Contact allergy to finished woods in furniture and furnishings: a small allergic contact dermatitis epidemic to western red cedar in sauna interior decoration.

BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis caused by wood dust remains uncommon and most cases are occupational. Contact allergy to finished wooden products is even more rare and only few cases of contact dermatitis to wooden furnishings and furniture are described. OBJECTIVE: During 2012-2014 surprisingly many patients with dermatitis associated to sauna baths were referred to our clinic. METHODS: We report three novel cases with allergic contact dermatitis to western red cedar due to exposure during sauna baths. RESULTS: Three cases of non-occupational contact dermatitis to western red cedar were confirmed by patch testing. CONCLUSION: Allergic contact dermatitis to interior decoration or furniture is a rarity, but can be induced by novel exposures, like western red cedar in sauna interior decoration.

Patch test reactions to cosmetic allergens in 1995-1997 and 2000-2002 in Finland--a multicentre study.

Contact sensitivity to cosmetics is common, but the sensitizing chemicals vary between countries and study periods. The present survey aimed at revealing the recent trends in patch test sensitivity with cosmetic chemicals in Finland. We report a retrospective multicentre survey of patch test reactions focusing on cosmetic-related substances and comparing the test results in 1995-97 with those in 2000-02. The most striking increases in the frequency of the patch test sensitivity were found with balsam of Peru and propolis from 4.0% to 6.2% (P < 0.001) and from 0.5% to 1.4% (P < 0.001), respectively, whereas the most prominent decreases were found with methylchloro/methylisothiazolinone and chlorhexidine diglugonate from 2.4% to 1.3% (P < 0.001) and from 1.2% to 0.5% (P < 0.001), respectively. The level of patch test sensitivity to methyldibromo glutaronitrile increased, although not significantly, from 1.0% to 1.5%. An increasing tendency was also found with hair dye chemicals 4-aminophenol and toluene-2,5-diamine or toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate from 1.3% to 3.8% and from 1.4% to 5.2%, respectively, while such a tendency was not found among permanent wave chemicals. The sensitivity level of fragrance mix remained the same (6% - 7%). We conclude that surveys revealing the state of sensitivity to cosmetic chemicals should be performed periodically in different countries.

Modulation of collagen synthesis and mRNA by continuous and intermittent use of topical hydrocortisone in human skin.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids have been shown to downregulate collagen synthesis in human skin in vivo, thereby contributing to skin atrophy. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of continuous and intermittent use of topical hydrocortisone on skin collagen synthesis and, furthermore, to elucidate the mechanism of collagen synthesis reduction induced by hydrocortisone. METHODS: Collagen propeptides reflecting the synthesis rate of type I and III collagens were studied from suction blister fluids in nine healthy subjects after 3 weeks of continuous (twice daily) or intermittent (on three consecutive days weekly) topical hydrocortisone treatment and 2 weeks after the termination of treatment. Type I collagen mRNA was studied in the same subjects from skin biopsies by using in situ hybridization (ISH) after 3 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Three weeks of continuous treatment decreased the types I and III collagen propeptides in suction blister fluid by 89% and 82%, respectively, while intermittent treatment resulted in a corresponding decrease of 53% and 50%. ISH studies from skin biopsies showed type I collagen mRNA to be markedly reduced in fibroblasts after continuous and intermittent steroid treatment. After a 2-week drug-free interval, the synthesis rate was completely restored in both areas, and some subjects even showed upregulation of synthesis in previously steroid-treated skin. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous hydrocortisone for 3 weeks markedly decreases collagen propeptides and corresponding mRNA in human skin. Intermittent hydrocortisone has a less marked effect on the collagen synthesis rate.

Type I collagen turnover and cross-linking are increased in irradiated skin of breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The effects of radiation therapy on the turnover and structure of type I collagen were studied in irradiated and contralateral skin of 18 breast cancer patients without clinically evident fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rates of on-going type I collagen synthesis and degradation were assessed by the aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and by two different assays (ICTP and SP4) for the carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen in the soluble tissue extracts, respectively. Also, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and the MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex were measured in the tissue extracts. Insoluble skin matrices, containing the cross-linked type I collagen fibres, were heat-denatured and digested with trypsin. Then, the variants of the carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen were separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The major histidinohydroxylysinonorleucine (HHL)-cross-linked variant was quantified by the SP4 assay, and the minor pyridinoline analogue (PA)-cross-linked telopeptide was quantified by the ICTP assay. RESULTS: Both the synthesis and degradation of type I collagen were increased (r=0.906; P<0.001) on the irradiated side, whereas the concentration of the MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex was decreased. In the insoluble tissue digests, the HHL-cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen, also, when expressed/tissue hydroxyproline, were increased in the irradiated skin. TIMP-1, TIMP-2 or PA-cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen showed no differences between the two sides. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy induces a long-term increase in the turnover of type I collagen and leads to the accumulation of cross-linked type I collagen in skin.

Radiation therapy induces tenascin expression and angiogenesis in human skin.

In analysing radiation-induced connective tissue changes, we studied tenascin expression, elastic fibres, angiogenesis and physio-mechanical properties in irradiated and contralateral healthy skin of radiotherapy-treated breast cancer patients. Skin biopsies were obtained from a radiotherapy-treated skin area and a corresponding non-treated skin area. Haematoxylin-eosin and Verhoeff stainings as well as immunohistochemical stainings for tenascin and factor VIII were performed. Epidermal and total skin thickness, together with the amount of elastic tissue calculated by computerized digital image analysis, were measured. Suction blisters were induced on both skin areas. Transepidermal water loss was analysed. Skin elasticity was also measured. Tenascin expression was found to be increased in irradiated human skin. In haematoxylin-eosin and factor VIlI-stained sections, an increase in the number of blood vessels was detected. Although skin stiffness measured by an elastometer was increased in irradiated skin, no marked difference in the elastic fibres could be found between treated and non-treated skin. The increased tenascin expression could be due to activation of cytokines as a result of irradiation. An increase in angiogenesis could be caused by an activation of angiogenetic factors by irradiation or due to direct radiation damage on blood vessel walls. Our findings suggest that the effects of irradiation tend to accumulate in the dermal parts of skin. The higher skin stiffness values measured by elastometer in irradiated skin could be due to an accumulation of dermal connective tissue as a result of irradiation.

Members of the amylovora group of Erwinia are cellulolytic and possess genes homologous to the type II secretion pathway.

A cellulase-producing clone was isolated from a genomic library of the Erwinia rhapontici (Millard) Burkholder strain NCPPB2989. The corresponding gene, named celA, encodes an endoglucanase (EC 3.2.1.4) with the extremely low pH optimum of 3.4 and a temperature optimum between 40 and 50 degrees C. A single ORF of 999 nt was found to be responsible for the Cel activity. The corresponding protein, named CelA, showed 67% identity to the endoglucanase Y of E. chrysanthemi and 51.5% identity to the endoglucanase of Cellulomonas uda, and thus belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase family 8. The celA gene, or its homologue, was found to be present in all E. rhapontici isolates analysed, in E. chrysanthemi, and in E. amylovora. The presence of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes in the amylovora group of Erwinia spp. had not previously been established. Furthermore, the DNA of both E. rhapontici and E. amylovora was found to exhibit homology to genes encoding the type II (GSP) secretion pathway, which is known to be responsible for extracellular targeting of cellulases and pectinases in Erwinia spp. that cause soft rotting, such as E. carotovora and E. chrysanthemi. Secretion of the CelA protein by E. rhapontici could not be verified. However, the CelA protein itself was found to include the information necessary for heterologous secretion by E. chrysanthemi.

Modulation of skin collagen metabolism by irradiation: collagen synthesis is increased in irradiated human skin.

Radiation-induced fibrosis is a common side-effect of cancer treatment. The pathophysiological events leading to fibrosis are not known in detail. We analysed the effect of therapeutic irradiation on human skin collagen synthesis, skin thickness, gelatinases and their inhibitors. Twenty randomly chosen women who had been treated for breast cancer with surgery and radiation therapy participated in the study. In each patient, the irradiated skin area was compared with a corresponding non-treated skin area. Suction blister fluid (SBF) and serum samples were analysed for the aminoterminal propeptides of type I and type III procollagens (PINP and PIIINP), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1 and 2 (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) and MMP-9 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex. Skin biopsies were analysed for PINP and immunohistochemical staining was used for PIIINP. In irradiated skin, PINP, PIIINP, TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex levels in SBF and the number of PINP-positive fibroblasts in tissue sections were significantly higher in comparison with non-treated skin. The levels of TIMP-2 in irradiated and non-irradiated skin were similar. MMP-9 could not be detected in SBF with the assay used. The serum levels of MMP-9 were higher in the treated subjects than the reference values. The serum values of PINP, PIIINP, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 complex were not significantly affected. These results indicate increased local collagen synthesis and accumulation of connective tissue in irradiated skin. The marked upregulation of collagen synthesis as a result of irradiation offers a possibility to treat this complication with compounds such as topical steroids which downregulate collagen synthesis.