BACKGROUNDDermatomycosis is a superficial skin disease caused by the species of the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton which are highly specialised parasites interrelated by their common morphological features and physiological adaptations to a parasitic mode of existence on keratinised tissue of man and animal. Tinea capitis, ringworm of the scalp and is of worldwide distribution. While most species of Trichophyton and Microsporum can cause Tinea capitis, it is interesting that Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton concentricum and Trichophyton interdigitale never cause Tinea capitis. It was found that the incidence of Tinea capitis was more in South India than North India and was more common in males than females and the commonest age group was 1-10 years.

BACKGROUND The Thyroid Hormone (TH) is a key element in the endocrine control of epidermal development and function. Clinical evidence suggest that TH is involved in epidermal proliferation and differentiation, hair growth and wound healing besides affecting the function of dermal fibroblasts. Cutaneous signs of thyroid disease can be caused by the thyroid malady itself or be due to a primary cutaneous disease that has an associated risk of thyroid disease. Primary diseases of the skin, such as vitiligo or lichen sclerosus et atrophicus are associated with an increased prevalence of Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (AITD). This is a prospective crosssectional and comparative study carried out in the outpatient departments of Dermatology and Endocrinology at Osmania General Hospital during the period from November 2012 to August 2014 to study the cutaneous disorders associated with thyroid dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 65 cases of who presented to OPDs of DVL and Endocrinology at OGH, who were previously diagnosed to have thyroid dysfunction were included in the study. Another 65 age and sex matched control group was taken who presented to the general OPD with non-thyroid disorders. The patients were examined clinically to look for the evidence of thyroid dysfunction manifesting in the skin and appendages in the form of textural and pigmentary changes and other associated conditions. Hair microscopy was done to rule out hair shaft disorders. Hair pull test was done to know the percentage of hairs in telogen and anagen. The skin findings in the patients and the control group were compared statistically. Chi square test was applied and p value was calculated. All the patients were subjected to laboratory investigations to evaluate the status of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid profile (T3, T4 and TSH) was done in every case. Reference values for TSH (0.3-5.2 mIU/L), T4 (5.0-12.5 g/dL), T3 (0.8-1.9 ng/mL). Selected cases were further investigated by anti-TPO, Fine needle aspiration cytology and ultrasonography of the thyroid. RESULTS Dry coarse skin 20 (62.5%), diffuse hair loss 17 (53.1%), swelling of face and hands 10 (31.25%), pruritus 9 (28.1%) were the common symptoms among the hypothyroid group. In the hyperthyroid group swelling in the neck 13 (65%), flushing 12 (60), pruritus 11 (55%) and diffuse hair loss 8 (40%) were the frequent symptoms. The percentage of symptoms reported were more in the study group in contrast to the controls. Among the associated skin disorders, chronic idiopathic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata were observed with increased frequency in patients with thyroid disorders when compared to controls and had a statistically significant association (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION When compared for the presence of each dermatosis, pruritus, diffuse hair loss, hyperpigmentation, xerosis, flushing, goitre, hyperhidrosis, chronic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata were found to be significantly higher in the patient group with thyroid diseases than in the control group. There is a convincing...

BACKGROUNDPsoriasis is a chronic disfiguring, inflammatory and proliferative condition of the skin in which both the genetic and environmental factors have a critical role. Many environmental factors like the trauma, infection, drugs, sunlight, metabolic factors, psychogenic factors, alcohol and smoking have been linked to psoriasis and have been implicated in initiation of disease process and exacerbation of pre-existing disease treatment. METHODSThe present study is conducted on a total of 40 patients, who presented with chronic plaque psoriasis to Department of DVL, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, from September 2014 to July 2015. All the 40 cases were subjected to thorough clinical examination and investigations. We performed the calculations of BSA, PGA, PASI, PLASI in the cases. RESULTSThe mean results of BSA, PGA, PASI, PLASI before and after 8 weeks of treatment with methotrexate were calculated. The mean score before and after treatment therapy differed significantly (p <0.0001). Largest absolute difference was found with PLASI (35.1) followed by PASI (19), BSA (12.8), PGA (4). Largest relative difference was found with PLASI (86.32%), PASI (84.16%), PGA (80%) and BSA (75.75%). CONCLUSIONSStrength of each correlation was compared. The correlation between PLASI and PASI (r=0.932) was significantly stronger than correlation between any other two indices. Correlation between PLASI and BSA (r=0.593) was found to be weakest among all other indices. Correlation with PGA with PASI, PLASI was weaker than correlation between PASI and PLASI. In our study, the slope of the regression for PLASI (b = 3.319) vs. PASI (b = 2.462) indicates that PLASI is more accurate than PASI. In the regression analyses, all other slopes were less than unity indicating that the severity differentiation was inferior, especially when BSA was involved in the analysis. KEYWORDSPsoriasis, BSA, PGA, PASI, PLASI.HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Ananthula VK, Prasad KN, Prasad JVDS, et al. Evaluation of efficacy of indices in psoriasis in relation to severity and improvement in therapy.