Clinical Applicability of the Proliferation Marker Thymidine Kinase 1 in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Prognostic factors serve as a vital tool in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical potential of Thymidine-kinase-1 (TK1) marker in the prognosis of HNC patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 366 blood samples from 278 HNC patients and 88 healthy controls, using an ELISA assay.

Delusional Parasitosis: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a somatic type of delusional disorder, usually mono-symptomatic, in which the patients are convinced they are being infested with animal parasites while no objective evidence exists to support this belief. The complaints are usually about skin infestation, but involvement of the gastrointestinal tract has also been described. Numerous samples are brought for examination from skin, clothes, and environmental sources, while a detailed description of the "parasite" is given.

A comparison of clinical vs subclinical skin pickers in Israel.

Background: Skin-picking disorder (SPD) was recognized as its own entity for the first time in DSM-5. The existing SPD literature is limited and, to date, no study has examined the differences between clinical and sub- clinical SPD. Identifying differences between these 2 groups may improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment, and prevention efforts.

Assessing Response to New Treatments and Prognosis in Melanoma Patients, by the Biomarker S-100β.

Background/aim: Malignant melanoma incidence is increasing over the last years, while mortality is strongly decreasing due to improved early detection, close monitoring of patients including disease biomarkers as well as introduction of new therapies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate biomarkers, mainly S-100β in melanoma patients, regarding its ability to assess treatment response, especially to new immunotherapies (anti-BRAF, ipilimumab, anti-PD-1) and evaluation of prognosis of those patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated both retrospectively and prospectively 137 malignant melanoma patients.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Tumor Markers (CEA, SCC, CYFRA 21-1, TPS) in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Establishing prognostic factors is very important in the management of cancer patients. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical significance of a panel of tumor markers, including CEA (Carcino Embryonic Antigen), SCC (Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen), TPS (Tissue Polypeptide Specific Antigen) and CYFRA 21-1 in head and neck cancer patients, for assessing treatment response and prognosis of patients.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated 312 blood samples from 143 head and neck cancer patients, from several sub-groups: 82 Larynx Carcinoma pre- and 38 post-therapy, 46 Oral Cavity pre and 29 post-therapy, 12 nasopharynx, 16 parotid and other salivary gland patients.

Prevalence of interdigital psoriasis of the feet ("psoriasis alba") in mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis.

Interdigital psoriasis of the feet ("psoriasis alba") is a rare form of inverse psoriasis. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of interdigital psoriasis in mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis, compared to atopic dermatitis and normal controls. Data were collected during 2010-2013 from 232 psoriatic patients, 190 patients with atopic dermatitis, and 202 normal controls.

Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder in adults: a cross-cultural survey of Israeli Jewish and Arab samples.

Objective: We sought to estimate the lifetime prevalence of Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder (SPD) in the Israeli adult population as a whole and compare SPD prevalence in the Jewish and Arab communities. We also explored demographic, medical and psychological correlates of SPD diagnosis.

Methods: Questionnaires and scales screening for SPD, and assessing the severity of perceived stress, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), alcohol use, illicit drug use, and medical disorders were completed in a sample of 2145 adults attending medical settings.

The CD48 receptor mediates Staphylococcus aureus human and murine eosinophil activation.

Background: Allergy is characterized by eosinophilia and an increased susceptibility to microbial infection. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is typically associated with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) colonization. Some of the mechanisms by which SA and its exotoxins interact with eosinophils remain elusive.

Excoriation (skin picking) disorder in Israeli University students: prevalence and associated mental health correlates.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of excoriation (skin picking) disorder (SPD) and associated physical and mental health correlates in a sample of Israeli university students.

Methods: Five thousand Israeli students were given questionnaires screening for SPD, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders. A total of 2176 participants (43.

Prevalence of tinea pedis in psoriasis, compared to atopic dermatitis and normal controls--a prospective study.

There are discrepancies in the literature regarding the prevalence of tinea pedis in psoriasis. The aim of this investigation was to conduct a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of tinea pedis in psoriasis compared to atopic dermatitis patients and normal controls. We enrolled 232 psoriatic patients, 190 atopic dermatitis patients and 202 normal controls, between the years 2010 and 2013.

Well being, psychopathology and coping strategies in psoriasis compared with atopic dermatitis: a controlled study.

Background: There is a vast literature describing the association between psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) and psychological distress. Some of these studies were uncontrolled and others used non-dermatological diseases as control, but only a few used chronic skin diseases as controls.

Objective: To compare well being, psychopathology and coping strategies of psoriatic, AD and healthy controls in a prospective case-control study.

Effects of virtual reality immersion and audiovisual distraction techniques for patients with pruritus.

Background: Virtual reality immersion (VRI), an advanced computer-generated technique, decreased subjective reports of pain in experimental and procedural medical therapies. Furthermore, VRI significantly reduced pain-related brain activity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Resemblance between anatomical and neuroendocrine pathways of pain and pruritus may prove VRI to be a suitable adjunct for basic and clinical studies of the complex aspects of pruritus.

A Population-based study of Toenail onychomycosis in Israeli children.

Onychomycosis is widespread in the adult population, but considered to be rare in children. A number of studies in recent years show a rise in the prevalence of toenail onychomycosis in children. Of these, only a few were population-based.

Immunological assessment of familial tinea corporis.

Background: The mechanisms involved in the immune resistance to fungal infection of the skin are not well understood. We assessed the levels of the various lymphocyte subsets, the HLA haplotypes, the expression of various receptors on natural killer (NK) cells and the serum levels of cytokines, in a family in which four siblings had tinea corporis, while four others were healthy, in order to reveal potential factors of susceptibility to dermatophytes.

Observations: Normal numbers of T, B and NK cells were found in the peripheral blood, without significant differences between healthy and infected siblings.

Increased prevalence of onychomycosis among psoriatic patients in Israel.

Published data on the prevalence of onychomycosis in psoriasis patients compared with healthy controls are controversial, We therefore conducted a prospective study of toenail onychomycosis, among 113 psoriatic and 106 healthy non-psoriatic subjects, selected from the normal population in the Jerusalem area in the period 2003-05. The results revealed a prevalence of 47.6% toenail onychomycosis among psoriatic patients, compared with 28.

Prevalence of Candida on the tongue and intertriginous areas of psoriatic and atopic dermatitis patients.

Data in the literature regarding the prevalence of Candida in psoriatic and atopic dermatitis patients are controversial. We conducted a prospective study to determine the prevalence of Candida on the tongue, axillae and groin of psoriatic patients when compared with atopic dermatitis patients and normal controls. During the period 2003-2005, data were collected from 100 psoriatic patients, 100 patients with atopic dermatitis and 100 normal controls.

Herpes simplex virus infection in a hyper-IgE patient: appearance of unusual mass lesions.

A 7-year-old girl presented with large soft masses rising from the nostril and from behind the ear. She had previously been diagnosed as suffering from hyper-IgE syndrome. The presence of herpes simplex virus infection within these lesions was confirmed by biopsy and immunohistochemical studies.

Population-based epidemiologic study of tinea pedis in Israeli children.

Background: In recent years we have seen an increasing number of children in Israel with tinea pedis.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of tinea pedis in 5- to 14-year-old schoolchildren in a comprehensive epidemiologic population-based study.

Methods: A total of 1148 children, ages 5 to 14 years, from 7 schools with different socioeconomic backgrounds from the Jerusalem area were examined for the presence of tinea pedis.

Acro-angiodermatitis: review of the literature and report of a case.

Acro-angiodermatitis is a very common disorder, with a close clinical, anatomical and morphological resemblance to Kaposi's sarcoma. Several types of this disorder can be found in different settings. However, these conditions are often misdiagnosed and therefore mistreated.

Imbalance of immune responses in patients with chronic and widespread fungal skin infection.

Fungal infections of the skin are caused by dermatophyte fungi. Infections can be acute and inflammatory or chronic and non-inflammatory; it is believed that cell-mediated immunity is the cornerstone of host defence and is instrumental in the eradication of the infection. We describe here parameters of the immune response of a group of patients who although not immunocompromised, suffered from widespread and chronic infections.

Unusually extensive disease caused by Leishmania major parasites.

Simple cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which is endemic in several areas of Israel, is usually caused by Leishmania major. CL, which is caused by replication of parasites within dermal macrophages, is self-limited and almost always confined to the skin. We recently encountered two cases of CL in which skin defenses were breached and lesions appeared in subcutaneous locations.

Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani: effect of LPG-containing and LPG-deficient strains on monocyte chemotaxis and chemiluminescence.

Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is a major glycolipid present on the membrane of Leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes. We have previously shown that preincubation of peripheral blood monocytes with purified LPG inhibits IL-1 production, chemotactic locomotion, and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL). In the present study we tested the effect of LPG present on live parasites on monocyte activity.