Cerebral malaria: what is unarousable coma?
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Bagshawe.
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The efficacy of BCG vaccine in preventing the clinical manifestations of leprosy in a tuberculosis-free area of Papua New Guinea is reported. Between 1963 and 1966 a total of 5356 subjects, randomized to receive BCG or saline inoculations, were examined for leprosy before the vaccination and surveillance was continued until 1979. BCG afforded 48% protection against clinical leprosy, being most effective against borderline tuberculoid leprosy and in children vaccinated when under 15 years old. Protection was evident within 12 months in those vaccinated between the ages of 10 and 15 years but was delayed in other age groups. There was evidence for accelerated manifestations of tuberculoid leprosy in children vaccinated when under 5 years of age. Tuberculin sensitivity was more likely to be sustained following multiple BCG inoculations; vaccinees with sustained tuberculin sensitivity had the lowest incidence of leprosy, but protection was also evident in tuberculin-negative vaccinees. These results may have implications for ongoing trials of leprosy vaccine incorporating BCG.
This study reports on the usefulness of an IgM phenolic glycolipid 1 (PGL-1) ELISA for serodiagnosis of leprosy in the first year of a prospective longitudinal community survey in a high (8.8%) prevalence village in Papua New Guinea. The IgM PGL-1 ELISA had limited value as a screening method for detection of new cases. Many normal persons, particularly children, had elevated IgM anti-PGL-1 antibodies, presumably a consequence of early subclinical infection.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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In a village of about 1000 people in Papua New Guinea the prevalence of clinical leprosy was 8.6% compared to about 3% in surrounding villages. This exceptionally high prevalence could not be explained by recent introduction of the disease or by social factors. Dapsone-resistant disease and faulty compliance with treatment are considered to be contributory to persistent infectivity of old cases which, together with the presence of 20 previously undiagnosed cases, comprised a large infective source. Social ostracism of cases was not observed and the extensive social mixing of all ages would facilitate widespread dissemination of infection. A high prevalence, particularly in children, of elevated levels of IgM antibody to phenolic glycolipid-1 Mycobacterium leprae specific antigen suggests frequent subclinical infection. The greater prevalence of clinical leprosy following childhood in the village favours altered susceptibility following exposure in childhood. There was a higher prevalence of leprosy in close relatives of cases when compared with the same relatives of age and sex matched leprosy-free controls. The occurrence of familial clustering of leprosy in a hyperendemic area with intense transmission suggests that unidentified inherited factors influence susceptibility to clinical leprosy. It is suggested that the clustering of adverse inherited traits through intermarriage may explain this hyperendemic focus on leprosy.
Corticosteroids are beneficial in the treatment of some forms of tuberculosis, but their role in TB affecting HIV-positive patients is not clear. During a cohort study of tuberculosis patients in Lusaka, Zambia, prednisolone was prescribed for specific indications. Six of 47 (13 per cent) of patients who received prednisolone early in treatment developed herpes zoster, compared with 2 of 118 (2 per cent) of those who did not. Three patients who received prednisolone developed Kaposi's sarcoma, compared with none who did not. At 2 months patients who had received prednisolone showed a greater improvement in generalized lymphadenopathy and cough. Controlled studies of the risks and benefits of administration of corticosteroids to HIV-positive TB patients are urgently needed.