MedWorm: Leprosy

Nigeria: Bauchi to Reduce Malaria Deaths By 50 Percent By 2013

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:34:50 +0100

[Daily Trust] Bauchi - The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has pledged to curtail the incidence of malaria and reduce deaths caused by the illness by 50 per cent in the state by the year 2013. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

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One in 100 people 'can naturally resist HIV, malaria, leprosy and hepatitis'

the Mail online | Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:13:19 +0100

The findings came after Stanford University research into anthrax found susceptibility to the acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis varied from person to person. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Ethiopia: Experts Pledge to Eradicate 'Neglected' Diseases

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:44:30 +0100

[IRIN] London - Ten little-known but debilitating diseases will be high on the agenda of the world's pharmaceutical chiefs, health ministers and donor governments after they pledged their support for a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to wipe out guinea worm, river blindness, trachoma, leprosy, bilharzia and intestinal worms, among other "neglected" diseases. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Global Update: Joint Effort Announced Against Tropical Diseases

NYT — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:20:12 +0100

Companies, governments and nonprofit organizations are releasing money, access to databases and outreach efforts to counter diseases such as leprosy and guinea worm. (Source: NYT)

Absence of nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein 2 variants in patients with leprosy and tuberculosis

International Journal of Immunogenetics — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryCrohn’s disease‐associated NOD 2 variants (Arg702Trp and 3020insC) were found to be monomorphic (wild), and 7 subjects were heterozygous for Gly908Arg SNP in 263 patients with tuberculosis, 260 patients with leprosy and 270 healthy controls residing in northern Indian states. This is the first report to suggest the minimal role of these variants in susceptibility/resistance to TB and leprosy in this population. (Source: International Journal of Immunogenetics)

WHO, Drug Firms Pledge to Control 10 Tropical Diseases

MedPage Today Infectious Disease — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:07:26 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Ten neglected tropical diseases -- ranging from sleeping sickness to leprosy -- can be "eliminated or controlled" by the year 2020, the director of the World Health Organization said. (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)

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Global Update: Joint Effort Announced Against Tropical Diseases

NYT Health — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:34:07 +0100

Companies, governments and nonprofit organizations are releasing money, access to databases and outreach efforts to counter diseases such as leprosy and guinea worm. (Source: NYT Health)

Stealthy Leprosy Pathogen Evades Critical Vitamin D-Dependent Immune Response

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0100

Stealthy leprosy pathogen evades critical vitamin D-dependent immune response

ScienceDaily Headlines — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:11:11 +0100

Researchers discovered that the leprosy pathogen Mycobacterium leprae was able to evade immune activity that is dependent on vitamin D, a natural hormone that plays an essential role in the body's fight against infections. A better understanding of how these pathogens can escape the immune system may be helpful in designing more effective therapies. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Peptides Derived from Mycobacterium leprae ML1601c Discriminate between Leprosy Patients and Healthy Endemic Controls

Advances in Pharmacological Sciences — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:41:46 +0100

The stable incidence of new leprosy cases suggests that transmission of infection continues despite worldwide implementation of MDT. Thus, specific tools are needed to diagnose early stage Mycobacterium leprae infection, the likely sources of transmission. M. leprae antigens that induce T-cell responses in M. leprae exposed and/or infected individuals thus are major targets for new diagnostic tools. Previously, we showed that ML1601c was immunogenic in patients and healthy household contacts (HHC). However, some endemic controls (EC) also recognized this protein. To improve the diagnostic potential, IFN-γ responses to ML1601c peptides were assessed using PBMC from Brazilian leprosy patients and EC. Five ML1601c peptides only induced IFN-γ in patients and HHC. Moreover, 24-hour ...

Stealthy leprosy pathogen evades critical vitamin D-dependent immune response

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0100

A team of UCLA scientists has found that the pathogen that causes leprosy has a remarkable ability to avoid the human immune system by inhibiting the antimicrobial responses important to our defenses. In one of the first laboratory studies of its kind, researchers discovered that the leprosy pathogen Mycobacterium leprae was able to reduce and evade immune activity that is dependent on vitamin D, a natural hormone that plays an essential role in the body's fight against infections. The pathogen manipulated micro-RNAs, tiny molecules made of ribonucleic acids that carry information and that help regulate genes to direct cell activity, including immune system defenses. Micro-RNAs are short RNAs that do not code information for proteins, which carry out all cell activity; ...

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MicroRNA-21 targets the vitamin D–dependent antimicrobial pathway in leprosy

Nature Medicine — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

MicroRNA-21 targets the vitamin D–dependent antimicrobial pathway in leprosy Nature Medicine 18, 267 (2012). doi:10.1038/nm.2584 Authors: Philip T Liu, Matthew Wheelwright, Rosane Teles, Evangelia Komisopoulou, Kristina Edfeldt, Benjamin Ferguson, Manali D Mehta, Aria Vazirnia, Thomas H Rea, Euzenir N Sarno, Thomas G Graeber & Robert L Modlin (Source: Nature Medicine)

Leprosy far from extinct in India as poor are hit hard

Monsters and Critics Health News — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:06:04 +0100

(Source: Monsters and Critics Health News)

Leprosy Transmission: Still a Challenge.

Acta Dermato-Venereologica — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Salgado CG, Barreto JG PMID: 22278209 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Dermato-Venereologica)

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Testing the psychometric properties of the Participation Scale in Eastern Nepal

Quality of Life Research — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:52:22 +0100

Conclusion The results of the analyses suggest that the psychometric properties of the P-scale are sufficient in the context of Eastern Nepal. Use of the P-scale will require (re-) confirmation of its validity in each new cultural context. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s11136-012-0116-8Authors S. A. M. Stevelink, Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsC. B. Terwee, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsN. Banstola, Netherlands Leprosy Relief, Biratnagar, NepalW. H. van Brakel, Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health a...

Virtual screening of phenylsulfonamido-3-morpholinopropan-2-yl dihydrogen phosphate derivatives as novel inhibitors of MurC–MurF ligases from Mycobacterium leprae

Medicinal Chemistry Research — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:47:50 +0100

Abstract Multi-drug resistance capacity for Mycobacterium leprae demands the profound need for developing new multi-targeted anti-leprosy drugs. Mur ligases (MurC, MurD, MurE, and MurF) involved in biosynthesis of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan are the best known and validated targets for antibacterial therapy. Transition-state analogs, such as phosphonates, phosphinates, and sulfonamides have good inhibitory activity toward any one or two of these Mur ligases. With an objective of designing a better inhibitor targeting all of these four Mur ligases, we developed phenylsulfonamido-3-morpholinopropan-2-yl dihydrogen phosphate derivatives as multi-targeted small molecule inhibitors for Mur ligases and evaluated using virtual screening studies. The results suggested the 1-(...

LRRK2 and Human Disease: A Complicated Question or a Question of Complexes?

Science Signaling — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:18:02 +0100

Authors: Lewis PA, Manzoni C Abstract Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is linked to various diseases, including Parkinson's disease, cancer, and leprosy. Data from LRRK2 knockout mice has highlighted a possible role for LRRK2 in regulating signaling pathways that are linked to the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Here, we examine how LRRK2's role as a signaling hub in the cell could lead to diverse pathologies. PMID: 22253261 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Science Signaling)

Kenya: TB Patients Get Services in Nyanza

AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:21:42 +0100

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)-THE Ministryof Public Health and the Kenya Medical Research Institute plan to decentralise testing services for the multi drug resistance (MDR) tuberculosis to ease congestion at the central TB testing unit. The directorof the National Leprosy and TB Control Programme the in Kenya, JosephSitienei, said the planwill also provide high quality services to Kenyans and escalate the fight against the disease. (Source: AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis)

Leprosy decline in Amazonas State, BrazilCommunication brève: Recul de la lèpre dans l’Etat d’Amazonas, au BrésilComunicación corta: El declive de la lepra en el estado del Amazonas, Brasil

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:54:28 +0100

Conclusion Our findings show a reduction in the infection risk in the last 30 years and a birth cohort effect: cohorts born in more recent years faced smaller risks of leprosy infection than older cohorts.Objectif: Analyser les taux de détection des cas de lèpre dans l’Etat d’Amazonas, au Brésil, par groupe d’âge, de 1980 à 2009.Méthode: Les séries de données historiques de cas de lèpre par groupe d’âge de 1980 à 2009 ont été déterminées en fonction du temps en utilisant des modèles de régression de Poisson. La réduction relative annuelle du taux de détection (RAR) par groupe d’âge a été estimée comme étant 1 moins l’exponentielle du coefficient de régression estimé pour le temps. Pour comparer les coefficients de régression, nous avons uti...

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[Leprosy in Byzantium.]

Presse Medicale — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Karamanou M, Kyriakis KP, Poulakou-Rebelakou E, Androutsos G PMID: 22265160 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Presse Medicale)

Cojedes: a leprosy hyperendemic state

International Journal of Dermatology — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:43:33 +0100

Conclusion This study confirms that several communities in Cojedes State have extremely high leprosy rates. (Source: International Journal of Dermatology)

Mutation Analysis of Mycobacterial rpoB Genes and Rifampicin Resistance Using Recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Nakata N, Kai M, Makino M Abstract Rifampicin is a major drug used to treat leprosy and tuberculosis. Rifampicin resistance of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis results from mutation in the rpoB encoding the β subunit of RNA polymerase. Molecular diagnosis for rifampicin resistance in these two mycobacteria would be clinically valuable, but the relation between the mutations and susceptibility to rifampicin must be clarified before its use. Analysis of responsible mutations for rifampicin resistance using clinical isolates presents some limitations. Each clinical isolate has its own genetic variations in some loci other than rpoB, which might affect rifampicin susceptibility. For this study, we constructed recombinant strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis, ...

Clusters of leprosy transmission and of late diagnosis in a highly endemic area in Brazil: focus on different spatial analysis approaches

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Several municipality clusters for high leprosy transmission and late diagnosis were identified in an endemic area using different statistical approaches. Spatial scan statistic is adequate to validate and confirm high‐risk leprosy areas for transmission and late diagnosis, identified using descriptive spatial analysis and using local empirical Bayesian method. National and State leprosy control programs urgently need to intensify control actions in these highly vulnerable municipalities. (Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health)

Oro-Pharyngo-Laryngeal Foreign Bodies: Some Interesting Cases

Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:59:49 +0100

Abstract Ingestion of variety of foreign bodies causing respiratory distress and/or dysphagia is worldwide among all age groups. Securing airway by tracheostomy is important and direct laryngoscopy provides immediate diagnosis. The importance of contributory history and its visualization is emphasized in the diagnosis and early management in the described six cases. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical ReportPages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s12070-011-0473-6Authors Rajnish Chander Sharma, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. R.P. Govt. Medical College, Kangra (Tanda), 176001 Himachal Pradesh, IndiaSunder Singh Dogra, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. R.P. Govt. Medical College, Kangra (Tanda), 176001 Himachal Pradesh, ...

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Advances in proteomics of Mycobacterium leprae

Scandinavian Journal of Immunology — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractAlthough Mycobacterium leprae was the first bacterial pathogen identified causing human disease, it remains one of the few that are non‐cultivable. Understanding the biology of M. leprae is one of the primary challenges in current leprosy research. Genomics has been extremely valuable, but nonetheless, functional proteins are ultimately responsible for controlling most aspects of cellular functions which in turn could facilitate parasitizing the host. Furthermore, bacterial proteins provide targets, for most of the vaccines and immunodiagnostic tools. Better understanding of the proteomics of M. leprae could also help in developing new drugs against M. leprae. During the past nearly 15 years, there have been several developments towards identification of M. leprae proteins employ...

Clofazimine: current status and future prospects

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Clofazimine, a lipophilic riminophenazine antibiotic, possesses both antimycobacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its efficacy has been demonstrated only in the treatment of leprosy, not in human tuberculosis, despite the fact that this agent is impressively active in vitro against multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent insights into novel targets and mechanisms of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity coupled with the acquisition of innovative drug delivery technologies have, however, rekindled interest in clofazimine as a potential therapy for multidrug- and extensively multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in particular, as well as several autoimmune diseases. The primary objective of this review is to critically evaluate these recent develop...

Pulsed dye laser treatment with different onset times for new surgical scars: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Lasers in Medical Science — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:55:39 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Brief ReportPages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s10103-011-1044-5Authors Parastoo Davari, Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 415 Taleghani Ave, Tehran, 14166 IranFarzam Gorouhi, Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 415 Taleghani Ave, Tehran, 14166 IranPantea Hashemi, Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 415 Taleghani Ave, Tehran, 14166 IranFereydoun Behnia, Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 415 Taleghani Ave, Tehran, 14166 IranAfsaneh Ghassemi, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 83 Mostaghimi Alley, ...

Hansen Disease Among Micronesian and Marshallese in the U.S.Hansen Disease Among Micronesian and Marshallese in the U.S.

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0100

Increased case finding and management is needed for leprosy in the United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Polymorphisms of NOD2 and the risk of tuberculosis: a validation study in the Chinese population

International Journal of Immunogenetics — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryA genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of leprosy reported four specific genetic polymorphisms of NOD2 that were associated with susceptibility to Mycobacterium leprae in China. Considering the role of NOD2 in innate immune defence, we performed a study in a Chinese population to determine whether the same SNPs of NOD2 that were associated with disease caused by M. leprae were also associated with disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We performed a frequency‐matched case–control study in 1043 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 808 unaffected controls. All subjects were >15 years old and were Han Chinese from Jiangsu Province. We extracted DNA from a blood sample from each study participant. SNPs of rs3135499, rs7194886, rs8057341 and rs9302752 in the NOD2 ...

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Leprosy, still present in la réunion.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Vilain P, Larrieu S, Camuset G, Pouderoux N, Gerber A, Borgherini G, Fite S, Filleul L Abstract TO THE EDITOR: During recent decades, a considerable and consistent decrease in worldwide incidence of leprosy has been observed, mainly because of the recommendation to introduce multidrug therapy in 1981 (1) and the implementation of free therapy in 1994 (2) by the World Health Organization (WHO). The prevalence rate of the disease has been reduced globally by >90% since 1985 (3). Since 2000, WHO has recommended the implementation of a leprosy surveillance system in leprosy-endemic countries with indicators for screening, treatment, and monitoring of patients (4). From these indicators, WHO establishes an annual official report on the global status of the disease. According...

Reactional state and nutritional profile among leprosy patients in the primary health care system, Greater Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.

Cadernos de Saude Publica — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Montenegro RM, Zandonade E, Molina Mdel C, Diniz LM Abstract Leprosy may present acute/subacute inflammatory processes (leprosy reactions). The study characterized the reactional states of patients at health clinics in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and associated them with sociodemographic factors and clinical/nutritional variables. between January and December 2009, longitudinal follow-up of patients with leprosy continued until leprosy reactions occurred or patients completed 6 months of multidrug therapy. Of the 151 patients participating, 78 (51.7%) were females, 48 (31.8%) had 5 to 8 years schooling, 93 (61.6%) worked and earned from 1 to 3 minimum wages, and 55 (36.4 %) had leprosy reactions, but with no statistical association to socioeconomic characteris...

SNP Genotypes of Mycobacterium leprae Isolates in Thailand and Their Combination with rpoT and TTC Genotyping for Analysis of Leprosy Distribution and Transmission.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Phetsuksiri B, Srisungngam S, Rudeeaneksin J, Bunchoo S, Lukebua A, Wongtrungkapun R, Paitoon S, Sakamuri RM, Brennan PJ, Vissa V Abstract Based on the discovery of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Mycobacterium leprae, it has been previously reported that there are four major SNP types associated with different geographic regions around the world. Another typing system for global differentiation of M. leprae is the analysis of the variable number of short tandem repeats within the rpoT gene. To expand the analysis of geographic distribution of M. leprae, classified by SNP and rpoT gene polymorphisms, we studied 85 clinical isolates from Thai patients and compared the findings with those reported from Asian isolates. SNP genotyping by PCR amplification and s...

Nigeria: Bauchi Records 490 Cases of Leprosy Yearly - Coordinator

AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:15:59 +0100

Dr Yakubu Abdullahi, Coordinator, Bauchi State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Centre says the centre records 490 cases of leprosy yearly. (Source: AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis)

[Pretibial annular plates: a case of childhood leprosy.]

Anales de Pediatria — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bernat García J, Mateu Puchades A, Pérez Ebri ML, Alcaraz Soriano MJ, Marquina Vila A PMID: 22204906 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anales de Pediatria)

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[Correspondence] Leprosy in China

The Lancet Infectious Diseases — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:07:41 +0100

We read with great interest Laura Rodrigues and Diana Lockwood's Review of leprosy around the world. The Review included information about the epidemiology, transmission, clinical features, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of leprosy, and will be very helpful for future studies and control of the disease. However, we wonder why the authors included so little information about leprosy in China. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)

Dynamics of Mycobacterium leprae transmission in environmental context: Deciphering the role of environment as a potential reservoir.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:44:30 +0100

Authors: Turankar RP, Lavania M, Singh M, Siva Sai KS, Jadhav RS Abstract Leprosy is a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Various modes of transmission have been suggested for this disease. Transmission and risk of the infection is perhaps related to presence of the infectious cases and is controlled by environmental factors. Evidence suggests that humidity may favor survival of M. leprae in the environment. Several reports show that non-human sources like 'naturally' infected armadillos or monkeys could act as reservoir for M. leprae. Inanimate objects or fomites like articles used by infectious patients may theoretically spread infection. However, it is only through detailed knowledge of the biodiversity and ecology that the importance of this mode of transmission can be ful...

Mycobacterial Infections in Reptiles

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Mycobacteria represent an interesting group of bacteria. These slow-growing, slender, aerobic, acid-fast, Gram-positive rods have a long history in human medicine. Known to cause the devastating diseases associated with tuberculosis and leprosy, affected individuals were once separated from society because of the concerns associated with contagion. Although there has been a great deal of study associated with these pathogens in humans, there has been much less in animals, especially reptiles. (Source: Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice)

Human Polymorphisms as Clinical Predictors in Leprosy

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:53:19 +0100

Genetic and serum markers in human host can predict leprosy susceptibility per se as well as be useful in classification and/or prediction of clinical variants and immunological responses in leprosy. Adequate and timely assessment of potential risks associated with these 38 host leprosy genes could diminish epidemiological burden and improve life quality of patients with this still prevalent mycobacterial disease. (Source: Clinical and Developmental Immunology)

Can highly active antiretroviral therapy unmask leprosy? A case of type 1 lepra reaction in a HIV-seropositive patient

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

G Raghurama Rao, A Amareswar, S SandhyaIndian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology 2012 78(1):101-103 (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology)

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Development of lepromatous leprosy following etanercept treatment for arthritis

Clinical Rheumatology — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:40:31 +0100

We present a case of a patient treated with etanercept (TNF-a antagonist) for psoriatic arthritis, who then developed clinical symptoms of lepromatous leprosy. She presented with multiple erythematous plaques on trunk, face and extremities, saddle nose deformity, alopecia, articular deformities of the feet and peroneal neuropathy. The clinical suspicion of Hansen’s Disase was confirmed by the biopsy findings (lepromatous leprosy). On further questioning, the patient stated that her father was diagnosed with leprosy 70 years ago and had spent some years in a leper colony in Spinalonga island in Southern Greece in the 1940s. This first report of Hansen’s disease after administration of etanercept highlights the need of careful risk assessment of patients for whom antiTNF treat...

Neglected Tropical Diseases and the Millennium Development Goals - why the "other diseases" matter: reality versus rhetoric

Parasites and Vectors — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Molyneux and Malecela review mass drug distribution programmes for treating Neglected Tropical Diseases which, despite criticism, have contributed towards eliminating diseases such as leprosy, elephantiasis and river blindness, indicating these highly cost-effective programmes should continue. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)

Mutation in FAM134B causing severe hereditary sensory neuropathy

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN) are rare inherited neuropathies presenting with sensory loss and complications, including ulcers, infections, osteomyelitis and amputations. Usually, sensory symptoms predominate although motor involvement can occur. Autonomic features may be minimal (then hereditary sensory neuropathy, HSN, is preferred). HSAN has been classified into five subtypes depending on clinical presentation.1 Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy II (HSANII or HSNII) is an early onset, autosomal recessive sensory neuropathy with ulcero-mutilating complications due to mutations in the HSN2 isoform of the WNK1 gene.2 Recently, a similar phenotype was described in a Saudi-Arabian family, and a homozygous nonsense mutation found in a new gene, FAM134B (fa...

Role of the Vitamin D in Leprosy.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Luʼoʼng KV, Nguyê Combining Tilde N LT Abstract There is an evidence of abnormal metabolism in the vitamin D endocrine system of patients with leprosy. Bone deformities usually occur in patients with leprosy. Genetic factors, such as the vitamin D receptor, the major histocompatibility complex region, chromosome 20, human toll-like receptors, the natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2, phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidase on the X chromosome and the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor-ErbB-2, contribute to both vitamin D status and leprosy. The role of vitamin D in leprosy has been demonstrated by its effects on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination, vascular endothelial gro...

Register of reported cases of leprosy.

Med J Aust — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Christopher P PMID: 22171878 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Med J Aust)

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Tuberculoid leprosy and cytomegalovirus retinitis as immune restoration disease in a patient with AIDS

International Journal of Infectious Diseases — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Summary: Here we report a unique case of tuberculoid leprosy and cytomegalovirus retinitis in a 27-year-old female patient with AIDS, suggestive of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced immune restoration disease. After initiation of HAART, the patient presented with decreased visual acuity, hypoesthetic patch with local nerve thickening, and an increase in her CD4+ T cell count. On further investigations cytomegalovirus retinitis and tuberculoid leprosy were confirmed. To our knowledge no case with such a co-existence has previously been reported. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)

The work process in leprosy: technology and the family health team practice

Texto e Contexto - Enfermagem — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:57:17 +0100

The objective of this study is to analyze the technological organization of the work process of leprosy as done by the health workers in the Brazilian Public Health System service units in the municipalities of the Almenara micro-region, in the state of Minas Gerais. This qualitative research was carried out in nine municipalities utilizing semi-structured interviews and document research to collect the data. Forty-five interviews with care providers and health managers were conducted between November, 2007, and February, 2008. Content Analysis was utilized to analyze and treat the data, with results that indicate that physicians still maintain curative and individual care; that nurses dominate the whole process of working in leprosy; and that community health agents carry out educational ...

Morphological changes of the epineurium in leprosy: A new finding detected by high‐resolution sonography

Muscle and Nerve — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionThe epineurium of the ulnar nerve can be measured with the use of HRUS, and it is often strikingly thickened in leprosy patients, especially in those with ulnar involvement. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. (Source: Muscle and Nerve)

Deciphering the mystery of thalidomide teratogenicity

Congenital Anomalies — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

ABSTRACTThalidomide was originally developed in 1954 as a sedative that was commonly used to ameliorate morning sickness. However, thalidomide exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy caused multiple birth defects (e.g., phocomelia and amelia), affecting ∼10,000 children worldwide in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Thalidomide is now recognized as a clinically effective, albeit strictly restricted, drug for the treatment of leprosy and multiple myeloma. Investigators have studied thalidomide teratogenicity for half a century, proposing over thirty hypotheses to account for its actions. Among these, the anti‐angiogenesis and oxidative stress models have gained widespread support. Nonetheless, the precise molecular mechanisms and direct targets of thalidomide have not heretofore ...

Frequencies of MICA alleles in patients from southern Brazil with multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy

International Journal of Immunogenetics — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This study investigated the MICA and HLA‐B genes in 223 samples from leprosy patients and 201 samples from healthy individuals matched for age, gender and ethnical background. Of the patients, 153 had multibacillary, 45 paucibacillary and 25 indeterminate leprosy. The aim of this case–control study was to assess whether the MICA alleles influence susceptibility for leprosy or affect the subtype of the disease in a population of southern Brazil. There were significant differences in frequencies of the MICA*027 allele (4.7% vs 1.8%, P‐value = 0.01, OR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.16–0.85) between leprosy patients and controls, and of the MICA*010 (4.5% vs 1.6%, P‐value = 0.05, OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.13–0.97) and MICA*027 alleles (4.7% vs 1.3%, P‐value = 0.01; O...

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Early diagnosis of relapse in borderline leprosy: two case reports.

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Brandão ML, Lima CM, Piñeiro-Maceira J, Miranda A, Oliveira ML Abstract Two cases of relapse in borderline leprosy were reported. Despite the late-reversal, reaction-like feature, the suspicion of relapse in both was based on persistent and slow-developing skin lesions and an absence of acute neuritis or reaction during one year of follow-up. The authors have considered this possible occurrence in lepromatous borderline-treated patients after their immune cellular restoration and defend that not all Type 1 reactions would be an inflammatory answer to persistent Mycobacterium leprae, but that they could be. Therefore, a relapse diagnosis could be applied and it is more advisable, as one year of Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is less dangerous and more efficient for these cases ...

[What's new in clinical dermatology?].

Annales de Dermatologie et de Cenereologie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Couppié P Abstract This year more than 3000 medical articles referenced in PubMed concerned dermatology. Our critical analysis covers different fields of dermatology: including epidemiology, clinical, diagnostic and prognostic factors. AIDS is 30 years old and the national HIV/AIDS plan for 2010-2014 recommends generalized screening facilitated by the introduction of rapid tests for diagnostic orientation. In infectious diseases, novelties concern polyomavirus, HTLV-1, leprosy, staphylococcus infections, resistance to antibiotics and scabies. Diseases of the scalp consecutive to practices of black women hairstyles were the subject of important articles. There were two important developments in acne: first, a simplified and more operational classification, secondly a suici...

Correction of the Claw Hand

Hand Clinics — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:08:23 +0100

This article describes the clinical evaluation and surgical treatment options for claw hand. (Source: Hand Clinics)

Chimpanzees Shed Light on the Pathoetiology of LeprosyChimpanzees Shed Light on the Pathoetiology of Leprosy

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:50:24 +0100

Investigation of spontaneous leprosy in chimpanzees imported for unrelated medical research has unexpectedly contributed to our understanding of the etiology of the disease. Future Microbiology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Diagnosing leprosy: revisiting the role of the slit‐skin smear with critical analysis of the applicability of polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis

International Journal of Dermatology — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:52:50 +0100

Conclusions Polymerase chain reaction had higher sensitivity compared with SSS, especially in diagnostically challenging and PB cases. Thus, the use of this costly but sensitive tool should be restricted to this subgroup, because SSS is sufficiently sensitive in the diagnosis of LL and histoid leprosy. (Source: International Journal of Dermatology)

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A Case of Leprosy Mistaken for Cutaneous Sarcoidosis.

Acta Derm Venereol A... — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Aftab H, Nielsen SD, Nielsen SL, Due E, Bygbjerg IC, Thybo S PMID: 22101923 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Derm Venereol A...)

Is there a role for rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM) therapy in the treatment of leprosy? Systematic review and meta‐analysisY a t‐il un rôle pour la thérapie à la rifampicine, ofloxacine et minocycline (ROM) dans le traitement de la lèpre? Revue systématique et méta‐analyseExiste un papel para la terapia con rifampicina, ofloxacina, y minociclina (ROM) en el tratamiento de la lepra? Revisión sistemática y meta‐análisis

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:01:08 +0100

Conclusions Single‐dose ROM therapy was less effective than multidrug therapy in paucibacillary patients. However, there are insufficient data to come to a valid conclusion on the efficacy of multidose ROM therapy in multibacillary leprosy, and additional studies with ROM therapy in multibacillary leprosy are needed. Furthermore, multiple doses may be considered as another alternative even for paucibacillary patients, and randomised controlled trials of this therapy may be useful to understand its contribution in the treatment and control of leprosy.Contexte: L’association de rifampicine, ofloxacine et minocycline (ROM) est l’une des nouvelles recommandations pour le traitement de la lèpre. Nous avons effectué une revue systématique et une méta‐analyse des études qui ont...

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor sera titers in leprosy patients from Mexico

Rheumatology International — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:49:58 +0100

Abstract Leprosy offers a broad spectrum of altered immunological sceneries, ranging from strong cell-mediated immune responses seen in tuberculoid leprosy (TT), through borderline leprosy (BB), to the virtual absence of T cell responses characteristic in lepromatous leprosy (LL). The exact mechanism of autoantibodies production remains unknown in leprosy and other chronic inflammatory diseases and also the contribution of these antibodies to the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and profiles of serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (a-CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and its relationship with leprosy spectrum. Serum samples from 67 leprosy patients (54 LL, 5 TT and 8 BB) and 46 clinically healthy subjects (CHS) from t...

Leprosy and the natural selection for psoriasis

Medical Hypotheses — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Psoriasis is a genetically determined, almost worldwide-distributed inflammatory skin disease with overall higher prevalence among people of northern European ancestry. Since enhanced innate immunity is an important feature of the pathophysiology of this disease, it has been proposed that differences in the prevalence of psoriasis in different populations mainly result from differences in natural selection for gene polymorphisms associated with more vigorous immunity against infectious agents. However the infectious agent(s) that could have acted upon human population as selection pressure for psoriasis is still obscure. Based on the remarkable clinical observation that psoriasis and leprosy are almost mutually exclusive, a fact that is further supported by divergent HLA patterns...

Dynamics ofMycobacterium lepraetransmission in environmental context: deciphering the role of environment as a potential reservoir

Journal of Dentistry — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:48:40 +0100

Publication year: 2011Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution, Available online 11 November 2011Ravindra P Turankar, Mallika Lavania, Mradula Singh, Krovvidi S.R. Siva Sai, Rupendra S JadhavLeprosy is a disease caused byMycobacterium leprae. Various modes of transmission have been suggested for this disease. Transmission and risk of the infection is perhaps related to presence of the infectious cases and is controlled by environmental factors. Evidence suggests that humidity may favour survival ofM. lepraein the environment. Several reports show that non-human sources like ‘naturally’ infected armadillos or monkeys could act as reservoir forM. leprae.Inanimate objects or fomites like articles used by infectious patients may theoretically spread infection. However, it is only thr...

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Evaluation of various cytokines elicited during antigen-specific recall as potential risk indicators for the differential development of leprosy

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 06:55:50 +0100

This study investigated whether biomarkers induced by defined M. leprae proteins in 24-h whole blood assays (WBA) could discriminate active leprosy patients from at-risk contacts. Newly diagnosed, untreated paucibacillary (PB; tuberculoid leprosy/borderline tuberculoid [TT/BT]) and multibacillary (MB; borderline lepromatous/lepromatous leprosy [BL/LL]) leprosy patients, as well as healthy household contacts (HHC) of MB patients, were recruited in central western Brazil (Goiânia/Goiás). Cell-based responses to the ML0276, ML1623, ML0405, ML1632, 92f, and ML1011 antigens were measured by Luminex 14-plex assays detecting eotaxin, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-17A, IL-23, IL-31, IP-10, and TNFα. Our data reinforce that IFNγ is currently the best indicator o...

Association of variants in BAT1-LTA-TNF-BTNL2 genes within 6p21.3 region show graded risk to leprosy in unrelated cohorts of Indian population

Human Genetics — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:56:29 +0100

Abstract Host immune response against Mycobacterium leprae plays an important role in providing resistance to infection and disease progression. Genome-wide linkage and association studies suggest the possibility of multiple risk loci within HLA (6p21.3) region. Any systematic study of relevance within the histocompatibility complex of importance in host immune response would be pertinent because of non-replication of the known loci and unavailable information on some of the unexplored genes and regions. A systematic scan was performed of the selected region involving LTA-TNF-LTB genes within 6p21.3 with a resolution of 1SNP/127 bp; and the SNPs in flanking BAT1, NFKBIL and BTNL2-DRA genes on the basis of their tag status or their presence in promoter/exonic regions wi...

Clues to histopathological diagnosis of treated leprosy

Indian Journal of Dermatology — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion : Awareness of histomorphological changes that occur in skin lesions of leprosy after completion of treatment can aid the pathologist to determine whether the lesions are active or inactive histologically and assist the clinician to convince the patient that his disease is inactive and does not need further treatment. (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology)

Hypopigmentary disorders in children in South India

Indian Journal of Dermatology — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Pityriasis alba, vitiligo, leprosy, nevus depigmentosus and tinea versicolor are the five most common hypopigmentary disorders in children. (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology)

Nail Involvement in Leprosy.

Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Belinchón Romero I, Ramos Rincón JM, Reyes Rabell F Abstract Leprosy, a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affects the skin and nerves, but the nails are also involved in as many as 3 out of 4 patients .The factors that trigger nail changes in leprosy are numerous and include repeated trauma, neuropathy, vascular impairment, infections, lepra reactions, and the drugs used to manage the disease. The changes most often reported include subungual hematomas, onycholysis, onychauxis, onychogryphosis, pterygium unguis, and onychoheterotopia, most of which can be attributed to nerve damage and trauma. Furthermore, the acro-osteolysis that occurs in the advanced stages of the disease may present with brachyonychia, racquet nails, or even anonychia. Infections of t...

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Sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis: sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic algorithm

BMC Research Notes — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The current practices of establishing pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis are not sensitive and specific enough to establish the diagnosis of Acid Fast Bacilli smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis and over treat people with no pulmonary tuberculosis. (Source: BMC Research Notes)

Clinical images: Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis in a patient with lepromatous leprosy

Arthritis and Rheumatism — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)

A History of Leprosy in Iran during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Archives of Iranian Medicine — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Azizi MH, Bahadori M Abstract From ancient time leprosy has been regarded as a terrifying, stigmatized disease; nevertheless, its cause remained unidentified up to the late 19th century. For centuries numerous leprosy victims worldwide suffered from its morbidity and were socially isolated. The afflicted individuals were segregated because they were considered 'unclean' and had to live in leper colonies, generally under very poor conditions. Physicians believed that leprosy was an incurable, highly contagious, and hereditary disease. In 1873 the Norwegian physician, Gerhard Armauer Hansen (1841 - 1912), ended the myth of leprosy and discovered its causative agent, known as Mycobacterium leprae. Hansen's discovery was a great triumph in the fight against leprosy. In the...

[Histopathology of leprosy].

Annales de Dermatologie et de Cenereologie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Pinquier L, PMID: 22078042 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annales de Dermatologie et de Cenereologie)

Mycobacterium indicus pranii as stand-alone or adjunct immunotherapeutic in treatment of experimental animal tuberculosis.

The Indian Journal of Medical Research — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: M.w (as immunomodulator) has beneficial therapeutic effect as an adjunct to chemotherapy. PMID: 22199110 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Indian Journal of Medical Research)

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Leprosy decline in Amazonas State, Brazil

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Identification of two new loci at IL23R and RAB32 that influence susceptibility to leprosy

Nature Genetics — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Furen Zhang, Hong Liu, Shumin Chen, Huiqi Low, Liangdan Sun, Yong Cui, Tongsheng Chu, Yi Li, Xi'an Fu, Yongxiang Yu, Gongqi Yu, Benqing Shi, Hongqing Tian, Dianchang Liu, Xiulu Yu, Jinghui Li, Nan Lu, Fangfang Bao, Chunying Yuan, Jian Liu, Huaxu Liu, Lin Zhang, Yonghu Sun, Mingfei Chen, Qing Yang, Haitao Yang, Rongde Yang, Lianhua Zhang, Qiang Wang, Hong Liu, Fuguang Zuo, Haizhen Zhang, Chiea Chuen Khor, Martin L Hibberd, Sen Yang, Jianjun Liu & Xuejun Zhang We performed a genome-wide association study with 706 individuals with leprosy and 5,581 control individuals and replicated the top 24 SNPs in three independent replication samples, including a total of 3,301 individuals with leprosy and 5,299 control individuals from China. Two loci not previously associated with the dise...

The history of leprosy in Dubrovnik: an overview

International Journal of Dermatology — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:52:46 +0100

(Source: International Journal of Dermatology)

A delayed diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy: pitfalls and clues to early recognition

International Journal of Dermatology — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:52:30 +0100

Conclusion Diagnosis of Hansen’s disease in patients with neither apparent skin lesions nor neurological signs is still problematic. Clinicians should not only pay attention to the more obvious signs in their own fields of expertise but should be aware of the possible systemic involvement of leprosy. (Source: International Journal of Dermatology)

Gambia: TB Awareness Campaign Intensifies

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:34:57 +0100

The Deputy Programme Manager of the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme (NLTCP), Mr. Musa B. Jallow, explained that tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease caused by micro-organism called mycobacterium tuberculosis. He said the bacterium was first discovered by Dr. Robert Kock in 1882 and that today more than one third of the global population is infected with the TB bacilli and about two million people die annually from the disease. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

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U.S. Man Diagnosed With HIV Develops Leprosy

The Doctors Lounge - Dermatology — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Dormant infection likely caused by armadillo exposure decades earlier, doctors report (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Dermatology)

Observations in 11 patients with leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus co-association

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Vivek V Pai, Pritam U Tayshetye, Ramaswamy GanapatiIndian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology 2011 77(6):714-716 (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology)

U.S. Man Diagnosed With HIV Develops Leprosy

MedicineNet HIV General — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0100

Title: U.S. Man Diagnosed With HIV Develops LeprosyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 10/19/2011 6:06:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 10/20/2011 (Source: MedicineNet HIV General)

Acute Leprosy in Ohio during Treatment of HIV–AIDS

New England Journal of Medicine — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:00:23 +0100

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 365, Issue 16, Page 1549-1551, October 2011. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

Gambia: 'Over Two Million People Die of TB Globally'

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:15:51 +0100

The deputy Programme Manager at the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme, has said that it is estimated that one-third of the global population is infected with the TB bacilli and about two million people die annually from the disease. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

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Association study of the single nucleotide polymorphisms of PARK2 and PACRG with leprosy susceptibility in Chinese population

European Journal of Human Genetics — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Jinghui Li, Hong Liu, Jian Liu, Xi'an Fu, Yongxiang Yu, Gongqi Yu, Shumin Chen, Tongsheng Chu, Nan Lu, Fangfang Bao, Chunying Yuan & Furen Zhang (Source: European Journal of Human Genetics)

Ethnomedicinal and ecological status of plants in Garhwal Himalaya, India

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The medicinal plants treated various ailments. These included diarrhea, dysentery, bronchitis, menstrual disorders, gonorrhea, pulmonary affections, migraines, leprosy. The ecological studies showed that the tree density and total basal cover increased from the tropical region to sub-tropical and temperate regions. The species composition changed with climatic conditions. Among the localities used for data collection in each climatic region, many had very poor vegetation cover. The herbaceous layer decreased with increasing altitude, which might be an indication that communities at higher elevations were harvesting more herbaceous medicinal plants, due to the lack of basic health care facilities. Therefore, special attention needs to be given to the conservation of medicinal pl...

Chimpanzees used for medical research shed light on the pathoetiology of leprosy

Future Microbiology — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:19:26 +0100

Future Microbiology , October 2011, Vol. 6, No. 10, Pages 1151-1157. (Source: Future Microbiology)

A case of borderline leprosy presenting with urticaria‐like eruptions: are there lessons to be learned for allergists?

Allergy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:48:43 +0100

(Source: Allergy)

Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 on lymphocytes of leprosy patients.

Braz J Med Biol Res — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mendonça VA, Alvim de Melo GE, Araújo MG, Borges VO, Costa RD, Martins-Filho OA, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Sathler-Avelar R, Teixeira MM, Teixeira AL PMID: 22002092 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Braz J Med Biol Res)

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Infliximab: Leprosy: case report

Reactions — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:03:59 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Comparison between microsatellites and Ml MntH gene as targets to identify Mycobacterium leprae by PCR in leprosy

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:29:10 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These results show that both the specific regions of microsatellites, as well as the Ml MntH gene fragment can be useful tools for detecting the M. leprae DNA by PCR in frozen skin biopsy samples and filter paper biopsy imprints (Source: Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia)

Genetic risk factors for human susceptibility to infections of relevance in dermatology

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:29:10 +0100

BACKGROUND: In the pre-microbiological era, it was widely accepted that diseases, today known to be infectious, were hereditary. With the discovery of microorganisms and their role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, it was suggested that exposure to the pathogen was enough to explain infection. Nowadays, it is clear that infection is the result of a complex interplay between pathogen and host, therefore dependant on the genetic make-up of the two organisms. Dermatology offers several examples of infectious diseases in different stages of understanding of their molecular basis. In this review, we summarize the main advances towards dissecting the genetic component controlling human susceptibility to infectious diseases of interest in dermatology. Widely investigated diseases such as l...

Useful Sign to Diagnose Tinea Capitis-‘Ear Sign’

Indian Journal of Pediatrics — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:44:24 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Scientific Letter to the EditorPages 1-2DOI 10.1007/s12098-011-0571-1Authors U. S. Agarwal, Department of Skin, STD and Leprosy, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaS. Sitaraman, Department of Pediatrics, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaGauri G. Panse, Department of Skin, STD and Leprosy, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaKalyani Bhola, Department of Skin, STD and Leprosy, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaRaj Kumar Besarwal, Department of Skin, STD and Leprosy, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Journal Indian Journal of PediatricsOnline ISSN 0973-7693Print ISSN 0019-5456 (Source: Indian Journal of Pediatrics)

Current status of leprosy: Epidemiology, basic science and clinical perspectives

The Journal of Dermatology — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

AbstractLeprosy has affected humans for millennia and remains an important health problem worldwide, as evidenced by nearly 250 000 new cases detected every year. It is a chronic infectious disorder, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Recent advances in basic science have improved our knowledge of the disease. Variation in the cellular immune response is the basis of a range of clinical manifestations. The introduction of multidrug therapy has significantly contributed to a decrease in the prevalence of the disease. However, leprosy control activities, including monitoring and prevention programs, must be maintained. (Source: The Journal of Dermatology)

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Use of rifampicin in pregnancy

NeLM - Drugs in Pregnancy — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: UK Teratology Information Service Area: Evidence > Drugs in Pregnancy SUMMARY: Rifampicin is an antibacterial drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis, leprosy, brucellosis, Legionnaire's disease and serious staphylococcal infections. Rifampicin is also used as prophylaxis against meningococcal meningitis. Animal studies have demonstrated teratogenicity after exposure to rifampicin during pregnancy. There is currently very little published data available concerning fetal risks following human exposure to rifampicin during the first trimester of pregnancy, but those few published so far do not indicate an increase in risk of congenital malformations. There have been reports of low birth weight in exposed infants, however this is likely due to the unde...

A comparison of the Screening Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) scale to objective hand function assessments.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:00:02 +0100

Conclusion. The credibility of the SALSA scale was enhanced by this validation study and showed that the SALSA is a useful assessment tool to measure level of function and activity limitation. PMID: 21955054 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Nasal reconstruction with costal cartilage autograft in leprosy

International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection of the skin, mucosa and peripheral nerves, which often leads to gross distortion of the nasal skeleton and consequent formation of a saddle nose deformity. The destruction of the nasal septum and nasal bones by Mycobacterium leprae and subsequent infection is still seen regularly in endemic areas. The reconstruction of the nose has challenged surgeons for centuries, and different procedures have been proposed and developed. (Source: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)

A Short History of Dapsone, or an Alternative Model of Drug Development

Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article explores how dapsone transformed from a cure for one disease into a treatment for a totally different malady. This process of reinvention in the clinic represents an alternative model of drug development that the historical literature, focused on success in the laboratory, has largely ignored. The core of the paper discusses the reinvention of dapsone as an antimalarial in the Vietnam War through trials led by Robert J. T. Joy, a physician and military officer. As a case study, it offers a fresh perspective on the clinic-as-laboratory approach that other scholars have addressed in a civilian context. Viewing the randomized clinical trial (RCT) through a military prism will demonstrate how a combat environment combined with the regimentation of the armed forces affected the sta...

Madagascar: Leprosy Making a Comeback

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:35:17 +0100

Mamysoa realized she had a problem after she stepped too close to the fire. "I burned my foot quite badly, but it hardly hurt at all," she recalled. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

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[Correspondence] Infectious disease control in Brazil

LANCET — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The Series paper by Mauricio Barreto and colleagues (May 28, p 1877) focuses attention on successes and failures in the control of infectious diseases in Brazil. We can say that, in the group of parasitic and bacterial infections known as the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), the success has not been so pronounced. Of the 13 classic NTDs, ascariasis, hookworm infection, trichuriasis, schistosomiasis, leprosy, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and leishmaniasis are still transmitted in Brazil. (Source: LANCET)

Is there a role for rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM) therapy in the treatment of leprosy? Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:37:26 +0100

Conclusions Single‐dose ROM therapy was less effective than multidrug therapy in paucibacillary patients. However, there are insufficient data to come to a valid conclusion on the efficacy of multidose ROM therapy in multibacillary leprosy, and additional studies with ROM therapy in multibacillary leprosy are needed. Furthermore, multiple doses may be considered as another alternative even for paucibacillary patients, and randomised controlled trials of this therapy may be useful to understand its contribution in the treatment and control of leprosy. (Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health)

Thalidomide modulates Mycobacterium leprae-induced NF-κB pathway and lower cytokine response.

European Journal of Pharmacology — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: de Oliveira Hernandez M, de Oliveira Fulco T, Olmo Pinheiro R, de Meirelles Santos Pereira R, Redner P, Nunes Sarno E, Lopes UG, Sampaio EP Abstract It is widely accepted that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays a critical role in the development of tissue and nerve damage in leprosy and during the reactional episodes of acute inflammation. Thalidomide (N-α-phthalimidoglutarimide), a drug used to treat leprosy reaction, modulates immune response, inhibits inflammation and NF-κB activity. Here we investigated whether thalidomide inhibits NF-κB activation induced by Mycobacterium leprae, p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK activation. EMSA and supershift assays were performed to investigate NF-κB activation in response to M. leprae and its modulation following in vitro treatment ...

Leprosy update, 2011.

Weekly Epidemiological Record — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: PMID: 21887885 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Weekly Epidemiological Record)

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Clinical, immunological, and genetic aspects in leprosy

Drug Development Research — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

AbstractLeprosy is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It affects the skin and peripheral nerves and can cause irreversible chronic disabilities. The worldwide registered number of cases in 2009 was 213,036. This review discusses clinical aspects of the disease, including leprosy reactions and neuronal damage, as well as immunological and immunogenetic aspects influencing disease susceptibility and outcome. The cardinal signs of leprosy are skin lesions with altered sensation, thickened peripheral nerves, and presence of alcohol acid‐resistant bacilli in skin biopsy or lymph. Confirmatory examinations include (1) bacteriological examination, which allows patients' classification into two operational groups, multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB); and (2) histopatholo...

Chronic rhinitis: A manifestation of leprosy.

Ear, Nose and Throat Journal — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We present a case of a woman diagnosed with leprosy as an incidental finding from a biopsy obtained during endoscopic sinus surgery for the management of chronic rhinitis. The diagnosis of leprosy should be considered in patients with nasal symptoms and presumptive chronic rhinitis who do not respond adequately to standard therapies. PMID: 21938685 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Ear, Nose and Throat Journal)

Oral Lesion in Leprosy: Borderline-Tuberculoid Diagnosis Based on Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA by qPCR.

Acta Dermato-Venereologica — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We report here a case with an erythematous hyposensitive lesion in the palate and no skin lesions. In addition to routine tests, biopsies of the lesion in the palate and of clinically normal surrounding areas were performed and subjected to real-time PCR for detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA. The biopsy of the oral lesion was positive for bacilli DNA, followed by positive serum anti-PGL-1 and Mitsuda test, but with negative histopathology. The patient was diagnosed with a borderline tuberculoid form. After multidrug therapy the lesion had significantly regressed and the bacilli DNA detection in the former lesion was negative. The bacilli DNA detection in an oral lesion by real-time PCR not only improved leprosy diagnosis, but also helped in the classification of clinical form, and in t...

Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis in a case of lepromatous leprosy (lucio's phenomenon)

Arthritis and Rheumatism — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)

Olfactory Dysfunction and Olfactory Bulb Volume Reduction in Patients with Leprosy

Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 05:52:03 +0100

Abstract To ascertain the level and rate of olfactory dysfunction in patients with leprosy and to determine whether olfactory bulb volume is affected by the pathophysiology. Olfactory bulb (OB) volume, measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was compared in 15 patients with leprosy and 15 healthy controls. All of the participants were evaluated using a detailed history to identify the probable causes of the smell dysfunction. Those who had a disease other than leprosy that may have caused the smell dysfunction were excluded from the study. OB volumes were calculated by manually tracing the OB on coronal sections. Orthonasal olfaction testing was used to assess smell function. The orthonasal olfaction testing indicated that all patients with leprosy were anosmic or...

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Erratum to Constantine the Great and leprosy: fact or fiction?

Clinics in Dermatology — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:44:26 +0100

In the contribution “Constantine the Great and leprosy: fact or fiction?” in the January/February 2009 issue (2009;27:139-141; doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2007.08.020), the author line is incorrect as printed. The corrected author information appears below. (Source: Clinics in Dermatology)

Lepromatous leprosy in erythema nodosum leprosum reaction mimicking Sweet’s syndrome

International Journal of Dermatology — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:40:35 +0100

(Source: International Journal of Dermatology)

Is leprosy 'Elimination' a conceptual illusion?

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Binod K Patro, K Madhanraj, Amarjeet SinghIndian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology 2011 77(5):549-551 (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology)

A network of regulatory pathways in lepromatous leprosy.

Clinical Immunology — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abbas AK PMID: 21903479 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Immunology)

Clofazimine Analogs with Efficacy against Experimental Tuberculosis and Reduced Potential for Accumulation.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lu Y, Zheng M, Wang B, Fu L, Zhao W, Li P, Xu J, Zhu H, Jin H, Yin D, Huang H, Upton AM, Ma Z Abstract The global tuberculosis crisis urgently demands new, efficacious, orally available drugs with the potential to shorten the long complex treatments of drug sensitive and drug resistant disease. Clofazimine, a riminophenazine used for many years to treat leprosy, demonstrates efficacy in animal models of tuberculosis via a novel mode of action. However, clofazimine's physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties contribute to side effects that limit its use; in particular, an extremely long half-life and propensity for tissue accumulation together with clofazimine's dye properties lead to unwelcome skin discoloration. We recently conducted a systematic structure-activity s...

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Imported leprosy in Italy

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions This study points out a discrepancy between the observed and the expected cases of leprosy in Italy. Specifically, the number of NCD was less than expected for each studied year. Of course our data do not represent a validation, but only an indication of the leprosy diagnosis in Italy. Difficulty in accessing the health systems, fear of segregation, ignorance and illegal immigrant status with consequent fear of police arrest are possible explaining factors. The critical issue anyhow is the medical expertise. The role of the dermatologist is fundamental. For these reasons, there is still a need for wide spread leprosy teaching programmes. Although with few limitations, this study represents a first approach to validate the accuracy in leprosy diagnosis in Italy. (Source: Jour...

TLR6-Driven Lipid Droplets in Mycobacterium leprae-Infected Schwann Cells: Immunoinflammatory Platforms Associated with Bacterial Persistence.

Journal of Immunology — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In this study, we analyzed the parameters that govern LD biogenesis by M. leprae in SCs and how this contributes to the innate immune response elicited by M. leprae. Our observations indicated that LD formation requires the uptake of live bacteria and depends on host cell cytoskeleton rearrangement and vesicular trafficking. TLR6 deletion, but not TLR2, completely abolished the induction of LDs by M. leprae, as well as inhibited the bacterial uptake in SCs. M. leprae-induced LD biogenesis correlated with increased PGE(2) and IL-10 secretion, as well as reduced IL-12 and NO production in M. leprae-infected SCs. Analysis of nerves from lepromatous leprosy patients showed colocalization of M. leprae, LDs, and cyclooxygenase-2 in SCs, indicating that LDs are sites for PGE(2) synthesis in vivo....

Nigeria: BACATMA Collaborates With Monarchs to Fight Malaria

AllAfrica News: Malaria — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:10:04 +0100

Bauchi state Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and Leprosy (BACATMA) has collaborated with traditional rulers to control the spread of malaria in the state. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among leprosy patients in a leprosy-endemic region of central Brazil.

Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Ramos JM, Silva AM, Martins RM, Souto FJ Abstract Leprosy and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly endemic in some regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in central Brazil. The association of leprosy with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed using a seroprevalence study and 191 leprosy outpatients were included. Demographic data and the clinical classification of leprosy were recorded. Evidence of previous HBV infection was present in 53 patients (27.7%, 95% confidence interval: 21.9-34.5) and two (1%) were HBsAg positive. Five (2.6%) had antibodies to HCV. The prevalence of previous exposure to HBV was higher than expected for an adult population in central Brazil. In contrast, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was not much higher regarding the age range of partic...

Early detection of leprosy by examination of household contacts, determination of serum anti-PGL-1 antibodies and consanguinity.

Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bazan-Furini R, Motta AC, Simão JC, Tarquínio DC, Marques W, Barbosa MH, Foss NT Abstract A cross-sectional clinical trial in which the serum anti-phenolic glycolipid (anti-PGL-1) antibodies were analysed in household contacts (HHC) of patients with leprosy as an adjunct early leprosy diagnostic marker was conducted. The families of 83 patients underwent clinical examination and serum anti-PGL1 measurement using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 320 HHC, 98 were contacts of lepromatous leprosy (LL), 80 were contacts of borderline lepromatous (BL), 28 were contacts of borderline (BB) leprosy, 54 were contacts of borderline tuberculoid (BT), 40 were contacts of tuberculoid (TT) and 20 were contacts of indeterminate (I) leprosy. Consanguinity with the patients was deter...

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Acute glomerulonephritis in a child with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and multibacillary leprosy.

Med J Aust — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: McIver LJ, Parish ST, Jones SP, Kippin AN, Furlong TJ A 10-year-old boy from Papua New Guinea with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and multibacillary leprosy developed acute glomerulonephritis while being treated as an inpatient at Thursday Island Hospital in the Torres Strait, Queensland. This is the first such case to be reported in Australia, where these diseases are uncommon and the combination is extremely rare, and it outlines important learning points regarding the aetiology of renal disease among patients with tuberculosis and leprosy. (MJA 2011; 195: 150-152). PMID: 21806536 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Med J Aust)

Thalidomide: The Tragedy of Birth Defects and the Effective Treatment of Disease

Toxicological Sciences — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Thalidomide was a widely used drug in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the treatment of nausea in pregnant women. It became apparent in the 1960s that thalidomide treatment resulted in severe birth defects in thousands of children. Though the use of thalidomide was banned in most countries at that time, thalidomide proved to be a useful treatment for leprosy and later, multiple myeloma. In rural areas of the world that lack extensive medical surveillance initiatives, thalidomide treatment of pregnant women with leprosy has continued to cause malformations. Research on thalidomide mechanisms of action is leading to a better understanding of molecular targets. With an improved understanding of these molecular targets, safer drugs may be designed. The thalidomide tragedy marked a turning po...

Human T‐lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV‐1) infection – dermatological implications

International Journal of Dermatology — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:18:08 +0100

AbstractHuman T‐lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) is a type C retrovirus primarily endemic to Japan, Central and South America, the Middle East, regions of Africa, and the Caribbean. Currently, an estimated 10–20 million people worldwide are infected with this virus. Although the majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic, HTLV‐1 is the causative agent of a number of disorders, notably adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and a progressive demyelinating neurological disorder, HTLV‐1‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In addition to ATLL and HAM/TSP, HTLV‐1 has been associated with a spectrum of skin disorders, such as infective dermatitis associated with HTLV‐1, crusted scabies, and leprosy. The understanding of the interaction betwe...

Immunophenotype of skin lymphocytic infiltrate in patients co‐infected with Mycobacterium leprae and human immunodeficiency virus: a scenario dependent on CD8+ and/or CD20+ cells

British Journal of Dermatology — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:16:51 +0100

Conclusions Data presented here suggest that cell‐mediated immune responses to M. leprae are preserved at the site of disease and that in the absence of CD4+ cells, CD8+FOXP3+ and CD20+ cells may be involved in granuloma formation. (Source: British Journal of Dermatology)

Nigeria: Nasarawa - Expert Decries Rise in Tuberculosis Cases

AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:49:43 +0100

Nasarawa State Coordinator, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Advocacy Committee, Dr. Simon Aboki, has decried the high rate of people infected with tuberculosis in the state in the first six months (January to June) of 2011. (Source: AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis)

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Leprosy epidemics during history increased protective allele frequency of PARK2/PACRG genes in the population of the Mljet Island, Croatia.

European Journal of Medical Genetics — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: The results of our study show the association of polymorphisms rs9356058 and rs1040079 in gene PARK2/PACRG with leprosy. The results of our study indicate that exposure to leprosy and mortality in the population caused by leprosy on Mljet resulted in the selection of rs9356058 "protective" C allele in the PARK2 gene, while this was not observed in the two control groups. This is the first study to assess the genetic susceptibility to leprosy in a European population. PMID: 21816242 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Medical Genetics)

Topically applied rhGM-CSF for the wound healing: A systematic review

Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:48:28 +0100

Abstract: The process of wound healing involves a complex interplay of cells, mediators, growth factors and cytokines. GM-CSF has been shown to be involved in a number of processes essential in this event. Topically applied rhGM-CSF has been reported to successfully treat wounds with diverse etiology, including burns, chronic venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, and leprosy ulcers, both in animal experiments and clinical studies. To evaluate the effect of the rhGM-CSF on wound healing, 8 RCT studies and 23 clinical studies and case reports are collected for analysis of the evidence. The overall effects of rhGM-CSF on the healing of wound are diverse. Topically applied rhGM-CSF is beneficial for deep partial-thickness burn wounds, chronic leg ulcers, and leprosy ulcers. rhGM-CSF may have a p...

Hypercalcemia in Two Patients With Sarcoidosis and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare Not Mediated by Elevated Vitamin D Metabolites.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION:: Although hypercalcemia in granulomatous diseases has been attributed to be mediated by elevated vitamin D metabolites, there have been several case reports that documented normal values of active vitamin D metabolites. This report illustrates the regulatory feedback mechanisms of vitamin D synthesis and introduces the term "inappropriately normal" vitamin D metabolites levels in light of low levels of parathyroid hormone. PMID: 21760475 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of the Medical Sciences)

Nigeria: Jigawa Treats 104 TB Patients

AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:57 +0100

NO fewer than 104 patients have been treated under the Jigawa State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme within the last 12 months. (Source: AllAfrica News: Tuberculosis)

Lateral flow assay for simultaneous detection of cellular- and humoral immune responses.

Clinical Biochemistry — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The UCP-LF IL-10 assay is a user-friendly, rapid alternative for IL-10 ELISAs, suitable for multiplex detection of different cytokines and can be merged with antibody-detection assays to simultaneously detect cellular- and humoral immunity. PMID: 21763300 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Biochemistry)

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Nosological profile in a dermatology referral center in the state of Amazonas -Brazil

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:03:30 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of skin diseases identified in this study may serve as a baseline to managers of health system in the region develop strategies for prevention and control of dermatoses, with emphasis on sexually transmitted diseases, allergic skin diseases, leprosy and acne (Source: Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia)

SBD-RESP in active search for leprosy cases

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:03:30 +0100

CONCLUSION: The campaign results show the importance of the SBD-RESP initiative. It is suggested that similar actions be repeated and extended to other regional offices of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (Source: Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia)

Aos Editores dos Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia (Brazilian Annals of Dermatology)

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:03:30 +0100

Prezados Editores dos Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:03:30 +0100

Para os editores dos Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:03:30 +0100

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Crescentic glomerulonephritis: A clinical and histomorphological analysis of 46 cases.

Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Crescentic glomerulonephritis remains one of the main causes of acute renal failure with histological diagnosis. Immunohistologic examination is essential for accurate classification into one of the three categories. This condition should be considered in rare causal associations like leprosy or MPGN with renal failure, to allow for timely performed renal biopsy and appropriate aggressive therapy. PMID: 21934209 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology)

Schwannoma of the posterior tibial nerve in leprosy patient: imaging features.

Acta Reumatologica Portuguesa — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Guedes EL, Ribeiro SL, Rebello PF, Raid DE, de Freitas EJ PMID: 22113607 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Reumatologica Portuguesa)

Leprosy: forgotten, but not gone (yet)

International Journal of Dermatology — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: International Journal of Dermatology)

Potential effect of the World Health Organization's 2011-2015 global leprosy strategy on the prevalence of grade 2 disability: a trend analysis.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Alberts CJ, Smith WC, Meima A, Wang L, Richardus JH To assess different countries' chances of attaining the 2011-2015 global leprosy target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and to assess the strategy's effect on the prevalence of grade 2 disability (G2D). PMID: 21734762 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization)

Generalized eruptive histiocytosis mimicking leprosy

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We report a case of a middle-aged woman who presented with generalized asymptomatic papules and nodules and was treated for leprosy but was finally diagnosed to have GEH after clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical correlation. Furthermore, the newer lesions also showed features of progressive nodular histiocytosis. (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology)

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Co-existent acquired perforating collagenosis and lepromatous leprosy with erythema nodosum leprosum: Response to treatment

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Lipy Gupta, Archana Singal, Deepika Pandhi, Sonal SharmaIndian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology 2011 77(4):520-522 (Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology)

Diagnostic Value of Interferon- gamma Release Assays (QuantiFERON-TB Gold® In Tube) in Childhood Tuberculosis

Indian Journal of Pediatrics — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:59:07 +0100

Conclusions Less specificity of this assay may be due to high endemicity of tuberculosis. However, further studies are recommended. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-5DOI 10.1007/s12098-011-0469-yAuthors Rajeshwar Dayal, Department of Pediatrics, S.N. Medical College, Agra, IndiaVikas Verma, Department of Pediatrics, KSCH, New Delhi, IndiaB. Sharma, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases (ICMR), Agra, IndiaG. Kumar, National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases (ICMR), Agra, IndiaN. Kumar, Department of Pediatrics, S.N. Medical College, Agra, IndiaR. Gupta, Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, S.N. Medical College, Agra, IndiaV. M. Katoch, Department of Health research, I.C.M.R., New Delhi, IndiaBeenu Jo...

Towards the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae: Strategies, successes, and shortcomings.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Salipante SJ, Hall BG Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, is an unusual organism that presents unique challenges to those studying the disease through molecular epidemiology. As a consequence, many basic aspects of disease transmission and biology remain unilluminated. In this review, we explore the general principles of molecular epidemiology, and the special difficulties surrounding the application of molecular epidemiology to M. leprae. We briefly discuss the computational tools commonly employed in molecular epidemiology studies. The past decade of developments in molecular strain typing approaches through VNTRs and SNP loci, and their merits and limitations, are discussed. We summarize what has been learned about the transmission and historical origins o...

Pillows are breeding grounds for pests and diseases

the Mail online | Health — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:00:29 +0100

Up to a third of the weight of your pillow could be made up of bugs, dead skin, dust mites and their faeces, causing bugs ranging from MRSA to to flu, chicken pox and even leprosy. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Clinicopathological features and the practice of diagnosing infectious cutaneous granulomas in Egypt

International Journal of Infectious Diseases — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Mycobacterial infections constitute the most common infectious cutaneous granulomas among Egyptians. Routine methods such as direct smear, skin biopsy, and intradermal tests remain the most commonly applied and economical methods for diagnosis in developing countries, although specific methods such as tissue culture and PCR have higher positivity rates in the diagnosis. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)

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Director's Comments: Armadillos & Hansen's Disease

What's New on MedlinePlus — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:53:19 +0100

Listen to the NLM Director's Comments on "Armadillos & Hansen's Disease". The transcript is also available. A DNA analysis reveals a match between some Texas and Louisiana residents with leprosy, or Hansen's disease, and a bacterium found in some local, infected, wild armadillos... (Source: What's New on MedlinePlus)

Crystalline deposition in the cornea and conjunctiva secondary to long-term clofazimine therapy in a leprosy patient

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Rakesh K Barot, Vishalakshi Viswanath, Madhuri S Pattiwar, Raghunandan G TorsekarIndian Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 59(4):328-329 (Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology)

Mannose-binding lectin serum levels in patients with leprosy are influenced by age and MBL2 genotypes

International Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that age could influence the phenotype of MBL2, but no evidence was found for an association of MBL2 polymorphism with susceptibility to leprosy or its clinical forms. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)

Surveillance of drug resistance in leprosy: 2010.

Weekly Epidemiological Record — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: PMID: 21661275 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Weekly Epidemiological Record)

Lepromatous leprosy in a kidney transplant recipient: a case report.

Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Ardalan M, Ghaffari A, Ghabili K, Shoja MM Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease of the skin and peripheral nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Among mycobacterial infections, leprosy is rare in renal transplant recipients. Here, we report the manifestations of lepromatous leprosy in a 41-year-old renal transplant recipient. Before the renal transplant, the patient had recurrent bullous lesions on his extremities with no systemic complaints. He was on an immunosuppressive regimen that included prednisolone (1 mg/kg/d), cyclosporine (6 mg/kg), and mycophenolate mofetil (2000 mg/d), and had 2 serologically confirmed acute episodes of cytomegalovirus infection that responded favorably to intravenous ganciclovir. The density of his bullous skin lesions decreased after rena...

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Dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve: a light and electron microscopy histometric study

Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study describes the normal morphology and morphometry of the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve (DCBU) in humans. Fourteen nerves of eight donors were prepared by conventional techniques for paraffin and epoxy resin embedding. Semiautomatic morphometric analysis was performed by means of specific computer software. Histograms of the myelinated and unmyelinated fiber population and the G‐ratio distribution of fibers were plotted. Myelinated fiber density per nerve varied from 5,910 to 10,166 fibers/mm2, with an average of 8,170 ± 393 fibers/mm2. The distribution was bimodal with peaks at 4.0 and 9.5 µm. Unmyelinated fiber density per nerve varied from 50,985 to 127,108, with an average of 78,474 ± 6,610 fibers/mm2, with a unimodal distribution displaying a peak at 0.8 µm....

A Patient with Erythema Nodosus Leprosum and Chagas Cardiopathy: Challenges in Patient Management and Review of the Literature.

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

We report a patient with severe multi-bacillary leprosy complicated by recurrent episodes of erythema nodosum necrotisans that required thalidomide and/or corticosteroids during follow-up. Although the patient was from an area to which Chagas disease is endemic, this diagnosis was initially missed and was only investigated when heart failure developed in the patient. The difficulties of managing erythema nodosum necrotisans and heart failure concomitantly and those involved in excluding the diagnosis of acute myocarditis caused by reactivation of Chagas disease secondary to the immunosuppressive regimen are discussed. Other potential causes for the heart failure and possible interactions between the two diseases and their treatments are discussed. We also reviewed the literature for the as...

Molecular typing of Mycobacterium leprae strains from northern India using short tandem repeats.

Indian J Med Res — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study led to identification of STRs eliciting polymorphism in north Indian strains of M. leprae. The data suggest that these STRs can be used to study the sources and transmission chain in leprosy, which could be very important in monitoring of the disease dynamics in high endemic foci. PMID: 21727660 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Indian J Med Res)

Controls on leprosy victims attacked

FT.com - Drugs and Healthcare — Mon, 30 May 2011 12:12:37 +0100

Groups call for chronic health problem to be removed from list of notifiable diseases and highlight how the UK supports curbs on discrimination in India (Source: FT.com - Drugs and Healthcare)