1.
Urticarial reaction caused by ethanol.
Nakagawa, Y, Sumikawa, Y, Nakamura, T, Itami, S, Katayama, I, Aoki, T
Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology. 2006;(4):411-4
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Abstract
BACKGROUND We report a case of an urticarial reaction after drinking alcohol beverages. The patient was a 47-year-old man suffering urticarial and anaphylactoid reaction to alcohol for two years. These reactions were observed at every alcohol beverages intake. CASE SUMMARY We performed a prick test with diluted ethanol, alcohol beverages and their metabolites (acetaldehyde, acetic acid). Only acetic acid showed a positive result. Oral challenge test with diluted-ethanol caused pruritus and swelling of his lips. An oral challenge test with 8% diluted Shochu (Japanese distilled alcohol from rice or wheat) caused wheals on his upper back. DISCUSSION Only acetic acid, a metabolite of alcohol, induced a positive prick test in the patient with alcohol-induced urticaria. This result was not observed in normal volunteers. An oral challenge test with diluted-alcohol or Shochu showed a positive wheal reaction in a dose dependent-manner which suggests that urticaria seen in this patient might be induced by alcohol-intolerance. However possible allergic reaction to acetaldehyde could not be excluded.
2.
Parathyroid interventions for secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialyzed patients.
Onoda, N, Kashiwagi, T, Nakamura, T, Niitsu, Y, Omata, M, Kurihara, S
Therapeutic apheresis and dialysis : official peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Apheresis, the Japanese Society for Apheresis, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. 2005;:S11-5
Abstract
Although parathyroidectomy (PTX) is the ultimate treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) that is resistant to medical treatment, recent advances in ultrasonographic techniques have increased the treatment options in Japan. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) of the parathyroid was approved under the national health insurance system in 2004, and there have been trials of direct injection of vitamin D (VD) preparations. We followed 30 patients for at least 1 year who had undergone PEIT at the same institution. The overall mean concentration of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) fell from 865.3+/-388.4 pg/mL to 291.9+/-277.8 pg/mL, or 34% of the pretreatment value. The effect was even more pronounced for one or two glands, with 68.4% reaching the target of intact PTH