Repellent Action of Neem ( Azadiracta Indica ) Seed Oil against Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes

Neem (Azadiracta indica ) seed oil in appropriate amount when smeared on the surface of the hand showed excellent repellent action against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. When 1 ml of oil was spread on the hand, with an approximate area of 160 sq cm the percentage of alighting and blood fed mosquitoes in the experimental cages varied from 14 to 78 and 4 to 46 respectively. This percentage decreased to 6 to 18 and 0 to 16 respectively when the amount of oil applied was 1.5 ml. Only 0 - 4% of the mosquitoes alighted on the skin of which 2% only took the blood meal when 2 ml of the oil was used to cover the hand. In the control cages cent percent of the mosquitoes alighted and sucked blood. The repellent action was directly proportional to the hour of exposure to the oil. It was also observed that even after alighting on a oil-smeared skin a sizeable proportion of mosquitoes were not able toimbibe blood meal. Neem seed oil was non-toxic, non-irritating to skin.

Topical Use of Corticosteroids in Dermatology

Topical corticosteroids still constitute one of the largest group of drugs being used in dermatology. Prescribing of this group of drugs was studied in dermatology out-patient department of Govt. Medical College Hospital, Nagpur by randomly auditing the prescription in the Hospital Pharmacy. Out of 600 prescriptions monitored, 14 could not be deciphered, 136 contained prescriptions for topical steroids, 37 had in addition systemic preparations and 47 were only prescribed systemic drugs. Data with regard to age and sex and the diagnosis were noted. The prescriptions were scrutinized for mentioning of dosage form, quantity, frequency, site of application and duration of topical steroids. The importance of these parameters has been discussed along with the report of the findings of the study. The topical steroids prescribed have been classified according to potency.

An Evaluation of Acupuncture as a Modality of Treatment of Leprous Neuritis

Eighty patients of leprosy who developed peripheral neuritis as a presenting feature or during the course of antileprotic treatment were selected for the study. Groups 1, 2, 3 (N = 20 each) were given acupuncture therapy and considered as acupuncture group. Twenty patients were used as control (Group 4). Patients in acupuncture group showed improvement in subsidence of neural pain and tenderness after ten sittings of acupuncture. The response was best when acupuncture was given as adjunct to antireaction drugs. Relapse rates in Gr. 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 20, 30, 10 and 40 percents respectively. However the effect of acupuncture was temporary and on statistical analysis it was not considered significant when taken as a whole (acupuncture group). Hence acupuncture is only recommended where corticosteroids/NSA/AIDS are contraindicated. In view of AIDS and Hepatitis B infection, all cases are advised to be screened before acupuncture therapy and the acupuncture needles be autoclaved.

Fragrance - the Commonest Antigen Testing Positive in Chronic Hand Dermatitis

Fifty cases of chronic hand dermatitis were patch tested with standard series using antigens from Chemotechnique. Cases with positive reaction to fragrance mix were tested with fragrance series. Results are reported here.

Pigmentary Changes in Pregnancy

Pigmentary changes in one hundred pregnant females between 21 to 37 years were studied. Although 72% had hypermelanotic changes of some kind, only 20% of them were aware cosmetically; 56% of cases had chloasma. Incidence of centrofacial and malar type was 46.3% while mandibular type was seen in 7.1%. Hyperpigmentation was moderate in 70% and severe in 10% of cases and was more in multigravida than in primigravida. In primigravida, 90% had onset of chloasma in 2nd trimestar. Histopathological studies revealed increased melanins in boh epidermis and dermis in 80% of severe type of chloasma (10 cases).

Dermato-surgical Approach in Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a hypomelanotic disorder often difficult to treat. Different medicinal treatments such as PUVA, steroids and adjunct therapies give partial or complete repigmentation in about 60-90% cases. Moreover, vitiligo patches which are refractory to most medical therapies are acrofacial, mucosal and segmental. At the backdrop of these medicinal shortcomings, various surgical procedures and their modifications have gradually evolved. To decide why, where and when surgical interference is required, is of utmost importance. In this review different surgical modes, including some of the latest, and their future prospects are discussed.

Wooly Hair

A 6 year old boy with woolly hair is reported for an unusual curling of eyelashes and associated keratosis pilaris.

Eccrine Angiomatous Hamartoma

Bier (1895) first reported the sudoriparous angioma as association of angioma and supralesional sweating with pain. There have been several reports of this distinctive nevus. We report one such case with a slight different morphology.

Reticulate Acropigmentation of Kitamura

A young girl developed numerous, tiny, depressed, pigmented, atrophic macules on the palmo-plantar and dorsal aspects of both hands and feet since the age of 4. Her brother also was found to have similar skin disease. The lesions were strictly confined to the hands and feet only suggesting the diagnosis of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura. Its differentiating features acropigmentation of Dohi and acromelanosis are described.