Different skin irritation abilities of different qualities of sodium lauryl sulphate.

A marked variation in the concentration of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) used for irritant patch testing is found in the literature, but is hitherto unexplained. In the present study, 2 different qualities of SLS were tested clinically on healthy volunteers. The skin responses were evaluated by visual scoring as well as by non-invasive measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), blood flow and oedema. A significant difference in the skin response to the 2 qualities was found both clinically and by non-invasive methods used for quantitation. 5 different qualities of SLS were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Marked discrepancies in the quantity of C12 carbon chains in the products were found, offering an explanation for the proven difference in the clinical response. It is concluded that only SLS qualities of high purity should be used for irritant patch testing, and that both the quality and the purity of SLS should be stated.

Allergic contact dermatitis potential of 3 pyridostigmine bromide transdermal drug delivery formulations.

Pyridostigmine bromide (PB) delivered transdermally may be a useful pretreatment for organophosphate poisoning. PB transdermal formulations were developed since this route has the potential to provide a more constant, prolonged and therapeutically-effective drug level in the body. Guinea pig skin sensitization studies, using a variation of the split adjuvant technique, were conducted with various PB transdermal formulations as part of a safety evaluation profile. 3 gel matrix formulations were tested. The 3 formulations contained 50% PB, 30% PB with 0.198% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and 30% PB with 0.21% of a proprietary surfactant (PS), respectively. SLS and the proprietary surfactant were added to the formulations as dermal penetration enhancers. 9 groups of 10 animals were induced and challenged with 1 of the 3 PB or PB/surfactant formulations (3 groups per formulation). In addition, 2 groups of 10 animals were included in the study as positive controls that were induced and challenged with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). 44% of the animals responded positively at challenge to 50% PB. 80% of the animals responded positively at challenge to 30% PB/0.198% SLS and 82% of the animals had positive responses at challenge to 30% PB/0.21% PS. This study demonstrates that PB is a potential contact sensitizer that shows a potentiated response in the presence of surfactants.

The effect of grenz rays on irritant skin reactions in man.

To investigate the effect of grenz rays on irritant contact reactions, eleven healthy volunteers were studied. They were given 3 Gy of grenz rays, once a week for 3 weeks, to a defined area of the back. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, serial dilution sodium lauryl sulphate patch tests were applied both on the grenz ray treated area and on the untreated control skin. Biopsy specimens were taken from the irritant reactions both from the grenz ray treated area and from the control area and different cell populations in dermis and epidermis were identified by monoclonal antibodies (Leu 2, 3, 4, 7, Leu M1, B1, OKT6). In the grenz ray treated epidermis there was a pronounced reduction of OKT6-positive cells but the composition of the dermal cellular infiltrate did not differ between control and grenz ray treated skin. The assessment of the patch test reactions did reveal a tendency towards weaker reactions in the grenz ray pre-treated skin but this difference was not statistically significant. It is concluded that grenz rays do not have a marked effect on the elicitation of irritant reactions.

Allergic reactions, "spillover' reactions, and T-cell subsets.

A strong positive, allergic patch-test reaction was elicited in 15 patients with an established allergy for a particular allergen. Patches with a marginally irritating concentration of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) were applied at fixed distances. The SLS patch situated adjacent to the allergic reaction was significantly enhanced in 12 of 15 patients (P less than 0.01) compared to more distant SLS reactions ("spillover'). Only quantitative differences were observed in the histologic pictures of the different types of reaction. The infiltrate consisted of lymphocytes and histiocytes, mainly located perivascular in the upper dermis. T-cell subsets were assessed with monoclonal antibodies using an immunoperoxidase technique. The distribution of the different T cells was the same for both reaction types. T cells located outside the perivascular infiltrates (e.g., in the epidermal vesicles) were OKT-8-positive (cytotoxic/suppressor T lymphocytes). Immunofluorescence examination did not show different patterns for the allergic or "enhanced toxic' reactions with regard to the presence of immunoglobulins and complement. The "spillover' phenomenon may cause false-positive patch-test reactions.

[Postvaccinal dysentery immunity studied on the model of ligated loop of the small intestine of rabbits]. / Postvaktsinal'nyi protivodizenteriinyi immunitet na modeli pereviazannoi petli tonkoi kishki krolikov.

Chemical (detergent) antigens administered intraintestinally or intravenously to rabbits were applied to reproduce postvaccinal immunity to experimental shigellosis. There was noted an increase of the antibody level in the serum, an intensification of its preventive proerties, and the absence of dilatation of the isolated loops of the small intestine after the administration of the corresponding dysentery culture. Oral immunization of rabbits with the detergent antigen sorbed on ionexchange resin also led to immunity.