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

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

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

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

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel nucleic acid amplification method that amplifies DNA with high specificity, efficiency, and speed under isothermal conditions. To evaluate the usefulness of LAMP for diagnosing leprosy, we compared the results of LAMP method and PCR, using samples that were previously tested by PCR. We used the species-specific primers designed by targeting the 18KDa antigenic protein gene for the LAMP and PCR, for detection of Mycobacterium leprae directly from biopsy samples of patients. Doing LAMP and PCR, when the results of PCR ware regarded as standard, we observed the results of LAMP were equal to those of PCR. So we are thought the LAMP method is rapid, taking only 1 h, compared with about 4 h for PCR. In addition, it is performed under isothermal conditions and no special apparatus is needed, which makes it more economical and practical than PCR. Although further improvement is necessary for the wide spread use, the LAMP method might be applicable to diagnosis of leprosy.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Mycobacterium leprae* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Studies about Mycobacterium leprae DNA in samples from leprosy patients are included in the diagnosis of leprosy, the study of drug resistance and the epidemiological investigation. Recently, application of the polymerase chain reaction to epidemiological study of leprosy is introduced. PCR-based typing would be of great value for epidemiological investigation; to identify infectious source of leprosy, understand transmission pattern, and distinguish between relapse & re-infection. Variable TTC DNA repeats in non-coding region and 6bp(ACATCG) tandem repeats in rpoT gene revealed PCR products of different size may be useful to investigate the epidemiology of leprosy.
Diagnosis ; DNA ; Drug Resistance ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Recurrence ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

BACKGROUND: Redundant and wrinkled face is a common finding in patients with long-standing leprosy, which is responsible for the appearance of premature aging. Chemical peeling plays a role in dermal regeneration in the treatment of wrinkles. However, the effect of chemical peeling has rarely been studied in patients with leprosy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of chemical peeling on dermal connective tissue components and clinical improvement of facial wrinkles in patients with leprosy. METHODS: Five patients with clinically and bacteriologically inactive lepromatous leprosy were treated with 70% glycolic acid plus 35% trichloroacetic acid (GA-TCA). Histologic and clinical changes were evaluated at 0 and 90 days postpeel. RESULTS: Histologically, collagen fibers and ground substance increased significantly but elastic fibers did not change at 90 days postepeel. Clinically, fine wrinkles improved considerably, whereas most deep wrinkles remained unchanged at day 90. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that chemical peeling with GA-TCA, or medium-depth peeling, causes an increase in collagen and ground substance but not in elastic fibers. These changes result in limited clinical improvement in the facial wrinkles of leprosy patients. Therefore, medium-depth chemical peeling may be insufficient to improve the premature aging appearance in patients with leprosy.
Aging, Premature ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue* ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Regeneration ; Trichloroacetic Acid