To the Editor: Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is an acquired hypermelanosis, which occurs after inflammation, trauma, or therapeutic interventions. PIH presents as irregular darkly pigmented macules that can persist for months or even years. PIH occurs more frequently in the darker Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, for instance, found in individuals from Africa, Asia, and South America...

RATIONALE The use of beta-blockers is a relative contraindication in allergen skin testing yet there is a paucity of literature on adverse events in this circumstance. We examined a population of skin tested patients on beta-blockers to look for any adverse effects. METHODS Charts from 2004-2008 in a single allergy clinic were reviewed for any patients taking a beta-blocker when skin tested. ...

BACKGROUND The absence of commercially available penicilloyl-polylysine (PPL) for most of the last decade severely hampered the practice of penicillin allergy evaluation because skin testing without PPL is reported to have a poor negative predictive value (NPV). OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and NPV of skin testing without PPL using only penicillin G followed by a 3-dose graded challenge ...

Background: To observe the skin temperature changes on the blocked area and its response to pinprick testing in ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAP block), and to explore the accurate predictor of the temperature measurement for TAP block success. Methods: A total of 30 patients underwent lower abdominal surgery were enrolled. Bilateral ultrasound-guided TAP blocks were per...

BACKGROUND The accurate diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an important component of any tuberculosis control programme and depends largely on tuberculin skin testing. The appropriate interpretation of skin test results requires knowledge of the possible confounding factors such as previous BCG vaccination. Uncertainty about the effect of BCG vaccination on tuberculin skin tes...

Results Total of 124 patients were evaluated for penicillin allergy. Mean age was 37.8 (SD 12.7) years, range from 8 to 74 years. 39 (31.5%) male and 85 (68.5%) female patients were included. Diagnosis of penicillin allergy was confirmed in 46 patients (37.1%). Among the 44 confirmed allergic patients by skin evaluation we had 15 (34.1%) positive skin prick test, and 29 (65.9%) positive intrade...

Immediate allergic reactions to betalactams (BLs) are due to IgE antibodies that recognize the ring-derived penicilloyl determinant or side-chain structures of common BLs. The presence of specific IgE antibodies can be demonstrated by skin testing, the determination of specific IgE antibodies in sera or their binding to basophils with subsequent activation upon contact with penicillins in vitro...

Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is characterized by granulomatous inflammation and the accumulation of CD4(+) T cells in the lung. Patch testing of CBD patients with beryllium sulfate results in granulomatous inflammation in the skin. We investigated whether the T cell clonal populations present in the lung of CBD patients would also be present in the involved skin of a positive beryllium patch...

In vitro reconstructed human skin such as Episkin® is a widely used model in safety or efficacy pre-screening tests. It is of growing interest for regulatory purposes as an alternative to animal testing. The reduction and eventually the replacement of In vivo toxicity testing require the development of In vitro models to predict the genotoxic or other endpoint risk. This can be achieved if thes...