Contact allergy to fragrance mix I and its components in individuals with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen.

BACKGROUND: Contact allergy to fragrance mix I (FM I) is over-represented in patients photoallergic to ketoprofen. The prevalence of contact allergy to two components of FM I, cinnamal and cinnamyl alcohol, in ketoprofen-photoallergic patients is higher than in dermatitis patients. OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of contact allergy to FM I and its individual components in patients with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen, and to compare with a dermatitis and the general population. METHODS: Data on patch and photopatch tests performed between 2009-2018 were collected. Ketoprofen-photoallergic patients were compared with dermatitis patients and published data on the general population regarding the prevalence and the distribution of contact allergy to FM I and its components. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of contact allergy to cinnamyl alcohol compared with cinnamal (23.3% vs 10.0%), and eugenol compared with isoeugenol (23.3% vs 6.7%), was observed in ketoprofen-photoallergic patients, while the relationship was the opposite in the dermatitis group (0.7% vs 1.05%; 0.4% vs 0.9%). The overall prevalence of contact allergy to several components of FM I was significantly higher in ketoprofen-photoallergic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Contact allergy to FM I and many of its components is over-represented in patients photoallergic to ketoprofen compared with dermatitis patients and the general population.

Net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from feed additive use in California dairy cattle.

The livestock industry is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and there is an increasing demand for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Several studies have shown that feed additives 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate to be effective in reducing enteric methane emissions. The objective of this study was to estimate the net mitigating effect of using 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate on total greenhouse gas emissions in California dairy industry. A life cycle assessment approach was used to conduct a cradle-to-farm gate environmental impact analysis based on dairy production system in California. Emissions associated with crop production, feed additive production, enteric methane, farm management, and manure storage were calculated and expressed as kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per kg of energy corrected milk. The total greenhouse gas emissions from baseline, 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate offered during lactation were 1.12, 0.993, and 1.08 kg CO2e/kg energy corrected milk, respectively. The average net reduction rates for 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate were 11.7% and 3.95%, respectively. In both cases, using the feed additives on the whole herd slightly improved overall carbon footprint reduction compared to limiting its use during lactation phase. Although both 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate had effects on decreasing the total greenhouse gas emission, the former was much more effective with no known safety issues in reducing the carbon footprint of dairy production in California.

Chronic Actinic Dermatitis Revisited.

BACKGROUND: Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is a persistent eczematous photodermatitis classically described in older, white men with contact allergy to plants. However, evidence from recent studies suggests that some demographics of CAD patients may be changing. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were to determine the frequency of CAD in patients presenting with photosensitive eruptions and to identify the allergens and photoallergens most closely associated with this condition. METHODS: We identified all patients with a diagnosis of CAD from 246 consecutive records of patients undergoing photopatch testing from July 1994 to June 2018 and summarized the demographics and test results in comparison with non-CAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Nineteen (7.7%) of the 246 patients evaluated had CAD with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.7 among CAD patients. Compared with non-CAD patients, photocontact allergy and/or contact allergy to sesquiterpene lactone mix and contact allergy to fragrances were significantly more common in CAD. Contact allergy to p-phenylenediamine was also common. The results of this study suggest that CAD presents in a broader demographic range, including both men and women of both light and dark skin types. Phototesting and photopatch testing should be considered when patients present with clinical findings consistent with CAD.

Fragrances: Contact Allergy and Other Adverse Effects.

This article gives an overview of fragrance allergy. The following subjects are discussed: composition of perfumes, contact with fragrances, diagnosing fragrance allergy, frequency of allergy, clinical picture of allergic contact dermatitis, culprit products, occupational contact dermatitis, and other adverse effects of fragrances. For diagnosing fragrance sensitization, personal products and a fragrance series may need to be tested in addition to the baseline series. In the general adult population, up to 4.5% may be allergic to fragrance materials, and in consecutive patients patch tested for suspected contact dermatitis, the frequency may reach 20% to 25%. More than 150 fragrances have caused contact allergy. The most frequent sensitizers are linalool and limonene hydroperoxides, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, treemoss and oakmoss absolute, isoeugenol, cinnamyl alcohol, and cinnamal. Culprit products for induction of sensitization are often deodorants, fine fragrances, and aftershaves. Occupational contact dermatitis from fragrances is seen occasionally. Other adverse effects are all discussed but occur infrequently.

Amyloid ß oligomers inhibit growth of human cancer cells.

Effects of amyloid beta (Aß) oligomers on viability and function of cell lines such as NB4 (human acute promyelocytic leukemia), A549 (human lung cancer (adenocarcinomic alveolar basal epithelial tumor)) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer (invasive breast ductal carcinoma)) were investigated. Two types of Aß oligomers were used in the study. The first type was produced in the presence of oligomerization inhibitor, hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). The second type of amyloids was assembled in the absence of the inhibitor. The first type preparation was predominantly populated with dimers and trimers, while the second type contained mostly pentadecamers. These amyloid species exhibited different secondary protein structure with considerable amount of antiparallel ß sheet structural elements in HFIP oligomerized Aß mixtures. The effect of the cell growth inhibition, which was stronger in the case of HFIP Aß oligomers, was observed for all cell lines. Tests aiming at elucidating the effects of the amyloid species on cell cycles showed little differences between amyloid preparations. This prompts us to conclude that the effect on the cancer cell proliferation rate is less specific to the biological processes developing inside the cells during the proliferation. Therefore, cell growth inhibition may involve interactions with the peripheral parts of the cancer cells, such as a phospholipid membrane, and only in case of the NB4 cells, where accumulation of amyloid species inside the cells was detected, one may imply the opposite. In general, cancer cells were much less susceptible to the damaging effects of amyloid oligomers compared to earlier observations in mixed neuronal cell cultures.

Sensitization to fragrances in Spain: A 5-year multicentre study (2011-2015).

BACKGROUND: Fragrance chemicals constitute the second most frequent cause of contact allergy in Spain. There are no data available concerning the individual fragrances that are most frequently involved. OBJECTIVES: To describe the diagnostic contribution provided by specific fragrance series to the results obtained with baseline series fragrance markers by correlating the results of both series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a 5-year retrospective study of fragrance marker-positive patients tested with specific fragrance series in 23 Spanish centres. We collected the demographic and clinical characteristics, and compared the results of patch tests obtained from different suppliers. RESULTS: Of 19 588 patients patch tested with the Spanish baseline series, 1590 (8.1%) reacted positively to a fragrance marker. Of these, 1013 (63.7%) were patch tested with a fragrance series, and 664 patients reacted positively to at least one individual fragrance other than hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde. Geraniol was the most frequent allergen. Positive reactions to substances not included in fragrance mix (FM) I or FM II were found in 230 patients. Of the 436 FM I-positive patients and the 419 FM II-positive patients, 184 (42%) and 64 (39.1%), respectively, had no positive reactions to fragrance series. In the case of FM I, negative results were more common when individual fragrances were patch tested at low concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend patch testing all patients positive for any fragrance marker with a specific fragrance series. The correlation between the results of baseline series and fragrance series could be improved by increasing the concentrations of individual fragrances.

Can the epoxides of cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamal show new cases of contact allergy?

BACKGROUND: Cinnamyl alcohol is considered to be a prohapten and prehapten with cinnamal as the main metabolite. However, many individuals who are allergic to cinnamyl alcohol do not react to cinnamal. Sensitizing epoxides of cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamal have been identified as metabolites and autoxidation products of cinnamyl alcohol. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical relevance of contact allergy to epoxycinnamyl alcohol and epoxycinnamal. METHODS: Irritative effects of the epoxides were investigated in 12 dermatitis patients. Epoxycinnamyl alcohol and epoxycinnamal were patch tested in 393 and 390 consecutive patients, respectively. In parallel, cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamal were patch tested in 607 and 616 patients, respectively. RESULTS: Both epoxides were irritants, but no more positive reactions were detected than when testing was performed with cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamal. Late allergic reactions to epoxycinnamyl alcohol were observed. In general, patients with late reactions showed doubtful or positive reactions to cinnamal and fragrance mix I at regular patch testing. CONCLUSION: The investigated epoxides are not important haptens in contact allergy to cinnamon fragrance. The high frequency of fragrance allergy among patients included in the irritancy study showed the difficulty of suspecting fragrance allergy on the basis of history; patch testing broadly with fragrance compounds is therefore important.

Fragrance allergy could be missed without patch testing with 26 individual fragrance allergens.

BACKGROUND: In 2003, the EU Cosmetics Directive stated that 26 fragrance substances must be listed on the cosmetic product ingredient labels. Not all of these 26 fragrance substances are detected by the usual screening markers comprising fragrance mix I, fragrance mix II, and Myroxylon pereirae. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of testing with the 26 individual fragrance substances in addition to the standard fragrance screening markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and twelve consecutive patients were patch tested with our baseline series and the 26 specific fragrance substances required to be declared on cosmetic product ingredient labels in accordance with the EU Cosmetics Directive. RESULTS: Positive reactions to at least either one of the 26 individual fragrance substances or the usual fragrance screening markers were seen in 84 of 312 patients (26.9%). Fifteen of these 84 patients (17.8%) reacted negatively to the fragrance screening markers. The most common individual fragrance allergens were cinnamyl alcohol (11.2%), cinnamal (9%), and hydroxycitronellal (3.8%). Sixty-two of 312 patients (19.8%) had at least one positive reaction to the fragrance screening markers. CONCLUSION: Additional patch testing with the 26 individual fragrance allergens, or with the commonest fragrance allergens identified within these 26, should be performed to optimize the detection of fragrance allergy. Cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamal are important fragrance allergens in Thailand.

Identification of the constituents of balsam of peru in tomatoes.

BACKGROUND: Studies show that balsam-restricted diets result in significant improvement of systemic contact dermatitis in patients with contact allergy to balsam of Peru (BOP). While tomatoes have been implicated as a frequent cause of BOP-related dermatitis, the presence of BOP in tomatoes has never been confirmed. OBJECTIVES: High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (liquid chromatography [LC]-MS) and UV spectrometry (LC-UV) was used to detect the possible presence of BOP constituents in tomatoes. METHODS: Samples of beefsteak, cherry, and plum tomatoes were extracted in ethyl acetate and analyzed with LC-MS and LC-UV for the presence of the following sensitizing constituents of BOP: benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, trans-cinnamic acid, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, coniferyl alcohol, eugenol, isoeugenol, and methyl cinnamate. RESULTS: The initial LC-MS analysis of each tomato extract showed multiple peaks. Two of these peaks had molecular weights of 134 and 180, which correspond to cinnamic alcohol and coniferyl alcohol, respectively. The analysis did not show peaks corresponding to the molecular weights of the remaining compounds. Cochromatography of tomato extract with cinnamic alcohol and coniferyl alcohol using LC-UV further suggested the presence of these compounds in the tomato extract. CONCLUSION: Coniferyl alcohol and cinnamic alcohol, constituents of BOP, are present in beefsteak, cherry, and plum tomatoes.

Hand disinfection: how irritant are alcohols?

Irritant contact dermatitis is commonly found on hands of healthcare employees and is often explained by contact to water and detergents. Studies on the dermal tolerance clearly show that the degree of skin irritation is significantly lower after application of alcohol in comparison to detergents. It has also been shown in standardised wash tests using a foam roller that the application of alcohol or water immediately after a detergent-based wash can significantly decrease the degree of skin irritation, probably due to a wash-off of residual detergent. If evidence-based hand hygiene is taught early during nurses training it can substantially reduce irritant contact dermatitis supporting initiatives of primary prevention among healthcare employees. The irritant potential of commonly used alcohols in hand antiseptics is very low. If the skin is pre-irritated, e.g. by detergents or water, alcohols can cause a burning sensation which is, however, not an allergic reaction and does not further harm the skin. True allergic reactions to alcohols have so far not been confirmed. From the dermatological point of view the use of alcohols for hand hygiene has clear advantages over washing with water and detergents.

[Feasibility study of biological monitoring of chemical agents by means of evaluation of the effects on their in vitro effects on the complement system]. / Studio di fattibilità del monitoraggio biologico di agenti chimici mediante valutazione degli effetti su sistemi multienzimatici del plasma coinvolti nella risposta immune.

Immunological methods for the study of the plasma complement system have been standardized in order to be good and reproducible indicators of some biological effects of the substances under study in in vitro experiments. The substances tested were not capable of interfering within 10 times the possible hypothetical plasma concentration reached in vivo with the function of the different reagents used in the study of complement. Five substances (Skin-ACGIH) have been studied for their effects on the complement system in vitro; four of them could be fully studied (allylic alcohol, cyclohexanone, phenol, dimethylacetamide). After this deep insight we can conclude that: 1. These substances are capable of interfering with the immune response through their complement activating capacity 2. These substances, throughout complement activation, can induce inflammation and reduction of important defensive functions that are complement mediated. 3. The results obtained encourage to study the complement system and especially CH50 in workers exposed to the selected substances in order to verify the possibility to enclose this test in the medical surveillance program.

Fragrance contact dermatitis in Korea: a joint study.

The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of responses to selected fragrances in patients with suspected fragrance allergy and to evaluate the risk factors. 9 dermatology departments of university hospitals have participated in this study for the past 1 year. To determine allergic response to fragrances, 18 additional fragrances in addition to the Korean standard and a commercial fragrance series were patch-tested in patients with suspecting cosmetic contact dermatitis. Over 80% of the patients were women, and the most common site was the face. Cinnamic alcohol and sandalwood oil (Santalum album L.) showed high frequencies of positive responses. Of the specific fragrances, ebanol, alpha-isomethyl-ionone (methyl ionone-gamma) and Lyral (hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexane carboxdaldehyde) showed high positive responses. We compared the results obtained during this study with those of other studies and concluded that including additional fragrance allergens may be useful for the detection of fragrance allergy.