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.

Stratum corneum showed increased proliferative activity on the patches of leprosy as evidenced by a significantly fast stratum corneum turnover time (p 0.001) measured by fluorescent staining technic with dansyl chloride. These findings suggest imperfect keratinization on the patches of leprosy leading to formation of structurally weak stratum corneum.

Total and candida specific serum IgE levels were studied in 21 patients who fulfilled the criteria for recurrent vaginal candidiasis, and 45 controls. The candida specific IgE levels were significantly higher in patients with recurrent vaginal candidiasis when compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in the total IgE levels between patients and the controls. IgE is postulated to inhibit the cellular immune respsnse to candida and thereby prevent its eradication. There may be a genetic basis for the increased IgE levels.

Fifty cases of pityriasis versicolor, confirmed mycologically, were each treated with either 20 % miconazole nitrate cream or 1% econazole nitrate cream. Patients were followed up at second, fourth and sixth weeks. Degree of repigmentation was noted and KOH preparation done at each to determine mycological cure. At the end of six weeks all the patients using all regimes were mycologically cured but only 30.4% showed complete repigmentation in the lesions.

Reports differ greatly as to the significance of nickel in detergents as a cause of dermatitis. Dimethylglyoe spot test was negative for nickel with various detergents. It seems therefore that nickel is not an important cause of detergent induced dermatitis in India.

An elderly male had recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of scalp with pulmonary metastasis. The tumour was excised and the defect repaired with skin graft.

A young male had tinea cruris due to Epidermophyton floccosum. He had associated dermatophytosis of the scrotum, penis and upper lip from which the same species of fungus was isolated. On the lip, the lesion extended to the vermilion area (prolabium) of the lip and the term 'tinea labialis' is suggested for this condition.

A 14-year-old male having nail-patella syndrome, manifested as deficient nails on the ubw aspect of thumbs, V-shaped half- moons, rudimentry patella on right side and absence on left side. X-ray of pelvis showed iliac horns.. Family history was suggestive of autosomal dominant of inheritance

A 27 year old developed matting of her hair after using 5% cetrimide lotion for dandruff.

A 48 year old male who had been suffering from schizophrenia developed erythema ab igne. He had thermophilia and frequently used to expose the affected site in front of open fire in the kitchen.

A 40 year old male presented with trichostasis spinulosa on the vertex, which is quite rare.

A 30 year old female presented with recurrent leg ulcers of 3 year duration. History revealed that she also suffers from pain and stiffness in the small joints and feet for the past 4 years. Rheumatoid factor was strongly positive in the serum. Association of the two is interesting.

A patient having herpes zoster involving C6, 7, 8, Dl and 2 segments, developed ipsilateral wrist drop and aberrant lesions. Paralytic deformity preceded the skin eruption by one day.

A middle-aged male with hypopigmented macules was initially misdiagnosed as indeterminate leprosy and later proved on histopathology to be mycosis fungoides.