1/37. tobacco allergy: demonstration of cross-reactivity with other members of solanaceae family and mugwort pollen.BACKGROUND: tobacco is a plant belonging to the solanaceae family. This plant is usually used as a contact insecticide for several infestations in some areas, such as the Canary islands. Allergy induced by inhalation of this plant is unusual. Identification of the potential allergen in growing areas is essential. OBJECTIVE: We report a patient with occupational sensitivity to an aqueous solution of cut tobacco whose clinical manifestations were rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria. Past medical history was significant for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to mugwort pollen and oral allergy syndrome with avocado. methods: Green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extracts were prepared, skin prick tests were performed with green tobacco, cured tobacco leaf extracts, and certain aeroallergens. Conjunctival challenge test was carried out with green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extract. serum-specific IgE against tobacco leaf was performed by commercial CAP. CAP inhibition experiments were carried out with tobacco and artemisia vulgaris. RESULTS: skin prick tests and conjunctival challenge tests with green tobacco and cured tobacco leaf extracts were positive, as well as serum-specific IgE by CAP, indicating an IgE-mediated sensitization. CAP inhibition experiments were carried out and it was found that tobacco, mugwort pollen, and tomato extracts inhibited the binding of the patient's serum to solid-phase tobacco leaf. No inhibition was observed when alternaria, D. pteronyssinus, and potato were used as control inhibitors. Inhibition of immunoCAP to mugwort was obtained with mugwort and tobacco extracts and no cross-reactivity to D. pteronyssinus was shown. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that tobacco can induce IgE-mediated reactions that are mediated by the existence of common antigenic epitopes between tobacco and mugwort pollen. This allergy can be a hazard of employment in the agricultural areas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/37. Occupational induction of hypersensitivity after an accidental exposure to chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (CMI/MI) in an industrial worker.A process worker in a paper chemical plant developed an immediate local dermal irritation and delayed bullous dermatitis due to induction of hypersensitivity following an accidental exposure to chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (CMI/MI) biocide. Contact allergy to the isothiazolinone mixture was confirmed by skin patch testing. The dermatitis healed in four weeks, and the worker was advised to avoid all CMI/MI containing products. In a one-year follow-up he did not present with any further skin symptoms. Preventive measures are important for avoiding induction of hypersensitivity to concentrated CMI/MI solutions in industrial workers.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/37. T-lymphocyte cytokine profiles in compositae airborne dermatitis.Compositae airborne dermatitis is a well-recognized disorder characterized by erythematosquamous lesions and papules on light-exposed areas. The presence of positive patch test reactions and the absence of specific serum IgE suggest delayed-type hypersensitivity, the murine model of which is characterized by a Th1 cytokine production profile [high amounts of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2; little or no IL-4 and IL-5]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytokine profile of T-cell lines and T-cell clones from peripheral blood in a 38-year-old non-atopic male woodcutter affected by seasonal airborne contact dermatitis. The patient showed positive patch test reactions to several Compositae extracts (achillea millefolium, Chamomilla recutita, tanacetum parthenium, T. vulgare) and sesquiterpene lactone mix. On prick testing with Compositae and other plants, serum-specific IgE levels and phototesting were negative or normal. Allergen-specific T-cell lines produced with Compositae extracts showed a good in vitro cell proliferation only to C. recutita extract. Serial cloning performed using the C. recutita-specific T-cell lines revealed an alphabeta CD4 phenotype with high amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in T-cell clones. Thus, these cells expressed a preferential Th0 phenotype. These data suggest that in addition to IFN-gamma, other T-cell derived cytokines, such as IL-4, may play a part in the immunopathogenesis of contact dermatitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/37. Fingertip dermatitis in a retail florist.prevalence of plant contact dermatitis in retail florists varies with exposure, and the number of reports of contact allergy to cut tulips is rather small. Alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone is better known as the cause of both alstroemeria dermatitis in retail florists and tulip finger in wholesale floral workers who handle the bulbs. Our patient presented with prominent erythema, scaling, and peeling of the skin of the thumb, index, and middle fingers of his right hand. Results of a patch test to alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone were strongly positive, and the patient determined that the exposure had occurred when he stripped leaves from the tulip stems to arrange cut flowers. Other natural sources of the antigen include alstroemeria; Bomarea; dioscorea hispida; Erythronium; Gagea; fritillaria; and at least one species of onion, allium triquetrum.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/37. Allergic contact dermatitis due to thiuram exposure from a fungicide.A 49-year-old man developed a widespread eczematous eruption following contact with plants sprayed with a fungicide. Patch testing revealed a strong reaction to thiuram mix and several of the individual thiuram mix constituents. The fungicide contained tetramethylthiuram disulphide, a thiuram chemical. Thiurams are widely recognized as a cause of rubber-glove allergy; however, they are also used extensively in fungicides.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/37. Occupational contact urticaria and late-phase bronchial asthma caused by compositae pollen in a florist.Insect-pollinated members of the plant family Compositae (asteraceae) rarely cause immediate-type hypersensitivity disease; however, this may have quite disabling consequences, which is shown by the case of a 42-year-old female florist. She developed contact urticaria later accompanied by rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma with maximum obstruction occurring some hours after the end of occupational exposure to the causative Compositae pollens of, for example, dandelions, blazing star, golden rod, yarrow, Aster ssp, chrysanthemums, and marguerite. skin testing revealed immediate-type hypersensitivity to several members of the above-mentioned plant family confirmed by demonstration of specific IgE antibodies. Bronchial provocation testing yielded a positive response with all 4 pollen extracts tested. The patient had to give up work in a flower shop, because sufficient avoidance of airborne inhalant exposure was not considered practical.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/37. Occupational allergic contact urticaria to yucca (yucca aloifolia), weeping fig (ficus benjamina), and spathe flower (Spathiphyllum wallisii).BACKGROUND: Occupational contact urticaria (CU) from plants is often reported, but it is less often attributed to decorative houseplants. We present an atopic gardener and caretaker of plants who developed CU when occupationally exposed to weeping fig, spathe flower, and yucca. methods: Sensitization was evaluated by skin prick tests (SPT) and analyses for IgE antibodies. RESULTS: SPT were positive to all three plants, and IgE antibodies were found to weeping fig and spathe flower. SPT were also performed with several decorative houseplants in more than 600 patients. Positive SPT was found to weeping fig (12%), African milk tree (8.3%), yucca (5.8%), Chinese rose (4.7%), massangana (4.6%), bird's nest fern (3.2%), and spathe flower (3.2%). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that SPT and tests for IgE antibody are useful in detecting occupational CU caused by houseplants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/37. Allergy to lichens. Allergic contact dermatitis from usnic acid produced by lichenized fungi.Two forest workers affected with allergic contact dermatitis, which occurred only during work in forest areas, showed positive patch test reactions to lichens containing usnic acid and to isolated usnic acid. lichens are plants composed of fungi living in symbiosis with algae. Usnic acid, one of the lichenic acids which accumulates in lichenized fungi, is a monobasic acid with dibenzofuran structure and antibiotic properties. Dibenzofuran is chemically related to furocoumarans. lichens are plentiful in temperate zone forests and allergy to usnic acid represents some part of the "cedar-poisoning" problem in british columbia. Geographical distribution of lichens containing usnic acid suggests that allergy to usnic acid will be found to be more common than presently recognized.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/37. Occupational dermatitis from a one-component naphthalene type epoxy adhesive.In an electronics plant, a new one-component naphthalene type epoxy resin was used as an adhesive for reinforcing a circuit board. The resinous part of the adhesive consisted of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,6-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)naphthalene type epoxy resins. The hardener was methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA). Of 54 workers, 15 (27.8%) were diagnosed to have work-related dermatitis but were not patch tested. Therefore, it was impossible to determine the specific agent responsible for the worker's symptoms or to distinguish between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. They worked without protective gloves until they started to develop skin symptoms. The hands were the commonly affected region (13 out of 15 cases). The latent period of dermatitis was very short (mean 2.2 weeks). Of these, 10 cases (66.7%) received medication for dermatitis, and 9 cases (60%) were transferred to other work. The work-related skin symptoms were closely related to the specific tasks, i.e., filling dispensers with the adhesive and manual application of the adhesive to a portion of a circuit board using a dispenser. For occupational hygiene reasons, contact with epoxy resins should be minimized by taking all possible measures into use, including protective gloves. Further studies are required to clarify the allergenicity of 1,6-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)naphthalene, since very little is known about the mechanism through which it leads to the symptoms of dermatitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/37. Contact dermatitis.Ted is a 38 year old service technician for a large chemical company servicing cooling towers at a car manufacturing plant. While blending a batch of chemicals, he accidentally splashed cooling tower fluid, Kathon, an isothiazolin-3 derivative, over his left forearm. He was wearing long sleeved overalls and safety glasses at the time. About 15 minutes later, Ted experienced some itchiness of his forearm and proceeded to wash the area. He did not change his uniform. Five hours later he experienced severe pain of the forearm. Inspection revealed a 5 cm dermal burn with obvious blistering over the left forearm. He sought medical treatment and was treated conservatively with routine burn dressings. The skin blistering healed after seven days. Ted returned to work undertaking full duties. When undertaking mixing of cooling tower chemicals he developed an itchy rash of the forearms that appeared to be spreading to his hand and shoulder areas. This skin irritation occurred even when there was no contact with cooling tower fluids.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = plant (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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