Anatomical site differences of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced contact dermatitis is a commonly used model for testing the effects of different topical formulations. According to the guidelines, the volar forearms are the preferred testing site; however, other anatomical locations have been used in previous research, particularly the upper back as the clinically used site for testing different antigens. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the existence of anatomical variations of the skin response to irritation and its effects on the response to treatment. METHODS: Irritation was induced with SLS on symmetrical sites on both forearms and sides of the upper back with additional sites exposed to water as controls. Half of the sites were treated with emollient cream while the other half were left untreated. Irritation was assessed using bioengineering methods and clinical scoring. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03231813. RESULTS: Upper back skin showed higher reactivity to irritants with stronger barrier disruption (measured by Tewameter® , 80·2 ± 18·3 vs. 48·0 ± 24·2 g m-2  h-1 ), more pronounced erythema (measured by Mexameter® , 186·5 ± 88·4 vs. 92·1 ± 58·2 arbitrary units) and dryness (measured by Corneometer® , -28·6 ± 14·5 vs. 2·7 ± 16·9 arbitrary units). Skin recovery rates were also influenced by anatomical location with the upper back showing faster recovery (316·7 ± 223·1 vs. 156·2 ± 198·5). Treatment did not lead to improvement in measured parameters, regardless of anatomical location. CONCLUSIONS: The skin's reaction to irritant and recovery was dependent on anatomical location. The location where testing was conducted should always be reported, as treatments tested across different locations could not be directly compared with each other.

Reproductive ability of pubertal male and female rats.

Ten Fisher rats 50 to 55 days of age made up the pubertal group, and ten rats 90 to 95 days of age served as the controls. The testicular and epididymal weights and volumes of the pubertal males were lower than those of the controls (P<0.001). There was also a difference in relative epididymal weight (P<0.001). The sperm of pubertal males was morphologically abnormal in 58.2% of cases, as opposed to only 3.8% in the controls (P<0.001). The mean number of spermatozoa in the control group was 11.9 10(6)/ml and their viability was 99.6%, while these values could not be determined for pubertal rats. Serum testosterone was higher in the pubertal animals than in the controls (2.52 1.46 vs 0.92 0.34 nM, P<0.01). The ovaries of control females were heavier than those of pubertal females (P<0.001) but there was no difference in their relative weights. Serum estradiol was similar in both groups (75.5 12.8 vs 81.8 14.7 nM, P>0.05). At the beginning of gestation, the pubertal dams weighed less than the controls (P<0.001) but following uterectomy the body weights were equal. Pubertal dams delivered fewer pups than the controls (8.1 2.5 vs 10.4 1.3, P<0.05). There was no difference in the body weights of their offspring or in the weights of their placentas. The results suggest that, in contrast to their female counterparts, pubertal male rats are not fully mature and have not reached complete reproductive capacity at 50-55 days of age.

Reproductive ability of pubertal male and female rats

Ten Fisher rats 50 to 55 days of age made up the pubertal group, and ten rats 90 to 95 days of age served as the controls. The testicular and epididymal weights and volumes of the pubertal males were lower than those of the controls (P<0.001). There was also a difference in relative epididymal weight (P<0.001). The sperm of pubertal males was morphologically abnormal in 58.2 percent of cases, as opposed to only 3.8 percent in the controls (P<0.001). The mean number of spermatozoa in the control group was 11.9 I 10(6)/ml and their viability was 99.6 percent, while these values could not be determined for pubertal rats. Serum testosterone was higher in the pubertal animals than in the controls (2.52 ± 1.46 vs 0.92 ± 0.34 nM, P<0.01). The ovaries of control females were heavier than those of pubertal females (P<0.001) but there was no difference in their relative weights. Serum estradiol was similar in both groups (75.5 ± 12.8 vs 81.8 ± 14.7 nM, P>0.05). At the beginning of gestation, the pubertal dams weighed less than the controls (P<0.001) but following uterectomy the body weights were equal. Pubertal dams delivered fewer pups than the controls (8.1 ± 2.5 vs 10.4 ± 1.3, P<0.05). There was no difference in the body weights of their offspring or in the weights of their placentas. The results suggest that, in contrast to their female counterparts, pubertal male rats are not fully mature and have not reached complete reproductive capacity at 50-55 days of age

Pregnancy in adolescent rats, growth and neurodevelopment in their offspring.

Pregnancy, lactation and the relationship between mother and their offspring in adolescence was studied in terms of pups neurosomatic development. The frequency of conception and birth rate were reduced in adolescent dams. Their body weight gain was accelerated during the first two weeks of pregnancy, while a significant delay occurred in the third week. At birth, plasma corticosterone level in the neonates was increased. Adolescent dams ingested less food during the first week of gestation. Following that, till the second week of lactation, the food consumption was equal to that of control group. Although adolescent pups were heavier at birth, the reduction of their number and of their body weight occurred during lactation. Judging by appearance of grasping, righting, placing and of negative geotaxis reflexes, the delay in their neurological maturation was also present. The reason for the growth and neurodevelopmental delay during lactation is probably the result of malnutrition and stress of disturbed mother - infant relationship in adolescent litters, which lasted at least during the two postnatal weeks. It was indicated by the resting plasma corticosterone levels during the first two postnatal weeks. This finding suggests that the pregnancy in adolescent rats induces delay in physical and neurological development, as well as in the increased rate of postnatal mortality of their offspring.

Specific hyposensitization in patients allergic to Parietaria officinalis pollen allergen.

The effects of specific hyposensitization in 40 patients with Parietaria officinalis-sensitive seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis were studied during three years of treatment. The patients were treated with subcutaneous injections of a new, partially purified, characterized and standardized pollen extract of P. officinalis allergen (alum-absorbed depot preparation). Treatment was applied from November to mid March and it was clinically assessed during the plant flowering season (mid March to end of June). Laboratory tests were performed yearly when beginning and ending treatment. Serum concentrations of P. officinalis pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies decreased (first year: from 18.7 +/- 7.7 to 17.9 +/- 7.6 PRU/ml; second year: from 16.3 +/- 7.1 to 14.1 +/- 6.6 PRU/ml; third year: from 12.3 +/- 5.6 to 10.9 +/- 5.6 PRU/ml) and those of specific IgG increased (first year: from 15.3 +/- 13.2 to 21.7 +/- 14.0%; second year: from 28.5 +/- 13.0 to 36.3 +/- 15.9%; third year: from 29.9 +/- 14.1 to 38.9 +/- 16.8%) during the treatment. Histamine release from peripheral blood leukocytes challenged in vitro with the allergen decreased during the three years of the treatment (first year: from 42.3 +/- 13.0 to 33.1 +/- 10.8%; second year: from 31.9 +/- 11.9 to 19.1 +/- 8.5%; third year: from 19.4 +/- 4.6 to 14.3 +/- 4.6%), whereas the size of skin test reaction and the percentage of eosinophils among white blood cells remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Ketotifen and nasal steroids in the therapy of pollinosis]. / Ketotifen i nazalni steroid u terapiji polinoze.

Thirty-five patients with seasonal pollen rhinitis due to hypersensitivity to Parietaria officinalis pollen were randomized and treated with ketotifen and with a combination of ketotifen and beclomethason diproprionate, a nasal steroid. The study was timed to cover the Parietaria off. pollination period (4 months), which was documented by the determination of air concentration of the pollen. Respiratory symptoms and additional medications were scored according to a defined control. During the peak pollen period, both groups suffered from intensified pollinosis symptoms which prompted additional medication. The increases, however, were less significant in the group treated with the combination of the two drugs, i.e. better results were obtained with the ketotifen-beclomethasone diproprionate combination than with ketotifen alone.

Hypersensitivity to P. officinalis pollen: correlation of IgE with skin testing methods.

Fifty pollinosis patients, who have reported contact with P. officinalis, were tested for skin sensitivity with P. officinalis pollen extract. Intracutaneous testing and the skin prick method were employed and their sensitivity verified with regard to serum concentrations of specific IgE antibodies determined with the RAST method. Two criteria of the skin prick method evaluation were employed. The intracutaneous method correlated best with RAST. In contrast to intracutaneous testing, the skin prick method did not produce any false-positive results; however, due to a few false-negative cases observed, it appeared that in borderline-negative cases the skin prick method would require determination of serum IgE antibodies to reach a clear-cut diagnosis.

Occurrence and specificity of IgE antibodies to isocyanates in occupationally exposed workers.

The levels of IgE antibodies specific for toluene-diisocyanate (TDI), diphenylmethane-diisocyanate (MDI) and hexamethylene-diisocyanate (HDI) were determined in eight workers with an unequivocal history of professional asthma, all having been exposed to isocyanates in the working atmosphere. Five workers were examined at the clinical onset of asthma. They had serum IgE antibodies specific for TDI, MDI and HDI, and depressed pulmonary ventilation parameters. In contrast, three workers, who had only a mild bronchial obstruction at the time of testing, had no anti-isocyanate IgE antibodies. The results indicated that asthma was induced by type I allergic reaction, but other pathogenetic mechanisms of bronchoobstruction could not be completely ruled out.

Allergy induced by Parietaria officinalis pollen in southern Croatia.

Pollen of Parietaria officinalis causes season-associated respiratory symptoms. In Southern Croatia (Yugoslavia) we found 65% patients with rhinitis and/or asthma to be allergic to this pollen. They showed positive cutaneous reactions and had specific IgE antibodies to the respective isolated allergen. The finding represents the first report on Parietaria officinalis-induced allergy on the east Adriatic coast.