LDH isoenzyme as a tool for the identification of mycobacteria.

Using Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic technique, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme patterns have been studied in four slow growing mycobacteria viz. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. avium, M.

A double-blind controlled clinical trial to assess the role of anti-histamines in the treatment of multi-bacillary leprosy.

A double blind controlled clinical trial to assess the role of anti-histamines as a supplement in the treatment of leprosy was conducted in multi-bacillary cases of leprosy. In all, 120 patients with lepromatous or borderline leprosy were randomly allocated to a regimen of clofazimine and dapsone for 12 months with or without a supplement of pheniramine maleate for the first 3 months. During the 12-month period, 92% of the patients who received the supplement and 86% of the patients who had not received it had moderate or marked clinical improvement.

Filamentous phase in life cycle of M. leprae(?): a preliminary communication.

Certain structures which indicate probable involvement of a filamentous phase in life cycle of M. leprae have been noted in preserved skin biopsy suspensions from lepromatous leprosy cases. These include (i) filaments with empty or pink round spaces within them (ii) conidia-like structures and (iii) membranes with acid fast bacilli.

Bacterial flora of ulcers treated by three types of dressings.

Effect of three types of dressings on bacterial flora in ulcers is presented. Debrisan seemed to be more effective than Zinc tape and collagen sheet in reducing the number of bacterial pathogens.

Healing time in untreated paucibacillary leprosy: a cross-sectional study.

The healing time of leprosy lesions in 117 paucibacillary (PB) cases who took no antileprosy treatment was estimated to be 2.03 +/- 0.10 (mean +/- S.

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in leprosy patients on multi drug therapy--a preliminary report.

Serum LDH (total) and LDH isoenzymes were studied in leprosy patients undergoing multidrug treatment. Serum LDH (total) did not show any significant difference between normal human subjects and patients but LDH isoenzymes have shown elevated levels in LDH4 and LDH5 in leprosy patients. The M/H ratios were high in leprosy patients and they exhibited a further rise in patients on treatment.

Diagnostic value of cardinal signs/symptoms in paucibacillary leprosy.

With the help of sensitivity and specificity criteria, an attempt is made to quantify the gain in certainty in diagnosis with the use of various cardinal signs/symptoms (S/s) of leprosy in order to study their predictive value in correct diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy (PB) by the Paramedical Workers. The study was based on the findings in 326 new cases of paucibacillary leprosy detected by 10 paramedical workers during a recent field survey. Observations in the present study confirm the scientific basis of presently used combinations of cardinal S/s for correct diagnosis of leprosy especially the combination of (skin) patch with loss/impairment of sensation.

Microbiological assay versus spectrophotometry for determination of rifampicin in urine.

A comparative study on the microbiological and spectrophotometric methods for estimation of rifampicin in urine was carried out in 15 individuals. The urinary levels of rifampicin were determined on 2nd, 8th and 15th days at 3 hour, 6 hour and 24 hour samples by the above methods after administration of 600 mg rifampicin. The results suggest that the microbiological assay is more sensitive than spectrophotometric method.

Auramine staining in detecting small number of bacilli in skin smears.

Auramine staining has been compared with Ziehl-Neelsen's staining of M. leprae in skin smear slide. The auramine method was found to be more sensitive than Ziehl-Neelsen's method and may be useful in detecting small number of M.

Restoration of plantar sweat secretion in the feet of leprosy patients.

As part of the studies on nerve damage and its consequences in leprosy, the status of sweat gland function in the anaesthetic sole of the feet of leprosy patients was investigated qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, before and after surgical decompression of the posterior tibial neurovascular bundle. Sweat prints of the feet of the patients were obtained pre-operatively and postoperatively on Whatman's No. 1 filter paper.

Collagen sheet and its usefulness in healing of ulcers in leprosy patients.

Collagen is a natural tissue present in the body. For healing of any part collagen is essential. Collagen has been made available in the form of sheets for clinical use, by the Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Madras 20.