[THE EFFECTS OF HORMONAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT) ON MAMMOGRAPHIC BREAST DENSITY AND ABNORMAL MAMMOGRAMS PROMPTING FURTHER INVESTIGATION].

Aims: The purpose of this study was to portray and analyze the inter-relationship between the use of HRT, mammographic breast density and the finding of any mammographic abnormality that prompted further investigation such as core needle biopsy or additional imaging testing, while controlling for obstetric and relevant demographic data.

Background: Mammographic breast density has been associated with higher risk of breast cancer and decrease in its sensitivity, while hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in turn, has been implicated in increasing mammographic density and is considered a risk factor for breast cancer by itself. The inter-relationship between HRT, breast density and any mammographic or sonographic finding requiring further investigation has not been fully investigated.

Diverticulitis: does age matter?

Objective: Acute diverticulitis has been traditionally associated with worse outcome in young patients, indicating a more aggressive surgical approach is required for them. The aim of this study was to assess whether acute diverticulitis was more virulent in young patients.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study included all patients who were admitted for a first episode of acute diverticulitis between January 2004 and December 2013.

Mammographic Breast Density as a Predictor of Radiological Findings Requiring Further Investigation.

Background: High density breast mammography has been associated with a greater risk for breast cancer and an increased likelihood of false negative results.

Objectives: To assess whether the degree of mammographic breast density correlates with increased risk for the presence of radiographic findings requiring further histological investigation.

Methods: Included in the study were 2760 consecutive screening mammograms performed in a large volume, early detection mammography unit.

Correlation between visual acuity and cognitive functions.

A possible association between visual acuity (VA) and dementia was investigated in 2716 subjects who were aged between 53 and 102 at first visit and had varying degrees of dementia. Better VA was found to be significantly correlated with a lower dementia level (person coefficient range 0.146-0.

Erythropoietin treatment is associated with an augmented immune response to the influenza vaccine in hematologic patients.

The objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), previously found to be associated with a positive effect on cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity (hepatitis B vaccine), is associated with an improved response to the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine. Three groups received flu vaccine: healthy controls, hematologic patients not treated with rHuEPO ("No EPO" group), and hematologic patients receiving rHuEPO for their anemia ("EPO" group). Anti-flu Ab titer was measured (complement fixation test) from blood samples drawn before and approximately 3-4 weeks, 7-8 weeks and 4 months after vaccination.

Freezability and semen parameters in candidates of sperm bank donors: 1992-2010.

There has been considerable concern worldwide about possible semen quality deterioration over the last 2 decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate freezability and semen quality of healthy young males during the years 1992-2010. A total of 1211 young (20-32 years old) candidates for sperm bank donation were recruited into the study with no exclusion criteria.

Tissue expression of squamous cellular carcinoma antigen and Ki67 in hepatocellular carcinoma-correlation with prognosis: a historical prospective study.

Background: Squamous cellular carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and in sera of HCC patients. Our aim was to assess hepatic SCCA immunostaining in a series of HCCs and to correlate its presence with cell proliferation, apoptosis and clinical outcome.

Methods: Sixty-one HCC patients were included.

Evidence for atypical auditory brainstem responses in young children with suspected autism spectrum disorders.

Aim:   The aim of this study was to characterize the auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) of young children with suspected autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and compare them with the ABRs of children with language delay and with clinical norms.

Method:   The ABRs of 26 children with suspected ASDs (21 males, five females; mean age 32.5 mo) and an age- and sex-matched group of 26 children with language delay (22 males, four females) were analysed.

Preferred listening levels of personal listening devices in young teenagers: self reports and physical measurements.

Objective: To assess the potential risk of hearing loss to young listeners, due to the use of personal listening devices (PLDs).

Design: The study included two parts: (1) A self-report questionnaire on music listening habits, and (2) Physical measurements of preferred listening levels, in quiet and in everyday background noise.

Study Sample: Young teenagers aged 13 to 17 years.

Identification of children's gender and age by listeners.

Objectives: Voice carries abundant information about the speaker. This acoustic information changes throughout life. Although the ability of identifying audible cues on a speaker's gender and age is considered an intuitive task, little is known about the ability to identify and decipher this perceptual information.

The effects of group 1 versus group 2 carbapenems on imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an ecological study.

Use of the group 2 carbapenems, imipenem and meropenem, may lead to emergence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance. The group 1 carbapenem ertapenem has limited activity against P. aeruginosa and is not associated with imipenem-resistant P.

Inflammatory mediators in breast cancer: coordinated expression of TNFα & IL-1β with CCL2 & CCL5 and effects on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Background: The inflammatory chemokines CCL2 (MCP-1) & CCL5 (RANTES) and the inflammatory cytokines TNFα & IL-1β were shown to contribute to breast cancer development and metastasis. In this study, we wished to determine whether there are associations between these factors along stages of breast cancer progression, and to identify the possible implications of these factors to disease course.

Methods: The expression of CCL2, CCL5, TNFα and IL-1β was determined by immunohistochemistry in patients diagnosed with: (1) Benign breast disorders (=healthy individuals); (2) Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS); (3) Invasive Ducal Carcinoma without relapse (IDC-no-relapse); (4) IDC-with-relapse.

Risk for colorectal cancer in elderly persons and possible methodologies for their screening.

Objectives: Most colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines recommend average-risk screening up to the age of 75 years. However, increasing life span and incidence of proximal CRC could require changes to the age guidelines and adapting screening methodology for the elderly persons. Therefore, we reviewed our CRC epidemiology, international screening age-guidelines, and screening tests for the elderly persons and presented our long-term results of colonoscopy and semi-quantitated immunochemical fecal occult blood tests (I-FOBTs) in individuals that are 75 years or more.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for the accurate diagnosis of biliary complications after liver transplantation: comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography - long-term follow-up.

Biliary complications after liver transplantation remain a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. Direct invasive cholangiographic techniques, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), have procedure-related complications. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is non-invasive, safe, and accurate.

Do oncologists engage in bereavement practices? A survey of the Israeli Society of Clinical Oncology and Radiation Therapy (ISCORT).

Purpose: We sought to determine the level of involvement of oncologists in bereavement rituals after a patient dies.

Subjects And Methods: Members of the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiation Therapy (ISCORT) were surveyed. The survey instrument consisted of questions regarding participation in bereavement rituals for patients in general and those with whom the oncologist had a special bond.

Long-term cryostorage of sperm in a human sperm bank does not damage progressive motility concentration.

Background: The use of quarantined cryopreserved semen is mandatory in donor insemination programs. Whether sperm cells can survive and retain their ability to fertilize after long-term storage remains a controversial issue. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the duration of cryostorage in liquid nitrogen on the sperm cells' progressive motility concentration (PMC) in a large study group.

[Laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery--after ten years and 350 operations].

Background: Within a decade since laparoscopy was used in cholecystectomy it has become the preferred approach in many abdominal procedures. Laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery has not yet been adopted by the majority of surgeons, due to technical complexity and reservation regarding its oncological safety. As data and experience accumulate, this attitude is gradually changing.

Birth control pills and nonprofessional voice: acoustic analyses.

Purpose: Two studies are presented here. Study 1 was aimed at evaluating whether the voice characteristics of women who use birth control pills that contain different progestins differ from the voice characteristics of a control group. Study 2 presents a meta-analysis that combined the results of Study 1 with those from 3 recent studies that compared voices of women who use and do not use birth control pills.

Is the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) valid in Israel? A critical analysis of liver transplant waiting list mortality.

Background: The model for end-stage liver disease is the best available predictor of waiting list mortality among liver transplant candidates.

Objectives: To validate the applicability of MELD in Israel.

Methods: All candidates awaiting liver transplantation in our institution were followed prospectively since 2002.

The chemokine CCL5 as a potential prognostic factor predicting disease progression in stage II breast cancer patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the chemokine CCL5, considered as a promalignancy factor in breast cancer, in predicting breast cancer progression and to evaluate its ability to strengthen the prognostic significance of other biomarkers.

Experimental Design: The expression of CCL5, alone and in conjunction with estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha, ER-beta, progesterone receptor (PR), and HER-2/neu (ErbB2), was determined in breast tumor cells by immunohistochemistry. The study included 142 breast cancer patients, including individuals in whom disease has progressed.

Cortical activity of children with dyslexia during natural speech processing: evidence of auditory processing deficiency.

Children with dyslexia have difficulties with phonological processing. It is assumed that deficits in auditory temporal processing underlie the phonological difficulties of dyslectic subjects (i.e.

The impact of a resident's seniority on operative time and length of hospital stay for laparoscopic appendectomy: outcomes used to measure the resident's laparoscopic skills.

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) frequently is performed by residents during calls. This study aimed at evaluating residents' surgical skills using parameters of operating time, length of hospital stay (LOS), and conversion rate in correlation with the operating team's level of seniority. In addition, this study compared the operating time for LA with that for open appendectomy performed by the same teams, and identified deterministic factors that have an impact on such parameters.

Monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy by telephone communication.

The number of patients who need supervision during oral anticoagulant treatment is growing constantly. We have presently enrolled 156 patients who were referred to our anticoagulant clinic and who were taking sodium warfarin with target International Normalized Ratios (INR) of low (2-3), intermediate (2.5-3.

Cognitive function in idiopathic generalized epilepsy of childhood.

This study evaluated the cognitive profiles of children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), uniformly treated with valproic acid with well-controlled seizures. Twenty-four were neuropsychologically evaluated. They comprised: 14 females, 10 males: 12 with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), mean age 14y 4mo, SD ly 7mo, range 12y to 16y 4 mo; 12 with absence seizures (AS]) mean age 14y 5mo, SD ly 10mo, range 11y to 16y 4mo, with intellectual abilities within the normal range and age-appropriate scholastic skills, and 20 healthy controls (12 females, 8 males; mean age 14y 5mo, SD 1y 10mo, range 10y 7mo to 16y 7mo).