During the period 1990-2002 in Himachal Pradesh, India, 103 new patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis were detected. Lymphocutaneous and fixed cutaneous varieties were the most common and seen in 49% and 43% respectively. Chronic non-specific inflammation without granuloma formation was seen in 46% skin biopsy specimens, 29% showed acute or chronic inflammation and tuberculoid granuloma formation was seen in 25%. In 32% of cases Sporothrix schenckii growth was seen on Sabouraud glucose agar. A saturated solution of potassium iodide was used as first-line treatment and in 93% patients healing of lesions occurred in 4-32 weeks (average 8.7 weeks) without significant side-effects. Itraconazole, used in 12 patients, was highly effective in recommended doses. Rapid healing was seen with higher than previously used doses of fluconazole in one patient who also had unusual exacerbation of lesional inflammation with saturated solution of potassium iodide.

A new benzimidazole-based diamide ligand-N,N'-bis(glycine-2- benzimidazolyl)hexanediamide (GBHA)-has been synthesized and utilized to prepare Cu(II) complexes of general composition [Cu(GBHA)X]X, where X is an exogenous anionic ligand (X = Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SCN(-)). The X-ray structure of one of the complexes, [Cu(GBHA)Cl]Cl.H(2)O.CH(3)OH, has been obtained. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with unit cell dimensions a = 26.464(3) A, b = 10.2210(8) A, c = 20.444(2) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 106.554(7) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V= 5300.7(9) A(3), and Z = 8. To the best of our knowledge, the [Cu(GBHA)Cl]Cl.H(2)O.CH(3)OH complex is the first structurally characterized mononuclear trigonal bipyramidal copper(II) bisbenzimidazole diamide complex having coordinated amide carbonyl oxygen. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) ion is distorted trigonal bipyramidal (tau = 0.59). Two carbonyl oxygen atoms and a chlorine atom form the equatorial plane, while the two benzimidazole imine nitrogen atoms occupy the axial positions. The geometry of the Cu(II) center in the solid state is not preserved in DMSO solution, changing to square pyramidal, as suggested by the low-temperature EPR data g( parallel) > g( perpendicular) > 2.0023. All the complexes display a quasi-reversible redox wave due to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) reduction process. E(1/2) values shift anodically from Cl(-) < NO(3)(-) < SCN(-), indicating that the bound Cl(-) ion stabilizes the Cu(II) ion while the N-bonded SCN(-) ion destabilizes the Cu(II) state in the complex. When calculated against NHE, the redox potentials turn out to be quite positive as compared to other copper(II) benzimidazole bound complexes (Nakao, Y.; Onoda, M.; Sakurai, T.; Nakahara, A.; Kinoshita, L.; Ooi, S. Inorg. Chim. Acta 1988, 151, 55. Addison, A. W.; Hendricks, H. M. J.; Reedijk, J.; Thompson, L. K. Inorg. Chem. 1981, 20 (1), 103. Sivagnanam, U.; Palaniandavar, M. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1994, 2277. Palaniandavar, M.; Pandiyan, T.; Laxminarayan, M.; Manohar, H. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1995, 457. Sakurai, T.; Oi, H.; Nakahara, A. Inorg. Chim. Acta 1984, 92, 131). It is therefore concluded that binding of amide carbonyl oxygen destabilizes the Cu(II) state. The complex [Cu(II)(GBHA)(NO(3))](NO(3)) could be successfully reduced by the addition of dihydroxybenzenes to the corresponding [Cu(I)(GBHA)](NO(3)). (1)H NMR of the reduced complex shows slightly broadened and shifted (1)H signals. The reduction of the Cu(II) complex presumably occurs with the corresponding 2e(-) oxidation of the quinol to quinone. Such a conversion is reminiscent of the functioning of a copper-containing catechol oxidase from sweet potatoes and the met form of the enzyme tyrosinase.

Mucocutaneous findings in 150 HIV+ve cases (F, 79; M, 71) were evaluated over a one-year period. Mucocutaneous manifestations were seen in 96% with 2.9 mean number of dermatoses and mean cluster of differentiation (CD4) count of 196.33 cells/mm(3). The highest number of mean dermatoses, 3.29, was seen in individuals with severe immunosuppression. The most common mucocutaneous manifestation seen was candidiasis (35.33%), followed by seborrhoeic dermatitis (31.33%), oral pigmentation (29.33%), xerosis/ichthyosis (22.67%), pyodermas (22%), periodontitis (17.33%) and nail pigmentation (16.67%). Patient stratification according to the WHO immunological staging, according to CD4 counts, showed a statistically significant association (P < 0.05) for candidiasis, scabies, paronychia, oral pigmentation and diffuse hair loss. Nail and oral pigmentary changes, trichomegaly and subcutaneous fungal infections caused by dermatophytes were highlights of the study. Incidences of xerosis/ichthyosis, pyodermas, scabies and molluscum contagiosum reported in our study were higher and pruritic popular eruptions was lower than those in previous Indian studies. Cutaneous neoplasms were not seen in the present study.

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