Trends of contact allergy to fragrance mix I and Myroxylon pereirae among Danish eczema patients tested between 1985 and 2007.

BACKGROUND: Fragrance contact allergy has for long been recognized as an important health issue. In Denmark, the frequency of fragrance mix (FM) I contact allergy increased between 1985-1986 and 1997-1998 among male and female dermatitis patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the development of FM I and Myroxylon pereirae (MP) contact allergy between 1985 and 2007 with an emphasis on recent years. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patch test data from our database was performed. Comparison of sensitivity rates was made using a chi-squared test for trend. Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations. RESULTS: Of 16,173 patients, 7.2% were sensitized to FM I and 4% to MP. FM I contact allergy was associated with female sex [odds ratio (OR) = 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.33-1.74] and age between 41 and 60 years (OR = 3.20; 95% CI = 1.98-5.21). Significant declines of FM I and MP reactions among women but not men were observed between 1999 and 2007. CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequency of FM I contact allergy has decreased in Denmark in recent years, it is still high. Furthermore, fragrance contact allergy is caused by other important allergens not included in this analysis. Allergic contact reactions to the ingredients of FM I remain a problem in European consumers.

Correlation between in vitro cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase inhibition and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect.

We tested the hypothesis that topical adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase (cAMP PDE) inhibitors are anti-inflammatory. These can be shown by a correlation between PDE inhibitory and anti-inflammatory function of a series of known PDE inhibitors. The effect of various cAMP PDE inhibitors on PDEs isolated from HaCaT cells was first investigated. These compounds were then tested as anti-irritants against topical 8% Balsam of Peru. A direct correlation was observed between the in vitro EC(50) values for PDE inhibition and the in vivo anti-inflammatory potential with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.79. These results stress the value of PDE inhibitors as anti-inflammatory agents in topical use, and also demonstrate that the in vitro PDE assay can be used to predict in vivo anti-inflammatory potential.

Minimizing acarians and house dust in the tropics.

Dust collection and mite isolation by Furumizo's method occurred in 33 homes on days 0 and 14. The first application of Paragerm AK (23 homes) or placebo aerosol (ten homes) was done after vacuuming on day 14. The second (final) spraying occurred on day 28, immediately after vacuuming. Vacuum collections without spraying were done on days 56 and 84 in this randomized double-blind trial. With Paragerm, dust volume fell to 80.3% of initial levels by day 28, remained low at 87.9% (P < .05) on day 56, and then rose to 115.9% by day 84. In control homes, comparative dust values were 89.0%, 103.7%, and 109.9%. With Paragerm, mite concentration decreased to 70.8% by day 28 (P < .01), to 65% at day 56 (P < .025), and continued to fall to 47.7% by day 84 (P < .05). With control aerosol, mite numbers rose compared with initial values: 119.1% at day 28, 227.2% at day 56, and 125.1% at day 84. No adverse effects were observed in Paragerm homes besides odor (70% complained). The two asthmatic occupants improved symptomatically and took less medication following the Paragerm. In conclusion, Paragerm, used over 40 years in Europe, is an effective, nontoxic acaricide in Hawaii, acting promptly and for at least 2 months. It was also associated with diminished dust volume, important in nondust allergy.

[Cytotoxicity of dental filling materials in primary cultured cells derived from human dental pulp (in vitro)].

Primary cultured cells derived from human pulp tissue were used for examining the cytotoxicity of nine commercial filling materials used in restoration and root canal procedures. Cell growth was evaluated by photo pattern analysis, cell nuclei counting, and neutral red uptake. L-strain cells were also used for comparison. Primary cultured cells from either the coronary or radicular part of the pulp tissue were less sensitive to the tested materials, than were L-cells. As for sensitivities over time following mixing of the materials, the cytotoxicity of the three restorative materials was immediately moderate but disappeared 24 hours after mixing. The other six root canal filling materials yielded similar moderate to high cytotoxic levels immediately after mixing and the effects continued. The order of cytotoxicity was: Diaket and Calvital (highest); Pulp canal sealer, AH-26, and Canals (high); and then Kloroperka and three restorative materials (moderate). The differences in cellular reactions between primary and strain cells was considered to be due to cell origin, i.e. diploid or heteroploid. The importance of using primary cultured cells from designated target tissues when evaluating various materials in vitro was discussed.

Effects of two gutta-percha formulations and one zinc oxide-eugenol and Canada balsam mixture on human blood monocytes and lymphocytes.

In this study we performed an in vitro assay of the effects of two gutta-percha formulations and one zinc oxide-eugenol and Canada balsam-based endodontic material on the behavior of a mixed cell population of human monocytes and lymphocytes. Cells were cultured either in direct contact with or near experimental samples of Ultrafil, standard gutta-percha cones or Endoseal and the inhibitory effects of these materials upon cell attachment and spreading on test surfaces were analyzed. Ultrafil and the standard gutta-percha cones showed little or no adverse effects, whereas the inhibitory effects of Endoseal appeared to be severe. There were statistically significant differences between the results obtained from both Ultrafil and gutta-percha cones and those obtained from Endoseal. Differences between all tested materials and their respective controls were also statistically significant.

Mutagenicity of endodontic sealers.

Four endodontic sealer materials and some of their chemical constituents were subjected to Ames' test for mutagenicity with the Salmonella/microsome assay. Extracts of two zinc oxide-eugenol based materials and of one gutta-percha-zinc oxide-chloroform based sealer were negative in the test. Extracts of a synthetic polymer material, based on epoxy-bis-phenol A, induced mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 as did extracts of the epoxy-bis-phenol A resin alone. Formaldehyde, an active ingredient from one of the ZnO-based materials, induced mutations in both Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100. The mutagenic activity of formaldehyde as well as of the epoxy material was reduced in the presence of rat liver microsomes.

Contact dermatitis in the West of Scotland.

Since 1970, more than 4,500 patients have been patch tested at the Contact Dermatitis Investigation Unit in Glasgow. The results of 1,312 patients patch tested to the 20 test substances as described by the ICDRG (Fregert et al. 1969) are presented. The data on frequency of the most common allergens observed are presented. The most common allergens observed are nickel, chromium, cobalt, neomycin, colophony, wool alcohols, balsam of Peru and rubber. The less common allergens are benzocaine, parabens, formaldehyde and turpentine.