Molecular detection of Mycobacterium leprae using RLEP-LAMP and restriction enzyme to ensure amplification specificity.

Early and accurate diagnosis of leprosy is important but remains a significant challenge till date. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an isothermal process for amplification of nucleic acids at constant temperature and has been used to develop field-friendly tests for many diseases. In the present study, we have described the development of a colorimetric LAMP assay targeting Mycobacterium leprae-specific 450 bp conserved region of the repeat sequences known as RLEP.

Out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditure among patients of sexually transmitted infections at a tertiary care center: A cross-sectional study.

Context: Economic burden imposed by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is substantial in low-middle-income countries like India, in spite of the fact that national programs for controlling STIs are operational.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the out-of-pocket expenses and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) incurred by patients of STIs and analyze expenditure pattern in relation to various clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Settings And Design: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study among patients attending Suraksha Clinic.

Association of pruritus with sleep in patients with psoriasis and chronic spontaneous urticaria: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Pruritus is a frequent complaint associated with various inflammatory dermatoses. Sleep is often disturbed because of pruritus but the impact of severity and diurnal pattern of pruritus has not been studied so far.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of nocturnal itch (NI) and its association with itch severity, sleep disturbance and quality of life (QoL) compared with non-NI in chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP) and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).