Assay of Testosterone, FSH and LH in Serum and Spermogram in Leprosy Patients.

Testicular functions in the form of testosterone, FSH and LH levels in serum by radio-immuno-assays, complete semen examination and a few testicular biopsies were studied in 30 men with leprosy (LL-7, BL-6, BB-1, BT-12 and 'fT-4). Serum testosterone levels were lowered in all the groups. Serum FSH and LH levels were elevated in lepromatous and borderline .1epromatous leprosy. Semen analysis showed oligospermia in LL and BL groups. Lepra bacilli in smars of semen were present in 2 LL case. Leprous changes were seen in the testicular biopsies.

Quantitative Assay of Faecal X Porphyrin in Normal Healthy Indians, A Spectrophotometric and Computerised Analysis.

The faecal X normal healthy India have been determined by urea-triton solvent extraction method and its importance in the laboratory diagnosis of variegate porphyria has been discussed. The values ranged from:0.058 to 5.424 with a mean value of 1.64 + 1.32 microgram per gram dry weight of faeces. X porphyrin excretion was higher in males having non vegetarian diet. It increased with age and body weight. A statistically significant coefficient of correlation existed between all the three types of faecal porphyrins.

Parakeratosis Ostrcea-an Unusual Variant of Rupoid Psoriasis.

A 25 year old male developed hard, lamellar, oyster's shell-like scaly lesions accompaniedwith psoriatic arthropathy. Occurrence of parakeratosis ostracca is rare still rare and therto unreported.

Correlation of Baciliemia with Clinical Types of Leprosy.

Bacillemia was assessed in a single random blood sample of 30 untreated leprosy patients by employing direct blood smear method, haemolysis method, huffy coat method, and leucocyte adherence method.

Marking Nut Dermatitis.

Two patients aged 12 and 16 years, developed severe dermatitis on their face and hands with oedema and hyperpigmentation following contact with the marking nut. Patch tests with the marking nut produced a buila with hyperpigmentation in both the patients, as also in all the 5 normal unexposed controls. Marking nut is considered to be a storng irritant.

A Randomized Double Blind Study of Ointment Containing Diflucortolone Valerate and Hydrocortisone Acetate.

DiflucortolonevalerateO.1percentand hydrocortisone acetate 1.0 percent were compared in a randomized double blind contralateral, intra individual trial in fifty-two patients. Duration of treatment was three weeks. Both the drugs showed significant response after the first second and the third weeks of treatment. At all periods the reduction in pre-treatment signs and symptoms was greater for diflucortolone as compared to hydrocortisone. Response to therapy in eczema was very good in 89.1 percent cases and good 10.9 per cent. Patients having psoriasis and chronic DIE showed very good response in 33.3 per cent and good in 66.6 per cent cases. There were no side effects.

Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome.

A 65 years old male developed nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, manifesting as multiple basal cell epitheliomas, marked mutilation of the face and characteristic pitting on the palms and soles. Calcification of the falx cerebri and scoliosis of the lumbar spine were also seen.

Beetle Dermatitis in Punjab (a Study of 77 Cases).

A peculiar erythemato-vesicular dermatitis caused by a beetle, seen in 77 cases is analysed. The age range was 2.5 years to 57 years. Urban to rural ratio was 3.52:1. The common sites of involvement were the exposed sites, mainly the face. Burning sensation was the commonest symptom. Lesions were tender and mainly linear. The presence of kissing lesions was suggestive of the genus Paederus as the cause. A typical seasonal variation with maximum numbers in July was noted. The causative beetle could not be found out because none of the patients saw it. All cases responded well to antihistamine corticosteroid combination systemically and antibiotic-corticosteroid combination locally.

A Profile of Porhyrins in Cases .of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus.

Porphyrin levels in nineteen cases of discoid lupus erythematosus were compared with porphyrin levels in ten controls using Rimingto.in's technique. The erythrocyte protoporphyrin, urinary uroporphyrin and faecal coproporph rin and faccal protoporphyrin were found to be significantly raised as compared to the controls.

Facial Halo Nevus.

Four cases of leucoderma acquisitum centrifugam, which were treated with psoralens, are being reported. Sudden development of peripheral leucoderma in an insignificant nevus on the face is cosmetic problem leading to tension and anxiety in -young people with pigmented skin. Though spontaneous resolution of halo nevus is known, this can not be certain. Peripheral halo of depigrnentation responded favorably to the treatment with psoralens in a definite period, and this can be an important reassuring factor.

A quantitative assay of porphyrins in leprosy patients. A spectrophotometric study.

Quantitative estimations of porphyrin in the blood, urine, and feces of 30 leprosy patients under treatment with dapsone, ten untreated cases, and 100 normal subjects were done by Rimington's method. Dapsone had no adverse effect on porphyrin metabolism because none of the cases of leprosy under study developed statistically significantly raised porphyrin levels in the blood, urine, and stools. Although erythrocyte coproporphyrin levels were significantly higher in leprosy patients than controls and urinary uroporphyrin levels significantly lower, most values fell within the normal range. These differences did not appear to have any clinical significance, and their cause remains unknown.

Effect of oral contraceptives on urinary porphyrins.

PIP: Several studies have reported on the appearance of cutaneous porphyria in people treated with estrogen. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of oral contraceptives (OCs) on levels of porphyrins in urine in nonporphyric women. 30 women aged 21-40 and on OCs were observed as the study group, and 10 women using other contraceptive methods were observed as the control group. Urinary porphyrins were measured by the Remington method. Levels of urinary coproporphyrin and of urinary uroporphyrin were higher in the study group than in the control group. These differences, however, are not statistically significant. To study the effect of duration of OC treatment, women who had taken OCs for 3-6 months and women who had taken OCs for longer than 6 months were observed, and the means of urinary coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin measured. Again, the differences were found to be insignificant, although slightly higher values of urinary coproporphyrin were obtained for women who had been on OCs for a longer period. These results compare favorably with others reported in the published literature. It can be concluded that OC treatment has no significant bearing on porphyrin metabolism.^ieng

A Spectrophotometric Study of Urinary Porphyrins in Patients of Atopic Dermatitis.

A Quantitative assay of porphymins in urine of thirty patients of atopic dermatitis was.

A Spectrophtometic Study of Faecal in Patients of Atopic Dermatitis.

A quantitative assay of porphyrins in stool of thirty-patients with atopic dermatitis was done. Rimingtlon's technique -for the estimation of Porophyrins was employed. Porphyrin levels in the thirty cases were compared with ten normals which constituted the control group. No statistically significant difference in porphytm levels was, Observed between the study and control group. Porphyrin levels were also compared between patients with and without history photosensitivity.

A Spectrophotometric Study of Porphyrins in Patients with Psoriasis with Special Reference to Photosensitivity.

Quantitative Porphyrins in blood urine and stools of 30 patients with psoriasis had been' compared with that of 10 normal controls. Porphyrin levels have also been compared in psoriitic patients with and without history o I f photosensitivity, The erythrocyte coproporphyrin levels in patients, with photosensitivity were higher than that in patients without photosensitivity, and, this rise, was statistically significant. However, psoriasis per se does not. seem to affect porphyrin levels.

A Spectrophotometric Study of Eryrhrocyte Porphyrins in Patients of Atopic Dermatitis.

A quantitative assay of porphyrins in blood'of thirty patients with atopic dermatitis was done. Rimington's technique for the estimation of porphyrins was employed. Porphyrin levels in thirty cases of atopic dermatitis were compared with levels in ten controls. No satistically significant difference in porphyrin levels was observed be the study and control groups. Porphyrin were also compared between patients with and without history of photosensitivity. The, erythrocyte coproporphyrin in patients with photosensitivity was significantly higher than in patient without Photosensitivity.

Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Urinary Porphyrins.

Urinary porphyrins were measured in thirty women on oral contraceptives who constituted the study group and in ten women using conventional methods of contraception who constituted the control group. The difference of theme an so furinary copro and uroporphyrin in the two groups.was found to be statistically insignificant. Further, the effect of duration of treatment of females using oral contraceptives was also studied. The difference of means was not significant a the cases oral contraceptives for a period Of less than six months and cases using the same for more than six months.

Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Faecal Porphyrins.

A quantitative assay -of faecal prophyrins was undertaken by spectrophotometric method of Rimington in forty women, of child-bearing age Thirty women- On Oral contraceptives constituted the study group and ten on other methods of contrace on served as controls. In the study group the mean and standard deviation of faecal CoProporphyrins were 6.747 and 7.215 respectively and of faecal protoporphyrin levels 13.549 and 9.509 respectively.It was observed that 10 per cent of the women on oral contraceptives had raised faecal copro and protoporphyrins, which however, was statistically not significant.