Fibrotic Cytokine Interplay in Evaluation of Disease Activity in Treatment Naïve Systemic Sclerosis Patients from Western India.

Background: : Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a demyelinating disease of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles and internal organs, with fibrosis as an important pathological event.

Aim: : To understand cytokine interplay of IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-6 and their association with disease activity in treatment naïve active cases of systemic sclerosis from Western India.

Methods: Twenty-five SSc patients as per ACR-EULAR 2013 criteria (classified based on pulmonary fibrosis and generalized fibrosis) and 25 age-sex matched controls were enrolled.

In vitro effect of some Indian honeys on Staphylococcus aureus from wounds.

Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated pathogen from wounds with multiple resistances to antibiotics. Honey has been demonstrated and reported to be effective antibacterial agent on Gram positive and Gram negative organisms. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of Indian honeys on Staphylococcus aureus obtained from wounds.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora boppii.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, caused by dematiaceous fungi. An adult male presented with a history of multiple reddish nodules over the face and hands. Histopathological examination of the skin biopsies showed a dense granulomatous infiltrate of macrophages, containing intracytoplasmic basophilic bodies throughout the dermis.