Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) more commonly known as male pattern baldness affects up to 50% of men worldwide. Tretinoin prolongs anagen phase and increases percutaneous absorption of minoxidil three fold. Azelaic acid is an inhibitor of 5 alpha reductase and could be an effective agent in the treatment of androgen related pathology of human skin. Aims and Objective: 1) To study the efficacy of topical minoxidil 5% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 2) To study the efficacy of combination of topical minoxidil 5%, topical azelaic acid 1.5% and topical tretinoin 0.01% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 3) To compare the efficacy of foresaid topical preparation in treatment of androgenetic alopecia Setting: Outpatient department of Dermatology, Venerology Leprology of a tertiary health care centre with an attached medical college. Material and methods: Topical minoxidil 5 % lotion was used in 23 (50%) patients of the present study. Combination of topical minoxidil 5%, azelaic acid 1.5 % and tretinoin 0.01 % lotion was used in 23 (50 %) patients of the present study. Statistical analysis used: Epi info version 7. Results: There was statistically significant increase in hair number and thickness after treatment in both the groups. The comparison of the increase of hair number and thickness was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Topical Minoxidil 5% is equally effective to combination of topical Minoxidil 5%, azelaic acid 1.5% and tretinoin 0.01% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) more commonly known as male pattern baldness affects up to 50% of men worldwide. Tretinoin prolongs anagen phase and increases percutaneous absorption of minoxidil three fold. Azelaic acid is an inhibitor of 5 alpha reductase and could be an effective agent in the treatment of androgen related pathology of human skin. Aims and Objective: 1) To study the efficacy of topical minoxidil 5% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 2) To study the efficacy of combination of topical minoxidil 5%, topical azelaic acid 1.5% and topical tretinoin 0.01% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia. 3) To compare the efficacy of foresaid topical preparation in treatment of androgenetic alopecia Setting: Outpatient department of Dermatology, Venerology Leprology of a tertiary health care centre with an attached medical college. Material and methods: Topical minoxidil 5 % lotion was used in 23 (50%) patients of the present study. Combination of topical minoxidil 5%, azelaic acid 1.5 % and tretinoin 0.01 % lotion was used in 23 (50 %) patients of the present study. Statistical analysis used: Epi info version 7. Results: There was statistically significant increase in hair number and thickness after treatment in both the groups. The comparison of the increase of hair number and thickness was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Topical Minoxidil 5% is equally effective to combination of topical Minoxidil 5%, azelaic acid 1.5% and tretinoin 0.01% in treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Introduction: Lump in breast is a common complaint in surgical practice. The lesions of the breast have diverse aetiology and presentation may range from a benign tumour, cyst or a malignancy. The diagnostic methods for palpable breast lumps should be rapid, inexpensive, most accurate and least invasive to evaluate and distinguish between benign and malignant lumps in outpatient clinics. Thus, patients are more compliant and surgeons can be more certain about the definitive management. Aims and Objectives: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC and TRUCUT biopsy in screening of palpable breast lumps by taking histopathological reports as gold standard. Materials and Methods: It is a Diagnostic validity test, undertaken in the department of surgery in a tertiary care centre. Data collection was done by extensive history taking, clinical examination, FNAC, TRUCUT biopsy and post-operative histopathology. Results: Study was conducted on 145 patients. Out of the total, 99 (68.3%) reports were benign pathologies; fibroadenoma (61.6%) was the most common, while 46 (31.7%) were malignant pathologies and intra-ductal carcinoma was the most common (40 out of 46 cases; 88.9%). Overall diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was 93.1%, whereas that of TRUCUT biopsy was 96.6%. Conclusion: We thus conclude that both FNAC and TRUCUT biopsy are accurate methods in breast diagnostic practice. The methods are complementary and depend on the skill and experience of the individuals performing the sampling and interpretation. The clinicians should also know the advantages and disadvantages of both the procedures to decide accordingly.

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