Proximal Femur Fractures in the Elderly-A Novel Modality to Predict Mortality: The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio.

Background: The assessment and identification of elderly patients with proximal femur fractures (PFF) who are at high risk of postoperative mortality may influence the treatment decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could be used to predict postoperative mortality in the elderly population. Methods: A four-year retrospective cohort study of electronic medical records was conducted at a single tertiary care hospital between 2015 and 2018.

Regional Antibiotic Delivery for Implanted Cardiovascular Electronic Device Infections.

Background: Present guidelines endorse complete removal of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (pacemakers/defibrillators), including extraction of all intracardiac electrodes, not only for systemic infections, but also for localized pocket infections.

Objectives: The authors evaluated the efficacy of delivering continuous, in situ-targeted, ultrahigh concentration of antibiotics (CITA) into the infected subcutaneous device pocket, obviating the need for device/lead extraction.

Methods: The CITA group consisted of 80 patients with pocket infection who were treated with CITA during 2007-2021.

Intracranial and heart valve calcifications in hemodialysis patients-Interrelationship and clinical impact.

Introduction: Arterial calcification is an integral component of active atherosclerosis and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a systemic, life-threating disease that may occur at different sites and in various clinical presentations. Intracranial and valvular calcifications are common among dialysis patients and have been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes.

Disease severity and renal outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease infected with COVID-19.

Introduction: While there is evidence of the presence of the coronavirus in the kidneys and resultant acute kidney injury (AKI), information on the effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on COVID-19 outcomes and its pathogenesis is currently lacking.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study evaluated the outcomes of all consecutive patients hospitalized during COVID-19 outbreaks in Meir Medical Center. Serum creatinine level was assessed before hospitalization ("baseline serum creatinine") and at admission, as well as minimum and maximum serum creatinine levels during hospitalization.

A Case of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Complicated by Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Identifying the Aberrant Immune Response.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome that may complicate hematologic malignancies. HLH and malignancies have common clinical features, and HLH diagnostic criteria (HLH-2004/Hscore) were not validated in this specific population. We describe a case of a 72-year-old patient with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia stable for over 10 years who presented with fever and cytopenia.

Red cell distribution width-A mortality predictor in older adults with proximal femoral fracture.

Background: Identifying elderly patients with proximal femoral fractures (PFF) who are at risk of postoperative mortality may influence the treatment decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to examine whether red blood cell distribution width (RDW) can serve as a predictor of postoperative mortality in these patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of electronic medical records at a single tertiary care hospital over a 3-year period between 2015 and 2018.

Diastolic blood pressure is associated with brain atrophy in hemodialysis patients: A single center case-control study.

Brain atrophy (BA) is often found in neuroimaging of hemodialysis patients, representing parenchymal cerebral damage. Likely contributing factors to BA are age, chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other cardiovascular risk factors of atherosclerosis that are also common among hemodialysis patients. BA may also occur due to focal ischemia and hypoperfusion during hemodialysis.

Prediction of acute-coronary-syndrome using newly-defined R-CHADS-VASc score among patients with chest pain.

Background: Chest-pain patients with no evidence of acute coronary syndrome might still be at risk for adverse outcomes. Adding renal function to the classic scoring of CHADS and CHADS VASC may improve risk stratification of chest-pain patients discharged from internal medicine wards after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rule-out.

Methods: We accessed medical records of patients admitted to internal medicine wards during 2010-2016 and discharged following ACS rule-out.

Non-coronary cardiac calcifications and outcomes in patients with heart failure.

Background: Calcium deposits on heart valves are considered a local manifestation of atherosclerosis and are associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. The clinical significance of cardiac calcifications among heart failure (HF) patients, as assessed by echocardiography, is unknown. This study evaluated associations of cardiac calcifications with mortality and hospital admissions in this specific population.

Assessment of the CHA2DS2-VASc Score in Predicting Mortality and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes of Patients on Hemodialysis.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing chronic hemodialysis are at high mortality and cardiovascular risk. This study was aimed to assess whether the CHA2DS2-VASc score may be used for risk stratification of this population.

Methods: Included were patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis at Meir Medical Center.

Quantitative assessment of effective regurgitant orifice: impact on risk stratification, and cut-off for severe and torrential tricuspid regurgitation grade.

Aims: Asses the added value of quantitative evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the proper cut-off value for severe TR and 'torrential TR' based on outcome data. The added value of quantitative evaluation of TR, and the cut-off values associated with increased mortality are unknown.

Methods And Results: In patients with all-cause TR assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively by proximal iso-velocity surface area method, long-term and 1-year outcome analysis was conducted.

Hyponatremia is associated with poor prognosis among patients with chest pain discharged from internal medicine wards following acute coronary syndrome-rule-out.

Background: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality observed in clinical practice. Among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), serum sodium levels are inversely associated with mortality risk. We assessed associations of serum sodium level with ACS and mortality in patients with chest pain.

Mean platelet volume and clinical outcomes of patients with chest pain discharged from internal medicine wards.

Background: Currently, there are no clinical scores for risk stratification of low-risk patients with chest pain. We aimed to examine the association between mean platelet volume (MPV) and risk for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with chest pain discharged from internal medicine wards following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rule-out.

Patients And Methods: Included were patients who were admitted to internal medicine wards and were discharged following an ACS-rule-out during 2010-2016.

The association between red cell distribution width and clinical outcomes in patients hospitalised due to chest pain.

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the degree of heterogeneity of erythrocyte volume. Higher RDW levels are associated with increased mortality among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. The association between RDW levels and clinical outcomes in patients admitted for further evaluation of chest pain is not known.

Gold nanoparticles for tracking bacteria clearance by regulated irrigation and negative pressure-assisted wound therapy.

Aim: Regulated negative pressure-assisted wound therapy is a fundamental, nonpharmaceutical technology for acute and chronically infected wounds, yet bacterial clearance and biofilm buildup remain a challenge for healing. Regulated irrigation combined with negative pressure (RI-NPT) is emerging as an alternative therapeutic strategy for reducing bacterial load. Here, we analyzed RI-NPT hydrokinetics and efficacy of bacterial load reduction in wounds.

CHA DS -VASc score and clinical outcomes of patients with chest pain discharged from internal medicine wards following acute coronary syndrome rule-out.

Background: Chest-pain patients deemed safe for discharge from internal medicine wards might still be at risk for adverse outcomes.

Hypothesis: CHA DS -VASc score improves risk stratification of low-risk chest-pain patients discharged after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rule-out.

Methods: We accessed medical records of patients who were admitted to internal medicine wards at a single medical center during 2010-2016 and discharged following an ACS rule-out.

Iodinated Contrast Media Allergy in Patients Hospitalized for Investigation of Chest Pain.

Background: Iodinated contrast media (ICM) allergy may entail severe adverse events in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Premedication protocols and low-osmolality contrast media have been thought to improve the outcomes of these individuals.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of allergic reactions during PCI in patients admitted for investigation of chest pain.

Impaired renal function is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with chest pain discharged from internal medicine wards.

Background: Assessment of chest pain is one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions in internal medicine wards. However, little is known regarding predictors for poor prognosis in patients discharged from internal medicine wards after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rule-out.

Objective: To assess the association of kidney function with mortality and hospital admissions due to ACS in patients with chest pain who were discharged from internal medicine wards following ACS rule-out.

Pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score and outcome of patients with acute cerebrovascular events.

Background: The CHA2DS2-VASc score has been recommended for the assessment of thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. Data regarding the association between the pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score and the outcome of patients with stroke and TIA are scarce. We aimed to assess the predictive value of pre-admission CHA2DS2-VASc score for early risk stratification of patients with acute cerebrovascular event.

Comparison of 30-Day and Long-Term Outcomes and Hospital Complications Among Patients Aged <75 Versus ≥75 Years With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Our aim was to evaluate the mortality rate and occurrence of complications in patients aged <75 versus ≥75 years with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We studied 1,657 consecutive patients with STEMI hospitalized in the cardiac intensive care unit during 2008 to 2014. All patients underwent primary percutaneous intervention, of which 292 (18%) were aged ≥75 years.

Long term prognosis of atrial fibrillation in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-known complication in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Data on the long-term prognostic implications of New-Onset AF (NOAF) complicating STEMI in the era of complete revascularization remains controversial. Our aim therefore was to evaluate the long-term prognosis of prior AF (pAF) and new-onset AF (NOAF) in STEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).