Jacob Sheskin, sometimes written as Sheskin Jacob (; 1914 – April 17, 1999) was a Russian-born Israeli physician best known for his 1964 serendipitous discovery that
thalidomide
Thalidomide, sold under the brand names Contergan and Thalomid among others, is an oral administered medication used to treat a number of cancers (e.g., multiple myeloma), graft-versus-host disease, and many skin disorders (e.g., complication ...
can be used as a treatment for
leprosy
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a Chronic condition, long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the Peripheral nervous system, nerves, respir ...
at
Hadassah University in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
.
Awards
* In 1975, the
World Academy of Art and Science
The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), founded in 1960, is an international non-governmental scientific organization and global network of more than 800 scientists, artists, and scholars in more than 90 countries.
It serves as a forum for s ...
gave Sheskin a gold medal for his work.
* in 1997, he was named
Yakir Yerushalayim (), or "Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem".
Bibliography
*Sheskin, J. (1975)
Thalidomide in lepra reaction ''International Journal of Dermatology, 14(8),'' 575-576.
*Sheskin, J. (1975)
The case for invisible leprosy ''International Journal of Dermatology, 14(5),'' 345-346.
*Sheskin, J., Sabatto, S., Yosipovitz, Z., & Ilukevich, A. (1983)
Lack of wrinkle formation in the fingertips of patients with Hansen's disease. Confirmation of previous observations. Hansenologia Internationalis, 8(1),'' 54-60.
*Sheskin, J. (1980)
The treatment of lepra reaction in lepromatous leprosy ''International Journal of Dermatology, 19(6),'' 318-322.
*Gorodetsky, R., Sheskin, J., & Weinreb, A. (1986)
Iron, copper, and zinc concentrations in normal skin and in various nonmalignant and malignant lesions ''International Journal of Dermatology, 25(7),'' 440-445.
*Wahba, A., Dorfman, M., & Sheskin, J. (1980)
Psoriasis and other common dermatoses in leprosy ''International Journal of Dermatology, 19(2),'' 93-95.
*Sheskin, J. (1978)
Study with nine thalidomide derivatives in the lepra reaction ''International Journal of Dermatology, 17(1),'' 82-84.
*Sheskin, J., & Zeimer, R. (1977)
In vivo study of trace elements in leprous skin ''International Journal of Dermatology, 16(9),'' 745-747.
Footnotes
References
*
Stevens, T., &
Brynner, R. (2001),
Dark remedy: The impact of thalidomide and its revival as a vital medicine'. Cambridge, MA: Perseus.
*
Joumel, L. (September–October, 2006)
Four awards, one passion: Chemistry ''CHEMISTRY International,'' 19-20.
* The New England Journal of Medicine (2001). Book Reviews. ''The New England Journal of Medicine, 345(3),'' 227.
* Brynner, R. (April 03, 2006)
''
3 Quarks Daily.''
*
Raza, A. (February, 2002)
The third coming: Thalidomide and a final goodbye ''The Biochemist''. 21-23.
* BBC (January 31, 2005)
The return of thalidomide''BBC Inside Out''.
*
Barer, S. (2007). Celgene: The pharmaceutical phoenix. ''Chemical Heritage Magazine'', 24(4).
*
Lutz, K. E., (unpublished manuscript).
From tragedy to triumph: The approval of thalidomide'.
*
Penna, G. O.,
Martelli, C. M. T.,
Stefani, M. M. A.,
Macedo, V. O.,
Maroja, M. d. F., &
Chaul, A. (2005)
Thalidomide in the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL): Systematic review of clinical trials and prospects of new investigations ''Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 80(5),'' 511-522.
*
Argaw, A. T., (2004).
A study of the anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties of thalidomide in leprosy'. Unpublished dissertation, Louisiana State University.
* European Symposium Myeloma,
Waldenstrom (2008)
Final Report', Annex 2, p. 19.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheskin, Jacob
Leprologists
Physicians from Vilnius
Vilnius University alumni
Lithuanian emigrants to Israel
Jews from the Russian Empire
Physicians from Jerusalem
1914 births
1999 deaths
20th-century Israeli physicians
Burials at Har HaMenuchot
20th-century Lithuanian Jews
20th-century Lithuanian physicians
20th-century Israeli Jews