DIFFERENCES IN THE SENSITIZING CAPACITY OF NEOMYCIN IN CREAMS AND IN OINTMENTS

SUMMARY. In 1963–4, 10% of patients with dermatitis gave positive patch test reactions to neomycin. Of 115 patients 89 (79%) had used neomycin in ointment bases, while only 14 (12%) had used creams or lotions, and 7 (6%) powders.
In order to establish the extent to which different preparations were prescribed a market analysis was performed. The sale in 1964 of neomycin for topical use was found to be 137,000 units (tubes or other containers). A small number of proprietary preparations dominated the market.
In proportion to their sale creams, lotions and powders containing neomycin were rarely connected with sensitization. This investigation suggests that neomycin ointments are the major cause of sensitization to this antibiotic.
The possible significance of these findings and the influence of the vehicle on sensitizing capacity are discussed.
It is recommended that neomycin should not be prescribed in ointments. The risk of inducing sensitization with neomycin in creams, lotions or powders appears to be significantly less.     

Age changes in the two-point discrimination threshold in skin innervated by the trigeminal nerve

Fifty young and fifty elderly subjects were tested by a two-point discrimination method. An aesthesiometer was applied to the facial skin in three different areas innervated exclusively by the ophthalmic, maxillary or mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Two characteristic age differences were disclosed: (1) higher threshold values were found in older subjects, and (2) a greater range of variation in these values was present also among the older subjects. Wales.     

Studies on Lymphocytes. I. Lymphopenia Produced by Prolonged Extracorporeal Irradiation of Circulating Blood

1. A method for extracorporeal irradiation of the circulating blood hasbeen developed.

2. Extracorporeal irradiation of the blood will produce a lymphopeniapromptly which persists for weeks.

3. Heparin in high doses in the calf produces a lymphocytosis and neutrophilic leukocytosis.

Submitted on March 8, 1962 Accepted on April 11, 1962     

The Influence of Histocompatibility upon the Corneal Immune Reaction after Interlamellar Allótransplantation in Rabbits

The influence of the RL-A ( R abbit L eukocyte — locus A ) histocompatibility system upon the corneal immune response to interlamellar allotransplantation was studied in 75 rabbits. The evaluation of histocompatibility was based upon reactions with 18 different lymphocytotoxic rabbit isoantisera obtained by pairwise immunization of outbred rabbits. These sera were tested against pure lymphocyte suspensions from the potential corneal donors and recipients.
The evaluation of the immune reaction was performed by clinical observation, by photographs, and histologically in sections of the eyes and in conjunctival scrapings.
The immune reaction to allotransplantation was weak and consisted of lymphocyte infiltration around the graft. Immune reaction was seen only in histoincompatible transplantations, compatible ones showed no reaction. The lymphocyte infiltrations were more pronounced when the noncompatible animals were presensitized by donor skin grafts. In contrast to this no reaction could be produced in compatible animals presensitized by donor skin grafts. Histocompatibility evaluation may be of clinical importance in corneal transplantations if the recipients have been presensitized to histocompatibility antigens by previous transplantations, transfusions, or pregnancies, especially if the recipient cornea is vascularized.     

Cell Mediated Lympholysis in Man. Patterns of Killing Power in Relation to the HL-A System

In general it can be said that the HL-A ( LA and FOUR) antigens seem to be of major qualitative and partly quantitative importance for the degree of destruction in Cell Mediated Lymphoiysis (CML).
This has been established by analyses of 1299 effector/target combinations involving 97 different healthy individuals.
The main observation is that the cytolytic capacity of MLC effectors is positively ranked with the number of HL-A ( LA and FOUR) antigens introduced by the incompatibility between stimulator, effector and target lymphocytes. However, the fact that not all cytolytic situations can be explained by the HL-A system stresses that other specific antigens ( Target Determinants ) may interfere with the Cell Mediated Lympholysis.     

CHRONIC ZINC DEFICIENCY SYNDROME IN A BEER DRINKER WITH A BILLROTH II RESECTION

ABSTRACT: A 51-year-old woman, addicted to beer for several years, developed chronic zinc deficiency which caused severe mental impairment, a poor general condition with edema and diarrhea, widespread eczema craquelé and loss of hair. Laboratory tests showed a significantly lowered serum zinc concentration, microcytic anemia, an in-versed serum albuminγy-globulin ratio and a decreased serum thyroxine. Two years earlier, her external pancreatic function had been found severely impaired. Following oral therapy with zinc sulfate 0.2 g × 3R, daily, the patient's mental and physical condition totally changed. In two weeks serum zinc was within the normal range, while hemoglobin concentration, serum proteins, serum thyroxine became normal in 4–8 weeks.