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Biomedical subjects

A Goossens

Publications and source records attributed to A Goossens.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

An epidemic of occupational contact dermatitis from an immersion oil for microscopy in laboratory personnel.

Since November 1997, 14 successive cases of occupational contact dermatitis were observed in 13 laboratory technicians and 1 physician, working in a genetics laboratory in Leuven (Belgium) in 3 laboratories of bacteriology in Strasbourg, Montbeliard and Angers, and in the laboratory of hematology in Bordeaux (France). The dermatitis, located on the hands, forearms and face, relapsed after each exposure to an immersion oil for microscopy. Patch tests performed in 10 patients were positive to epoxy resin (ER) in the European standard series (10/10 patients) and to newly formulated Leica immersion oil (7/7), 1 patient testing negatively with the former oil. A breakdown performed in 2 patients with the oil's ingredients confirmed sensitization to liquid modified ER components, contained at >80% concentration in the oil. The presence of DGEBA was demonstrated by HPLC analysis at a +/-30% rate. Although the safety data sheet indicated a revision of the formula, nobody was alerted to the risk of sensitization and the need for skin protection. ERs, as a source of occupational allergy, can provoke epidemics of contact dermatitis in industry. This report of epidemic contact dermatitis from ERs, used for their optical properties in an immersion oil for microscopy, emphasizes the need for perpetual vigilance in occupational medicine and the usefulness of multicentre contacts in dermato-allergology.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Regulatory classification of substances oxidized to skin sensitizers on exposure to air.

Regulatory classification of substances in the European Union (EU) is intended to identify their hazardous toxicological properties in a formal and harmonized manner. In the regulatory work, a specific chemical with its molecular structure is classified as a skin sensitizer. This implies that the compound is stable throughout its lifetime. The purpose of the present paper is to discuss the problem of skin sensitizing oxidation/degradation products formed by air exposure of various materials or substances with very low allergenic activity. In regulatory classification work on skin sensitizers, the intrinsic suspectibility of a chemical to air oxidation (autoxidation) should be taken into consideration. We give examples of natural terpenoid materials, but the concept of allergens formed by air oxidation can apply to other materials widely used in industrial products. If a positive classification is made for a substance with a known chemical structure, a note should indicate that the primary chemical structure of the notified substance is not a skin sensitizer, but that (some of) its oxidation products are. Complex mixtures which inevitably contain sensitizing oxidation products should (on the basis of sufficient evidence) be classified as skin sensitizing.

Allergens↗
PubMed1999

Thoughts on sensitizers in a standard patch test series. The European Society of Contact Dermatitis.

Patch testing is the predominant method of establishing contact allergy. The present patch test technique is the result of a continuous process of development and improvement since its first application in the late 19th century. The perfect patch test should give no false-positive and no false-negative reactions. The ideal patch test should also cause as few adverse reactions as possible, particularly no patch test sensitization. Even though the history and examination of a patient with suspected allergic contact dermatitis will give clues to possible sensitizers, it is not sufficient to patch test only with initially suspected sensitizers; unsuspected sensitizers used for patch testing frequently turn out to be the real cause of the dermatitis. Fortunately, a small number of substances are considered to account for the majority of delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Therefore, generally 20-25 test preparations consisting of chemically defined compounds, mixes of allergens, and natural and synthetic compounds, are grouped into a standard test series. The requirements to be fulfilled by a sensitizer in a standard patch test series are discussed in this article. A procedure of investigations is proposed before a sensitizer is included in a standard series.

Allergens↗
PubMed1999

Isoeugenol is an important contact allergen: can it be safely replaced with isoeugenyl acetate?

The prevalence of contact allergy to the fragrance mix in individuals with eczema is up to 10%. Within the mix, isoeugenol (CAS 97-54-1) is an important individual allergen. Until May 1998, the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) guidelines suggested that isoeugenol could safely be used at a level of 0.2% in consumer products. In May 1998, IFRA recommended that isoeugenol should not be used at a level that exceeds 0.02% in consumer products, but did not provide guidance on allergen substitution. An alternative to isoeugenol, based on aroma and absence of guidelines on use, is isoeugenyl acetate (CAS 93-29-8). 155 consecutive subjects were patch tested to isoeugenyl acetate (1.2%, 0.4%, 0.13% eth.) and isoeugenol 1% pet. 6 (3.9%) had an allergic reaction to 1.2% isoeugenyl acetate at D4. The reactions to the other 2 dilutions tended to be graded. 8 individuals had at least a palpable erythema by D4 to isoeugenol 1% pet. The majority of individuals allergic to isoeugenol were also intolerant of isoeugenyl acetate. Effective labelling of fragrance substances on consumer products will facilitate monitoring of exposure.

Allergens↗
PubMed1998

Enzymatic digestion of testicular tissue may rescue the intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle in some patients with non-obstructive azoospermia.

Recovery of testicular spermatozoa from azoospermic patients with testicular failure, followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a recent advance in the treatment of male infertility. In most cases, free spermatozoa are recovered from testicular tissue after mechanical mincing of multiple biopsies. Testicular sperm retrieval, however, remains unsuccessful in 30-50% of male patients suffering from Sertoli cell-only syndrome and maturation arrest. In this study, a strategy was developed in order to maximize the chance of sperm retrieval in difficult cases of testicular failure. The ultimate step was the use of enzymatic procedures (collagenase type IV) to dissociate the testicular tissue completely. Testicular tissue of 41 patients for whom no spermatozoa were found after mechanical mincing of the testicular tissue was investigated. In 14 out of the 41 cases (34%), enough spermatozoa for ICSI were found after fine mincing of multiple biopsies and several hours' search in the cell suspension treated with the erythrocyte-lysing buffer (ELB). In 27 out of the 41 patients, no spermatozoa were found even after the use of ELB. In seven out of these 27 failures (26%), spermatozoa for ICSI were retrieved after enzymatic dissociation of the residual minced tissue pieces, thus making ICSI possible despite failure to find spermatozoa with conventional mincing. From this study, we may conclude that enzymatic digestion of testicular tissue is easy to perform, is not time-consuming and constitutes a successful method in reducing the sperm recovery failures in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Severe encephalopathy in a child: an uncommon cause.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is usually a self-limited disease. Although extremely uncommon, the involvement of the central nervous system has been previously reported in CSD. The intention of this paper is to make physicians aware that CSD could be complicated by encephalopathy. Seizures in some patients could be the only clinical manifestation and are resistant to the common anti-epileptic therapy. The seizures resolve with supportive care.

Acute Disease↗