Ethnic groups and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in Israel.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a biomarker that correlates with atherothrombotic risk and outcome. hs-CRP is influenced by various modifiable and non-modifiable factors. We studied the relationship between ethnic background and hs-CRP level, among the Jewish population in Israel.

Determinants of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the era of microinflammation: excluding subjects with elevated C-reactive protein levels.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be used to identify low-grade inflammation that contributes to future vascular events. ESR determinants, however, have not been explored in the absence of a subclinical or microinflammatory response. The ESR was determined in a large cohort of apparently healthy participants, excluding subjects with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations more than 5 mg/L (47.

Pure hypertriglyceridemia might be associated with erectile dysfunction: a pilot study.

Introduction: Unlike the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the association between ED and hypertriglyceridemia is still debatable. Aim. To study prevalence and severity of ED in young men with very high levels of triglycerides.

Comparison of values of wide-range C-reactive protein to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

This study compared the recently introduced cheaper and more accessible wide-range C-reactive protein (wr-CRP) with the commonly used high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients undergoing coronary angiography. One hundred fifty-two consecutive patients who were admitted to a tertiary medical center and underwent angiography were included in the study. Arterial blood was obtained for the 2 assays at the beginning of angiography.

Lack of difference in the intimal medial thickness between the left and right carotid arteries in the young.

Background: Carotid intimal medial thickening (c-IMT) is an established surrogate marker for atherosclerosis. There have been sporadic reports about an increase of c-IMT on the left carotid artery among populations with a mean age of +/-50 years.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is a difference in c-IMT between the two carotid arteries in a group of young healthy adults.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction among hypertensive and prehypertensive men aged 25-40 years.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypertension (HTN) are common and associated among men aged 40-70 years. Data on the prevalence of ED among younger hypertensive and prehypertensive men are limited.

Aim: To study the prevalence of ED in a large-scale population of hypertensive and prehypertensive men aged 25-40 years.

Predictive value of high sensitivity CRP in patients with diastolic heart failure.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been tested in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) and mixed results have been obtained with regards to its potential predictive value. However, the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with diastolic HF is not established. We studied the predictive role of high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) in patients with diastolic HF.

Erectile dysfunction severity might be associated with poor cardiovascular prognosis in diabetic men.

Introduction: Although erectile dysfunction (ED) might be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), there is no evidence it predicts poor cardiovascular prognosis. On the other hand, an abnormal heart rate profile during exercise stress testing predicts poor cardiovascular prognosis in high-risk patients, such as diabetic men, even in the absence of CHD.

Aim: In order to study if ED predicts poor cardiovascular prognosis in high-risk patients, we examined the association between ED and heart rate profile during exercise stress testing in diabetic men with no CHD.

QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes in patients previously treated with anthracyclines.

Anthracyclines reduce myocardial repolarization reserve and might increase the risk for Torsades de Pointes a long time after treatment. We studied all the publications concerning Torsades de Pointes in patients previously treated with anthracyclines to investigate the clinical circumstances leading to this rare life-threatening complication. Our literature search yielded nine reports of 11 patients who had developed Torsades de Pointes anywhere from weeks to years following treatment with anthracyclines.

Rheological consequences of acute infections: the rheodifference between viral and bacterial infections.

The aim of the present study was to explore the difference between viral and bacterial infections regarding the intensity of erythrocyte aggregation in the peripheral venous blood. Although a rheodifference in terms of erythrocyte aggregation between viral and bacterial infections has been shown by us in the past, the time from onset of disease was not included. We have presently included the time from the onset of disease in a group of 133 patients with an acute bacterial infection who showed a significantly enhanced erythrocyte aggregation as opposed to a group of 23 with viral ones and no increased erythrocyte aggregation despite of there being no significant difference in the time from onset of disease (55.

Inflammatory bowel disease is not associated with increased intimal media thickening.

Objectives: Several studies have suggested that chronic inflammatory diseases might be associated with an acceleration of the atherosclerotic process. There is little information on the effect of chronic inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the presence of increased intimal media thickening (IMT), a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic diseases. In this work our aim was to determine whether IBD is a risk factor for increased IMT.

Prevalence and risk factors of atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis by measuring the intima-media wall thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to identify vascular risk factors associated with PsA.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with PsA were compared with 100 allegedly healthy subjects. Carotid duplex scanning was used to measure common carotid artery IMT.

Improvement of congestive heart failure by upgrading of conventional to resynchronization pacemakers.

Aims: To compare the clinical response of patients with right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP) upgraded to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to that of previously nonpaced heart failure (HF) patients who had de novo CRT implantation.

Background: The role of CRT in patients with wide QRS and HF due to RVAP is less well established than in other CRT candidates.

Methods: Ninety-eight consecutive patients with CRT were studied (mean age 70, mean ejection fraction 0.

Correlated expression of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in relation to disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease: lack of differences between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Background/aims: As opposed to regular C-reactive protein (CRP) assays, the introduction of high-sensitivity ones has enabled us to detect low grade inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We addressed the subject of the degree of correlation between the concentration of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and the inflammatory IBD activity score.

Methods: Included were 90 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 70 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 160 controls.

The association between right coronary artery morphology and endothelial function.

Background: Two distinct right coronary artery (RCA) morphologies have been previously described: sigma- and C-shaped RCAs. While the C-shaped RCA was significantly associated with atherosclerosis, the sigma-shaped was not. The association of RCA morphology and vascular endothelial function has not yet been assessed.

Common endometrial decidual reaction in postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen and progestogens.

In order to assess endometrial reaction to the combined treatment of tamoxifen and progestogens in asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients, we evaluated all such patients by vaginal ultrasonography and by histological examination of endometrial samplings. All patients were initially treated with tamoxifen, and progestogens were then added when metastases became evident. Of 12 patients included in the study, eight (66.

Antibiotic for cesarean section: the case for 'true' prophylaxis.

Objectives: To assess prospectively the efficiency and safety of two extended spectrum cephalosporins used as pre-operative prophylaxis in nonelective cesarean sections, and compare the results to those of a third group of patients that received cefamezine post cord clamping.

Methods: Two hundred and forty one patients undergoing a nonscheduled cesarean section were assigned to receive either cefonicid or ceftriaxone prior to skin incision. These patients were followed prospectively for infectious and fetal complications.

Maternal and fetal serum and tissue levels of ceftriaxone following preoperative prophylaxis in emergency cesarean section.

The use of antibiotic prophylaxis in emergency cesarean section has become the standard of care. Concern over fetal exposure has been the reason that antibiotics are traditionally given post cord clamping, but this does not allow adequate antibiotic levels in maternal blood and tissue to be achieved at the stage of incision and during surgery. We evaluated by bioassay maternal and fetal serum and placental ceftriaxone concentrations following the intravenous administration of 1.

Transvaginal ultrasonographic quantitative assessment of accumulated cul-de-sac fluid.

Preoperative quantitative assessment of pelvic fluid is an important diagnostic tool in clinical decision making. In this study, we used high-frequency transvaginal ultrasonography in 10 healthy women to assess both the correlation between various amounts of fluid installed in the cul-de-sac and ultrasonic imaging and to determine whether correct estimation of fluid volume can be reached. No fluid could be ultrasonically detected when the volume was less than 35 to 40 ml.

Effect of Iraqi missile war on incidence of acute myocardial infarction and sudden death in Israeli civilians.

The Iraqi missile attack on Israel provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of fright due to a perceived threat of annihilation on the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden death among the civilian population. During the first days of the Gulf war we noted a sharp rise in the incidence of acute MI and sudden death in our area compared with five control periods. Patient population in the various study periods did not differ significantly in age, sex ratio, hospital mortality, or proportion of patients in whom the acute event was the first presentation of coronary disease.