Psychologic Morbidity Among Psoriatic Arthritis Patients in Remission or With Low Disease Activity: A Comparison Between Biologic and Conventional Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of biologic agents and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on the psychologic status of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in remission or with low disease activity.

Methods: This is a case-control study of PsA patients in remission or with low disease activity treated at a single-center combined rheumatologic-dermatologic clinic between 2015 and 2017. Patients were assigned to 2 comparison groups according to their treatment (1) biologic drugs and (2) csDMARDs therapy.

Hypoglycemia- simplifying the ways to predict an old problem in the general ward.

Objective: To examine the association between hypoglycemic events and inpatient and outpatient mortality rates, and to characterize the profile of patients with diabetes who develop hypoglycemia during hospitalization in order to identify risk factors and potentially avoid it.

Research Design And Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data of 3410 patients with diabetes hospitalized during 2012. The associations among biochemical measures, severity of hypoglycemia, inpatient length of stay, and mortality during hospitalization, one month and within one year after discharge were evaluated.

Pemphigus and depression comorbidity: a case control study.

Background: While quality of life can be significantly affected in pemphigus patients, few studies have systematically investigated the co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders in these patients.

Objective: To assess the association between pemphigus and depression comorbidity, using the computerized medical database of Israel's largest health maintenance organization.

Methods: In a case-control study, co-morbidities of adult pemphigus patients retrieved from the database of a large healthcare organization from 1998 to 2010 were compared with age- and gender-matched controls from the same database.

Atopic dermatitis in Israeli adolescents - a large retrospective cohort study.

Prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been studied mainly in infants and young children. Surveys on AD in adolescents and adults are based largely on self-reported questionnaires and cohorts of different ages, precluding meaningful comparisons and conclusions. We aimed to provide data on the prevalence of AD and its relation to demographic factors in adolescents.

Pemphigus and osteoporosis: a case-control study.

Objective: To investigate the association between pemphigus and osteoporosis.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: A large health care provider organization in Israel.

Cutaneous photodamage in schizophrenia patients.

Background: Schizophrenia patients frequently engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The adverse effects of sun exposure on the human skin are well studied but only sparse data in this area have been focused on schizophrenia patients.

Aim: To assess the role of sun exposure and its effects on cutaneous photoaging in schizophrenia patients compared with age-matched healthy subjects.

Normal levels and function of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a population of bone marrow derived cells which have been attributed with the ability to migrate into areas of tissue ischemia and to posses reparative qualities. EPCs have been shown to be decreased in level and function in various inflammatory disorders. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are associated with an increase in cardiovascular morbidity.

Expression of vinculin in autoimmune cutaneous diseases.

Background: Reports have appeared that sera of patients with systemic autoimmune disorders have demonstrated autoantibodies to vinculin.

Objective: To determine the presence and distribution of vinculin in the skin of patients with cutaneous autoimmune disorders.

Methods: Semiquantitative immunohistochemistry investigations for presence of vinculin were conducted on skin biopsy specimens from patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), bullous pemphigoid (BP), and various collagen vascular diseases, and from healthy controls.

Screening for common dermatologic disorders amongst Israeli adolescents.

Background: Dermatologic disorders amongst adolescents tend to overlap with general adult dermatology, but specific data are scarce. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of common skin disorders in 17-year-old Israeli military conscripts.

Methods: Military recruits who underwent medical examination over approximately 1 year were included.

Immunohistochemical expression of platelet growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with melanoma with and without redness (Brenner sign).

Objective: To assess whether an erythematous eruption in the vicinity of or distant from a melanoma lesion might be related to the vascular endothelial growth factor, the platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, or both.

Methods: Biopsy specimens from 13 patients with primary melanoma, 6 of whom had erythematous eruptions and 7 who did not, were studied by immunohistochemistry for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor.

Results: Vascular endothelial growth factor was positive in 3 of 6 patients (50%) with melanoma and redness (Brenner sign) and in 4 of 7 patients (57%) with melanoma without redness.

Environmental risk factors for mycosis fungoides.

The rising incidence rates of mycosis fungoides (MF) call for an explanation. Thus, environmental and lifestyle factors were speculated to play a role in the development of lymphoproliferative diseases. It is thought that continuous activation of skin T helper lymphocytes leads to malignant transformation of a specific clone.

A survey of sex differences in 249 pemphigus patients and possible explanations.

Background: Pemphigus, an immunoblistering disorder, is reported with equal or near equal frequencies in men and women despite prominent female predominance in prevalence ratios of the vast majority of autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To assess a possible correlation between pemphigus and intake of sex hormones in a cohort of pemphigus patients.

Methods: A prospective online survey using a specially designed questionnaire was conducted among patients with diagnosed pemphigus in the United States during a 1-year period from September 2005 through September 2006.

Asthma and psychiatric disorders in male army recruits and soldiers.

Background: Numerous studies have shown an association between asthma and mental disorders. While elevated rates of asthma have been noted among psychiatric patients with anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, several studies have found elevated rates of mental disorders among asthma patients. Such studies, however, have generally relied upon questionnaires and assessment by non-specialist physicians to diagnose mental disorders and asthma.

Allergic contact dermatitis among maintenance and clerical workers in a military population.

Contact dermatitis is one of the leading causes of occupational morbidity and absenteeism and has become an intolerable cause of missed workdays and health problems in the Israeli military. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of contact dermatitis in maintenance and clerical workers, the common allergens causing it, and the background of atopy in the subjects in order to design preventive measures. Medical records of all recruits to the Israel Defense Forces from 2000 to 2003 were reviewed for contact dermatitis.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis: a retrospective analysis showing a clear predilection for women.

The clinical reaction pattern acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is increasingly recognized today as drug intake details are more meticulously recorded and diagnostic guidelines are formulated. Nevertheless, the diagnosis and etiology remain unclear. This examination of the clinical and histologic features of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, undertaken in a retrospective study of 13 patients in an urban medical center, was aimed at determining the underlying mechanism of the etiology of the disease.

Chlorpyrifos exacerbating pemphigus vulgaris: a preliminary report and suggested in vitro immunologic evaluation model.

Background: There is accumulating evidence on the role of pesticides in the etiology of pemphigus vulgaris (PV).

Objective: To determine whether chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide, is involved in the immunopathology of PV.

Methods: Normal human skin biopsy specimens incubated with progressively diluted chlorpyrifos solutions were used as indirect immunofluorescence substrates for sera from two PV patients previously exposed to the agent and from healthy controls.

Multiple common naevi in Israeli adolescents.

The most prominent known phenotypic risk factor for the development of melanoma is a large number of common melanocytic naevi. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of multiple common naevi in a group of 17-year-olds and to identify possible associated risk factors. The study subjects were approximately 40,000 female and 60,000 male 17-year-old Jewish Israelis presenting to army recruitment centres for compulsory military service during a 1-year period from January 2003 to December 2003.