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Erythema Nodosum Leprosum as a Harbinger of Relapse in Multibacillary Leprosy: A Clinico-Histopathological Case Study Benedikta Lauda; Nurrachmat Mulianto
Bioscientia Medicina : Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research Vol. 9 No. 12 (2025): Bioscientia Medicina: Journal of Biomedicine & Translational Research
Publisher : HM Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.37275/bsm.v9i12.1468

Abstract

Background: Leprosy, a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, presents formidable long-term management challenges. In the post-elimination era, differentiating a true bacteriological relapse from a late-onset Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) reaction in patients who have completed multidrug therapy (MDT) is a critical diagnostic dilemma. Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, risking disease progression and irreversible nerve damage. Case presentation: A 30-year-old male presented with a severe, systemic inflammatory illness two years after completing MDT for lepromatous leprosy. His symptoms included crops of painful, erythematous nodules, fever, and arthralgia. While clinically suggestive of a severe ENL reaction, a slit-skin smear revealed a paradoxically high bacterial index (BI) of +5 with a morphological index (MI) of 0%. A skin biopsy was performed for definitive diagnosis. Histopathology revealed a dual pathology: a diffuse infiltrate of foamy macrophages typical of lepromatous leprosy, alongside a dense neutrophilic panniculitis characteristic of ENL. Crucially, Fite-Faraco staining demonstrated vast numbers of intact, solid-staining acid-fast bacilli, providing unequivocal evidence of active bacterial proliferation. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that a diagnostic algorithm integrating a high index of clinical suspicion with comprehensive bacteriological and histopathological methods is essential for accurately identifying relapse masked by ENL. The presence of viable bacilli confirms that ENL can be a direct clinical harbinger of relapse, mandating a dual therapeutic strategy that combines aggressive anti-inflammatory treatment with the immediate re-initiation of MDT.
Erythema Nodosum Leprosum as a Harbinger of Relapse in Multibacillary Leprosy: A Clinico-Histopathological Case Study Benedikta Lauda; Nurrachmat Mulianto
Bioscientia Medicina : Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research Vol. 9 No. 12 (2025): Bioscientia Medicina: Journal of Biomedicine & Translational Research
Publisher : HM Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.37275/bsm.v9i12.1468

Abstract

Background: Leprosy, a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, presents formidable long-term management challenges. In the post-elimination era, differentiating a true bacteriological relapse from a late-onset Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) reaction in patients who have completed multidrug therapy (MDT) is a critical diagnostic dilemma. Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, risking disease progression and irreversible nerve damage. Case presentation: A 30-year-old male presented with a severe, systemic inflammatory illness two years after completing MDT for lepromatous leprosy. His symptoms included crops of painful, erythematous nodules, fever, and arthralgia. While clinically suggestive of a severe ENL reaction, a slit-skin smear revealed a paradoxically high bacterial index (BI) of +5 with a morphological index (MI) of 0%. A skin biopsy was performed for definitive diagnosis. Histopathology revealed a dual pathology: a diffuse infiltrate of foamy macrophages typical of lepromatous leprosy, alongside a dense neutrophilic panniculitis characteristic of ENL. Crucially, Fite-Faraco staining demonstrated vast numbers of intact, solid-staining acid-fast bacilli, providing unequivocal evidence of active bacterial proliferation. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that a diagnostic algorithm integrating a high index of clinical suspicion with comprehensive bacteriological and histopathological methods is essential for accurately identifying relapse masked by ENL. The presence of viable bacilli confirms that ENL can be a direct clinical harbinger of relapse, mandating a dual therapeutic strategy that combines aggressive anti-inflammatory treatment with the immediate re-initiation of MDT.
Dose- and Time-Dependent Efficacy of Topical Hydroquinone in Establishing a C57BL/6 Mouse Model of Vitiligo Benedikta Lauda; Nurrachmat Mulianto; Endra Yustin Ellistasari; Muhammad Eko Irawanto
Bioscientia Medicina : Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): Bioscientia Medicina: Journal of Biomedicine & Translational Research
Publisher : HM Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.37275/bsm.v10i1.1481

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a complex autoimmune depigmenting disorder driven by melanocyte-specific CD8+ T cells, oxidative stress, and genetic susceptibility. The lack of standardized, accessible animal models that recapitulate these pathways hinders therapeutic development. This study aimed to systematically optimize and validate a chemically-induced vitiligo model in C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Eighty (80) male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into ten groups (n=8/group). Experimental groups received once-daily topical applications of hydroquinone (HQ) at 2.5%, 5%, or 10%, or monobenzone (MBZ) at 40% for 8 or 16 days. Vehicle-treated mice served as controls. Efficacy was assessed via quantitative histopathology (Masson-Fontana staining for melanin area), biomolecular assays for oxidative stress (Malondialdehyde [MDA] and Superoxide Dismutase [SOD]), and RT-qPCR for melanogenesis-related (Tyr) and inflammation-related (Tnf) gene expression. Results: A clear dose- and time-dependent depigmentation was observed. The 10% HQ 16-day protocol was maximally effective, inducing a profound reduction in epidermal melanin area (0.06 ± 0.02) compared to 16-day controls (0.40 ± 0.04; p < 0.001). This histopathological finding was significantly correlated with severe cutaneous oxidative stress, evidenced by a 3.75-fold increase in MDA (p < 0.001) and a 50% reduction in SOD activity (p < 0.001) versus controls. Furthermore, this regimen caused a potent suppression of Tyr expression (0.15-fold change; p < 0.001) and a significant upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tnf (3.8-fold change; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The 16-day topical application of 10% hydroquinone is a reliable, rapid, and highly reproducible protocol for inducing vitiligo-like depigmentation in C57BL/6 mice. This model successfully recapitulates key pathophysiological pillars of human vitiligo, including melanocytotoxicity, profound oxidative stress, and a pro-inflammatory cutaneous environment, establishing it as a valuable platform for preclinical therapeutic screening.
Dose- and Time-Dependent Efficacy of Topical Hydroquinone in Establishing a C57BL/6 Mouse Model of Vitiligo Benedikta Lauda; Nurrachmat Mulianto; Endra Yustin Ellistasari; Muhammad Eko Irawanto
Bioscientia Medicina : Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): Bioscientia Medicina: Journal of Biomedicine & Translational Research
Publisher : HM Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.37275/bsm.v10i1.1481

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a complex autoimmune depigmenting disorder driven by melanocyte-specific CD8+ T cells, oxidative stress, and genetic susceptibility. The lack of standardized, accessible animal models that recapitulate these pathways hinders therapeutic development. This study aimed to systematically optimize and validate a chemically-induced vitiligo model in C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Eighty (80) male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into ten groups (n=8/group). Experimental groups received once-daily topical applications of hydroquinone (HQ) at 2.5%, 5%, or 10%, or monobenzone (MBZ) at 40% for 8 or 16 days. Vehicle-treated mice served as controls. Efficacy was assessed via quantitative histopathology (Masson-Fontana staining for melanin area), biomolecular assays for oxidative stress (Malondialdehyde [MDA] and Superoxide Dismutase [SOD]), and RT-qPCR for melanogenesis-related (Tyr) and inflammation-related (Tnf) gene expression. Results: A clear dose- and time-dependent depigmentation was observed. The 10% HQ 16-day protocol was maximally effective, inducing a profound reduction in epidermal melanin area (0.06 ± 0.02) compared to 16-day controls (0.40 ± 0.04; p < 0.001). This histopathological finding was significantly correlated with severe cutaneous oxidative stress, evidenced by a 3.75-fold increase in MDA (p < 0.001) and a 50% reduction in SOD activity (p < 0.001) versus controls. Furthermore, this regimen caused a potent suppression of Tyr expression (0.15-fold change; p < 0.001) and a significant upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tnf (3.8-fold change; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The 16-day topical application of 10% hydroquinone is a reliable, rapid, and highly reproducible protocol for inducing vitiligo-like depigmentation in C57BL/6 mice. This model successfully recapitulates key pathophysiological pillars of human vitiligo, including melanocytotoxicity, profound oxidative stress, and a pro-inflammatory cutaneous environment, establishing it as a valuable platform for preclinical therapeutic screening.
Peran Mikrobiom pada Sifilis Benedikta Lauda; Murastami, Ammarilis
Jurnal Ners Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Universitas Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.31004/jn.v10i1.51681

Abstract

Syphilis is a chronic sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum, which can progress to neurosyphilis when it affects the central nervous system. Recently, the role of the human microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in the body has gained attention in understanding the pathogenesis of syphilis. The genital microbiota, particularly those dominated by Lactobacillus, help maintain mucosal balance and protect against infection. Imbalance in the microbiota, or dysbiosis, such as a decrease in Lactobacillus and an increase in anaerobic bacteria like Prevotella and Gardnerella, has been shown to raise the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and syphilis. In women, Lactobacillus maintains an acidic vaginal pH and suppresses inflammation, while the dominance of anaerobic bacteria can trigger proinflammatory cytokine production that promotes pathogen colonization. In men, a penile microbiota rich in anaerobes has also been linked to a higher risk of infection. Recent studies suggest that alterations in the gut microbiota may contribute to the progression of neurosyphilis, with increased Akkermansia levels associated with immune activation and inflammation. The complex interaction between the microbiome, immune system, and T. pallidum influences disease progression and treatment response. A deeper understanding of this relationship may lead to new strategies for preventing and managing syphilis..