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Objective: To evaluate the influence of cancer on ovarian response and oocyte quality in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)., Methods: This prospective study conducted at the Physiopathology of Reproduction and Andrology Unit of Sandro Pertini Hospital enrolled 82 cancer patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) cycles for fertility preservation, and age- and date-matched controls undergoing COH for in vitro fertilization for male-factor infertility from June 2016 to November 2019. The interventions performed were COH, oocyte retrieval, and quality evaluation. Main outcome measures were maximal estradiol levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, duration of stimulation, total amount of gonadotropins administered, number of oocytes retrieved, and rates of metaphase 2 oocytes and abnormal oocytes. All data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) 22.0., Results: Intergroup comparisons (82 cancer patients and 180 patients in control group) showed a significant difference in ovarian response, especially for a significant higher number of abnormal oocytes in cancer patients (P < 0.0001). Regression analysis to assess the influence of the neoplastic process, regardless of the type, on ovarian response showed an effect on the main outcome measured due to cancer itself., Conclusion: Cancer influences the ovarian response, particularly the oocyte quality, during COH performed for fertility preservation., (© 2021 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Cell-mediated immunity to bacterial antigens was studied by intradermal testing, and to contact antigens (cosmetics, environmental chemicals and topical medicaments) by patch testing in 270 children with atopic dermatitis. The incidence of delayed-type immune cutaneous reactions in these patients was lower than in the controls. Contact allergy is a rare finding in the first 4 years of life but its incidence increases subsequently. In subjects with atopic dermatitis the incidence of sensitization by contact with allergens contained in topical medicaments proved to be lower than in subjects with eczema of other types. The data collected points to a reduced cell-mediated immune reactivity in a proportion of subjects with atopic dermatitis.

Triclocarban was subjected to a profiling of its dermatitis producing potential including irritancy (21-day cumulative irritancy potential and application to 213 normal controls), phototoxicity (method of Marzulli), predictive contact sensitization (modified Draize method), predictive phototesting and battery screening in 2200 dermatitis patients, in an effort to define its relative dermatitis potential. The allergic contact dermatitis potential of triclocarban following bar soap use appears minimal.

A case of severe bullous dermatosis in the newborn son of a mother with herpes gestationis is reported. Bullous lesions appeared in the child about 2 hours after delivery and regressed completely without specific treatment by the end of the first month, leaving numerous epidermal cysts. The immunologic phenomena were both qualitatively and quantitatively comparable to those obtained in the mother, i.e., deposition of complement (C3) and smaller amounts of IgG at the dermo-epidermal junction of the affected skin. A transient increase of the total serum IgE was demonstrated in the mother, while the serum IgE level in the newborn was less than 5 U/ml. The pathogenetic role of IgG autoantibodies in herpes gestationis and, more generally, in autoimmune diseases is discussed.

A series of 14 cases of sporotrichosis cutanea is reported. Epidemiological and clinical aspects of the disease are discussed in the light of recent data. In addition to cultures, the diagnostic methods to be considered include an indirect immunofluorescence test, which is positive at variable titre and for which use may be made of normal human antiserum or anti-immunoglobulin, mainly IgG and IgM, antisera. The mainstay of the treatment is preparations of iodine, with trimethoprim- sulpha-methoxazole as a possible alternative.

The incidence of contact allergy to 63 substances, including active principles and excipients used in a variety of topical preparations, has been studied by patch testing in 306 patients being treated conservatively for stasis dermatitis with or without ulceration. Positive reactions to one or more test compounds were recorded in 177 patients. The main offenders among drugs were neomycin, sulphonamide and promethazine; among the excipients, they were parabens, lanolins and benzoyl peroxide. Frequent reactions were observed to certain substances of the 'para' group, benzocaine, diaminodiphenylmethane, aniline and paraphenylendiamine, with the first three acting mainly as indicators of cross-sensitization. The extension and spread of allergic dermatitis can also be produced by drugs administered systematically. Recognition of the allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis arising at the lower leg site is a necessary condition if chronicity and spread of the dermatitis are to be prevented. For the same reason it is important to restrict topical applications to non-allergic substances.