Studies on experimental iodine allergy: 3. Low molecular weight elicitogenic antigens of iodine allergy.

We hypothesize that iodine allergy is an immune response to iodinated self proteins produced in vivo from various iodine-containing chemicals. Since an antigenic determinant of experimental iodine allergy is diiodotyrosine (DIT), we designed low molecular weight DIT derivatives having provocative antigenicity without sensitizing immunogenicity. Tetraiododityrosine and hexaiodotrityrosine provoked dose-dependent skin reactions in guinea pigs previously immunized with iodine. No guinea pigs immunized with hexaiodotrityrosine showed anaphylactic reaction by i.v. challenge with hexaiodotrityrosine and none of their antisera showed positive passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in guinea pigs, indicating the non-immunogenic nature of the compound. Erythrosine, one of the color additives having a structure common with DIT, was assessed for its immunological property. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition studies on erythrosine revealed that the inhibitory activity of erythrosine was stronger than that of DIT. Furthermore, erythrosine provoked a PCA reaction in animals sensitized with anti-iodine antisera. In conclusion, hexaiodotrityrosine is thought to be useful for skin testing of iodine allergy without any fear of sensitization to the allergen. Erythrosine was shown to provoke an experimental iodine allergy and, also, the relationships between the new concept of iodine allergy and features of clinical findings of adverse effects by iodocontrast media are discussed.

Case report--hypersensitivity to denture materials.

Hypersensitivity reactions to the commonly used denture base resins are infrequently reported. When they have been reported, most acrylic hypersensitivity reactions have been described as local contact reactions with few reports identifying any significant systemic symptoms. This paper reports a case where the patient suffered extensive systemic symptoms which were strongly linked to denture wear. A variety of alternative dentures of different resin content were constructed over time with varying reactions. The patient was patch-tested and responded with positive reactions to pure dye samples supplied by manufacturers of the resins. She also failed to react to dentures made in a clear acrylic with no dye components. These factors strongly support the hypothesis that the reactions experienced by this patient to some denture resins was the result of the incorporated colouring agents. It is therefore suggested that in cases where a hypersensitivity reaction with systemic manifestations to a denture base resin is suspected, questioning with regard to other reactions to colourants and patch testing for dyestuffs should be considered in addition to the use of a resin with no colouring agents in construction of replacement prostheses.

A eficiência de um dentifrício contendo Eritrosina no processo de estimulaçäo à higiene dental de crianças / The eficiency of a tooth paste with Eritrosina improving the simulation of oral hygiene in children

Neste estudo foram comparados os resultados do método que utiliza o dentifrício contendo corante, com a evidenciaçäo de placa dental realizada com pastilhas. Durante 90 dias foram observadas 45 crianças de um orfanato, na faixa etária de 6 a 12 anos, divididas em 3 grupos. Todos os participantes receberam um modelo padräo de escova dentária e as informaçöes educativas pertinentes. O uso de dentifrício contendo corante näo mostrou resultados significativamente diferentes daqueles obtidos com a evidenciaçäo de placa através de pastilhas

Mutagenicity studies on FD&C red No.3.

FD&C Red No.3 (erythrosine) has been used as a dye in foods, drugs and cosmetics since its approval by the US Department of Agriculture in 1907. In 1977 the Certified Color Manufacturers' Association (CCMA) initiated studies on FD&C Red No.3 including chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies in rats and mice. Data from the CCMA chronic studies revealed an increased incidence of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia and adenomas in male rats that received 4% FD&C Red No.3 in the diet (2464 mg/kg/day) during life-time (30 months) following in utero exposure. In this report, results of published studies on the mutagenicity of FD&C Red No.3 are critically reviewed. Additional mutagenicity tests including Ames Salmonella/microsome assay, L5178Y TK+/- mouse lymphoma assay, mouse micronucleus test and mitotic recombination assay with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D5 are described. These test results together with the literature review indicate that FD&C Red No.3 can be considered non-mutagenic across several genetic endpoints including gene mutation, chromosome aberrations, primary DNA damage and cell transformation. The results of the genotoxicity assessment generally exclude FD&C Red No.3 as a genotoxic initiator and suggest that some other mechanism is responsible for the increase in tumors.

Dyes, preservatives and salicylates in the induction of food intolerance and/or hypersensitivity in children.

We present 25 patients, aged between 18 and 153 months, with clinical symptoms suggestive of allergy to food antigens. After undergoing exhaustive studies (including case histories, cutaneous tests for reactions to food antigen, peripheral eosinophils, secretory and humoral immunity, determination of total IgE and of specific RAST, exclusion-provocation diets) and without being able to identify an offender, patients were submitted to oral provocation with different food additives (tartrazine, sunset yellow FCF, new coccine, erythrosine, sodium benzoate, 4-methyl hydroxybenzoate and acetylsalicylic acid) after 48 hours of exclusion from their diets of dyes, preservatives and salicylates. The results obtained reflect, at a global level, 57.89% of positivities for dyes, 34.21% for the benzoates and 7.81% for acetyl-salicylic acid. The low incidence of crossed intolerance phenomena should be emphasized (32% of the patients). The disparity of our results with those of other authors could be due to the age of our patients, the clinical patterns they present and the dietary habits of different countries and regions.

Erythrosin B inhibition of neurotransmitter accumulation by rat brain homogenate.

A mixture of seven food dyes inhibited the accumulation of eight neurotransmitters or neurotransmitter precursors by rat brain homogenate. At a low concentration (1 microgram per milliliter), erythrosin B (FD&C red 3) was the only dye that inhibited dopamine accumulation. Erythrosin also was effective in decreasing the accumulation of all the other transmitter substances, suggesting that the inhibition is nonspecific and probably secondary to general membrane alteration.

Incidence of bronchoconstriction due to aspirin, azo dyes, non-azo dyes, and preservatives in a population of perennial asthmatics.

Forty-five patients with moderately severe perennial bronchial asthma were challenged by ingestion of: acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA); 4 azo dyes (tartrazine, sunset yellow, amaranth, and ponceau); 3 non-azo dyes (erythrosine, brilliant blue, and indigotin); sodium benzoate (NaB); parahydroxybenzoic acid (OHBA); butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA); and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). A fall in forced expiratory volume is one second (FEV1) greater than 25% from baseline was considered positive. Seven patients who gave an unequivocal history of aspirin intolerance were not challenged with ASA; an additional 13 had positive open challenges to ASA, giving an apparent incidence of aspirin sensitivity of 20/45. The presence of nasal polyps, simusitis, or the regular use of corticosteroids, either singly or in combination, was not associated with an increased incidence of reactions to ASA. Significant bronchoconstriction to open challenges with agents other than ASA was less frequent. Positive open challenges to all substances except aspirin were followed by double-blind challenges which were positive in only 3 instances: 1 each with erythrosine, ponceau, and NaB/OHBA. Our findings confirm that ASA intolerance is relatively common but suggest on the other hand that reactions to dyes and preservatives are uncommon cause of clinically significant bronchoconstriction in moderately severe perennial asthmatics.