According to the reports, the prevalence of anti-HCV is about 3%. In past, the results of the high prevalence of anti-HCV in the patients of Hansen's disease were reported. So we study about the Status of Hepatitis C of persons affected Hansen's disease. The prevalence of anti-HCV is 16%(persons affected Hansen's disease: total), 23%(live in settlement village) and 4.1%(live in home). Positivity of RT PCR is 37.8% in HCV-Ab-positive persons affected Hansen's disease. Statistical signification in age and duration of illness of Hansen's disesae between HCV-Ab-positive cases & HCV-Ab-positive case is found (P<0.01, P<0.01).
Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Leprosy* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence

In 2007, we find 3 new cases and 3 relapse cases, diagnosis by the clinical finding, skin smear, skin biopsy, lepromin test, ELISA for PGL-I antibody, and DNA-PCR. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. In 3 new cases, 2 Koreans are 70 and 79 years old, one foreigner (Filipino) is 38 years old, mean BI is 2.8, and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.22, and numbers of TTC repeat are 10(Korean), 11(Korean), and 12(Filipino), and of GACATC repeats are 4(2 Koreans) and 3(1 foreigner/ Filipino). All new cases have no mutation of folP1 & rpoB gene. 2. In 3 relapse cases, the mean age is 56.8, mean BI is 5.6+, and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.70, and numbers of TTC repeat are 11(2 cases), and 12(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(all 3 Koreans). Among 3 relapse cases, 2 cases have the mutation of folP1 gene and 2cases have the mutationo frpoB gene, especially one case have the mutation of both folP1 & rpoB gene.
Biopsy ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Recurrence ; Skin

Osteoporosis has become a rapidly social burden for public health in South Korea, but the lack of study on osteoporosis of persons affected Hansen's disease. For the evaluation of the prevalence of osteoporosis of persons-affected Hansen's disease, we investigated a bone mineral density (BMD) of persons affected Hansen's disease who live in the settlement villages. 1,125 subjects(male: 462, female: 663 & MB: 743, PB: 382) were included, and the mean age was 72.2 +/- 8.3 years. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 67.8% and that of osteopenia was 26.7%. The T-score and Z-score of MB type patients showed a significantly lower compared with that of PB type patients(T-score: p=0.014, Z-score: p=0.018).
Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Leprosy* ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea

Hansen's disease, chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The different clinical presentations of the disease are determined by the quality of the host immune response. The bacteria have affinity for the skin and peripheral nerves and are likely the cause of neuropathy, a cardinal manifestation of the disease. WHO recommends a protocol of multidrug therapy(MDT), which effectively controls the disease, hence contributing to the global elimination program. Early detection of leprosy and treatment by MDT are the most important steps in preventing deformity and disability. For the understanding of recent characteristics of the new & relapse Hansen' disease in Institute for Leprosy Research Korea, we are summarized and reported the epidemiological factors. During recent 5 years(2004-2008), we were experienced 26 new cases and 12 relapse cases of Hansen's disease in our institute, diagnosis by the clinical finding, skin smear, skin biopsy, lepromin test, ELISA for PGL-I antibody, and DNA-PCR. 1. In 26 new cases, the mean age is 64.11 in 18 Koreans and 27.75 in 8 foreigners(Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand), the types of Hansen's disease are 19 lepromatous, 2 borderline and 5 tuberculoid, mean BI is 3.7+, mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.697, numbers of TTC repeat are 12(7 cases), 11(6 cases), 13(5 cases), 10(4 cases), 16(2 cases), and 31(1 case) and of GACATC repeats are 4(all 18 Koreans) and 3(all 8 foreigners). Among 26 new cases, 1 case(53ACC/GCC) has the mutation of folP1 gene and all new cases have no mutation of rpoB gene. 2. In 12 relapse cases(all Koreans), the mean age is 61.08, the types of Hansen's disease are all 12 lepromatous, mean BI is 4.8+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.960, and numbers of TTC repeat are 11(6 cases), 12(4 cases), and 13(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(all 12 Koreans). Among 12 relapse cases, 3 cases(55CCC/CGC) and 1 case(53ACC/ GCC) have the mutation of folP1 gene and 3 cases(425TCG/TTG) and 1 case(420CAC/GAC) have the mutation of rpoB gene. 2 relapse cases have the mutation of folP1 & rpoB gene.
Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Communicable Diseases ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Korea ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Nepal ; Peripheral Nerves ; Philippines ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Sri Lanka

Localized bullous pemphigoid is a rare blistering disease characterized by chronic recurrent localized bullae with clinical, histopsthologic, and immunofluorescent features of bullous pemphigoid. It is generally accepted that this disease occurs in two forms : one with scarring bullous plaques located on the head and neck, described by Brunsting and Perry, and the other with nonscarring bullous lessions, usually present on the legs of women. We herein report a case of localized scarring bullous pemphigoid in 40-year-old man who showed vesicles, bullae and erosions on the right cheek. Histologic findings showed subepidermal bulla, and direct immunoflurescent study showed linear deposit of IgG & C3 on the basement membrane zone. This patient was cantrolled sucessfully with short-term systemic corticosteriod and local injection of triamcinclone actetonide.
Adult ; Basement Membrane ; Blister ; Cheek ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Leg ; Neck ; Pemphigoid, Bullous*

Global efforts to control leprosy by intensive chemotherapy, including rifampin, have led to a significant decrease in the number of registered patients. But emergence of rifampin-resistant strains of pathogenic mycobacteria has threatened the usefulness of this drug in treating mycobacterial diseases. Mutations in the rpoB gene, encoding the betasubunit of RNA polymerase, were reported to result in resistance to rifampin in several mycobacterial species, including M leprae. To prevent the emergence and transmission of drug-resistant leprosy and to identify and treat existing cases, it is necessary to establish rapid methods for detection of drug resistance in M leprae. However, M. leprae has not been cultivated on artificial media; therefore, to identify drug susceptibility patterns, bacteria must be tested using Shepard's mouse footpad assay. This in vivo method requires at least 6 months and relatively large numbers of bacteria. Recently, there have been advances in the elucidation of molecular events responsible for drug resistance in mycobacteria Sequences of the rpoB, genes were analyzed for 43 isolates of Mycobacterium leprae from leprosy patients in Korea. Three isolates(6.98%) showed representative mutations in the rpoB, genes, suggesting the emergence of rifampin-resistant M. leprae.
Animals ; Bacteria ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Korea* ; Leprosy ; Mice ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Rifampin

TOBJECTS: Leprosy is a chronic infection principally affecting the skin and peripheral nerves caused by the obligate intracellular organism Mycobacterium leprae. Complications secondary to the neuropathy can result in deformity and disability. The plantar ulcer is the commonest complication in leprosy. And the plantar pressure is important factors developing plantar ulcer. So the author is studied about the possible predicting factor of the plantar ulcer in patients with leprosy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Subjects included 100 leprosy patients, divided two groups according to the recent plantar ulcer history. The author analyzed the relations between that significant factors and various factors (PGL-I titer, sensory level). RESULTS: The correlations between the PGL-I antibody titer(Spearman's rho=0.215, p=0.048) and PGL-I antibody group(Spearman's rho=0.215, p=0.045) and the recent plantar ulcer history were found. CONCLUSION: The author ascertained that the PGL-I antibody titer and PGL-I antibody group PGL-I antibody titer would be the possible tool for predicting the plantar ulcer of the Hansen disease program.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Foot Ulcer ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Peripheral Nerves ; Skin

Recently it is becoming socially controversy about Hansen's disease patient's registration system that was considered as the reasonable and best system in the past. Medically, it is naturally to make the patient's medical record(medial registration), including patient's detail profile, patient's family history, or other informations acquired form medical examination process for the clinical judgement and the best result of treatment. And that is necessary to government authorities that made the budget to provide the free medical and social service to Hansen's disease patients, but that is worry about the drain of personal information and the use of basic data to control. Therefore, we have to need to do enough examination between patient with leprologist, sociologist, government authorities and patients about this and advance this by reasonable system to everybody.
Budgets ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Social Work

Many futurists state that the rate of change that has happened around the world over the past 10 years is greater than at all other period's of time. The leading factor, irrelevant of an individuals knowledge, is the popularization of the Internet. People now can get large amounts of information at a very low cost. Popularization of information technology has changed the economic competitiveness from existing physical production capacity to information collecting and information processing power. . In other words, advanced products that have high added value, generated by collecting and processing technical information, are superior to products that are made physically. With respect to Hansen's disease, after MDT was introduced in 1980's, and WHO started to eliminate leprosy in 1991, Hansen's disease situation has changed in most of the world. However, using only the traditional information systems that were used in the past, it is difficult to cope with this situation. To improve and keep the competitiveness, it is necessary to keep pace with available changes in technology, and it is essential to establish flexible information system about the disease. To do this, we have to create new services. To create a new paradigm for dealing properly with changes in the management of Hansen's disease in the information society, I would like to introduce an information system. As part of the development of this system, I would like to introduce new material resources including an information system, human resources, databases, and network.
Automatic Data Processing ; Humans ; Information Systems* ; Internet ; Leprosy*

Facial nerve paralysis in leprosy adversely affects facial regions from the forehead to the lip. In particular, lagophthalmos in patients with leprosy causes exposure keratitis, corneal and conjunctival dryness which can progress blindness and disfigurement. The function of the eyelids is controlled by the oculomotor nerve and the facial nerve. In leprosy patients the oculomotor nerve continues to function causing the levator muscle to lift the eyelids. However, paralysis of the facial nerve prevents the orbicularis oculi muscle from closing the eyelids, resulting in lagophthalmos. Various methods were developed to correct lagophthalmos, one of which was temporal muscle transfer(TMT) reported in 1934 by Gillies. Since we noted relatively high occurrence of ptosis as a complication in patients treated previously with the TMT, we performed other surgical procedures for laglphthalmos over 15 years, not to make the ptosis. Although most of the patients quite improved post-operatively, partial lid-gap frequently persisted. It may be related to involutional changes and paralyzed orbicularis muscle. Recently, we conducted 4 different TMT methods for last 4 years to reduce ptosis. The methods used included Brown & McDowell, McCord & Codner, modified Gillies & Anderson, and modified Gillies. Seventy-five TMT operations in 60 patients(26 males and 34 females) were done between 2011 and 2014. The age range of the patients was 54~87 years(the mean was 70.1). Fifteen patients had bilateral TMT procedures. As a result, ptosis appeared in 14(18.7%) out of 75 TMT procedures for 4 years. Four technical points should be considered for the initial assessment to prevent or reduce the incidence of ptosis. The first is the increase of the length of temporalis muscle flap to approximately 8cm with a parallel course to the lateral canthus, which will reduce the oblique pull. Second, the width of the fascia sling in the upper eyelid is narrow(3~4mm) to reduce weight on the eyelid. Third, the fascia sling in the upper lid is not tied with that of the lower lid at the medial canthal tendon to reduce tension. Lastly, the fascia sling in the upper eyelid is shallow(subdermal level) in location and as near as possible to the lid margin.
Aged ; Blindness ; Eyelids ; Facial Nerve ; Fascia ; Forehead ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratitis ; Leprosy* ; Lip ; Male ; Oculomotor Nerve ; Paralysis ; Temporal Muscle* ; Tendons