In this article the rapid advances made in the molecular genetics of inherited disorders of hypo and hyperpigmentation during the past three years are reviewed. The main focus is on studies in mice as compared to homologues in humans. The main hypomelanotic diseases included are, piebaldism (white spotting) due to mutations of c-KIT, PDGF and MGF genes; vitiligo (microphathalmia mice) mutations of c-Kit and c-fms genes; Waardenburg syndrome (splotch locus) mutations of mice PAX-3 or human Hup-2 genes; albinism (mutations of tyrosinase genes), Menkes disease (Mottled mouse), premature graying (mutations in light/brown locus/gp75/ TRP-1); Griscelli disease (mutations in TRP-1 and steel); Prader-willi and Angelman syndromes, tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism and hypomelanosis of lto (mutations of pink-eyed dilution gene/mapping to human chromosomes 15 q 11.2 - q12); and human platelet storage pool deficiency diseases due to defects in pallidin, an erythrocyte membrane protein (pallid mouse / mapping to 4.2 pallidin gene). The genetic characterization of hypermelanosis includes, neurofibromatosis 1 (Café-au-lait spots) and McCune-Albright Syndrome. Rapid evolving knowledge about pigmentary genes will increase further the knowledge about these hypo and hyperpigmentary disorders.

The antifungal activity of the two allylamines naftifine and terbinafine was investigated against 22 strains of eumycetes isolated from cases of eumycetoma by agar dilution. The isolates included Madurella mycetomatis (4), M. Grisea (8), Pyrenochaeta romeroi (2), Exophiala jeanselmei (2) and Leptosphaeria tompkinsii (1) from black grain eumycetomas and Pseudalescheria boydii (3) Acremonium kiliense (1) and A. recifei (1) form pale grain eumycetomas. Terbinafine was more active than naftifine inhibiting 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MIC90) of the black grain eumycetoma agents at 0.5 and 2.5 ?g/ml respectively. The MIC50s and MIC90s of naftifine were 1 and 5 ?g/ml. For pale grain eumycetoma agents, the MIC range for terbinafine and naftifine were ??0.01 - 100 and 0.1 - 100 ?g/ml.

Ninety three patients suffering from acne vulgaris were treated with 0.05% retinoic acid (23 patients), 10% benzyoyl peroxide (24 patients), 2% erythromycin lotin (25 patients) and 50% glycerine in methylated spirit (21 patients) used as a control, for a period of 6 weeks. The patients were evaluated at 2 weeks and 6 weeks by spot counting of the lesions and diagrammatic representations. Good to excellent results were obtained in 69.6% of patients of erythromycin lotion. Retinoic acid was more effective in reducing noninflammatory lesions (75.2%) whereas inflammatory lesions showed better response (73.6%) with erythromycin lotion and benzoyl peroxide was almost equally effective in both types of lesions.

100 cases of vitiligo were treated with topical 0.25% fluocinolone acetonide and topical placental extract. To these we added levamisole (Regimen I); systemic betamethasone and levamisole (Regimen II), oral psoralen (Regimen III) and oral psoralen plus oral betamethasone (Regimen IV). Treatment continued for 6-12 months. Results in the regimen II and IV were found be very good. Recurrence with oral steroid was noted. Levamisole showed marked response.

A case of cutaneous amoebiasis, clinically diagnosed as epithelioma, presenting as an ulcer in the perianal region, in a 30-year old male is reported. The patient was successfully treated with metronidazole.

A 35 year old patient, presented with 2 years history of vitiligo and poliosis on the right forehead with one week history of pain in both eyes and progressive dimness of vision of the right eye. He is diagnosed to have Vogt-Koyanagi Harada syndrome and is reported for its rare clinical features.

A boy with multiple xanthomatosis with deranged lipid profile consistent with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia is reported for its rarity and exotic presentation and biochemical abnormalities of lipids in parents.

A 2 ½ year old female child presented with heterochromia irides and a depigmented macule on the hand with central hyperpigmentation. There was presence of medial eyebrow hyperplasia, broad nasal root and dystopia canthorum. The fundus on the affected side was albinotic. There was no white forelock or deafness. Biopsy from the depigmented area showed an absence of melancocytes. A diagnosis of Waardenburg's syndrome type 1 was made.

A case of bulbous swelling of the tips of fingers and toes, central acro-osteolysis of terminal phalanges and bound-down skin of the extremities and face in a 14 year old girl, is reported.

We describe a case of Bowen's disease who developed multiple lesions, despite an absence of definite predisposing factors or an association with internal malignancy. The case is reported for this unusual feature for its rarity among the Indians.

A case of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in a 20 year old male involving cutaneous and skeletal systems is reported. Generalised alopecia involving scalp was an unusual and interesting feature in this case.