Syphilis is one of the most fascinating diseases of humans. Widespread use of antibiotics now has reduced the incidence of early syphilis and recognized new cases of late syphilis have decreased. Serological tests are the basis for the diagnosis of latent syphilis. They vary in their sensitivity and specificity. While non-treponemal tests (VDRL and RPR) are most frequently used as screening procedures, treponemal tests (FTA-ABS and TPHA) are considered to be highly sensitive and specific. MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this study 100 serum samples collected from the patients attending STD Department, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam. Samples were subjected to VDRL, RPR and Micro-TPHA tests to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Micro-TPHA test in patients with various stages of syphilis and to evaluate the efficacy of Micro-TPHA to confirm the diagnosis of syphilis and to rule out biological false positive reactions or false negative reactions of VDRL tests. RESULTSThree tests (VDRL, RPR and Micro-TPHA) were applied to all 100 patients. Among them 85 were VDRL reactive, 84 were RPR positive and 89 were TPHA positive. In them males were more in number, in 3 tests with respect to age, (21-30) age group patients showed predominance. Out of 100 patients, 81 sera were positive for all three tests and one serum sample was VDRL reactive, but RPR and TPHA were non-reactive. This may be a false positive reaction. The following tables showed the sensitivity and specificity of each test and also the sensitivity of each test in various stages of syphilis. CONCLUSIONIt is concluded as by performing TPHA test, false positive reactivity of VDRL test could be detected. Even in the cases of treated primary and secondary syphilis, TPHA was reactive. The lipoidal antigen tests primarily reflect disease activity and serial quantitative performance of these tests used to measure the treatment response.

BACKGROUND Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a hereditary, androgen-dependent dermatological disorder more common in men. It is occasionally seen in women. It commonly begins by 20 years of age and affects nearly 50% of men by the age of 50 years. It is a progressive thinning of the scalp hair in a defined pattern causing significant lowering of the self-esteem and psychological well-being of the patient. The treatment modalities are limited, mainly minoxidil, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and hair transplantation. Few treatment options and those too having side effects prompted the discovery of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). (1) The basic idea behind PRP injection is to deliver high concentrations of growth factors to the scalp with the hope of stimulating hair regrowth. PRP is an autologous preparation of platelets in concentrated plasma. Although, the optimal PRP platelet concentration is unclear, the current method by which the PRP is prepared reports 300-700% enrichment with platelets concentration consequently increasing to more than 1,000,000 platelets. PRP has attracted attention in several medical fields, because of its ability to promote wound healing. (2) Activation of alpha granules of platelets releases numerous proteins including platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL-1). It is hypothesised that growth factors released from platelets may act as a stem cell in the bulge area of the follicles stimulating the development of new follicles and promoting neovascularisation. Aims and Objectives-This is uncontrolled clinical trial done to know the safety, efficacy and feasibility of PRP injections in treating androgenic alopecia in both male and female patterns hair loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was uncontrolled clinical trial. A total of 32 patients were selected, out of which 18 patients suffering from hair loss due to androgenic alopecia (56%) and 14 cases of female pattern hair loss (44%) not responding to 6 months treatment with minoxidil and finasteride were included in the study. A total volume of 2 to 3 cc of PRP was injected in the scalp using an insulin syringe. The treatment was repeated every 2 weeks for a total of 4 times. The outcome was accessed after 3 months by clinical examination, by taking photos and doing hair pull test.

BACKGROUNDCandida is the most common agent causing leucorrhoea affecting the women of all strata. It is becoming difficult to completely eradicate the infection mainly due to recurrence caused by non-albican species of Candida. Most of the non-albican species of Candida are resistant to commonly used antifungal agent -azole. Therefore, studying the incidence of Candida species in vaginal secretion is of great significance.

Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED) is a rare disorder with defects in two or more of the following structures: the teeth, skin and its appendages including hair, nails, eccrine, and sebaceous glands. Dental manifestations include hypodontia, complete anodontia or malformed teeth. The most common form of the ED is hypohidrotic ED and is usually inherited as an X-linked recessive trait. Female carriers may have a variable degree of clinical manifestations. The condition is thought to occur in approximately 1 in every 100, 000 live births. Dental treatment for these patients varies on an individual basis. Children with ED are often treated for dental problems with conventional adult appearing prosthesis. Here with we are reporting two classical cases of hypohidrotic ED with a review of the literature.

BACKGROUNDVitiligo is a disorder of melanocytes characterised by depigmentation and is a psychologically devastating disorder. Childhood vitiligo has different epidemiological clinical characteristics that manifests as circumscribed achromic macules often associated with leukotrichia and histologically by degeneration and disappearance of melanocytes in the involved skin and not infrequently in the pigment epithelium of the eyes, leptomeninges and inner ear. Vitiligo can develop at any age and most commonly affects the skin phototypes III and IV. It affects different races, religions and socioeconomic groups and different dietary habits do not show any significant variation in proclivity towards the disease. (1) MATERIALS AND METHODS 30 patients of childhood vitiligo of age less than 18 years attending the DVL Department of KGH, Visakapatnam, between the months of August 2015 to January 2016 were selected. Objectives of the Study-To study clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhood vitiligo and to see the association of vitiligo with other autoimmune disorders. Study Design-It is a descriptive study.