Socioeconomic inequalities in exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in children in Israel.

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in infants and children causes more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. The aim of this study was to measure ETS exposure in children in Israel (ages 4-11 years) using urinary cotinine measurements, in order to compare exposure levels to other international populations, and to assess predictors of ETS exposure in children in Israel.

Methods: A subset of children who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (RAV- MABAT) in 2015-2016 were invited to participate in the Second Israel Biomonitoring Survey.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in non - smoking adults in Israel: results of the second Israel biomonitoring survey.

Background: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) increases the risk of heart and respiratory disease, cancer, and premature mortality in non-smoking individuals. Results from the first Israel Biomonitoring Study in 2011 showed that over 60% of non-smoking adults are exposed to ETS. The purpose of the current study was to assess whether policies to restrict smoking in public places have been associated with reductions in exposure to ETS, and to examine predictors of exposure.

Erratum to: The burden of smoking in Israel-attributable mortality and costs (2014).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/2045-4015-3-28.].

The burden of smoking in Israel-attributable mortality and costs (2014).

Background: Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death, incurring huge resource costs in terms of treating morbidity and lost productivity. This paper estimates smoking attributable mortality (SAM) as health costs in 2014 in Israel.

Methods: Longitudinal data on prevalence of smokers and ex-smokers were combined with diagnostic and gender specific data on Relative Risks (RR) to gender and disease specific population attributable risks (PAR).

A search for Helicobacter pyloriin localized vulvodynia.

Background: We noted that several patients presenting with both localized vulvodynia (vulvar vestibulitis) and peptic symptoms reported a resolution of dyspareunia after receiving a full treatment course for Helicobacter pylori.

Methods: Women with localized vulvodynia were interviewed regarding symptoms of peptic disease. Those with peptic symptoms underwent a blood test for the presence of antibodies to H.

SIAH-1 interacts with the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-encoded ORF45 protein and promotes its ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also referred to as human herpesvirus 8, is a potentially tumorigenic virus implicated in the etiology of Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and some forms of multicentric Castleman's disease. The open reading frame 45 (ORF45) protein, encoded by the KSHV genome, is capable of inhibiting virus-dependent interferon induction and appears to be essential for both early and late stages of infection. In the present study, we show, both in yeast two-hybrid assays and in mammalian cells, that the ORF45 protein interacts with the cellular ubiquitin E3 ligase family designated seven in absentia homologue (SIAH).

Educating CAM practitioners about integrative medicine: an approach to overcoming the communication gap with conventional health care practitioners.

Objective: To assess an educational initiative that teaches complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) students how to communicate more effectively with conventional physicians about CAM.

Design: We introduced an educational initiative in integrative medicine to CAM students in their final year of study, emphasizing evidence-based learning, patient-centered care, and communication skills with conventional health care providers. A precourse semistructured questionnaire and an anonymous open essay about the students' experiences at the end of the course were used as tools for assessment.

Prevalence and characteristics of complementary medicine used by pediatric cancer patients in a mixed western and middle-eastern population.

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) usage and physicians' attitude was evaluated by interviewing all 100 pediatric cancer patients' parents and adolescents seen in the last half of 2003 at Meyer Children's Hospital in Israel. Sixty-one percent of the patients used CAM, an average of 3 different treatments per patient. CAM use was higher: among parents having previous CAM experience (85% vs.

Comparisons of American, Israeli, Italian and Mexican physicians and nurses on the total and factor scores of the Jefferson scale of attitudes toward physician-nurse collaborative relationships.

This cross-cultural study was designed to compare the attitudes of physicians and nurses toward physician-nurse collaboration in the United States, Israel, Italy and Mexico. Total participants were 2522 physicians and nurses who completed the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration (15 Likert-type items, (Hojat et al., Evaluation and the Health Professions 22 (1999a) 208; Nursing Research 50 (2001) 123).

[Home palliative care of terminal cancer patients with family feedback: from the experience of the decision to continue the community care service in the North].

Palliative care of terminal cancer patients is one of the tasks of our Home Care Unit. Increasing hospitalization costs have brought forward the decision to treat them at home, assuming that they would prefer to return and die in their natural surroundings, among family. Most of our patients are aged, recent immigrants from the Soviet Union, of low socioeconomic status; most live with their close families.

Evaluation of the SQA IIB: a new version of a sperm quality analyzer.

Objective: To evaluate the SQA IIB (Sperm Quality Analyzer; MES-Medical Electronic Systems, Migdal Haemek, Israel), sperm analyzer that claims to read the three main sperm indices through algorithmic means and without a microscope.

Design: Controlled laboratory study comparing two methods of sperm analysis.

Setting: Academic environment.

Hospital disaster management simulation system.

Introduction: Theoretically, simulation of disastrous situations has many advantages in that it prepares hospital staff to cope with the real scenario. It is a challenge to create the database and custom-making a friendly software while still keeping it representative of a real situation. This article describes experience with developing and implementing the use of simulation software as a drilling technique used by Israeli hospitals.

Does number of beds reflect the surgical capability of hospitals in wartime and disaster? The use of a simulation technique at a national level.

Introduction: The raw number of hospital trauma beds and occupancy has been used to assess the surgical capability of hospitals in wartime and disaster situations. The goal of this study was to examine and offer a better tool to determine the load of casualties that a hospital would be able to absorb and treat effectively during these situations.

Methods: Simulation software was applied to various wartime scenarios.

Stroke in the young in Israel. Incidence and outcomes.

Background And Purpose: Data on stroke in the young in Israel are fragmentary. To obtain an overall perspective and to assess the nature and magnitude of the problem, a study was conducted on stroke occurrence in the young population during 1 year. Incidence and outcomes are reported in this communication.

[Incidence, risk factors and causes of stroke in young adults].

A 1-year, nation-wide study was conducted to determine the incidence, risk factors and causes of stroke in young adults. Permanent residents of Israel of both genders, aged 17-49 years, who were referred to 23 general hospitals with a first, acute stroke from 1 Nov. 1992 to 31 Oct.

[Head injuries from falls in children of 2 ethnic groups].

The highly prevalent problem of falls, the main cause of head injury in children, responds to preventive intervention. To aid in designing fall-prevention programs, we defined the pre- and post-hospitalization characteristics of children of 2 predominant Israeli ethnic groups: Jews (Group A) and non-Jews (Group B). In a prospective study conducted over a 10-month period in our emergency room during the morning shift, data from 274 patients aged 0-14 who presented with head injury due to a fall were collected.

Injury severity scoring and length of stay in hospital of war casualties--demonstration of an association and possible selection bias.

The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is a widely used measure of anatomical injury. It is the sum of squares of the highest scores on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) in each of the three most severely injured body regions. This study was designed to describe the relationship between ISS and length of stay (LOS) in hospital.

[Casualties of the Peace for Galilee operation].

Most casualties of the Peace for Galilee operation were hospitalized at the Rambam Medical Center. Data from the medical records of 864 casualties of the first 15 weeks of the conflict were analyzed. 75% of them were battle casualties, and the rest were injured in accidents.