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Biomedical subjects

Y Dowlati

Publications and source records attributed to Y Dowlati.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mycobacterium vaccae in immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of leprosy and tuberculosis.

Both leprosy and tuberculosis present continuing problems in their control, especially in the developing world, despite the availability of drugs effective in producing a bacteriological cure. Improved immunoprophylaxis, and an effective immunotherapy to be used with chemotherapy are urgently required. Intradermal injection of a suspension of killed Mycobacterium vaccae promotes cell-mediated responses to antigens common to all mycobacteria, and switches off the tissue-necrotizing aspects of the Koch phenomenon. These properties led to the use of the suspensions as an improved vaccine, either alone or in combination with BCG. The same properties led to the employment of the suspension in immunotherapy as an adjunct to chemotherapy in the treatment of both leprosy and tuberculosis. The evidence leading to these conclusions is reviewed and discussed.

Animals↗

Chemical warfare casualties and yperite-induced xerodermoid.

Chemical warfare agents have been used in recent conflicts. We present a review of the clinical manifestations of mustard gas casualties and we studied the histological presentation of cutaneous lesions. Four groups of alterations were recognized, namely (a) alterations of keratinocytes, (b) epidermal hyperplasia with or without atypia, (c) alterations of the melanocytic system, and (d) structural changes of the dermis.

Adult↗

Vaccination and skin test studies on the children of leprosy patients.

In an attempt to achieve maximal skin-test positivity to leprosin A in children of leprosy patients living in Baba Baghi Leprosy Sanatorium in Iranian Azerbaijan, two new vaccines have been employed. Children without scars of previous BCG and without response to leprosin A were given a vaccine containing 10(8) viable units of BCG Glaxo plus 10(7) killed Mycobacterium vaccae per dose (vaccine B). Children with BCG Pasteur (Teheran) scars but without response to leprosin A were given a vaccine containing 10(8) killed M. vaccae alone (vaccine D). Eight years later skin testing was repeated, and both new vaccines were found to have significantly increased the numbers of children responding to leprosin A above the level that would have been expected had they received BCG Pasteur alone. This increase was due in large part to increases in the proportions of individuals responding to group i (common mycobacterial) antigens, and known as category 1 responders. The use of suspensions of killed M. vaccae in conjunction with BCG may represent a considerable advance in inducing protection from multibacillary leprosy in close contacts of leprosy patients if leprosin A positivity is truly a correlate of protective immunity. A comparison, using the same criteria, with the other proposed vaccines for leprosy would be very interesting.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Vaccination and skin test studies on children living in villages with differing endemicity for leprosy and tuberculosis.

The purpose of this study carried out in Iranian Azerbaijan was to determine the pattern of skin-test positivity to mycobacterial antigens in children living in the valley, and to assess the effect on this of a series of vaccines against mycobacterial disease. Set up in 1978, 1707 tuberculin-negative children without scars of previous BCG vaccination were vaccinated with BCG Glaxo alone (vaccine A) or with the addition of a suspension of killed Mycobacterium vaccae (vaccine B). One hundred children were vaccinated with BCG Glaxo plus a suspension of M. leprae (vaccine C). Eight to 10 years later about half of the children were found for follow up. At this time further children were skin tested, and the results obtained were related to whether or not they had scars of vaccination with BCG Pasteur (Teheran) given by the local health authorities. Between setting up the study and the first follow up, cases of leprosy or tuberculosis had occurred in some of the villages, although not among those we had vaccinated. Differences between the effects of the vaccines were only found in villages with cases of leprosy. In these villages positivity to leprosin A was significantly greater after vaccine B (49%) than after vaccine A (36%; p less than 0.04). The results for scrofulin and vaccine were the same after both vaccines, and significantly lower than in the villages without cases of leprosy. The general reduction in skin-test positivity in the villages with leprosy cases was mainly due to a loss of category 1 responders to group i, common mycobacterial, antigens. It was concluded that where casual contact with cases of leprosy occurs the combination of BCG with killed M. vaccae is likely to be a better vaccine for leprosy than is BCG alone. Although few children received the combination with M. leprae, the results obtained were not particularly promising.

Adolescent↗

Amelanotic Spitzoid melanoma in the burn scar of a child.

We report a 3-year-old girl with a rapidly growing, amelanotic, nodular melanoma developing within a burn scar over the dorsal aspect of the left foot. Histologically, the lesion was spindle cell and exhibited lack of maturation, cellular atypia, and scattered mitotic figures. Twenty five percent of the tumor cells were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen by immunohistochemical stain. A left inguinal lymph node was also positive for regional metastasis. The child died with disseminated metastases 13 months after the lesion was removed.

Burns↗

Successful treatment of ocular leishmaniasis.

PURPOSE: To report successful treatment of a case of ocular leishmaniasis with combined stibogluconate and allupurinol. METHOD: A 32-year-old physician developed a non-tender reddish chalazion like lesion in his right lower lid, associated with conjunctivitis and nodular episcleritis. Biopsy of the lesion in his eyelid and conjunctiva disclosed a dense inflammatory response including histiocytes containing typical leishmania organisms. RESULT: Therapy with stibogluconate, both intralesional and intramuscular, was initiated with some improvement. However recurrence of the lesion occurred. Systemic retreatment with combined stibogluconate and allupurinol led to complete healing of the lesion. CONCLUSION: Ocular leishmaniasis is a rare and potentially blinding disorder. Combined stibogluconate and allupurinol may be an effective therapy in such cases.

Adult↗