Biomedical subjects
K H Schulz
Publications and source records attributed to K H Schulz.
The sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring quinones. Experimental studies in guinea pigs. I. Naphthoquinones and related compounds.
Experimental studies on the sensitization capacity of naturally occurring naphthoquinones derived from plants and woods have been carried out with 6 compounds. With 4 of these substances (desoxylapachol, menadione, lapachenole andmacassar quinone) guinea pigs could be sensitized. Desoxylapachol, sensitizer from teak wood, and lapachenole, sensitizer from perobawood proved to be the most effective ones. Experiments with macassar quinone (oxidation product of a naphthalene constituent of macassar ebony) still demonstrate that even ortho-naphthoquinones are capable to induce contact allergy. Allergic cross reactions could be obtained with 9 out of 14 different napthoquinones. In animals sensitized with desoxylapachol menadione and lapachol showed the strongest eliciting effect. Furthermore the study demonstrated that the sensitizing effect of naphthoquinones depends on the length and position of the side chain attached to the quinoid ring as well as on the substitution of the carbon atom adjacent to the side chain bearing C-atom. With compounds substituted at this C-atom (e.g. position 3 of lapachol or didimethylallylnaphthoquinone) sensitization could not be obtained.
[Relationship between the skin test and the specific IgE (radio-allergo-sorbens test) in the diagnosis of inhalative allergies].
Immediate-type reactions such as asthma, pollinosis and several forms of urticaria can be regarded as type I reactions according to Coombs and Gell. Primary these diseases are caused by the immune globulin E. As skin testing is accompanied by numerous failors, there is a real possibility in increasing the diagnostic relevance by measurement of the specific IgE in serum (Radio-Allergo-Sorbens-Test = RAST; Phadebas-RAST -- Pharmacia Uppsala). There are often found divergent results and therefore this investigation was started. 1357 RAST-results (530 patients) were compared with skin tests in order to investigate the concordance of the two test-methods. The statistical analysis is performed wit "4-square-Chi2". Very good correspondence could be calculated for the pollens of Festuca elatior, Poa pratensis, horse-epithelium and housedustmite (1 0/00O significancy). 1 0/0 significancy was found for catepithelium and 5 0/0 for Birch-pollen. The advantages and the disadventages of RAST are discussed.
[On the sensitizing capacity of naturally occurring quinones. Part III. A new contact allergen (2-dimethylallyl-1,4-benzoquinone) from Phagnalon sp. (Compositae) (author's transl)].
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Occupational contact dermatitis due to croton (Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss var. pictum (Lodd.) Muell. Arg.). Sensitization by plants of the Euphorbiaceae.
One of today's most decorative and popular ornamental potted plants is Croton. Handling this plant over a period of 6 months produced contact eczema of the hands in a nursery gardener. Patch tests with Croton leaves were positive. Control tests remained negative. Sensitization experiments in guinea pigs with a methanolic extract of the leaves were successful. All results of the study indicate that: -latex of croton produces no primary irritant reaction -latex is able to induce a real contact allergy -contact allergens are constituents of the milky sap. Whether the di- and triesters of phorbol so far isolated as irritant and cocarcinogenic factors from the latex of various Euphorbiaceae species and sensitizers shall be investigated in further experiments.
[Contact allergy caused by new dental impression materials].
In 1965 a new group of polymeric materials has been introduced into dentistry which is used for temporary crowns, bridges and impression materials. In handling it contact may occur with all components of these impression materials (Scutan, Impregum). Contact over a long period may lead to allergic contact dermatitis. Epicutaneous tests in three dentists and a technical assistant revealed that the catalysts of the impression materials are responsible for contact allergy. In experiments with guinea pigs the strong sensitization capacity of the catalysts could be demonstrated. Methyl-dichlorbenzolsulfonat (catalyst of Impregum) showed a stronger effect than methyl-p-toluolsulfonat (catalyst of Scutan). Besides their allergenic properties these substances also act as primary irritants. As these materials are widespread in dentistry more attention should be payed at the risk of hand eczemas in dentists and dental personnel caused by the catalysts of Impregum and Scutan.
[Immunology of eczemas].
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[Occupational contact allergy due to new impression materials in dental practice. (Scutan and Impregum)].
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[Mushroom worker's lung caused by inhalation of spores of the edible fungus pleurotus Florida ("oyster mushroom") (author's transl)].
A new edible mushroom, known as oyster mushroom (Pleutrotus Florida, variety of Pleurotus ostreatus) has recently gained commercial importance in Europe, having been imported from the U.S.A. in 1963 and cultivated in Germany between 1972 and 1973. Several persons concerned with the cultivation and industrial production of this mushroom fell ill, after close contact with it over a period of some months, with exhaustion, headache, chills and fever, and cough. These symptoms, similar to those of "farmer's lung" were proved to be caused by the spores of Pleurotus Florida, inhaled in harvesting rooms. The suspicion of an allergic disease, is supported by the history and clinical picture, and the demonstration of precipitating antibodies against spore extracts (Ouchterlony test). The antigens probably have a high molecular weight and are fixed to the spore membrane. Experimental sensitisation of rabbits also revealed precipitins. One of three isolated antigens produced antibodies identical in man and rabbit.
Chrysanthemum allergy III. Identification of the allergens.
Experimental and chemical studies in guinea pigs on contact allergy caused by Chrysanthemum indicum L. (Chrysanthemum of the florists) led to the isolation of several sesquiterpene lactones. From the crude extract of dried flowers 12 fractions were obtained of which four gave strong reactions on epicutaneous application to guinea pigs sensitized with an extract of C. indicum L. One of these allergens was identified as a sesquiterpene lactone of the guaianolide type. It is identical to Arteglasin-A derived from Artemisia douglasiana Bess. The occurrence of Arteglasin-A in Chrysanthemum indicum L. as well as its allergenic properties are described forthe first time. These findings give rise to the assumption that the other, as yet unidentified sesquiterpene lactones of this flower also belong to the guaianolide type.
[Occupational allergy due to inhalation of pollen from Euphorbia fulgens Karw (author's transl)].
The increased cultivation and sales of Euphorbia fulgens Karw., originating in Mexico, has in the last few years led to occupational allergy, type I, in three growers manifesting itself as nasal disease, tracheobronchitis or bronchial asthma. Intracutaneous tests with pollen extracts were positive in all cases, even at high dilution. A specific hyposensitisation regimen, conducted over five months, gave highly promising results in one patient who had no symptoms in the following season, despite similar exposure. Such sensitisation by pollens of Euphorbia fulgens Karw. is probably widespread among growers and florists. The allergen is found only in the pollen, not in other parts of the plant. There is no relation to the toxic substances in the milk-sap of this plant family (Euphorbiaceae).
Squaric-acid-diethylester - a strong sensitizer.
A patient developed a circumscribed contact dermatitis after a single contact with squaric-acid-diethylester (SADE). Patch tests with low concentrations of SADE were positive. Based on these observations, experimental studies on the sensitizing capacity of SADE were performed on guinea-pigs. The results disclosed that this compound is a strong sensitizer. Derivatives of SADE, such as the nearly insoluble squaric acid, squaric acid-1,2-diamide and dithio-N,N'-dicyclohexyle-1,2-diamide were not able to produce allergic skin reactions in the sensitized patient nor in guinea pigs. The chemistry and the range of uses of squaric acid and its derivatives are briefly mentioned. A hypothesis on the molecular mechanism of conjugation of SADE to human proteins and thereby on sensitization is discussed. A warning is given for taking precautionary measures before handling this substance.
Comparison of guinea pig sensitization methods.
Up to now, different methods in guinea pig sensitization were used, to assess contact sensitization potential of low molecular weight chemicals. In order to compare the efficiency of the epicutaneous, intradermal and combined sensitization methods, two stronger sensitizers, the water soluble chlormethylimidazoline hydrochloride (CMI) and the lipid soluble 1,3-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were used for the experiments. Eleven modified sensitization methods were performed. In a first trial each substance was tested on 10 animals. In a further study those techniques which had produced the best results, that is the highest degree of sensitization, were applied to 25 to 30 animals. For comparison of the results of the various methods, a mean sensitization index was calculated. The best results were achieved with the Maximization Test of Magnusson & Kligman (1969) and the Split Adjuvant Technique of Maguire & Chase (1967).
[Allergological studies of the Lyell syndrome].
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A first allergenic sesquiterpene lactone from Chrysanthemum indicum L.: arteglasin-A.
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Experimental studies on the identification of chrysanthemum allergens.
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Chrysanthemum allergy. Pt. II: Experimental studies on the causative agents.
Experimental studies on allergic contact dermatitis due to Chrysanthemum indicum 1. (Chrysanthemum x-morifolium) (chrysanthemum of the florists) have indicated the following results: 1. In 5 patients with allergic contact dermatitis from chrysanthemum oil of turpentine and its sensitizing compounds gave no patch test responses. No relationship between contact allergy due to chrysanthemus and to turpentine oil could be determined. 2. The pyrethrins, constituents with insecticidal activity, derived from certain Chrysanthemum species and often suspected as the causative agents, play no role in chrysanthemum allergy. 3. Tests on sensitized guinea pigs (pirl bright white strain) with flowers of chrysanthemum as well as with the two sesquiterpene lactones parthenolide and alantolactone, derived from different Composite species, gave positive patch test reactions. The results showed that parthenolide produced stronger reactions than alantolactone. 4. By thin layer chromatography neither parthenolide, nor alantolactone or pyrethrosin could be detected in extracts of chrysanthemum flowers of the florists. But the investigations indicated that several other terpenic compounds are present, which gave positive color reactions to certain lactone reagents. Five of them showed strong positive patch test reactions in our patients as well as in sensitized guinea pigs. Further studies are required to identify these compounds.
[Contact eczema due to plants and woods].
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