Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in leprosy.

Activity of the enzyme-gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) was measured in sera of 20 patients each of paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy and 20 healthy controls. None of the subjects had any systemic or hepatic disease and none had taken any hepatotoxic or antileprotic drugs in the past 3 months. Mean values in the paucibacillary group (38.62 +/- 1.99 U/L) and in the multibacillary group (59.04 +/- 3.13 U/L) were significantly higher compared to that in controls (32.04 +/- 0.66 U/L). Mean value in the multibacillary group was also significantly higher compared to that in the paucibacillary group.

Serum beta-glucuronidase in subtypes of leprosy.

Serum beta-glucuronidase activity was estimated using phenolphthalein mono-beta-glucuronic acid as substrate in 176 individuals including 72 lepromatous leprosy patients, 24 patients of borderline leprosy, 42 of borderline tuberculoid and 38 healthy controls. Of these, 35 patients (20 with lepromatous leprosy, 5 with borderline leprosy and 10 with borderline tuberculoid) were untreated. The enzyme levels were increased significantly in all types of leprosy, the highest levels being seen in treated lepromatous leprosy patients (105.0 SU). There was also a significant difference in the enzyme activity between untreated patients and those on combined dapsone and rifampicin therapy, in all three types of leprosy. Among untreated patients, the maximum value observed in lepromatous leprosy was 93.4 SU. The lowest enzyme level in healthy control was 19.5 SU and the maximum was 54.0 SU. The results suggest that in leprosy patients, especially in those on daily multidrug regimens, there is an extensive damage of leucocytes and liver cells where the enzyme is largely present.

Adenosine deaminase activity in leprosy (a preliminary study).

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was studied in 25 patients having different types of leprosy and 25 healthy volunteer as control. There was definite rise of ADA activity in BL (72.9 +/- 6.85), LL (56.7 +/- 3.35) and BT (39.1 +/- 8.28) which was statistically significant when compared to ADA activity in healthy control (9.7 +/- 0.53).

Alkaline phosphatase activity in peripheral nerves and endothelial cell cultures in leprosy.

Alkaline phosphatase activity in leprosy nerves was studied. The activity was mainly in blood vessels and was maximum in healthy nerves. Low levels were seen in crush injury. In leprosy lower levels were in BT than LL cases. Endothelial cells (in vitro) released alkpase when infected with live bacilli only. No response was observed with heat killed bacilli.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (G.G.T) in leprosy.

Activity of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was measured in 21 patients of BL or LL disease and 10 age matched healthy controls. None of the patients had any systemic or hepatic diseases. Mean values in the patients (53.67 +/- 9.67 U/L) were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) compared to that of controls (34.2 +/- 5.69 U/L).

Immunological factors in nasal mucosa of patients with leprosy--immunoperoxidase study.

The nature of the sub epithelial zone was established. S.E. shows IgG and IgM activity in tuberculoid group. Lepromatous group did not show any IgM or IgG response. IgE activity was seen in the lepromatous region in exudate and on the surfaces of Macrophages. Lysozyme activity was seen in the mucous acini of lepromatous leprosy.

L.D.H. isoenzymes sub-unit ratio in leprosy and the effect of clofazimine treatment on L.D.H. isoenzymes sub-unit.

The clinical material for our studies of serum total LDH activity and LDH isoenzymes in leprosy included 255 patients consisting of Tuberculoid (74), Lepromatous leprosy (116), and Lepromatous leprosy with lepra reaction (65). 20 patients with suspected DDS resistance and repeated attacks of lepra reactions were selected for Clofazimine studies. All leprosy patients exhibited higher total LDH activity as compared to normals. M/H ratio was significantly increased in patients of Lepromatous leprosy and correlated closely with the clinical severity and advancement of disease. Tuberculoid leprosy patients showed values close to normals. Hence M/H ratio could demarcate two polar types of leprosy i.e. Tuberculoid and Lepromatous leprosy. Clofazimine treatment over a period of one year in patients with suspected DDS resistance and repeated attacks of lepra reaction decreased total LDH activity and M/H ratio considerably. Fall in M/H ratio during Clofazimine treatment could be attributed to the clearance of 'M' subunits by the drug due to removal of blockade of R.E.S. system produced by lepra bacilli.

In vitro effect of Mycobacterium leprae suspensions on the polymorphonuclear neutrophiles function of hanseníasis patients to Candida albicans and Candida pseudotropicalis

The in vitro effect of Mycobacterium leprae suspensions on the PMN hability to phagocyting and killing Candida albicans and Candida pseudotropicalis was studied in forty-five patients of Hansen's disease and in fifteen healthy controls. Our results show no significative differences between the diferent studied groups, both for the phagocytosis and for the lysis of yeasts. There was no significant changes in the mean values of these functions after previous or simultaneously incubation with Mycobacterium leprae suspensions. Those observations confirmed that there are not alterations in the enzimatic battery of PMN in Hansen's disease patients and that the Mycobacterium leprae presence does not exert stimulating effect on this in vitro model

Possibilidades do G 30 320 no tratamento da hanseniase e da reação leprotica / Possibilities of G 30 320 me the treatment of leprosy and reaction leprosy

Os AA selecionaram doentes de lepra internados no Hospital Colonia Curupaiti e Hopsital Frei Antonio do Estado da Guanabara, Brasil, para experimentação da atividade antilepra do G 30 320. Todos oos pacinetes são da forma lepromatosa graus L1, L2,L3 e dimorfos, classificados nos seguinte Grupos:I - Doentes novos, virgens de tratamentoII - Doentes sulfono-resistentes com lepra progressiva avançadaIII - Doentes sujeitos a reação tipo ENL, talidomido dependentes. Desencadeia-se a reação sempre que se instituti tratamento sulfonico sem a respectiva e continua cobertura com talidomidaIV - Doentes talidomida insensiveis sujeitos a reação de ENI incontrolavel pelos metodos tradicionais inclusive talidomidaA experiencia tem por objetivo a verificação da utilidade do novo produito G 30 320 no controle do desenvvolvimento da Hanseniase e da reação leprotica. O esquema basico de administração tem sido 2 capisulas por dia durante 7 dias reduzindo-se então para l capsula diaria. Cada capsula contem l00 mg. de um derivado anilino aposafraninado G 30 320...