Adolescent Blood Pressure and Early Age Stroke.

Background: Underdiagnosis of relevant risk factors has contributed to the increasing stroke incidence in young adults. Blood pressure cut-off values for adolescents are neither sex specific nor based on cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: This nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study included all Israeli adolescents 16-19 years of age who were medically evaluated before compulsory military service from 1985 to 2013, including routine blood pressure measurements.

Cognitive function in adolescence and the risk of early-onset stroke.

Background: Stroke is increasingly prevalent at younger ages but the risk factors are uncertain. We examined the association between adolescent cognitive function and early-onset stroke.

Methods: This was a nationwide population-based cohort study of 1 741 345 Israeli adolescents (42% women) who underwent comprehensive cognitive function tests at age 16-20 years, before mandatory military service, during 1987-2012.

Use of Wearable Devices for Peak Oxygen Consumption Measurement in Clinical Cardiology: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Oxygen consumption is an important index to evaluate in cardiac patients, particularly those with heart failure, and is measured in the setting of advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing. However, technological advances now allow for the estimation of this parameter in many consumer and medical-grade wearable devices, making it available for the medical provider at the initial evaluation of patients. We report a case of an apparently healthy male aged 40 years who presented for evaluation due to an Apple Watch (Apple Inc) notification of low cardiac fitness.

Practicing Emergency Medicine in the Metaverse: A Novel Mixed Reality Casualty Care Training Platform.

Background: Current casualty care training modalities present several challenges, including limited simulation facilities, instructor dependence, lack of standardization, documentation of trainees' performance and training personalization. The study presents the design, development and preliminary evaluation of a novel hybrid training platform to address these challenges.

Methods: A mixed reality platform was chosen and developed to address field operators' requirements.

Adolescent Hypertension Is Associated With Stroke in Young Adulthood: A Nationwide Cohort of 1.9 Million Adolescents.

Background: Adult hypertension is a well-established risk factor for stroke in young adults (aged <55 years), and the effects are even more deleterious than at an older age. However, data are limited regarding the association between adolescent hypertension and the risk of stroke in young adulthood.

Methods: A nationwide, retrospective cohort study of adolescents (aged 16-19 years) who were medically evaluated before compulsory military service in Israel during 1985 to 2013.

Lessons from outbreaks of COVID-19 at Israeli military bases.

Background: To mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), national guidelines, in accordance with international health authorities, mandated 14 days of quarantine for every close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient. Although health benefits are obvious, consequences are profound, especially for organizations required to maintain operational preparedness.

Objectives: To present the Israel Defense Force (IDF) experience with outbreaks regarding quarantined individuals.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Acceptance Disparity Among Israeli Defense Forces Personnel.

Introduction: Promoting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine acceptance and uptake became necessary to achieve a high vaccination rate and subsequently herd immunity. Although the Israeli population has been largely acceptant of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, vaccine hesitancy has remained a major concern, especially in younger adults. We hypothesized that young adults who refused SARS-CoV-2 vaccination differed from those who have been adherent and could be characterized.

Chronic myocardial and coronary arterial effects of intracoronary supersaturated oxygen therapy in swine with normal and ischemic-reperfused myocardium.

The study assessed chronic myocardial, coronary and systemic effects of intracoronary supersaturated oxygen (SSO) therapy. Left anterior descending coronary arteries of 40 swine were stented and randomized to 90-min selective intracoronary infusion of SSO (pO 760-1000 mmHg) or normoxemic saline. In 20 out of 40 animals, SSO delivery followed a 60-min balloon occlusion to induce myocardial infarction (MI).

The opposing trends of body mass index and blood pressure during 1977-2020; nationwide registry of 2.8 million male and female adolescents.

Background: Elevated blood pressure among adolescents has been shown to be associated with future adverse cardiovascular outcomes and early onset diabetes. Most data regarding systolic and diastolic blood pressure trends are based on surveys of selected populations within 10-20-year periods. The goal of this study was to characterize the secular trend of blood pressure given the rising prevalence of adolescent obesity.

In vivo study of the efficacy of bupivacaine-eluting novel soy protein wound dressings in a rat burn model.

Dealing with wound related pain is an integral part of treatment. Systemic administration of analgesic and anesthetic agents is a common solution for providing pain relief to patients but comes at a risk of severe side effects as well as addiction. To overcome these issues, research efforts were madeto provide a platform for local controlled release of pain killers.

Data Empowerment of Decision-Makers in an Era of a Pandemic: Intersection of "Classic" and Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Medicine.

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak required prompt action by health authorities around the world in response to a novel threat. With enormous amounts of information originating in sources with uncertain degree of validation and accuracy, it is essential to provide executive-level decision-makers with the most actionable, pertinent, and updated data analysis to enable them to adapt their strategy swiftly and competently.

Objective: We report here the origination of a COVID-19 dedicated response in the Israel Defense Forces with the assembly of an operational Data Center for the Campaign against Coronavirus.

Combat-related ocular injuries in the Israel Defense Forces during the years 2013 to 2019.

Background: Ocular injuries account for up to 13% of battle injuries, despite the implementation of advanced protective eyewear (PE). The aim of this study was to describe the extent of ocular injuries over the last years among Israel Defense Forces soldiers and to examine the change in PE policy introduced in 2013 and the effect of a high-intensity conflict on ocular injury characteristics.

Methods: This retrospective registry-based analysis derived data from the Israel Defense Forces Trauma Registry and included soldiers who sustained combat-related ocular injuries between the years 2013 and 2019.

SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic in the Israeli Defense Force-Lessons Learned From Our rt-PCR Screening Policy.

Background: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, multiple preventative measures were used to prevent the virus from spreading in the population. The Israeli defense force deployed further means to contain the disease, including putting units in quarantine, physical distancing and using masks, gowns and disinfectants when in contact with suspected patients.

Methods: We used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) tests to screen for patients among asymptomatic soldiers within units participating in civilian aid or in close contact with known patients, using personal protective equipment.

Body Mass Index in 1.9 Million Adolescents and Stroke in Young Adulthood.

Background And Purpose: There is a continuous rise in the prevalence of adolescent obesity and incidence of stroke among young adults in many Western countries, but the association between them is unclear.

Methods: A nationwide population-based study of 1 900 384 Israeli adolescents (58% men; mean age, 17.3 years) who were evaluated before mandatory military service during 1985 and 2013.

Bupivacaine-eluting soy protein structures for controlled release and localized pain relief: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Burn pain is known to be excruciating, and while burn care has greatly advanced, treatment for burn-related pain is lacking. Current pain relief methods include systemic administration of analgesics, which does not provide high drug concentration at the wound site. In the present study, soy protein was used as the base material for bupivacaine-loaded hybrid wound dressings.

Burns in the Military Setting-Analyzing 12,799 Routine and Combat Cases.

Burns are a major trauma source in civilian and military settings, with a huge impact on patient's well-being, health system, and operation status of the force in the military setting. The purpose of our study was to summarize characteristics of all burn cases seen by the Israel Defense Forces primary care physicians during the years 2008 to 2016. This can help understand what causes most burns, in what units, at which stages and settings and consequently will allow commanders to make decisions regarding safety rules, protective equipment and uniforms, medical education for soldiers, etc.

Self-reported symptoms in healthy young adults to predict potential coronavirus disease 2019.

Objective: To assess the utility of self-reported symptoms in identifying positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among predominantly healthy young adults in a military setting.

Methods: A questionnaire regarding COVID-19 symptoms and exposure history was administered to all individuals contacting the Israeli Defence Forces Corona call-centre, before PCR testing. Surveyed symptoms included cough, fever, sore throat, rhinorrhoea, loss of taste or smell, chest pain and gastrointestinal symptoms.

[PHYSIOLOGICAL GENDER DIFFERENCES AND THEIR EFFECT ON COVID-19 CAUSED MORBIDITY].

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has resulted in considerable morbidity and mortality, and caused comprehensive social and financial damages. Anatomical, physiological and occupational differences observed between men and women might influence the reaction to treatment and medications. This article reviews sex differences and their potential effect on COVID-19 infection, pathogenesis and prognosis in women compared to men.

Personality disorders and cause-specific mortality: a nationwide study of 2 million adolescents.

Background: Personality disorders are prevalent in 6-10% of the population, but their risk for cause-specific mortality is unclear. The aim of the study was to assess the association between personality disorders diagnosed in late adolescence and all-cause as well as cause-specific (cardiovascular-related, external-related) mortality.

Methods: We performed a longitudinal study on a historical prospective cohort based on nationwide screening prior to recruitment to the Israeli army.

A Noninvasive Stroke Volume Monitoring for Early Detection of Minimal Blood Loss: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Alternation in traditional vital signs can only be observed during advanced stages of hypovolemia and shortly before the hemodynamic collapse. However, even minimal blood loss induces a decrease in the cardiac preload which translates to a decrease in stroke volume, but these indices are not readily monitored. We aimed to determine whether minor hemodynamic alternations induced by controlled and standardized hypovolemia can be detected by a whole-body bio-impedance technology.

Effect of Smoking on Outcomes of Primary PCI in Patients With STEMI.

Background: Smoking is a well-established risk factor for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI); however, once STEMI occurs, smoking has been associated with favorable short-term outcomes, an observation termed the "smoker's paradox." It has been postulated that smoking might exert protective effects that could reduce infarct size, a strong independent predictor of worse outcomes after STEMI.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among smoking, infarct size, microvascular obstruction (MVO), and adverse outcomes after STEMI.

Endotracheal tube fixation time: a comparison of three fixation methods in a military field scenario.

Introduction: Endotracheal intubation is required in many emergency, trauma and prehospital scenarios. Endotracheal tube (ETT) fixation must be stable and quick to apply to enable rapid evacuation and patient transport. This study compares performance times of three common ETT securement techniques which are practical for out-of-hospital and combat scenarios.