Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, and it remains underdiagnosed in Burkina Faso. We investigated the use of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for detecting M. leprae in 27 skin samples (skin biopsy samples, slit skin samples, and skin lesion swabs) collected from 21 patients from Burkina Faso and three from Côte d’Ivoire who were suspected of having cutaneous leprosy. In all seven Ziehl-Neelsen-positive skin samples (four skin biopsy samples and three skin swabs collected from the same patient), FISH specifically identified M. leprae, including one FISH-positive skin biopsy sample that remained negative after testing with PCR targeting the rpoB gene and with the GenoType LepraeDR assay. Twenty other skin samples and three negative controls all remained negative for Ziehl-Neelsen staining, FISH, and rpoB PCR. These data indicate the usefulness of a microscopic examination of skin samples after FISH for first-line diagnosis of cutaneous leprosy. Accordingly, FISH represents a potentially useful point-of-care test for the diagnosis of cutaneous leprosy.

A 25-year-old male is admitted with complaints of dry cough for the past 5 years, and increased thirst, urinary frequency and output for the past 18 months. He also complains of shortness of breath on climbing a flight of stairs, and itchy lesions on the scalp and back for the past 2–3 months. There is no history of bone pain or abdominal pain. He has history of bilateral recurrent pneumothoraxes, twice on the right and once on the left side, in the past month. Pleurodesis with povidone iodine is performed on left side and the patient is transferred to your hospital with persistent right pneumothorax with air leak, with an intercostal drainage tube in situ. The patient is a never-smoker with no family history of pneumothorax. On general examination, he has small papules, 1–2 mm in diameter, with scaling over scalp and back. Onycholysis, onychoschisis and subungual splinter haemorrhages are present (figure 1).

Negotiating isn’t that dissimilar from playing a game – it involves reading your opponent, strategizing, and then striking.

Orange-coloured gel has been made into artificial skin that can be 3D printed in any shape and detect human touch – one day it could help robots feel

A geopolitical battle is being played out in orbit as countries vie for the best satellite navigation system

Your weekly selection of awesome robot videos

Pepe helps keep Indian children healthy by reminding them to wash up

Record low bond yields are pushing superannuation funds and insurers into alternative investments.

The new Nightlife reactive skin is now live ahead of the Fortnite Party Royale event which starts later today.

The RPG Cast crew gets tempted to buy all the collector’s editions today. We also then find out all the release dates. Now excuse us...

A world-first study has demonstrated significant benefits to a premature baby's heart and brain function when held by the parent in skin-to-skin contact. Parent-infant skin-to-skin care (SSC) or kangaroo care, started in the late 1970s in Columbia when incubators to keep babies warm were not available. It is now widely recognized as a beneficial component of holistic care provided for pre-term infants.

Contagion was a film released in 2011 about a fictional pandemic of a virus called MEV-1 which kills between 25 and 30 per cent of those it infected. Here is our review of the film originally published in September 2011, now that it's on Netflix

Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi said Sunday he will not attend the Academy Awards on Feb. 26, “even if exceptions were to be made for my trip,” as protests over President Donald Trump's immigration ban spread to Hollywood's biggest global stage.

Researchers have found the weird exoplanet WASP-79b, nearly 800 light-years from Earth, does not have a blue sky as our planet does. Instead, its skies are yellow.

Ever since Tiger King dropped on Netflix, the world has...

The post Two YouTubers Tricked Carole Baskin Into Giving An Exclusive Interview – Watch appeared first on Man's World India.

WBC world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his title against Poland's Albert Sosnowski in Schalke's soccer stadium on May 29, the Ukrainian said on Tuesday.

Canada's Erik Guay won the final super-G of the season to snatch the Alpine ski World Cup title on Thursday.

Follow our live coronavirus updates HERE Coronavirus: The symptoms

Two doctors in Wuhan who survived coronavirus after long battles on life support found their skin changed colour as a result of their treatment.

Donald Trump skipped the latest White House coronavirus briefing tweeting the event is "not worth the time and effort".

A double rainbow appeared in the skies above the UK just in time for the nation coming together to clap for health workers on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.

In today's Diary: Prankster on what it was like to fool Carole Baskin / Miriam Margolyes reveals why she's so in demand on chat shoes / MP bags Shetland pony assistant / Fox the toast of Downing Street

The father and son are still on the run

Coronavirus warning messages from celebrities including Jamie Redknapp are being broadcast from cars driving around the streets of east London to get people to respect the lockdown.

The last supermoon of the year is set to appear in UK skies on Thursday.

Legal proceedings have reportedly been launched against the Duke of York over an unpaid bill relating to a Swiss chalet.

The oldest national park ranger in the US tells us why she’s proud of the second world war home front park in Richmond, just across the bay from San Francisco

I settled in the greater Bay Area as a six-year-old in 1927. When I graduated from high school in 1938, my two opportunities for employment were working in agriculture or being a domestic servant. At that time, labour unions weren’t racially integrated and, during the war, I worked as a clerk for the segregated boilermakers’ union.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford dropped by his cottage last month, days after asking the province’s residents to stay away from theirs. His office says Ford "drove alone" and was there for less than an hour to check on construction.

Maggie Doherty

The post Mary Gaitskill’s Art of Loneliness appeared first on The Nation.

See positive stories about brave, compassionate kids who are changing the world.

Want something to show for the weeks you have spent in lockdown? These apps will help you achieve your aims

In early April, one bullish American consultant suggested on Twitter that if people didn’t emerge from coronavirus quarantine having learned a new skill, gained more knowledge or having started something they’d been putting off, then “you didn’t ever lack the time, you lacked the discipline”.

As the tweet was widely shared, it met mockery and anger in equal measure, as people noted that home schooling, financial worries, stress and/or illness are making this period anything but a delightful self-improvement holiday.

Thousands of people have volunteered to be exposed to coronavirus if it means a vaccine can be developed more quickly. Should we let them?

Five top pediatric heart, infectious disease or critical care specialists told Yahoo News they are tracking a serious new syndrome they believe is related to Kawasaki disease, affecting children infected with the coronavirus.

- With its season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, one of Austria's most popular glacial ski resorts covered its glacier in protective fabric earlier than usual this year to help preserve it for a still uncertain reopening.

Zoo owner also accuses Netflix of sensationalising' story to make him 'villain' in new aftershow

She accused hit Netflix show of 'betrayal' in first interview since it began

'I'll make you a rich man if you kill Carole'

Reality show star is working on the project with the writers of Pen15 and Black-ish

Fans had speculated that Lowe could be Baskin's first husband Michael Murdock in disguise

Actor has been sharing skits and positive stories to provide some relief during the coronavirus pandemic

'One foot wrong and you don't know what could happen'

Baskin has denied any involvement in the disappearance of her ex-husband

'What do I know of Carole Baskin – or any of these people – aside from what I've seen in this documentary?'

Sanctuary owner has avoided the media after revealing she was unhappy with how she was portrayed on the show

Skinner joked that Lord Sugar could be in the running to become a godfather

From calming clay masks to worthy blackhead treatments – these products actually work, according to consultant dermatologist Anjali Mahto