<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Androgenic alopecia is most common type of non-scarring alopecia in men. It is associated with high risk of cardiovascular events. Aim was to study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in male patients of early onset androgenic alopecia.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A case-control study was conducted at the dermatology out-patient department over a period of 6 months which included 100 patients of androgenic alopecia and 100 age matched controls. All subjects were aged 20 to 35 years and underwent detailed history, clinical examination including trichoscopic examination and measurement of waist circumference and blood pressure. Fasting blood sugar, triglyceride and high-density lipoproteins were tested following overnight fasting. Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on criteria of national cholesterol education program (NCEP) adult treatment panel III. Chi square test was used as a test of significance. P value &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was more in androgenic alopecia patients than in controls (48% versus 18%, p value &lt;0.001). Androgenic alopecia patients had higher prevalence of increased waist circumference (76% versus 28%, p value &lt;0.0001), increased diastolic blood pressure (32% versus 12%, p value=0.007), increased serum triglycerides (46% versus 24%, p value=0.0011) and decreased serum high-density lipoproteins (36% versus 18%, p value=0.0042) compared to controls.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Early screening for metabolic syndrome and its components is beneficial in patients with androgenic alopecia to reduce cardiovascular mortality.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Palmoplantar psoriasis is difficult to treat and often recalcitrant to traditional treatment modalities like topical steroids, anthralin, calcipotriol, methotrexate, cyclosporine, NB-UVB and PUVA. This study was aimed to compare efficacy of 308 nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL) in combination with calcipotriol ointment to 308 nm MEL alone in treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This self-control study was conducted in 30 patients of palmoplantar psoriasis. Right side was treated with 308 nm MEL, 2 times/week, at meantime calcipotriol ointment was applied externally, 2 times/day (treatment group); the left side was treated with 308 nm MEL alone, 2 times/week (control group). Erythema, scaling, induration and fissuring (ESIF) score and cumulative doses of 308 nm MEL were assessed before treatment and on weeks 2, 4 and 6 after initiation of treatment.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> All 30 patients completed the treatment. ESIF scores on week 2, week 4, and week 6 in treatment group were significantly lower than control group (p&lt;0.01). The average cumulative MEL dose in treatment group at the end of trial was 8.12±1.72 J/cm², which was significantly lower than in control group 12.76±1.92 J/cm² (p&lt;0.01).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis with 308 nm MEL in combination with external application of calcipotriol ointment can improve long-term treatment efficacy, decrease cumulative doses, and adverse effects induced by MEL irradiations.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Clofazimine is a riminophenazine derivative which is useful both for treating the leprosy and managing reactive episodes. Previous studies demonstrated that clofazimine may have a useful prophylactic role against neuritis/type 1 reaction and nerve damage. The WHO Technical Advisory Group (TAG), in its Third meeting in 2002, proposed that uniform MDT regimen (U-MDT) of 6 months duration should be considered to treat all types of leprosy. This study was aimed to determine any additional beneficial effects of clofazimine as part of UMDT in the prevention of nerve function impairment (NFI) in paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Sixty paucibacillary leprosy patients were randomized into two groups, A and B consisting of 30 patients each. Group A received U-MDT for 6 months and group B received MDT-PB for 6 months. Nerve function assessment (NFA) using various modalities was done at the beginning (0 month) and at the completion of MDT (6 months) and results were compared.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> No statistically significant difference in improvement or deterioration of NFI was found in two groups.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> On the basis of present study, we found that addition of clofazimine in standard dose as part of U-MDT has no beneficial role in prevention or improvement of NFI in PB leprosy patients. However, a larger longitudinal study taking substantial number of population in both groups might be helpful to derive any conclusion.</p>