Fluticasone propionate (0.05%) cream compared to betamethasone valerate (0.12%) cream in the treatment of steroid-responsive dermatoses: a multicentric study.

Fluticasone propionate is a new topical steroid developed as a result of modification of the 19-carbon androstane structure. In the present study, efficacy of this steroid was compared with betamethasone valerate cream in patients with psoriasis and eczema. Though fluticasone propionate was marginally more effective than betamethasone valerate, this difference was not statistically significant.

Evaluation of diversified antigens for detection of Mycobacterium leprae antibodies from leprosy patients and contacts.

A comparative evaluation of diversified antigens in ELISA has been made for detection of M. leprae antibodies in the sera of leprosy patients and their contacts. Out of the four antigens, namely M. leprae sonicate (ML), phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-1), M. habana sonicate (MH) and its arabinomannan (AM), the cross reactive antigens (MH,AM) have comparatively detected more number of leprosy cases. Homologous antigens (ML, PGL-1) have lower detection level. Use of MH and AM for detection of mycobacterial antibodies have been discussed and advocated for epidemiological studies of leprosy/tuberculosis.

Detection of M. leprae-specific antigens with dot-ELISA in urine and nasal samples from leprosy patients.

One-hundred-two urine and nasal samples collected from leprosy patients of different classifications of disease were studied for the presence of Mycobacterium leprae antigens, including phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I). Lipids were extracted from the urine samples, and nasal washings were concentrated and used as such in the dot-ELISA. Two types of primary antibodies, a polyclonal antibody obtained from lepromatous (LL) leprosy patients' pooled and absorbed sera and an anti-PGL-I monoclonal antibody, were used for the detection of M. leprae antigens from these samples. The polyclonal sera detected 23% to 36% of the paucibacillary (PB) and 100% of the multibacillary (MB) leprosy cases from the urine samples. Corresponding values for nasal detection were 10% to 18% for PB and 100% for MB cases. The monoclonal antibody against PGL-I could not detect tuberculoid (TT) leprosy cases. From the urine samples, however, 16% of the borderline tuberculoid (BT), 25% of the borderline (BB), 80% of the borderline lepromatous (BL), and 100% of the LL leprosy cases were detectable. It was interesting to note that PB, skin-smear negative cases were detectable from urine examination. The specificity and sensitivity of the test is discussed in relation to the crossreacting antigens.

Detection of leprosy antigenuria through DOT-ELISA.

Fifty-five samples of urine from different grades of leprosy patients and normal persons were processed for detection of PGL-1 antigen through DOT-ELISA on nitrocellulose paper strips using anti-human IgG horse raddish peroxidaseconjugate. About 66.6% of the paucibacillary and 100% of the multibacillary leprosy cases were detectable through this technique on the basis of differential colour development on the strips. Possibility of its use in the field conditions has been discussed.