Chancroid, an important sexually transmissible genital ulcer disease of the developing world, has gained new importance with the onset of HIV era. Though common, it poses diagnostic problem because of the difficulties in demonstrating Haemophilus ducreyi itself or indirect evidence of its presence. In the present discussion, various aspects of this challenging disease along with recent aspects of its pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment have been focussed.

A total of 91 beedi workers were analyzed for the pattern of cutaneous lesions. Period of rolling beedi ranged from 2 months to 40 years. Dermatological findings included; callosities seen in 51 (56.04%) of workers on fingers and feet, nail changes in 22 (24.18%) like pigmentation, paronychia, dystrophy which were more prominent on the right index finger, fungal infections in 15 and eczemas in 29. Callosities and localised nail changes can be considered to be occupational marks in beedi rollers correlated to use of scissors for cutting leaves and use of gum and artificial metallic nails for rolling beedis.

Twenty-one patients with history of adverse cutaneous drug reaction were patch tested with 23 commonly used drugs in 5% concentration in petrolatum. Nine patients (42.85%) tested were positive to the incriminated drugs while 3 (14.28%) showed positive reactions to other drugs. Highest positivity (50%) was seen in maculo-popular cases while Stevens-Johnson syndrome and exfoliative dermatitis patients showed negative results.

The present paper studies the pattern of dermatoses among 225 inmates of a jail, over a period of 6 months (Feb- July' 99). 63.6% inmates screened had dermatoses. Among those with dermatoses 63.3% were infectious and 36.4% were non-infectious. Among the infections, fungal infections (51.3%) constituted the maximum. Pediculosis copitis was found in 6.6% of inmates. in the non-infectious group, pigmentary changes (21%) and dandruff (21%) were noted. Overcrowding prevalent in jail (73% excess inmates) could be contributory factor for the high incidence of infections.

Eight patients, 2 males and 6 females, between 10-21 years in age with epidermal (4) and sebaceous nevi (4) were taken up for this study. The lesions in all the patients were vaporized with the indigenously developed carbon dioxide laser. All the patients were evaluated at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weekly visits. The final evaluation was done at the 12 weekly visit to assess the overall response to the treatment and side effects. The patients were then followed up every month for 6 months to look for any recurrence. All the patients responded to the treatment. Three patients each with epidermal and sebaceous nevi had 8090% improvement while I patient each with above disorders had % and 60% improvement respectively. Transient hypopigmentation was seen in all the patients. There were no other significant side effects.

The present case control study included 322 cases of sexually transmitted diseases and equal number of age group matched and sex pair matched controls from the Skin and Venereal Disease out patient department of Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur. Of the six study factors viz. type of family, educational status, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status and social disharmony, except for religion and socioeconomic status other four factors were found to be significantly associated with sexually transmitted diseases'

Macular amyloidosis is an important cause for cutaneous pigmentation, the aetiology of which is poorly understood. Friction has recently been implicated the causation of early lesions, referred to as frictional amyloidosis. Confirmation of diagnosis by the detect on of amyloid using histochemical stains is inconsistent. Ten patients with pigmentation suggestive of macular amyloidosis were studied with detailed history, clinical examination, biopsy for histochemistry and electron microscopy. Nine out of ten patients had a history of prolonged friction with various objects such as bath sponges, brushes, towels, plant sticks and leaves. Amyloid was demonstrated by histochemical staining in only six out of ten cases. In the remaining four cases, amyloid was detected by electron microscopy. These consisted of aggregates of non-branching, extracellular, intertwining fibres measuring between 200-500 nm in length and between 20-25 nm in diameter. The study confirms the role of friction in the causation of this condition. Histochemical stains are not always successful in the detection of amyloid and electron microscopy is helpful for confirming its presence. The term frictional amyloidosis aptly describes the condition.

Autologous transplantation of melanocyte/melanocytes bearing epidermis for vitiligo can be done by mini-punch grafting (MPG), suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG), thin split -thickness skin grafting (TSTG), transplantation of basal cell layer enriched suspension and cultured epithelial/melanocyte transplantation. To date no comparative study of these transplantation procedures has been published. Comparison of different studies carried out at different centers may be difficult in the absence of uniform evaluation criteria. In most of the published studies, the results were evaluated in terms of extent of pigmentation. Complictions and color match were evaluated separately. This approach, however, may not give a fair idea about the results. We have developed a scoring system with holistic approach considering the extent of pigmentation, color match and the complications of both the donor and the recipient areas, all taken together. In the scoring system, the score for individual criteria was multiplied with a factor, the value of which was decided on the basis of relative importance of each criteria. The use of this scoring system is exemplified in twelve patients who underwent TSTG, SBEG and MPG. In the scoring system the results were judged as excellent and fair in 3 patients each, as good in 4 patients and as poor in 2 patients.

A total of 176 highlander Ladakhis staying at Leh (Ladakh) at an altitude of 3445 meters were examined for skin changes on the exposed parts of the body. 111 (63.07%) had pigmentation over forehead, cheeks, nose or chin, 53 (30.11%) had telangiectasia over nose, cheeks or ear lobules, 21 (11.93%) had thickening and furrowing over forehead or lateral aspect of the eyes and only 5 (2.82%) had solar keratosis. Pigmentation and telangiectasia though seen in the first decade of life with prevalence rate seen as 48% and 24% respectively, the maximum prevalence has been seen in the second and third decade (79.22% and 25.97% and 62.96% and 48.15% respectively). Thickening and furrowing is seen most commonly in the fifth and sixth decade, which also leads to decreased prevalence of pigmentation and telangiectasia. Telangiectasia as a skin change to prolonged exposure to short wave length UV radiation has not been described by Eguren in 1972. Dilatation of the blood vessels in the dermis described by him correlates well with our finding of telangiectasia. Thus skin changes of pigmentation, telangiectasia, thickening and furrowing of the sun exposed skin and histopathological changes of Egurer s HA Dermopathy should be included in the syndrome of chronic actinic dermopathy.

A 19 -year-old salesman presented with multiple fusiform, fluctuant, nontender swellings involving dorsum of left hand, left index finger and little finger. He also had multiple sinuses with puckered scars on right thumb, left little finger, and right elbow. He was provisionally diagnosed as tuberculous gumma and was investigated further. X-ray chest showed apical cavity and infiltration suggestive of tuberculosis. X-ray both hands showed osteolytic lesion with pathological fracture. AFB was cultured on Lowenstien Jensen s medium and the patient was put on ATT with clinical improvement.

A 24-year-old male presenting with pityriasis versicolor developing on a pre-existing lesion of Becker's naevus is being reported for its rare occurrence.

A case of Nicolau syndrome in a woman following intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium is reported.

A case of Fanconi anaemia in a 7 - year-old male child is reported. He was grossly anaemic with typical cutaneous pigmentary changes. Peripheral smear revealed normocytic hypochromic anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed absence of right kidney.

Herpes zoster involving simultaneously left maxillary dermatome and right 2nd lumbar dermatome in a non-immunocopromised 24-year-old female is being reported due to its rarity.