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Biomedical subjects

R A Main

Publications and source records attributed to R A Main.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Polyamine sensitization in offshore workers handling drilling muds.

Oil-based mud, a complex mixture containing amines in emulsifiers, is used in offshore drilling operations. It is a skin irritant that occasionally gives rise to allergic contact sensitivity. In patch testing patients with allergy to drilling mud, we have identified polyamine (diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine) sensitivity in 5 patients. All 5 patients were also allergic to emulsifiers. These emulsifiers are cross-linked fatty acid amido-amines, in which unreacted amine groups are thought to cross-sensitize with these constituent polyamines. Cross-reactivity between ethylenediamine, diethylenetetramine and triethylenetetramine was found in 9 subjects.

Adult

A family with diffuse partial woolly hair.

We report a family of six individuals with an abnormality of scalp hair characterized by shorter, finer, kinky hairs interspersed with normal hair, throughout the scalp. The abnormality had gone unnoticed in four of the six individuals. Two complained of thinning of the scalp hair.

Adult

Penicillin in milk--its importance in urticaria.

Fifty patients with recurrent urticaria were tested by means of the RAST test for penicillin allergy. Fifteen patients had positive reactions and of these, thirteen received provocation tests with 0.1 U/ml of penicillin in milk. Four had definite positive reactions, three doubtful reactions and six had no reaction. Although there has been improvement in the purity of milk, penicillin residues remain a potential cause of urticaria even in very low amounts and could have contributed to the urticaria in at least 8% of our patients. Veterinary use of antibiotics and food quality should be strictly regulated to prevent contamination of our diet.

Adult

Effect on adrenal function of topically applied clobetasol propionate (Dermovate).

Thirty-nine patients (15 outpatients and 24 inpatients) with a variety of skin diseases affecting variable areas of the body surface were treated with clobetasol propionate ointment (Dermovate). Before and after treatment the adrenal response to an intramuscular injection of tetracosactrin was rested and additional 9 am plasma cortisol levels were measured at intervals during treatment. A satisfactory initial therapeutic response was achieved in almost all cases during the trial period. When more than 50 g of ointment a week was used a significant number of patients developed adrenal suppression. WHen less than 50 g per week was used any suppression tended to be transtion. These cysts may be the cause of this condition, producing abnormal amounts of ovarian steroids which modify the pituitary response. Futher studies are needed, however, to determine this possibility.

Adolescent