Sweet Syndrome and Secondary Syphilis in a Person with Acute Necrotizing Tonsillitis.

Syphilis has received its classical designation as one of "the great imitators," reflecting a wide variety of symptoms and presentations, which can cause difficulties in diagnosis. Here we report an unusual case of secondary syphilis in a person with acute necrotizing tonsillitis and Sweet syndrome. A 33-year-old female presented with fever, bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, tonsillar enlargements with ulcerated pus-filled lesions on the right tonsil, and multiple pseudovesicular, mammillated, edematous plaques on her neck, face, and extremities.

Spontaneous Pathologic Splenic Rupture in a Patient with Infection, First Case Reported in Israel.

Travelers exposed to malaria may develop severe disease and complications. A less well-known complication is spontaneous pathologic splenic rupture, which is still under-reported and has never been reported in Israel. In this paper, we report a 23 years old healthy young man presenting in the emergency department, two weeks after coming back from Sierra Leone, with intermittent fever, mild tachycardia and mild left upper quadrant abdominal pain.

Septic Shock and Multiple Organ Failure After Office Endometrial Sampling.

BACKGROUND: Office endometrial biopsy with a Pipelle cannula is the main method for sampling the endometrial lining. The Pipelle biopsy is safe, efficient, and cost effective. This office endometrial sampling method is also an accurate and safe procedure for endometrial sampling of patients with endometrial carcinoma.

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute spontaneous urticaria and its progression to chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Background: The natural history of the progression from acute spontaneous urticaria (ASU) to chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), CSU remains poorly understood.

Objective: To identify clinical and laboratory patient attributes that may be predictive of ASU progression to CSU.

Methods: We prospectively studied consecutive adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with a diagnosis of urticaria of <6 weeks' duration.

Selective IgE deficiency and cardiovascular diseases.

Selective immunoglobulin E (IgE) deficiency (IgED) is defined as serum levels of IgE more than or equal to 2 kIU/L and is associated with immune dysregulation and autoimmunity. This study aimed to investigate a prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in population with IgED. Within the electronic patient record (EPR) database of Leumit Health Care Services (LHS) in Israel, data capture was performed using IBM Cognos 10.

Clinical and laboratory features of chronic idiopathic urticaria in the elderly.

Background: There are few data regarding epidemiology and clinical features of urticarial diseases in the elderly population.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) in the geriatric population.

Methods: Electronic medical records of outpatient allergy consultations due to a diagnosis of CIU were retrospectively reviewed to collect demographic data, urticaria activity score, results of autologous serum skin test (ASST), and laboratory workup.

Antihistamines do not inhibit the wheal induced by the intradermal injection of autologous serum in resistant chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Some patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) are resistant to conventional doses of antihistamines (AHs). This study was designed to check whether the skin wheal and flare reaction produced by the intradermal injection of autologous serum (AS) and by histamine differs in AH-resistant and AH responder CIU patients. CIU patients with treatment failure under fexofenadine at 180 mg q.

Possible benefit from treatment of Helicobacter pylori in antihistamine-resistant chronic urticaria.

Background: Some patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU) are resistant to conventional doses of antihistamine (AH) medications. Some research groups have reported an association between CU and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Aim: To determine whether H.

Clinical and laboratory features of antihistamine-resistant chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria (CIU) is sometimes resistant to the conventional and high doses of antihistamines (AHs). This study compares the clinical and laboratory characteristics of AH responsive and AH-resistant CIU subjects. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from 385 CIU patients.

The effect of L-thyroxine treatment on chronic idiopathic urticaria and autoimmune thyroiditis.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) is more prevalent in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria CIU) than in the general population. Previous small studies without any controlled comparison reported that CIU remits in patients with CIU and AT treated with L-thyroxine. To determine whether l-thyroxine treatment can improve the clinical course of CIU in patients with the co-occurrence of AT and CIU.

Impact of contact sensitization in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Introduction: Patch testing is performed to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis to avoid exposure to the revealed contact allergens. Nevertheless, patch testing is not routinely performed in the evaluation of patients with chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria (CIU). The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sensitization to patch test allergens in severe CIU and assess a role of the allergen avoidance in CIU remission.

Potential link between C3a, C3b and endothelial progenitor cells in resistant hypertension.

Introduction: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and complement C3 are involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension. C3a is the negative regulator of progenitor cells egress during their mobilization from bone marrow. Previously, higher plasma concentration of C3 was observed in resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) than in controlled arterial hypertension (CAH).

Increased mean platelet volume and C-reactive protein levels in patients with chronic urticaria with a positive autologous serum skin test.

Introduction: Activation of the coagulation cascade resulting in thrombin production is a prominent feature of exacerbations in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU). Autologous serum skin test (ASST) causes wheal-and-flare reactions in 30% to 50% of CU cases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory data in patients with CU with positive and negative ASST.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells, Th1/Th2/Th17-related cytokines, and endothelial dysfunction in resistant hypertension.

Introduction: A possible link between chronic vascular inflammation and arterial hypertension is now an object of intensive studies.

Objective: To compare Th1/Th2/Th17 cells-related cytokines, circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), and endothelial function in subjects with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) and controlled arterial hypertension (CAH).

Methods: Blood pressure was measured by electronic sphygmomanometer.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori can facilitate immune reconstitution in HIV-1-infected immunological non-responders.

Objective: A significant number of HIV-1 patients experience poor immune reconstitution despite long-term viral suppression with highly active antiretroviral therapy (immunological non-responders). The aims of the present study were to determine whether eradication of Helicobacter pylori could facilitate a better immune reconstitution in these patients.

Methods: Forty-nine immunological non-responder HIV-1 patients were evaluated by (13)C-urea breath test (UBT) for the presence of active H.

Community acquired acute bacterial meningitis in children and adults: an 11-year survey in a community hospital in Israel.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between the presenting clinical manifestations of bacterial meningitis and the duration of time elapsed before lumbar puncture and start of antibiotic treatment.

Design: Retrospective epidemiologic study using the clinical records in Barzilai Medical Center Emergency Department between 1988 and 1999.

Results: 97 patients, 72 children and 25 adults with ABM were identified.

Resistant arterial hypertension is associated with higher blood levels of complement C3 and C-reactive protein.

Arterial hypertension is associated with increased plasma levels of complement C3, C4, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of the study was to compare these laboratory markers in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) and controlled arterial hypertension (CAH). Patients with RAH (n = 34), those with CAH (n = 34), and 26 normotensive controls were included.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection equally improves chronic urticaria with positive and negative autologous serum skin test.

Background: The aim of the study was to examine effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on chronic idiopathic urticaria (CU) with and without positive aulogous serum skin test (ASST).

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with CU were checked for the positivity ASST and H. pylori urea (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT).

Sensitizations to allergens of TRUE test in 864 consecutive eczema patients in Israel.

The TRUE test is a widespread diagnostic tool for initial patch testing of patients with contact dermatitis (CD). From 2002 to 2005, 864 patients with eczema were patch-tested using TRUE test in one Israeli allergology clinic. 547 (63.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis can improve blood pressure control.

Owing to high prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) and allergic rhinitis (AR), these diseases frequently coexist. The study aimed to assess whether improvement of AR by conventional treatment can improve blood pressure (BP) control in this population. Sixty-eight subjects of both sexes aged 35-60 years with AR and AH were randomized into two groups to receive in addition to their antihypertensive medications: treatment group (n=34) Fluticasone nasal 50 microg/spray b.

Effects of low-dose aspirin on blood pressure and endothelial function of treated hypertensive hypercholesterolaemic subjects.

The main objective of this study was to assess whether aspirin 100 mg QD can improve blood pressure (BP) control and endothelial function in subjects with arterial hypertension (AH) and hypercholesterolaemia. In total, 21 patients of both sexes (52.1+/-11.

Can worms defend our hearts? Chronic helminthic infections may attenuate the development of cardiovascular diseases.

The established risk factors for atherosclerosis fail to fully explain the extent and severity of coronary artery diseases in 50% of the patients. Thus, the causative agents and processes, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, are being sought. Notoriously, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular event rates are much lower in developing countries.

Resistant arterial hypertension and hyperlipidemia: atorvastatin, not vitamin C, for blood pressure control.

Background: Hypertension is considered resistant if blood pressure cannot be reduced to <140/90 mmHg with an appropriate triple-drug regimen, including an oral diuretic, with all agents administered at maximal dosages. This definition has evolved with the development of new therapies and evidence-based data supporting treatment to lower BP goals.

Objective: To assess whether vitamin C and atorvastatin improve endothelial function and blood pressure control in subjects with resistant arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia.