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Biomedical subjects

P N Neelan

Publications and source records attributed to P N Neelan.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Seroepidemiological study of leprosy in a highly endemic population of south India based on an ELISA using synthetic PGL-I.

As part of a continuing longitudinal immuno-epidemiological study, blood samples were collected by finger prick from 4243 individuals living in a highly endemic area for leprosy in South India. The samples were tested for IgM antibodies against phenolic glycolipid-I using an ELISA. Seropositivity defined as optical density greater than or equal to 0.2000 was marginally higher in the age group 10-30 years and in females. There was no evidence for a higher level in contacts than in non-contacts. The future prospect for the large scale use of this ELISA in high-endemic populations in special epidemiological investigations or routine control programs as a serological tool to detect leprosy infection appears questionable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Diagnostic value of cardinal signs/symptoms in paucibacillary leprosy.

With the help of sensitivity and specificity criteria, an attempt is made to quantify the gain in certainty in diagnosis with the use of various cardinal signs/symptoms (S/s) of leprosy in order to study their predictive value in correct diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy (PB) by the Paramedical Workers. The study was based on the findings in 326 new cases of paucibacillary leprosy detected by 10 paramedical workers during a recent field survey. Observations in the present study confirm the scientific basis of presently used combinations of cardinal S/s for correct diagnosis of leprosy especially the combination of (skin) patch with loss/impairment of sensation. The detailed observations made in the study are discussed in this communication.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Healing time in untreated paucibacillary leprosy: a cross-sectional study.

The healing time of leprosy lesions in 117 paucibacillary (PB) cases who took no antileprosy treatment was estimated to be 2.03 +/- 0.10 (mean +/- S.E.) years in a leprosy hyperendemic area. This healing time does not appear to be influenced by epidemiological characteristics of the patients such as age, sex, intrafamilial leprosy contact status, number and site of leprosy lesions, etc. It was also observed that the rate of healing and downgrading among the total untreated cases was 22.4% and 0.57%, respectively, per year. About 39% of the total untreated PB leprosy cases healed within a period of 2 years. The scientific implication of this observation is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Inactivation and relapse in bacterio-negative cases of leprosy under sulphone therapy: a 4 1/2 years follow-up.

Bacterio-negative leprosy cases become inactive in a short period under regular and adequate DDS treatment and this period is shorter in females. The progress is uneventful and is not influenced by factors like age, extent of disease, deformity status etc. The risk of relapse in bacterio-negative leprosy cases is not high though it increases with passing of time. The risk of relapse tends to be higher in cases with extensive disease.

Dapsone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Time lag between case registration and commencement of treatment in a leprosy control unit.

Analysis of client-based data as a part of computerised management information system in a Government leprosy control unit in Tamil Nadu reveals that there was delay in initiating treatment of leprosy patients. The mean and standard deviation of the period of delay for cases registered before, within 6 months and after 6 months of start of MDT in the Unit were 6.80 +/- 6.40, 1.97 +/- 3.60 and 0.90 +/- 2.21 months respectively. Further, the delay was longer in PB, female and child cases. Giving priority to therapy for backlog cases and an effective monitoring system with specific indicator for time lag in starting treatment is indicated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A computerized information system for evaluation of NLEP through monthly progress reports.

A computerized system for monitoring district-wise operational performance and epidemiological progress using existing regular and special monthly reports of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is presented. The same system, with some minor modifications could be used for programme assessment at the Leprosy Control Unit level also. The advantage of the system is the speed with which it can generate output in the form of comparative tables and graphs for different regions for use by programme managers for making overall assessments in time and for sending feedback reports to workers at various levels, for self-assessment and for taking timely corrective action. The system presented provides immediate and easy access to the stored and/or processed information (indicators etc.,) at any time. The system has been pilot-tested using monthly reports from eighteen districts of Tamil Nadu.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autonomic neuropathy in leprosy.

21 patients of borderline lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy of both sexes were taken for study after exclusion of autonomic disorders. Autonomic functions pertaining to cardiovascular and genital system were carried out. Five healthy volunteers served as controls. Autonomic function tests indicate definite involvement of cardiovascular and genital system. The incidence of autonomic neuropathy in 21 patients studied was ranging from 14.3 to 57% for various tests. There is involvement of parasympathetic system (vagus nerve) which occurred early and more common than sympathetic. The sympathetic damage is always associated with parasympathetic damage. The severity of autonomic neuropathy is found to be high in leprosy of longer duration. Autonomic neuropathy widely occurs in leprosy as in diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autonomic neuropathy in leprosy.

21 patients of borderline lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy of both sexes were taken for study after exclusion of autonomic disorders. Autonomic functions pertaining to cardiovascular and genital system were carried out. Five healthy volunteers served as controls. Autonomic function tests indicate definite involvement of cardiovascular and genital system. The incidence of autonomic neuropathy in 21 patients studied was ranging from 14.3 to 57% for various tests. There is involvement of parasympathetic system (vagus nerve) which occurred early and more common than sympathetic. The sympathetic damage is always associated with parasympathetic damage. The severity of automatic neuropathy is found to be high in leprosy of longer duration. Autonomic neuropathy widely occurs in leprosy as in diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Limited duration acedapsone prophylaxis in leprosy.

A randomized controlled chemoprophylaxis trial was carried out in Madras city using 560 disease-free household child contacts of 264 multibacillary cases as study subjects. In the study, 13 cases were diagnosed among 280 contacts who received 3 injections of acedapsone at 10 weeks interval as against 30 cases among 280 contacts who had the same number of placebo injections, during the follow-up period of 225 weeks. The difference in the incidences in the two groups was statistically significant. (X2 6.45; P less than 0.02). The protection due to the limited duration of acedapsone prophylaxis was 56.7 percent. There were no cases of multi-bacillary leprosy in either group. The efficacy of prophylaxis was significant in male children over 9 years of age and female children in the age-group 1-8 years. The other prognostic factors like the infectivity status of the index cases in the household and the duration of exposure to them could have possibly influenced the effectiveness of prophylaxis in preventing progression from infection to clinical disease among the subjects studied. Their effects could not be assessed in this study.

Acedapsone↗