National asthma observational survey of severe asthmatics in Israel: the no-air study.

Background: Asthma is considered a global public health issue requiring a significant medical expenditure as a result of its high prevalence and the low rate of disease control.

Objective: This is the first nationwide survey of severe asthma patients carried out in Israel. In this study we aimed to assess health resources utilization, compliance with treatment and disease-control in a subgroup of patients with severe asthma in Israel.

A computerized surveillance system for asthma.

Purpose: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease characterized by acute exacerbations interspaced by symptom-free periods. Its management imposes a substantial burden on healthcare services, as well as personal suffering and significant financial tolls. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate links between routinely used computerized databases and to establish an automatic mechanism for monitoring asthma patients.

Pulmonary function correlates with arterial stiffness in asthmatic patients.

Background: At the population level, asthma has been associated with chronic systemic inflammation as well as adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate peripheral vascular hemodynamic variables of arterial stiffness (AS) and their relationship to pulmonary function tests in asthmatic patients.

Methods: Young asthmatic patients from the tertiary center for pulmonary diseases at the Barzilai Medical Center underwent pulmonary function evaluation and non-invasive radial artery hemodynamic profiling, pre- and post-exercise.

Safety and efficacy of allergen immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma in real life.

Background: Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is effective in treating allergic airway disease. Disadvantages include immediate local and systemic adverse reactions and poor compliance.

Objectives: To obtain real-life efficacy and safety data through a prospective observational study of SIT in the allergist's office.

Single-dose quinolone treatment in acute gastroenteritis.

Background: Acute diarrhea is a common disease worldwide and in Israel, a Mediterranean country. Acute bacterial gastroenteritis (ABGE) is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in Israel in summer and early autumn. Although there are some reports showing some benefit from empiric antibiotic therapy in acute gastroenteritis, most are old reports using nondefinitive diagnostic criteria and using 5-day antibiotic regimens.

Readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge from the internal medicine wards in southern Israel.

Introduction: Hospital readmission within a short time of discharge is a common phenomenon in internal medicine. Although there are a few reports of intensive care and surgical readmission rates there is almost no information available on the readmission rates of internal medicine patients.

Aims: To explore the medical patient readmission rate within 30 days of discharge from a medical center in southern Israel, and determine how it may be related to age, gender, diagnoses and other factors.