Group specific component (Gc) in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL).

The distribution of phenotypes of group specific component (Gc) was examined in 71 lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients without any history of ENL reaction and 65 LL patients with history of frequent episodes of ENL reaction. The distribution of none of the phenotypes of Gc (Gc 1-1, Gc 2-1, Gc 2-2) was statistically significant among these groups.

Dermatoglyphics in leprosy: (III) Creases of palm.

Palmar configurations of triradii and creases of 100 leprosy patients [50 lepromatous (BL/LL) and 50 tuberculoid (BT/LL)] were compared with those of 100 normal persons selected from families of these patients. The patterns of position of triradii were similar in controls and leprosy patients as such. But, the patterns in the two types of leprosy patients were different. As for palmar creases patterns, there was significant difference between those of controls and patients, double radial base crease occurring more often in patients. However, the differences between the two types of patients were not statistically significant.

Dermatoglyphics in leprosy (II Metric analysis of palms).

A group of 100 leprosy patients consisting of 50 lepromatous (BL/LL) and 50 tuberculoid (BT/TT) were investigated for metric analysis of the patterns present on their palms. Hundred normal persons were also selected from the families of patients to serve as controls. BT/TT patients and controls did not show any significant difference in their palmar patterns. On the other hand, significant differences were observed in the patterns between BL/LL patients and controls.

Dermatoglyphics in leprosy (I. Finger patterns).

Finger dermatoglyphic patterns were studied in leprosy families selecting patients and controls from each family. A total of 100 leprosy cases (50 of TT/BT types and 50 of BL/LL types) and 100 control subjects were investigated. While a statistically significant association was noted with some finger patterns (loop ulnar, loop radial, loop twin and loop central pocket) in the lepromatous type, no such association was observed with the finger patterns in the tuberculoid type.

Effect of leprosy sera and foetal calf serum (FCS) on the T cell number of peripheral blood of leprosy patients.

Study was conducted in 24 cases of various types of leprosy and 10 healthy controls to find out the effect of various sera on the T cell count of peripheral blood lymphocytes by sheep erythrocyte rosetting method. The percentage of T lymphocytes in lepromatous and tuberculoid cases were significantly lower compared to that in normal healthy controls. All sera except FCS had a stimulatory effect on the number of T cells. The cells incubated for 24 hours in FCS did not show any stimulatory effect on the number of T cells, however, these FCS incubated cells showed a significant elevation in the number of T cells when further incubated in sera either from leprosy cases or from healthy subjects.

In vitro effect of DDS on phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) induced linphocyte transformation

Estudou-se o efeito do DDS, sobre a transformaçao linfocitaria estimulada pela PHA, in vitro, utilisando-se concentraçoes variaveis de DDS. Os linfocitos foram doados por voluntarios, divididos em tres gupos, e o estudo foi desenvolvido em tres fases. Foram empregadas 4 concentraçoes diferentes de DDS para 10 a sexta de linfocitos em cultura de tecidos alem de 0,02 ml de PHA. Foi observada uma diminuiçao estatisticamente significativa (P<0,05) no percentual de formaçao de celulas blasticas induzida pela PHA com todas as concentraçoes de DDS, exceto com a concentraçao mais baixa (0,01 ug de DDS). Enquanto que a diminuiçao observada na primeira e na terceira fases mostrou-se dependente de dose de DDS, na segunda fase nao se encontrou correlaçao significativa entre a concentraçao de DDS e a depressao da blastogenese induzida pela PHA. Discute-se a significancia destas observaçoes.