Jewish Population Of Jerusalem Research Articles

The Incidence of Primary Systemic Vasculitis in Jerusalem: A 20-year Hospital-based Retrospective Study.

The incidence of primary systemic vasculitides varies among different geographic regions and ethnic origins. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rates of vasculitides in the Jerusalem Jewish population, and to examine possible trends in incidence rates over a 20-year period. The clinical databases of inpatients at the 2 medical centers in Jerusalem were searched for patients with vasculitis diagnosed between 1990-2009. Individual records were then reviewed by one of the authors. The significance of trends in incidence rates throughout the study period was evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient. The average annual incidence rate of polyarteritis nodosa was 3.6/million adults (95% CI 1.6-4.7). Incidence rates did not change significantly during this period (r = 0.39, p = 0.088). The incidence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) was 4.1 (2.2-5.9) for the whole period, during which it increased significantly (r = 0.53, p < 0.05). The incidence of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) was lower: 2.3 (1.2-3.5)/million. It also increased significantly (r = 0.55, p < 0.05). The incidence of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis was 1.2 (0.4-1.9), which remained stable throughout the study period. The incidence of Takayasu arteritis was 2.1/million (95% CI 1.2-2.9), and it also remained stable. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) incidence was 8.1 (5.7-10.6)/100,000 population aged 50 years or older. In sharp contrast with other vasculitides, its incidence decreased significantly throughout the study period (r = -0.61, p < 0.01). The incidence rates of vasculitides in the Jewish population of Jerusalem are in the lower range of global incidence rates. While GPA and MPA incidence are increasing, GCA incidence is decreasing.

Is religiosity related to periodontal health among the adult Jewish population in Jerusalem?

Religiosity may be a relevant protective factor for periodontitis, as it is for other chronic systemic diseases. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between periodontitis and religiosity, and whether oral health-related behaviours, spirituality and social support are included in the potential pathways that explain the association between religiosity and periodontitis. Cross-sectional data were part of a retrospective study. The stratified random-sampling technique was limited to the Jerusalem Jewish population. Conceptual hierarchical data analysis modelling was adopted, assuming that socio-economic position was the most distal determinant, age and gender were confounders, and social support, spirituality and oral health behaviours were mediators in the relationship between religiosity and periodontitis. Kappa intra-examiner values (0.89) were satisfactory. Response rate was 88.0%. The final sample included 123 men and 125 women. The mean age was 38.6 years (SD 3.25 years), with 33.9% declared to be 'orthodox', 33.1% 'religious' and 33.1% 'secular'. Higher levels of religiosity (p=0.01), support of internal life through spirituality (p=0.03), higher family social support (p=0.02) and low levels of plaque (p=0.05) were related to lower levels of periodontitis. Religiosity led to higher family social support and support of internal life through spirituality, which was related to plaque level and periodontitis. Religiosity had a protective effect against periodontitis through extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. This should be considered as part of aetiology and prognosis, in potential prevention and care of periodontitis.

Institutions and events of the eleventh century mirrored in Geniza letters (part II)

This article deals with a further series of events reflected in the Geniza letters, as listed below. In 1016, Jerusalem was afflicted by a severe earthquake; the letters help to determine the exact date of the event. Between 970 and 1030, Palestine was beset by battles; I have referred to this period as the ‘Sixty Years War’. In the Geniza letters, we find information on these events, beginning in 1021 and continuing to the Fatimid victory at Uqhuwa¯na in 1029. The letters provide information on the heavy taxes imposed on the Jewish population in Jerusalem. Because the liveliest trade took place between Egypt and the Maghrib, a great many letters were sent from the Maghrib, containing information on the incessant struggles there, especially between 1010 and 1027. The letters supply information on the struggle in Spain between the ‘slaves’ and the Berbers. We find an extremely detailed description of the events related to the earthquake of 1033, which is also described by the Persian traveller Na¯sir Khusraw. Also contained in the letters is information on the mutinies in the Maghrib under al-Mu‘izz; the separation of Ifri¯qiya¯ from Fatimid supremacy (1048/49); events during the rule of the vizier al-Ya¯zu¯ri¯; and the destruction of the city of Qayrawa¯n (1059). The article ends with a discussion of the great rebellion which took place in Safa¯qus in 1062/63.

The Modern Fact in Theory and in Practice

Readers of historical or analytical texts usually begin by asking themselves: what is the problem addressed here? Mary Poovey presents her book's problem to us in its title, for a 'history of the modern fact' immediately throws into question conventional understandings of the factual, of evidence and of historical narrative. For if facts are nothing but 'facts', how can they have a history, and how might we then distinguish between a 'modern fact' and any other sort of fact? Indeed, Poovey tells us in her introduction that while working on this book she was constantly asked 'What is the 'modern fact'? The preliminary explanation tentatively offered here turns upon a contrast between the neutrality of (statistical) numbers and the arguments that purport to be founded upon them. This problem is otherwise known as 'the problem of induction', a staple both of the philosophy of the sciences and of history, and so it is likely that there is more to it than this. The gulf which opens up between 'facts' and the manner in which facts are mobilized as 'evidence' for interpretation is glossed by Poovey's observation that 'facts' are not pre-interpretative after all, that even the most abstract statistical series presupposes a judgement of what should be counted and how. Numbers signify both neutrality and verifiable reference; if we say for example that the Jewish population of Jerusalem in 1900 was 25,000,1 we might need a definition of who counts as a Jew and what is meant by 'Jerusalem', but the number itself is either verifiably true or demonstrably false. According to Poovey, this quality epitomizes the 'modern fact', a mode of facticity in which the interpretative framework is folded into a numerical record whose neutrality contrives to underwrite an interpretative framework already there inscribed.2 Formally, therefore, the book is presented as a story of the manner in which numbers came to speak for themselves, a form of representation that appeared independent of all interpretation and beyond critical inspection. So stated, the ,modern fact' becomes '... the epistemological unit that organizes most of the knowledge projects of the past four centuries .. .', rendering the history of the modern fact an entirely unmanageable, even inconceivable, total history of modern knowledge. Instead, as a history this study restricts its account to British sciences of wealth and society, although it is not immediately evident that numerical signifiers have consistently played a central role in the literature of political economy. In fact, the idea that arguments about wealth and society primarily rest upon quantitative evidence is a very recent idea, and the attempt to impose this recent idea

Plasma total homocysteine levels in subjects with hyperinsulinemia.

Hyperhomocysteinemia as well as insulin resistance are considered to be risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease. This study was aimed at determining whether any relationship between plasma insulin and glucose levels and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations exists in a population based survey performed 10 years apart. A cross-sectional study was undertaken during the years 1986-87 to examine risk factors for diabetes and for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Jewish population of Jerusalem. Ten years later two groups of individuals were invited for re-examination. Two groups of individuals were examined: the first one consisted of nondiabetic subjects (n = 86), who had hyperinsulinemia 10 years previously (at the first visit), the second group consisted of normoinsulinemic nondiabetic individuals (n = 265) who had initially normal glucose and insulin levels. Metabolic, biochemical and anthropomorphic features were determined. Fasting and post load glucose, as well as insulin concentrations on fasting and 2 h post glucose load were measured at the first and second visits. Plasma tHcy and folic acid were determined only at the second visit. The results demonstrated a significant negative correlation between plasma tHcy levels and insulin levels at the second visit. No difference was found in folic acid levels between these two groups. In general, hyperinsulinemia and hyperhomocysteinemia are both related to an increased incidence of CAD. In our population most of the subjects examined had tHcy levels within the normal range and only a few demonstrated very high levels. However, negative association between insulin levels and tHcy concentrations was found. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed.

The Jerusalem seventy-year-old longitudinal study. I: Description of the initial cross-sectional survey.

The main objectives of our first cross-section of a longitudinal study of a cohort of 70 year olds in Jerusalem, are to survey the social and medical conditions of the heterogeneous elderly population and to contribute to the knowledge of aging processes for specific age-groups. Whereas, most previous surveys were conducted on homogeneous and stable population groups, the elderly of Jerusalem provide the basis for ethnographic comparisons and for assessing the impact of profound historical and personal changes. From a representative systematic sample (from a geographically sorted electoral register) of 759 persons, 605 persons replied to our home-visit questionnaire gathering data on migration history, dwelling conditions, health status, health service utilization, employment status, activities of daily living, social support, use of drugs and war experience. Later on, 463 persons attended our geriatric research institute where we gathered information from in-depth anamnesis and physical examination, as well as cognitive and psychological tests. In addition, a battery of biochemical and hematological blood tests were performed as well as urine analysis and culture, ECG and pulmonary function tests. The heterogeneity of our cohort population is demonstrated by the finding that 84% were born in 40 different countries outside of Israel. In contrast, in the seventy-year old population studied in Gothenburg, Sweden, only 3% were not native born. In the years 1996, 2001 and 2006, our initial study cohort will be re-examined and compared to control groups representing states of no-survey intervention until ages 75, 80 and 85 years old. This background paper describes the study design, protocols and procedures. The responders were found to be representative of the 70 year old Jewish population in Jerusalem as a whole, in terms of mortality and hospital utilization rates. The results of the study to be reported in subsequent papers will allow conclusions regarding all 70 year old Jews in Jerusalem to be made.

Giant cell arteritis in Jerusalem: a 12-year epidemiological study.

The prevoting conception of the incidence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) among population underscores the very low incidence of this disease among Jews. We studied the epidemiology, ethnic background, and seasonality of GCA among the Jewish population of Jerusalem. Eighty-four patients with biopsy-proven GCA were identified in a period of 12 yr, from 1980-1991. The age, sex and period-adjusted incidence of GCA was 10.2 per 100,000 population aged > or = 50 yr, approximately 20-fold higher than that reported for the Jewish population in Israel for the years 1960-1978. The female:male ratio was 1.6. A declining trend in the annual incidence was observed for men but not for women. The incidence rate was similar among non-western and western Jews. The onset of GCA was more common during the early summer months (May-June).

Aging gametes in relation to incidence, gender, and twinning in Down syndrome

Sexual practices have been implicated in the causation of Down syndrome (DS). Two mechanisms have been hypothesized. The theory of the fertilisation of an overripe ovum due to a delay in fertilization, and more recently the aging of the sperm. The orthodox Jewish population have very specific, strict practices concerning menstruation, which provide a unique model for the study of births in relation to time of conception. Data on the incidence of DS in the Jewish population of Jerusalem between 1982 and 1988 were analyzed. Among a comparable group of mothers under age 37 years and for whom amniocentesis was not available, it was found that the incidence of DS was significantly higher in the religious than in the nonreligious population (P less than 0.001). The rate of twinning in the DS population was significantly higher than in the general population (P less than 0.015), as was the ratio of males to females, 62% and 38%, respectively compared with 51% males and 49% females in the newborn population (P less than 0.001). The association of these 3 factors in relation to the aging gamete of either maternal or paternal origin is discussed.

Decline in the prevalence of childhood deafness in the Jewish population of Jerusalem: ethnic and genetic aspects

A longitudinal study was performed on 147 Jewish children with bilaterally sensorineural hearing loss of moderately severe to profound degree, born in Jerusalem during the eighteen years 1968-85. The prevalence rate of these children declined during the years 1977-85, and at the same time the rate of consanguinity of their parents decreased; this decline was more evident in the genetic group among children with non-Ashkenazi ethnic origin. No such decline was found among the Ashkenazi children and no consanguinity among parents of these children was recorded. Our study supports the assumption that restriction of consanguineous matings may affect the prevalence of genetic deafness in children in a well-defined population. We have tried to remain unbiased and concede certain shortcomings in our present study.

Utilization of preventive services by pregnant women in Jerusalem ? A cross sectional study

A study was made of health service utilization patterns during pregnancy of 279 young mothers, a representative sample of the Jewish population in Jerusalem. Only 47% reported that they used the municipal family health centers (FHCs) for prenatal care. Some 82% reported that they had resorted to more than one source of care during pregnancy. Sources other than the FHC were: regular Sick Fund doctor service (33%); private practitioners (25%); hospital-based services (25%). Among the FHC users, there was an unexpectedly high percentage of women of Asian-African origin and of those living in remote neighborhoods. Under-utilization was frequent among wealthy women, those with higher education and members of the Orthodox religious sector. While there was general satisfaction with the service, lower gratification was associated with higher utilization. This phenomenon may intimate that there may be a process of negative selection among women who use the service, when other alternatives are not readily available.

Anorectal malformations and Down syndrome

During 1980 to 1986, 89 children with Down syndrome and 42 with imperforate anus were diagnosed among 64,870 liveborn infants in the Jewish population of Jerusalem. Two of the children had both Down syndrome and imperforate anus. This indicates a high incidence of imperforate anus among children with Down syndrome (2.2%).

Consanguinity among parents of hearing-impaired children in relation to ethnic groups in the Jewish population of Jerusalem.

A longitudinal study was performed on Jewish children with moderately-severe to profound hearing impairment born in Jerusalem during a period of 15 years (1967-1982), and the data on consanguineous matings among their parents were analyzed. These data were estimated in relation to the records obtained in an earlier survey performed on Jewish deaf children during the years 1955-1964. The rate of consanguinity among the parents of hearing-impaired children was much lower in the present survey than in the earlier one in both the Ashkenazi (Central and Eastern European origin) and the non-Ashkenazi (Asian-African origin) group. It is assumed that there is a better understanding of the genetic risk in consanguineous unions, especially when a disability such as hereditary deafness is involved.

Changes in an Urban Public Service System in Response to Population Dynamics

This article analyses the relationship between urban population dynamics and changes in public services. The first section is conceptual, presenting the effects of changes in the size, structure and composition of a city's population, and in the housing market, upon changes in consumption patterns of public services, in terms of their location and type. Two levels of analysis are discussed: the macro, city-wide level, and the micro level - the individual neighbourhoods which make up the urban whole. In the second section of the article the spatial dynamics of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish population in Jerusalem serves as the background for a discussion of changes in the city's educational system, over a period of 15 years (1970/1 -1985/6). The data point to a massive increase in ultra-Orthodox education in the city. While the ultra-Orthodox population comprises about 27 per cent of Jerusalem's population, nearly half of the elementary schools in the city are included in the ultra-Orthodox educational network...

Is there a correlation between osteoporosis and calcification of the abdominal aorta? A ten-year follow-up study on a random sample of the Jewish population of Jerusalem

Eight hundred thirty subjects randomly selected from the Jewish population of Jerusalem were examined for the presence of both osteoporosis (OP) and calcification of the abdominal aorta (CAA) as seen in anterior and lateral x-rays of the lumbar spine. The subjects were chosen randomly from the electoral roll and were then followed up for a period of seven to ten years and were again x-rayed and examined. OP and CAA have different epidemiological characteristics as related to age, sex and ethnic origin. Osteoporosis develops relatively early and increases gradually at a constant rate through the years. It is much more common in women, especially of Eastern origin. In the Eastern women the initial examination showed a prevalence of 15.7% for OP which increased during the 7 to 10 year follow-up period to 32.8%, while in women of Western origin, it increased from 9.2% to 20.9%. We found that CAA increases by five times after a period of ten years in women aged 55 to 64 from 4.9% to 23.7% in the Western population, and from 3.8% to 15.8% in the Eastern population. The prevalence of CAA is similar in men (15.6%) and women (20.7%) and it has a slight but not significant predominance in people of Western origin, 4.9% in the Western population as opposed to 3.8% in the Eastern population for the younger age group, and 23.7% in the Western population and 15.8% in the Eastern population for the older age group. We observed that no correlation could be found between OP and CAA.

Osteoarthritis of the Hand and Osteoporosis

The relationship between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis of the hand was examined in a random sample of the Jewish population in Jerusalem. It was found that osteoporosis and osteoarthritis of the hand showed differing prevalences, only rarely coexisted, and that there was neither a positive nor a negative correlation between them (p greater than 0.05). This would strengthen the contention that these are two independent and unrelated disease processes.

Transmitted factors in the morbid risk of affective disorders: A controlled study

Data on psychiatric disorders were collected on first-degree relatives and spouses of 70 patients with primary affective disorder and 75 patients admitted to a general hospital without psychiatric disorder, from the Jewish population of Jerusalem, Israel. Bipolar patients tended to have more bipolar relatives than unipolar patients, but unipolar patients had an observable morbid risk for bipolar disorder in their relatives. Ethnicity and age of onset did not appear to be related to transmissible factors in the prevalence of affective disorders in relatives, although age of onset was associated with morbid risk. Sex-linkage or genetic liability to affective disorder related to sex did not appear to be present. A spectrum of related disorders for this population was defined by those disorders which were more prevalent in relatives of affective disorder patients than in relatives of controls. Assortative mating was not found, but a modest degree of inbreeding appeared to be present. For purposes of testing liability-threshold models for genetic factors in the transmission of mood disorders, only the data on polarity seems suitable.

The incidence of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura in Jerusalem during the period of 1934-1960.

SummaryThe incidence of infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura among the Jewish population of Jerusalem during the years 1934 to 1960 based on the results of 126,000 fecal examinations is reported. Until 1948 the infection rate of both parasites was very high, Ascaris infection being found in more than 40% of the population. During the last decade, since the separation of the Israeli part from the Jordanian part of Jerusalem, a sharp decline in the infection rate of both parasites has been noted. A. lumbricoides infections were almost eliminated. It is suggested that the complete stoppage of the supply of contaminated vegetables and fruits from Arab Jordanian villages was responsible for the remarkable drop of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections in Israeli Jerusalem.