COVID-19 and our understanding of vitamin D and immune function.

The interaction between vitamin D and the immune system is perhaps the most well recognised extraskeletal facet of vitamin D, encompassing early studies of therapy for TB and leprosy through to more recent links with autoimmune disease. However, the spotlight on vitamin D and immune function has been particularly intense in the last five years following the COVID-19 pandemic. This was due, in part, to the many association studies of vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection and disease prognosis, as well as the smaller number of clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation.

Enhancing programmatic scale-up: Applying the consolidated framework for implementation research to evaluate decentralized drug-resistant tuberculosis services in Southern Nigeria.

Background: Decentralization of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) services using multilevel interventions was piloted in Akwa-Ibom and Oyo States of Nigeria, which had high rates of pre-treatment loss-to-follow-up in 2021. The varying outcomes of the intervention strategies necessitated understanding what worked well and why. This study aimed to identify enablers and barriers shaping the implementation of decentralized DR-TB services in these states and provide actionable strategies for programmatic scale-up.

A composite subunit vaccine confers full protection against Buruli ulcer disease in the mouse footpad model of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection.

Buruli ulcer (BU) disease, a neglected necrotizing tropical skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the third most common mycobacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy. Infections mostly occur in remote, rural areas of Central and West Africa, but also in Australia, Japan and Papua New Guinea. There is currently no vaccine against Buruli ulcer disease and all previous attempts using closely related bacteria and subunit proteins have been partially successful only.

Insights into leprosy epidemiology from an isolated population located in the Brazilian Amazon.

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused mainly by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), is still an important public health problem in countries such as Brazil and India. Here, we estimate key epidemiological parameters in the Prata Village, a unique, hyper-endemic, former leprosy colony isolated in the Brazilian Amazon.

Discrepancies in neglected tropical diseases burden estimates in China: comparative study of real-world data and Global Burden of Disease 2021 data (2004-2020).

Objectives: To assess the discrepancies between real-world data and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 estimates for six neglected tropical diseases in China. Additionally, to evaluate the applicability of the GBD model within the Chinese context and to assess the effectiveness of China's historical prevention and control policies for neglected tropical diseases.

Design: Comparative study of real-world data and GBD 2021 (2004-2020).

Persistently high TB prevalence in Nairobi County neighbourhoods, 2015-2022.

National and sub-national population-based surveys, when performed at intervals, may assess important changes in TB prevalence. In 2022 we re-surveyed nine Nairobi County neighbourhoods that were previously surveyed in 2015. We aimed to determine pulmonary TB prevalence, compare prevalence to 2015 estimates, and evaluate changes in risk groups.

A community based, bottom-up, multi-pronged, technology integrated approach to enhance tuberculosis related awareness and treatment adherence in Uganda: The ACTS model.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public health challenge globally and Uganda is one among the top 30 high TB burden countries. One of the key factors determining TB treatment success rates and thereby Cure Rates is the adherence to TB treatment, which is still a major challenge globally. WHO DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short course) strategy has several limitations and WHO End TB Strategy 2017 suggests a suite of new interventions to improve adherence.

Identification of CβS and ODC antimony resistance markers in anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis field isolates by gene expression profiling.

Antiparasitic resistance represents a serious global public health concern with tremendous economic and safety implications. This study intended to investigate the expression of the two major resistant markers: cystathionine β synthase (CβS) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in antimony unresponsive isolates compared to responsive ones. Twenty-six patients were randomly selected from widely known foci of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeastern Iran.

Influence of Cytokine-Related genetic variants in TNF, IL6, IL1β, and IFNγ genes in the thalidomide treatment for Erythema nodosum leprosum in a Brazilian population sample.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), an inflammatory reaction in leprosy, causes painful nodules, fever, and malaise due to immune system activation. Thalidomide is an effective treatment, although associated with important adverse effects. We aimed to evaluate the association of genetic variants in genes encoding tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with the response to treatment of ENL with thalidomide.

An LNP-mRNA vaccine modulates innate cell trafficking and promotes polyfunctional Th1 CD4 T cell responses to enhance BCG-induced protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains the largest infectious cause of mortality worldwide, even with over a century of widespread administration of the only licenced tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). mRNA technology remains an underexplored approach for combating chronic bacterial infections such as TB.

Methods: We have developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mRNA vaccine, termed mRNA, encoding for the M.

A Multicenter evaluation of leprosy rapid test Fast ML Flow Hanseníase in Brazil.

Purpose: Leprosy represents a public health concern; its diagnosis remains clinical. Recently, the Brazilian public health system/SUS incorporated the leprosy-specific IgM anti-PGL-I rapid test Fast ML Flow Hanseníase (MLFH/Bioclin, Brazil; originally ML Flow) to aid leprosy contacts surveillance and diagnosis. Anti-PGL-I antibody levels correlate with bacterial load.

A dermatologic view on claws and nails in fine arts.

Claws and nails belong to the epidermal skin appendages, with nails developing later than claws during primate development. Both have also been depicted in fine arts. Claws can be found in illustrations of the cavemen and the devil.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamics of Clofazimine Nano-in-Microparticles: Enhanced Brain Delivery and CNS Tuberculosis Amelioration via Intranasal Administration.

(Mtb) demonstrates a proclivity for infecting extrapulmonary sites, notably the brain. Treating these extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) manifestations is challenging due to the difficulty of drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Clofazimine (CLF) has exhibited promising activity against Mtb, including multidrug-resistant variants, in vitro and in preclinical animal models.

Plasma irisin levels in newly diagnosed leprosy patients: a case-control study.

Leprosy is a granulomatous disease affecting the skin, mucous membrane, and peripheral nerves. Irisin, a novel protein, has been associated with several inflammatory and metabolic diseases and has been demonstrated in peripheral nerve cells. The objective of this study was to compare the plasma irisin levels of newly diagnosed leprosy patients with those of healthy individuals while also assessing the role of irisin in the pathogenesis of leprosy.

Lucio phenomenon: a case report on an overlooked reaction in lepromatous leprosy.

Our patient presented with a 5-year history of chronic, asymptomatic papulonodular lesions on the extremities. The lesions spread to the face and earlobes, with new ulcerative lesions on both legs for the past 8 months. Skin biopsy was compatible with lepromatous leprosy with Lucio phenomenon.

Health-related quality of life implications of plantar ulcers resulting from neuropathic damage caused by leprosy: An analysis from the trial of autologous blood products (TABLE trial) in Nepal.

Introduction: Leprosy is a curable disease, treated by multidrug therapy. However, patients are often left with neuropathic damage leading to lifelong vulnerability to ulcers. Quantifying the value of interventions to improve ulcer healing is challenging as data on the health impact of plantar ulcers are scarce, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of clofazimine in children with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.

Background: Paediatric pharmacokinetic and safety data for clofazimine are limited. We described the pharmacokinetics and safety of clofazimine in South African children treated for multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB).

Methods: Children <18 years being routinely treated for MDR/RR-TB were eligible for study participation.

A rapid and sensitive extraction-free HiFi-LAMP assay for detecting Mycobacterium leprae.

Background: Timely and accurate detection of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is crucial for efficient treatment and early intervention of leprosy, which requires a simple and rapid extraction-free assay.

Methods: A HiFi-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for detection of M.

Histopathological Insights into Granulomatous Lesions: A Comprehensive Study.

Background: Granulomatous inflammation is a persistent inflammatory reaction marked by the presence of aggregations of active histiocytes, epithelioid cells, and multinucleate giant cells. This phenomenon is reported in several viral and non-infectious diseases and is classified as a type IV delayed hypersensitivity response.

Research Materials And Procedures: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the histopathology section of the Department of Pathology, MMIMSR, Mullana, from October 2022 to October 2023.

Comparative Analysis of Antifungal Susceptibility in Trichophyton Species Using Broth Microdilution Assay: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Dermatophyte infections, predominantly caused by  species, are a global health concern, particularly in tropical regions. The rising prevalence of resistant strains, due to the misuse of antifungal agents, necessitates robust antifungal susceptibility testing. This study aimed to evaluate antifungal susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates using the broth microdilution (BMD) assay to guide treatment strategies effectively.

Cutaneous Side Effects of PD-1 Inhibitors: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) opened a new era in cancer immunotherapy. In particular, PD-1 inhibitors have shown remarkable efficacy in various cancers, most notably melanoma. However, the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors comes with the challenge of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), with cutaneous toxicities being the most prevalent.