Poor outcome among patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging with intermediate-zone troponin.

Background: Intermediate zone troponin elevation is defined as one to five times the upper limit of normal. Approximately half the patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department have initial intermediate zone troponin.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the long-term outcome of patients hospitalized with chest pain and intermediate zone troponin elevation.

A 10-year update: national survey questionnaire of obstetric anesthesia units in Israel.

Background: This nationwide survey was conducted to provide data about the obstetric anesthesia services in Israeli labor and delivery units in 2016.

Methods: Prospective survey questionnaire was emailed to obstetric anesthesia unit directors/chairperson of all 25 labor and delivery services units within the jurisdiction of the Israeli Ministry of Health.

Results: The response rate was 100%.

Anesthetic approach to postdural puncture headache in the peripartum period: An Israeli national survey.

Background: Accidental dural puncture frequency among pregnant women is about 1.5%, while approximately 60% of these women will suffer from post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) that may be debilitating.

Methods: Following IRB approval, we conducted a national survey of the lead anesthesiologist in 23 labor and delivery rooms in Israel.

Five years' experience in an anesthesiology antenatal clinic for high-risk patients.

Introduction: The aim, of this study is to describe our approach and outcomes in an outpatient anesthesia/analgesia antepartum clinic among ambulatory high-risk obstetric patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective evaluation of the activity of the anesthesiology antenatal clinic from its inception in 2010 until 2016 (a 5-year period). The clinic works in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[MONITORING UNITS IN DEPARTMENTS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: FREQUENCY, IMPACT AND SATISFACTION].

Background: Due to increasing numbers of elderly, seriously ill patients and shortage of ICU beds, many hospitals have established monitoring units (MU) in their medical departments.

Objectives: (1) To assess the national prevalence of MUs in medical departments; (2) to determine the outcome of consecutively admitted MU patients; (3) to evaluate patient/ family satisfaction with care.

Methods: The case control study included all 123 patients hospitalized in the MU during a 5-month period, compared with two control groups: (1) 123 patients admitted to medical departments, matched at a ratio of 1:1 by gender, age±10 years and mechanical ventilation; (2) all 52 medical patients treated in the ICU.

Comparison of Bone Mineral Density by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Bone Strength by Speed-of-Sound Ultrasonography in Adults With Gaucher Disease.

Patients with the lysosomal disorder Gaucher disease (GD) are at risk of osteoporosis and/or avascular necrosis, but to date, no adequate biomarkers are available to ascertain individual predilections. Bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has traditionally been used to monitor trends. With the availability of a speed-of-sound (SOS) ultrasonography to assess bone strength/elasticity, we aimed to ascertain whether these modalities are complimentary or comparable so SOS, with no radiation risk, might be used more routinely as a potential biomarker.

Ultrasound diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

Clostridium difficile colitis is diagnosed using an immunoassay or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for toxins A/B. Since ultrasound is frequently used as a screening test for hospitalized patients suffering from different abdominal morbidities, we searched for sonographic indicators of C. difficile infection (CDI).

[Impact of a monitoring unit in the medical department on patient outcome].

Purpose: Many hospitals have established monitoring units (MU) in their medical departments, with operating costs that are significantly lower than Intensive Care Units, but with no data on their effectiveness. We determined the outcome of patients, who were treated in a new MU during their hospitalization, compared with that of a control group.

Methods: We included all patients, who were admitted to the MU during a five months period.

Pantoea agglomerans foreign body-induced septic arthritis.

A 4-year-old boy was admitted because of left knee arthritis. Synovial fluid culture yielded Pantoea agglomerans identified by 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction. Ultrasound examination revealed a foreign body in the synovial fluid.

Infectious aortitis: a rare cause of chest pain in a child.

Infectious aortitis (IA) is a life-threatening bacterial infection that occurs almost exclusively in adults. Only 1 case of IA had been previously reported in a child. We present a case of IA that occurred in a 6.

Critical appraisal of canakinumab in the treatment of adults and children with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS).

The cryopyrin-associated syndromes (CAPS) include three autosomal-dominant syndromes, that are caused by a mutation in the NLRP3 gene on chromosome 1, encoding the cryopyrin protein. These syndromes, familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease, are characterized by urticaria-like rash, fever, central nervous system inflammation, an arthropathy and a risk of the development of amyloidosis in a respectively escalating degree of severity between the various syndromes. Recently the role of cryopyrin in the regulation of interleukin (IL)-1 production and activation was described and anti IL-1 therapies were found to be very effective in treating these syndromes.

Q fever endocarditis; not always expected.

Q fever endocarditis is a chronic disease with protean manifestations. The clinical and serological manifestations of nine patients diagnosed as having Q fever endocarditis during a 19-year period are reviewed. Four patients (44%) required valve replacement due to congestive heart failure.

A week-by-week analysis of the low-risk criteria for serious bacterial infection in febrile neonates.

Objective: To examine the reliability of "low-risk" criteria (LRC) to exclude serious bacterial infection (SBI) in febrile neonates (< or =28 days), according to age in weeks.

Design: Epidemiological and clinical data and final diagnosis of all febrile neonates presenting to the emergency room from June 1997 to May 2006 were reviewed. Neonates who fulfilled specific LRC for the presence of SBI were classified as LRC+.