The Effect of Antidepressants on Withdrawal in Patients with Alcohol Dependence: A Retrospective Study.

The use of electronic health records has expanded in the past decades, with healthcare entities storing terabytes of patient health data. In this study, we investigated how these databases can be utilized to generate clinically relevant information. We used the Office of Addiction Services and Supports Client Data Systems data merged with the NYS Medicaid Data Warehouse to study the relationship of certain antidepressants on alcohol withdrawal (AW) rates in patients with alcohol dependence (AD).

The Sociodemographic Biases in Machine Learning Algorithms: A Biomedical Informatics Perspective.

Artificial intelligence models represented in machine learning algorithms are promising tools for risk assessment used to guide clinical and other health care decisions. Machine learning algorithms, however, may house biases that propagate stereotypes, inequities, and discrimination that contribute to socioeconomic health care disparities. The biases include those related to some sociodemographic characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, insurance, and socioeconomic status from the use of erroneous electronic health record data.

Physical fitness is an independent predictor of chronic kidney disease development in apparently healthy individuals.

Background: The cardiovascular and metabolic benefits of physical activity have been studied at length, however, data on the association between physical fitness and progression to kidney disease is lacking. We aimed to identify the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among the healthy population.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 11,579 healthy self-referred subjects who underwent annual medical screening.

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion versus Novel Oral Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation-One-Year Survival.

Unlabelled: Aim To compare the 1-year survival rate of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following left atrial appendage occluder (LAAO) implantation vs. treatment with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

Methods: We have conducted an indirect, retrospective comparison between LAAO and NOAC registries.

Use of Wearable Devices for Peak Oxygen Consumption Measurement in Clinical Cardiology: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Oxygen consumption is an important index to evaluate in cardiac patients, particularly those with heart failure, and is measured in the setting of advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing. However, technological advances now allow for the estimation of this parameter in many consumer and medical-grade wearable devices, making it available for the medical provider at the initial evaluation of patients. We report a case of an apparently healthy male aged 40 years who presented for evaluation due to an Apple Watch (Apple Inc) notification of low cardiac fitness.

Baseline renal function and the risk of cancer among apparently healthy middle-aged adults.

Background: The association between mildly impaired renal function with all-site and site-specific cancer risk is not established. We aim to explore this association among apparently healthy adults.

Methods: We followed 25,073 men and women, aged 40-79 years, free of cancer or cardiovascular disease at baseline who were screened annually in preventive healthcare settings.

Mild renal impairment is associated with increased cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality following cancer diagnosis.

Background: The association between mildly decreased renal function and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in cancer patients remains unestablished.

Aims: We sought to explore this association in asymptomatic self-referred healthy adults.

Method: We followed 25, 274 adults, aged 40-79 years, who were screened in preventive healthcare settings.

A case-control analysis of the associations between Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Osteoporosis.

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness with associated neuropsychological symptoms such as fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. Osteoporosis is defined as a reduction of bone density. Previous studies to determine an association of FMS with osteoporosis showed mixed results, partially due to small sample sizes and lack of statistical power.

Association Between Behçet's Disease and Depression.

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic vasculitic multi-systemic disease of unknown etiology. BD is characterized by recurrent attacks of oral aphthae, genital ulcers, and uveitis. BD is a multisystemic disorder and as such it may provoke various psychiatric manifestations, including depression.

Are Chronic Pain Syndromes the Reason for Statin-associated Muscle Symptoms?

Background: Statin-induced myalgia is defined as muscle pain without elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase levels and is a well-known complaint among statin users. Chronic pain syndromes affect a high percentage of the population. These pain syndromes may confound the reports of statin-induced myalgia.

Serum uric acid significantly improves the accuracy of cardiovascular risk score models.

Aims: This study evaluated the impact of serum uric acid (sUA) on the accuracy of pooled cohort equations (PCE) model, Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2), and SCORE2-older persons.

Methods And Results: We evaluated 19 769 asymptomatic self-referred adults aged 40-79 years free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes who were screened annually in a preventive healthcare setting. sUA levels were expressed as a continuous as well as a dichotomous variable (upper sex-specific tertiles defined as high sUA).

The Association between Sarcoidosis and Ischemic Heart Disease-A Healthcare Analysis of a Large Israeli Population.

(1) Background: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, and the association between chronic inflammatory states and ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been shown in several rheumatic diseases. Persistent inflammation might also be a risk factor for IHD in sarcoidosis patients. (2) Methods: Demographic and clinical data of 3750 sarcoidosis patients and 18,139 age- and sex-matched controls were retrieved from the database of Clalit Health Services, Israel's largest healthcare organization.

Utilisation of healthcare services and drug consumption in fibromyalgia: A cross-sectional analysis of the Clalit Health Service database.

Aim: To investigate the health care utilisation and drug consumption of patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using the Clalit Health Care database. Clalit is the largest HMO in Israel, serving more than 4.

The Incidence and Predictors of Solid- and Hematological Malignancies in Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis: A Large Real-World Database Study.

Background: The association between giant cell arteritis (GCA) and malignancies had been widely investigated with studies reporting conflicting results. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate this association using a large nationwide electronic database.

Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study including GCA patients first diagnosed between 2002-2017 and age, sex and enrollment time-matched controls.

The risk of depression and anxiety in patients with familial mediterranean fever - a cross-sectional study.

Background: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease associated with various systemic comorbidities. Recent research regarding the association with depression and anxiety has yielded conflicting results. The current study aims were to examine whether such an association exists using big data analysis methodology.

Body Mass Index in 1.9 Million Adolescents and Stroke in Young Adulthood.

Background And Purpose: There is a continuous rise in the prevalence of adolescent obesity and incidence of stroke among young adults in many Western countries, but the association between them is unclear.

Methods: A nationwide population-based study of 1 900 384 Israeli adolescents (58% men; mean age, 17.3 years) who were evaluated before mandatory military service during 1985 and 2013.

The coexistence of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients - A cross sectional study.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by antibody production against a myriad of autoantigens. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic autoinflammatory disorder, triggered by FMF-associated point genes mutations. It has been hypothesized that the two conditions rarely coexist.

Personality disorders and cause-specific mortality: a nationwide study of 2 million adolescents.

Background: Personality disorders are prevalent in 6-10% of the population, but their risk for cause-specific mortality is unclear. The aim of the study was to assess the association between personality disorders diagnosed in late adolescence and all-cause as well as cause-specific (cardiovascular-related, external-related) mortality.

Methods: We performed a longitudinal study on a historical prospective cohort based on nationwide screening prior to recruitment to the Israeli army.

The long-term prognostic significance of heart failure in sarcoidosis patients ─ a cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the proportion and the long-term prognostic significance of heart failure (HF) in sarcoidosis patients.

Methods: Data extracted from a large Israeli healthcare provider's database were used to study sarcoidosis patients and matched non-sarcoidosis controls since 2000 to 2016. The proportion of HF was compared between the groups, and the associations between sarcoidosis, HF, and all-cause mortality were assessed.

The impact of tocilizumab on anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are extremely prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we assessed the impact of treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 antagonist, upon anxiety and depressive symptoms in a cohort of RA patients.

Materials And Methods: Study participants were adults diagnosed with RA who received a weekly subcutaneous injection of tocilizumab for 24 weeks.

Adolescent Obesity and Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasingly diagnosed at younger ages. We investigated the association of adolescent obesity with incident T2D at early adulthood.

Research Design And Methods: A nationwide, population-based study evaluated 1,462,362 adolescents (59% men, mean age 17.

Association between Takayasu arteritis and ischemic heart disease: a cohort study.

Purpose Of The Study: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an idiopathic large vessel vasculitis, which involves the aorta and its major branches. Our aim was to examine the association between TA and the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and its impact on survival.

Study Design: Using data from Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in Israel, the proportion of IHD was compared between patients diagnosed with TA and age- and gender-matched controls.

Venous thromboembolism events among RA patients.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism. However, so far, relatively few and small size-based studies have been conducted. We aimed to investigate the link between RA and venous thromboembolism utilizing a large sample of subjects originating from a large data base.

Familial Mediterranean fever is associated with increased risk for ischaemic heart disease and mortality-Perspective derived from a large database.

Aims Of The Study: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary, auto-inflammatory disease, characterised by recurrent, self-limiting attacks of fever with inflammation of the serosal membranes, joints, and skin. Chronic inflammation was previously associated with increased risk for ischaemic heart disease (IHD). However, the association between FMF and IHD remains unclear.