Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C L Meneghini.
Secrétan's syndrome is characterized by hard persistent edema of the dorsum of the hands. Usually, the condition is self-inflicted, but the authors have seen four cases that were occupationally related. The patients were fishing divers, and the mechanism appeared to be the constrictive action of the tight diver suit and pricks from sea urchin spines. Lymphographic abnormalities were present in one case.
1,476/2,320 of our cases of atopic dermatitis (AD) start in the first six months of life. The diagnosis is usually easy, but at this age it is sometimes more difficult, mainly because of lack of or rare evidence of scratching, but also because of the brief clinical history that does not allow observation of the characteristic chronic and relapsing course. Moreover, the major atopic disorders-asthma, rhinitis-usually appears later in the natural history of atopic subjects. From a differential diagnosis point of view, AD is the most definite dermatological disorder at this age. Other not well defined conditions occurring in the first six months of life are usually referred to as infantile seborrheic dermatitis, a name that has been used for at least four different disorders: cradle cap, cradle cap with involvement of inguinal, axillary and retroauricular folds, napkin psoriasis and Leiner's erythroderma. From a clinical point of view, AD in the first months of life is characterized by the prevalence of exudating lesions; moreover, the lack of or the rare evidence of scratching allows us to observe isolated vesicular lesions that are found with difficulty in the further course of the disease.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The incidences of sensitisation to Kathon CG are reported for patients routinely tested from 1984 to 1986 in Bari, London, Louvain, Nijmegen, Oulu and San Francisco. For these 3 years, the overall frequency of sensitisation varied for women from 3.3% in Oulu to 0.6% in London and San Francisco and for men from 1.4% in Oulu to 0% in San Francisco. Women were predominantly sensitised, probably by cosmetics, toiletries and domestic cleaners. Occupational sensitisation was much less frequent.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Twenty-two non-ulcerated basal cell carcinomas and 30 non-ulcerated squamous cell carcinomas were selected to study the reactive cellular infiltrate, utilizing histological, histoenzymatic and immunological methods. Substantial differences in cell behaviour were observed between the two tumors: advanced and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma showed prominent presence of T8+ lymphocytes, Leu 7+ cells, macrophages, mast cells and granulocytes, notably eosinophils. Degranulation of mast cells was seen both in the tumor itself and in the adjacent stroma. The basal cell carcinoma presented a low count of T4+, T8+ lymphocytes, whereas Leu 7+ cells and granulocytes were absent.
Patch tests with the standard series of chemical allergens were performed on 8,230 patients having various dermatoses. The frequency of contact sensitization among categories of dermatoses varied markedly. While only 21% of persons whose diagnosis was occupational contact dermatitis reacted allergically to at least one chemical, reactions were observed in 70% of those whose skin had been damaged by mechanical traumas. Cuts, wounds, and abrasions incurred on the job, while not very serious injuries per se, should be regarded as having greater clinical importance insofar as they increase the likelihood of contact sensitization to allergens.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Over the years, changes have had to be made in the list of topical drugs most frequently responsible for allergic contact dermatitis. The 4 most common sensitizers in Italy in the past have been penicillin, sulfonamide, promethazine and neomycin. Now the list is headed by neomycin, benzocaine and ethylenediamine. Antihistamines and parabens are less frequently observed as sensitizers. The increasing topical use of new drugs and additives, as well as older sensitizers, produces reactions to other substances, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, some antimycotic drugs, propylene glycol and benzoyl peroxide.
Many immunological alterations have been reported in atopic dermatitis, and it is likely that in some cases they are capable of worsening the clinical course of atopic dermatitis (AD). More frequently these alterations are responsible for conditions associated with AD such as asthma, food allergy and infections. It seems probable that in some cases they are evidence of a preclinical allergic manifestation. However, in most cases, it is likely that the immunological alterations do not affect significantly the clinical course of the disease.
Certain infections such as Kaposi's herpetic eruption, impetigo, recurrent cutaneous herpes simplex and warts are more frequent in subjects with atopic dermatitis. It is likely that the continuous alterations of the skin are more important than immunological factors in increasing the frequency of some infections in subjects with atopic dermatitis. Moreover, these infections do not seem to affect significantly the clinical course of atopic dermatitis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Contact sensitivity to medicaments and other chemical allergens has been observed in about 30% of 364 patients with pompholyx. Pompholyx is a recurrent vesicular eruption which increases the incidence of contact sensitivity. The majority of patients tested by means of intradermal and cultural tests did not show any relevant finding on the microbial nature, allergic or not, of pompholyx.
Nine cases of disease malingering with skin lesions attributed by the patients to occupational factors are reported. History and morphology of the lesions provided sufficient grounds for the diagnosis of occupational dermatitis arterfacta. Four out of nine patients admitted to having produced these artefacts.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.