Author observed histopathologically and immunologically the old lepers of 360 cases, having the duration of infection with average 11 years and 5months. Here summarize as follows : 1. Microscopically in L-type, lepra cells, or Virchow cells (foamy cells) were relatively large, and the infiltration showed the tendency to concentrate particularly around the periglandular regions. Free zones were mostly obscure and disappeared. 2. Tuberculoid structure tends to be obscured in T-type of leprosy. 3. The healings showed few granulomatous infiltration, rather the almost normal findings. But periglandular and perivascular infiltrates were present. 4. Lepromin test was considerably positive in T-type of leprosy (about 57.8%)
Lepromin ; Leprosy

Conjunctival and dermal injection of lepromin were made on the various lepers, 9 neurals, 7 lepromatouses, 3 mild lepromatouses, 15 neurals and 7 lepromatouses associated some ocular lesions each group. The following results were obtained. 1. In general, conjuntival reaction are shown similarly with dermal reaction. 2. Have not found out the conceivable specific ocular immunity for the antigen on this work.
Lepromin ; Leprosy*

In 2003, we found 6 new cases and 5 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 new cases, the mean age was 62.5, mean BI is 4+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody was 0.678, and numbers of TTC repeat was 12(4 cases), 18(1 case), and 20(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(5 cases, Koreans)and 3(1 case, Filipino). 2. In relapse cases, the mean age was 59.4, mean BI is 4.6+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody was 0.772, and numbers of TTC repeat was 11(4 cases), 15(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(4 case, Koreans)and 3(1 case, Korean).
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Recurrence ; Skin

In 2005, we find 7 new cases and 5 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 new cases, the mean age is 54.6, mean BI is 4.1+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.866, and numbers of TTC repeat are 10(3 cases), 12(3 cases), and 11(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(all Korean 5 cases) and 3(all foreigners 2cases). 2. In relapse case, the mean age is 65.0, mean BI is 4.6+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 1.19, and numbers of TTC repeat are 11(2 cases), 12(1 cases), 13(1 case) and unknown(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(all Korean 4 cases) and unknown(1 case).
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Recurrence ; Skin

Between 2008 and 2009, We found 9 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 obtained results were summarized as follows: 1. In 9 new cases, the mean age was 56.2 in 5 Koreans and 28.2 in 4 foreigners(Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines), the types of Hansen's disease were 5 lepromatous(2 Koreans and 3 foreigners), 1 borderline(1 foreigner) and 2 tuberculoid(2 Koreans), mean BI was 3.4+, mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody was 0.445, numbers of TTC repeat are 16(2 Korean and 2 foreigners), 11(2 Koreans), 12(1 Koreans) and 13(1 Koreans), and of GACATC repeats are 4(4 Koreans) and 3(1 Korean and 4 foreigners). Among 9 new cases, 1 case has the mutation offolP1 gene. 2. All new cases had no mutation of & rpoB gene. 3. In 3 relapse cases, the mean age was 63.7, the types of Hansen's disease were 3 lepromatous(3 Koreans), mean BI was 4.0+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody was 0.846, and numbers of TTC repeat were 12(2 cases), 11(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(all 3 Koreans). Among 3 relapse cases, 1 case has the mutation ofrpoB gene.
Biopsy ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Sri Lanka ; Thailand

In 2006, we find 7 new cases and one relapse case, diagnosis by the clinical finding, skin smear, skin biopsy, lepromin test, ELISA for PGL-I antibody, and DNA-PCR. In new cases, the mean age is 59.3, mean BI is 3.3+, mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.941, numbers of TTC repeat are 13(3 cases), 11(2 case), 12(1 cases), and 31(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(5 Koreans) and 3(2 foreigners). In relapse case, a 45 years-old male patient is revealed that BI is 5+, O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 1.096, numbers of TTC repeat are 12 and GACATC repeats are 4.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Skin

In 2003, we find 5 new cases and one relapse case, 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 new cases, the mean age is 52.5, mean BI is 3.4+,and mean O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.531, and numbers of TTC repeat are 12(2 cases), 13(2 cases), and 11(1 case), and of GACATC repeats are 4(all 6 cases). 2. In relapse case, a 58 years-old male patient is revealed that BI is 6+,and O.D. of PGL-I antibody is 0.873, numbers of TTC repeat are 11 GACATC repeats are 4.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lepromin ; Leprosy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Skin

It is generally accepted that tbe lepromin test is of great value in the type classification and the evaluation of the prognosis of leprosy. But the nature of the antigenicity in lepromin reaction stiIl remains uncertain. The present study was carried out to investigate the antigenic characteriatics of the early(Fernandez) and the late (Mitsuda) reactions to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. Mycobacterium leprae was purified by trypsin digestion from human lepromas, and was broken down by passing 5 times through a French Pressor at 16, 000 p.s.i.. From the broken cell suspension, cell wall, cytoplasm, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were prepared. IntradermaI skin tests were perforrned on 30 leprosy patients classified according to the Ridley-Jopling scale (4 TT, 6 BT, 2 BB, 7 BL and 11 LL), with 0. 1ml of the Mitsuda lepromin(intact cells) broken cells, cell wall, cytoplasm, VLDL and LPS antigens. Readings for the early and the late reactions were done 72 hours and 28 days, respectively, after itradermal injections of the above antigens. The results are summerized as follows: 1, Early reactions were elicited by broken cells, cell wall and cytoplasm in all of the patients who could react to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. VLDL and LPS antigens could also elicit early reactions in 9(56)% and in 14(88%), respectively, of the 10 patients who showed positive reaction to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. These results mean that the early reaction may be due to multiple antigena, originated either from M. leprae or from contaminated human tissues. 2. Late reactions were elicited by broken cells and cell wall antigens, but not by cytoplasm antigen, in all of the patients who showed late reactions to Mitsuda lepromin antigen. These results mean that broken cells also produce a late reaction and the specific antigen(s) of the late reaction may reside in the cell wall fraction of the M. leprae.
Cell Wall ; Classification ; Cytoplasm ; Digestion ; Humans ; Lepromin* ; Leprosy ; Lipoproteins ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Prognosis ; Reading ; Skin Tests ; Trypsin

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

Leprosy is an infectious dis as in which the immune machanism, in addition to the bacillus, plays an important role in Pathogenesis. As leprosy has two polar types, one of which is characterized by well preserved cellular immunity with a good prognosis and the other which shows no cellular immunity and a poor prognosis, it has been considercd the best human model for immunologic research. By studying the differences between these two typs, insights into immune deficiecies might well lead to the improved treatment of leproatous leproy(i.e.no cellular immunity) patients. Therefore, some immuno-theraputic trials for leprosy patients have already been reported by somc authors. In an attempt to survey spcific as well as nonspecific cellular immunity in leprosy, the authors prformed the lepromin and tuberculin skin tests with DNCB active cutanous sensitization on 203 leprosy patients in residence at the national leprosarium of Korea. All groups of Ieprosy patients showed decreased skin reactivity to the three tests, compared with normal, healthy control groups(p<0.01). This phenomenon is probably due to disorganization of lymphnode architecture and antigenic competition. Although a, statiscally significant difference could not be found in the tubercuIin and DNCB sensitization test results among all groups, the tuberculoid leprosy group and the arrested leprosy group showed stronger reactivity than the non-tuberculoid leprosy group. Patients positive for DNCB sensitization showed more positivity to the tuberculin test (66%)than to the lepromin test (30%) (p<0.01), thus suggesting that nonsp cific CMI and specific CMI exerted diffenent effects. Patients positive for DNCB sensitization also showed a greater probability (77%) to be responsive to either of the other two delayed cutanous hyperssensitivity tests than not. Leprosy patients in the third or fourth decade of life showed 63-66% positivity to DNCB active sensitization, while those in the six or seventh decad showed a positivity of 18-28%. These points toward significant correlation batween age and immun status. (p<0.01). The spontansous flare up during DNCB sensitization most frequently occurred on the 10th to 12th day of senitization: positive reaction after chalenge was most frequent in 72 hrs. after the test but some ractions were seen as late as five days after th. test. Two patiants of whole blood and its equivalent of leukocyte-rich plasme were irfused into 10 patients who had shown negative reaction to al! three tests. Conversion of delayed cutaneous hyprs:nsitivity among then was as follows; Four in tuberculin test (3 cases of which were strengthenings of preexisting ractivity). 2 in lepromin test, and 4 m DNCB sensitization. Of th 6 patients who showed a conversion in any one of the delayed cutaneous hypcrsensitivity evaluation tests, 4 showed conversion in more than two tests Of the 10 patients, who receivcd the transfusions (whole blood or lecocyte-rich plasma), 5 cases showed a high fever for 2 days afterrvards. The authors regard histocytotoxicity, incompatible histocompatibility, or perhaps simply a transfusion reaction as the underlying cause of this febrile reaction. One patient developed probably a phobia type psychosis following the blood transfusion and was subseuetly dropped from this study. Two months of observation following the transfusion revealed no definite clinical improvement.
Bacillus ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Dinitrochlorobenzene ; Fever ; Histocompatibility ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Korea ; Lepromin ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Tuberculoid ; Phobic Disorders ; Prognosis ; Psychotic Disorders ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculin Test