Detection of heterozygous c.1708C>T and c.1978C>G thyroid peroxidase (TPO) mutations in Iraqi patients with toxic and nontoxic goiter.

Sixty-three Arabic patients (16 males and 47 females) with thyroid toxic and nontoxic goiter who attended the endocrinologist in Nuclear Medicine Hospital and Al Yarmok Nuclear Medicine Department in Baghdad, Iraq were examined for thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene mutations. A total of ten heterozygous mutations have been identified in the human gene associated with thyroid toxic and nontoxic goiter. These mutations involved transition or transversion of cysteine either by thymine or guanine at the position 1708 of the exon 10 (c.

The Israel Nationwide Heart Failure Survey: Sex differences in early and late mortality for hospitalized heart failure patients.

Background: Current data on the influence of sex on the prognosis of heart failure (HF) are conflicting, possibly owing to the use of different end points and a heterogeneous heart failure population in earlier studies. We sought to evaluate the effect of sex on the risk of early and late mortality outcomes after hospitalization for acute heart failure.

Methods And Results: The prospective cohort study population comprised 2,212 hospitalized patients with acute HF enrolled in a multicenter national survey in Israel.

Correlation between the length and sagittal projection of the upper and lower jaw and the fundamental frequency.

Objective: To report on the correlation between the length and projection of the upper and lower jaw and the fundamental frequency (F0).

Study Design: Prospective study.

Materials And Methods: A total of 45 healthy subjects were included in this study.

Photoluminescence spectra of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in solution.

The spectral properties of CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) of 3 nm size have been studied under different organic solvents, concentrations and temperatures. Our results showed that the absorption spectra of CdSe/ZnS in benzene have two humps; one around 420 nm and another at 525 nm, with a steady increase in absorption along UV region, and the absorption spectral profile under a wide range of concentrations did not change. On the other hand, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of CdSe/ZnS in benzene showed two bands one around 375 nm and the other around 550 nm.

Transglottic basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Objective: To report a rare case of Transglottic Basaloid Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and review the pathologic features of these lesions.

Case Report: A 64 year old male, heavy smoker and alcohol abuser, presented with a 6 month history of hoarseness. Laryngoscopy revealed a right transglottic lesion involving the epiglottis, aryepiglottic fold, ventricle and true vocal fold.

Knowledge of oral cancer among recently graduated medical and dental professionals in Amman, Jordan.

Oral cancer is a devastating disease, and despite advances in treatment, the survival rate remains low. Early diagnosis can improve survival and outcomes. Delayed referrals are often due to the inadequate knowledge of general health professionals.

Presentation, treatment, and outcome differences between men and women undergoing revascularization or amputation for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease.

Objective: Prior studies have suggested treatment and outcome disparities between men and women for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease after surgical bypass. Given the recent shift toward endovascular therapy, which has increasingly been used to treat claudication, we sought to analyze sex disparities in presentation, revascularization, amputation, and inpatient mortality.

Methods: We identified individuals with intermittent claudication and critical limb ischemia (CLI) using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2009.

Age-dependent effect of left ventricular ejection fraction on long-term mortality in patients with heart failure (from the Heart Failure Survey in ISrael).

Contemporary heart failure (HF) therapies have not resulted in improved outcomes among patients with HF and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We sought to evaluate the differential effect of LVEF on long-term mortality after hospitalization for acute decompensated HF in a real-world setting. All-cause mortality at 4 years after hospitalization for HF was assessed by LVEF (categorized as preserved [≥50%], mildly [40% to 49%], moderately [30% to 39%], and severely [<30%] reduced) among 1,620 patients enrolled in the Heart Failure Survey in ISrael.

Endovascular management of critical limb ischemia in renal transplant patients.

Background: End-stage renal disease is a significant negative predictor of limb salvage and patient survival in patients with limb ischemia, but little is known of the overall effects of renal transplantation. Endovascular management may be less morbid than open surgery, but technical success and durability in these patients is not well established.

Methods: All patients with functioning renal transplants and critical limb ischemia (CLI) treated with endovascular techniques between 2003 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed for limb salvage, reintervention, pre- and postprocedure creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and overall survival.

The impact of the present on admission indicator on the accuracy of administrative data for carotid endarterectomy and stenting.

Background: Administrative data are often hampered by coding errors, absent data, and the difficulty of distinguishing pre-existing conditions from perioperative complications. We evaluated whether the introduction of the present on admission (POA) indicator improved outcome analysis of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) using administrative data.

Methods: State inpatient databases from California (2005-2008), New York (2008), and New Jersey (2008) were used to identify patients undergoing CAS and CEA.

Dynamics of bubbles created by plasma in heptane for micro-gap conditions.

The determination of the initial pressure at the bubble wall created by a discharge in heptane for micro-gap conditions cannot be determined straightforwardly by modeling the time-oscillations of the bubble. The resolution of the Gilmore equation gives the same solutions beyond 1 μs typically for various sets of initial parameters, making impossible the determination of the initial pressure at the bubble wall. Furthermore, the very first instant of the bubble formation is not easily accessible at very short time scales because of the plasma emission.

Fate of the contralateral limb after lower extremity amputation.

Objective: Lower extremity amputation is often performed in patients where both lower extremities are at risk due to peripheral arterial disease or diabetes, yet the proportion of patients who progress to amputation of their contralateral limb is not well defined. We sought to determine the rate of subsequent amputation on both the ipsilateral and contralateral lower extremities following initial amputation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients undergoing lower extremity amputation (exclusive of trauma or tumor) at our institution from 1998 to 2010.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use in eligible patients following acute myocardial infarction: real world data from the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys: 2004-2010.

Background: Following the EPHESUS trial in 2003, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy received a class I indication for the management of eligible high-risk post-MI patients. Our goal was to examine temporal trends in MRA use in eligible post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

Methods: We investigated temporal trends and factors associated with MRA utilization among eligible patients enrolled in the biannual Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS) 2004-2010.

Laryngeal manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a destructive autoimmune disease that affects 3% of the adult population. It is characterized by the formation of both articular and extra-articular lesions with predilection for small joints. There are ubiquitous reports on the head and neck manifestations of RA with emphasis on the larynx.

Dobutamine stress MRI for the assessment of coronary artery disease: initial clinical experience in Israel.

Background: Over the past few years dobutamine stress magnetic resonance (DSMR) has proven its efficacy as an integral part of the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives: To present the feasibility and safety of DSMR in Israel.

Methods: Thirty patients with suspected or known CAD were studied.

Recurrent glioblastoma: volumetric assessment and stratification of patient survival with early posttreatment magnetic resonance imaging in patients treated with bevacizumab.

Background: Despite a high radiographic response rate in patients with recurrent glioblastoma following bevacizumab therapy, survival benefit has been relatively modest. We assess whether tumor volume measurements based on baseline and early posttreatment MRI can stratify patients in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Methods: Baseline (-4 +/- 4 days) and posttreatment (30 +/- 6 days) MRI exams of 91 patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab were retrospectively evaluated for volume of enhancing tumor as well as volume of the T2/FLAIR hyperintensity.

Goiter and laryngeal sensory neuropathy.

Objective. Examining the prevalence of laryngeal sensory neuropathy (LSN) in goiter patients versus a control group. Study Design.

The rise and fall of renal artery angioplasty and stenting in the United States, 1988-2009.

Objective: Optimal management of renal artery stenosis (RAS) remains unclear. Recent randomized controlled trials have shown no clear benefit with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without stenting (PTRA/S) over medical management. We hypothesize that interventions for RAS are decreasing nationally.

The mechanism of inhibition by H2 of H2-evolution by hydrogenases.

By analysing the results of experiments carried out with two FeFe hydrogenases and several "channel mutants" of a NiFe hydrogenase, we demonstrate that whether or not hydrogen evolution is significantly inhibited by H2 is not a consequence of active site chemistry, but rather relates to H2 transport within the enzyme.

Diagnostic accuracy of two questionnaires for the detection of neuropathic pain in the Spanish population.

Background: Several questionnaires have been developed for the detection of neuropathic pain.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale and the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 questions (DN4) questionnaire for the detection of peripheral neuropathic pain in the Spanish population, and to analyse in detail the diagnostic quality of each item in these questionnaires.

Methods: A total of 192 patients were enrolled.

Fluid-structure interaction model of aortic valve with porcine-specific collagen fiber alignment in the cusps.

Native aortic valve cusps are composed of collagen fibers embedded in their layers. Each valve cusp has its own distinctive fiber alignment with varying orientations and sizes of its fiber bundles. However, prior mechanical behavior models have not been able to account for the valve-specific collagen fiber networks (CFN) or for their differences between the cusps.

An updated definition of stroke for the 21st century: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Despite the global impact and advances in understanding the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular diseases, the term "stroke" is not consistently defined in clinical practice, in clinical research, or in assessments of the public health. The classic definition is mainly clinical and does not account for advances in science and technology. The Stroke Council of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association convened a writing group to develop an expert consensus document for an updated definition of stroke for the 21st century.

Open repair of intact thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Objective: Open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) is uncommon. Mortality rates of 20% are reported in studies using national data and are 5% to 8% in single-institution studies. Clinical trials are currently evaluating branched and fenestrated endografts.