A Bibliometric Analysis of Leprosy during 2000-2021 from Web of Science Database.

In recent years, after the essential elimination of leprosy (the prevalence of which is <1/100,000), the trends, research hotpots, and frontiers of leprosy research are not clear. This study provides a detailed overview of leprosy in terms of papers, journal, language, year, citations, h-index, author keywords, institution, and country through bibliometrics. The results are as follows: (1) The publication rate has increased in recent years, and 8892 papers were obtained. Most of the publications are in English, and the subject categories are mainly focused on "Dermatology." The "leprosy review" published the most significant number of papers on leprosy, followed by "Plos Neglected Tropical Disease" and "International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases." (2) Leprosy-related research was contributed to by 24,672 authors, and the ten authors with the most significant number of publications were identified. (3) The University of London (including the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) has the highest h-index, and Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz is the most productive institution. (4) Brazil, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands are the most productive countries, and the collaborative network reveals that they have established close cooperation with other countries. France has the highest average number of citations. (5) The keyword co-occurrence network identifies five highly relevant clusters representing topical issues in leprosy research (public health, leprosy vaccine, immune mechanisms, treatment, and genomics research). Overall, these results provide valuable insights for scholars, research institutions, and policymakers to better understand developments in the field of leprosy.

Eficácia e eficiência das palmilhas na prevenção e reabilitação de ulceras plantares em pés neuropaticos na hanseníase e diabetes / Efficacy and efficiency of insoles in the prevention and rehabilitation of plantar ulcers in neuropathic feet in leprosy and diabetes

As neuropatias periféricas causadas pela hanseníase e diabetes podem causar perda de sensibilidade protetora, trofismo muscular e função autonômica da pele, e consequentemente deformidades em pés e desequilíbrios biomecânicos e da distribuição da pressão, gerando alto risco de desenvolvimento de úlceras plantares. Um dos meios para prevenir é o uso de palmilhas customizadas associadas ou não ao uso de calçados ortopédicos. O objetivo dessa revisão foi verificar a eficácia, eficiência das palmilhas na prevenção e reabilitação de úlceras plantares e conhecer novidades acerca do design e do material. Foram realizadas pesquisas nas plataformas PUBMED, LILACS, EMBASE e Cochrane e foram incluídos todos os modelos de artigos, livros, monografias, no total foram encontrados 17 estudos. Apesar das palmilhas serem eficazes no alívio de pressão plantar e na diminuição da incidência das ulceras plantares, neste estudo foi encontrado poucas evidências sobre inovações e durabilidade das palmilhas que levassem em conta o custo benefício e sua efetividade.

USAID in Nepal.

PIP: The USAID's mission in Nepal is to assist development until the people can sustain their own needs: although the US contributes only 5% of donor aid, USAID coordinates donor efforts. The mission's theme is to emphasize agricultural productivity, conserve natural resources, promote the private sector and expand access to health, education and family planning. Nepal, a mountainous country between India and Tibet, has 16 million people growing at 2.5% annually, and a life expectancy of only 51 years. Only 20% of the land is arable, the Kathmandu valley and the Terai strip bordering India. Some of the objectives include getting new seed varieties into cultivation, using manure and compost, and building access roads into the rural areas. Rice and wheat yields have tripled in the '80s relative to the yields achieved in 1970. Other ongoing projects include reforestation, irrigation and watershed management. Integrated health and family planning clinics have been established so that more than 50% of the population is no more than a half day's walk from a health post. The Nepal Fertility Study of 1976 found that only 2.3% of married women were using modern contraceptives. Now the Contraceptive Retail Sales Private Company Ltd., a social marketing company started with USAID help, reports that the contraceptive use rate is now 15%. Some of the other health targets are control of malaria, smallpox, tuberculosis, leprosy, acute respiratory infections, and malnutrition. A related goal is raising the literacy rate for women from the current 12% level. General education goals are primary education teacher training and adult literacy. A few descriptive details about living on the Nepal mission are appended.^ieng