Measuring hedonic capacity in depression: a psychometric analysis of three anhedonia scales.

The present study evaluated and compared the psychometric properties of three self-report scales: the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS; R. P. Snaith, M.

Beveled needle technique is not associated with low "take" rates in Israeli smallpox revaccination campaign.

Background: In its first large-scale smallpox vaccination campaign in the 20(th) century, Israel has experienced an exceptionally high rate of failure to achieve clinical take following vaccination. It was hypothesized that this failure rates might be attributed to the unique vaccination technique adopted in Israel, of using beveled needles rather than bifurcated needles.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified two cohorts vaccinated in the defined dates during the Israeli revaccination campaign, in which beveled needles and bifurcated needles were used alternately, and studied the impact of different covariates on clinical vaccination outcome measures.

Using addiction severity profiles to differentiate cocaine-dependent patients with and without comorbid major depression.

This study compared pretreatment addiction severity profiles of 339 abusers in three diagnostic groups: cocaine dependence only (CO), cocaine dependence with substance-induced major depression (SIMD), and cocaine dependence with independent major depression (IMD). Depressed subjects reported more severe problems than non-depressed subjects across numerous domains, regardless of diagnostic etiology. These findings support the need for specialized treatment approaches targeting depressive symptoms or life stress for cocaine-dependent patients with IMD or SIMD, though patients with IMD may require additional attention for chronic and comorbid psychiatric and medical problems.

The re-emergence of pertussis in Israel.

Background: Pertussis is the only vaccine-preventable disease that has re-emerged in Israel. The reported crude incidence of the disease increased 16-fold since 1998.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of pertussis and explain the substantial increase in reported pertussis incidence in Israel in recent years.

Attitudes and knowledge about nicotine and nicotine replacement therapy.

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) represent an effective means of promoting smoking cessation, but they remain underutilized. Negative attitudes and false beliefs about nicotine and nicotine replacement may cause NRT underutilization. In a randomized, controlled, single-blind study of nicotine gum, 97 smokers were assessed on their attitudes and knowledge about nicotine, nicotine replacement, and smoking cessation therapy.

Functional degradation of extrastriate visual cortex in senescent rhesus monkeys.

The receptive field properties of striate cortical (V1) cells degrade in senescent macaque monkeys. We have now carried out extracellular single unit studies of the receptive field properties of cells in extrastriate visual cortex (area V2) in very old rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys. This study provides evidence that both the orientation and direction selectivities of V2 cells in old monkeys degrade significantly.

Estimating the effect of air pollution from a coal-fired power station on the development of children's pulmonary function.

Using geographical information systems (GIS) tools, the present study analyzed the association between children's lung function development and their long-term exposure to air pollution. The study covered the cohort of 1492 schoolchildren living in the vicinity of a major coal-fired power station in the Hadera sub-district of Israel. In 1996 and 1999, the children underwent subsequent pulmonary function tests (PFT) (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV(1))), and the children's parents completed a detailed questionnaire on their health status and household characteristics.

The role of drug use outcome expectancies in substance abuse risk: an interactional-transformational model.

While a variety of risk factors for substance abuse have been identified, the psychological mechanisms underlying the transmission of risk is unclear based on studies using traditional risk-outcome research designs. The present paper identifies drug use outcome expectancies as a common etiological mechanism involved in substance abuse risk. Existing literature findings are reviewed and integrated according to an interactional-transformational (IT) model of developmental psychopathology.

Epidemiologic characteristics of pediatric active tuberculosis among immigrants from high to low tuberculosis-endemic countries: the Israeli experience.

Background: During the last decade, Israel, a country with low tuberculosis rates, absorbed some 900,000 new immigrants from TB-endemic countries.

Objectives: To analyze the specific impact of our screening procedures on active TB among children in Israel.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of epidemiologic and clinical data of all children (aged 0-17) with TB notified to the Ministry of Health between 1990 and 1999.

Functional degradation of visual cortical cells in old cats.

Visual function declines with age. Using extracellular single-unit in vivo recordings, we compared the function of primary visual cortical (area 17) cells in young and old paralyzed, anesthetized cats. The results reveal that cortical neurons in old cats exhibit higher visually evoked responses, higher spontaneous activities, lower signal-to-noise ratios, and weaker orientation and direction selectivity than do cells in young adult cats.

On-site wastewater management system design and landslide risk assessment.

On-site wastewater management system design and performance is significant in assessing landslide risk in areas with potential for slope instability. Much of the development in Pittwater, NSW, local government area is on steep coastal land which has a history of slope instability. Concern over cases of poorly performing or failing on-site wastewater systems and the recognition that these and newly designed systems could be contributory to slope instability has been a factor in Pittwater Council, NSW, requiring that landslide risk assessment be undertaken for new and amended on-site wastewater management systems in potentially unstable areas.

Incidence of hepatitis A in Israel following universal immunization of toddlers.

Context: In Israel, the mean annual incidence of hepatitis A disease was 50.4 per 100 000 during 1993-1998. A 2-dose universal hepatitis A immunization program aimed at children aged 18 and 24 months (without a catch-up campaign) was started in 1999.

The prevalence of smoking among pregnant and postpartum women in Israel: a national survey and review.

Background: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is a significant health risk to the developing fetus. In order to develop and implement an appropriate preconceptional and prenatal smoking cessation program a national pregnancy risk survey was done.

Methods: The survey was conducted through the Public Health Service's, Mother and Child Health Clinics (MCHC).

[Antiviral prophylaxis following possible sexual exposure to HIV].

In Israel, as in certain European countries, national health guidelines exist for preventive treatment after possible post-coital exposure to the HIV virus. Scientifically, this treatment is still regarded as experimental, though over the past years there is a mounting level of evidence of its efficacy. The administration of prophylaxis for HIV after unprotected coitus may be justified by the similar risk of HIV transmission for certain sexual and occupational exposures.

Infant mortality in Israel during 1950-2000: rates, causes, demographic characteristics and trends.

We evaluated the trends and risk factors in infant mortality in Israel over five decades (1950-2000), based on data obtained from the official notifications of live births, and death certificates. Until the 1960s the main cause of infant mortality was infectious disease; this was replaced by congenital anomalies in Moslems and Druzes, and preterm birth in Jews and Christians. In 2000, there were 746 infant deaths, and the national infant mortality rate (IMR) was 5.

Degradation of signal timing in cortical areas V1 and V2 of senescent monkeys.

Senescence in monkeys results in a degradation of the functional properties of cortical cells as well as prolonged hyperactivity. We have now compared the spontaneous and visually evoked activity levels, as well as the visual response latencies of cells in cortical areas V1 and V2 of young and very old monkeys. We found that V1 cells within layer 4 exhibit normal latencies.

[The reemergence of malaria in Israel?].

Worldwide, malaria is the most prevalent vector-borne disease, endemic or hyperendemic in more than 100 countries. The disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium with a life cycle split between man (the vertebrate host) and the mosquito vector. Since the 1960s, Israel has been considered a malaria free country, despite a substantial number of imported cases each year (mainly P.

Caregiving attitudes and at-risk maternal behavior among mothers with major mental illness.

In an effort to improve parenting assessments for mothers with mental illness, this study examined the relationship between caregiving attitudes and maternal behavior. Participants included 44 mothers with major mental illness who were involved with the child welfare system and their young children. The Parenting Opinion Questionnaire (POQ) was administered to assess caregiving attitudes.

[Cellular phones and public health].

Background: The increased use of mobile cellular phone by the public is associated with a wave of contradictory reports about the possible health effects, due to the exposure of the users to electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation.

Aims: This article reviews the state of the art of the present knowledge concerning the biological and medical effects of exposure to cellular phones, with an emphasis on its possible carcinogenic effect.

Results: Health conditions, which have been ascribed to the use of mobile phones mainly include some types of cancer and changes of brain activity.

Increased awareness, knowledge and utilization of preconceptional folic acid in Israel following a national campaign.

Background: To decrease the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) issued guidelines in August 2000 recommending daily folic acid (FA) supplementation for women in their childbearing age, and concurrently launched a national FA campaign. Campaign effects were assessed by comparing the results of a survey done in 2002 with a baseline survey done in June 2000.

Methods: Both surveys were done within the network of the Public Health Services' Mother and Child Health Clinics (MCHC).

Compulsory detention of recalcitrant tuberculosis patients in the context of a new tuberculosis control programme in Israel.

Objective: To analyse the use of compulsory detention in the context of a new national tuberculosis (TB) control programme launched in 1997.

Methods: A retrospective review was made of the use of compulsory detention in the management of infectious TB before and after the initiation of a new TB control programme, using data from the central TB registry in the Ministry of Health and the charts of each patient.

Results: Between 1994 and 2001, 13 recalcitrant patients out of 3056 (0.

Adverse reactions to accidental forearm injection of Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine in schoolchildren: 12-month cohort follow-up.

This study examined the natural history of reaction after accidental intradermal administration of bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine instead of purified protein derivative (PPD) in 226 schoolchildren. At 18 days after vaccination, a local reaction with a diameter of 4.5-14 mm was found in 62% of the students, and ulceration with discharge was found in 26.