Leprosy, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae , affects millions of people worldwide. However, little is known regarding its molecular pathophysiological mechanisms. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of human mRNA was performed on leprosy skin lesions by using DNA chip microarrays, which included the entire spectrum of the disease along with its reactional states. Sixty-six samples from leprotic lesions (10TT, 10BT, 10BB, 10BL, 4LL, 14R1, and 10R2) and nine skin biopsies from healthy individuals were used as controls (CC) (ages ranged from 06 to 83 years, 48 were male and 29 female). The evaluation identified 1580 differentially expressed mRNAs [Fold Change ( FC ) ≥ 2.0, p ≤ 0.05] in diseased lesions vs. healthy controls. Some of these genes were observed in all forms of the disease (CD2, CD27, chit1, FA2H, FAM26F, GZMB, MMP9, SLAMF7, UBD) and others were exclusive to reactional forms (Type “1” reaction: GPNMB, IL1B, MICAL2, FOXQ1; Type “2” reaction: AKR1B10, FAM180B, FOXQ1, NNMT, NR1D1, PTX3, TNFRSF25). In literature, these mRNAs have been associated with numerous pathophysiological processes and signaling pathways and are present in a large number of diseases. The role of these mRNAs maybe studied in the context of developing new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for leprosy.

RESUMOIntrodução: Hanseníase é doença infecciosa crônica que pode levar a incapacidade física. Métodos: Avaliou-se 167 prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico de hanseníase, no período de 2003 a 2007, para investigação do grau de incapacidade no momento do diagnóstico. Resultados: A maioria (60%) dos pacientes apresentava incapacidade física no momento do diagnóstico; 34% grau I e 26% grau II. Observou-se que há relação direta entre a duração da doença e o grau de incapacidade. Conclusões: O diagnóstico da hanseníase ainda é tardio e isto pode contribuir para a manutenção da endemia. Palavras-chaves: Epidemiologia. Incapacidades físicas. Hanseníase. ABSTRACTIIntroduction: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that can lead to physical incapacity. Methods: The medical records of 167 patients diagnosed with leprosy between 2003 and 2007 were reviewed. Results: Most of the patients (60%) presented physical incapacity at the time of diagnosis: 34% with grade I and 26% with grade II. It was observed that the degree of incapacity had a direct correlation with the duration of the disease. Conclusions: Leprosy is still diagnosed late, which may contribute towards maintaining this endemic disease.

BACKGROUNDAmerican tegumentary leishmaniasis has an annual incidence of 1 to 1.5 million cases. In some cases, the patient's immune response can eliminate the parasite, and the lesion spontaneously resolves. However, when this does not occur, patients develop the disseminated form of the disease. OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between clinical, laboratory and pathological findings in cases of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. METHODSA retrospective study of the medical records of 47 patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological data were collected, and semi-quantitative histopathological analyses were performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient (p <0.05). RESULTSMean patient age was 40.5 years. A total of 29.7% individuals were female and 70.2% were male, and 40.4% of the patients were farmers. The ulcerative form was found in 53.2% of patients, of whom 59.6% had lesions in the limbs. The average time to diagnosis was 22.3 months. The following positive correlations were significant: age and duration of the disease, Montenegro reaction, degree of granulomatous transformation and epithelioid cell count; duration of disease, Montenegro reaction and number of lymphocytes; epithelial hyperplasia and edema, hemorrhaging, and epithelial aggression; number of plasmocytes and number of parasites. The main negative correlations found were as follows: age and serology; time and parasite load; epithelial hyperplasia and degree of granulomatous transformation. CONCLUSIONThe long duration of the disease could be explained by the fact that lesions were relatively asymptomatic, and therefore ignored by patients with low literacy levels. Individuals may have simply waited for spontaneous healing, which proved to be dependent on the activation of hypersensitivity mechanisms.

Pemphigus herpetiformis (PH) is a rare pemphigus variant. The clinical features of this form of pemphigus resembles dermatitis herpetiformis, however, histological examination and immunofluorescence yield findings diagnostic for pemphigus. A 5-year-old female patient with clinical features suggestive of dermatitis herpetiformis is reported. Histopathological exam showed skin with subcorneous blisters, epidermal spongiosis containing predominantly neutrophils, few eosinophils and rare acantholytic cells. Direct immunofluorescence showed intercellular deposits of IgG and C3. The skin lesions responded poorly to dapsone associated with systemic corticosteroid therapy. A complete remission of bullous lesions was obtained with azathioprine and immunosuppressive doses of systemic corticosteroids (prednisone). A case of PH in childhood is reported here, emphasizing the rarity and young age of onset.

Resumo: O projeto Palmas Livre da Hanseníase foi implementado para o incremento dos indicadores e o enfrentamento da doença, visto que a capital do Tocantins é a mais hiperendêmica do país. Este estudo mede o impacto da intervenção do projeto por meio da análise da tendência de indicadores prioritários em Palmas, 2002-2016. Baseia-se em análise de dados advindos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e de relatórios de capacitações aplicadas com metodologia de problematização. Os indicadores dos casos novos de hanseníase residentes em Palmas foram investigados, e suas tendências foram identificadas por análise de regressão joinpoint para avaliação dos resultados. No ano de implementação do projeto de intervenção (2016), o coeficiente de detecção de casos novos na população geral foi de 236,3/100 mil habitantes, e esse indicador apresentava decréscimo significativo de -7,5% no período de 2002 a 2014. Nos anos entre 2014 e 2016, houve aumento significativo de 104,6% para a detecção geral. O coeficiente de detecção em menores de 15 anos também apresentava queda de -4,6%, mas nos anos de 2014, 2015 e 2016, houve aumento de 111,1%, juntamente com os coeficientes de detecção de casos com grau 0, 1 e 2, com 59,3%, 225,2% e 121,7%, respectivamente. A proporção de casos detectados por avaliação de contatos teve acréscimo significativo de 201,1% no período de 2014 a 2016. Os dados comprovaram a efetividade e potencialidade da estratégia de intervenção do projeto para as ações de diagnóstico e controle da hanseníase em Palmas. Trouxe evidências de que a agilidade diagnóstica dos serviços de atenção primária resulta em indicadores que refletem a incidência real de casos.

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The authors proposed a systematic review on the current concepts of primary neural leprosy by consulting the following online databases: MEDLINE, Lilacs/SciELO, and Embase. Selected studies were classified based on the degree of recommendation and levels of scientific evidence according to the “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine”. The following aspects were reviewed: cutaneous clinical and laboratorial investigations, i.e. skin clinical exam, smears, and biopsy, and Mitsuda's reaction; neurological investigation (anamnesis, electromyography and nerve biopsy); serological investigation and molecular testing, i.e. serological testing for the detection of the phenolic glycolipid 1 (PGL-I) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and treatment (classification criteria for the definition of specific treatment, steroid treatment, and cure criteria).

Chromoblastomycosis is one of the most frequent deep mycoses found in rural populations. This cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted with cases of chromoblastomycosis diagnosed throughout 20 years. A higher prevalence was observed among White male rural workers, with an average age of 59.69 years. Median time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 156 months. Lesions were predominantly located on the lower limbs; 34% of cases reported previous trauma. The most common associated symptoms were itching, pain and burning sensation. Mycological examination was positive in 91% of cases and Fonsecaea pedrosoi was the most prevalent etiologic agent.