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Biomedical subjects

H Keskinen

Publications and source records attributed to H Keskinen.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Occupational dermatitis from exposure to polyurethane chemicals.

In addition to asthma, contact dermatitis may also develop from occupational contact with polyurethane (PU) chemicals. 6 cases of allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to PU chemicals were diagnosed in 1974-1990. The present paper summarizes the results and gives detailed descriptions of 3 such patients. 3 patients were allergic to 5 different diisocyanates (DICs), including 4,4'-diphenylmethane DIC (MDI), toluene DIC (TDI), 1,6-hexamethylene DIC (HID), and furthermore to diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA). 3 patients were sensitized by exposure to MDI. 2 of these reacted to MDI and MDA, and 1 to TDI in addition. 1 of the 3 patients reacted only to MDA, possibly formed by hydrolysis of MDI. Primary sensitization to MDA and cross-allergy to MDI could explain the reactions of the patients exposed to MDI, but separate sensitization may also be possible. Patch tests with fresh petrolatum (pet.) mixtures were first made and a 2% concentration was recommended for MDI and TDI. In order to determine the stability of DIC test substances, the last 2 patients were tested with old test substances. Tests with MDI 1.5% pet. and TDI 1.5% pet., 5.5 months and 15.5 months old, were positive. The results suggest that, when allergy to PU chemicals is suspected, patch tests should include, in addition to MDA, at least MDI and TDI 1.5-2% pet. They also suggest that test substances can be used for over a year, and that allergy to MDA may point to MDI exposure contained in PU chemicals.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Allergy to coriander. A case report.

After 3 years of occupational exposure to powdered coriander - a spice - a woman developed respiratory symptoms of immediate hypersensitivity. Skin tests, nasal and bronchial challenge tests and the RAST were positive to coriander. Column chromatography, enzymatic digestion of the fractions and skin testing suggested that the allergen is a protein.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Humidifier-associated extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Three cases of allergic alveolitis due to indoor humdification systems are described. Thermoactinomyces vulgaris precipitins were detected in the serum of a 37-year-old female patient who had typical febrile attacks during exposure to cool-mist from a home humidifier. When the cause was detected and eliminated, the symptoms and signs disappeared and the woman's gas transfer factor improved from 56% to normal within six months. In a printing office a 60-year-old woman had had febrile attacks with cough for more than a year. The patient herself associated the respiratory disease with a cool-mist humidifier sometimes used at work. The water reservoir was heavily contaminated with amoebas (Amoeba proteus), which might have been the causative organisms in this case. Aspergillus fumigatus precipitins were found in the serum of a 53-year-old female printer with the clinical picture of occupational allergic alveolitis. The same organism was detected in the ambient air of the printing office.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Unsuitability of bakery work for a person with atopy: a study of 234 bakery workers.

A disease of the atopic group was established in 25% of bakery employees investigated: 9% had asthma, 25% allergic rhinitis and 5% atopic eczema. The definite role of flour dust as an allergen maintaining asthma was established in 14 of 21 bakery employees with asthma. The onset of asthma in bakery work occurred after an average of 4.2 years of exposure to flour dust. The study revealed that 71% of the bakers suffering from an atopic disease had close relations with a history of atopic disease, whereas the corresponding percentage for the healthy group was 17. The results indicated that no person with current atopic disease or earlier signs of one should be given employment in the bakery branch. A relative bar to employment appears to be also the occurrence of these forms of diseases in the applicant's close relations.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Immediate-type hypersensitivity to reactive dyes.

Reactive dyes have gained extensive use in recent years. This paper reports four cases of immediate-type occupational allergy to these compounds. All the patients had had symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis, and had been weighing dyes for a minimum of 2 years. The skin prick tests were positive, and nasal and bronchial provocation challenges also produced positive immediate reactions. A high serum titre of specific IgE could be demonstrated for at least one dyd by the radioallergosorbent test. The identification of specific IgE shows that the mechanism of the hypersensitivity is immunological, reactive dyes acting probably as haptens.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Occupational asthma in Finland.

In Finland occupational asthma caused by protein allergens and reactive chemicals present in the air of work environments is increasing. This communication describes provocative challenge tests and methods for measuring exposure under simulated work conditions. The importance of lung function measurements during non-exposure and placebo periods is stressed. Especially late reactions are difficult to assess because of the great circadian variation in the lung function parameters of asthmatics. For a positive challenge test, a decrease in peak flow values of at least 15% and a clear deviation from normal circadian variation and placebo periods is required. The allergens of vegetable or animal origin primarily affect patients with an atopic constitution. Chemical allergens seem to attack all exposed workers in the same way. The report lists the occupations with risk for asthma and refers to the population at risk; bakers seem to be the group with the most risk. The importance of early diagnosis, removal of the worker from exposure and improvement of the hygienic aspects of the work environment are stressed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1978

Asthma, allergy and bronchial hyper-reactivity to histamine in patients with bronchiectasis.

An allergy examination was made on forty-eight consecutive bronchiectasis patients, with a mean age of 37 years. Eleven had confirmed asthma and another nine, making twenty in all (42%), had distinct allergic diathesis. Allergy to a specific allergen was established in five cases. 50% of the patients in the total series had bronchial histamine hyper-reactivity, eleven without asthma or distinct allergic diathesis. The results corroborate views previously reported of the role of asthmatic symptoms and allergic diathesis as aetiological factors of bronchiectasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Deficiency of alpha1-antitrypsin and bronchiectasis.

60 consecutive patients with bronchiectasis were screened for alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. Six cases (10%) with genotype PiMZ (alpha1-antitrypsin less than 66% of normal) were found. This frequency (10%) was statistically significantly (p less than 0.005) higher than the frequency of PiMZ (2.7%) in the control group. In two patients the bronchiectasis was cystic. It is suggested that the deficiency states of alpha1-antitrypsin promoting the proteolysis can participate in the genesis of bronchiectasis.

Adolescent↗