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New at the Dead Sea - Solarium
-400
Conventions and Symposiums
General Dead Sea News
Last papers
Newsletter
Dermatology
Rheumatology
Respiratory diseases
Cardiology
Other diseases
Climatic and Natural Resources
Call For Proposals
NEWS
New at the Dead Sea - Solarium
-400
In the heart of the Ein Boqeq hotel area the “Solarium
-400” has opened, under the management
of the local authority – Tamar Dead Sea Regional
Council.
The solarium consists of a large complex, which
is designed for therapeutic tanning.
The area contains spacious, separate tanning sections
for men and women, with tanning beds, mattresses,
shady areas, fans, showers and cold drinking water
units.
The solarium has its own beach and lifeguard.
Direct access to the beach allows
patients maximum use of the climatic treatment, which
is based on exposure to the sun and bathing in
the Dead Sea. The beach, which is open to
both men and women, offers
a wide variety of sports equipment.
The main building on the solarium premises is covered
and air-conditioned, and has a cafeteria, relaxation
areas (for resting and cooling the body, as required
in the course of such treatments), clinic services
for the treatment of skin, joint and other diseases,
an emergency medical service, a paramedic service
and a Tourist Information office. The facility
is easily accessible for the physically disabled.
The spacious yet concentrated ensemble of
all facilities in one location, allows the patients
to enjoy comfortable and quality treatment facilities
that focus on the patients and their needs.
Moreover, these special conditions facilitate unmediated
social encounters with other patients suffering from
similar problems, and create the warm and supportive
environment that is important to the healing process.
The staff on site makes every effort to ensure the
highest standard of quality, professional service.
Note: The cost for dermatological Dead Sea
Treatment includes flights, accommodations, visit
in the clinic, and entrance to the solarium.
For some citizens, full payment may be offset with
subsidies or by leading HMOs.
For more details, please contact the site director,
Mr. Yossi Scechanover,
Tel: 972-86584410
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News from The 26th Annual Meeting
of: The Israel Society of Dermatology
and Venereology, At The Dead Sea
Dead Sea Balneotherapy for Psoriasis
Prof. Sima Halevy, Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva
After a review of the Spa therapy modalities,
the speaker presented the results of a controlled
randomized double blind study, done in order to evaluate
clinical and laboratory changes in psoriatic patients
undergoing Balneotherapy. 25 patients with psoriasis
vulgaris were assigned during 3 weeks to one of the
two regimens: a daily bath either with Dead Sea salts
or with regular “table” salt. They were
assessed clinically by the PASI score, by histological
changes, by assessment of markers and by immuno-histochemical
metHods.
Moderate clinical improvement was found by
the “Dead Sea salts” group, which was
similarly evidenced by changes in markers of proliferation
and inflammation (Ki-67, TNF-alpha and IL-6). Of the
numerous trace elements checked in both groups, significant
changes of Manganese and Lithium levels were found
only in the plasma of exposed patients.
Actinic damage and Dead Sea treatment
Prof. Michael David, Rabin Medical Center, Tel
Aviv
508 psoriatic patients were enrolled in this
cross sectional study, 39% male and 61% female, while
the median age was 56 years. All patients who had
undergone Climatotherapy at the Dead Sea answered
a detailed questionnaire, and were subsequently examined
by a dermatologist.
No single case of Malignant Melanoma was
found among patients and control groups. Squamous
Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma were found
respectively in 4 and 6 psoriatic patients as opposed
to 8 and 15 in the control group. Incidence of all
types of skin malignancies for 100 patients was found
to reach 1.6 for psoriatics against 3.5 in the control
group (p non significant). Correlation between mortality
of skin cancer and degree of sun exposure was slightly
different but not statistically significant, in favor
of the Dead Sea group. Actinic damage manifested as
Elastosis, Lentigines and facial wrinkles were more
common among patients compared to controls.
In conclusion, these data indicate that in psoriatic
patients, there is no evidence that under given
conditions, Climatotherapy at the Dead Sea increase
the risk of developing skin cancer.
A new method at the Dead Sea: Re-Climatotherapy
Dr. Y. Shiri, Tel Nordau Clinic, Tel Aviv
This new protocol called Re-Climatotherapy
begins 3 weeks before treatment at the Dead Sea with
Etretinate (Neotigason) at the dose of 0,5 mg/kg,
followed by a stay of 2-4 weeks at the Dead Sea. 7
patients, who suffered for at least 2 years from psoriasis
and with previous Climatotherapy entered the study.
Patients treated before Climatotherapy with
Neotigason showed a remission period two times longer
than that reported after Climatotherapy only. Based
on these findings, the authors propose to add this
modality of treatment, which induces longer symptom
free time and reduces the quantity and the duration
of treatment with Neotigason.
Cumulative Exposure Dose in the Dead Sea Area
Dr. H. Giryes, European Medical Center, Ein Bokek
129 patients from Germany suffering from psoriasis
vulgaris entered the study and filled a “personal
daily sun exposure data form” in order to evaluate
the minimal erythema doses (MED) received during treatment.
They wore polysulphone dosimeters, which recorded
the radiation intensity reaching their body. The patients
were divided at the end of their stay into 4 groups,
according to the ambient solar radiation (AUD) reached:
less than 100 MED, 100 to 150 MED, 150 to 200 MED
and more than 200 MED.
In all patients Psoriasis Severity Index scores
were highly significantly improved (p<0.001). The
authors concluded that the use of midday hours for
sun exposure, in which important amounts of UVB are
delivered, is not necessary in order to obtain effective
results by Climatotherapy at the Dead Sea. Therefore,
these hours of high solar radiation intensity should
be avoided.
The simultaneous use in 13 patients of a
UVB Biometer for evaluation of the cumulative ambient
UVB doses (AUD) and dosimeters for the direct solar
UVB radiation dose (DUD) allowed the authors to establish
for the first time a model to calculate the relations
between these two measurements.
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General Dead Sea News
A new project for the Solarium at the Dead Sea is
being designed, emphasizing the importance of safe
sun bathing by offering for each one a personal and
up-to-date "TIME TO SUNBURN" for the next hour of
the day. A computer with a touch screen placed at
the Solarium hall, connected to the meteorological
station, through a modem and via Internet will ask
for personal information about weight, height, age,
skin reaction to sun and history of sunburn. As a
result, the user will receive, on line, a total of
minutes,that represent the maximum "safe" sun exposure
allowed for the next hour.In addition, the computer
will provide on-line parameters as temperature,relative
humidity, etc., as well as general recommendations
and important facts about sun exposure, in order to
enhance the safety of the Dead Sea Photoclimatherapy.
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Last Papers
Flusser D. et al. J Clin Rheumatol Aug 2002;8:197-203
The presumed mechanism of natural mud compresses
in the improvement of osteoarthritis pains seems to
be linked to the absorption of the minerals, and not
only to the sustained heat. This is one of the results
of a prospective trial on 58 patients with knee osteoarthritis,
reported in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology by
Professor Daniel Flusser from Ben Gurion University
of the Negev, in Beer Sheva.
The patients were randomized to treatment with natural
mud compresses or with mineral-depleted mud compresses,
five times weekly for three weeks. These natural mud
compresses are rich in magnesium, sodium, calcium,
postassium and chloride, and have a high salinity,
as in the Dead Sea itself. In comparison to the control
group, the group treated had a reduction of 20% or
more in pain scores at the end of the treatment, at
one month and at three months. Self-assessment of
knee pain improved by at least 20% in 33% of patients
in the control group and in 72% of patients receiving
natural mud compresses.
The authors conclude that treatment with mud compresses,
but only their natural form, temporarily relieves
pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees,
adding in another way a new argument in the effectiveness
of mud therapy in joint diseases.
Survey of Allergenic Airborne Pollen and Spores
in the Dead Sea region. Prof. Yoav Waisel, Tel
Aviv University.
The results of this important 3-year survey were
numerous:
Even in these remote desert sites, 50 species of pollen
and 43 species of molds where identified; significant
differences, in the concentration of airborne pollen
and spores, were found throughout the year; some differences
in composition and concentration were found between
the various sites of measurement; the magnitude of
the differences was seasonally depended; the composition
and concentration of the airborne flora are greatly
influenced by the intensity and the direction of the
prevailing winds; autochthonous plants released most
of the airborne pollen grains.
The concentration of the airborne pollen is six times
lower in the Dead Sea region than that in Tel Aviv
and lower than that reported for most of the measured
sites in Europe. Pollen of wild Chenopods are the
most important constituents of the airborne flora,
followed by that of the ornamental garden plants.
These results make the Dead Sea resort area particularly
suitable for allergic people.
Schallreuter KU et al. Int J Dermatol Aug 2002;(41)
8:482
A significant faster initiation of repigmentation
in vitiligo can be reached after a combination of
short-term climatherapy at the Dead Sea with a pseudocatalase
cream (PC-KUS). This affirmation of one of the leading
physicians in the field of pigmentary disorders, Professor
Karin Schallreuter, is reported in the Internal Journal
of Dermatology, and brings new knoweledge on the influence
of solar UV-light at the Dead Sea, as well as on the
necesity of epidermal hydrogen peroxyde removal.
59 patients were divided in three group of treatment:
Dead Sea climatotherapy alone, with pseudocatalase
cream and with a placebo cream. Epidermal hydrogen
peroxid was assessed in vivo before and after the
21 days of treatment at the Dead Sea, and clinical
repigmentation was documented by standardized black/white
and color photography. Initiation of repigmentation
was already abserved between day 10 and day 16 after
the combination of Dead Sea climatotherapy and pseudocatalase
cream, compared to conventionnal pseudocatalase monotherapy
(8-14 weeks) and Dead Sea climatotherapy alone (5-6
weeks). A unexpectded observation was made: some degree
of pseudocatalase activity was demonstrated after
15 minutes of Dead Sea bathing only.
This study places the combined therapy Dead Sea-pseudocatalase
at the top level of successful treatments of vitiligo,
allows better understanding of this skin disease and
justifies once again climatotherapy for its treatment.
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RESEARCH
DERMATOLOGY
On-going research
Heliotherapy at the Dead Sea : its influence on
quality of life by Israeli and Danish Psoriatics.
Amir M., Kragballe K., Avrach W., Ben Gurion University
of the Negev, Israel, Aarhus University, Denmark .
Relation between Clinical Improvement and Radiation
Intensity Dosage as measured on the skin surface by
Psoriatics undergoing Dead Sea Treatment. Kudish
A., Gyries H., Solar Energy Laboratory, Ben Gurion
University of the Negev and MBE Clinic at the Dead
Sea, Israel.
The Influence of Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Low Omega
6 Fatty Acids Diet on the Clinical Response of Psoriatic
Patients to Climatotherapy at the Dead Sea. Yam
D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Dept. of Chemical
Biology and Rabin Medical Center, Dept. of Dermatology.
Dead Sea Climatotherapy in Psoriasis of Childhood.
Ben-Amitai D., David M. Rabin Medical Center, Unit
of Pediatric Dermatology and Dept. of Dermatology.
Remission time after Dead Sea Treatment: the
German study. Barth J. from Leipzig, Germany and
Harari M. from DMZ Medical Center.
Heliotherapy at the Dead Sea and the risk of
cancer : comparative study at the molecular level
between classic UVB and Dead Sea Treatment. Henk
D., Hadassah University Hospital.
Activity evaluation of Dead Sea salt and mineral
- rich topical preparations on growth, differentiation
and senescence of human skin cells. Milner Y.
The Hebrew University.
Planned research
Neotigason and Dead Sea Treatment: clinical evaluation
on
psoriasis patients. David M., Rabin Medical Center
and Shiri D.,
Nordau Dermatological Clinic.
Dead Sea Treatment for Vitiligo. David M.,
Rabin Medical Center
and Harari M., DMZ Medical Center.
Research performed during the last 2 years
1.Effect of sun exposure (climatotherapy) at the
Dead Sea on photodamage among patients with psoriasis
and comparison with other versions of treatment modalities.
David M., Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital,
Department of Dermatology, Israel and other Dermatology
Departments in Israel.
The conclusions of the study 650 patients who
were treated at the Dead Sea for five years or more,
were that "Dead Sea treatment," based on
exposing the patients to the sun at the Dead Sea,
does not pose a risk factor for the appearance of
skin cancer.
Correlation between Clinical Improvement, Epidermal
and Lymphocytic Activation in Psoriatic Patients after
Dead Sea Treatment. Hodak E., David M., Gottlieb
A., This study suggests that climatotherapy at the
Dead Sea leads to a reversal of both epidermal pathological
changes and lymphocytic activation in psoriasis. These
observations may provide the cellular basis for the
sustained remission of psoriasis reported to be achieved
by this treatment modality.
Comparison of the Cost-Effectiveness between Dead
Sea Treatment for Psoriasis and the In-Hospital Setting
in Switzerland. Neeser K., Palmer A.J., Sturzinger
M., The clinical outcomes of the Dead Sea Treatment
for Psoriasis was comparable to in-hospital therapy,
but cost saving varied from 31% to 55%. Thus, the
results of this study indicate that considering economic
factors, climatotherapy at the Dead Sea is preferable
to in-hospital therapy for Swiss psoriasis patients.
Significant Improvement in Life Quality of Psoriasis
Patients after Dead Sea Treatment. Amir M., Vardy
D., Narkiss T., Becker G., Buskila D., Heliotherapy
at the Dead Sea improves certain aspects of quality
of life in patients suffering from Psoriasis. A comparative
study for outpatient phototherapy is presently being
planned.
In vitro Dead Sea Bath Salt for Psoriasis.
Halevy S., This study shows good correlation between
beneficial clinical effect induced by balneotherapy
with Dead Sea bath salt in psoriasis vulgaris and
alterations in histological parameters, expression
of cytokines and serum levels of traces elements.
Further investigations are needed in order to understand
the various mechanisms possibly involved.
Combination of Dead Sea Treatment and Calcipotriol
for Psoriasis. Abels D.J., This control study
shows improved therapeutic results by a combination
of a Calcipotriol (versus emollients) pre-Dead Sea
treatment and its continued use during Dead Sea climatotherapy.
The response in the combination group continued to
be better following 2, 3 and 4 weeks after Dead Sea
treatment.
RHEUMATOLOGY
On-going research
Influence of Dead Sea Treatment on Ankylosing
Spondylitis. Sukenik S., Ben-Gurion University
of the Negev, Soroka Medical Center, Department of
Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Israel.
Research performed during the last 2 years
Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis at the Dead Sea.
Sukenik S., This controlled study,in which the study
group received mud packs and sulfur baths,in addition
to sun and sea bathing which both groups received,
shows significant improvement in both groups in most
of the main clinical variables assessed, in both groups;
however, for 2 variables: reduction of spinal pain
and increased range of movement in the lumbar spine,
only the study group achieved significantly better
results. Similar results were recently observed in
another study conducted by Elkayam et al on the beneficial
prolonged effects of mud packs and sulfur bath on
inflammatory back pain and peripheral arthritis.
Fibromyalgia at the Dead Sea. D. Buskila and
S. Sukenik, Soroka Medical Center, Ben Gurion University,
Beersheva, Israel.
Objective: To study the effectiveness of Dead Sea
balneotherapy on patients with fibromyalgia.48 patients
were randomly assigned into a treatment group receiving
a ten day course of sulphur baths and a control group.The
treatment group responded with a greater and longer
lasting improvement in terms of physical functioning
and tenderness than the control group.
RESPIRATORY DISEASES
On-going research
Influence of the Dead Sea Treatment on the Exercise
Tolerance of Cystic Fibrosis patients. Felekh
B., Ribstein center for Sport Medicine Science and
Research, Wingate Institute.
Research performed during the last 2 years
Sustained improvement of Cystic Fibrosis patients
exposed to a Dead Sea winter rehabilitation camp.
A study performed by A. Tal, A. Goldbart et al was
performed on 94 CF patients from Europe who spent
three weeks at the Dead Sea shores during the years
1997-2000, given physioterapy, outdoor activities
and a high caloric diet. Body weight and specific
lung functions (FEV! And SaO2) measured before and
after exposure, improved significantly. This trend
lasted at least three and two month respectively after
returning home.
A prospective study performed by A. Tal, A. Goldbart,
D. Greenberg et al on twenty CF patients, whose sputum
was tested by modern biological technies (Pulsefield
electrophoresis). Provided evidence that short stays
of CF patients at the rehabilitation camp on the Dead
Sea shores did not lead to transmission of pseudomonas
organism among participants.
CARDIOLOGY
On-going research
Influence of the Stay at the Dead Sea Area by
Cardiac Patients.Abinader E.G., Bnei Zion Hospital.
Research performed during the last 2 years
Effects of low altitude on exercise performance
in patients with congestive heart failure after healing
of acute myocardial infarction. Abinader E.G.,
This control study found in twelve patients with chronic
heart failure significant changes in parameters at
the Dead Sea compared to Haifa (130 meters above Sea
level), thus showing that descent to the Dead Sea
acutely improved exercise performance due to better
oxygenation and loading conditions .
OTHER DISEASES
On-going research
The Effect of the Dead Sea Environment on Healing
of Perianal Fistulae and Corticosteroid Dependence
in Crohn's Diseases. Fraser G.M., Dept. of Gastroenterology,
Rabin Medical Center, Belinson Campus.
Influence of Dead Sea Treatment on Uveitis.
Yagev R., Lipschitz T., Ben Gurion University of the
Negev, Soroka Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology,
Israel.
Planned research
Prevention of oxygen toxicity through Dead Sea
climatic factors. Arieli Y., Oceanic Medicine
Institute.
CLIMATIC AND NATURAL RESOURCES
On-going research
Bio-meteorological Measurements at the Dead Sea
including Aerosols Study.
Kudish A., Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
Chemical and Microbiological Characterization
of Black Mud from Dead Sea Area. Oren A., Henis
Y., Alon Y., The Institute of Life Science and Phytopathology,
The Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Research performed during the last 2 years
Airborne Allergens at the Dead Sea Region.
Waisel Y., Tel Aviv University, Israel
This very important study of the Dead Sea region emphasises
the unique ecologic and allergenic factors of the
region. After 3 years of sampling and analysis the
airborne pollen and spores present at different places
of the Dead Sea shores, Prof. Waisel draws the allergenic
profile of the region: low counts of allergens (six
times lower than at Tel Aviv), fluctuations throughout
the year and concludes that this area is most suitable
for allergy sufferers.
CALL FOR STUDY PROPOSAL TO
THE DEAD SEA RESEARCH CENTER
Dear Scientist, Shalom!
The Dead Sea Research Center is a public non-profit
organization being financed by
the Ministries of Health, Science and
Tourism, the Jewish Agency and the Dead Sea shore
regional councils of Tamar and Megilot. The center
is recognized by the Ministry of Science, as a Regional
Development and Research Center (RDRC) and functions
under the auspices of the Ben Gurion University of
the Negev.
The aim of the DSRC is to promote, encourage and
support research related to the promotion and development
of the Dead Sea region, in any one of its many aspects.
Consequently the DSRC receives research proposals
for financing:
A.Three pathways are open to submit proposals:
Pathway #1 : Support from the Ministry
of Science, be submitted on a competitive basis through
anyone of the existing RDRC. Instructions for such
proposals is being directly provided by the Ministry
of Science.
Pathway #2 : Direct support from the
DSRC, up to the maximal amount of 80,000 NIS per study.
Instructions for proposal will be provided upon
request.
The proposals will be rated in terms of relevance
for the development of the region, and screened by
a council of specialists in the respective topics.
The DSRC has the option to send proposals to
one of the other mentioned pathways.
Pathway #3 enables one to send proposals on
health related subjects directly to the Secretary
of the Chief Scientist of Israel, based on their
rules and regulations.
B.Fields of Study:
1.Health and Medical Treatments
Dermatology, Rheumatology, Respiratory Diseases,
Cardiology, Ophtalmology, Rehabilitation, Hyperbaric
Treatment, Sport Medicine,etc
Quality of Life, Spa therapy, Climatology, Hydrotherapy,
Balneology, Thalassotherapy.
2.Ecology and Nature
Climatic conditions, Survey of Airborne components,
Allergens and air Pollution, Hydrology,Nature Resources,
Geology,
3.Tourism and Economy
Hotel Management and development of health, leasure
and eco tourism specific to the area, environmental
development, nature preservation, waste recycling
etc.
4.Agriculture
Natural pesticides, crop development, pond fish breeding
etc.
5.Industry
Bio-technology at the Dead Sea and its surroundings.
*Any one of these and other topics will be considered
based on the relevance for the development for
the Dead Sea Region.
C.Please send your proposal to :
Dead Sea Research Center
Tamar Regional Council
Mobile Post
86910 Dead Sea
D.Further information can be given by Mrs.
Yael Maor
Tel.: +972 8668 8806
Fax: +972 8668 8906 or +972 8658 4150
E-mail address:
yael@ma-tamar.co.il
E.Deadlines for your proposal:
Pathway #1 : the date will be given
directly through the directives of the Ministry of
Science (but you can also contact us by telephone).
Pathway #2 : 25.03.2004.
Pathway # 3
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