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Tragulids hold a significant place in the evolutionary history of mammals since they represent the basal branch of ruminants. Only three genera of tragulids are being extant to date such as Tragulus, Hyemoschus and Moschiola. In the genus Moschiola, Sri Lankan chevrotains (Moschiola meminna and Moschiola kathygre) are endemic to Sri Lanka while Moschiola indica is present in India. Sri Lankan chevrotains lack information on their population structure, distribution and molecular evidence on species identification. This leads to possible threats including habitat destruction, poaching and illegal hunting and trading under different names. In this study, genomic DNA from hair follicles was isolated from M. meminna and M. kathygre and 12S rRNA mitochondrial gene was amplified using universal primers. The PCR products were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was done on Sri Lankan chevrotains for the first time. The sequences of Sri Lankan chevrotains share 99.7% similarity as they differ only in a single InDel present in M. meminna. In silico analysis of 12S rRNA region revealed that PCR-RFLP approach can be used to differentiate the Sri Lankan chevrotains from Indian chevrotain using the restriction enzymes; Rsa I, Sca I, Hinf I and Hind III. M. kathygre and M. meminna can be differentiated from each other by using Dra I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphocyte enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF1) is responsible for melanocyte proliferation, migration and differentiation and its downregulation may result in depigmentation in vitiligo. Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy is known to enhance melanocyte migration from hair follicles to lesional epidermis; hence, it may have a role in the upregulation of LEF1. Objectives: We intended to assess the expression of LEF1 both before and after NB-UVB therapy and correlate it with the extent of re-pigmentation. Materials and methods: In this prospective cohort study, 30 patients of unstable non-segmental vitiligo were administered NB-UVB phototherapy for 24 weeks. Skin biopsies were obtained from acral and non-acral sites in all patients, both prior to initiation and after completion of phototherapy and LEF1 expression was measured. Results: Amongst the 16 patients who completed the study, at 24 weeks, all patients achieved > 50% re-pigmentation. However, > 75% re-pigmentation was achieved in only 11.1% of acral patches, whereas it was achieved in a significantly higher number of non-acral patches (66.6%) (p = 0.05). A significant increase was observed in the mean fluorescent intensity of the LEF1 gene in both acral as well as non-acral areas at 24 weeks as compared to baseline (p = 0.0078), However, no difference was observed between acral and non-acral lesions in the LEF1 expression at 24 weeks or the change in LEF1 expression from baseline. Conclusion: LEF1 expression modulates the re-pigmentation of vitiligo lesions after treatment with NBUVB phototherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AA) is one of the common cosmetic concerns. It affects more than 50% of adults. AA alopecia is a benign condition and it affects the psychology of patients. Microneedling (MN) - minimally invasive procedure. Minoxidil is an antihypertensive and causes vasodilation. Aims and Objectives: The present study was aimed to compare the efficacy of MN with minoxidil solution versus MN with hair multivitamin solution of male androgenetic alopecia. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology, Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Devanahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. After following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 50 subjects were involved. Subjects were divided into two groups, 25 in each group. Group I, MN with dermaroller having needle length of 1.5 mm was done and minoxidil solution was applied over the scalp and the again MN was done. Group II, MN was done and hair multivitamin solution was used. MN was done for every 3 weeks and a total of nine sessions were done. From the last session, all the study subjects were followed for 6 months. Baseline investigations were done. Side effects such as pain, bruising, and folliculitis were recorded and monitored. Response of the patients to the treatment (hair growth) was assessed by physician global assessment scores. Visual analog scale score was done to assess the subjective improvement of the patients. Results: In this study, 50 male androgenetic alopecia patients were involved. In this, 21 (42%) were in the age group of 20-40 years and 29 (58%) were in the 41-60 years of age group. In Group I, excellent response was seen in 19 (76%), very good response in 4 (16%), good response in 2 (8%) patients, and none of the patients showed average response. In Group II, excellent response was seen in 10 (40%), very good response in 4 (16%), good response in 6 (24%) patients, and average response in 5 (20%). Following side effects were observed in the study subjects, pain in 6 (24%), bruising 4 (16%), and folliculitis 2 (8%). Conclusion: MN is safe and cost-effective procedure, which causes stimulation of hair follicles and improves hair growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous adnexal tumours (CATs) are one of the commonest clinical presentations in dermatology outpatients. They constitute a subset of skin tumours with a common clinical presentation and variable histological findings. Almost all of them clinically present as a subcutaneous nodule. Depending upon the site and distribution, the clinician can suspect the diagnosis. However, histopathological examination is the gold standard for the definitive diagnosis and proper subtyping of CATs. Aims: The present study is conducted to see the overall spectrum, incidence and distribution of CATs in a large cohort at the tertiary care centre with their clinical profile. Methods: This was a retrospective study in which all the CATs diagnosed over a period of 5 years (2015 to 2019) in a tertiary care hospital were studied. Clinical data were recorded from the histopathology requisition forms. Results: Three hundred and ninety-five cases of CATs were retrieved. Approximately 90% of cases were benign and 10% were malignant. The age of presentation ranged from 8 months to 81 years with male preponderance in all the histological subtypes. The most common site was the head and neck followed by the extremities. Morphologically, the maximum cases showed a differentiation towards sweat glands (44%), followed by sebaceous (29%), follicular (26.5%) and apocrine differentiation (5.3%). Malignant tumours were common in the elderly age group with sebaceous carcinoma being the commonest. Conclusion: CATs comprise of a wide spectrum of tumours occurring in all age groups. Malignant CATs are rare and common in older age groups. Histopathological examination is the gold standard in distinguishing between the different subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinea capitis (TC) is the most common cause of hair loss in pediatric patients leading to varied manifestations. Essentially, TC is a superficial infection which affects hair shaft, hair follicle, and the scalp. Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe the clinic-mycological characteristics and trichoscopic findings of TC among pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati, Government Medical College and Hospital after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. All the pediatric patients of TC enrolled during the study period of 1.5 year (between January, 2020 and June, 2021). Trichoscopy was performed and findings were recorded on a predesigned pro forma. All participants were clinically examined and sample of hair and scalp scrapping was taken for mycological investigation (potassium hydroxide [KOH] and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar culture). Results: Among 100 children of TC (M/F=2.2), gray patch type TC was most common, whereas pustular variant was least common. Trichoscopic findings were seen in all 100 cases with short broken hair being most common. Perifollicular scaling was statistically significant in gray patch TC, black dot, and comma shape in black dot TC and, crock screw hair and thick crust in kerion TC. By combining perifollicular scaling, comma hair, short-broken hair, black dot, and erythema, a sensitivity of 98.8% was achieved. KOH revealed fungal spore/hyphae in 79% patients with ectothrix pattern (56.9%) more commonly than endothrix pattern (34.2%). Trichophyton violaceum (25.9%) was the most common species isolated among culture positive patients. Conclusion: Trichoscopy could be a simple, valuable, non-invasive, rapid, and easy to perform method for diagnosing tinea capitis in resource poor settings, where mycological culture facility is not available and in situations where delay in treatment can be counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Recurrent and recalcitrant dermatophytosis is a major evolving health problem in India. Histopathology is important in the diagnosis of recurrent and resistant cases, as it is postulated that hair follicle epithelium is affected, acting as the reservoir leading to recurrence and recalcitrance. Aims: This study aims to study histopathology of hair follicle epithelium in patients of recurrent and recalcitrant dermatophytosis. Settings and Design: A diagnostic cross-sectional study was performed at tertiary care hospital and referral center in central India. Materials and Methods: A 3 mm-sized punch skin biopsy was taken from 108 patients of recurrent or recalcitrant dermatophytosis involving hair follicles. Sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stain in these patients followed by special stains such as periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain and Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stain in 78 individuals where hair follicle was seen on H and E stain. Results: In H and E stain, surface epidermis fungus was observed in 57/108 patients (52.7%). In hair follicle-positive sections (78), surface fungus was seen in 52.6% with H and E stain, 84.6% with PAS stain, and 91% with GMS stain. H and E was 62.12% sensitive and 100% specific to diagnose fungus when compared with PAS stain and 57.7% sensitive and 100% specific when compared with GMS stain. PAS was 91.5% sensitive and 85.7% specific when compared with GMS stain. Ectothrix infection was the most common form of hair infection observed in 87.2% cases with GMS stain. Simultaneous presence of fungus in hair follicle and stratum corneum was observed in 87.3% of patients. Conclusion: Majority of patients showed affection of hair follicles by dermatophytes in clinically chronic, recurrent, and recalcitrant dermatophytic infections. GMS stain is the acceptable gold standard for detection of fungal elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of this study was correlation of skin adnexal tumors with age, sex, and location and determining its incidence in the Department of Pathology at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College and Hospital, Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Material and Methods. 56 cases were included in this study from Jan 2004 to June 2010 with respect to incidence of adnexal tumors, age, and sex distribution. All slides were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and then findings were corroborated with special stains like PAS and reticulin wherever required. Results. 80.36% (45/56) were benign and 19.64% (11/56) were malignant adnexal tumors. The sweat gland tumors constituted the largest group (42.86% 24/56) cases followed by the hair follicle tumors (35.71%, 20/56) of cases and sebaceous gland tumors (21.43%, 12/56) cases. Overall male:female ratio was 1.07:1. The commonest age group was 51-60 years and the commonest affected body part was head and neck region (64.28%, 36/56) followed by trunk (14.28%, 8/56). Clear cell hidradenoma and pilomatricoma were commonest benign tumors and sebaceous carcinoma was the only malignant tumor seen. Conclusion. The incidence of benign skin adnexal tumors was more as compared to the malignant tumors. Malignant tumors were seen in older age group, usually over 50 years of age. 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study of 18‑year‑old young boy is presented who sustained trauma to his chin at the age of 16 years, which was sutured. Topics include considered he noticed hair growth around the suture line 1 year later, around the time of appearance of moustache and he developed a spontaneous, painless, swelling along the right mandible, which was excised.

Background: Alopecia Areata (AA) is a "non-scarring" alopecia that has an autoimmune basis. Though clinically distinctive, problems arise in diagnosis depending on the temporal stage of the disease at presentation; some of them progress to scarring alopecia and predicting its prognosis is difficult. Histological changes depend on the disease stage and site of the biopsy. Objectives: To describe the spectrum of histologic features in AA. Materials and Methods: A prospective and retrospective study of H and E sections of all biopsies signed out as AA between 2001 and 2009 (20 cases) was undertaken. Results: The diagnosis was made on vertical sections in all cases. The total number of hair follicles ranged from 1 to 24 with an average of 7 and comprised mainly terminal follicles. Vellus follicles were scanty. Anagen to non-anagen ratio was 1:1.62. Miniaturization of follicles was noted in five (25%) cases. Peribulbar inflammation was seen in all the cases with a dominance of lymphocytes. Perifollicular fibrosis was noted in 12 (60%) and pigment casts in 5 (25%) cases. Scarring was seen in two cases. In these cases, a diagnosis of AA was rendered on the basis of even spacing of the fibrotic units and remnants of the catagenic basement membrane within the scars. The epidermis and interfollicular dermis were normal in all the cases. Conclusion: The most consistent features of AA are an increase in non-anagen terminal follicles and peribulbar lymphocytic infiltrate. The etiology can be determined even in cases that have progressed to scarring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary condition involving a progressive loss of melanocytes from the epidermis and hair follicles We have earlier reported impairment of systemic antioxidant status of Baroda vitiligo patients (Pigment Cell Res 2004; 17; 289-94) and we now show analysis of the clinical profiles of these patients. Procedure: The study comprised of 424 vitiligo patients. Clinical and demographic details of all the patients were obtained from the vitiligo clinical proformas. Lipid peroxidation levels (LPO) in erythrocytes of vitiligo patients and healthy controls were estimated. Result: Out of four hundred and twenty four outpatients, males constituted 38.44% and females were 61.56%. Mean age of the patients was 25.59 years. The sites of onset were the lower limb, face, trunk, upper limb, genital, hand, labia and scalp in the descending order of frequency. Koebner's phenomenon was observed in 12.74%, diabetes mellitus in 1.18%, leukotrichia in 9.2% and premature graying of hair in 23.11% patients. A family history of vitiligo was present in 21.93% of the patients. Significant increase (P<0.002) in the LPO levels of the vitiliginous patients was observed compared to the controls. Conclusion: Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common form of the disease which constituted 52.36% of the patients followed by focal vitiligo (28.54%), segmental vitiligo (6.84), acrofacial (7.55%), mucosal (2.83%) and universal vitiligo (1.89%). Systemic oxidative stress may have a pathophysiological role in precipitating all clinical types of vitiligo in Vadodara vitiliginous patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of an extensive study on oral cancer and precancerous lesions in a selected sample of Indian industrial workers, 43,654 individuals over the age of 35 years were clinically examined for the presence and location of oral sebaceous glands. The prevalence of oral sebaceous glands was found to be 25% in the study sample. This comparatively low prevalence rate is attributed to the high frequency of oral habits which may cause an atrophy of these glandular structures. Bilateral buccal mucosal involvement was the most common finding. The upper lip was much more frequently involved than the lower lip. Because these glands do not have any pathologic significance, they should be considered developmental disorders or structures within the limits of normal variation. Occasionally, when widespread, they may be mistaken for oral white lesions such as leukoplakia, lichen planus, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]