Adenosine deaminase activity in serum and lymphocytes of multibacillary leprosy patients.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was measured in serum and lymphocytes of 25 untreated patients with multibacillary leprosy. Both serum and lymphocyte ADA levels were significantly high in multibacillary leprosy patients compared to healthy controls. The results obtained did not establish any significant relationship between ADA activity and the type of leprosy.

Detection of antibodies to phenolic glycolipid by ELISA in leprosy patients.

Antibody (IgM) response to PGL-1, a surface glycolipid unique to Mycobacterium leprae has been studied in 25 cases each of lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy and in 25 healthy controls. The absorbance value at 488 nm was expressed as antibody titre. Serum antibody titre was found to be significantly higher in patients than controls. Results confirm that antibody response in leprosy patients depend upon bacterial load.

Lipid-laden macrophages in bone marrow of leprosy patients.

While conducting a study to observe bone marrow cytomorphological changes in multibacillary leprosy, lipid laden macrophages as seen in sphingolipidoses were noted. The present study was planned to observe the occurrence and morphological characterization of these macrophages in various types of leprosy. Bone marrow records from 48 cases of paucibacillary and 72 cases of multibacillary leprosy were analysed. The macrophages accounting at the most for 3.5% of marrow cells were observed in 5 cases of paucibacillary and 43 cases of multibacillary leprosy with a maximum incidence being observed in patients with ENL (16/17). The lipid present in the cytoplasm of these cells could be derived from the lipid of the cell wall of Mycobacterium leprae. To the best of our knowledge, these cells have not been reported in leprosy so far.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in leprosy.

Activity of the enzyme-gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) was measured in sera of 20 patients each of paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy and 20 healthy controls. None of the subjects had any systemic or hepatic disease and none had taken any hepatotoxic or antileprotic drugs in the past 3 months. Mean values in the paucibacillary group (38.62 +/- 1.99 U/L) and in the multibacillary group (59.04 +/- 3.13 U/L) were significantly higher compared to that in controls (32.04 +/- 0.66 U/L). Mean value in the multibacillary group was also significantly higher compared to that in the paucibacillary group.

Bone marrow cyto-morphological changes in multibacillary leprosy.

Seventy-two cases of multibacillary leprosy were investigated for cytomorphological changes and presence of lepra bacilli in bone marrow. These patients were divided in two groups. Group A (28) comprised of new cases and group B (44) of those receiving treatment. Myeloid hyperplasia was mostly seen in patients of group B who had erythema nodosum leprosum. Megaloblastic change in erythroblasts was seen frequently in both the groups. While average number of plasma cells and macrophages was on the higher side of normal range, detection of large number of plasma cells underlined enhanced humoral response and created diagnostic problem with multiple myeloma. Morphological changes in the macrophages, their collections and epithelioid cell granulomas were observed in bone marrow. Their nature and significance is discussed.

Condyloma acuminatum in an infant.

PIP: A case of a 3-month old female infant with perianal condyloma acuminatum, an extremely rare occurrence, is reported. The child developed perianal warts at 2 months of age. Both parents had no genital or extragenital warts. History of sexual assault was denied. Both parents had negative VDRL tests for syphilis. The infant was treated with 20% podophyllum twice weekly for 3 weeks and the warts resolved in 4 weeks. Genital condyloma acuminatum is usually a sexually transmitted disorder. Only a few isolated cases of venereal warts have been reported in children under 6 months of age.^ieng

Bacillaemia and bone marrow involvement in leprosy.

Fifty patients (24 new and 26 receiving specific treatment) of leprosy were investigated to study the concentration and morphological index (MI) of the lepra bacilli in skin, peripheral blood and bone marrow. The organisms were detected in 28 cases on skin slit smear examination, in 38 cases on bone marrow examination and in 38 cases on examination of smears made from buffy coat of peripheral blood. Out of 22 cases negative for the bacilli on skin slit smears, 15 had the organisms either in buffy coat or bone marrow or both. Acid fast bacilli in peripheral blood and bone marrow with skin smear negativity were mainly observed in patients with paucibacillary type of the disease and in those who were receiving treatment. Examination of buffy coat and bone marrow for presence of lepra bacilli is suggested to establish the diagnosis in doubtful cases.

Clofazimine induced nail changes.

Two cases of lepromatous leprosy with erythema nodosum leprosum who were on high doses of clofazimine, showed discoloration of nail plate, subungual hyperkeratosis and onycholysis. These nail changes gradually disappeared when the dose of clofazimine was reduced.

Mycosis Fungoides with Unusual Features.

A case of mycosis fungoides had unusual features such as non- pruritic nodule-ulcerative lesions following a febrile, episode, appearance of many lesions in subsequent episodes in the margins of scars of previous lesions, along with a cyclic course. Higtopathology of the skin and lymph node showed a typical picture, of mycosis fungoides.

Metal Sensitivity in Children.

One hundred children were patch tested with 5% nickel sulphate, 0.5% potassium dichromate, 5% cobalt chloride and pure petrolatum. Seventeen children (11 having eczematous and 6 having non-eczematous dermatoses) showed positive patch test reactions to one or more metals, chromium (13%), nickel (8%) and cobalt (1%). The incidence of metal sensitivity was highger (32.5%) in the older children (8-14 years) as compared to the younger children 7 years of age (2.66%). The female children had a higher incidence of sensitivity as compared to the male children.

Leukemoid reaction in erythema nodosum leprosum in a leprosy patient.

A case of lepromatous leprosy with erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) presenting as a myeloid leukemoid reaction is reported. Very high leucocyte count with immaturity of the cells in myeloid series was present in peripheral blood. High leucocyte alkaline phosphatase score, absence of hepatosplenomegaly and transient nature of leukemoid reaction differentiated it from chronic myeloid leukemia and acute myeloblastic leukemia. The possible mechanisms of leukemoid reaction in ENL are discussed.

Adenosine deaminase activity in leprosy (a preliminary study).

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was studied in 25 patients having different types of leprosy and 25 healthy volunteer as control. There was definite rise of ADA activity in BL (72.9 +/- 6.85), LL (56.7 +/- 3.35) and BT (39.1 +/- 8.28) which was statistically significant when compared to ADA activity in healthy control (9.7 +/- 0.53).

A Clinico-epidemiologic Profile of Herpeszoster in Norht India.

A clinico-epidemiological study of 230 cases of herpes zoster revealed an overallincidence of 0.6 percent. Out of 230 patients 160 were males and 70 females (male and female ratio being 2.2:1). The maximum incidence was noted in the second and third decades. A higher incidence was observed in the months of March, April, May and then in August, September and October. A confirmative history of chicken poxin the past was available in 34 (14.7%) patients only. There was no appreciable difference between right and left side involvement, except for the cranial segments, where the right side was predominantly involved. Thoracic segments were most commonly (55.2%) involved followed by cervical (19.5%), lumbo-sacral (13.9%) , and cranial (11.3%) segments. Prodromal symptoms were recorded in 20% patients. Among the cranial nerves, ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve was most commonly (57.7%) affected. Post herpetic neuralgia was noticed in 14.3% patients.

Captopril (sq 14,225) Induced Pityriasis Is Rosea Like Eruption.

A cam is reported in which p rosealike lesions appeared with captopril, a new an!lypertmgvc drug.

Mycosis Fungoides.

Two cases of MF have been reported, one in a middle aged male having MF with erythroderrna, poikiloderma and tumours, developing in a short period, and: second in a middle aged: female having 'd' emblee' form of the disease.

Tissue lipids in leprosy.

A total of 30 cases of leprosy (15 lepromatous and 15 tuberculoid) were studied by histochemical procedures for lipids in the morbid skin. The possible origin and relation of lipids to the presence of lepra bacilli in the lepra cells is discussed.