Adjustment for unmeasured confounding through informative priors for the confounder-outcome relation.

Background: Observational studies of medical interventions or risk factors are potentially biased by unmeasured confounding. In this paper we propose a Bayesian approach by defining an informative prior for the confounder-outcome relation, to reduce bias due to unmeasured confounding. This approach was motivated by the phenomenon that the presence of unmeasured confounding may be reflected in observed confounder-outcome relations being unexpected in terms of direction or magnitude.

Endogenous temporal and spatial orienting: Evidence for two distinct attentional mechanisms.

The requirement to orient attention in space and time usually occurs simultaneously. Previous reports were indecisive regarding possible interactions between temporal and spatial orienting. The present study examined whether temporal and spatial orienting can operate simultaneously and independently in the framework of a detection task.

Use of hormone replacement therapy by menopausal women in six family-practice teaching clinics in Israel.

Background: The necessity of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains a controversial subject, but guidelines suggest that the subject be discussed with all menopausal women.

Aim: To determine the rate of HRT use among women cared for in family-practice, university-affiliated teaching clinics.

Methods: Physicians from six family-practice teaching clinics enrolled all menopausal patients, aged between 50 and 70 years, registered in their practice.

Knowledge and attitudes of primary care physicians regarding battered women. Comparison between specialists in family medicine and GPs.

Background: Domestic violence is a widespread public health problem and an important part of primary care practice.

Objective: To evaluate the approach of primary care physicians (family physicians and GPs) to the care of battered women.

Methods: A self-report questionnaire containing items about experience, knowledge and attitudes regarding the care of battered women was mailed to a random sample of 300 primary care physicians employed by the two major health management organizations in Israel.

Massive hemoptysis as a presenting sign of benign lymphocytic angiitis and granulomatosis.

We report a patient with massive hemoptysis due to benign lymphocytic angiitis and granulomatosis complicated by reactivated tuberculosis. There was remarkably good response to treatment with chlorambucil, corticosteroids and antituberculous drugs.