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Biomedical subjects

Z Even-Paz

Publications and source records attributed to Z Even-Paz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Immediate and delayed effects of treatment at the Dead Sea in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and delayed effects of balneotherapy at the Dead Sea on patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). A total of 42 patients with PsA were treated at the Dead Sea for 4 weeks. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: group 1 (23 patients) and group 2 (19 patients). Both groups received daily exposure to sun ultraviolet rays and regular bathing at the Dead Sea. Group 1 was also treated with mud packs and sulfur baths. Patients were assessed by a dermatologist and a rheumatologist 3 days before arrival, at the end of treatment, and at weeks 8, 16, and 28 from the start of treatment. The clinical indices assessed were morning stiffness, right and left hand grip, number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, Schober test, distance from finger to floor when bending forward, patient's self-assessment of disease severity, inflammatory neck and back pain and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score. Comparison between groups disclosed a similar statistically significant improvement for variables such as PASI, morning stiffness, patient self-assessment, right and left grip, Schober test and distance from finger to floor when bending forward. For variables such as tender and swollen joints, and inflammatory neck and back pain, improvement over time was statistically significant in group 1. Addition of mud packs and sulfur baths to sun ultraviolet exposure and Dead Sea baths seems to prolong beneficial effects and improves inflammatory back pain.

Arthritis, Psoriatic↗
PubMed1996

Dermatology at the Dead Sea spas.

A background is given to the development of the Dead Sea spas. The treatment and results of the therapy for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and vitiligo are outlined, especially for psoriasis. The different factors involved in this spa treatment are discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages presented.

Balneology↗
PubMed1995

Sustained decrease of blood pressure in psoriatic patients during treatment at the Dead Sea.

The diastolic and systolic blood pressure of 1366 psoriatic patients, treated at the Dead Sea for a period of 4 weeks, was monitored from the day following their arrival. The patients were divided into three categories: (a) psoriatics on antihypertensive medication; (b) psoriatics not receiving antihypertensive medication, but whose initial diastolic blood pressure equaled or exceeded 90 mmHg, and (c) psoriatics with normal blood pressure (diastolic pressure lower than 90 mmHg). A paired t-test revealed that the systolic blood pressure of the two hypertensive groups (a and b) dropped by an average of 22 mmHg, and the diastolic blood pressure dropped by 11 and 16 mmHg, respectively. The drop was evident 2 days after their arrival, and leveled off only after 2 weeks. A similar drop in systolic blood pressure was observed in normotensive psoriatics. On the basis of this study it may be concluded that high blood pressure is not a contraindication for the treatment of psoriasis at the Dead Sea.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of Dead-Sea brine and its main salts on cell growth in culture.

Diluted Dead-Sea brine and solutions of certain of its salts (chlorides and bromides of Na, K and Mg) were found to reversibly inhibit cell proliferation in culture. Bromides were more powerful as inhibitors than their chloride counterparts, and K salts were more effective than those of Na and Mg. KBr had the strongest inhibitory effect, which equalled that of diluted Dead-Sea brine at the same concentration. The favourable results of the Dead-Sea Spa treatment of psoriasis may thus be partly due to the penetration of minerals into the body, via the skin, with subsequent reinforcement of anti-proliferative mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Sixty-seven patients, 19 females and 48 males, 4-66 years old, suffering from lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis were treated topically with an ointment comprising 15% paromomycin sulfate and 12% methylbenzethonium chloride in white soft paraffin (P-ointment, U.K. patent GB117237A). After 10 days of treatment, twice daily, the lesions in 72% of the treated patients were free of parasites, 15% became free within an additional 20 days, without further treatment, and 13% failed to respond. Pigmentation developed in 18% of the treated lesions and inflammation of varying degree was associated with the treatment. These developments did not affect the clinical healing process which was generally completed in a period of 10-30 days after termination of treatment. In addition, 94% of the treated lesions healed with little or no scarring. No adverse clinical or laboratory side effects were observed except for a burning sensation at the site of treatment. Parasites isolated from patients who failed to respond to topical treatment were found to be susceptible to PR-MBCl in both in vitro infected macrophages and in vivo in experimentally infected BALB/c mice.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1985

Increased erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in psoriatics consuming high-selenium drinking water at the Dead-Sea Psoriasis Treatment Center.

Erythrocyte selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity was measured in psoriatic Danes, before and after their four-week balneological therapy at the Ein-Bokek International Psoriasis Treatment Center, on the Dead-Sea shore in Israel. The drinking water in Ein-Bokek was found to be rich in selenium, a trace element with anticarcinogenic properties and of great importance in human nutrition and health. The most reliable biological parameter for increase in selenium bioavailability is the erythrocytes' glutathione-peroxidase activity. As psoriasis is a proliferative skin disease, the activity of this enzyme was assayed in 35 psoriatic Danes and in 25 long-term local hotel workers, as well as in 34 volunteers drinking low-selenium water. The glutathione peroxidase activity in the psoriatic patients increased significantly during their four-week stay in Ein-Bokek. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in the hotel workers was 50% higher than that in the healthy volunteers consuming low-selenium water. A possible role of selenium in psoriasis is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The genetic analysis of monilethrix in a large inbred kindred.

The gene for monilethrix was segregating in a large inbred kindred. Pedigree analysis reaffirms an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Expressivity appears equally variable within and between sibships while penetrance, in contrast to previous studies, seems to be complete.

Consanguinity↗
PubMed1982

Rifampicin treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

In a small-scale preliminary trial of oral rifampicin treatment was considered successful in six out of eight cutaneous leishmaniasis patients and probably effective in a seventh. The in vitro effect of rifampicin on leishmania organisms concerns inhibition of mitochondrial function or replication. The need for protozoological control in the assessment of treatment is stressed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Kyrle's disease. Response to high-dose vitamin A.

A 60-year-old man with a twelve-year history of Kyrle's disease is presented. Twice during this period, hospitalization and a variety of topical and systemic medications had resulted in little improvement. Recently, following the confirmation of the diagnosis, megadose vitamin A orally resulted in the resolution of most of the lesions. The amount of vitamin A was gradually reduced, and therapy was continued with a combination of vitamin A and vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate).

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

Erythrokeratodermia variabilis in a Jewish Kurdish family.

A Jewish family, originating from Kurdistan and presenting erythrokeratodermia variabilis in three consecutive generations, is described. The major features were the variable age of onset (from early infancy to 6 years) and the distinctive cutaneous lesions with demarcated erythematous hyperkeratotic plaques with irregular borders. The affected members had mild to severe expressions of the disease. The skin lesions were not influenced by puberty, pregnancy or old age. None of the patients had lesions of the palms and soles or abnormal neurological signs.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Observations on immunization against cutaneous leishmaniasis in Israel.

Trials of immunization against Leishmania tropica were initiated in the Israel Defense Forces in 1968. The rate of takes has declined gradually over the years. In 1975, 425 soldiers were inoculated with the same strain of L. tropica as that used since 1968; they were examined at three- and six-month intervals after the inoculation, with 291 soldiers undergoing at least one follow-up examination. Only 13.7% developed lesions at the inoculation site, usually between three and six months after the inoculation. Leishmanin tests were performed in 220 soldiers and there were positive reactions in 19.5%. There was a fair correlation between the development of clinical lesions and positive leishmanin tests. A positive leishmanin test, or a typical lesion, or both, was seen in 21.3% of the inoculated soldiers. L. tropica tends to lose its virulence after prolonged storage and multiple passages. A new strain isolated a few months before this trial was used to inoculate 50 soldiers, 31 of whom were followed up. All 31 developed typical lesions at the site of inoculation, most of them within two to four weeks following the inoculation.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1976

Mycobacterium marinum skin infections mimicking cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Ten cases of skin infection due to Mycobacterium marinum are reported from Israel. Most of the infections were contracted in natural bathing pools at Ein Feshka on the shores of the Dead Sea, south of Jericho. The lesions closely resembled those of cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalent in this region. The condition does not seem to have been detected previously in the Middle East.

Adult↗