The association of left atrial volume with exercise capacity in patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation.

Background: Left atrial volume and exercise capacity are strong predictors of cardiovascular risk. Decreased exercise capacity is expected when LAV is increased due to its association with abnormal left ventricular filling pressure. However, LAV enlargement is expected in chronic mitral regurgitation as well.

Aspiration of immature oocytes during cesarean section for fertility preservation and future surrogacy.

A 38-year-old pregnant patient with a history of renal transplantation sought embryo freezing for fertility preservation and future surrogacy. A cesarean section was performed with direct aspiration of small ovarian follicles. Thirteen identified oocyte-cumulus complexes were cultured.

Treating civilian gunshot wounds to the extremities in a level 1 trauma center: our experience and recommendations.

Background: Gunshot wounds impose a continuous burden on community and hospital resources. Gunshot injuries to the extremities might involve complex soft tissue, bone, vascular, musculotendinous, and nerve injuries. A precise knowledge of anatomy is needed to evaluate and treat those injuries.

Adult neurotrophic factor-secreting stem cells: a potential novel therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Background: Stem cell-based therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. In our laboratory, a novel protocol has been developed to induce bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into neurotrophic factor-secreting cells. These cells produce and secrete factors such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and GDNF (glial-derived neurotrophic factor).

Salvage chemotherapy with dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin (DVIP) for relapsing and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background: There is currently no standard salvage chemotherapy for the 40-50% of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who fail first-line treatment.

Objectives: To review the experience of a major tertiary medical center with DVIP (dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin) salvage therapy for primary refractory/relapsing NHL.

Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients with NHL who received DVIP salvage therapy during the period 1993 to 2005.

Microdeletion syndromes disclose replication timing alterations of genes unrelated to the missing DNA.

Background: The temporal order of allelic replication is interrelated to the epigenomic profile. A significant epigenetic marker is the asynchronous replication of monoallelically-expressed genes versus the synchronous replication of biallelically-expressed genes. The present study sought to determine whether a microdeletion in the genome affects epigenetic profiles of genes unrelated to the missing segment.

Multifocality in testicular germ cell tumors.

Purpose: Standard treatment for testicular germ cell tumor is radical orchiectomy. Several groups have suggested an organ sparing approach in patients with bilateral tumors or tumor in a solitary testis. We determined the prevalence of multifocality in testicular germ cell tumor cases.

Identification of the gene causing long QT syndrome in an Israeli family.

Background: Long QT syndrome is an inherited cardiac disease, associated with malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Objectives: To map and identify the gene responsible for LQTS in an Israeli family.

Methods: A large family was screened for LQTS after one of them was successfully resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation.

Angiographic findings and clinical outcomes in asymptomatic patients with severe obstructive atherosclerosis on computed tomography angiography.

Background: Cardiac computed tomography angiography is a relatively new imaging modality to detect coronary atherosclerosis.

Objectives: To explore the diagnostic value of CTA in assessing coronary artery disease among asymptomatic patients.

Methods: In this retrospective single-centered analysis, 622 consecutive patients underwent CTA of coronary arteries between November 2004 and May 2006 at the Mor Institute for Cardiovascular Imaging in Bnei Brak, Israel.

Impact of ethnicity and MTHFR genotype on age at onset of coronary artery disease in women in Israel.

Background: The C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is associated with early onset of coronary artery disease in some populations with certain ethnic backgrounds. However, data on its effect on CAD development in women are limited and conflicting.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of the MTHFR C677T mutation and ethnicity on the development and age at onset of CAD in women in Israel.

DJ-1 changes in G93A-SOD1 transgenic mice: implications for oxidative stress in ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, lethal, neurodegenerative disorder. The causes of ALS are still obscure. Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction can be implicated in ALS pathogenesis.

New and improved Israeli reference of birth weight, birth length, and head circumference by gestational age: a hospital-based study.

Background: Many centers in Israel still use pre-1970 reference data for neonatal weight, length and head circumference. A recently published population-based reference overestimated the weight of premature infants.

Objective: To develop a national reference for birth weight, birth length and head circumference by gestational age for singleton infants in Israel.

Computed tomography angiography in pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Diseases causing increased pulmonary pressure will subsequently cause a dilation of the pulmonary arteries and right heart chambers.

Objectives: To assess the capability of computed tomography angiography and high resolution CT to diagnose and estimate the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension as compared with standard means of right heart catheterization, echocardiography and pulmonary function tests.

Methods: The study included 38 patients with PHT who underwent CT angiography and HRCT as part of their routine evaluation.

Graft side-mismatching for single-lung transplantation does not affect outcomes: role of the pre-operative quantitative lung perfusion scan.

Background: There are concerns about which lung to explant during single-lung transplantation (SLT). Traditionally, a quantitative lung perfusion scan (QLPS) is performed, and the better-perfused lung is retained. Occasionally, there is transplantation with graft "side-mismatching," where the less-well-perfused lung is retained.

Prevalence of breast and colorectal cancer in Ashkenazi Jewish carriers of Fanconi anemia and Bloom syndrome.

Background: Fanconi anemia complementation group C and Bloom syndrome, rare autosomal recessive disorders marked by chromosome instability, are especially prevalent in the Ashkenazi* Jewish community. A single predominant mutation for each has been reported in Ahshkenazi Jews: c.711+4A-->T (IVS4 +4 A-->T) in FACC and BLM(Ash) in Bloom syndrome.

Open access gastroscopy in hospitalized patients.

Background: Open access gastroscopy allows physicians to refer patients for endoscopic procedures without a prior consultation.

Objectives: To compare the safety and efficacy of OAG with gastroscopy performed after a gastroenterological consultation.

Methods: Patients referred for gastroscopy directly (open access) or after consultation with a gastroenterologist, by physicians in the departments of internal medicine and surgery at a major tertiary center, were compared for indications, background disease, outcome and diagnostic yield.

Are babies getting bigger? Secular trends in fetal growth in Israel--a retrospective hospital-based cohort study.

Background: A paradoxical secular trend of an increase in preterm births and a decrease in low birth weights has been reported in many developed countries over the last 25 years.

Objective: To determine if this trend is true for Israeli neonates, and to add new information on secular trends in crown-heel length and head circumference.

Methods: A hospital-based historic cohort design was used.

Current primary care physician interventions to promote smoking cessation in Israel: an observational study.

Background: Smoking continues to be the most significant preventable cause of morbidity and early mortality in the developed world. Primary care physicians are not fufilling their potentially vital and effective role with regard to tobacco use and dependence.

Objectives: To evaluate current primary care physician practise in promoting smoking cessation.

Cross-reactive epitopes on beta2-glycoprotein-I and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), directed against the phosphopeptidomannan (PPM) part of the cell wall of the yeast, have been identified as an important and specific serological marker for Crohn's disease. We evaluated the prevalence and properties of ASCA in APS patients. Thirty-one out of 155 APS patients tested positive for ASCA (20.