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Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss. Although it is a medically benign condition, it can have a significant psychosocial impact on patients. "Metabolic syndrome" (MetS) is a collection of clinical signs that focus on cardiovascular and diabetes-related parameters. Despite the high burden of AGA and MetS in India, specific data on the participants are relatively sparse. Aim of the Study: The aim of is to study the association of AGA with MetS and its parameters. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was undertaken in a tertiary care hospital from December 2015 to November 2016 with 100 cases and controls in the age group of 20-50 years. Diagnosis of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Independent t-test was used as a test of significance. Categorical data were assessed using Chi-square test of significance. P <0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: MetS was seen in 53% of cases and 17% of controls (P = 0.001). The mean serum triglyceride level (P = 0.015, P < 0.05), mean systolic blood pressure (P = 0.003, P < 0.05), high-density lipoprotein levels in males (P < 0.001), and waist circumference in males (P = 0.022, P < 0.05) were statistically significant in patients with androgenetic alopecia when compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: A higher prevalence of MetS was noted in androgenic alopecia. Early screening for MetS is beneficial in patients with androgenic alopecia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) is defined as urticaria persisting daily or almost daily for more than 6 weeks and affecting 0.1% of the population. Mast cell degranulation and histamine release are of central importance in the pathogenesis of CU. About 40-50% of the patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) or chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) demonstrates an immediate wheal and flare response to intradermal injected autologous serum. This led to the concept of autoimmune urticaria (AIU). Aims: To determine the occurrence, clinical features, associated clinical conditions, comorbidities of AIU, and to compare this with CSU. This study aimed to find the frequency of autologous serum skin test (ASST)-positive patients among patients with CSU and to identify the clinical and laboratory parameters associated with positive ASST and to compare the treatment outcome. Materials and Methods: A prospective correlation study in 110 patients with CSU was conducted, after screening 200 CU patients attending the outpatient Department of Dermatology during from January 2012 to May 2013. Patients were subjected to ASST, complete blood counts, urine routine examination, liver function tests, renal function tests, thyroid function tests (T3, T4, and TSH), and urine analysis. Results: Out of 200 CU patients screened, 90 patients had excludable causes based on detailed history and skin prick test, and the remaining 110 patients were considered to have CSU. These 110 patients were further subjected to ASST, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), and peripheral blood eosinophilia. ASST was positive in 48 patients and negative in 62 patients. Frequency of urticarial attacks and associated diseases such as abnormal thyroid function tests in both ASST-positive and ASST-negative patients did not show any statistical significance. Only attacks of angioedema in ASST-positive individuals were higher and were statistically significant. In the ASST-positive group, 31 (81.25%) patients showed improvement with first-line antihistamines, along with oral prednisolone and injection Histaglobulin and 10 (10.41%) patients did not show any improvement. Thirty-three (43.54%) patients in the ASST-negative group showed improvement while 13 (30.62%) patients did not show improvement. Conclusion: ASST is considered a screening test for AIU, which decreases the rate of diagnosis of "idiopathic" form of CU. ASST-positive patients in addition to antihistamines, were treated with short course of oral steroids and weekly Histaglobulin injections for 5 weeks followed by the 3rd and 6th months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a rare genodermatoses transmitted by autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by hypertrophic nail changes and nail dystrophy, also associated with the oral mucosa, skin, hair, and teeth involvement. A 26-year-old female presented with disfigured nails of both hands and feet involving all 20 digits since birth. She gave complaints of occasional painful swelling and shedding of nails. The nails were discolored and thickened with overcurvature and subungual hyperkeratosis giving a characteristic wedge-shaped appearance. Palms, soles, and mucous membrane examination were normal. There were no other ectodermal abnormalities, and systemic examination was normal. Potassium hydroxide examination of the nail clippings did not reveal any fungi. The presence of characteristic clinical features led to a diagnosis of forme fruste of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A disorder first described by Zoon in 1952, Zoon's balanitis or Plasma cell balanitis (PCB), is an uncommon clinical disorder seen in middleaged uncircumcised men. It is characterized by one or more indolent well demarcated, glazed, reddish brown patches on the glans penis or prepuce. The etiology of this disease is unknown. This balanitis does not respond to routine topical antifungals, steroid creams and systemic antifungals. Diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy. Herein we report 8 cases of PCB, presenting with a characteristic clinical picture of the disease. In all cases circumcision was done and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of PCB. All patients were followed up for a period of 6 months and no recurrences were observed. Development of malignancy is not seen. In conclusion. We believe that for all cases of balanitis, not responding to routine topical antifungals, steroid creams and systemic antifungals, the diagnosis of Zoon's balanitis should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]