• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.223-226
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• 2002

Background: The type 2 deviated immunological state is predominant in lepromatous leprosy. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immune-complex mediated reaction that typically occurs in lepromatous leprosy. To date, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, IL-10, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-1 receptor antagonist and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were reported to be higher in lepromatous leprosy. TNF-${\alpha}$ is also known to be higher in ENL, which is reduced after thalidomide treatment. However the serum type 2 chemokine levels in lepromatous leprosy patients have not been reported. Methods: The serum levels of the type 2 chemokines such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and eotaxin together with IL-12 and IL-10 in the sera from leprosy patients were detected using an enzyme-linked solvent assay (ELISA) method. Results: The Serum TARC, MDC, eotaxin, IL-10 and IL-12 levels in lepromatous leprosy patients were not significantly different from the normal control levels. The serum levels were not significantly different between the paucibacillary group and multibacillary group. The serum TARC or MDC levels in the ENL patients were more reduced after a treatment containing thalidomide. Conclusion: The type 2 chemokines are not related to the severity of lepromatous leprosy. The larger reducing effect of the TARC or MDC levels in ENL patients by a treatment containing thalidomide suggests the potential role of these chemokines in the development of ENL and the therapeutic mechanism of thalidomide.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.95-100
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• 1992

Due to the selectivity of the involvement by the M, leprae, the deformities are characteristic ones. It is estimated that from $25\%\;to\;88.4\%$ of the patients with leprosy possess deformities are numerous and often multiple. The chief modalities employed in physical therapy of the leprosy are : Paraffin baths, oil massages, foot baths, exercises, splinting.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.236-240
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• 1996

Rifampin is the most powerful drug for treating leprosy and tuberculosis today. It inhibits initiation and elongation of RNA transcription by binding to $\beta$-subunit of RNA polymerase, leading to kill mycobacteria. We isolated one variant strain of Mycobacterium leprae from 24 Korean leprosy patients who are less susceptible to rifampin or have suffered from relapse by polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) of the rpoB gene. Direct sequencing of the rpoB region of M. leprae variant revealed missense mutations which altered the amino acids sequenceof RpoB to Ser-464, Arg-465, Arg-467 and Ala-468. This is the first finding on rpoB gene mutation of M. leprae from Korean patients ; moreover the mutant type was found to be different from the previously reported cases in other countries.

• 대한간호
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• 제4권4호통권18호
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• pp.37-59
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• 1965

Since the demonstration of Mycoba Abstract terium lepare murium and its recognition as the causative agent of rat leprosy, this intracellular parasite has been an object of unusual interest in connection with the problem of human leprosy. Like the human l

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.287-293
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• 2001

A fast and easy PCR-SSCP method was developed and assessed for the early detection of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium leprae in skin biopsy samples from Korean leprosy patients. The 190 bp of the rpoB gene, in which mutation is known to cause resistance to rifampin, was amplified by PCR and then analyzed by SSCP and DNA sequencing, All PCR products showing mobility shift on PCR-SSCP contained mutations, demonstrating that this method can be used for an early diagnositic method to detect a putative rifampin-resistant M. leprae strain. DNA sequence analysis revealed that 19 of 34 patient samples contained M. leprae strains with missense mutations in the rpoB gene: five were the same mutations previously reported to cause rifampin resistance and eight were the new type of mutatios that likely cause rifampin resistance. These newly identified dmutations, whose all five cytosine bases of four amino acids were substitued with thymine, were found at different sites from those reported in Mycobacterium tuberculosis or M. leprae. Therefore, they may provide additional clues to understand the molecular biological basis on the rifampin resistance of M. leprae.

• 대한미생물학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.323-328
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• 1987

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of inosiplex on the cell-mediated immunity in the patients with lepromatous leprosy. Fourteen patients received inosiplex (6gm/day) for 1 month. About 20% of the patients (3 of 14) showed conversion of the lepromin reaction and bacteriological index was significantly decreased in 3 of 7 patients. However, inosiplex administration had no effect on the lymphocyte blastogenesis to M. leprae. The clinical evolution showed a favorable activity of the drug on cutaneous lesions in some patients. The tolerance of the drug was excellent. No side effects were observed. These results suggest that inosiplex may have a moderate immunopotential value in lepromatous leprosy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.263-272
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• 1986

During the 8 months from October 1985 to May 1986, the survey was performed on 211 leprosy patients over fifty years old, settled in the four villages of Iksan county, North of Chulla province. In that obserbation, we investigated the frequency and the degree of impairments according to sex, age, and anatomical location by the 'guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment'. The noticeable findings were made as follows: 1) Frequency of impairment by anatomical location was significantly higher in hand than eye and foot (p<0.01). 2) Frequency of impairment was significantly increased in eye according as age increase (p<0.01). 3) The degree of impairments of all patients was the highest in hand as 28.7%. 4) By the kinds of impairment, the flextion and the amputation were most common in hand and foot, and loss of central vision was common symptom in eye. 5) The degree of impairments of 211 leprosy patients was shown as 44.1% and increased according as age increase.

• 대한간호
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• 제3권3호통권11호
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• pp.63-67
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• 1964

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.18-27
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• 2011

This study was to investigate the positive effects of specially designed trunk-stabilization exercise program on lower extremity balance of elderly with history of leprosy. In this participants, lower extremity functions has been undermined by the development of damage in peripheral nerves. A total of 40 elderly with history of leprosy were divided into 2 groups of equal size ($n_{1,\;2}=20$): a group that participated in the exercise program, and a control group that did not exercise but did continue to engage in normal daily activities (including walking). The exercise group exercised for 60 minutes 2 days a week for 12 weeks. Static balance ability was measured by asking study participants to a one leg standing test: dynamic balancing ability was measured with a tandem walking test and a timed up-and-go test. The participants in the exercise program and the control group were tested before and after completion of the exercise program for comparison, and then divided according to their ability to feel sensory in the soles of their feet into the categories of normal sensory group: group with sensory loss in one foot: and group with sensory loss in both feet. The participants in the exercise program showed a positive, statistically significant difference in static balance compared with the control group (p<.05) as measured using the one leg standing test. Similarly, the participants in dynamic balance (p<.05) as measured using the tandem walking and timed up-and-go tests. Finally, these improvements were related to the severity of sensory loss in the soles of the feet for all study participants.

• 사회복지연구
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.239-266
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• 2013

이 연구는 여성한센인의 삶을 깊이 이해할 목적으로 수행된 것으로, 생애사 연구방법을 활용하였다. 이를 위해 여성한센인을 심층인터뷰한 결과, '천형과의 만남', '개미 같은 몸에 황소 같은 업보', '잦아드는 촛불'의 주제묶음이 도출되었다. 여성한센인은 발병 후 사회적 편견과 차별로부터 생존을 위해 강제 수용되었으며, 수용시설에서의 비인격적인 대우를 받으며 여성으로서의 결혼, 임신, 육아의 기회를 박탈당하였다. 치료 후에도 몸의 추형에 따른 사회로부터의 상대적 격리를 감수하면서, 피맺힌 서러움을 지닌 채 숨은 듯 살아가고 있었다. 한편으로는 차별과 배제로 일관된 한 많은 일생과 여전히 준비되지 않은 죽음을 바라보며 또 다시 체념하는 불안한 모습도 관찰되었다. 이 연구는 그동안 드러나지 않았던 여성한센인의 삶을 있는 그대로 내부자적 관점에서 드러냄으로서, 그들의 삶에 관한 총체적 이해에 유용한 기초자료가 될 것으로 본다.