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Hagit Matz

Publications and source records attributed to Hagit Matz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The putative role of apoptosis in the induction of pemphigus.

The apoptotic cell has recently been shown to play a central role in tolerizing B cells and T cells to both tissue-specific and ubiquitously expressed self-antigens, and to possibly drive the autoimmune response in systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease which bears many similarities to pemphigus. We now propose a similar mechanism in the induction of pemphigus, namely, that a dysregulation in apoptosis expressed as an impairment of normal programmed cell death of epidermal keratinocytes and/or deficient and inadequate clearance of apoptotic material (specifically, desmoglein) may render it antigenic with the consequent production of autoantibodies. The fact that some thiol-containing compounds which are well-known inducers of acantholysis in vitro and pemphigus in vivo were shown to inhibit apoptosis might support our hypothesis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2003

Along these lines...

Non-melanotic discoloration of the skin can result from the accumulation of various internal agents (ingestion, inhalation, or injection), chemicals or drugs, such as heavy metals, amiodarone, tetracycline, clofazimine and others, or exogenous (topical) substances. Identifying the causative agent frequently requires a thorough investigation and clever detective work, including visits to the home and workplace. It is, however, rare that the patient presents at a clinic with the corpus delicti, and it is even more rare when neither the patient nor the treating physician are initially aware of it. "What is the hardest of all? That which you hold the most simple; seeing with your own eyes what is spread out before you."[J.W. Goethe quoted by J.P. Eckermann in Converstions with Goethe, May 18, 1824.]

Abdomen↗
PubMed2003

Balneotherapy in dermatology.

Balneotherapy and spa therapy emerged as an important treatment modality in the 1800s, first in Europe and then in the United States. Balneotherapy involves immersion of the patient in mineral water baths or pools. Today, water therapy is being practiced in many countries. Examples of unique and special places for balneotherapy are the Dead Sea in Israel, the Kangal hot spring in Turkey, and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Bathing in water with a high salt concentration is safe, effective, and pleasant for healing and recovery. This approach needs no chemicals or potentially harmful drugs. There are almost no side effects during and after treatment, and there is a very low risk to the patient's general health and well-being. Mineral waters and muds are commonly used for the treatment of various dermatologic conditions. The major dermatologic diseases that are frequently treated by balneotherapy with a high rate of success are psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The mechanisms by which broad spectrums of diseases are alleviated by spa therapy have not been fully elucidated. They probably incorporate chemical, thermal, mechanical, and immunomodulatory effects. The major importance of balneotherapy and spa therapy both individually and as complements to other therapies lies in their potential effectiveness after standard medical treatments have failed to give comfort to these patients.

Balneology↗
PubMed2003

Cutaneous side effects of alternative therapy.

Unconventional, complementary, and alternative therapies have become very popular forms of therapy and the predictions are that their popularity will continue to soar in the future. They are often perceived as being "natural" and therefore harmless, devoid of side effects, and without unpleasant consequences. The fact is that although their risks might be less than those of conventional drugs, side effects of this therapy can and do occur and must be considered as being a relevant factor in using such methods. It is to be expected that their numbers will increase in the future because of their growing popularity and because of continuing efforts to intensify their activity and therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, now more than ever, dermatologists should be familiar with all possible side effects, risks, and toxic, allergic, and possible mutagenic reactions. This article provides fundamental and vital information for practicing dermatologists.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed2003

Cutaneous reactions to temporary tattoos.

While allergic reactions to henna painting are extremely rare, we have witnessed an increasing number of reports of cutaneous reactions after henna tattooing, also called temporary tattooing. The reason for this lies in the contemporary composition of the paint, which contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD). We present six patients who developed allergic contact dermatitis after skin painting with "black henna", and who showed hypersensitivity to PPD. We discuss the issue of the short sensitization period of our patients and the reported ones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The baboon syndrome or intertriginous drug eruption: a report of eleven cases and a second look at its pathomechanism.

Although drug eruptions can mimic a variety of idiopathic skin diseases, this has not been mentioned in the differential diagnosis of intertrigo. We draw attention to an unusual presentation of a drug eruption with a characteristic distribution pattern that is confined to the intertriginous areas. This condition has been given one of the most memorable names in dermatology, the baboon syndrome. Originally, the baboon syndrome was described as a special form of systemic contact-type dermatitis (SCTD) that occurs after ingestion or systemic absorption of a contact allergen in individuals previously sensitized by topical exposure to the same allergen in the same areas. We present eleven cases of intertriginous eruptions that resulted from adverse drug reactions. A flare-up of a previous contact with the same allergen (i.e., drug) on the same areas is not a reasonable explanation for the unusual localization of the eruption in our and others' cases. We believe that we are dealing with a type of recall phenomenon and that the characteristic localization and appearance of the eruption is determined by an earlier, unrelated dermatitis that had occurred in precisely the same areas. Adverse drug reactions should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of intertrigo, especially in atypical and therapy-resistant cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Prostaglandin analogs for hair growth: great expectations.

Latanoprost, a prostaglandin analog, has been reported to stimulate eyelash growth in patients using it in eye preparations for glaucoma and body and scalp hair growth when used topically in various animal models. Will prostaglandin analogs be the next agents used for forms of alopecia?

Alopecia↗
PubMed2003

Stowaways with wings: two case reports on high-flying insects.

More people than ever before are traversing continents, either for business purposes or on holiday. Because 3-10 percent of these travelers experience skin, hair, or nail disorders related to these trips there is an increasing likelihood that Western physicians will be expected to treat exotic conditions imported from different countries. Tungiasis and furunculoid myiasis are two typical disorders of intertropical regions. They represent nuisances induced by the presence of arthropod larvae or eggs in the skin. We describe a case of tungiasis, caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans (TP), and a case of myiasis, caused by Dermatobia hominis (DH), and briefly discuss the epidemiology, biologic life cycles, vectors, reservoirs, and clinical presentations of these parasites.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sunscreens--the ultimate cosmetic.

One decade ago, a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 was considered a complete blocker of ultraviolet radiation (UV). The logic behind that cutoff point was that sunscreens with this SPF number would always prevent erythema and that preventing erythema would prevent all the ill effects of UV exposure. Today, we know that both of these assumptions were wrong and we tend to recommend higher SPF. Consumers apply only about one-quarter to one-half thickness of the layer of sunscreen material used to measure the SPF in the laboratory. That means that less than 50% of the SPF number claimed on the label is spread on the consumer's skin, meaning that a sunscreen with an SPF 30 will give the real protection of an SPF of 15. Therefore, recommend 60 when you want a real protection of 30! Significant injury, DNA damage, mutations, and carcinogenesis can and do occur also with cumulative suberythemal UV exposure. Thus, erythema induction, a criterion that defines SPF, is not a good indicator of UV damage. We also need higher SPF values to prevent the damage caused by suberythemal doses of UV. The value of the SPF claimed on the label is diminished by environmental factors that are not taken into account during SPF measurements in the laboratory, such as sweating, water immersion, rubbing off, and photodegradation. There are some misunderstandings and confusion about the mode of action of physical sunscreens. It was originally considered that, in contrast to organic sunscreens, the inorganic metal oxides (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) acted as scatterers or reflectors of UV light, as a mirror. This is not the case with modern micronized forms of metal oxides. It has been shown that both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide mobilize electrons within their atomic structure while absorbing UV radiation. Thus, although metallic oxides are not inert per se, in their coated form they are stable, non-toxic, and safe and they act as highly efficient UV attenuators. Therefore, we recommend our patients to use this type of sunscreens. We should exert all our influence upon our patients not to expose themselves to excessive sunlight, to routinely use generous layers of sunscreen agents, and to wear protective clothing. To wait for the dust to settle around the issue of the effectiveness of sunscreens in preventing melanoma, while the ideal sunscreens--topical, systemic, whatever--are at our disposal, is a luxury we cannot afford.

Cosmetics↗
PubMed2003

Still elusive relationship between atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

The relationship between atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) has long been and continues to be an unsolved and frequently discussed issue. Whereas AD patients have traditionally been considered to have a decreased frequency of ACD, recent studies revealed that these individuals are more or equally likely to develop ACD. The aim of the present review was to determine whether the results of recent experimental studies and theoretical considerations might lead to a parallel shift in our concept on the causal relationship between AD and ACD. It has been shown that Th2 and Th1-type immune responses are not mutually exclusive, and that at least in AD a mixture of both Th2 and Th1 occurs and the interactions between them account for the clinical characteristics of the disease. This new concept on the immunopathomechanism of AD challenges our previous belief that the cytokine pattern of the affected skin is unsuitable for the development of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Since we do not know the exact quantitative balance between Th1 and Th2 reactions along a time axis, we cannot predict whether the cytokine pattern of AD patients favors or inhibits the development of ACD. What we do know with a greater degree of certainty, is that when the eczematous excoriated skin of AD patients, with its defective epidermal barrier (enhancing the penetration of many antigenic substances) is chronically exposed to skin care products and various sensitizing topical medications, it is more likely to develop a superimposed ACD.

Cytokines↗
PubMed2003

Cafe au lait has hue of its own.

Segmental pigmentation disorder is a pigmentation disorder (hypo- or hyperpigmentation) first described some 20 years ago. It appears early in life, is segmental, and usually has a sharp border in the midline. It can be confused clinically and histologically with several pigmentary disorders, especially with giant or segmental cafe-au-lait macules. The purpose of this article is to promote, revive, and refresh this somewhat neglected entity, and to further subdivide it into two types: segmental pigmentation disorder simplex and segmental cafe-au-lait. We illustrate our contention with case reports.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Dapsone.

Dapsone (4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, DDS) was synthesized a century ago and continues to be a powerful therapeutic tool in many skin diseases. We have tried to retrieve and present the available knowledge and relevant information on this old but still very useful drug with the hope of encouraging and guiding practicing dermatologists to adapt it for various indications. Our objective is to familiarize the clinician with how this agent works, in what disease states it is effective, how to administer it, what adverse effects may occur, and how to monitor the patient receiving this drug.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acne and diet.

Forbidden foods? "The first law of dietetics seems to be: If it tastes good, it's bad for you" (Isaac Asimov, Russian-born biochemist and science fiction writer). This was essentially the Magna Carta for dermatologists of the 1950s: anything coveted by the teenage palate was suspect for morning after acne. Today, half a century later, although the slant has shifted away for this line of thinking in our dermatologic textbooks, several articles on the beliefs and perceptions of acne patients showed that nothing much has changed and that they expect us to give them detailed instructions of what "acne-related" foods they should avoid. In one such study(1), diet was the third most frequently implicated factor (after hormones and genetics) as the cause of the disease, with 32% of the respondents selecting diet as the main cause, and 44% thinking that foods aggravate acne. In another study that analyzed knowledge about causes of acne among English teenagers, 11% of the responders blamed greasy food as the main cause of the disease(2), whereas in another study found that 41% of final-year medical students of the University of Melbourne chose diet as an important factor of acne exacerbation on a final examination.(3)

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Life-threatening acute adverse cutaneous drug reactions.

Adverse cutaneous reactions to drugs are frequent, affecting 2% to 3% of all hospitalized patients. Fortunately, only about 2% of adverse cutaneous reactions are severe and very few are fatal. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are severe life-threatening diseases with a mortality rate reaching 30%, and only prompt recognition and diagnosis, withdrawal of the offensive drug, and referral to an intensive care unit or burn care unit might improve the prognosis and save the patient's life. Drug eruption with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, formerly termed drug hypersensitivity syndrome, is a rather distinct severe adverse drug reaction (ADR) characterized by eruption, fever, lymph node enlargement, and single or multiple organ involvement, with a high morbidity and a mortality rate of 10%. These severe ADRs, together with serum sickness-like syndrome, are discussed in this review. Other severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis and vasculitis, are discussed elsewhere in this issue. Although most of the readers, particularly those in the outpatient arena, will not be treating these patients, they are the ones who will see them first, diagnose them, realize the potential danger in their condition, and refer them to the appropriate treatment venue. Therefore, dermatologists should be familiar with these conditions and be prepared to handle them adequately.

Acute Disease↗