In the depigmented patch of ten vitiligo patients a few melanocytes were seen. Coagulation, fatty degeneration, focal aggregation of melanosomes and vacuolation were some of the changes seen in their cytoplasm. Many indeterminate cells were also observed. These resembled Langerhans cells morphologically but were without Birbeck granules. Basement membrane architect was lost. In the dermis mast cells and plasma like cells were seen. Collagenised nerves and blood vessels with reactive endothelial cells were the salient features.

The role of Langerhans cells in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is as yet unresolved. Ultrastructurally, these cells are identified by the presence of Birpeck granules, but at times this morphological marker is missed during' sectioning. Identification of Langerhans cells was done by monoclonal antibodies and these were quantitated in the depigmented and the pigmented skin of seven vitiligo patients. Observations are in favour of autoimmunity being an aetiological factor for vitiligo.

Sixty four patients (40 males, 24females) of contact dermatitis of hands were patch tested. The patients included housewives (22), factory workers (16), office workers (8), medical and para - medical personnel (8), building workers (3), teachers (4), and photographer, farmer and student one each. The substances tested included battery of metals, rubber chemicals, common medicaments and suspected substances. Sensitivity to metals was found in 34 (53. 1%) patients and nickel, cobalt and chromate in 40.6, 31.2 and 21.8% patients respectively. Medicament, rubber and vegetable sensitivity was found in 26 (40.6%), 13 (20.3%) and 13 (20.3%) patients respectively. The miscellaneous sensitizers were positive in 15 (23.4%) patients. They included plants oils, file cover, currency notes, DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), PPD (paraphenylenediamine) formaldehyde, mercuric chloride, film and paper developer.

Common clinical features of 6 cases of Reiter's disease were chronic asymmetrical peripheral arthritis, keratoderma blenorrhagica, stomatitis, circinate balanitis, urethritis and back pain. HLA B 27 was found positive in three cases investigated. Two corticosteroid, unresponesie patients were managed with weekly methotrexate.

A wild creeper Mikenia scandens was observed to grow profusely over the plantations throughout the states of Assam and Meghalaya. To evaluate the potential of this weed for causing contact dermatitis patch tests were performed with the leaves of this plant on patients having contact dermatitis dus to various causes'. Out of 31 patients tested at Guwahati, 2 patients showed (+ +) reactions and another 2 showed (+) reactions. These patients had dermatitis on their hands (2 cases), face (1) and legs (1) respectively. Out of 100 patients tested at Delhi who had never been exposed to this plants, 2 patients showed (+ +) reactions. 1 patient showed (+) reaction while another 8 patients showed ( + ) reactions. These reactions are likely to be instances of cross sensitivity to an as yet unidentified chemical. It seems important to monitor the development of further cases of contact dermatitis due to this plants.

All the grey hairs in the scalp of 10 young females were pulled out on the same day and 3-5 months later the lengths of the regrowing grey hairs were measured. Presuming that the hair grows at a rate of 1- 1.5 cm per month the widely varying lengths of the regrowing hairs in each case indicated that all these hair follicles do not burst into the anagen phase immediately after evulsion.

Fifteen male soldiers having dermatitis cruris pustulosa et atrophicans were studied clinically, bacteriologically, histopathologicafly and immunologically. Average age at detection was 26 years. Skin lesions were classically distributed on the legs. Staphylococcus aure was grown from the lesions. Histopathological findings were of eczematous pattern with polymorphic cellular infiltrate in the dermis. IgG and IgA levels in blood were increased.

A case of angiokeratoma circumscriprum of the upper limb with extensive lesions spontaneous bleeding during episodes of fever, cornu cutaneum and nevus flammeus is reported.

Two case of orificial tuberculosis had associated diffuse pulmonary tuberculosis. The first case presented as an ulcer on the inner aspect of the right cheek and -the second case presented as a genital ulcer not healing with usual antibodies. He also had an ulcer on the centre of the tongue. The first case was diagnosed as a malignant ulcer and the second case as a venereal ulcer initial. But the investigations proved them to be of tubercular aetiology.

Eight weeks old female child with linear verruc,ous lesions on e)dtemities, eosinohilia and characteristic calcified dyskeratotic cells on histopathological examination confirming the diagnosis of second stage of incontinentia pigmenti is reported. Brief account of genetic counselling is given.'

A Bengali family had familial biphasic cutaneous amyloidosis in 6 of the 11 members in 3 generations. The propositti developed intense itching, thickening and pigmentation of the skin associated with discrete, brownish black papules bilaterally on the legs, ankles, popliteal fossae and extensor aspects of the thighs. Face, neck, scalp and oral mucosa were spared. There was hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles. None of them had lymphadenopathy, macroglossia, hepatosplenomegaly, neuropathy or gingival hypertrophy.

Tuberous sclerosis was, observed in six year old identical twin brothers born with single placenta and a single amnion. Both had adenoma sebaceum shagreen patches, ash leaf spots and progressive mental deterioration. One of them had a verrucous pigmented nevus on the, left temple and recurrent localized motor seizures.

A 6 mouth old Libyan girl was seen with well - defined erythematous scaly, exudative and crusted lesions around the mouth, neck, back perineum, thighs and legs suggestive of acrodermatitis enteropathica. Two of the 3 other siblings had also suffered from similar lesions for a month or so at the age of 5-7 months. All of them were on breast feeding and improved on weaning. This is believed to be type II acrodermatitis enteropathica caused by deficient secretion of zinc in the mother's milk.

Thirty one cases of widespread psoriasis were treated with daily short-term

The order of clinical potency of seven Hi receptor antagonist antihistamines in usual therapeutic doses was evaluated in 30 patients of chronic idiopathic urticaria by a double blind, placebo controlled trial utilizing a self-assessment method. The analysis of mean whealing and, itching scores established a potency sequence in the -decreasing order of cyproheptidine, hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, embramine, promethazine, dimeth'mdene and dexchlorpheniramme. The differences between the first five antihistamines were not statistically significant, though these were superior to ddxchlorpheniralmine and placebo. Dexchlorpheniramine was statistically better than placebo.