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M H Beck

Publications and source records attributed to M H Beck.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Occupational contact dermatitis in the UK: a surveillance report from EPIDERM and OPRA.

Since February 1993 the EPIDERM surveillance scheme has collected data on occupational skin disease from consultant dermatologists in the UK. Reporting by occupational physicians to the scheme began in May 1994 and was superseded in January 1996 by the Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity (OPRA). The schemes currently receive reports on incident cases from 244 dermatologists and 790 occupational physicians. An estimated total of 9937 cases of contact dermatitis reported by dermatologists was calculated from surveillance data; 8129 contact dermatitis cases were estimated from reports by occupational physicians. The annual incidence of occupational contact dermatitis from dermatologist reports was 6.4 cases per 100,000 workers and 6.5 per 100,000 from reports by occupational physicians, an overall rate of 12.9 cases per 100,000 workers. Manufacturing industries account for the greatest number of cases seen by both sets of reporting physicians, with health care employment second. Reports from dermatologists also indicate high rates of dermatitis in the personal service industries (mainly hairdressers and barbers) and in agriculture. With the exception of an increase in cases seen in nurses in both schemes, the numbers and proportions of cases of contact dermatitis within occupations have remained fairly constant over the 6-year reporting period. Agents accounting for the highest number of allergic contact dermatitis cases were rubber (23.4% of allergic cases reported by dermatologists), nickel (18.2), epoxies and other resins (15.6), aromatic amines (8.6), chromium and chromates (8.1), fragrances and cosmetics (8.0), and preservatives (7.3). Soaps (22.0% of cases), wet work (19.8), petroleum products (8.7), solvents (8.0), and cutting oils and coolants (7.8) were the most frequently cited agents in cases of irritant dermatitis. The national scope of the data, together with the parallel structure by which both dermatologists and occupational physicians report incident cases, is useful in determining the extent of skin hazards in UK industry and may help in better targeting efforts to reduce the burden of skin disease at work.

Dermatitis, Occupational↗
PubMed2000

Parastomal pyoderma gangrenosum: clinical features and management.

BACKGROUND: The importance of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) as a cause of ulceration around abdominal stomas is not well recognized. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the incidence, clinical and histologic features, disease associations, and possible risk factors for parastomal PG. METHODS: A clinic, run by a dermatologist and two stoma nurses, was created. Five hundred patients approached by postal questionnaire were invited to attend if they had skin problems. In addition, local surgical, dermatologic, and nursing services were invited to refer patients with parastomal skin problems. Cases of parastomal PG were identified, investigated, and treated. RESULTS: The annual incidence of parastomal PG in the questionnaire-based cohort of patients was 0.6% (3 patients). An additional 23 patients with the condition were seen. No consistent hematologic, biochemical, immunologic, microbiological or histologic abnormalities were identified. Local skin damage did not appear to be an important trigger for parastomal PG. The condition is recurrent in one third of cases. Topical tacrolimus (0.3% in carmellose sodium paste) has been effective in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: Parastomal PG is far more common than previous reports would suggest, and it may be associated with diseases other than inflammatory bowel disease.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1999

An audit to identify the optimum referral rate to a contact dermatitis investigation unit.

The principle of patch testing is to identify individuals with a contact allergy of relevance to their disorder and to provide avoidance advice in an attempt to improve or resolve their condition. We aimed to define an optimum referral rate to a centralized contact dermatitis unit using a retrospective analysis of data relating to 10 consultants. The results showed no significant difference (P = 0.21) in the percentage of relevant positive individuals identified between the consultants. However, a linear relationship (r = 0.99) was seen between the number of relevant positive allergic reactions and the number referred by individual consultants. We propose that the minimal annual referral rate for patch testing from a predominately urban population in a developed country is one in 700 of the population.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1999

The prevalence of corticosteroid allergy in two U.K. centres: prescribing implications.

Allergic contact dermatitis to topical corticosteroids is a common problem, seen in up to 6% of patients undergoing patch testing. Rates of steroid allergy vary widely both within and between countries. It has previously been shown that non-fluorinated steroids degrade and react with arginine more rapidly in an in vitro system and may therefore be more likely to sensitize than fluorinated steroids. We have compared the rates of steroid allergy and corticosteroid prescribing habits in two different areas in England to observe the relationship between these factors. The results suggest that predominant use of non-fluorinated corticosteroids (hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate and budesonide) results in a higher prevalence of corticosteroid contact allergy in comparison with those areas using a greater proportion of fluorinated corticosteroids.

Administration, Topical↗