Dermatological adverse reactions to cancer chemotherapy.

The new targeted anticancer drugs as well as the older traditional chemotherapy agents are associated with adverse effects on skin, hair, nails and mucosa. These toxic effects can cause great distress to the patient leading to decreased quality of life and interruption in treatment. Aims: To study the mucocutaneous adverse effects of both single and combined chemotherapy regimens in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We studied 53 cancer patients attending the oncology outpatient department or those admitted in the oncology ward of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore between October 2012 and September 2013. The adverse effects of chemotherapy on skin, hair, nails and mucosa were noted. Results: The most common adverse effects observed in the study were nail changes in 33 (62.2%) patients, followed by hair changes in 20 (37.7%) patients, skin changes in 19 (33.9%) patients, and mucosal changes in 2 (3.7%) patients. The skin changes were acneiform rash in 5 (27.7%) patients, xerosis in 4 (22.2%) patients, hyperpigmentation in 4 (22.2%) patients, and toxic epidermal necrolysis, hand foot syndrome, extravasation, erythema nodosum, and supravenous hyperpigmentation in 1 patient each. The most common nail fi nding was melanonychia seen in 26 (78.7%) patients. Hair changes were in the form of anagen effl uvium seen in 20 (37.7%) patients. Mucosal changes seen were pigmentation of tongue and stomatitis in one case each. Limitations: Sample size is small. Conclusions: While these side effects are generally not life-threatening, they can be a source of signifi cant morbidity. Knowledge about the adverse effects of anti-cancer drugs will help in accurate diagnosis and management, thereby improving the quality of life.

Morquio’s Syndrome: A Rare Case.

Morquio’s syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder due to deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6 sulfate. Presented here is the case of a 4-year-old girl with complaints of deformity of bilateral lower limbs since 6 months. Examination revealed widely spaced teeth, corneal opacity, pectus carinatum, bilateral genu valgum and flat feet. X-rays of femur showed minimal metaphyseal widening, widened carpal bones and pointing metacarpals and beaking of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. She was diagnosed to be suffering from Morquio’s syndrome. Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a rare group of metabolic disorders due to deficiency of enzymes responsible for degradation of glycosaminoglycans. Treatment is mainly symptomatic.

Granulomatous cheilitis with granulomatous vulvitis: A rare association.

Granulomatous cheilitis and granulomatous vulvitis are rare disorders characterized by painless swelling of lips and vulva, respectively. Histopathology of both conditions show non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas in the dermis. Both disorders have been associated with Crohn’s disease rarely. Occurrence of the two conditions in the same patient is extremely infrequent. We hereby report, the association of granulomatous cheilitis with granulomatous vulvitis in a 30-year-old female.

A Comparative Study of Mechanical Properties of The Pulse Straightened And Spinner Straightened Australian Stainless Steel Wires.

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate and compare the mechanical and structural properties of Spinner straightened and pulse straightened wires. Materials and methods; The objective of the study is to evaluate and compare the structural and mechanical properties of all grades of Australian A.J. Wilcock Stainless round wires(A.J. Wilcock, Whittlesea, Victoria, Australia). Premium plus (Spinner straightened) Premium plus( pulse straightened) of 0.016” size and Supreme grade ( pulse straightened and spinner straightened) of 0.011” size wires were subjected to Tensile testing, Three point bend test, Jig test, Frictional resistance. Analysis of the difference between each corresponding grade of wire is done by using the students ‘t’ test of significance between means at confidence interval of 95%. Results: The properties of Australian wire were found to possess significantly different physical and mechanical properties depending upon the process of manufacturing . Conclusions: Pulse straightened wires superior strength and stiffness compared to spinner straightened wires