[Epoxy in occupational environment--an old acquaintance in a new dress]. / Epoxy i arbejdsmiljøet--en gammel kending i nye klae'r.

This article describes a cluster of epoxy related contact dermatitis in a glassfibre reinforcement plant, using mostly preimpregnated epoxylaminate (Pre-Preg), but also fluid epoxy-products. An occupational medical and dermatological examination revealed nine of 26 cases as allergic contact eczema, 14 as toxic epoxyrelated eczema and three cases of other non-occupationally related skin diseases. The plant uses seven different epoxyresins with 15 epoxyhardeners. Preventive measures were gradually improved, but even then it was difficult to rule the production into safe procedures with this potent allergen used in large scale production of windmill wings.

[Chronic radiodermatitis--a historical and current diagnosis]. / Kronisk røntgendermatitis--en historisk og aktuel diagnose.

Chronic radiodermatitis was already diagnosed a few years after the discovery of X-rays. Despite the fact that protection should be known to be necessary to avoid radiodermatitis, cases of chronic radiodermatitis still occur. The present case report describes a nurse who endured years of direct hand exposure, leading to chronic radiodermatitis ten years after cessation of exposure.

[Aluminum allergy caused by DTP vaccine]. / Aluminiumallergi forårsaget af Di-Te-Pol-vaccine.

All children referred to two private dermatological practices from 1 Jan. 1985 to 31 Dec. 1990 who had pruritus and subcutaneous infiltrates in the areas of immunization with Di-Te-Pol vaccine were patch tested with a Finn Chamber or with 2% aqueous aluminium chloride. Di-Te-Pol vaccine contains aluminium hydroxide. Contact allergy to aluminium was demonstrated in 32 children (20 girls and 12 boys). Of the three patch test methods used, testing with 2% AlCl3 occluded with a Finn Chamber proved to be the most sensitive. Immunization of children who have been shown to be allergic to aluminium should be carried out with vaccines which do not contain aluminium.

Vaccination granulomas and aluminium allergy: course and prognostic factors.

21 children who had cutaneous granulomas following immunization with a vaccine containing aluminium hydroxide, and who had positive patch tests to aqueous aluminium chloride and/or to a Finn Chamber, were followed for 1 to 8 years. During the period of observation, the symptoms cleared in 5 children, improved in 11, and remained unchanged in 5. The course of the granulomas could not be correlated with sex or atopy, nor with intensity of the initial aluminium patch test. 4 children were patch tested again with aluminium.

Treatment of lichen planus with acitretin. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 65 patients.

Sixty-five patients with lichen planus were included in a multicenter trial of acitretin. At the end of an 8-week placebo-controlled, double-blind phase, a significantly higher number of patients treated with 30 mg/day acitretin (64%) showed remission or marked improvement compared with placebo (13%). Furthermore, during the subsequent 8-week open phase, 83% of previously placebo-treated patients responded favorably to acitretin therapy. Typical retinoid adverse reactions were present in all patients on active drug. Laboratory studies did not show any clinically significant changes. This study shows that acitretin is an effective and acceptable therapy for severe cases of lichen planus.

Topical metronidazole in the treatment of perioral dermatitis.

The twice-daily topical application of 1% metroindazole cream was compared with 250 mg oral tetracycline, taken twice daily, in the treatment of perioral dermatitis in a prospective, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, multicenter trial. One hundred eight patients were treated for 8 weeks. At the end of this time the median number of papules in the metronidazole-treated group was reduced to 8% of the initial number, and the median number in the group treated with tetracycline was reduced to 0% of the initial number. Although both treatments were effective, oral tetracycline was significantly more effective than topical metronidazole.

Different sensitising acrylic monomers in Napp printing plate.

3 chemically pure fractions were isolated from Napp printing plate and subsequently identified by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectrophotometry and elemental analysis. 1 of the fractions elicited positive test reactions in 3 Napp-allergic printers, and another fraction also elicited a positive test reaction in 1 of the printers. The 2 allergens were 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide. The 1st of the 2 allergens was also demonstrated in another printing plate, Nyloprint WD.

Aplasia cutis congenita. A follow-up evaluation after 25 years.

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare disease with less than 300 cases reported in the literature. A patient with extensive involvement of the skin was observed for 25 years. During adolescence, a reactive depression related to the residual cicatricial alopecia on the left side of the scalp developed. The psychiatric distress disappeared after corrective surgery was performed. It is recommended that patients with this disorder be regularly observed to select cases appropriate for early plastic surgery.

Pyriderm shampoo in the treatment of Pediculosis capitis.

112 patients with head lice were treated with a shampoo containing pyrethrins. All were treated twice with an interval of one week. At examination immediately before the second treatment, 6 patients had small, newly hatched lice, and one patient had both small and mature lice--probably due to reinfestation. This patient was lice-free after the third treatment, the other patients after the second treatment. It is concluded that pyrethrins are highly effective against head lice and have the advantages of a low toxicity to mammals and a short contact time.

Calcification of cultured urticaria pigmentosa skin. An electron optical study of the calcium-apatite deposition.

Mast cells participate in experimental calcinosis. Skin from patients with urticaria pigmentosa (cutaneous mastocytosis) calcifies in vitro. In the present report, the nature of the calcium deposit was studied by electron optical techniques. The cultured mast cells of urticaria pigmentosa skin were surrounded by a large number of round bodies with an average diameter of 200-300 nm. Most of the round bodies were membrane bounded, while a few contained lamellar structures. These bodies may represent matrix vesicles as seen in calcifying hard tissues and/or may be remnants of mast cell granules. The calcified deposits were located on the round bodies, collagen fibrils and elastic matrix. Electron diffraction and X-ray microanalysis demonstrated that the deposits consisted of crystalline calcium apatite.

Viral hepatitis in a venereal clinic population. Relation to certain risk factors.

In the present survey 3 groups of patients were studied: 95 homosexual males, 117 heterosexual males and 68 females attending clinics for venereal diseases in Copenhagen. 10 cases of hepatitis B infection were found, all in homosexual males. Chronic carriership of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and presence of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) was demonstrated in 8 and 5 cases, respectively and liver biopsy showed chronic liver disease in 5 out of the 8 former. The prevalence rate of hepatitis B antibody was significantly higher in all patient groups than in the general population in the area. Two patients had non-B hepatitis, 1 homosexual male and 1 female, but the prevalence rate of hepatitis A antibody (anti-HAV) was not increased in the venereal clinic population. The serological tests identified certain high risk groups regarding hepatitis B infection: (1) homosexual males > 25 years with anti-HAV and a high promiscuity; and (2) heterosexual males and females > 25 years with a past history of venereal disease and clinical hepatitis. The data are compatible with the hypothesis that sexual transmission plays an important role in the spread of hepatitis B infection. It is recommended that routine serological tests for hepatitis be taken in the high risk groups of venereal clinic populations.

Calcosis in generalized scleroderma.

20 cases of generalized scleroderma with calcinosis, i.e. Thibierge-Weissenbach syndrome, were reviewed concerning the clinical and radiological findings. 60% of the patients complained of esophageal dysfunction, and in 85% radiological abnormalities of the esophagus were found. Gastro-intestinal complaints, with or without radiological changes, were found in accordance with other reports. Decreased pulmonary function was a frequent feature, but only half of these cases showed pulmonary fibrosis on chest X-ray. Calcinosis primarily affects areas of sclerosis, but can be found elsewhere. Six of our patients had intervertebral calcifications in the thoracic and/or lumbar spine. This seems to be a new observation in patients with scleroderma.

Dermatomyositis with universal calcinosis. A histopathological and electron optic study.

Biopsies from a 5-year-old girl with dermatomyositis and universal calcinosis were studied histopathologically and by means of electron optical techniques. The dermis was infiltrated by fibroblasts, lymphocytes and plasma cells. In the lower part of the dermis, dense basophilic areas were present. In the vicinity of these areas irregular elastic fibers appeared. In the electron microscope these elastic fibers appeared mineralized to varying degrees. The mineral part was identified as calcium apatite (either calcium-hydroxy-apatite or calcium fluoroapatite) by X-ray microanalysis and selected area diffraction. No calcification was observed outside the elastic fibers.

Salpeter-induced dermal changes electron-microscopically indistinguishable from pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Salpeter-induced calcium deposits in ten patients showed a close clinical and histopathological similarity to the lesions of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. By electron microscopy and selected area diffraction analyses of the calcium deposits we find the changes indistinguishable from the changes previously described in involved skin of patients suffering from PXE. Clinically our patients were compared with the fourteen patients with traumatic calcification previously described.

Bone cysts and spontaneous fractures in two siblings with dyskeratosis follicularis Darier.

Two siblings with Darier's disease, multiple bone cysts and recurrent "spontaneous" fractures are described.

Pediculosis capitis treated with quassia tincture.

454 patients were treated with quassia tincture for head lice. At examination one week later only three patients had hatched lice. There was firm evidence that these patients had been reinfested. The treatment procedure was acceptable both to patients and to staff and no side-effects were observed. As resistance to clophenothane has appeared, alternative cures are needed. This study confirms earlier reports on the effectiveness of quassia tincture, which seems to be a useful alternative to clophenothane. At present the recommended treatment is two applications with an interval of one week.