Notes: In a double blind experimental study, 20 patients with a contact allergy to gold sodium thiosulphate were challenged intramuscularly with the chemically similar gold sodium thiomalate and with placebo. The most spectacular clinical reaction in the 10 patients given the active agent, was an epidermal and dermal flare up of healed patch-test reactions to the gold salts, as well as a high, but transient, rise in body temperature. Previous intradermal tests were similarly reactivated. In addition, toxicoderma-like rashes were observed in several cases, but a flare up of a previous contact dermatitis site was seen in one patient only. The specificity of the positive provocations was demonstrated.

Notes: In 1985 and 1986 ichthyoplankton composition was studied during seven sampling series at 37 stations along the tidal Elbe and its tributary rivers between Hamburg harbour and the North Sea. The highest larval density was observed in May and April. No, or very few, larvae occurred from late summer to early spring. Smelt (59% on average of all samples) and twaite shad (20%) dominate in the freshwater region. Herring/sprat (17%) dominate in the estuary. All major spawning grounds are located along the southern shore. Smelt spawn further upstream 1 month earlier than twaite shad. Three percent of all larvae found were flounder. Most of them occurred upstream from the estuary in the R. Este and in other tributary rivers. It is not clear whether flounders are able to spawn in freshwater. Attention is drawn to the fact that an unknown but probably very high percentage of the ichthyoplankton is entrained by local power plants.

Notes: In brackish water the variety of marine and freshwater parasite species is considerably reduced. The distribution in brackish water of most marine endoparasites is restricted by the salinity tolerance of their hosts, most of the parasite species are more tolerant than their hosts. The influence of salinity and temperature on nine species has been examined; first stage larvae of Contracaecum aduncum develop in 0-32‰ salinity; Cryptocotyle lingua proved to be infective at salinities down to 4‰. The greatest resistance was found in Anisakis larvae from herring Clupea harengus, which survived for more than half a year. Parasites in the fish intestines appear to be unaffected by changing water salinities, as the osmolarity in the intestines stays nearly constant. Marine ectoparasites (Acanthochondria depressa, Lepeophtheirus pectoralis) survive about three times longer than freshwater species (Piscicola geometra, Argulus foliaceus) when salinity is 16‰. High temperature increases the effects of adverse salinities on parasites. There is evidence that none of these ecto-parasitic species can develop within the range of 7-20‰ salinity.

Notes: The serotonergic neurotransmission was suggested to play an important role in the aetiology of alcoholism. This study explores the association between tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-alleles and Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked N1/P2 Potentials (LDAEP). The TPH is the rate-limiting biosynthetic enzyme in serotonergic pathway. The LDAEP is one of the best validated non-invasive indicators for serotonergic neurotransmission. A sample of 54 alcoholics was recruited. N1/P2 potentials were evoked by five different sound intensities. A dipole source analysis using BESA (brain electric signal topography) was performed and intensity dependence was computed. The TPH intron 7 polymorphism was determined by using PCR in DNA samples. There was a weak but significant association between low LDAEP and the L-TPH allele. No influence from an individual's history of alcohol dependence or a positive family history of alcohol dependence on LDAEP was found. The weak but significant relationship found between L-TPH-allele and high serotonergic neurotransmission may contribute to a more detailed neurobiological characterization of alcohol dependents using functional and genetic parameters.

Notes: To diagnose allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, a clinically relevant contact allergy has to be demonstrated or ruled out, respectively. Although patch testing has been used for 100 years, it remains the method of choice for diagnosing contact allergy. A disadvantage of patch testing is that reading is subjective, based on inspection and palpation of the test area, implying that the assessment is subject to the reader's knowledge and experience. This study was carried out to investigate the accordance in reading patch test reactions between 5 dermatologists. 4 groups, each with 10 patients, participated. Within each group, all 10 were allergic to one and the same sensitizer; nickel, epoxy resin, ethylenediamine, or Kathon CG. The sensitizers were tested in serial dilutions and applied randomly to the back. The tests were read independently by the dermatologists in a blinded fashion. A protocol was used where the dermatologists had to note the presence of the morphological features erythema, infiltration, papules, vesicles, and bullae. In this way, it was possible to allocate the various readings into 4 classification systems, 3 European and one American, although the definition of the various classifications might differ slightly. Based on the readings and classifications, it was possible to calculate the degree of accordance within the 4 systems used. It was also possible to analyze the degree of accordance for the various morphological features. Total accordance for the 5 reading dermatologists for positive and negative test reactions was noted in 36% and 46%, respectively. The 3 European systems require homogenous erythema and infiltration for a reaction to be classified as allergic, while the American system also requires the presence of papules. Therefore, a higher number of allergic reactions (9%) was obtained with the European systems. Between the 4 classification systems, there were statistically significant differences, with the highest number of deviations for the system in which papules had discriminatory significance. When looking at the various morphological features, papules were most difficult to assess, followed by vesicles. Preferably, a classification system should not depend on papules. In conclusion, there was good accordance among the dermatologists in reading patch test reactions, since the 5 dermatologists read 82% of all tests similarly.

Notes: Objective:  A possible contact allergy to herbal teas, in particular those derived from the Asteraceae plant family, was investigated in patients allergic to sesquiterpene lactones (SL).Method:  Twenty patients with a contact allergy to SL were recalled and patch-tested with aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts of 8 different herbal teas based on Asteraceae plants as well as with parthenolide and other SL.Results:  In 18/20 patients with SL allergy there were positive test reactions to the Asteraceae teas, mainly to those based on German chamomile, dandelion and milfoil. Among the SL, parthenolide was the most frequent co-reactor.Conclusion:  Most patients with a contact allergy to SL are allergic to commercial teas derived from the Asteraceae plant family as well.

Notes: Background:  Hydrochloric acid is formed in water solutions of gold trichloride. Hydrochloric acid in contact with aluminium generates hydrogen gas which can reduce and transform trivalent gold to elemental gold.Objective:  To investigate whether patch testing with aqueous gold trichloride can cause false positive (irritant) reactions in patients without contact allergy to gold and false negative reactions in patients with gold allergy.Methods:  13 patients with and 13 patients without positive patch test reactions to gold sodium thiosulfate were tested with gold trichloride in 2 different vehicles, water and alkaline buffer, using 2 different test techniques, the Finn Chamber technique with aluminium chambers and van der Bend technique with polypropene chambers.Results:  Irritant patch test reactions were obtained with aqueous gold trichloride tested in van der Bend chambers in 10 patients without gold allergy. In gold-allergic patients no positive test reactions were obtained from aqueous gold trichloride in Finn chambers while 2 positive test reactions were obtained from gold trichloride in alkaline buffer tested in van der Bend chambers.Conclusion:  If gold trichloride is patch tested in wrong vehicle and with wrong test technique irritant test reactions may occur which can be misinterpreted as positive allergic reactions in patients without gold allergy as well as negative reactions in patients with gold allergy.