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

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*

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

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

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

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

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

Prevalence of Hansen's disease is reduced about 90% all over the world 20 years by the active efforts of World Health Organization and every country government. As a result, Hansen's disease remains as the public-health problem in only 10 countries after 2003. Recently, patients ware converged in 5 countries such as India, Brazil, Mozambique, Nepal, Madagascar, prevalence of these country 83% of all patients in the world, 88% of new patients of the world. Recently the general society-interests about Hansen's disease are fallen because of the reducing the importance in the public health service and the decreasing of the occurrence of the new patients of Hansen's disease. And the special workers about Hansen's disease and the supports from the government and international organization were reduced. So many workers are worried about the reducing of the quality of Hansen programme, delayed diagnosis and possibility of disability. And Hansen's disease is not actually the main concerns of public-health problem all over the world, but recently the Hansen's disease is known as the major cause of neuropathy and blindness among the infectious disease. For the use of the references of decisionmaking of the national Hansen programme I have reviewed and compared the national Hansen programme in some countries.
Blindness ; Brazil ; Communicable Diseases ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Humans ; India ; Leprosy ; Madagascar ; Mozambique ; Nepal ; Prevalence ; United States Public Health Service ; World Health Organization

Internet* ; Leprosy*

Recently, there has been a strong decrease in the number of temporalis muscle transfer(TMT) operations in cases of lagophthalmos. The primary cause of this decline is patient dissatisfaction with drawbacks of eye clinching in concert with mouth closure, ectropion and ptosis. This is mostly true of patients who are now more commonly exposed to urban social environments. In 1997, I discontinued the use of TMT as part of my combination treatment method reported in this journal. Since 1998, I have removed the fascia in 20 TMT cases due to complications in the upper and lower eyelid areas. I then corrected these complications using my combination method. I still use TMT in cases of lower lip drooping. Lagophthalmos patients are treated using my combination method of gold lid loading in the upper eyelid and Alloderm insertion in the lower eyelid through fixation of both ends to the medial and lateral canthal ligaments respectively. Previously, I recommended the use of conchal cartilage but noted the complication of cartilage warping which caused creating new partial ectropion several months later. Alloderm has shown no complications and the results of its use remain most satisfactory.
Cartilage ; Ectropion* ; Eyelids ; Fascia ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Ligaments ; Lip ; Mouth ; Social Environment