Unveiling the role of NK cells, NKT-like cells, and γδ cells in pathogenesis of type 1 reactions in leprosy.

Leprosy is a disease with spectral clinical manifestations along with two types of reactions, type 1 reaction (T1R) and type 2 reaction (T2R). T1R especially occurs because of the defensive upgradation of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to antigens. T1R is the main cause of disability in leprosy.

Association of CC-chemokine ligand-2 gene polymorphisms with leprosy reactions.

Background: C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, a gene that codes for a protein involved in inflammation. Certain SNPs in the CCL2 gene have been studied for their potential associations with susceptibility to various diseases. These SNPs may affect the production and function of the CCL2 protein, which is involved in the recruitment of immune cells to the site of inflammation.

Exploring the Cell Wall and Secretory Proteins of as Biomarkers.

The bacterial cell wall is composed of a wide variety of intricate proteins in addition to lipids, glycolipids, and polymers. Given the diversity of cell wall proteins among bacterial species, they are a feasible target for biomarker identification and characterization in clinical research and diagnosis of the disease. The slow growth rate of poses a major hurdle in the accurate diagnosis of leprosy before the onset of peripheral neuropathy.

Analysis of socioeconomic condition and bacillary index with respect to the development of Hansen's disease.

Background: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis and mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Although treatable, its early intervention can significantly reduce the occurrence of disability. India accounts for more than half of new cases globally.

Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of the Breast.

Lymphoepithelial malignancy is an extremely rare carcinoma of the breast characterized by a confusing histopathological picture resembling medullary carcinomas, lymphoma, etc. It has also been reported in other regions of the body like salivary glands, nasopharyngeal area and sometimes the lung. Due to its rare presence and difficult diagnosis, the treatment is often prolonged and delayed.

An evidence and reasoning based differential diagnosis of a case of leprosy reinfection from reaction and relapse.

Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) and is unique in terms of the chronicity of the disease and its prolonged treatment protocol. Even after the introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT) by World health organization (WHO), large numbers of new cases (nearly 200,000) of leprosy are reported yearly, indicating active transmission, especially in developing countries.

Molecular detection of using RLEP-PCR in post elimination era of leprosy.

Leprosy is considered as a contagious disease and is still a health problem in several countries including India. Diagnosis of leprosy is based either on clinical findings or on acid fast bacilli staining. Due to low sensitivity of acid fast bacilli staining most of the leprosy cases were remained undetected.

Dominant marker (inter-simple sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction) versus codominant marker (RLEP-polymerase chain reaction) for laboratory diagnosis of leprosy: A comparative evaluation.

Background: Leprosy is a contagious disease and was eliminated globally in 2002. Since then, new cases were continuously detected from different parts of the world. Untreated leprosy cases shed millions of bacteria and are the main cause of dissemination of the disease.

Multiple strain infection of Mycobacterium leprae in a family having 4 patients: A study employing short tandem repeats.

Background: Leprosy is a slow, chronic disorder caused by Mycobacterium leprae. India has achieved elimination of leprosy in December 2005 but new cases are being detected and continue to occur in some endemic pockets. The possible ways of transmission of leprosy is not fully understood and is believed that leprosy is transmitted from person to person in long term contact.

Notch signaling induces lymphoproliferation, T helper cell activation and Th1/Th2 differentiation in leprosy.

The present study evaluates role of Notch1 signaling in the regulation of T cell immunity in leprosy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leprosy patients and healthy controls were activated with Mycobacterium leprae antigens along with activation of Notch1 signaling pathway and then lymphoproliferation was analyzed by lymphocytes transformation test and the expression of Notch1 and its ligands DLL1, Jagged1 and Jagged 2, T cell activation marker and Th1-Th2 cytokines on Th cells in PBMCs of study subjects were analyzed by flow cytometry. Further, these parameters were also analyzed after inhibition of Notch1 signaling pathway.

Association of Nitric Oxide Synthase2 gene polymorphisms with leprosy reactions in northern Indian population.

The pathogen Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy that affects mainly skin and nerves. Polymorphisms of certain genes are substantiated to be associated with the susceptibility/resistance to leprosy. The present investigation addressed the association of Nitric Oxide Synthase2 gene polymorphisms and leprosy in a population from northern part of India.