Even though dermatophytes, especially Trichophyton rubrum, are most frequently implicated as the causative agents in onychomycosis, yeasts and moulds are increasingly recognised as causative pathogens. A study to analyse the morphological variants and mycological and cultural positivity of onychomycosis was carried out in 35 patients attending the Dermatology outpatient department of Command Hospital, Air Force, Banglore.

The present study is based on 350 women having sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and 68 male counterparts. Trichomonas vaginalis was a significant contributor in 216 (61.7%) out of 350 female STD cases and 56 (82.3%) out of 68 male counterparts. Further, out of 126 (58.3%) out of 216 cases of T. vaginalis, 41 cases (32.5%) were associated with candida species; 29 cases (23%) were associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N gonorrhoeae); Haemophilus ducreyi (H. ducreyi) 18 cases (14.3%) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) 11 cases (8.7%). Treponema pallidium (T. pallidium) was observed in 8 cases (6.3%) which constitutes a low percentage. The present study highlights the importance of T. vaginalis by showing positivity in two-thirds of the STD cases which suggests that it can be an important indicator for other etiological STD agents in women.

The histopathologic features of pityriasis rosea (PR) have been considered by many authors to be compatible with those of dermatitis, but it is not surprising that histological difference may exist between PR and dermatitis. fifty patients of pityriasis rosea were included in this study. We studied the 50 biopsies including 9 biopsies from herald patches. The characteristic features were; absence or decrease of the granular cell layer, extravasation of red blood cells in papillary dermis and partly into the epidermis, dyskeratosis, liquefaction of basal cells, homogenization of papillary collagen, intraepidermal vesicles in apparently dry skin. In addition of these features, we observed prominent delling of epidermis and a typical spongiotic pattern not reported earlier. The biopsies from herald patches showed minor differences from the secondary lesions. We also compared the histopathological features of recent lesions with older lesions.

A survey was conducted to find out the pattern of skin diseases among patients who attended the fortnightly medical camp held in Bantwal Taluq, a rural area. Infective disorders were found in 42.68% and non infective in 41.58%. Among the infective disorders fungal infections were most common (24.08%). Among the non infective dermatoses eczemas were most common (33.93%). On comparing the proportional infectivity rate of infectious diseases among males and females it was found that in scabies males were more affected than females.

Epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa is a recently described variant of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica. It is characterised by pruritic nodular prurigo like lesions, milia and with a histopathology of a subepidermal blister. We report 3 cases of this new variant.

An 89-year old patient had mycosis fungoides with extensive skin involvement and palpable but pathologically uninvolved lymph nodes. He was successfully treated with PUVA combined with topical 0.1% fluocinolone acetonide ointment. PUVA therapy is highly effective in the treatment of mycosis fungoides confined to the skin, especially in the elderly where more aggressive therapy may not be tolerated.

Two patients with oral submucous fibrosis, a disease exclusively found in India, are being reported.

A patient with non-arthropathic psoriasis and associated uveitis is reported.

A case of progeria is being reported in a 7-year old boy. He had characteristic facies, short stature, alopecia, high pitched voice, coxa valga and sclerodermatous changes in skin.

A 22-year old female patient presented with recurrent episodes of erythema multiforme-like eruption in association with systemic lupus erythematosus. Laboratory findings included leucopenia, anaemia, positive LE cell phenomenon, positive rheumatoid factor and mild proteinuria. The features included most of the criteria of Rowell's syndrome.

Herpes zoster is a common clinical condition involving cranial nerves. We encountered 3 cases in which multiple cranial nerves were involved besides the commoner ones. All the three cases were treated with acyclovir and oral steroids. Recovery of motor function was only partial in all three cases when reviewed 2 months after discharge. The clinical details and a brief review of literature are presented.

A 65-year old woman developed progressive, firm, mild to moderately itchy, erythematous, papular and nodular lesions, over cheeks, extensors of limbs, scalp and lower back without any accompanying systemic complaints except for severe backache. Initially clinical diagnosis was cutaneous sarcoidosis. However presence of myeloblasts, monoblasts, myelocytes and metamyelocytes in peripheral blood smear and typical histopathology of nodule with mixed cellular infiltrate more around blood vessels, sweat glands and hair follicles with admixture of larger polymorphonuclears (myeloblasts/myelocytes), eosinophils with double nuclei, and larger phagocytic cells confirmed the diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Syphilitic gumma is now rare to be seen. Squamous cell carcinoma arising from gumma is still more rare. We report a case of gumma in which squamous cell carcinoma developed.

A rare case of a 15-month old girl who presented with true comedones, papules and occasional pustules over both cheeks of 6 months duration after the child was weaned off breast milk.