Non-invasive method for assessment of inflammation.

This article explores the potential of non-invasive measurement for elevated levels of erythrocyte aggregation , which have been correlated with a higher risk of inflammatory processes. The study proposes utilizing a dynamic light scattering approach to measure aggregability. The sensor modules, referred to as "mDLS," comprise VCSEL and two photodiodes.

Impact of Fitness Status on the Optically Measured Hemodynamic Indexes.

The physiological characteristics of skin blood flow can be described in terms of the hemodynamic indices (HI). The HI is derived from the laser speckle characteristics, which are governed by the cutaneous blood flow. A miniaturized dynamic light-scattering sensor was used to measure the speckle pattern from the finger root.

Impact of the 2015 CMS Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Rule on Tobacco Treatment.

Introduction: In its fiscal year 2015 final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) required reporting of tobacco treatment quality measures as part of the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS). This pre-intervention, post-intervention policy analysis evaluates the impact of that policy at a large academic medical center that opted to improve performance as it implemented reporting measures.

Methods: Electronic medical record data were collected retrospectively for all adult (≥18 years) inpatient psychiatric admissions from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as an activator of nanosystems for targeted drug delivery in pancreatic cancer.

Specific cancer cell targeting is a pre-requisite for efficient drug delivery as well as for high-resolution imaging and still represents a major technical challenge. Tumor-associated enzyme-assisted targeting is a new concept that takes advantage of the presence of a specific activity in the tumor entity. MMP-9 is a protease found to be upregulated in virtually all malignant tumors.

Intradermal air pouch leukocytosis as an in vivo test for nanoparticles.

The need for test systems for nanoparticle biocompatibility, toxicity, and inflammatory or adaptive immunological responses is paramount. Nanoparticles should be free of microbiological and chemical contaminants, and devoid of toxicity. Nevertheless, in the absence of contamination, these particles may still induce undesired immunological effects in vivo, such as enhanced autoimmunity, hypersensitivity reactions, and fibrosis.

[SKF index as a new non-invasive parameter for the evaluation of the biological age for healthy and sick people].

We have conducted a study on a large group of healthy and sick subjects and have demonstrated that a new index of coagulativety (SKF), based on measurement of the laser speckle signal from the finger root, correlates with chronological age ranging from 1 to 85 years old. The kinds of non-invasive measurements were obtained during two measurement sessions: one with the application of over-systolic occlusion and another without application of the occlusion. The very significant correlation with age was noted both during the stasis stage and during the non-occluding stage.

New noninvasive index for evaluation of the vascular age of healthy and sick people.

We conducted a study on 861 healthy and sick subjects and demonstrated that some calculated parameters based on measurement of the dynamic light scattering (DLS) signal from the finger correlate highly with chronological age ranging from 1.5 to 85 years old. Measurements of DLS signals were obtained during both occlusion and nonocclusion of blood flow in the finger.

Cardiac troponin T is not increased in patients with hypothyroidism.

Patients with hypothyroidism often have increased creatine kinase (CK) levels. It is possible that there is increased production of CK, but other mechanisms, such as an increased cell membrane permeability or decreased enzyme clearance were also proposed. Recently, troponins T and I have been extensively studied because of their cardiac specificity.

The P. CEZANNE Project: innovative approaches to continuous glucose Monitoring.

Our EC-funded project, (FP6 contract No. 031867), "Development of an Implanted Biosensor for Continuous Care and Monitoring System of Diabetic Patients", addresses the pressing needs for the improvement of Blood Glucose monitoring and management through the development of an implanted sensor. This reagentless device integrates a novel nanobiotechnological glucose-sensing array at the heart of a ground-breaking fluorimetric detector, itself using an innovative hydrogel waveguide technology.

Prevalence and evaluation of B12 deficiency in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

Background: Patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) have a higher prevalence of pernicious anemia compared with the general population. Clinical signs of B12 deficiency may be subtle and missed, particularly in patients with known autoimmune disease. We assessed the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with AITD and whether their evaluation may be simplified by measuring fasting gastrin levels.

Comparing the distress of American and Israeli medical students studying in Israel during a period of terror.

Introduction: Medical school is a very stressful environment with multiple sources of stress, including academic, social and other issues. International medical students are exposed to additional stressors such as homesickness and culture shock.

Methods: In order to assess the influence of cultural background on the level of perceived distress, we examined Israeli and American students studying at the same university during a period of terror.

Cultural perception of harassment in two groups of medical students: American and Israeli.

The aims of this study were to determine whether harassment occurs in the authors' school, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, and to address the possible influence of cultural background on the perception of harassment. The unique makeup of the school was utilized, with two separate programs for American and Israeli students trained at the same sites and by the same faculty. A two-part questionnaire was developed that included students' reports on the occurrence of harassment, at what stage of their studies, by whom and its nature as well as demographic data.

A tale of two exposures: a comparison of two approaches to early clinical exposure.

Purpose: Early Clinical Exposure (ECE) programs are an increasingly widespread component of undergraduate medical education. Little systematic research exists on the topic. This report compares the approach and cost/benefits of two parallel ECE programs at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.

The effects of coffee consumption on sleep and melatonin secretion.

Background: In this study we examined the effects of caffeine on sleep quality and melatonin secretion. Melatonin is the principal hormone responsible for synchronization of sleep. Melatonin secretion is controlled by neurotransmitters that can be affected by caffeine.

Is the treatment of hyperlipidemia as secondary prevention adequate in different age groups in Israel?

Background: Treatment of hyperlipidemia is important for secondary prevention in patients suffering from coronary heart disease. It has been proven that "young elderly" (patients aged 65-75 years) can benefit from the treatment at least as much as younger patients.

Objective: To assess the adequacy of treatment as part of secondary prevention in "young elderly" and younger patients.

Clinical relevance of non-palpable thyroid nodules as assessed by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy.

It is known from autopsy data that thyroid nodules are far more common than can be detected by palpation alone. With the wide use of modern non-invasive imaging many non-palpable thyroid nodules are discovered but the proper approach to these nodules is still debatable. In a retrospective study, we reviewed the data from 186 US-guided FNA biopsies (US-FNAB) performed between May 1995 and March 1997 at the Sapir Medical Center, Israel, a iodine-sufficient urban area.

Overnight dexamethasone suppression test: a reliable screen for Cushing's syndrome in the obese.

Objective: Reevaluation of the validity of the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ODST) as a screening test for Cushing's syndrome in obese patients.

Research Methods And Procedures: Eighty-six obese patients (body mass index, 30 to 53 kg/m(2)) that were referred to a general endocrine outpatient clinic for evaluation of simple obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, polycystic ovary disease, or pituitary tumor. One milligram dexamethasone was administered orally at 11:00 PM, and serum cortisol levels were measured the following morning between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM.

Appropriateness of nitrate use in a general medicine population.

Background: Nitrates are one of the most commonly prescribed drug groups for cardiac disease, especially for angina pectoris and congestive heart failure. The chronic efficacy of nitrates is limited by the development of tolerance, which can be attenuated by use of sustained-release preparations or administration of regular-release preparations asymmetrically.

Objective: To determine whether patients receiving isosorbide 5-mononitrate (ISMN) use the drug in a pharmacologically appropriate manner and whether they had been instructed in the prophylactic use of sublingual nitrates prior to effort.

Autoimmune thyroid disease and antiphospholipid antibodies.

Objective: Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is associated with circulating autoantibodies reactive with epitopes on thyroid tissue and that are thought to be pathogenic in the development of these diseases. Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are a family of immunoglobulins that recognize a variety of plasma proteins in association with anionic phospholipids. These antibodies may lead to a number of clinical syndromes including venous and arterial thromboses, thrombocytopaenia, and recurrent fetal loss.

Sweet's syndrome and subacute thyroiditis.

A 63 year old woman developed biopsy documented lesions of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) one week after the onset of subacute thyroiditis. This is only the second reported case of such an association. The role of cytokines in the development of both subacute thyroiditis and Sweet's syndrome may be the link between these two conditions.