Comparative study of patch test using traditional method vs. prior skin abrading.

BACKGROUND: The patch test is an essential procedure for the investigation of aetiologic diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis, although it is not yet able to fully reproduce the events of the initial site of contact with the allergen. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study are (i) to assess whether removal of the superficial corneous layer results in test positivity differences vs. the traditional technique, (ii) to assess the probable and/or possible and past and/or present sensitivity and relevance for each method, and (iii) to compare specific relevance of nickel sulphate for each method. RESULTS: Concordance of positive reactions was 75.9% (66 of 87), with 21.8% (19 of 87) positivity results on the abraded side only and 2.3% (2 of 87) on the unabraded side (P < 0.05). Concordance of the substances with probable and/or possible and past and/or present relevance was 77.3% (58 of 75) for the abraded side and 21.3% (16 of 75) and 1.3% (1 of 75) for the unabraded side (P < 0.05). Analysis of isolated relevance for nickel sulphate showed 95.6% (22 of 23) concordance. CONCLUSIONS: (i) We found a greater number of positive substances on the abraded side, and when only the 2 + and 3 + reactions were considered, greater relative discordance was also observed; (ii) relevance analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the two methods; (iii) differences in nickel sulphate test positivity and relevance for the two methods did not reach statistical significance.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by ingestion of bamifylline.

We report a case of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) in a 64-year-old woman, associated with the use of bamifylline. To the best of our knowledge there have been no previous reports of AGEP induced by the ingestion of bamifylline in the medical literature. We, therefore, add this drug to the list of causes for AGEP.

[Urticaria and systemic diseases]. / Urticária e doenças sistêmicas.

Chronic urticaria and concurrent angioedema are disappointing problems for both physicians and patients. The disease can result from multiple causes and probably does not have a single etiology. Several factors have been identified that appear to be important in the pathogenesis of individual cases, some drugs, food additives, physical factors and internal diseases. In some cases no pathogenesis are identified and those cases are classified as idiopathic. In recent years several articles has emphasized autoimmunity and infections due to Helicobacter pylori. Our article reviewed the etiology of chronic urticaria at current concepts.

Antimicrobial isoflavanones from Desmodium canum.

Bioassay-directed fractionation of Desmodium canum resulted in the isolation and characterization of three antimicrobial isoflavonones. These compounds, namely, desmodianones A, B and C, were assigned the structures 5,7,2'-trihydroxy-6,6"-dimethyl-6"-(4-methylpent-3- enyl)pyrano(2",3";4',5')isoflavanone, 5,2',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-6-methyl-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-is oflavanone, and 5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6-methyl-5'-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl )-isoflavanone, respectively.

Chemistry and pharmacology of a tertiary alkaloid from Strychnos trinervis root bark.

Bisnordihydrotoxiferine has been isolated as the major alkaloid from the root bark of Strychnos trinervis. This compound shows a wide antimicrobial spectrum against gram-positive, gram-negative and acid-fast microorganisms, filamentous and yeast-like fungi and also phytopathogenic microorganisms. Preliminary studies also reveal some cytotoxic activity in KB cells which was confirmed by tests against sarcoma 180 tumors.

Plants in traditional medicine in Brazil.

Brazil has a long tradition of popular medicine in its different geographical areas (Amazonas, highlands and coast) and different cultural groups (Aruak, Tupi, Guarani). Recently the documentation of plants used in traditional medicine has been organized in Maceió, Brazil, but pharmacological investigations of these plants have been limited so far. High-level chemical research on natural products is developing quickly in the Federal Universities, but it is only seldom centred on medicinal plants. An exception is constituted by the Institute of Antibiotics of the University of Pernambuco where a multi-year programme on the chemistry of plants with pharmacological properties has been developed. Much interest is being shown in these studies, and the results should be coordinated and developed further.

Synthetic analogs of natural prenylated and chromene chalcones.

A number of synthetic analogs of the prenylated and chromene chalcones isolated from lonchocarpus neuroscapha (Leguminosae) were obtained by condensation of prenylated acetophenones with substituted benzaldehydes. The antibacterial activity of these products was studied and correlated with their structure.

New prenylated chalcones from Lonchocarpus neuroscapha Benth. (Cordoa piaca).

The isolation of eight prenylated chalcones (cordoin, isocordoin, psi-isocordoin, derricin, lonchocarpin, 4-hydroxyderricin, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin, 4-hydroxyisocordoin) and of the flavanone and dihydrochalcone corresponding to cordoin is described. These substances are biogenetically correlated. The structures of the above mentioned substances were established through the examination and comparison of spectral data (U.V., I.R., N.M.R., M.S.) and of the chemical behaviour. Particular interest is shown by psi-isocordoin and 4-hydroxy derivatives. The latter and 4-hydroxyderricin in particular show also a marked inhibition on the growth of gram-positive bacteria.

[Antimicrobial substances of superior plants. 45. Primary observations of 2 new quinoids isolated from Hyptis fructicosa Salzm ex Benth(Labiatae)]. / Substáncias antimicrobianas de plantas superiores. Communicação XLV. Primeiras observações sobre dois novos quinonoides isolados de Hyptis fructicosa Salzm ex Benth. (Labiatae)

The authors present the first observations on the isolation of two quinonoid compounds from Hyptis fructicosa Salzm ex Benth; Labiatae. The referred naturally compounds present antimicrobial and antineoplastic activity against Gram-positive microrganisms and mouse Erlich carcionama, respectivelly.

[O and C prenylated chalcones with antineoplastic and antibiotic activities isolated from Lonchocarpus neuroscapha Benth]. / Chalconas o- ec-preniladas com atividades antibiótica e antineoplásica, isoladas de Lonchocarpus neuroscapha Benth

In the course of our program on the antimicrobial and antineoplastic substances from higher plants we have studied many flavonoid compounds isolated from root back of Lonchocarpus neuroscapha Benth. In the present paper a slight effect on sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma of cordoin, 4-hydroxy-cordoin and 4-hydroxy-derricin, as well as the only observed effect of derricin on sarcoma 180 were observed. The antimicrobial action of four prenylated chalcones, i.e. 4-hydroxy-derricin, 4-hydroxy-lonchocarpin, 4-hydroxy-cordoin and 4-hydroxy-isocordoin is reported.

[Antimicrobial substances of superior plants. 44. Isolation of diterpene acid from Croton aff. argyrophylloides Muell arg. (Euphorbiaceae)]. / Substáncias antimicrobianas de plantas superiores. comunicação XLIV. Isolamento de um ácido diterpènico de Croton aff. argyrophylloides Muell arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

In this paper the authors present the first report concerning the biological effects of a diterpene isolated from Croton aff. argyrophylloides Muell. Arg (Euphorbiaceae). Some biological and physiochemical properties of the antibiotic, named argyrophillic acid, were appreciated in comparison with those presented by cunabic acid, an antibiotic isolated from Icthyothere cunabi. The authors still show the microbial action of the abietic acid and confront it with that of the argyrophilic acid, the new antibiotic here reported.