Squamous cell carcinoma complicating hidradenitis suppurativa.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J D Wilkinson.
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Angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH) is a term that was first introduced by Badham in 1967 to describe a bullous disorder in which recurrent oral blood blisters appear in the absence of any identifiable systemic disorder. The aetiology of this condition remains obscure. Three cases are described, and their similarities and differences discussed. In one case the histopathology showed an intradermal blister; this feature has not previously been recorded for this condition.
A total of 8149 patients were patch tested with the preservative Bronopol in 7 European contact clinics. The majority of patients (6507) were investigated in London. Reactivity was low, with a total of 10 irritant (0.12%) and 38 allergic reactions (0.47%). In only 17 cases (0.21%) was the patch test reaction to Bronopol considered to be of current or past clinical relevance. Concomitant sensitization to formaldehyde was present in about 1/3 of patients. Based on these figures, the present sensitization rate to Bronopol in Europe seems to be quite low, which may be related to its less frequent use as a preservative in cosmetics and medicaments in comparison to parabens or isothiazolinones.
Panel 2 of the standardized, ready-to-apply patch test, the TRUE Test, has been evaluated on 808 patients with suspected contact dermatitis. The patients were tested with 11 different allergens and the negative control, and compared with corresponding allergens in pet. (or aq.) in Finn Chambers fixed with Scanpor. The TRUE Test, Panel 2 and the control were applied symmetrically on the upper back. Left/right application of the respective test varied at random. Most tests were removed after 48 h and evaluated after 72 or 96 h, according to generally accepted recommendations. There were positive test reactions to all 11 allergens tested in the patient group. The concordance of positive reactions (1+, 2+, 3+) was 63% between TRUE Test, Panel 2 and the control method; 17% of positive reactions occurred only with TRUE Test, Panel 2 and 20% only with the compared method. Approximately 75% of all positive test reactions were explained by the patients' present or past history. Irritant/questionable reactions occurred in the same frequency for the 2 methods. Such reactions were recorded in less than 1% of all patches applied. No late reactions were recorded.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of colourings and preservatives in drug formulations in the United Kingdom. DESIGN: Postal survey. PARTICIPANTS: All pharmaceutical manufacturers in the United Kingdom were requested to supply data on drug formulations with particular regard to the content of colourings and preservatives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence in proprietary drugs of colourings or preservatives, or both, that have been implicated in adverse reactions. Computation of a list of formulations of bronchodilators, antihistamines, and antibiotics that are free of such additives. RESULTS: A total of 118 out of 120 pharmaceutical companies supplied the data requested. In all, 2204 drug formulations were analysed and found to contain 419 different additives, of which 52 were colourings and preservatives that have been implicated in adverse reactions; 930 formulations contained such an additive. Tartrazine was the fourth most commonly occurring colouring, being present in 124 drug formulations. CONCLUSION: Many drugs contain additives that help to identify them and prolong their shelf life but are implicated in adverse reactions in some people. Some form of labelling of drug additives would enable these people to avoid drugs containing such additives.
Consecutive admissions to two pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in France (n = 93) and the United States (n = 248) were compared using admission demographics, and daily therapeutic and severity of illness data. Analysis of the major demographic characteristics revealed that patients in the French PICU were younger (median age; 3 months vs. 31 months, P less than 0.001), and more commonly admitted for emergency reasons (92% vs. 66%, P less than 0.05). General resource utilization was similar in both units. However, important differences in the incidences of use of individual monitoring and therapeutic modalities were present. The United States PICU had higher incidences of invasive monitoring modalities (arterial catheters, 66% vs. 4%, P less than 0.001; central venous catheters, 38% vs. 11%, P less than 0.001; pulmonary artery catheters, 8% vs. 1%, P less than 0.01), while the French PICU had higher incidences of labor-intensive monitoring modalities (strict input/output, 75% vs. 47%, P less than 0.0001; greater than 3 stat blood studies/shift, 69% vs. 45%, P less than 0.0001). Patients in France were more likely to receive mechanical ventilation (81% vs. 56%, P less than 0.0001) and nutritional support (40% vs. 7%, P less than 0.05). Mortality rates in both PICUs were similar and accurately predicted by admission-day severity of illness scores. We conclude that differential resource utilization, possibly arising from different care philosophies, may result in equivalent care.
Irritant contact dermatitis may be induced by many chemicals and has a far greater incidence than allergic contact dermatitis. Despite this, it receives relatively little attention and its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. To gain a greater understanding of the interaction of irritants with the skin, we investigated the histopathological changes resulting from the topical application of a series of structurally unrelated irritants. Human volunteers were patch-tested with appropriate concentrations of nonanoic acid, sodium lauryl sulphate, dithranol, benzalkonium chloride, croton oil, and propylene glycol, which produced generally mild to moderate responses. Biopsy specimens were taken after 48 h and examined by light and electron microscopy. Spongiosis and the infiltration of predominantly mononuclear cells were observed in the epidermis of the majority of biopsy specimens, and were particularly pronounced and extensive in croton oil reactions. In addition, several irritants induced distinct and characteristic patterns of keratinocyte damage. Nonanoic acid and sodium lauryl sulphate caused morphologic changes indicative of disturbances in keratinocyte metabolism and differentiation, giving rise to dyskeratosis and parakeratosis respectively, while dithranol induced marked swelling of keratinocytes in the upper epidermis. The results suggest that there is a diversity and specificity in the histopathology of irritant contact dermatitis, reflecting the different ways in which chemicals may interact with components of the skin.
A case of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is described. Exacerbation occurred premenstrually and after intramuscular and oral challenge with synthetic progesterone. The condition failed to respond to oestrogen, but there has been a marked improvement with the anti-oestrogen drug Tamoxifen.
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Nail infections caused by Candida species are normally associated with chronic paronychia or chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC). However, the role of Candida in the pathogenesis of other primary nail dystrophies has been questioned in view of their response to antifungal therapy alone. In the present study of 86 patients with primary nail dystrophies from which Candida was isolated, three patterns of nail involvement were found. Nineteen patients, of whom 17 had CMCC, had total dystrophic onychomycosis of at least two nails. The second group consisted of 27 patients with paronychia and lateral onycholysis. In a further 40 patients, who did not have paronychia, Candida was isolated from nails showing primary distal and lateral onycholysis. These changes were mainly seen in patients with peripheral vascular disease, particularly Raynaud's disease, or Cushing's syndrome. Nail biopsies from patients in the latter two groups confirmed the presence of yeasts and mycelium in the nail plate and 17 (46%) of those receiving antifungal therapy with ketoconazole or itraconazole showed complete clearance of the nail dystrophy. Good responses to therapy were seen more frequently in patients with peripheral vascular disease or Cushing's syndrome of whom 15 (72%) recovered; distal erosion of the nail plate, mycelium in the nail plate on biopsy or direct microscopy together with the isolation of C. albicans were all associated with good responses to antifungals. In addition to patients with CMCC or paronychia, therefore, Candida appears to be a significant pathogen in some patients with primary onycholysis of the finger nails, particularly where there is underlying peripheral vascular disease or Cushing's syndrome.
Assessment of erythema in experimentally-induced irritant contact dermatitis has been performed visually and using the laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF). A close correlation was shown between the 2 methods (r = 0.9079, p less than 0.001), with the LDF producing mean blood flow values which were able to discriminate between the different visual scores. Of the 100 patch tests evaluated, 3 gave poor correlations between their visual and LDF readings, including 2 dithranol reactions and 1 sodium hydroxide response. Patch tests with no visible erythema had blood flow values similar to those of normal untreated skin. Although the LDF was an easy instrument to operate, it was not considered suitable for use in the routine patch test clinic, due mainly to the unacceptable length of time required to measure each patch test.
Patch testing with 7 irritants has been performed on a panel of 42 healthy volunteers, with the aim of determining concentrations which would induce mild to moderate reactions in at least 75% of individuals tested. The irritants studied and their optimum concentrations were as follows: benzalkonium chloride, 0.5%; sodium lauryl sulphate, 5%; croton oil, 0.8%; dithranol, 0.02%; nonanoic acid, 80%; propylene glycol, 100%; sodium hydroxide, 2%. Responder rates lower than 75% had to be accepted for benzalkonium chloride and sodium hydroxide in order to prevent overly severe reactions, whilst propylene glycol proved to have only marginal irritant properties.
The pattern of hair growth, morphology of the hair shafts, and the hair root state are described in four girls and two boys with prepubertal hypertrichosis. The exact nosology of this form of excessive hair growth is discussed in relation to hirsuties and the possibility of it representing an 'atavistic' trait.
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Increasing numbers of infants and children with AIDS are being admitted to the PICU, especially in certain geographic areas. Clear diagnostic criteria are available to aid in the diagnosis. As many as 50 per cent of these patients may be first diagnosed with AIDS during their PICU stay. Most patients are admitted because of ARF, but septic shock and CNS disorders are also common. Acute PICU mortality is in excess of 80 per cent, and presently the long-term mortality for this syndrome stands at 100 per cent. The economic impact of this epidemic is enormous and may become catastrophic if a national strategy to deal with these costs is not developed promptly. The PICU has an important role both in terms of resource use and cost containment. Awareness of unique stresses on medical and nursing staff caring for these children, as well as the unique psychoemotional needs of the patients themselves, is vital. Specific infection control, nutritional, and medical-legal strategies will facilitate safe, effective delivery of care to these infants and children in the PICU. The appropriate long-term role of the PICU in the care of children with an ultimately terminal disease has yet to be determined.
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