The Centenary of the Leprosy Relief Association (Lepra)-a moment for celebration and reflection†.

The year 2024 is the Centenary of the foundation of the Leprosy Relief Association (Lepra), formerly the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA). The name of the organization changed to the LEProsy Relief Association (LEPRA) in 1976 but has been known as Lepra since 2008. Over the years it has worked closely with members and office holders of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Its work has encompassed activities from the earliest initiatives to ensure appropriate living conditions for those with the disease to the development of leprosy chemotherapy. However, this has now evolved into a strong partnership between the UK- and India-based Lepra hubs, which are carrying out research and public health initiatives ranging from elimination of prejudice against those with leprosy to adopting the recently launched WHO programme for skin NTDs to facilitate integrated control and management regimens. The fight against leprosy has always been a partnership between a wide variety of disease-specific NGOs, health-care workers and international health agencies. The story of Lepra illustrates the central role of these partnerships and national as well as international collaboration.

Lessons From the Wrong Isolation Policy Violating Human Rights for Leprosy in Japan.

Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae , is one of the so-called "neglected tropical diseases" and is found today mainly in Africa, Asia and South America. Although oral antibiotics capable of curing leprosy are now available, the disease is still misunderstood and feared by the public because of the unsightly deformities that it may cause. In Japan, leprosy has been present since the 8th century and was regarded as a hereditary disease; people avoided marrying into a family with a member affected by leprosy. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Japanese government instituted a policy of lifetime quarantine of individuals with leprosy to eradicate the disease, thereby purposely disseminating negative and inaccurate perceptions of the disease as deadly and highly contagious and fostering a long-lasting prejudice among the general public towards those affected. Even after effective treatments became available, the government continued quarantining patients until 1996. The government has since then apologized to the patients for violating their constitutionally guaranteed human rights. Children with leprosy and children born to parents with leprosy were also victims of the policy and prejudice created. We describe herein the history of leprosy-related policies in Japan to emphasize the importance of balancing public health policy with human rights.

Dimitrios Zambakis' Scientific Hypothesis on the Transmission of Leprosy.

Dimitrios Zambakis was an acclaimed physician at his time, most recognized for his work on leprosy. He theorized that leprosy was a hereditary disease, receiving many awards for his work including the Cholera Medal of Honour (1854), Château-Villard Prize from the Faculty of Medicine in Paris (1898), The Montyon Prize, and the title of Pasha. However, his theory was routinely argued against and was later proven to be invalid. Leprosy is regarded as a contagious disease spread by contact and is not hereditary. The last name appears to be spelled in various ways (Zambakis, Zambaco). For this paper, "Dimitrios Zambakis" will be used.

Representações sócio-históricas de uma doença: um estudo sobre cartazes de campanhas para o combate à hanseníase na segunda metade do século XX / Socio-historical representations of a disease: a study of posters from campaigns against Hansen's disease during the second half of the twentieth century

Resumo Este artigo analisa o uso de fontes iconográficas no contexto das campanhas educativas para o combate à hanseníase numa perspectiva sócio-histórica em quatro momentos: décadas de 1950, 1960, 1980 e 1990. São analisados quatro cartazes para identificar os elementos (textuais, visuais ou gráficos) utilizados para elaborar um discurso sobre a doença e os doentes; suas transformações discursivas e permanências, além de verificar como se tornaram parte de uma narrativa de memória institucional ligada à saúde pública paulista. As fontes estudadas fazem parte da coleção Cartazes de Campanhas de Saúde, cujos itens foram produzidos por diversas instituições ligadas à saúde pública e integram o acervo do Museu de Saúde Pública Emílio Ribas.

Abstract This article analyzes the use of iconographic sources in the context of educational campaigns to combat Hansen's disease from a socio-historical perspective at four points in time: the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s. Four posters are analyzed to identify the elements (textual, visual or graphic) used to develop discourse on this disease and those it affected and transformations and permanences in this discourse, as well as to verify how they became part of a narrative of institutional memory linked to public health in the state of São Paulo. These were produced by various public health institutions and are part of the Health Campaign Poster Collection held by the Emílio Ribas Public Health Museum.

Fundación Neumológica Colombiana 30 años de una institución con espíritu / Fundación Neumológica Colombiana 30 years of an institution with spirit

Hablar de la Neumología moderna en Colombia y de la Fundación Neumológica Colombiana es hablar de Darío Maldonado Gómez. Nacido en Pamplona, Norte de Santander, llegó a Bogotá siendo un adolescente, cuando sus padres se vieron obligados a salir de su ciudad natal hacia la capital, con todos sus hijos, producto de la violencia encendida a finales de la década de los 40´s. Con el ejemplo de su padre, Darío Maldonado Romero, médico que se especializó en la lepra y consagró sus esfuerzos al desarrollo de políticas de salud pública. Así, con la ambición de aprender y apropiar la ciencia, el arte y el humanismo que sustentan la medicina, ingresó a la Universidad Nacional en Bogotá y obtuvo su título de médico en 1959. Su ánimo de aprender y de poder ofrecer siempre las mejores opciones a sus pacientes, lo llevaron pronto a Chicago y Milwaukee, Estados Unidos, donde, en la década de los 60´s, se entrenó en Medicina Interna y Neumología con el profesor Gordon Snider, pionero y figura de la Neumología moderna en el mundo.

Talking about modern Pulmonology in Colombia and the Colombian Pulmonary Foundation is talking about Darío Maldonado Gómez. Born in Pamplona, Norte de Santander, he came to Bogotá as a teenager, when his parents were forced to leave their hometown for the capital, with all their children, as a result of the violence inflamed at the end of the 1940s. With the example of his father, Darío Maldonado Romero, a doctor who specialized in leprosy and devoted his efforts to the development of public health policies. Thus, with the ambition of learning and appropriating the science, art and humanism that sustain medicine, he entered the National University in Bogotá and obtained his medical degree in 1959. His desire to learn and to always be able to offer the best options to his patients, they soon took him to Chicago and Milwaukee, United States, where, in the 1960s, he trained in Internal Medicine and Pulmonology with Professor Gordon Snider, pioneer and figure of modern Pulmonology in the world.

Dr E W Price, the discoverer of podoconiosis.

A straightforward biography of Dr E W Price, the discoverer of podoconiosis, a medical missionary who was also the first to elucidate plantar ulcers in leprosy.

The historical differential diagnosis of the disease that afflicted Aleijadinho, the famous 18th century Brazilian sculptor.

BACKGROUND: The famous Brazilian Baroque sculptor named Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as "Aleijadinho" (1738-1814), suffered from a deforming disease of the lower and upper limbs. The condition was characterized by atrophy, paresis and amputation. His face was also affected, with inflammation of the eyelids, deviation of the labial commissure, drooping of the chin and lower lip, giving him a sinister expression. Despite the disabling and chronic illness, he produced several works of great expression in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of them were declared World Heritage Sites by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). OBJECTIVE: To discuss the historical differential diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease through a narrative review of the literature. METHODS: Scientific articles were searched in databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Lilacs using the term "Aleijadinho". Subsequently, data were collected in articles and books about the possible diseases of the sculptor. RESULTS: Since the first clinical report on the sculptor, several historians and doctors have attempted to establish a diagnosis and several hypotheses have been proposed such as: syphilis, yaws (frambesia tropica), rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy), thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease), zamparina, cardina, porphyria cutanea tarda, stroke, amyloidosis, trauma and/or scurvy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the literature, the authors conclude that the most likely diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease is consistent with leprosy.

The historical differential diagnosis of the disease that afflicted Aleijadinho, the famous 18th century Brazilian sculptor / O histórico diagnóstico diferencial da doença que afetou Aleijadinho, famoso escultor brasileiro do século XVIII

ABSTRACT Background: The famous Brazilian Baroque sculptor named Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as "Aleijadinho" (1738-1814), suffered from a deforming disease of the lower and upper limbs. The condition was characterized by atrophy, paresis and amputation. His face was also affected, with inflammation of the eyelids, deviation of the labial commissure, drooping of the chin and lower lip, giving him a sinister expression. Despite the disabling and chronic illness, he produced several works of great expression in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of them were declared World Heritage Sites by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Objective: To discuss the historical differential diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease through a narrative review of the literature. Methods: Scientific articles were searched in databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Lilacs using the term "Aleijadinho". Subsequently, data were collected in articles and books about the possible diseases of the sculptor. Results: Since the first clinical report on the sculptor, several historians and doctors have attempted to establish a diagnosis and several hypotheses have been proposed such as: syphilis, yaws (frambesia tropica), rheumatoid arthritis, Hansen's disease (leprosy), thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger disease), zamparina, cardina, porphyria cutanea tarda, stroke, amyloidosis, trauma and/or scurvy. Conclusions: Based on the literature, the authors conclude that the most likely diagnosis of Aleijadinho's disease is consistent with leprosy.

RESUMO Antecedentes: O famoso escultor barroco brasileiro Antônio Francisco Lisboa, conhecido como "Aleijadinho", desenvolveu uma doença deformante das extremidades dos membros inferiores e superiores. O distúrbio foi caracterizado por atrofia, paresia e amputação. Seu rosto também foi afetado, com inflamação das pálpebras, desvio da comissura labial, queda do queixo e lábio inferior, dando-lhe uma expressão sinistra. Apesar da doença incapacitante e crônica, ele produziu diversas obras de grande expressão durante os séculos XVIII e XIX. Algumas delas também foram consideradas patrimônios da humanidade pela Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura (UNESCO). Objetivo: Discutir o diagnóstico diferencial histórico da doença de Aleijadinho por meio de uma revisão narrativa da literatura. Métodos: Artigos científicos e livros foram pesquisados em bases de dados como Google Scholar, PubMed e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) utilizando como termo principal "Aleijadinho". Posteriormente, foram coletados dados em artigos e livros sobre as possíveis doenças do escultor. Resultados: Desde o primeiro relato da clínica do escultor, vários historiadores e médicos tentaram estabelecer um diagnóstico e várias hipóteses foram sugeridas, como: sífilis, bouba (framboesia trópica), artrite reumatoide, hanseníase (lepra), tromboangeíte obliterante (doença de Buerger), zamparina, cardina, porfiria cutânea tarda, acidente vascular encefálico, amiloidose, trauma e/ou escorbuto. Conclusões: Com base na literatura, os autores concluem que o diagnóstico mais provável da doença de Aleijadinho é compatível com hanseníase.

The Obesity Society is turning 40: A history of the early years.

The North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO), the precursor of The Obesity Society (TOS), was founded in 1981 and turns 40 years old in 2021. The Society was organized by George Bray along with John Brunzell, C. Wayne Callaway, M.R.C. Greenwood, and Judith Stern. It held its foundational meeting with a theme of "Types of Obesity: Animal Models and Clinical Applications" at Vassar College in the fall of 1982 along with symposia and an NIH workshop titled "Methods of Characterizing Human Obesity." At a follow-up meeting during the Fourth International Congress on Obesity, Barbara Hansen was elected President, Judith Stern Secretary, and Anne Sullivan Treasurer. Incorporation of NAASO occurred in 1984.

Ancient and modern pathologies and therapies: St. Gallicanus Hospital in Rome between the 18th and 20th centuries.

St. Gallicanus Hospital in Rome, Italy, created by the will of Pope Benedict XIII (1649-1730) in 1725, was the first dermatologic hospital in the world. The strong bond between science and faith, humanitarian spirit and scientific research, and the profoundness and legacy of its entire history have all contributed to its legacy. We have traced its development by examining archival documents to understand the life of the institute and the diseases that were diagnosed and treated from the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century. Some of the main diseases were leprosy, mange, scabies, ringworm, and syphilis, which were widespread in Rome during the 18th and 19th centuries and were creating a mortal threat for much of the population. St. Gallicanus Hospital was dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these diseases where possible. Special attention has been directed to syphilis and the use of penicillin therapy after its introduction in 1943, especially for curbing the extensive problems created by prostitution.

Pandemics and education: A historical review.

Major pandemics have tremendous effects on society. They precipitated the early decline of the Western Roman Empire and helped spread Christianity. There are countless such examples of infectious diseases altering the course of history. The impact of epidemics on education however is less well documented. This present historical account of the past 800 years looks specifically at how some aspects of education were shaped from the early medieval epidemics such as leprosy and the Black Plague to the Spanish Flu and COVID-19. Leprosy changed religious education, and the Black Plague may have contributed to the rise of medical schools, hospitals, public health education, and led to the implementation of lazarettos and the quarantine. The smallpox epidemic helped usher in public health education for immunization, while the 1918 Spanish Flu precipitated the rise of education by correspondence, and recently COVID-19 has catapulted remote digital learning to the forefront of higher education.

Demetrius Zambaco Pasha (1832-1913): The first leprologist of the Orient.

Démétrius Zambaco Pasha (1832-1913) was an internationally renowned Ottoman-born French dermatologist of Greek origin who is considered the first leprologist of the Orient. A graduate from the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, he practised there until he returned to Istanbul in 1872 and later served as a private physician to the Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II (1842-1918), then Abbas Hilmi Pasha (1874-1944), the last Khedive of Egypt. Dr Zambaco produced numerous publications in a variety of medical subjects including leprosy, syphilis, morphinomania, eunuchs, and medical history. Leprosy, however, was his main field of scientific interest, with nearly 40 studies published and many other communications presented at international medical congresses. Due to his outstanding scientific contributions, Dr Zambaco garnered many accolades including the Cholera Medal of Honour, the Montyon Prize, and Légion d'Honneur from France as well as the honorary title of Pasha, a higher rank in the political and military system, from the Ottoman Empire.

Prophylaxis and treatment of diseases in western São Paulo state: the Sanitation Service and trachoma in the early twentieth century. / A profilaxia e o tratamento das enfermidades do oeste paulista: o Serviço Sanitário e o tracoma no princípio do século XX.

In 1906, Emílio Ribas reorganized the Sanitation Service and centralized São Paulo state public health services in the state capital. A campaign to combat trachoma, an ophthalmic disease, was implemented as part of this project. This article analyzes this campaign, which provided care for the sick living on rural properties in a process that predated the 1917 Rural Sanitary Code. The empirical data was obtained from government reports, decrees, medical journals and newspapers. We conclude that Ribas, by creating an organization that integrated the efforts of the sanitary districts and the Trachoma Commission medical teams, sought to form a complex apparatus to combat the diseases present in both urban areas and the countryside.

Em 1906, Emílio Ribas reorganizou o Serviço Sanitário e centralizou na capital os serviços de saúde pública do estado de São Paulo. Nesse projeto, a campanha de combate ao tracoma, uma enfermidade oftálmica, foi implantada. Este artigo analisa essa campanha que atendeu os enfermos das propriedades rurais em um processo que antecedeu ao Código Sanitário Rural de 1917. O material empírico foi composto por relatórios governamentais, decretos, periódicos médicos e jornais. Concluímos que Ribas, ao criar uma estrutura que unificou os esforços dos distritos sanitários com as equipes de atendimento das Comissões do Tracoma, buscou formar um complexo aparato para combater as enfermidades presentes tanto nas áreas urbanas quanto na zona rural.

A profilaxia e o tratamento das enfermidades do oeste paulista: o Serviço Sanitário e o tracoma no princípio do século XX / Prophylaxis and treatment of diseases in western São Paulo state: the Sanitation Service and trachoma in the early twentieth century

Resumo Em 1906, Emílio Ribas reorganizou o Serviço Sanitário e centralizou na capital os serviços de saúde pública do estado de São Paulo. Nesse projeto, a campanha de combate ao tracoma, uma enfermidade oftálmica, foi implantada. Este artigo analisa essa campanha que atendeu os enfermos das propriedades rurais em um processo que antecedeu ao Código Sanitário Rural de 1917. O material empírico foi composto por relatórios governamentais, decretos, periódicos médicos e jornais. Concluímos que Ribas, ao criar uma estrutura que unificou os esforços dos distritos sanitários com as equipes de atendimento das Comissões do Tracoma, buscou formar um complexo aparato para combater as enfermidades presentes tanto nas áreas urbanas quanto na zona rural.

Abstract In 1906, Emílio Ribas reorganized the Sanitation Service and centralized São Paulo state public health services in the state capital. A campaign to combat trachoma, an ophthalmic disease, was implemented as part of this project. This article analyzes this campaign, which provided care for the sick living on rural properties in a process that predated the 1917 Rural Sanitary Code. The empirical data was obtained from government reports, decrees, medical journals and newspapers. We conclude that Ribas, by creating an organization that integrated the efforts of the sanitary districts and the Trachoma Commission medical teams, sought to form a complex apparatus to combat the diseases present in both urban areas and the countryside.