Effect of adipose derived stromal vascular fraction on leprosy neuropathy: A Preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Adipose derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) contains a heterogeneous population of mononuclear cells, progenitor cells and about 1-10% are mesenchymal stromal cells. These cells are an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine for peripheral neuropathy. Leprosy is a disabling disorder with neuropathy, usually with consequences of permanent disability of the extremities. We conducted a preliminary study to evaluate the cell yield, its characteristics and clinical outcomes after SVF injections in four leprosy patients. METHODS: Four post leprosy patients were recruited and evaluated for sensory testing (warm detection, cold detection, vibration, pain and sensation) on the ulnar area of the hand. Liposuction was done and adipose tissue was processed into SVF with a closed system and injected to the ulnar area of the hand at the dorsal and palmar side. Evaluation of sensory testing was done after 3 days, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months following SVF injection. SVF was also characterized using flow cytometry, cell counting, sterility and presence of mycobacteria. RESULTS: The results showed that leprosy patients had a low count of mesenchymal cells and a high amount of CD34/CD45 positive cells. One patient was positive for mycobacteria from his adipose tissue and SVF. Sensory examination after SVF injection showed an improvement in temperature and pain sensation in the palmar and superficial branch. Meanwhile, touch sensation improved on the dorsal branch, and there was no improvement for vibration in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that SVF had a potential to improve sensory loss in leprosy patients.

Serum Interleukin 6 Level and Nutrition Status as Potential Predictors of Clinical Leprosy Development Among Household Contacts in Endemic Areas.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that can lead to severe lifelong disabilities. Close contacts of patients with leprosy have a higher risk of acquiring the disease. Nevertheless, there is a lack of reliable markers to predict Mycobacterium leprae infection. We aimed to identify new potential markers for developing clinical leprosy among contacts. METHODS: Serum levels of interleukin (IL) 6, IL-8, IL-10, hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation were measured in 67 patients with multibacillary leprosy (MB), 65 household contacts (HHCs) of MB patients, and 127 endemic controls (ECs). By means of multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, we analyzed baseline variables and laboratory parameters that showed significant differences between MB in the HHC and EC groups and obtained the respective areas under the curve (AUC). Optimal cutoff values of the associated cytokines were also determined. RESULTS: Elevated IL-6 level was observed in MB patients compared to HHCs and ECs (P = .022 and .0041, respectively). Anemia and iron deficiency were also higher in the MB group compared to HHCs or ECs (P < .001). Likewise, we observed an increased risk of having MB leprosy in underweight HHCs (odds ratio [OR], 2.599 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .991-6.820]) and underweight ECs (OR, 2.176 [95% CI, 1.010-4.692]). Further ROC analysis showed that high serum IL-6 level, underweight, anemia, and iron deficiency can discriminate leprosy from their HHCs (AUC, 0.843 [95% CI, .771-.914]; P = .000; optimal cutoff value of IL-6 = 9.14 pg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that serum IL-6 and nutrition status could serve as potential prognostic markers for the development of clinical leprosy in infected individuals.

Annular infectious dermatoses.

Annular configuration is conspicuous in the clinical manifestation of many skin diseases and can be helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Variations may include arciform, ring-form, annular, circinate, serpiginous, gyrated, polycyclic, targeted or figurate forms, in different colors, sizes, and numbers, with various textures and surfaces. In infectious dermatoses, the annular reactions can be specific or nonspecific, while the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the specific reactions caused by direct invasion of the pathogens, the contest between the centrifugal outspread of the infectious agents and the centripetal impedance of the host immune response is supposed to determine the final conformation. Examples include erythema infectiosum, orf, erythema multiforme, and pityriasis rosea of viral origin. Bacterial infections that may display annular lesions include erythrasma, erythema (chronicum) migrans of Lyme borreliosis, secondary syphilis, cutaneous tuberculosis, and leprosy. Superficial mycosis, such as dermatophytosis, candida intertrigo, tinea imbricata, and subcutaneous mycosis, such as chromoblastomycosis, and algae infection protothecosis, are characterized by annular progression of the skin lesions. The creeping serpiginous extension is an alarming sign for the diagnosis of cutaneous larva migrans. A better understanding of the virulence and pathogenicity of the pathogens and the way and type of immune response will help to clarify the pathogenesis.