correlation of positive tests to essential oils with positive tests to four balsams of the standard series is shown.

Occupational contact dermatitis in 100 consecutive patients.

One hundred consecutive cases of occupational contact dermatitis diagnosed in Warsaw are discussed. In 79 subjects allergic and in 21 patients irritant occupational dermatitis was found. The most numerous group were workers employed with epoxy resins (20 persons), next came masons (14 subjects), and third medical staff members (12 persons).

Sensitivity to epoxy resins and triethylenetetramine.

The present studies concerned 31 work sites in eight factories at which 422 persons were employed. In the course of seven years there were 126 cases of dermatitis, 99 of whom were patch-tested. Positive reactions to epoxy resin and/or to triethylenetetramine were found in 65.

Sensitivity to some rubber additives.

The frequency of positive patch tests to 13 rubber accelerators in Poland was recorded. Of particular interest was the relatively large group of patients positive to several, mostly chemically unrelated, accelerators. The mechanism of this multiple sensitivity is discussed.

Contact sensitivity in atopic dermatitis.

With the exception of certain drugs, some contactants give positive patch test reactions less frequently in patients with atopic dermatitis than in all patients with dermatitis. Both among atopics and other dermatitis patients, women reacted positively to most drugs more frequently than men did. In Poland, positive patch tests to balsams are rare in atopics.