Malignant melanoma of nose.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the uncommon malignancies of the nose. We present an unusually big proliferative like MM in the vestibule of the nose. Malignancy of nose constitutes less than 1% of all malignancies (3% of head & neck tumour). MM however contributes only 2% of all malignant neoplasms of the nose (Moore & Martin. 1955).

Eye changes in non-specific aorto-arteritis.

Non-specific aorto-arteritis or Takayasu's arteritis is fairly common and has been reported from all parts of India. The disease presents with various eye symptoms such as transient or permanent blindness, headache and signs including neovascularisation, retinal anastomosis, rubeosis iridis, cataracts. Eye manifestations depend on stage of disease and degree of involvement of cervical arteries. This review consists of an indepth impression of eye involvement in non-specific aorto-arteritis.

Iontophoretic Treatment of Hyperkeratosis with Sodium Salicylate.

Ten patients having hyperkeratosis with moderate to severe fissures on palms and soles were treated with iontophoresis using 5-10% aqueous solution of sodium salicylate. The results were excellent within a period of 3-4 weeks (6-8 sittings each for a period of 10-15 minutes). The treatment was free from the problems of salicylism. Follow-up in some of the reclcitrant cases for 4 months after stop the treatment and with no local application, showed neither any relapse nor deterioration. Sodium salicylate iontophoresis in hyperkeratosis seems to be safe well tolerated and far more effective than the usual local applications of salicylic acid.

Responses To Thermal Stresses in Psoriasis of Hand.

Fifteen subjects having psoriasis on the hand, comprising both sexes, between 22 and 56 years in age and suffering for durations varying from 10 months to 20 years each with a sex and age niatched control were studied. A thermistor thermometer measured the skin temperature in ambient condition at the finger tip and at selected sites on the dorsa of hands and fingers, both at lesion site and lesion-free adjacent ones. In all cases except one, the thermistor readings were significantly lower (p ) in the psoriatic lesions than in the uninvolved adjacent skin. The hands were next subjected to thermal stresses: first by immersion in an ice-water bath at O'C (cold challenge) and later in a hot water bath at 450C (heat challenge) each for a period of 60 seconds. Immediately after each stress period,ithe fingertip temperatures were recorded, in psoriatic subjects, the finger-tip temperature dropped on cold challenge and the amount of drop expressed as percentage of the basal temperature was significantly less (p ) than the corresponding value for the control. There was no significant difference (p 0.05) in the respo se to the heat challenge between psoriat c and normal subjects. It appears that there is some fault in the local vasomotor tone in subjects with hand psoriasis.

Quantitative Evaluation of Cutaneous Thermal Sensation in Psoriasis, Morphoea and Vitiligo.

A quantitative assessment of cutaneous thermal sensation was undertaken in 12 psoriasis, 7 morphoea and 12 vitiligo patients. The thermal sensory threshold (TST) was determined both at the lesion site and the lesion-Eree contralateral site (control) by an electronic device fitted with a probe and a temperature sensor. As the differences in T-ST between the contralateral regions hardly exc I eed I'C in normal individuals a difference in TSC was considered significant. It was observed that about 83% of psoriasis and 71% of morphoca cases showed a significant differencrin TST (3C), but no such difference existed among the vitiugo patients.

Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Type II.

A 5 1/2 month old male had vesiculopustular cutaneous lesions along with erythema, erosions, scaling and crusting particularly prominent in the peri - orificial areas for the last 1 month. He was the first child of his mother who had no sign of zinc deficiency. Serum zin level was normal in the mother, but low in the baby. Oral zinc therapy cured the baby. After weaning the baby was disease free even without oral zinc.

Age-related Changes in Thermal Sensory Thresholds of Skin.

Thermal sensory thresholds of 85 healthy subjects with aormal height to weight range, and classified into five age groups between 10 to 60 years were measured and analysed statistically. Measurements were carried out with an electronic device at two 'different sites; forehead (FH) and finger-tip (Fr), almost at constant (28-32C) ambient temperature and rel.,i(ive humidity (00- 65%). Since no significant sex difference was observed in any.,igc group at either.,,iie, data for both sexes %k,cre pooled to comliute the groupmeans.Thc agegroul)sshowed different mean thermal sensory threshold levels which progressively increased with age at both the sites. The analysis of variance among the groups was found to be significant at 1% for both FH and FT. While the data in groups 1 to 3 were relatively homogenous, greater variability was found in groups 4 and 5. The threshold level, y, and the age group mean, x, could be related by an empirical equation y = A + B in x, where A = 30.85 for FH and 27.82 for Fr and B = 1.37 for FH and 3.39 for FT.

Therapeutic Response of Urticaria Pigmentosa to Doxepin.

on in urticaria pigmentosa are discussed.

Mixed Form of Pemphigus Vulgaris and Dermatitls Herpetiformis.

A 45 year old female had grouped pruritic Papules and vesicles with a few scattered tensebullae, symetrically distributed on the extensor surfaces of limbs, back and buttocks. Nikolsky's sign' was negative. Histopathology revealed intra-epidermal suprabasal cleft along with acantholysis. Eosinophilic spongiosis was also present. The patient recovered with dapsone.

Surface pH of Normal Skin.

The skin furface pH of 55 brown-skinned individuals (Indians) comprising of 30 males and 25 females in the age range 12-58 years has been measured at the forehead (FH) and the back of the wrist (BW). The mean values of skin pH at FH and BW are 5.51 + 0.32 and 5.56 + 0.40 respectively for male. The corresponding female values are 5.73 + 0.032 and 5.84 + 0.28 statistical analysis of the data shows that (i) the dependence of skin surface pH on age is not significant, (ii) the male skin is slightly, but significantly more acidic than the female one, (iii) the mean values of skin pH at forehead and at back of the wrist do not differ significantly for male ; the difference however is significant for female at 5% level, (iv) there exists a significant positive correlation ( r=0.77 for male and r + 0.71 for female) between the pH's of the forehead (x2) and the back of the wrist (z3). The regression equation of x2 on x3 are: x2= 2.13+0.61 for male and x2=1.05 + 0.80x3 for female.

Coexistence of Lichen Scierosus Et Atrophicus and Morphoea.

There cases had coexisting lichen scierosus et atrophicus and morphoea. In two cases, both the types -of lesions were simultaneously present from the very beginning. While in the third case, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus developed later in association with an already present and partly treated morphoea.

Studies on vitiligo. II. Familial aggregation and genetics.

Data on 298 pedigrees, each collected through an affected proband, have been analyzed to study familial aggregation and genetics of vitiligo. The extent of familial aggregation is statistically significant at the 5% level. The disease does not appear to be inherited in a simple dominant or recessive fashion. The heritability of liability to the disease is 46% +/- 4.82%. Neither common family environment nor a major locus with additional sources (environmental and/or polygenic) can be excluded as a cause of familial aggregation. Association of the disease with six polymorphic genetic marker loci have been studied. Significant associations with ACP1 and RH loci have been found. This and earlier studies indicate that the disease is associated with genetic loci on different chromosomes, which points to a polygenic nature of the disease.

Studies on vitiligo. I. Epidemiological profile in Calcutta, India.

An epidemiological profile of vitiligo in Calcutta is presented. Prevalence data were gathered from 15,685 individuals drawn from the general population; pedigree data were collected through 293 vitiligo patients. The overall prevalence of vitiligo is about 5 per 1,000 individuals. There are no significant sex or age differences in prevalence rates. About a 4.5-fold increase in prevalence is observed among close biological relatives of affected individuals. There is, however, no clearcut correspondence between relative risks and kinship coefficients. There are no significant differences in the frequencies of various types of vitiligo between probands with and without positive family history. The overall mean and modal ages of onset are about 22 years and 15 years, respectively. The mean ages among males (24.8 years) and females (19.3 years) are significantly different.

Foot drop, mimicking neuritic leprosy induced by a Baker's cyst.

A Baker's cyst of the left knee joint induced foot drop insidiously in a male, Hindu, aged 25 years. On clinical suspicion, that this malady was caused by neuritic type of leprosy, he was administered antileprosy drugs for 6 months without any benefit. On exploration a globular cystic mass, containing gelatinous fluid, was seen to be pressing over the left lateral popliteal nerve. Following removal of this mass, which on histology confirmed to be a Baker's cyst, foot drop and associated motor power impairment disappeared. This case thus highlights the importance of an early exploration and histological diagnosis of a suspected case of neuritic leprosy inducing foot drop and progressively deteriorating, inspite of regular antileprosy therapy.