Susceptibility and amplification of sensitivity in contact dermatitis.

We have examined the hypothesis that people who develop contact allergies to environmental substances do so because they have heightened susceptibility. Analysis of data from 2200 consecutive patients tested with the 20 commonest antigens in a patch-test clinic showed that more people developed multiple contact allergies than would be predicted from the frequency of single allergies; the excess was too great to be explained by chance and increased with number and rarity of the combinations of sensitizers. The possibility that this was due to enhanced individual susceptibility to sensitization rather than concomitant exposure to several sensitizers was confirmed by showing that patients with multiple allergies are more readily sensitized experimentally, and to a greater degree than normal, by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), an unrelated antigen.

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.

Mechanism of anthralin inflammation. I. Dissociation of response to clobetasol and indomethacin.

The effect of topical clobetasol propionate and a 1% topical indomethacin gel which could inhibit UV erythema was measured on anthralin inflammation by change in skin-fold thickness and erythema. The time course of the inflammatory oedema and erythema were different, as was their response to the drugs studied. The oedema of anthralin inflammation was completely inhibited by clobetasol propionate but the erythemal response showed a small and non-significant reduction.

Antipyrine clearance and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein levels after isotretinoin.

Eight male subjects aged 18-24 years were treated with 0.5 mg of isotretinoin day-1 kg-1. After 4 weeks levels of cholesterol (P less than 0.

A comparison of astemizole and chlorpheniramine in dermographic urticaria.

The effects of the H I receptor antagonists astemizole and chlorpheniramine on dermographism were compared in a double-blind study in sixteen patients. Both drugs resulted in a parallel and significant depression of the dermographic force-response curve and an elevation of the weal-force threshold, but the changes were greater in the patients receiving astemizole (a maximal potency shift of 74% for astemizole and 37% for chlorpheniramine). Subjective itch (10 cm line) and frequency of dermographic episodes were also reduced more by astemizole than by chlorpheniramine.

The stimulatory effects of prostaglandins on the melanophores of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis.

The melanosome dispersing activity of prostaglandins PGE1, PGE2, PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, PGI2 and 6 beta PGI, was tested on the melanophores of Anolis carolinensis. Only PGE2 and PGE1 were active and while PGE2 was the most potent and acted synergistically with alpha-MSH, PGE1 was additive with alpha-MSH. Arachidonic acid also stimulated melanosome dispersion but its effect was blocked by indomethacin suggesting an action through its conversion to PGE1 or PGE2.

Comparison of ultrasound and caliper measurements of normal and inflamed skin thickness.

We have compared ultrasound and Harpenden calipers for the measurement of thickness of non-inflamed and anthralin-inflamed skin. In non-inflamed skin ultrasound gave consistently and significantly lower values (0.87 mm +/- 2.

Drug acetylation and expression of lupus erythematosus.

Acetylator phenotype was measure in 58 patients presenting to a skin clinic with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and in 51 normal healthy subjects. Twenty seven of the patients with DLE were found to have evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (D+SLE). Frequency of slow acetylator phenotype was 58% in all DLE patients, 52% in those with D+SLE and was no different from the 57% in controls.

Immunofluorescent localization of intermediate filament subunits for the differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma.

Intermediate filament subunits in normal cells and in their malignant derivatives can be used as specific markers for their histogenetic origins. We have studied five neoplasms of the skin in which positive identification of vimentin containing intermediate filaments by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy helped to establish the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. All of the neoplasms included in this study posed problems in differential diagnosis by conventional light microscopy and yielded equivocal results by conventional histochemistry.

Minimal effect of complete H1 receptor blockade on urticaria pigmentosa.

The effect of complete H1 receptor blockade on urticaria pigmentosa was studied in 6 patients. Astemizole 10 mg tds was given for 6 weeks to achieve complete H1 receptor blockade and the response measured by change in force-weal response measurements using two different forces on a dermographic stylus and measuring response as weal diameter. Weal and flare reactions to 8 micrograms histamine were completely abolished by the astemizole but dermographic weal-force responses were reduced only by 12-15% indicating that histamine acting at the H1 receptor plays only a small part in the wealing of urticaria pigmentosa.

Effects of isotretinoin on serum lipids and lipoproteins, liver and thyroid function.

Seven patients with severe rosacea were treated with 1 mg/kg per day isotretinoin for 12 wk. There were significant increases in serum triglyceride (p less than 0.001) and cholesterol (p less than 0.

Inhibition of dithranol inflammation by free-radical scavengers.

Dithranol (anthralin) inflammation of forearm skin was completely inhibited by various scavengers of free radicals of the oxygen species. It is concluded that dithranol inflammation is initiated by formation of free radicals; these may act through lipid peroxidation and production of inflammatory endoperoxides or by a more direct mechanism.

Alpha-MSH and coat color changes in the mouse.

The effect of alpha-MSH on coat color was examined in viable yellow mice (C3H/He-A*vy). These mice normally grow a coat of darkly pigmented hair at puberty. This darkening effect was also evident in hair that grew in a region that had been plucked at 13 days of age.

The response of seborrhoeic dermatitis to ketoconazole.

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study was made of ketoconazole 200 mg daily in nineteen patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis. All had scalp lesions and sixteen had seborrhoeic dermatitis at other sites. Responses were measured by clinician and patients independently, using a linear analogue scale.