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Summary We report a case of tinea corporis caused by a cattle-derived strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in a 44-year-old male affected by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL, so-called mycosis fungoides). Fungal colonization of glabrous skin was strictly confined within pre-existing lymphomatous plaques. Either oral itraconazole or griseofulvin, or topical terbinafine were ineffective until the patient, who was treated with systemic retinoids and interferon-α for his CTCL, was shifted from leucocyte to lymphoblastoid interferon. The hypothesis that a local immunodisturbance could be responsible for the selective superimposition of tinea on CTCL lesions (‘mycosis on mycosis’), and that such an immunodisturbance could be partially corrected by the interferon switch is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have measured C3, C4, CH50 and complement cleavage products C3a and C5a in sera and plasma from PCT patients and normal controls 10 mm and 1, 4 and 24 h after UVA irradiation. We found elevated C3a concentrations in PCT patients immediately after UVA irradiation and 24 h later. The same was true for CH50, whereas C3, C4. and C5a did not change significantly. No such changes occurred in normal controls. Our data suggest that activation of the complement cleavage product C3a by porphyrin and UV light triggers a series of events that cause tissue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is considered a disease of small vessels with which many immunologic alterations are associated. The presence in the blood of large amounts of serotonin can be considered a very important aggravating factor able to cause the sclerodermic alterations. The authors have treated 10 PSS patients with ketanserin, a selective antagonist of the S2 serotonin receptors, which are found in small vessels and platelets. Their results show that ketanserin represents an efficacious and very well tolerated therapy for treatment of the initial vascular symptoms of PSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6 patients are described who developed contact dermatitis after cereal contact on atopic skin for periods of 2 to 20 years. 2 patients were wheat flour patch-test-positive. They had punch biopsies taken for standard histological and immunohistochemical investigation by labeling with monoclonal antibodies, anti-DR and anti-IgE. Sections showed features of contact dermatitis. There were many dendritic cells located perivascularly in the papilla and in the epidermidis, intensely positive for monoclonal anti-IgE antibody. In control atopic subjects, there were a few perivascular IgE positive cells, probably mastocytes. This study shows that there may be a relationship between some allergens and atopic eczema in patients exposed to them in the course of their work. In some cases, there was a true allergic contact dermatitis, seen through the clinical and histological characteristics, and the results of immunohistochemical study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors of this article attempts the evaluation of the efficacy of 5 different barrier creams or sprays by means of a series of in vivo tests. Two of the barrier creams gave no protection against either irritant of allergic contact dermatitis. Two other creams proved to be moderately effective in preventing epidermal penetration of water-soluble substances in particular and to an extent, in preventing contact with allergens too. In contrast, they provided protection against sodium lauryl sulphate shown by the methylene blue test. Neither of these creams offered anything inure than decidedly poor protection against the reappearance of occupational irritant contact dermatitis.

The article highlights allergic contact dermatitis from beta-interferon in eyes drops. A 57-year painter was presented with acute facial eczema following the use of eye drops for conjunctivitis containing beta-interferon. There was considerable facial swelling and erythema, with vesicles and in places serous scaling. The face was intensely itchy and excoriated. Patch tests showed positive reaction to contact-allergy caused by beta-interferon. The article presents tables showing ingredients of the eye drop and results of patch test.

The article reports on the occupational contact dermatitis caused by Rhizoglyphus, a food mite. A 21-year old man had eczema of hands, neck and face. He had been working for 4 year in a cheese factory, making Italian cheese called taleggio. During the last six months at work, he had consistently bad rhinitis with sneezing and sometimes asthma. When storing the cheese, he had severe eruption several times with features of acute dermatitis on exposed area. On allergy testing prick tests with a standard series were negative. Prick tests with a series of food mites gave a positive reaction to Rhizoglyphus.

The article cites the study focusing on allergic reaction caused by salad eruca sativa. A 43-year old man had a history of chronic urticaria that was worsened by eating green salad. A standard prick test series revealed an allergic reaction to birch and grass pollen. Eruca sativa has never been reported before as a cause of contact urticaria. It is one of the favourite salads green vegetable used in Italy and has recently been widely used to garnish dishes. Eruca sativa can enter the skin through microlesions and cause an allergic reaction.

This article presents information about allergic contact dermatitis from Tekatmer 38. Allergic contact dermatitis from preservatives has been described with increasing frequency. Tektamer 38, a preservative extensively used in England and Germany, has rarely been reported. A 13 year old girl had a history of atopy and atopic dermatitis, high circulating levels of IgE, and allergy to grass, mites and Alternaria. She regularly used and emollient cream, especially on the face and limbs. Contact sensitivity to such cosmetic compounds as fragrances, preservatives and emulsifiers is the most common.

This article focuses on allergic dermatitis from parenteral vitamin K. Cutaneous reactions to the administration of vitamin K have rarely been observed, although its active ingredient, phytomenadione, is capable of provoking a typical sclerodermatous lesion at the site of inoculation. A recent review of the literature suggests that a vesicular eruption may also occur. Allergic reactions to the systemic administration of phytomenadione are rare, they are immunologically mediated and they generally arise in patients with coagulation or liver problems.

This article presents report on contact granuloma caused due to annulare. The etiology and pathogenesis of annular granuloma are unknown. there are reports of annular granuloma after insect bites, exposure to sun and some other types of dermatosis such as herpes zoster. This article also cites a case study of a 52-year-old woman who had several red nodular infiltrated lesions, varying in size from the pinhead to a lentil. The patient had been a cleaning woman in a pharmaceutical factory for many years. On testing it was found out that she was suffering from annular granuloma due to contact with corticosteroids.

This article reports on contact allergy dermatitis caused due to the effect of oatmeal. 3 children, aged 14 months to 14 years, with atopic dermatitis have been investigated. It was found that all the three children had for a long time been bathed with a product based on oatmeal extract and had an exacerbations of their eczema after three baths. On patch testing the patient showed positive reactions to oats. The condition described above is a hybrid eczema consisting of simultaneous contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis.

Protein C is an important vitamin K-dependent protein factor with marked anticoagulant activity, because it inactivates factors Va and VIIa and fibrinolytic activity, as it increases the activity of tissue plasminogen activator. A lack of protein C or defective abnormal protein C produces a condition of increased blood coagulability and this inevitably leads to thromboembolic problems. There are very rare congenital abnormalities of this protein. This is transmitted as a dominant autosomal gene with different penetrance.

This article presents information on allergic contact dermatitis from oxyphenbutazone. A 48-year-old man who had several times applied a oxyphenbutazone ointment to osteoathritic painful joints acquired a contact dermatitis at the sites of application. About 3 months after the skin lesions had disappeared, the patient used oxyphenbutazone suppositories and triggered a dermatitis with erythema, papules and wheals, which then developed into desquamative erythrodemia. All the patients had skin tests. The only positive reactions were to oxyphebutazone.

This article focuses on a case study of an 18 old girl, who had developed allergic dermatitis to Phenobarbital. Standard GIRDCA patch tests were conducted and were found to be negative. A patch test with 0.1% aqueous phenobarbitone was positive with erythema, edema and vesicles, confirmed histologically. Patch tests with 0.1 % phenoharbitone on 10 healthy subjects were negative. Barbiturates can cause several types of reaction, but in only a very small percent of patients. The reactions include fixed erythema, urticaria, erythema multiforme, the Steven-Johnson syndrome, purpura, Lyell's syndrome, morbilliform and scarlatiniform rashes, bullous eruptions, acnciform reactions.

A 14 year old boy had bilateral red, edematous, scaley lesions on the medical surface of and behind the ears. He had applied a commonly used cyanoacrylate adhesive to the sites in an attempt to correct his flapping ears. He was patch tested to the standard series, acrylic monomer, hydroquonine, the dry resin. Tests were found to be negative. It is very rare to find an immunological response to these compounds that polymerize immediately after removal from the container when placed on the surface of the skin.

This article focuses on a study related to the allergy to medicines such as mercurochrome and rifamycin. In the present case, an 11-year-old boy had contact dermatitis to mercurochrome and rifamycin, but there was no personal or family history of allergy or intolerance to drugs or medicines. The use of mercurochrome and rifamycin were stopped and when the rash cleared, he was patch tested. There was positive reactions to mercurous ammonium chloride, mercurochrome, mercuric chloride and rifamycin, but no reaction to mercurous phenylacetate.

The acrylic compounds are large and heterigeneous group, some of which have a marked sensitizing effect. A number of cases of contact urticaria, occupational and allergic contact dermatitis are described. A dentist aged 71 years had noticed the onset of red scaly lesions on the first three fingers of both hands. The clinical appearance was typical of an irritant contact dermatitis but caused intense itching. The lesion started after using a new dental material. Then the patient was patch tested.

A case of 13-year-old girl with symptoms of contact urticaria to apples has been presented, mediated by short-term anaphylactic antibodies. The patient displayed dizziness, hypotension, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea after eating apples. The radioimmunological IgE assay, performed as recommended by Pharmacia, was normal and the RAST for apple was negative to unpurified apple allergen. This hypersensitive food complex can be ascribed to the presence of antibodies of the short-term anaphylactic type, since their activity disappeared within 24 hours and was heat-stable.