(LML) INFOLEPs choice of recent publications on leprosy

Leprosy Mailing List – March 31,  2015

Ref.: (LML) INFOLEPs choice of recent publications on leprosy

From:  Jiske Erlinga, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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Dear LML readers,

 

Greetings from Infolep!

Below you will find a selection of recent publications on leprosy. Feel free to contact me to receive the full text versions if a link to the full text is not included. You might also be interested in our collection of publications on cross-cutting issues in Neglected Tropical Diseases.

An overview of this rapidly growing collection can be found here: http://www.leprosy-information.org/category/collection/infontds-cross-cutting-issues

Our WASH collection can be found here: http://www.leprosy-information.org/category/subject/wash

The portal is currently not working properly in Google Chrome. Our apologies for any inconvenience. We are working on this issue.

With kind regards,

 

Jiske Erlings

INFOLEP Information specialist

Follow Infolep on Facebook or Twitter

 

 

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Publications

Triple Jeopardy: Tackling the discrimination facing girls and women with leprosy. International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations. 2015.
http://www.ilep.org.uk/fileadmin/uploads/Documents/ILEP_IWD_2015.pdf

Spanish version: Triple riesgo: luchando contra la discriminación de las mujeres y niñas afectadas por la lepra.
http://www.fontilles.org/images/Sala_Prensa/Dossiers_Prensa/ILEP-FONTILLES-Tripe-riesgo.pdf

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New Journal Articles

 

Albuquerque RG, Okazaki KM, Hirotsu C, Tomimori J, Tufik S, Andersen ML. Sleep, Hansen's disease and the immune system - A not so harmonic triad. Med hypotheses. 2015 Feb 7. pii: S0306-9877(15)00066-3. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/sleep-hansens-disease-and-immune-system-not-so-harmonic-triad

Bahia El Idrissi N, Das PK, Fluiter K, Rosa PS, Vreijling J, Troost D, Morgan BP, Baas F, Ramaglia V. M. leprae components induce nerve damage by complement activation: identification of lipoarabinomannan as the dominant complement activator. Acta Neuropathol. 2015 Mar 15. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/m-leprae-components-induce-nerve-damage-complement-activation-identification

Betty L, Aurore D, Dorothée G, Laurent M, Claire D, Alexis D. Skin innervation: important roles during normal and pathological cutaneous repair. Histol Histopathol. 2015 Mar 23:11610. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/skin-innervation-important-roles-during-normal-and-pathological-cutaneous-repair

Blok DJ, de Vlas SJ, Fischer EA, Richardus JH. Mathematical Modelling of Leprosy and Its Control. Adv Parasitol. 2015 Mar;87:33-51. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/mathematical-modelling-leprosy-and-its-control

de Lima Silveira E, de Sousa JR, de Sousa Aarão TL, Fuzii HT, Dias Junior LB, Carneiro FR, Quaresma JA. New immunologic pathways in the pathogenesis of leprosy: Role for Th22 cytokines in the polar forms of the disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Apr;72(4):729-30. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/new-immunologic-pathways-pathogenesis-leprosy-role-th22-cytokines-polar-forms-disease

Donoghue HD, Spigelman M, O'Grady J, Szikossy I, Pap I, Lee OY, Wu HH, Besra GS, Minnikin DE. Ancient DNA analysis - An established technique in charting the evolution of tuberculosis and leprosy. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2015 Feb 13. pii: S1472-9792(15)00021-9. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/ancient-dna-analysis-established-technique-charting-evolution-tuberculosis-and-leprosy

Horta-Baas G, Hernández-Cabrera MF, Barile-Fabris LA, Del S Romero-Figueroa M, Arenas-Guzmán R. Multibacillary leprosy mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus:
case report and literature review. Lupus. 2015 Mar 10. pii: 0961203315574557. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/multibacillary-leprosy-mimicking-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-case-report-and-literature

Hasanoor Raja AH, Biswas N, Biswas S, Lavania M, Chaitanya VS, Banerjee S, Maha Patra P, Gupta U, Patra P, Sengupta U, Bhattacharya B. Report of rpoB mutation in clinically suspected cases of drug resistant leprosy: A study from Eastern India. IJDVL 2015; 81(2):155-161. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/report-rpob-mutation-clinically-suspected-cases-drug-resistant-leprosy-study-eastern-india

Ibrahim F, Thio TH, Faisal T, Neuman M. The Application of Biomedical Engineering Techniques to the Diagnosis and Management of Tropical Diseases: A Review. Sensors (Basel). 2015 Mar 23;15(3):6947-6995. Review. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/skin-innervation-important-roles-during-normal-and-pathological-cutaneous-repair

Kanthraj GR. Patient-assisted teledermatology practice: What is it? When, where, and how it is applied? Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2015 Mar-Apr;81(2):136-43. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/patient-assisted-teledermatology-practice-what-it-when-where-and-how-it-applied

Kumar A, Girdhar A, Chakma JK, Girdhar BK. WHO Multidrug Therapy for Leprosy: Epidemiology of Default in Treatment in Agra District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:705804. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/who-multidrug-therapy-leprosy-epidemiology-default-treatment-agra-district-uttar-pradesh?aresult=0

Lima EO, de Macedo CS, Esteves CZ, de Oliveira DN, Pessolani MC, Nery JA, Sarno EN, Catharino RR. Skin imprinting in silica plates: a potential diagnostic methodology for leprosy using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Anal Chem. 2015 Mar 18. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/skin-imprinting-silica-plates-potential-diagnostic-methodology-leprosy-using-high

Nandi SK, Chakraborty A, Panda AK, Sinha Ray S, Kar RK, Bhunia A, Biswas A. Interaction of ATP with a Small Heat Shock Protein from Mycobacterium leprae: Effect on Its Structure and Function. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Mar ;9(3):e0003661.
Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/interaction-atp-small-heat-shock-protein-mycobacterium-leprae-effect-its-structure-and

Pechalrieu D, Lopez M. Compounds for use in the treatment of mycobacterial infections: a patent evaluation (WO2014049107A1). Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2015 Mar 10:1-7. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/compounds-use-treatment-mycobacterial-infections-patent-evaluation-wo2014049107a1

Peters RMH, Hofker ME, Van Brakel W, Zweekhorst MBM, Seda FSSE, Irwanto I, Bunders JFG. Narratives Around Concealment and Agency for Stigma-reduction: A study of Women affected by Leprosy in Cirebon District, Indonesia. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development. 2014;25(4):5-21 Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/narratives-around-concealment-and-agency-stigma-reduction-study-women-affected-leprosy

Richardus RA, Butlin CR, Alam K, Kundu K, Geluk A, Richardus JH. Clinical manifestations of leprosy after BCG vaccination: An observational study in Bangladesh. Vaccine. 2015 Feb 18. pii: S0264-410X(15)00183-8. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/clinical-manifestations-leprosy-after-bcg-vaccination-observational-study-bangladesh

Santos VS, Santos de Matos AM, Alves de Oliveira LS, Dolce de Lemos LM, Gurgel RQ, Reis FP, Tavares de Gois Santos V, Feitosa VL. Clinical variables associated with disability in leprosy cases in northeast Brazil. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2015 Mar 15;9(3):232-8. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/clinical-variables-associated-leprosy-reactions-and-persistence-physical-impairment

Sardesai VR. Leprosy elimination: A myth or reality. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice. 2015;6(2):137. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/leprosy-elimination-myth-or-reality

Silva LM, Hirai KE, de Sousa JR, de Souza J, Fuzii HT, Dias LB Jr, Carneiro FR, de Souza Aarão TL, Quaresma JA. Immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of cellular transcription NFκB (p65), AP-1 (c-Fos and c-Jun), and JAK/STAT in leprosy. Hum Pathol. 2015 Feb 12. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/immunohistochemical-analysis-expression-cellular-transcription-factors-nf-b-p65-ap-1c-fos

Singh RK, Bhasin R, Bisht Y S, Kumar K. Endocrine dysfunction in patients of leprosy. Indian J Endocr Metab 2015;19:369-72. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/endocrine-dysfunction-patients-leprosy

Singh P, Benjak A, Schuenemann VJ, Herbig A, Avanzi C, Busso P. Insight into the evolution and origin of leprosy bacilli from the genome sequence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis. 2015; 201421504. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/insight-evolution-and-origin-leprosy-bacilli-genome-sequence-mycobacterium-lepromatosis

Manish Singhal, Rupnarayan Bhattacharya, Shilpi Jain. Dynamic temporalis muscle transfer revisited – a Technique for correction of lagopthalmos in leprosy patients. International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology. March 2015; 14(2): 344-347. Free full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/dynamic-temporalis-muscle-transfer-revisited-technique-correction-lagopthalmos-leprosy

Tang SF, Chen CP, Lin SC, Wu CK, Chen CK, Cheng SP. Reduction of plantar pressures in leprosy patients by using custom made shoes and total contact insoles. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2015 Feb;129 Suppl 1:S12-5. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/reduction-plantar-pressures-leprosy-patients-using-custom-made-shoes-and-total-contact

Tarique M, Naqvi RA, Santosh KV, Kamal VK, Khanna N, Rao DN. Association of TNF-α-(308(GG)), IL-10(-819(TT)), IL-10(-1082(GG)) and IL-1R1(+1970(CC)) genotypes with the susceptibility and progression of leprosy in North Indian population. Cytokine. 2015 Feb 16;73(1):61-65. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/association-tnf-308gg-il-10-819tt-il-10-1082gg-and-il-1r11970cc-genotypes-susceptibility

Ukwaja KN. Interactions between leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus: More questions than answers. [Internet]. 2015;6(2):135. Free Full text: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/interactions-between-leprosy-and-human-immunodeficiency-virus-more-questions-answers

Vera-Cabrera L, Escalante-Fuentes W, Ocampo-Garza SS, Ocampo-Candiani J, Molina-Torres CA, Avanzi C, Benjak A, Busso P, Singh P, Cole ST. Mycobacterium lepromatosis Infections in Nuevo León, México. J Clin Microbiol. 2015 Mar 25. Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/mycobacterium-lepromatosis-infections-nuevo-le-n-m-xico

Winahju WS, Mukarromah A, Putri S. Modeling both of the number of pausibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients by using bivariate poisson regression. AIP Conf. Proc. 1651, 147 (2015). Abstract: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/modeling-both-number-pausibacillary-and-multibacillary-leprosy-patients-using-bivariate

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Journals  & Newsletters

Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: http://dcidj.org/

Leprosy Review: http://www.lepra.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/volume-85

Revista de Leprología: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/revista-de-leprologia

WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Newsletter for the elimination of leprosy: http://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/who-goodwill-ambassador-s-newsletter-elimination-leprosy

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Training Videos

LepClips, short films for training in Leprosy by NLR Foundation
English: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3RVWXokkaVoCfrGTD47BelP2cZy_M_IN

Hindi: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3RVWXokkaVrKjqFN0l3arwKWLGTJUDFR

Leprosy Self Care Group in Indonesia video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_WvtTXdUVg&feature=youtu.be

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Other Information

You might also be interested in The Leprosy Mailing List (LML, editorlml@gmail.com)), a free moderated email list that allows all persons interested in this theme to share ideas, information, experiences, questions. http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.nl/  

 

Jiske Erlings

Medewerker InfoLep / Information Officer

Infolep Leprosy Information Services

Postbus / P.O. Box 95005 1090 HA Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 5950530 Mob: - Email: J.Erlings@Leprastichting.NL Web: www.leprosy-information.org

 

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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(LML) Lepr Rev (2015) 86, LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reply to Role of Contact tracing and prevention Strategies in the interruption of leprosy transmission - Chemoprophylaxis: a call for more research

Leprosy Mailing List – March 27,  2015

Ref.:  (LML)   Lepr Rev (2015) 86, LETTER TO THE EDITOR,   

Reply to Role of Contact tracing and prevention Strategies in the interruption of leprosy transmission - Chemoprophylaxis: a call for more research

From:  Diana Lockwood, P Krishnamurthy, Vijay Pannikar, Gerson Penna

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Dear Pieter,

 

 

We have the attached letter discussing the need for more evidence to support the policy of chemoprophylaxis coming out in Leprosy Review this month. Since there is an important IAL conference in Hyderabad we thought that it would be useful to have this letter available for people to read before the meeting. Paul Saunderson is happy for this letter to be published in LML ahead of publication in Leprosy Review.

 

Best wishes,

 

 

Diana Lockwood

 

<MS 1969>

Lepr Rev (2015) 86, LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reply to Role of Contact tracing and prevention Strategies in the interruption of leprosy transmission - Chemoprophylaxis: a call for more research

 

We would like to thank Cairns Smith and Ann Aerts for writing such a comprehensive review on the challenges and research priorities of contact tracing and prevention strategies.¹ They have covered many facets of case detection in detail.

 

We would like to amplify the following points:

We agree that early case detection is critical. However contact screening is only part of this and many newly diagnosed cases are not related to known cases. Contact screening is actually often difficult to do in practice; it raises ethical problems because patients have to disclose their diagnosis. There can also be problems with students or migrant workers who do not want to disclose their diagnosis to their colleagues or house sharers and we have experienced this in locations including London. Thirdly, women may be disadvantaged when disclosing their diagnosis. In India many patients give false addresses or mobile numbers to avoid being traced.

 

Contact Screening involves examining many potential skin lesions in healthy people and so a range of other skin lesions will be detected as well as potential early leprosy cases. It is vital to involve dermatologists to draw on their expertise in evaluating a range of lesions. Contact screening also requires increased personnel who are able to recognise the early signs of leprosy. Early leprosy is often difficult to diagnose and patients may require periods of observation to monitor lesions. There may also be a need to support investment into histopathology services to look at biopsies of patients with early leprosy.

 

Stronger scientific evidence is needed for the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis. The main study is the COLEP study in Bangladesh.² In this study 21711 contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients were randomised to receive single dose Rifampicin (SDR) or placebo. SDR did not give household contacts significant protection against developing leprosy, (OR 0.46 (0.15-1.38) p 0.1652) it only protected neighbours of neighbours OR 0.24 ( 0.11-0.52). SDR did not protect against the development of MB leprosy (0.52 0.22-1/19) p 0.1201, however it did protect against the development of PB (0.38 (0.16-0.87) p 0.0218 and single lesion leprosy (0.42 (0.20-0.89). Protection was only for two years. These findings are consistent with SDR treatment having a weak effect against a low mycobacterial load, hence the protection only against the development of PB leprosy.  

 

These data indicate the usefulness of chemoprophylaxis but they also indicate the need for further scientific studies, high quality research studies in other settings are needed. This study suggests that a single dose gives only some protection against leprosy and it is vital that other studies are done to test other regimens. There are also ethical consequences because it is incorrect to tell household contacts of leprosy patients that they will be protected against leprosy by taking a single dose of Rifampicin.

 

A similar study on chemoprophylaxis was done in India with a similar design to COLEP and covered seven sites in South India and also two in Jharkhand and Bihar. It was difficult to recruit the required sample size (about 5000 subjects needed in each arm), and only 5000 were recruited. The population was reviewed three times in 6 years in follow-up surveys. The results were similar to COLEP with SDR giving about 50% efficacy and the effect lasting only 2 years. The Principal investigator was Dr. Vijaykumaran and it would be useful for this negative study to be published. A further under-powered study was done in Thailand which has not been published. Currently The Government of India Leprosy programme does not recommend the use of chemoprophylaxis.

 

Smith and Aerts note that pilot studies are being done on aspects of chemoprophylaxis but pilot studies are not comparable with scientific studies, they can generate useful data but can give misleading results. A good example of this was the report suggesting that Prednisolone treatment was a highly efficacious in preventing TIR, these data were taken from an observational study³ and the later formal randomised controlled trial did not show benefit for giving all MB patients prednisolone 20mg with their MDT.⁴

 

It is critical that key policies are supported by strong scientific evidence. Other aspects of leprosy treatment such as the treatment of nerve damage and ENL have suffered from there being too few high quality trials.⁵  

 

It is also important to assess the cost effectiveness of giving chemoprophylaxis and data relating to all the costs of giving chemoprophylaxis should be analysed to inform policy decisions.

 

We also note the acronym post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a misnomer because it implies that a recently acquired infection is being treated whereas there is a long gap between infection and the development of disease. PEP is used when there is a recent possible infection such as rabies from a dog bite or exposure to HIV after a risky event.

 

We are very supportive of new initiatives in leprosy but it is critical that they are supported by the generation of high quality evidence to support the strategy. This would include studies such as testing the effect of multiple doses of chemoprophylaxis.

 

Diana NJ Lockwood, Professor of Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Diana.Lockwood @lshtm.ac.uk

P Krishnamurthy, Director, The Damien Foundation Chennai, India; pkmurthy50@gmail.com

Dr Vijay Pannikar, Ex-director WHO Leprosy Unit; pannikarv@gmail.com

Prof Gerson Penna, Tropical Medicine Unit, University of Brasilia, Brazil; gpenna@gpenna.net

 

References

1.         Smith WC, Aerts A. Role of contact tracing and prevention strategies in the interruption of leprosy transmission. Lepr Rev 2014; 85: 2―17.

2.         Moet FJ, Pahan D, Oskam L, Richardus JH. Effectiveness of single dose rifampicin in preventing leprosy in close contacts of patients with newly diagnosed leprosy: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2008; 336(7647): 761―764.

3.         Croft RP, Nicholls P, Anderson AM, et al. Effect of prophylactic corticosteroids on the incidence of reactions in newly diagnosed multibacillary leprosy patients. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis 1999; 67: 75―77.

4.         Smith WC, Anderson AM, Withington SG, et al. Steroid prophylaxis for prevention of nerve function impairment in leprosy: randomised placebo controlled trial (TRIPOD 1). BMJ 2004; 328(7454): 1459.

5.         Van Veen NH, Nicholls PG, Smith WC, Richardus JH. Corticosteroids for treating nerve damage in leprosy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007(2): CD005491.

 

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Diana Lockwood
Professor of Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Keppel St
London WC1E 7HT
diana.lockwood@lshtm.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7927 2457
Fax: 020 7637 4314

visit my blog http://dnjtravels.blogspot.co.uk/ 

 

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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(LML) WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record Survey - request for participants

 

Leprosy Mailing List – March 22,  2015

Ref.:   (LML)  WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record Survey – request for participants

From:  Jiske Erlings, NLR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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Dear Pieter,

The LML readers might want to participate in this Weekly Epidemiological Record survey.

Greetings,


Jiske Erlings

Medewerker InfoLep / Information Officer
Infolep Leprosy Information Services

Postbus / P.O. Box 95005
1090 HA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel:    +31 20 5950530
Mob:    -
Email:  mailto:J.Erlings@Leprastichting.NL
Web:    http://www.leprosy-information.org

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-----Original Message-----
From: WHO Epidemiological Bulletin [mailto:WER-REH@listserv.who.int] On Behalf Of werreh
Sent: vrijdag 20 maart 2015 10:54
To: WER-REH@listserv.who.int
Subject: World Health Organization - Weekly Epidemiological Record

Weekly Epidemiological Record Bulletin
Full Issues available at: http://www.who.int/wer

Contents of this issue:

--------------------
Online survey on the modernization of the WER

Dear WER readers and contributors,
The Weekly Epidemiological Record is currently going through a change process and we would like your inputs to improve this historical publication.
Please take 5 minute to fill this survey and let us know what you think of the proposed changes. Your comments and suggestions will be carefully considered.
The WER team

http://www.who.int/wer/survey/en/

Sondage concernant la modernisation du REH

Chers lecteurs et contributeurs du REH,
Le Relevé épidémiologique hebdomadaire (REH) est entré dans un processus de modernisation et nous souhaiterions solliciter votre contribution pour l'amélioration de cette publication historique.
Nous vous serions reconnaissants de prendre les 5 minutes nécessaires pour répondre au questionnaire ci-dessous et ainsi nous faire part de vos impressions sur les changements proposés. Vos commentaires et suggestions seront hautement pris en considération.
En vous remerciant,
L'équipe du REH

http://www.who.int/wer/survey/en/

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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(LML) WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Newsletter No.72, February 2015 Issue

Leprosy Mailing List – March 14,  2015

Ref.:   (LML) WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Newsletter No.72, February 2015 Issue

From:  Hiroe Soyagimi, SMHF, Tokyo, Japan

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Dear Dr Schreuder and Friends,

 

 

Warm greetings from Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation in Tokyo. We have uploaded our latest edition of "WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Newsletter No.72, February 2015 Issue" to our website. 

 

Please visit http://www.smhf.or.jp/e/ambassador/index.html to obtain electronic version of this issue. 

 

In this issue we feature articles about ...

 

Message : Make World Leprosy Day a U.N. Day

 

Global Appeal 2015 : 

  From Tokyo to the World-Nurses back annual call for an end to leprosy-related discrimination.

 

  ‘We Reflected on This History’-Prime minister, other speakers call attention to the negative impact of discrimination.

 

  "Why Leprosy Now?-International symposium looks at some of the issues surrounding leprosy today.

       -‘IDENTIFY STRENGTHS, ENHANCE RESILIENCE’"

 

  A Meeting with Their Majesties-People affected by leprosy receive an invitation to visit Japan’s imperial couple.

 

"Reflecting on Leprosy’s Literary Heritage-Talk event recalls Tamio Hojo, youthful author of Life’s First Night.

       -FROM LIFE’S FIRST NIGHT"

 

  Turning a Lens on Leprosy-Photo exhibition depicts the lives of people affected by leprosy around the world.

 

  "Think Leprosy Now-Social media campaign builds awareness of leprosy in Japan and overseas.

       -FROM ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU"

 

Ambassador’s Journal :  Partnering for Progress-The launch of Global Appeal 2015, a visit to the Imperial Palace and visits by key partners make January a busy month for the Goodwill Ambassador in Tokyo.

 

News : Women and Leprosy-Girls and women affected by leprosy face “triple jeopardy,” says new report.

 

From the Editors : BOUNDLESS DETERMINATION

 

We hope you enjoy our latest Newsletter!

 

 

Hiroe Soyagimi

Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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(LML) NYTimes Feb. 16. 2015: Research Finds a Reason Leprosy Has Persisted

Leprosy Mailing List – March 4,  2015

Ref.:    (LML) NYTimes Feb. 16. 2015: Research Finds a Reason Leprosy Has Persisted 

From:  Ben Naafs, the Netherlands

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Dear Pieter,

I read professor Indropo’s information with interest (LML, March 3, 2015).

As far as I know a positive PCR for DNA does not mean that the bacilli are alive. When infected people are bathing, they will leave a lot of DNA behind. I would like to know if it can be proven that M. leprae at the roots of the plants are alive, similar in the amoebae. Possibly then you have to go to RNA.

Can anyone comment on this?

With regards,

Ben

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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(LML) NYTimes Feb. 16. 2015: Research Finds a Reason Leprosy Has Persisted

 

Leprosy Mailing List – March 3, 2015

Ref.:    (LML) NYTimes Feb. 16. 2015: Research Finds a Reason Leprosy Has Persisted

From:  PKD Das, Birmingham, UK and Indropo Agusni, Surabaya, Indonesia

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Dear Prof.  Agusni,

 

Thank you for your interesting letter (LML, February 21, 2015).

With due respect, it is problematic to understand why M.leprae will be alive at the high temperature of the bath in such a large quantity. Further, despite the fact that PCR method as fashionable method for proving that the organism is M.leprae, I, as an old fashioned person, was not that convinced. But I take your word for it.

Wish you all the success.

Kind regards, PKD

 

Dear Prof. Das,

 

Thanks for your comments. I was also having the same opinion before, but after so many years of MDT conducted with good supervision all the sources of infection should have been eradicated and no new leprosy cases should appear anymore. However, the fact is that new leprosy cases are still found and the numbers are not decreasing. Therefore, we came to an assumption that probably there could be "non-human sources of M.leprae". The size of amoeba is almost similar to that of a macrophage. It could be possible that the intra-cellular environment is also similar that makes the M.leprae survive. From literature study it is mentioned that some mycobacteria survive in some protozoa’s. These observations need more investigations of course. It could be that by improving the environment that the non-human source of M.leprae will be reduced.

Indropo Agusni.     

 

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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(LML) IAL Midterm Leprosy conference, Hyderabad, April 11th and 12th 2015

Leprosy Mailing List – March 3, 2015

Ref.:  (LML)   IAL Midterm Leprosy conference, Hyderabad, April 11^th and 12^th 2015

From:  P. Narasimha Rao and Sujai Suneetha, Hyderabad, India

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Dear Pieter, 

 

I request you to post the below given info is posted in our LML, if possible. 

 

Dear colleagues,

 

I am happy to inform you that ‘IAL Midterm Leprosy conference’ is being held at Hyderabad on April 11^th and 12^th   2015. The venue is Gandhi medical college, Hyderabad, India. The theme of the conference is 'New challenges and strategies in changing scenario of leprosy', 

As you are all aware, the clinical and laboratory skills in leprosy are fast disappearing, one of the reason being the reduced emphasis on lab services and special leprosy clinics. With this in mind,  the organizers  have planned a CME  and workshop  demonstration  on the 11^th covering key aspects of  classical and new techniques like  Skin smear, skin biopsy, NFI testing, ultrasonography of peripheral nerves etc. On the second day, important issues relevant to post elimination phase of leprosy would be discussed.

Both Indian and International leprologists of repute have agreed to take part in this meet.  The sessions, with their participation, of will be informative to all those leprosy workers   who like to get updated in leprosy, especially so to the post graduates students.   We extend our sincere invitation to you to attend the conference. 

 

The detailed information regarding the  venue, conference and abstract submission is  available at www.ialmidtermconf.com.   For any other information,  you can contact us  by email at:  ialmidtermconf@gmail.com

 

With best regards,

P Narasimha Rao & Sujai Suneetha

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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