RESUMEN
Background: Kumkum, made with turmeric and slaked lime along with colour enhancing dyes is known to cause allergic contact dermatitis. The possible contact allergens in kumkum include turmeric, Sudan-1, 4-aminoazobenzene, brilliant lake red R and cananga oil. We report patch test results among patients with suspected contact hypersensitivity to kumkum. Objective: To identify the allergen causing kumkum induced allergic contact dermatitis by patch testing and to advise patients about organic kumkum which doesnot contain colour enhancing dyes. Methods: Eighteen patients with suspected contact hypersensitivity to kumkum were patch tested with undiluted kumkum, undiluted turmeric, Sudan-1 (95%), 4-aminoazobenzene and allergens of the Indian Standard Series. Results: Of the 18 patients, 14 patients had patch test positivity to kumkum and 4 had a negative reaction to kumkum. Patch test with other suspected contact allergens showed positive reaction to turmeric in 4 patients, Sudan-1 in 3 patients and 4-aminoazobenzene in 2 patients. Among the allergens of the Indian Standard Series, positivity to nickel and fragrance mix was seen in 5 and 2 patients respectively. Positive reaction to PPD, chlorocresol and parthenium was seen in 1 patient each. Limitation: Small sample size. Conclusion: Allergic contact dermatitis to kumkum occurs both due to the dyes (added for enhancing the colour) and turmeric. All patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis should be patch tested with kumkum, turmeric and dyes, based on which alternative non-allergic material could be advised. Kumkum dermatitis can also occur due to various other allergens, for which too patch testing should be done.
RESUMEN
The nuclear DNA content of rat hepatocytes at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis was measured on cytologic smears using microspe-ctrophotometer at wavelength of 560 nm. A significant reduction in the ratio of tetraploid to diploid cells was induced by oral admimistration of 0.06% 3'-methyl-4,4'-dimethylaminoazobenzene(3'-Me-DAB)for 2 months.Those rats treated with 0.06% 3'-Me-DAB for 7 months had a permanently de- pressed ratio of tetraploid:diploid.The tumor cells at the early stage of carcinogenesis and the percancerous hepatocytes were diploid in pattern.We suggest that the selective outgrowth of diploid cell population would significantly increase the likelihood of developing further to- wards cancer.It might be an important marker of cell transformation.The DNA content and pathomorphology of hepatoma might objectively reflect its malignity.