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Biomedical subjects

B Meding

Publications and source records attributed to B Meding.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Sensitization and exposure to methylisothiazolinones (Kathon) in the pulp and paper industry--a report of two cases.

Two cases of contact allergy to methylisothiazolinones from slimicides used in pulp and paper mills are described. The first patient worked as a batcher in a paper mill, and he was in charge of pumping slimicides containing methylisothiazolinones. During pumping, the liquid often overflowed, and his clothes were wet daily with slimicides. After 3 months of work, he began to suffer from dermatitis, which improved when he was away from work. A clinical investigation confirmed the dermatitis diagnosis and a positive skin patch test to Kathon CG was found. The second patient worked as an agent for a firm marketing slimicides containing methylisothiazolinones. One of his tasks was to pump slimicides into the mills, and during such operations his clothes often got wet from slimicides. After some years of work, he began to suffer from erythema and dermatitis after contact with the slimicides. A skin patch test showed a strongly positive reaction to Kathon CG. These case reports draw the attention to the fact that employees in the pulp and paper industry handling slimicides are exposed to extraordinarily high concentrations of methylisothiazolinones and run a substantial risk of being sensitized. The report also stresses the need for improved handling routines of those strong sensitizers in the paper mills.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1997

Potential side effects of dental amalgam restorations. (I). An oral and medical investigation.

The aim of this study was to explore a possible association between health status and self-reported adverse effects related to dental amalgam restorations. A group of 50 consecutive patients (index group), referred for complaints self-related to dental amalgam restorations, was compared with a control group of individuals matched by age, sex and postal zip code. The patients underwent an oral, stomatognathic, medical and clinical chemistry examination. Mercury levels were examined in blood, urine and hair. The results revealed that somatic diseases were more common in the index group (38% versus 6%). Symptoms related to cranio-mandibular dysfunction were reported by 74% of the patients in the index group versus 24% in the control group, and were diagnosed in 62% and 36%, respectively. The oral health status and the number of amalgam surfaces were similar in the 2 groups. No positive skin patch test to mercury was found in any of the groups. The estimated mercury intake from fish consumption, occupational exposure, and mercury levels in blood and urine were also similar and far below levels, where negative health effects would be expected. The correlation between the number of amalgam surfaces and mercury levels in plasma and urine (r=0.43) indicated a release of mercury from dental amalgam restorations in both groups. Since the mercury levels were similar among index patients and controls, mercury was not a likely cause of the impaired health reported by the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Skin symptoms and contact allergy in woodwork teachers.

To estimate the occurrence of skin symptoms and the prevalence of contact allergy to occupational allergens, 84 male woodwork teachers were interviewed, clinically examined and patch tested. The tests included a supplemented European standard series and acetone extracts of wood dust of pine, spruce, juniper and birch. In addition, 10 colophony-allergic volunteers were tested with dilution series of wood dust extracts. Major colophony compounds in the dust extracts were analyzed with gas chromatography. We found a high 1-year period prevalence of generally mild hand eczema: 19%. Contact allergy was diagnosed to several allergens in the working environment, e.g., benzisothiazolin-3-one, nickel, formaldehyde and colophony. A clear relationship between patch test reactions to colophony and to coniferous woods, especially pine, was found. Exposure to wood dust at work caused dermatitis in a colophony-sensitized teacher.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Wood dust from jelutong (Dyera costulata) causes contact allergy.

Jelutong is the wood from Dyera costulata growing in south-east Asia. It is soft and easy to work and is used in, e.g., model workshops in car factories. It has also been much used in woodwork teaching in Swedish comprehensive schools. To estimate the prevalence of contact allergy to jelutong, 84 woodwork teachers and 110 consecutive dermatitis patients were patch tested with extract from wood dust of jelutong. 16/84 (19%) teachers had positive reactions. When they were tested with a dilution series, positive reactions were obtained for 6 mg and down to 0.3 mg of the extracted material. Half the test-positive teachers had skin symptoms that might be related to exposure to jelutong 4/110 dermatitis patients at the clinic also had positive reactions, and possible exposure to jelutong was traced in 3 of them. 3 other dermatitis patients had flare-up reactions after about 2 weeks, indicating patch-test sensitization. To investigate the sensitizing capacity of the extract, the cumulative contact enhancement test was performed in guinea pigs. This confirmed that the extracted material was sensitizing, and a clear dose-response relationship was found. The schools will be recommended to use safer wood alternatives in woodwork teaching.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Airborne contact dermatitis from unexpected exposure to rosin (colophony). Rosin sources revealed with chemical analyses.

We report 3 cases of contact dermatitis in rosin-sensitive individuals caused by exposure to airborne rosin components from different sources. Case no. 1 was a female office worker with a facial dermatitis caused by rosin components which emanated from the linoleum floor covering in her office. Floor material containing wood flour and rosin was released into the air, causing a facial dermatitis in the rosin-sensitive subject. Case no. 2 involved a woman who worked in a factory producing dairy product cartons and had a dermatitis on her lower legs, lower arms and upper chest. Her dermatitis was caused by dust from the paper cartons and contact allergy to rosin components probably aggravated her dermatitis. Case no. 3 was a female office worker with a relapsing dermatitis on her eyelids. Her dermatitis was caused by a rosin-containing floor polish, which was seen as a powder on the office floor. Extracts of suspected material and products were patch tested and analysed for the presence of rosin components with HPLC and GC techniques. A discussion and recommendations on chemical analyses of rosin components follow. We conclude that a thorough investigation, including chemical analyses, can rule out non-specific diagnoses and offer a solution to the patient's skin problems.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1994

Hand eczema in car mechanics.

To estimate the prevalence of hand eczema, a questionnaire was distributed to 901 male car mechanics. Of the 801 persons who responded, 15% reported hand eczema on some occasion in the previous 12 months, and 57% admitted dry skin on the hands. In a 2nd part of the study, those who reported hand eczema were examined and patch tested with a standard series and a special "car mechanics' series". The most common diagnosis was irritant contact dermatitis, 55%, and 2nd was allergic contact dermatitis, 19%. 35/105 (33%) had a total of 51 positive patch test reactions, all to substances in the standard series, except for 2 persons who reacted to oxidized d-limonene. The most frequent reactions were to thimerosal (9%), nickel (8%) and colophony (5%). One plausible explanation for the high prevalence of nickel allergy was the common use of nickel-plated tools. 5 individuals had a history of contact urticaria, but scratch tests were negative. It was concluded that car mechanics are at high risk for contact dermatitis on the hands, irritant as well as allergic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of skin symptoms among workers at a Swedish paper mill.

Process and office workers at a Swedish paper mill (n = 274) and dairy workers (n = 45) were investigated with questionnaires regarding skin symptoms. In the second part of the study, subjects reporting skin symptoms and a random sample of subjects without symptoms were examined and investigated with patch testing. Pruritus and skin irritation probably related to exposure to dust were found. The results do not indicate an increased prevalence of contact allergy. In two cases, positive patch test reactions to paper size (rosin) and a slimicide, mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), were noted.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Skin symptoms among workers in a spice factory.

Workers in a Swedish spice factory (n = 70), and in the office (n = 23) of the same company, were investigated by questionnaire regarding skin symptoms. In a 2nd part of the study, subjects reporting skin symptoms were examined and investigated by patch and prick testing. Skin symptoms were reported by 1/2 the factory workers. Pruritus and skin irritation, particularly from cinnamon powder, were common. Patch test reactions to cinnamic aldehyde were found in 11/25 factory workers, but in several cases, the nature of the reactions was difficult to evaluate. Irritant patch test reactions were seen from powders of cardamom, paprika and white pepper. On prick testing, 6/25 workers reacted to cinnamic aldehyde. The results illustrate the difficulties of patch testing with spices and indicate the need for further research and validation of methods.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1993

Asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis in workers exposed to reactive dyes.

A survey was conducted at 15 textile plants with dyehouses in western Sweden. Employees with a history of work related rhinitis, asthma, or skin symptoms were offered a clinical and immunological investigation including skin prick tests, skin patch tests, and radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) to detect specific allergy to reactive dyes. Among the 1142 employees, 162 were exposed to reactive dyes and 10 of these (6%) reported work related respiratory or nasal symptoms. An allergy to reactive dyes could be confirmed in five (3%, 95% confidence interval 1-7%). All but one had been exposed to reactive dyes for one year or less before the onset of symptoms. Positive RASTs could be detected in four of the five patients. All of the RAST positive patients were positive to remazol black B, but six out of eight additional remazol dyes also elicited positive results. RAST and RAST inhibition showed a cross reactivity between some of the dyes. Seven persons with work related dermatitis and three with urticaria or Quincke oedema were found. In one patient contact dermatitis to a monoazo dye was shown, but no positive patch test reactions to reactive dyes. IgE-mediated allergy to reactive dyes seems to be an important cause of respiratory and nasal symptoms among dyehouse employees exposed to dust from reactive dyes.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Allergic contact dermatitis from the earmolds of hearing aids.

Hearing aid users with longstanding and severe dermatitis in the ear canal were examined by a dermatologist and patch tested. In 6 of 22 (27%) patients, contact allergy to the earmold material was found. Four of the six had a positive test reaction to methyl methacrylate and two also to triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate and urethane dimethacrylate. Positive patch test reactions to substances used for topical treatment were found as well. Routines including liberal patch testing for this group of patients are suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Consequences of having hand eczema.

Consequences of hand eczema were studied in 1238 patients who had the diagnosis confirmed in a prevalence study of hand eczema in the population of Gothenburg. It was found that 2/3 of the patients had consulted a doctor on some occasion and 1/5 had been on sick leave for their hand eczema. The mean total time on sick leave was 18.9 weeks, the median 8 weeks. Patients in service occupations reported more periods of sick leave than other occupational groups. Local steroid preparations were used by 1/2 the patients, emollients by 85%. Change of work was reported by 8% and was most common in service occupations. Hairdressers had the highest rate of change. 80% of the patients experienced some kind of disturbance to their social and emotional lives, considered to be caused by the hand eczema. Frequent itching was reported by 1/2 the patients, occasional itching by another 1/3. Comparing different types of hand eczema, allergic contact dermatitis seemed throughout to cause more serious consequences. It is concluded that good care of a hand eczema patient includes attention to the impact of the disease on the patient's total situation.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1990

Allergic contact dermatitis from diphenylthiourea in Vulkan heat retainers.

11 cases of contact dermatitis from Vulkan heat retainers are reported. The skin eruptions started on days 1-11 after the 1st day of exposure. The clinical picture varied from eczema through urticaria to purpura. In some cases, the symptoms were severe. Patch testing was performed in 10 individuals and all reacted positively to the heat retainer and/or the rubber glue used in the heat retainer. A series of rubber chemicals was patch tested in 7 patients and all showed positive reactions to diphenylthiourea (DPTU), and all but one to ethylene thiourea (ETU). TLC examination revealed a spot with the same RF-value as DPTU in extracts of the adhesive, but no spot corresponding to ETU. There were no indications of impurities in the test preparations of DPTU and ETU. By HPLC, the content of DPTU in the adhesive was determined as 0.6% w/w.

Adhesives↗
PubMed1990

Occupational hand eczema in an industrial city.

Hand eczema in relation to occupation was studied in an industrial city. Questionnaires were sent to 20,000 individuals aged 20-65 years, randomly selected from the population register of the city. Those subjects (1385) considering themselves to have had hand eczema within the previous 12 months were invited to a dermatological examination including patch testing. It was found that the reported 1-year period prevalence of hand eczema in the total sample was 11.8%. The only occupational group reporting a statistically significant higher 1-year period prevalence was service work, 15.4%. Among all occupations, cleaners turned out to have the highest period prevalence, 21.3%. Hand eczema was more common among people reporting some kind of occupational exposure. The most harmful exposure turned out to be to unspecified chemicals, water and detergents and dust and dry dirt. The use of protective gloves is reported and analysed. The most common contact allergy was nickel, followed by cobalt, fragrance-mix, balsam of Peru and colophony. A statistically significant increase in contact allergy to colophony for women in administrative work was found. It is concluded that the type of hand eczema that is mostly dependent on occupation is irritant contact dermatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Predictive factors for hand eczema.

Factors related to hand eczema were studied. Their relative importance as predictors was ranked by multiple logistic regression analysis. Questionnaires were sent to 20,000 individuals aged 20-65 years, randomly selected from the population register. Those subjects (1385) considering themselves to have had hand eczema within the previous 12 months were invited to a dermatological examination. It was found that a history of childhood eczema was the most important predictive factor for hand eczema. Second was female sex, followed by occupational exposure, a history of asthma and/or hay fever, and a service occupation. A small decrease in risk with advancing age was also found. The difference in the probability of having had eczema in a 1-year period, between individuals having the most important risk factors studied and those having none of them, proved to be for females 48% compared to 8%, and for males 34% compared to 4%. A history of childhood eczema was found to be more common among young persons, indicating an increase in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. Of those individuals who reported childhood eczema, 27% reported hand eczema on some occasion during the last 12 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiology of hand eczema in an industrial city.

To elucidate the importance of hand eczema in the population of Gothenburg, a questionnaire was sent to 20,000 individuals aged 20-65 years, randomly selected from the population register of the city. After two reminders, a response rate of 83% was obtained. Those individuals considering themselves to have had hand eczema within the previous 12 months were invited to a dermatological examination including patch testing. 1385 persons (71%) participated. Analysis of drop-outs was performed by interview by telephone and post. The 1-year period prevalence of hand eczema was estimated to be about 11% and the point prevalence 5.4%. Hand eczema was twice as common among females as among males. The most common type of hand eczema was irritant contact dermatitis (35%), followed by atopic hand eczema (22%) and allergic contact dermatitis (19%). The most common contact allergies were to nickel, cobalt, fragrance-mix, balsam of Peru and colophony. Comparing these results with a 20-year earlier study on hand eczema, an increased prevalence, especially of atopic hand eczema, was found. The only occupational group that reported a significantly higher period prevalence of hand eczema was service workers. Of all occupations, cleaners had the highest period prevalence, 21.3%. Hand eczema was more common among people reporting some kind of occupational exposure. The most harmful exposure turned out to be to unspecified chemicals, water and detergents and dust and dry dirt. The only contact allergen that was statistically related to an occupational group was colophony among female office workers. Change of work, where the hand eczema was the main reason, was reported by 8% and was most common in service work. Hairdressers had the highest frequency of change. Hand eczema was shown to be a long-lasting disease with a relapsing course. 69% of the patients had consulted a doctor and 21% had been on sick-leave at least once because of their hand eczema. The mean total sick-leave time was 18.9 weeks, median 8 weeks. Treatment with topical steroids was reported by 51%, emollients by 85%. Frequent itching was reported by 54% of the patients. 81% experienced some kind of disturbance of their daily life considered to be caused by the hand eczema. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the most important predictive factor for hand eczema was a history of childhood eczema. Number two was female sex, followed by occupational exposure, a history of asthma and/or hayfever and a service occupation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗