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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Determination of solar ultraviolet dose in the Dead Sea treatment of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: An increased risk of developing cancer of the skin is the only potentially serious (albeit unproven) long-term side effect of heliotherapy and it is therefore prudent to avoid unnecessary exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. Traditional heliotherapy for psoriasis at the Dead Sea calls for a sun exposure of 5-6 hours daily for 28 days. Studies have determined that mid-summer exposure for 3 hours is equally effective. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of 3 hours sun exposure daily in the heliotherapy of psoriasis at the Dead Sea during the months March to December; and to monitor the associated ambient doses of solar UVB radiation. METHODS: A total of 194 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis was treated in the months of March to December by 3 hours of sun exposure each day. The dose of ambient solar UVB was monitored by a Solar Model 501A UVB-Biometer. RESULTS: Three hours of sun exposure daily was therapeutically efficacious in all months from March to November, but not in December. The lowest effective cumulative UVB dose was 170 SED (standard erythema dose), recorded in March and November. CONCLUSIONS: Daily sun exposure for the heliotherapy of psoriasis at the Dead Sea can be reduced to at least 3 hours daily, about half the time originally recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Urticaria pigmentosa adultorum and systemic mastocytosis--diagnostic principles and therapeutic possibilities].

We report on the clinical picture of urticaria pigmentosa adultorum and systemic mastocytosis. In four out of five patients, we proved systemic mastocytosis by means of a biopsy from the iliac crest, although these patients did not complain of systemic signs and symptoms. In all cases, the cutaneous changes and clinical symptoms could be improved by a four-week-heliotherapy in the North Sea summer climate; itching did not reappear but five months later. Heliotherapy is regarded as an useful alternative concerning the treatment of urticaria pigmentosa and cutaneous manifestation of systemic mastocytosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Climatotherapy.

For successful climatotherapeutic treatment the body has to be exposed daily over several weeks under an exact dosage regime, to the biometerological conditions. For doing this--to provide rest, or to apply stimuli--four different methods are described: climatic terrain treatment, fresh air rest-cures, air baths and heliotherapy. Climatotherapy is conducted in a marine climate, in upland and in alpine regions. These three zones differ in the intensity of their climatic stimuli. Today, climatotherapy has become more differentiated, and has been newly structured following objective parameters. It always refers to specific diseases.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1975

Ultraviolet measurements at the Dead Sea and at Beersheba.

Comparative ultraviolet (UV) spectral measurements of direct and scattered sunlight, between 300 and 400 nm, reaching the Dead Sea and Beersheba were made. It was found that the sunlight reaching Beersheba is at least twice as high in UV content as that reaching the Dead Sea. The UV content of the sunlight reaching the Dead Sea in the erythemal band (290 to 330 nm) is particularly low. The implications for heliotherapy are discussed.

Health Resorts↗
PubMed1991

[Lichenoid pityriasis (parapsoriasis guttata) in children. Report of 17 cases].

Seventeen cases of pityriasis lichenoides diagnosed over a nine-year period in children under 15 years of age are reported. Patients with this benign disease develop papular skin lesions covered with thick, coherent scales which detach in a single piece (reminiscent of sealing wax). Pruritus is not marked. Lesions may be necrotic (Mucha Habermann's small pox-like form, n = 6) or mild (leukodermic form, n = 2). Half of the patients studied developed several episodes and total duration of the disease exceeded two years in one third of cases. Recovery occurred after one or two episodes in half the children. Scars developed in some patients with severely necrotic lesions. None of the patients developed lymphoma. All patients with lymphomatoid papulosis progressing to lymphoma reported in the literature were adults. Pathogenesis of pityriasis lichenoides remains unknown but may involve lymphocytic vasculitis. No truly effective therapy is available. However, oral macrolides can be used especially in patients with early manifestations suggesting an infectious disease. Emollients, heliotherapy and ultraviolet therapy may also be recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Leysin and its medical past].

The mountain village of Leysin (Ct. de Vaud, Switzerland) enjoyed an international reputation as a place for the cure of tuberculosis. This was mainly due to Auguste Rollier (1874-1954), who, at the beginning of this century, initiated heliotherapy of bone and joint tuberculosis. The author describes the development of Leysin in its medical as well as in its social aspects. She stresses the rôle of the "Société climatérique", founded in 1890 by both physicians and hotel-keepers. Finally, she discusses the influence of principles applied in the fight against tuberculosis on our way of life in general.

Health Resorts↗
PubMed1975

Urinary excretion of indolyl-3-acryloylglycine in some skin affections.

1. Urinary excretion of indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (chromogen of the so-called Kimmig's light band) in 15 normal subjects was highly significantly increased in June-September ("summer") against the November-April ("winter") collection in the same subjects. Possible explanation of this phenomenon is discussed. 2. In the "winter" period, the mean of 23 patients with chronic polymorphous light eruption was significantly higher than the mean of the 29 controls. In the "summer" period, though an increaes of the average against "winter" was also noted, this difference against the control group (29) disappeared. 3. In 24 patients with skin tuberculosis the mean excretion in "winter" was significantly higher than in controls. This increase cannot be simply attributed to heliotherapy. 4. In "winter", there was no significant difference between the normal subjects and 12 patients with lupus erythematosus and 10 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. In both these groups there was marked "summer" increase in excretion, though in the case of porphyria cutanea tarda, the "summer" mean was significantly lower than that of the controls. 5. All results were expressed on creatinine basis. In part of the subjects it was possible to calculate the excretion per unit time. Identical conclusions could be drawn.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Short-term methotrexate therapy in psoriasis: a study of 197 patients.

Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most effective antipsoriatic drugs available. Although it is undeniably hepatotoxic, it can be used safely in most patients with severe psoriasis if established guidelines are followed. Current opinion on the monitoring of hepatic damage is divided, however, and the need for repeated liver biopsies during MTX therapy is being re-examined. We have used MTX in a short-term protocol in our patients with psoriasis for the past 20 years, and have recently attempted to minimize or eliminate the need for liver biopsies using this regimen. Data on 244 psoriatics who were given MTX from 1981 to 2000 have been reviewed. Our protocol entailed the use of weekly oral MTX at the full therapeutic dose during episodes of peak disease activity, with tapering off of MTX when the disease subsided in response to treatment combined with natural/seasonal remission. Intensive topical and heliotherapy were encouraged throughout to facilitate the earliest possible drug withdrawal and the longest possible drug-free interval before the next relapse. Strict inclusion criteria were applied before starting MTX. A total of 243 cycles of MTX therapy have been given to 197 evaluable patients. More than 75% improvement occurred in 88% of patients in 8.5 +/- 5.1 weeks. The mean cumulative dose was 709.3 +/- 369.2 mg and the mean duration of follow-up was 16.5 +/- 9.1 months. Fifteen (6.1%) patients had serious adverse effects requiring the cessation of therapy. Only three patients had deranged liver function tests. Thirty-four pre-MTX and 13 post-MTX liver biopsies were taken, which revealed grade I or II changes that were nonprogressive. Our experience with short-term MTX therapy has enabled us to safely administer MTX to our patients with minimal recourse to liver biopsy. In developing countries, where advanced noninvasive methods for the assessment of liver damage are unaffordable or unavailable, this interrupted, short-term regimen may present an acceptable and safe method of using MTX in carefully selected patients with severe psoriasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Genomic-scale analysis of psoriatic skin reveals differentially expressed insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-7 after phototherapy.

BACKGROUND: Phototherapy is an effective therapy for psoriasis. The molecular mechanisms underlying its efficacy are not yet understood. OBJECTIVES: To compare the expression profiles of psoriatic epidermis in patients before and after undergoing phototherapy with the purpose of expounding the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy of this therapeutic modality. METHODS: Patients with psoriasis were investigated before and after full courses of phototherapy: three patients completed 3 weeks of heliotherapy at the Dead Sea; three patients received narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) for a total of 20-27 treatments. Epidermal samples were analysed using oligonucleotide microarrays. Our microarray results led us to explore further and to quantify a specific gene, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-7 (IGFBP7), using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays and immunohistochemical protein expression. RESULTS: We identified 315 genes modulated by phototherapy: the expressions of 248 genes (142 up; 106 down) were changed by Dead Sea treatment, 116 (71 up; 45 down) by NB-UVB and 49 (37 up; 12 down) were modulated regardless of treatment. The differentially changed genes include S100 calcium-binding proteins, dendritic cell markers, tumour necrosis factor-alpha target genes, matrix metalloproteinases and NFkappaB target genes. We also found that IGFBP7 mRNA and protein were significantly underexpressed in psoriatic compared with normal epidermis, and that phototherapy significantly increased their expression. CONCLUSIONS: IGFBP7 is underexpressed in psoriatic epidermis but is inducible by UVB.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Long-term effects of PUVA therapy on Israeli patients with vitiligo].

BACKGROUND: Long-term treatment of psoriasis patients with PUVA (psoralen and ultraviolet A) is associated with an increased risk of photoaging and non-melanomic skin cancer, and perhaps of melanoma as well. Very little information is available on the long-term effects of PUVA treatment on vitiligo patients in general, and specifically on the risk of developing skin tumors. Among vitiligo patients treated with PUVA or heliotherapy, only a few cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have been described. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to examine the long-term effects of PUVA treatment among vitiligo patients and the incidence of long-term side effects, including various types of skin cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical files of all patients treated with PUVA at the Rabin Medical Center and the Emek Medical Center between 1982 and 1996 were surveyed. Each patient was interviewed by telephone and then invited to come in for a medical examination. RESULTS: A total of 28 out of 31 patients completed the questionnaire, and 12 of them were also examined. The average age of the patients was 47 years (range 25-84). The average amount of radiation to which each patient was exposed was 546.8 J/cm2 (range 26.5-1561), with a median of 336.8 J/cm2. The average number of treatments per patient was 84.2 (median 77). The average time that elapsed since beginning the treatment was 11 years (range 7-20), and the average time since treatment ended was 9.4 years (range 2-23). Partial or total repigmentation was experienced by 60% of the patients. In 18% of the patients, total or almost total repigmentation was seen, which lasted an average of 46 months. No skin cancer of any kind was seen in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: A recurrence of the illness was seen in all the vitiligo patients who had responded to PUVA treatment. Long-term treatment with PUVA for vitiligo patients does not entail photoaging damages or increased risk of skin cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Dosimetry of solar ultraviolet radiation. Daily and monthly changes in Paris].

The intensity of ultraviolet A and B radiations was measured in Paris (48 degrees North) by means of silicon photoelectric cells (Osram Centra dosimeter) from December, 1984 till February, 1986. The results, which must be regarded as approximate, are expressed as physical units (mW/cm2) and biological units (minimal erythema dose/hour). For sunny days two curves are presented separately for UVB and UVA: daily variations in radiation (hourly measurements) and daily variations at 11 hours (solar time) during one year. Maximum irradiation was observed at noon in early July: UVB 0.15 mW/cm2, UVA 5.4 mW/cm2. Between December and July the amount of UVB radiation was multiplied by 14 and that of UVA radiation by 9. For subjects with clear photo-type and when the sun was at its zenith, an MED per hour was obtained from May 1 onwards. Within a day, 30 p. 100 (summer) and 50 p. 100 (winter) of erythema-producing UV intensity were delivered between 11 and 13 hours (solar time). This kind of study has numerous clinical applications: advice regarding exposure to sun rays, dosing of heliotherapy, epidemiological data concerning photodermatitis (circumstances of exposure, UV threshold dose) and photocarcinogenesis (determination of annual MED doses in relation to areas of uncovered skin and occupational exposure to sun rays). Other studies on the French territory will provide a map of UV irradiation.

Paris↗