The role of a radiopaque peri-rectal hydrogel spacer in aiding accurate daily image-guidance for prostate stereotactic radiotherapy.

Introduction: Precise patient positioning with image guidance (IGRT) is essential for safe prostate radiotherapy. We present the first report of utilizing a CT-visible hydrogel spacer, used to decrease rectal radiation dose, as a surrogate fiducial marker to aid in daily IGRT with cone-beam CT (CBCT) in stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) for prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Prior to CT simulation, patients underwent placement of three intraprostatic gold fiducial markers and radiopaque hydrogel spacer per standard practice.

Changes in triglyceride levels over time and risk of type 2 diabetes in young men.

Objective: The association between changes in triglyceride concentrations over time and diabetes is unknown. We assessed whether two triglyceride determinations obtained 5 years apart can predict incident type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Triglyceride levels at baseline (time 1) and 5 years later (time 2), followed by subsequent follow-up of 5.

Association between acute lead exposure in indoor firing ranges and iron metabolism.

Background: Iron deficiency and lead poisoning are common and are often associated. This association has been suggested previously, mainly by retrospective cross-sectional studies.

Objective: To assess the impact of short-term lead exposure at indoor firing ranges, and its relationship to iron, ferritin, lead, zinc protoporphyrin, and hemoglobin concentrations in young adults.

Family history of cardiovascular disease does not predict risk-reducing behavior.

Background: Family history is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially in the younger population. These individuals, being closely related to young symptomatic patients, are anticipated to have a high rate of risk factors but also to control them aggressively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between family history of cardiovascular disease and risk factors that control as well as reduce risk-reducing behavior among young, healthy adults.

Refractive surgery in Israel Defense Forces recruits.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of refractive surgery history in recruits for military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) between 1998 to 2005 and to evaluate the effect of surgery on the recruits' fitness to serve in combat units.

Setting: Surgeon General's HQ, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces.

Methods: The computerized medical records of all ametropic Israeli army inductees were reviewed.

Mild renal dysfunction associated with incident coronary artery disease in young males.

Although impaired renal function is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, it is unknown whether this association exists in young, healthy adults with normal or mildly impaired renal dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS We calculated the baseline creatinine clearance of young males without antecedent diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), or renal dysfunction, and examined their subsequent diagnosis of CAD, defined as coronary artery diameter stenosis of at least 50% and/or myocardial infarction. The 23 964 males, 32.

Changes in triglyceride levels and risk for coronary heart disease in young men.

Background: Current triglyceride levels might be only a weak predictor of risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Objective: To assess the association between changes over time in fasting triglyceride levels and CHD risk in young adults.

Design: Follow-up study over 5.

Asthma prevalence, family size, and birth order.

Background: Asthma prevalence may be reduced in large families. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that older siblings protect their younger siblings from asthma through a modulating effect on the still-maturing immune system. If the hygiene hypothesis is correct, asthma prevalence should be inversely related to birth order.

Autoimmune diseases in asthma.

Background: Previous research has suggested an inverse relationship between T-helper 2-related atopic disorders, such as asthma, and T-helper 1-related autoimmune diseases. One controversial hypothesis postulates that asthma provides a protective effect for the development of autoimmune-related disorders.

Objective: To assess the rate of newly diagnosed autoimmune disorders in a large cohort of young adults.

CNS toxicity in closed-circuit oxygen diving: symptoms reported from 2527 dives.

Introduction: Oxygen toxicity is a problem in diving and can have fatal consequences in the water. Various aspects of oxygen diving have been studied in dry hyperbaric chambers, but there is a lack of information on in-water diving using closed-circuit oxygen apparatus.

Method: We collected 2527 dive reports from 473 closed-circuit oxygen divers (a mean of 5.

Evaluation of intravenous cannula and administration set fixation methods.

Intravenous cannula and administration set fixation is crucial for fluid resuscitation and intravenous administration of medications. Because conventional hospital fixations are insufficient for the military field scenario, two consecutive, prospective, randomized, clinical trials were performed in the Israel Defense Forces Medical School, to determine the most effective fixation method in the military arena. Gauze bandage, adhesive bandage, Coban wrap, and plastic wrap fixation methods were tested for field conditions and intravenous fluid flow.

Proteinuria on dipstick urine analysis after sexual intercourse.

Objective: To examine the role of sexual intercourse as a cause of proteinuria, and establishes its duration, as a knowledge of benign causes of proteinuria is required to avoid unnecessary testing.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-four married couples were instructed to produce a urine sample before and after sexual intercourse; their urine was tested for proteinuria by dipstick analysis.

Results: Samples were assayed from 22 men and 11 women.

Normal fasting plasma glucose levels and type 2 diabetes in young men.

Background: The normal fasting plasma glucose level was recently defined as less than 100 mg per deciliter (5.55 mmol per liter). Whether higher fasting plasma glucose levels within this range independently predict type 2 diabetes in young adults is unclear.

Smoking habits and obesity in young adults.

Aims: The aim of this work was to study the association between obesity and smoking habits in young adults. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that obesity does not prevent young adults from smoking and conversely smoking does not protect against obesity.

Design And Setting: Trained nurses interviewed participants concerning demographic data and health behaviors such as smoking.

Smoking habits in adolescents with mild to moderate asthma.

To study the impact of mild to moderate asthma on smoking habits in adolescents. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that asthma does not prevent adolescents from smoking. A research questionnaire, filled by a systematic sample of military personnel upon enrollment to service in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), was analyzed.

Army personnel satisfaction in different settings of primary health care clinics.

Purpose: To analyze patient satisfaction in Israeli Defense Forces primary care clinics (PCCs), and to compare different satisfaction indices that best correlate with general satisfaction index.

Methods: Large-scale patient satisfaction survey throughout all PCCs, classified as active front clinics, training schools clinics, and home front clinics.

Results: Participants (5,103) filled out standardized questionnaires.

Quality assessment program in primary care clinics: a tool for quality improvement.

Background: Assessment of quality of health care is a major ongoing project of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) medical corps.

Objective: (i) To describe mechanisms of quality assessment (QA) in IDF primary care clinics; (ii) to compare quality of care in different types of primary care clinics; and (iii) to test the hypothesis that implementation of the QA program results in improved quality of care.

Research Design: A prospective, single-blinded, uncontrolled, non-randomized study.