Ketogenic diet in clinical populations-a narrative review.

Ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet, designed to induce a metabolic state of ketosis in which the body metabolizes primarily lipids for energy production. Various forms of KD are being promoted as promising treatments for numerous health conditions from chronic headaches to weight-loss and even different forms of cancer and are becoming increasingly more popular. KD appears to be an efficacious approach for weight-loss, and maintenance, improved glycemia, cognitive function and cancer prognosis.

The attitudes and knowledge of family physicians regarding malnutrition in the elderly: a call for action.

Background: Malnutrition in the elderly places a significant burden on healthcare, social, and aged-care systems, yet it often remains undiagnosed and untreated. This study aims to evaluate family physicians' knowledge and attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition in the elderly.

Methods: Based on a literature review, an online questionnaire was developed, comprised of seven knowledge-related items and eight attitude-related questions regarding malnutrition in elderly populations.

Balint groups: an effective tool for improving health professionals' perceived well-being.

Background: Physician burnout is a common problem that negatively impacts their well-being and patient care. Balint groups (BGs) deal with doctor-patient relationships. Previous studies that have demonstrated the positive effects of BGs are descriptive and based on small sample sizes.

Design of a bi-directional methodology for automated assessment of compliance to continuous application of clinical guidelines, and its evaluation in the type 2 diabetes domain.

We introduce a new approach for automated guideline-based-care quality assessment, the bidirectional knowledge-based assessment of compliance (BiKBAC) method, and the DiscovErr system, which implements it. Our methodology compares the guideline's Asbru-based formal representation, including its intentions, with the longitudinal medical record, using a top-down and bottom-up approach. Partial matches are resolved using fuzzy temporal logic.

Burnout among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional nationwide study.

Background: In addition to pressures typical of other medical professions, family physicians face additional challenges such as building long-term relationships with patients, dealing with patients' social problems, and working at a high level of uncertainty. We aimed to assess the rate of burnout and factors associated with it among family medicine residents throughout Israel.

Methods: A cross sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire.

Breastfeeding mothers' experiences with community physicians in Israel: a qualitative study.

Background: The guidelines of all leading professional organizations recommend providing adequate support and education regarding breastfeeding; yet many mothers feel that they receive inadequate information from their health care providers in the primary care setting. This is in line with studies that demonstrate that physicians' knowledge about breastfeeding is lacking. The aim of this study was to expand our understanding of the breastfeeding-related experiences of mothers with primary care physicians (PCPs).

Elderly Caregivers' Awareness of Caregiving Health Risks.

The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness of elderly primary caregivers of being at physical and mental health risk due to their caregiving role, as well as to examine the impact of sociodemographic characteristics, patient care characteristics, and situational variables on caregivers’ awareness. Data were collected by interview of a sample of primary caregivers aged 60+. A total of 202 primary caregivers responded positively, representing a response rate of 65% (202/311).

Care for caregivers- a mission for primary care.

Background: The number of elderly people living in the community who are limited in daily activities is increasing worldwide. This generates prolonged care, which usually falls on one family member, the family caregiver. Caregivers are prone to develop psychosocial and physical symptoms.

HbA1C variability among type 2 diabetic patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Studies have found that HbA1C variability is an independent risk factor for diabetic complications in type 2 diabetic patients. This study aims to find factors contributing to higher HbA1C variability in the community.

Methods: The study was conducted in the southern district of Israel, in Clalit Health Services (CHS).

Seasonal variations in HbA1c among type 2 diabetes patients on a semi-arid climate between the years 2005-2015.

Aims: To investigate the seasonal variations of HbA1c values in a semi-arid climate among type 2 diabetic patients throughout 11 years of care.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 2860 patients with 61,187 HbA1c measures. We calculated the averages of HbA1c values of all patients and sub-groups defined by age, gender, BMI, ethnicity, insulin use, smoking status and region of residence, matched to the mean temperature and diurnal range over the 30 and 60 days prior to the HbA1c test date.

[METHODS FOR BURNOUT PREVENTION AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE COURSE FOR FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENTS IN BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV].

Professional burnout of physicians is common and culminates in the residency period. Burnout affects the doctor's health and quality of life, and it is associated with worse patient outcomes and an increase in the incidence of medical errors. The Israeli Ministry of Health recently conducted a survey on the burnout of health professionals in Israel and showed the extent of the phenomena, calling on health organizations to provide actions in order to reduce or prevent it.

Cardiovascular Morbidity and Risk Factors in Holocaust Survivors in Israel.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors in Holocaust survivors with that of Jewish immigrants from Europe and America.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Clalit, a large Israeli healthcare provider.

Inclination towards research and the pursuit of a research career among medical students: an international cohort study.

Background: Involvement of clinicians in biomedical research is imperative for the future of healthcare. Several factors influence clinicians' inclination towards research: the medical school experience, exposure to research article reading and writing, and knowledge of research. This cohort study follows up medical students at time of graduation to explore changes in their inclination towards research and pursuing a research career compared to their inclination at time of entry into medical school.

Elevated cancer risk in Holocaust survivors residing in Israel: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of malignant diseases among Holocaust survivors in Israel compared with European and American immigrants who did not experience the Holocaust.

Methods: Study subjects included Holocaust survivors born in European countries under Nazi occupation before 1945, who immigrated to Israel after 1945 and were alive as of the year 2000. Living survivors were identified based on recognition criteria in accordance with the Holocaust Survivor Benefits Law.

Monitour: Tracking global routes of electronic waste.

Many nations seek to control or prevent the inflow of waste electronic and electrical equipment, but such flows are difficult to track due to undocumented, often illegal global trade in e-waste. We apply wireless GPS location trackers to this problem, detecting potential cases of non-compliant recycling operations in the United States as well as the global trajectories of exported e-waste. By planting hidden trackers inside discarded computer monitors and printers, we tracked dozens of devices being sent overseas to various ports in Asia, flows likely unreported in official trade data.

Receiving family physician's advice and the 'stages of change' in smoking cessation among Arab minority men in Israel.

Background: Receiving physician advice (PA) can increase patient's willingness to quit smoking and influence the 'stages of change' in quitting. However, less is known about this association among minority groups for whom cessation is more challenging.

Objective: We examined whether receiving advice on smoking cessation from a family physician is associated with the 'stages of change' in quitting smoking-i.

Out of sight, out of mind? Does terminating the physical presence of a geriatric consultant in the community clinic reduce the implementation rate for geriatric recommendations.

Aim: To assess the effect of moving the geriatric consultation from the primary care clinic to another setting, on the rate of implementation of geriatric recommendations by family physicians.

Methods: A retrospective review of the computerized medical records of elderly patients in four primary care clinics. The rate of implementation of geriatric recommendations was compared between clinics in which a geriatric consultant was physically present (control clinics) and a clinic where the consultation took place elsewhere (study clinic).

Does Specializing in Family Medicine Improve the Detection and Diagnosis of Mental Health Problems?

Background: Approximately half the patients seeking mental health (MH) treatment consult primary care practitioners (PCPs). Previous research indicates that patients often do not receive correct MH diagnoses or appropriate treatment from PCPs. The present study examines whether a specialization in family medicine compared to other or no PCP residency programs enhances physicians' ability to detect, diagnose and treat MH problems.

Voluntary Departure of Family Physicians from their Workplace: A Reflective Outlook.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to highlight and assess the important topic of the voluntary departure of the physician from his/her clinic. We used the topic of the voluntary departure of a family physician from the clinic as an example. The physician's leaving challenges the personal credo regarding the continuity of care, which is a basic concept in Family Medicine, and other professions, too: Psychiatrists are also devoted to long-term doctor-patient care.

Anemia among Muslim Bedouin and Jewish women of childbearing age in Southern Israel.

There are inequalities in health indicators among different ethnic groups living in the same region and receiving the same medical services. Anemia is a global problem. Although the prevalence of anemia is not high in Israel, differences among ethnic groups have not been studied.

Metabolic changes in immigrants from Africa to a Western country: time-lag effects of 20 years since immigration.

Background: An increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs in immigrants from developing regions to Western countries. However, the dynamics of these transitions in relation to the duration of residence in the new environment are not clearly defined.

Methods: Data concerning cardiovascular risk factors were retrospectively extracted from medical charts of 736 Ethiopian immigrants and 575 randomly-chosen, age and sex matched non-Ethiopian subjects ("reference group").