Epidemiology of nickel allergy.

In 2400 consecutive patients at 8 clinics in 5 countries, nickel hypersensitivity was found in 176 cases (7.3%), 19 male (2.1%) and 157 female (10.5%). The incidence ranged from 15 to 38 cases in 300 patients of every department (5.0% Sofia to 12.7% Erfurt). 60.6% of the nickel positives were schoolgirls or younger than 25 years. The exposure time was 3 years, in 49% 1 year or shorter. Most cases (75%) are not occupationally acquired, but due to costume jewelry (31.8%), wrist watches (23.3%), metal clothing buckles (3.4%) including jeans buttons. Job dependent nickel dermatitis is often (36/51 cases) linked with wet work. Atopic dermatitis was found in 8.3% of female nickel allergy. Nickel positivity without a dermatitis history was seen in 9/176 cases (5%). Nickel allergy will become a sex-indifferent phenomenon in Europe, because of the changing customs of adornment.

[Modified evaluation of allergic skin reactions]. / Ocena odczynu uczuleniowego skóry we wlasnej modyfikacji.

Our modified evaluation of the results of investigating experimental allergy includes, apart from the percentage of sensitized animals as in all hitherto applied evaluations, appraisal of "challenge" reactions and results of supplementary in vitro studies in the examined animals' blood. Basing on the formula of the percentage index of the total evaluation of the study - W% = (formula: see text) X100 (a - percentage of sensitized animals; b - index of the total evaluation of reactions intensity, c - results of auxiliary tests in peripheral blood), the effects of allergens were differentiated. Introduction of our own evaluating criteria enabled differentiation of the intensity of effects of the test allergens, which was unfeasible with the hitherto applied Magnusson and Kligman criterion.

[Selected problems in the experimental evaluation of the skin-irritating effect of industrial substances]. / Wybrane zagadnienia doswiadczalnej oceny pierwotnie drazniacego dla skory dzialania substancji przemyslowych.

Basing on the determination of ID50 and IT50 after Kligman and Wooding but involving our own modification, the primarily irritating effect of certain industrial substances on experimental animals' and humans' skin was comparatively evaluated. Mutual experimental studies have been carried out in Dermatological Clinics in Leipzig and Rostock and Dermatological Clinic at the Medical Academy of Lódz. The results were found to be generally consistent in humans and animals. Extension of international cooperation and information and results on the determination of industrial substances adverse effects seem to be necessary.

Oral treatment of acne vulgaris and oil acne with tetracycline.

In 51 patients with acne vulgaris and 34 patients suffering from occupational oil acne the clinical effect of orally administered tetracycline was evaluated before, during and after a 3-monthly treatment (total dose of antibiotic: 1st month, 28.5 g; 2nd and 3rd months, 15.0 g). Patients treated with placebo were used as controls. Investigations of the skin fluorescence under Wood's light were performed during the treatment period. In one half of the patients with acne vulgaris and oil acne oral treatment with tetracycline had a very good clinical effect. The purpose of this investigation was the comparison of the results of the treatment of acne vulgaris and occupational oil acne with tetracycline.

Dermatological aspects of so called vinyl chloride monomer disease.

The pathological findings revealed in 30 subjects with so called vinyl chloride disease has been presented. The most often observed symptoms were: changes in histopathological picture of the skin, history of the symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon, positive results of functional proofs (pletysmography, vibration perception test, cooling test), and scleroderma like skin lesions. Acroosteolysis was found only in 3 cases, thrombocytopenia only in one. The constellation of singns may be related to the high level of exposure of examined persons. The authors point to the significance of dermatological methods of investigation for detection of morbid changes induced by VCM action.

[Occupational dermatoses reported in the Lódz district in the years 1972-1976]. / Choroby zawodowe skóry zgloszone z terenu lódzkiego województwa miejskiego w latach 1972--1976.

108 cases were evaluated. It was stated that they were mostly caused by an exposure to allergic effects of industrial allergens: metal compounds, epoxides, paragroup compounds, turpentine, formalin and rubber components. Location and clinical picture of dermatoses constitute mainly dermatitis and contact eczema on the skin of hands. The cases referred mainly to the men employed in building, chemical, textile and metal industries. Opening a center performing allergic tests with industrial allergents, which at the same time could determine their occurrence in work environment, provides the basic condition for a proper diagnosis and prophylaxis of occupational dermatoses.

[Use of colored samples in the detection of occupational exposure to allergic effects of chromium and nickel compounds]. / Ocena przydatnosci prób barwnych dla wykrywania narazenia zawodowego na uczulajace dzialanie zwiazków chromu i niklu.

By using a coloured sample with diphenylcarbazide, chromium content in raw materials and industrial intermediate products was determined. At the same time chromium content was determined quantitatively by atomic absorption. The method was said to be simple and easy to be done in any industrial physician's conditions. The sample's sensitivity was said to be 1:100 000. Results of the determinations indicated that protective leather gloves contained considerable content of chromium, and chromium-free machine oils and lubricants were polluted with chromium's minute quantities as the oils and lubrications were being used. It was stated that coloured samples aiming at the detection of chromium, cobalt and nickel should be routinely used in preventive activity of industrial physicians.