Olopatadine hydrochloride suppresses the rebound phenomenon after discontinuation of treatment with a topical steroid in mice with chronic contact hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND: Olopatadine hydrochloride (olopatadine; Allelock) is one of the second-generation antihistamines that are treated for allergic disorders such as rhinitis, urticaria and eczema dermatitis. Olopatadine has recently been shown to have inhibitory effects on the chronic contact hypersensitivity induced by repeated application of oxazolone in mice. Although topical steroids have widely been prescribed for atopic dermatitis, a relapse often occurs within several days after discontinuation of their prolonged use. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the possible efficacy of olopatadine against the relapse after discontinuation of prolonged use of topical prednisolone in the Balb/c mice with oxazolone-induced chronic contact hypersensitivity. METHODS: Mice with the chronic contact hypersensitivity induced by repeated application of oxazolone were treated with olopatadine as a sequential therapeutic agent. The effects of olopatadine were quantified by measurements of ear-swelling, and levels of cytokines and histamine in the lesioned ear. Results Topical prednisolone (0.05 mg/ear/day) significantly inhibited the increases in ear swelling and production of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-18, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and histamine. However, after discontinuation of the treatment with topical prednisolone, the inflammation relapsed and the IL-4 level exceeded the control one. The sequential treatment with olopatadine (10 mg/kg/day) after discontinuation of the treatment with topical prednisolone alone, or topical prednisolone with olopatadine, significantly inhibited the increases in ear swelling and levels of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-18, GM-CSF, nerve growth factor and histamine. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that olopatadine is an antihistamine agent having inhibitory activities against the rebound phenomenon following the discontinuation of topical steroid therapy. Olopatadine is thus expected to be a sequential therapeutic agent after discontinuation of the chronic treatment with a topical steroid.     

Multiple internal resorptions in deciduous teeth: a case report

We report a case of rare multiple internal resorptions. Etiology of multiple internal resorptions is unknown. Interestingly, the patient had an atopic dermatitis, which is possibly related to multiple and rapid internal resorptions.     

Treatment principles of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is today the most common, chronic inflammatory skin disease among children in developed countries. Its cumulative prevalence varies from 20% in northern Europe and the USA to approximately 5% in Mediterranean countries. As a chronic disease it puts a special demand on treatment. There is no curative therapy, but competent guidance on treatment principles can control the disease in most, if not all children. This article summarizes the evidence-based knowledge that relates to the treatment of atopic eczema. It also gives advice and opinions on prophylactic measures as these are the focus of interest from most parents. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: This article should enable you to give advice and guidance to parents of children with AD, including what is necessary for diagnosis, what is of value and importance considering allergies and allergological investigations, allergen exposure, prophylactic measures, diets and indoor environment. Finally, you should be able to explain the diversity of treatment principles for parents.     

Occupational dermatitis from Synacril Red 3B liquid (Cl Basic Red 22)

A carpet factory worker, exposed to a number of different dyes, developed a severe hand dermatitis. The handling of warm, wet and freshly-dyed yarn with unprotected hands was thought to have caused the onset of dermatitis. Patch testing indicated that the patient was sensitive to only one of the dyes handled, namely Synacril Red 3B liquid, which is based on the single dyestuff Basic Red 22 (CI 11055). Chemical analysis revealed the dyestuff to be of high purity (greater than 95%), suggesting that sensitization was caused by the Basic Red 22 dyestuff itself and not by an avoidable impurity.     

Dermatitis in bulb growers

A damaged skin forms a health hazard in flower-bulb growers as it enables higher permeation rates For pesticides than normal skin. Therefore, an investigation was performed into the skin condition of 103 bulb growers and 49 controls. Contact dermatitis of the hands was of the same order (11 and 10%) in both groups. However, minor signs of dermatitis were seen more often in bulb growers (30 versus 8%, p <0.05). Most growers had contact with narcissus sap during the investigation. This irritant sap, as well as many other skin contacts with irritants such as hyacinth dust and pesticides, seemed to be responsible for many skin complaints. Contact serialization was suspected in 19 growers and 3 controls. Patch tests showed that contact sensitization existed to pesticides in probably 10, and to flower-bulb extracts in 4 growers. Reactions to propachlor were not regarded as very reliable as the test concentration seemed to be marginally irritant. There were only a few allergic reactions to narcissus (3) and tulip (2) and none to hyacinth. This investigation showed that minor irritant contact dermatitis was frequent in bulb growers, and indicated that contact sensitization to pesticides and bulbs seemed to be a less frequent but important cause of dermatitis.     

Day 4 is better than day 3 for a single patch test reading

Readings were performed on day (D)2, D3 and D4 after application of patch tests in NN patients. 90 patch lest reactions in 49 patients were interpreted as allergic und of past or present relevance. A single D2 reading detected 58 of the allergic reactions, with 32 false-negatives and 23 false-positives. A single D3 reading detected 77 allergic reactions, with 13 false-negatives and 17 False-positives. A single D4 reading detected 85 allergic reactions, with 5 false-negatives und 4 false-positives. Therefore, if only a single reading is feasible, it is better performed on D4 than on D3.     

Diverging prevalence trends of atopic disorders in Norwegian children. Results from three cross-sectional studies

BACKGROUND: During the last decades there has been extensive epidemiological research to explore the increasing prevalence of asthma and allergy in childhood. The worldwide variations in prevalence of these diseases necessitate regional rapports. Furthermore, time-trend analyses with comparable methods are important in order to monitor the rapidly changing prevalence of these diseases. METHODS: Three cross-sectional questionnaire-based studies of asthma and allergy in schoolchildren were conducted in the counties of Troms and Finnmark, in northern Norway in 1985, 1995 and 2000. The two former studies included children from randomly selected primary schools (n = 1794/1985, n = 1432/1995). The latter study was a part of ISAAC-II Europe study (n = 3853). Identical items of asthma and allergy were employed. The analyses comprised only children 9-11 years of age. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma was 9.3, 13.2 and 13.8% in 1985, 1995 and 2000, respectively. However, great gender differences were detected; the prevalence of asthma increased in males from 1995 to 2000, from 14.1 to 17.0%, RR = 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.5), but decreased in females 1995 to 2000, from 12.3 to 10.5%, RR = 0.9 (95% CI 0.7-1.1). Furthermore, in children with asthma, a changing trend was found in the external factors that perceived symptoms, from typical allergens towards other, unspecific agents. The prevalence of self-reported atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) was 13.4, 21.1 and 20.8% in 1985, 1995 and 2000, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was in 16.5, 24.7 and 29.6% 1985, 1995 and 2000, respectively, RR (2000/1995) = 1.2 (95% CI 1.1-1.3). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma in girls has reached a plateau and even decreased from 1995 to 2000 which is in contrast to the asthma prevalence in boys that tends to continuously increase. The prevalence of AEDS which increased substantially between 1985 and 1995 did not change from 1995 to 2000. However, the prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis increased steadily from 1985, 1995 to 2000.