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Polycaprolactone is a biodegradable, biocompatible, and versatile polymer commonly used in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry and the development of new catalysts that allow for the synthesis under milder reaction conditions and in shorter reaction times is an appealing alternative. The iron-containing imidazolium-based ionic liquid 1- n -butyl-3-methylimidazolium heptachlorodiferrate was able to efficiently catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone under mild reaction conditions. Polymerization yields higher than 80% were obtained after 4 h of reaction at temperatures up to 85 °C, using low ionic liquid:ε-caprolactone molar ratios (1:720 − 1:1500), in the absence of solvent and without an intentionally added alcohol as an initiator. Semi-crystalline polycaprolactones, with molecular weights up to 14 kDa and narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized. The chemical structure of the polymer was confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( 1 H NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and its crystalline content was estimated from the enthalpy of melting of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram. Finally, a caprolactone-activated ROP mechanism mediated by the ionic liquid was suggested.

Polycaprolactone is a biodegradable, biocompatible, and versatile polymer commonly used in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry and the development of new catalysts that allow for the synthesis under milder reaction conditions and in shorter reaction times is an appealing alternative. The iron-containing imidazolium-based ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium heptachlorodiferrate was able to efficiently catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of [epsilon]-caprolactone under mild reaction conditions. Polymerization yields higher than 80% were obtained after 4 h of reaction at temperatures up to 85 °C, using low ionic liquid:[epsilon]-caprolactone molar ratios (1:720 - 1:1500), in the absence of solvent and without an intentionally added alcohol as an initiator. Semi-crystalline polycaprolactones, with molecular weights up to 14 kDa and narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized. The chemical structure of the polymer was confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (.sup.1H NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and its crystalline content was estimated from the enthalpy of melting of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram. Finally, a caprolactone-activated ROP mechanism mediated by the ionic liquid was suggested.

Objective Albeit a pivotal risk for the development of hand eczema (HE), the exposure-response relationship between wet work and HE remains to be further investigated. Knowledge on exposure-response is important regarding preventive measures, medico-legal regulations and job-counseling. Recently, a job-exposure matrix (JEM) for wet work was developed, providing information on the likelihood of wet work. By combining the JEM with data on HE we aimed to investigate the relationship between extent of wet work and HE. Methods This study is a case-referent study including patients registered in the National Database of Contact Allergy, Denmark, and comprises data on sex, age, atopic dermatitis, HE, face eczema and patch testing results. Patients with HE served as cases and patients with facial eczema served as referents. Information on profession was retrieved from the DOC*X database in accordance with the DISCO-88 classification system. A wet-work-specific JEM provides - for each profession - an estimate for (i) the likelihood of wet work lasting ≥2 hours/day and (ii) the average number of hours of wet work per day. Results After two hours of wet hands and glove wear, the odds ratio (OR) was 3.49 and 3.19, respectively, for females and 2.41 and 1.82, respectively, for males. Females had a higher risk of HE than males with probability of wet hands <75% (OR 2.34, 95% CI 2.12-2.58 compared to males 1.68, 95% CI 1.22-2.31) and regarding glove wear at all exposure levels. Conclusion Our data confirms a close association between wet work and HE. Exposure lasting less than the current definition of wet work (having wet hands for ≥2 hours per day) may be of importance.

PurposeWet work is the most important exposure leading to occupational hand eczema; however, the prevalence and character of wet work in various wet work professions remain not fully covered. Self-reported data are widely used in studies of wet work although the validity of these remains uncertain. The objective of the present study is to provide information on validity of self-reported wet work exposure in different professions by comparing work place observations with self-reported data.Methods114 workers from 15 various wet work professions were observed. The observations covered duration and frequency of wet work activities. The observed population as well as a non-observed population from each work place were given a questionnaire covering the same wet work activities.ResultsCorrespondence analysis between self-reported and observed wet work showed that misclassification was larger regarding duration than frequency. 29.2% overestimated and 23.9% underestimated total wet work with more than 2 h/day. Professions with high wet work prevalence overestimated duration of wet work activities, but underestimated frequency. Females overestimated frequency, but not duration. The observed group (45%) significantly more often, than the non-observed group (32%), reported having more than 2 h of wet work/day (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6–4.9). Sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire regarding total wet work in the observed population showed 51% sensitivity and 59% specificity.ConclusionOver- and underestimation of wet work were found to be equally distributed. The correspondence analyses illustrate a noticeable misclassification between the estimations and the observations on all wet work variables, but largest for total wet work.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to create a job-exposure matrix (JEM) for wet work. A JEM is a tool used to assess exposure to potential health hazards in occupational epidemiological studies. It can be used when counselling concerning job change/job choice, as a medico-legal tool when recognizing diseases as occupational and when planning interventions regarding prevention of, in this case, occupational hand eczema.MethodsThe study population was based on results from national surveys on working environment performed by the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Denmark in 2000, 2005, and 2010 (National Research Centre for the Working Environment). We assessed responses on questions regarding wet hands, glove wear and total wet work. For the JEM a cutoff of 2 h total wet work/day was chosen as the exposure measurement. The proportion of responses of 2 h total wet work/day in each profession is illustrated as a number between 0 and 1 equal to 0–100% of the responses.ResultsTotal wet work was most frequent among cleaners (domestic, office, and hotel cleaning), butchers and fishmongers, cooks, beauticians (hairdressers, barbers, related work) and health care workers (home-based personal workers, dentists, dental assistants). Regarding differences between sexes we found that indifferent of age and profession, women had 78% higher odds of having wet work.ConclusionWe found that wet work as an exposure varies among professions depending on whether wet hands or glove wear is assessed. A JEM is a useful tool to assess the extent of the exposure, wet work, independent of prior perceptions of classical wet work professions.

Unfortunately, the original publication of this article contained mistakes. The publisher introduced an error after proofreading where all occurrences of “topical corticosteroids” were typographically written as “topical corticost-effectivenesseroid”.

Purpose of review Hand eczema is a common disease, it affects young people, is often work-related, and the burden of the disease is significant for the individual as well as for society. Factors to be considered when choosing a treatment strategy are, among others, whether the eczema is acute or chronic, the severity of the disease, and the specific sub-diagnosis of hand eczema, which relates to the etiology as well as the morphology of the disease. Optimal treatment is still a challenge. This review seeks to provide an overview of the most updated treatment of hand eczema. Recent findings Treatment options comprise patient education with information on hand eczema prevention and basic treatment and for patients with allergic contact dermatitis also with information about allergen avoidance. Topical treatment is primarily topical topical corticosteroids, which is—and has been for many years—first-line treatment for hand eczema, to be used for a limited period of time. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are widely used as off-label treatment for hand eczema; however, evidence for efficacy is sparse. Physical treatment with UVB and PUVA is effective, although time-consuming and sometimes too troublesome for the patients. With respect to systemic therapy, this is reserved for a patient with severe and long-lasting hand eczema. Alitretinoin is the only systemic therapy, which is licensed for severe chronic hand eczema, while other systemic therapies are also effective, but off-label use. Systemic treatment will in most cases be prescribed from 4 months and up to several years, and should always be accompanied by regular blood sample check. Summary topical corticosteroids are the mainstay primary choice of medical treatment, but should not be continued on a daily basis for more than 8 weeks. Second-line treatment comprises topical calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy, and systemic treatment.

Purpose of review Interventional procedures to prevent hand eczema (HE), comprising educational programs, are widely used for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of irritant contact dermatitis on the hands. This review gives an overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) addressing the efficacy of interventional procedures and educational programs in HE prevention. Recent findings RCTs on HE prevention differ with respect to form and implementation of interventions, populations, and follow-up times. Overall, the education has focused on use of moisturizers, gloves, and substitution of hand washes with alcohol-based hand rubs. Regarding outcome measures, the effect of interventions on prevalence (i.e., primary prevention) has been inconclusive. Meanwhile, educational programs aiming at HE patients (secondary prevention) had a positive effect on behavior in four out of five RCTs and a decrease in HE severity in four out of six RCTs (one with group-based and three with individual-based education). Positive effect on knowledge and on health-related quality of life was only found in few studies. Summary Overall, preventive educational programs are useful. Along with intensified, individual-based educations rather than group-based education, a shorter follow-up time seems to influence outcome measures positively. Future studies should investigate the long-term benefit from repeated educational sessions to maintain the positive benefits.