Imaging of Existing and Newly Translated Proteins Elucidates Mechanisms of Sarcomere Turnover.

Background: How the sarcomeric complex is continuously turned over in long-living cardiomyocytes is unclear. According to the prevailing model of sarcomere maintenance, sarcomeres are maintained by cytoplasmic soluble protein pools with free recycling between pools and sarcomeres.

Methods: We imaged and quantified the turnover of expressed and endogenous sarcomeric proteins, including the giant protein titin, in cardiomyocytes in culture and in vivo, at the single cell and at the single sarcomere level using pulse-chase labeling of Halo-tagged proteins with covalent ligands.

Erythromycin Prophylaxis for Neonatal Conjunctivitis: Ointment Versus Drops.

Background: Due to a shortage of individualized erythromycin ointment (IEO), we switched to shared erythromycin drops (SED). Following this change, nurses claimed observing more cases of eye discharge.

Objectives: To test whether switching from IEO to SED affected the rate of neonatal conjunctivitis (NC).

Surgical site infection rates following cardiac surgery: the impact of a 6-year infection control program.

Background: To evaluate the impact of an infection control program on surgical site infections (SSIs) complicating cardiac operations.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of patients undergoing cardiac operations. Interventions included prospective surveillance, povidone-iodine scrub showers, depilation before surgery, administration of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in the operating room, and postdischarge follow-up.

Are we giving too much iron? Low-dose iron therapy is effective in octogenarians.

Purpose: Elderly patients are vulnerable to the dose-dependent adverse effects of iron replacement therapy. Our study examines whether low-dose iron therapy can efficiently resolve iron-deficiency anemia in patients over the age of 80 years and reduce adverse effects.

Subjects And Methods: Ninety hospitalized patients with iron-deficiency anemia were randomized to receive elemental iron in daily doses of 15 mg or 50 mg as liquid ferrous gluconate or 150 mg of ferrous calcium citrate tablets for 60 days.

[A preparatory course for retirement by the Israeli Medical Association].

Objective: Retirement can be traumatic, and physicians are not immune. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) has been conducting a preparatory course for retirement for its members reaching retirement. The objective of the present study was to survey the characteristics of participating physicians, to map their activities following retirement, to gauge their appreciation of the course, and to assess their willingness to continue their association with the IMA.

Vancomycin versus cefazolin prophylaxis for cardiac surgery in the setting of a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections.

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of vancomycin prophylaxis with that of cefazolin in preventing surgical site infections in a tertiary medical center with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections.

Methods: All adult patients (> or = 18 years) scheduled for cardiac surgery requiring sternotomy were randomly assigned to receive vancomycin (1 g every 12 hours) or cefazolin (1 g every 8 hours). Prophylaxis was started during the induction of anesthesia and continued for only 24 hours.

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.

Phenol lumbar sympathetic block in diabetic lower limb ischemia.

Background: Patients with arteriosclerotic peripheral vascular disease and lower limb ischemia have painful ulceration or incipient gangrene of the lower limb with intractable rest pain. The arteriosclerotic changes may preclude any surgery other than amputation.

Methods: We examined whether chemical sympathectomy could relieve pain, arrest gangrene and postpone amputation, even in diabetic patients.

Carotid surgery under local anesthesia in the elderly.

Carotid endarterectomy in 39 elderly patients was carried out under local anesthesia and neuroleptic analgesia. There were no deaths within 30 days. Two patients required an intraoperative shunt because of signs of ischemic changes (aphasia, motor changes) during two-minute test cross-clamping.

Cryosurgery for life-threatening bleeding hemorrhoids in the elderly.

Forty-three elderly patients with massive bleeding of hemorrhoidal varices were treated by cryosurgery at a single outpatient session, using nitrous oxide gas, without premedication or anesthesia. The results were excellent in all but one patient, who had ulcerative colitis and required another session of cryotherapy following a recurrence of bleeding. There was no morbidity and no mortality.

Changes in behavioural characteristics of elderly populations of local authority homes and long-stay hospital wards, 1976-7.

Behavioural characteristics of the elderly populations of seven local authority residential homes and three long-stay hospital wards were assessed in 1976 and 1977 with the Crichton Royal behavioural rating scale. In 1977 the levels of behavioural problems had increased in the residential homes, but declined in the hospital wards. Differences between the homes had decreased as the overall level of problems increased.