Increased Prevalence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Comorbidity in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Population-based Case-control Study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cohort and to compare it to the general population using the database of a large healthcare provider.

Methods: We analyzed the database of a PsA cohort (2002-2017), matched for age and sex, with randomly selected controls for demographics, clinical and laboratory manifestations, and dispensed medications. Statistical analysis used test and chi-square test as appropriate.

[THE INFLUENCE OF NASOTRACHEAL INTUBATION ON NASAL RESISTANCE].

Introduction: Tracheal intubation is a vital and common procedure during surgical care. The tracheal tube may be inserted orally or trans-nasally. Nasal intubation enables a non-restricted approach for oral and oropharyngeal regions.

Cardiac and cardiovascular morbidities in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a population-based case control study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-related morbidity in a large Middle-Eastern psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cohort.

Method: A retrospective case control study was conducted using Israel's largest health care provider's patient database from 2000 to 2013. For each patient with PsA, 10 patients with no history of psoriasis or arthritis were matched for age and sex.

Effectiveness and Safety of Off-Label Dose-Reduced Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation but may result in serious bleeding complications. Off-label dose-reduced use of DOACs to mitigate bleeding is common in routine clinical practice although data about its consequences on patient outcomes are limited. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of off-label dose-reduced vs per-label standard-dose DOAC treatment.

The epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis in Israel - a population-based study.

Background: There is limited information on the epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in general and in Middle Eastern populations in particular. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence and incidence rates of PsA and their temporal trends in the general population in Israel.

Methods: In this study, a cohort of adult patients with PsA was derived from the database of Clalit Health Services (CHS), Israel's largest health fund, with over 4.

The ESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale for novel oncology drugs: correspondence with three years of reimbursement decisions in Israel.

Background: The European Society for Medical Oncology published in 2015 its Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) for cancer medicines. Our objective was to evaluate the association between Israel's national reimbursement decisions regarding novel cancer drugs, prior to the availability of ESMO-MCBS, and the later published ESMO-MCBS scores.

Research Design And Methods: ESMO-MCBS scores were obtained retrospectively for the cancer drugs that were candidates for reimbursement in Israel in 2013-2015 and were categorized to 'highest benefit' (ESMO-MCBS 4-5 or A) 'medium benefit' (3 or B) and 'lowest benefit' (0-2 or C).

Endocrine Comorbidities in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: A Population-based Case-controlled Study.

Objective: To investigate endocrine comorbidities in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed with the database of Clalit Health Services, the largest healthcare provider in Israel, between 2002 and 2014. Patients with PsA were identified and matched by age and sex to healthy controls.

Gastrointestinal comorbidities in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Comorbidities associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. This study evaluated the association between PsA and common gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. A retrospective study was performed in Israel's largest health care provider database between 2002 and 2013.

Bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with dabigatran, rivaroxaban or warfarin: A retrospective population-based cohort study.

Backgound: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that dabigatran, rivaroxaban and warfarin cause similar bleeding rates.

Methods: We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study to determine the incidence of bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) beginning dabigatran, rivaroxaban or warfarin. Consecutive patients initiating anticoagulation for AF during a 3year period were identified using a computerized database.

Second-Line Treatment of Her2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Trastuzumab beyond Progression or Lapatinib? A Population Based Cohort Study.

Background: The relative efficacy of lapatinib vs. continuing trastuzumab beyond progression (TBP) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, who progressed on first-line trastuzumab, is still unclear. The objective of this population based cohort study was to compare outcomes of lapatinib vs.

Factors associated with drug survival of methotrexate and acitretin in patients with psoriasis.

Drug survival has recently become an important clinical issue in psoriasis. However, there has been little research into factors associated with drug survival of methotrexate and acitretin. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with drug survival of methotrexate and acitretin treatment for psoriasis.

Systemic Therapy for Psoriasis and the Risk of Herpes Zoster: A 500,000 Person-year Study.

Importance: The risk for herpes zoster (HZ) in patients with psoriasis treated with biologic medications or other systemic treatments has been given little attention to date.

Objective: To describe the risk for HZ in patients with psoriasis and its relation to treatment.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A cohort study was performed using the administrative database of Clalit Health Services, the largest public health care provider organization in Israel, in the setting of general community clinics, primary care and referral centers, and ambulatory and hospitalized care.

The 'real-life' impact of adding bevacizumab to first-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients: a large Israeli retrospective cohort study.

Background: After a decade of extensive use, the actual contribution of bevacizumab in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is still unclear.

Objective: To evaluate 'real-life' outcomes of patients with mCRC before and after the introduction of bevacizumab to standard mCRC first-line practice.

Methods: Using the computerized administrative database of Clalit Health Services' (CHS), Israel's largest health care provider, we retrospectively compared two cohorts (n = 1739): (A) all CHS' patients diagnosed with mCRC between January 2000 and December 2004 that received first-line irinotecan or oxaliplatin-based combination chemotherapy (before bevacizumab was introduced) (n = 1052), and (B) all patients that started first-line irinotecan or oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy together with bevacizumab between September 2006 and December 2009 (after bevacizumab was fully reimbursed in Israel for mCRC first-line therapy) (n = 687).

Inflammation and growth in young children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome before and after adenotonsillectomy.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with growth impairment that usually improves following effective treatment. In this study we investigated the mechanisms underlying the growth processes in young children diagnosed with OSA, before and after adenotonsillectomy (T&A).

Methods: Young children (6-36 months old) were enrolled and evaluated before and several months after T&A surgery for height, weight, circulating high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels.

Increased prevalence of obstructive lung disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Purposes: This study aims to determine whether there is an increased prevalence of obstructive lung diseases (OLDs) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We also determined whether among the OLD patients there is a difference in the prevalences of specific chronic disease co-morbidities between patients with and without OSA.

Methods: The prevalences of COPD, asthma, and COPD combined with asthma (ICD-9 coding) were compared between 1,497 adult OSA patients and 1,489 control patients, who were matched for age, gender, geographic location, and primary care physician.

Defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists in tertiary hospitals.

Objective: To describe the daily work practice under the threat of defensive medicine among obstetricians and gynecologists.

Study Design: A prospective cross-sectional survey of obstetricians and gynecologists working at tertiary medical centers in Israel.

Results: Among the 117 obstetricians and gynecologists who participated in the survey, representing 10% of the obstetricians and gynecologists registered by the Israel Medical Association, 113 (97%) felt that their daily work practice is influenced by concern about being sued for medical negligence and not only by genuine medical considerations.

Defensive medicine in Israel - a nationwide survey.

Background: Defensive medicine is the practice of diagnostic or therapeutic measures conducted primarily as a safeguard against possible malpractice liability. We studied the extent, reasons, and characteristics of defensive medicine in the Israeli health care system.

Methods And Findings: Cross-sectional study performed in the Israeli health care system between April and July 2008 in a sample (7%) of board certified physicians from eight medical disciplines (internal medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and neurosurgery).

Montelukast for children with obstructive sleep apnea: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objectives: Children with nonsevere obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) benefit from alternative therapeutic interventions such as leukotriene modifiers. We hypothesized that montelukast might improve OSA in children. We tested this hypothesis in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled fashion.

Hyperthyrotropinaemia in untreated subjects with Down's syndrome aged 6 months to 64 years: a comparative analysis.

Objectives: To determine whether an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is inherent to Down's syndrome or if a high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a feature in a subset of patients with Down's syndrome.

Design: Comparative analysis.

Setting: Major health maintenance organisation (3.

Financial incentive increases CPAP acceptance in patients from low socioeconomic background.

Objective: We explored whether financial incentives have a role in patients' decisions to accept (purchase) a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device in a healthcare system that requires cost sharing.

Design: Longitudinal interventional study.

Patients: The group receiving financial incentive (n = 137, 50.

Impaired behavioral and neurocognitive function in preschool children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: We aimed to examine the hypothesis that behavioral and neurocognitive functions of preschool children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) are impaired compared to healthy children, and improve after adenotonsillectomy (TA).

Methods: A comprehensive assessment battery was used to assess cognitive and behavioral functions, and quality of life in children with OSAS compared to matched controls.

Results: 45 children (mean age 45.

Reducing health disparities: strategy planning and implementation in Israel's largest health care organization.

Objective: To describe an organization-wide disparity reduction strategy and to assess its success in quality improvement and reduction of gaps in health and health care.

Study Setting: Clalit Health Services, Israel's largest non-for-profit insurer and provider serving 3.8 million persons.

B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiovascular function in young children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a marker of ventricular strain, and C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, are reportedly elevated in school-aged children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized that cardiovascular morbidity affects circulating markers and their echocardiographic and polysomnographic (PSG) correlates in young children with OSA.

Methods: We assessed young children undergoing adenotonsillectomy (TA) for OSA by polysomnography, echocardiography, and serum CRP and NT-proBNP levels.

Precise landmarking in computer assisted total knee arthroplasty is critical to final alignment.

Image-free computer navigation systems build a frame of reference of a patient's knee from anatomical landmarks entered by the surgeon during the initial stage of total knee arthroplasty. We performed tibial cuts on 70 sawbones using computer navigation. All landmarks were marked identically except for the tibial mechanical entry point, which was marked correctly in 10 bones and with offsets of 5, 10, and 15 mm medially and laterally in the others.