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Osteoporosis
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Osteoporosis Testing and Diagnosis for Holocaust Survivors
Prof. Jacob Menczel, Director of the Osteoporosis Unit, is providing free bone-density examinations to Holocaust survivors, and diagnosing their level of Osteoporosis. This public service is part of the special research project that proactively identifies and treats Holocaust survivors suffering from Osteoporosis.
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NEW RESEARCH AT HERZOG HOSPITAL:
OSTEOPOROSIS IN DEPRESSION PATIENTS
A study of the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients suffering from depression was started at the Herzog Hospital. The investigation is a collaborative study between the Hospital’s Schonbaum Department for Treatment Resistant Depression under the directorship of Prof. Baruch Shapira and its Osteoporosis Unit, headed by Israel’s leading expert in the field, Prof. Jacob Menzcel, formerly Herzog Director General.
The research is based on the theory that there is a higher incidence of falls and fractures reported in patients suffering from depression, with a possible higher incidence of osteoporosis.
Depressive disorders are a high incidence health problem and can reach between 10-25% in women and 5-12% in men. Depression covers a wide range of changes in affective state, ranging in severity from normal mood fluctuations of everyday life, to severe melancholic episodes related to psychodynamic mechanisms of loss and repression. Depressive people suffer from diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities with withdrawal from friends and family.
Osteoporosis, reduction of bone mass and density of the skeleton, affects a large proportion of the population. The prevalence is higher in women than in men, and in persons who are not physically active. The complications of osteoporosis are kyphosis, loss of height, low-back pain and fractures, which require surgical orthopedic intervention, as well as a long period of rehabilitation.
Osteoporosis can be prevented or treated. Bone density measurements have proven to be a very effective method of diagnosis. The new DEXA bone density machine donated by the Koschitzky Family of Toronto is one of the most advanced available and enables the hospital to conduct this research.
Research proposals:
1. Epidemiological studies on osteoporosis in the Jerusalem population, especially after menopause. There have not been any studies done for the past 30 years on the correlation
between the degree of osteoporosis and demographic factors, blood levels and way of life
(i.e. sedentary or active). The project will enable us to initiate our genetic studies in the field. Dr. Richard Ebstein, the Director of the Department of Research at Herzog Hospital
is internationally recognized for his work in genetics.
2. Herzog Hospital has the unique opportunity to utilize its geriatric, psychiatric and depression departments to combine these disciplines in conducting research in osteoporosis. A significant number of patients with depression suffer from osteoporosis.
The correlation of depression with osteoporosis will be investigated as well as the effect of physical activity.
3. Immobilization is one of the main causes of osteoporosis. With geriatric patients tending to be hospitalized for long periods of time, we wish to conduct a study on the best ways to increase movement to limit osteoporosis.
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Another Site Built by [ Telerom C.S. ] ,Israel -
2001