Atopic patch testing.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is a major problem among the urban population and it can be aggravated or triggered by various allergens. Atopic patch test can be used as a diagnostic tool in characterizing patients with allergen triggered atopic dermatitis. AIMS: 1. Patch testing to reproduce an eczematous reaction by applying prick test allergens under occlusion on intact skin. 2. To find the allergen associated with atopic dermatitis. 3. To find the specific allergen which causes or exacerbates atopic dermatitis in a given subject. METHODS: Seventy five subjects with atopic dermatitis were included in our study and patch tests using prick test allergens were applied to the back. Reading was done after 48 and 72 hours RESULTS: Out of the 75 subjects tested, 47% showed positive reactions, parthenium accounted for 42% of all positive reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Epicutaneous application of prick test antigen on intact skin can produce a reaction. Parthenium is commonest allergen in Bangalore. Counselling based on patch test reports may help to reduce morbidity and improve quality of life.

Role of cortisol on condition factor in the female freshwater fish, Notopterus notopterus during four reproductive phases.

The condition of the female fish, Notopterus notopterus was studied during four phases of the reproductive cycle in control and after cortisol hormone treatment. The condition of the fish including condition factor (K) and somatic condition factor (Ks) was determined based on weight of the body, length of the fish and gonad weight. In control fish the condition of the fish improve during prespawning phase compared to other phases. The hormone cortisol level estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique was found to be increased in preparatory and decreased during prespawning phase, may be because of the hormone involvement in metabolic activity, vitellogenesis. In cortisol treatment, the condition of the fish decrease during prespawning phase, compared to other phase may be because of extra expenditure of energy for progressing reproductive activity such as vitellogenesis.

Tissue cholesterol and serum cortisol level during different reproductive phases of the female freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus (Pallas).

In the present study tissue cholesterol and serum cortisol changes during two reproductive phases have been correlated in the freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus. The reproductive cycle of N. notopterus has two phases such as breeding phase (April - August) and non breading phase (October - December). The cholesterol content of the ovary and liver increased during breeding phase. The serum cortisol estimated by radio immuno assay (RIA) technique indicates that the level of the hormone was high during breeding phase compared to non breading phase. The increase in cholesterol during breeding phase may be because of increase in cortisol synthesis needed for ovarian growth and vitellogenesis. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) also increases during breeding phase.

Effect of cortisol on female freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus.

In the present study, effect of cortisol on the ovary of the freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus was studied during four phases of the reproductive cycle. The hormone was injected 60microg/fish for ten days. Cortisol in fish is known to increase the metabolic activity. After the hormone treatment the ovarian somatic index and the hepatosomatic index increases during non breeding phase. The young oocytes transferred into vitellogenic oocytes in all the phases after cortisol treatment. The cortisol induced increased ovarian activity may be due to increase in the metabolic activity through the involvement of hepatic cells specially during non-breeding period providing support for energy production for reproductive activity in the freshwater fish N. notopterus.

Leg ulcers due to hyperhomocysteinemia.

Chronic leg ulcers are rare in young adults and generally indicate a vascular cause. We report a case of a 26-year-old man with leg ulcers of eight months duration. Doppler study indicated venous incompetence and a postphlebitic limb. However, as the distribution and number of ulcers was not consistent with stasis alone and no features of collagen vascular disease were noted, a hyperviscosity state was considered and confirmed with significantly elevated homocysteine level in the serum. Administration of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12, trimethyl-glycine, mecobalamine, folic acid and povidone iodine dressings with culture-directed antibiotic therapy led to a satisfactory healing of ulcers over a period of one month. Hyperhomocysteinemia must be considered in the differential diagnosis of leg ulcers in young individuals.

Relevance of patch testing in patients with nummular dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: A chronic dermatosis like nummular dermatitis may be complicated by contact dermatitis due to an impaired cutaneous barrier. This study is aimed at evaluating secondary contact dermatitis in patients with nummular dermatitis. METHODS: Patch testing with the Indian Standard Series was performed in 50 of 78 patients with a clinical diagnosis of nummular eczema. Significant reactions were graded as per ICDRG criteria. RESULTS: Significant reactions were noted in 23 of 50 tested patients. The most frequent sensitizers were colophony, nitrofurazone, neomycin sulfate and nickel sulfate (7.14% each). Reactions to antigens in topical medications, cosmetics and toiletries constituted 64.28% of all the reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with nummular dermatitis are at significant risk of developing secondary allergic contact dermatitis, which contributes to the severity and chronicity of their dermatitis. Patch testing has the potential to improve the quality of life in these patients. Hence, patients with chronic recalcitrant nummular dermatitis must be patch tested.

Changes in tissue cholesterol and serum cortisol level during four reproductive phases of the male freshwater fish, Notopterus notopterus.

The tissue cholesterol and serum cortisol changes during four reproductive phases has been studied in the freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus of male sex during four phases, preparatory (January - March), prespawning (April - May), spawning (August - September) and post spawning (November - December). The cholesterol content of the testis and liver increased during preparatory phase and maximum content of cholesterol was during spawning phase. The serum cortisol estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique which indicated that the level of the hormone was high during pre-spawning and spawning phases compared to other two phases. The increase in cholesterol during preparatory and spawning phases may be because of increase in cortisol synthesis needed for testicular growth and spermetogenesis during these phases. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) also increased during these phases.

Somatic condition of the fish, Notopterus notopterus (Pallas) during different phases of the reproductive cycle.

The study on the mathematical relationship between length and weight of fishes has considerable importance in fishery research especially for the study of fish population dynamics and patterns of growth in fish stocks. This aspect is useful in rationally managing the population of fishes, and is an index of relative robustness of the fish). Variations from expected weight or length of an individual fish or group of fish indicate the general well being and state of gonadal development. The condition of fish can be influenced by the onset of maturity. The results indicate that the overall condition of the female and male fish seems to get improved towards the approach of maturing and mature stages of the gonads during pre-spawning phases. The reduction in the condition factor (K) and somatic condition factor (Ks) during spawning phase may be because of the fish becoming exhausted due to spawning activity. Although improvement in the condition of the fish was observed on the approach of breeding period, the overall condition seems to be better in the aquatic body from which the fish was collected.

Effect of cortisol on testis of freshwater fish Notopterus notopterus (Pallas).

Cortisol (20, 40 and 60 micrograms/fish for 10 days) treatment caused an increase in testicular-somatic index (TSI) in immature N. notopterus whereas in mature fish no change from that of controls was observed. Histology of testis indicated that spermatogenetic activity was activated in immature fish while it was inhibited in mature fish. Testicular cholesterol exhibited a similar response. The results indicate that cortisol inhibits spermatogenesis during mature phase while it promotes spermatogenesis during immature phase of the reproductive cycle in N. notopterus.