Classifying high-risk versus very high-risk prostate cancer: is it relevant to outcomes of conformal radiotherapy and androgen deprivation?

Objective: To evaluate outcomes in prostate cancer patients classified as high-risk (HR) or very high-risk (VHR) who were treated with conformal radiation therapy (CRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods: Between 11/2001 and 3/2012, 203 patients with HR disease received CRT to the prostate (78-82 Gy) and pelvic lymph nodes (46-50 Gy) with ADT (6 m-2 years). Median follow-up was 50 months (12 m-142 m).

Colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas are genetically closely related to colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas are rare and clinically aggressive neoplasms with considerable morphological heterogeneity. Data on their genomic characteristics and molecular associations to either conventional colorectal adenocarcinomas or poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms is still scarce, hampering optimized patient treatment and care. Tissue from 19 colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas and eight colorectal poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (neuroendocrine carcinomas) was microdissected and subjected to next-generation sequencing using a colorectal adenocarcinoma-specific panel comprising 196 amplicons covering 32 genes linked to colorectal adenocarcinoma, and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm tumorigenesis.

Biometric monitoring in silicosis to detect early disease and monitor lung injury: not quite there.

http://ow.ly/Ut4J304amUr.

Impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines on Selected Head and Neck Infections in Hospitalized Israeli Children.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen of pediatric head and neck infections (HNIs), for example, acute otitis media (AOM), acute mastoiditis, acute bacterial sinusitis and meningitis. The aim of this study was to characterize the epidemiology of pneumococcal HNIs (pHNIs) before, during and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs).

Methods: Children 0-16 years of age, who were hospitalized with HNIs in the pediatrics department in a general hospital between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2014, were retrospectively identified.

Anakinra for Colchicine-Resistant Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is refractory to colchicine prophylaxis in 10-20% of patients. In a number of patient series, treatment with anakinra, an interleukin-1-blocking agent, prevented FMF attacks in those with colchicine-resistant FMF. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anakinra in the treatment of colchicine-resistant FMF, using a randomized controlled trial.

Erratum to: 2016 WSES guidelines on acute calculous cholecystitis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13017-016-0082-5.].

To proceed or not to proceed: ENT surgery in paediatric patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection.

Background: Upper respiratory tract infection is the most common non-preventable cause of surgery cancellation. Consequently, surgeons and anaesthesiologists involved in elective ENT surgical procedures frequently face a dilemma of whether to proceed or to postpone surgery in affected children.

Methods: A literature review was conducted and a practical assessment algorithm proposed.

2016 WSES guidelines on acute calculous cholecystitis.

Acute calculus cholecystitis is a very common disease with several area of uncertainty. The World Society of Emergency Surgery developed extensive guidelines in order to cover grey areas. The diagnostic criteria, the antimicrobial therapy, the evaluation of associated common bile duct stones, the identification of "high risk" patients, the surgical timing, the type of surgery, and the alternatives to surgery are discussed.

Simplified Muscle-Suspension Lower Blepharoplasty by Orbicularis Hitch.

Background: The suspension of orbicularis oculi during lower blepharoplasty presents a logical surgical addition for further support of the lid, as well as further improvement to its contour profile. It has traditionally been performed as an extension of the skin-muscle flap procedure, but more recently, and aggressively, as a muscle strap-flap separated from the orbicularis sheet by myotomy. Many benefits of suspension, however, can be achieved without incision into muscle (beyond a single stab-wound "button-hole") and without delamination of the lid, as a safe, simple, single-suture suspension of preseptal muscle to lateral orbital rim.

Injectable Adjunctive Procedures for Cosmesis and Function.

The role of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in the periocular region continues to expand. In addition to cosmetic uses in the periocular region, HA fillers are increasingly being used to correct eyelid malpositions. This is changing the perspective on the anatomic changes responsible for these malpositions.

Prevalence and characteristics of fibromyalgia among HIV-positive patients in southern Israel.

Objectives: Fibromyalgia and chronic pain have previously associated with HIV infection for over two decades. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of FMS symptoms in an ethnically heterogeneous population of HIV-infected individuals in southern Israel, applying the proposed new diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of fibromyalgia symdrome (FMS).

Methods: 156 HIV-positive patients followed at the AIDS clinic of the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) who gave written informed consent were recruited in the trial.

The DESCARTES-Nantes survey of kidney transplant recipients displaying clinical operational tolerance identifies 35 new tolerant patients and 34 almost tolerant patients.

Background: Kidney recipients maintaining a prolonged allograft survival in the absence of immunosuppressive drugs and without evidence of rejection are supposed to be exceptional. The ERA-EDTA-DESCARTES working group together with Nantes University launched a European-wide survey to identify new patients, describe them and estimate their frequency for the first time.

Methods: Seventeen coordinators distributed a questionnaire in 256 transplant centres and 28 countries in order to report as many 'operationally tolerant' patients (TOL; defined as having a serum creatinine <1.

The effect of immunization with pneumococcal conjugated vaccines on Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance patterns in acute otitis media.

Following the introduction of 7- and 13-pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Israel, we demonstrated that within Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) positive middle ear cultures, obtained from young children with severe acute otitis media (AOM) episodes, there were more penicillin-susceptible and less multi-drug resistant Sp isolates in PCV immunized children.

Psychopathology and its Early Impact on Parenting Behaviors in Mothers: The Interface between Adult and Infant Psychiatry.

Parenting is, in its essence, the domain where adult mental health and infant's mental and physical health meet in a complex and dynamic interplay. Becoming a parent is a developmental challenge in itself, and often exacerbates an existing mental illness, and in turn, maladaptive parenting impinges on the early parent-infant relationship, and on the infant's socio-emotional development and later functioning. The capacity for mentalization is brought as a bridging concept between adult and infant psychiatry.

Medical educators: How they define themselves - Results of an international web survey.

Background: Little is known about medical educators' self-definition.

Aims: The aim of this study is to survey an international community of medical educators focusing on the medical educators' self-definition.

Methods: Within a comprehensive, web-based survey, an open question on the participants' views of how they would define a "medical educator" was sent to 2200 persons on the mailing list of the Association for Medical Education in Europe.

Laryngeal Side Effects of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Objectives: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are common targeted drugs, used in the treatment of hematological and solid malignancies. These drugs present a multitude of potential adverse effects. Laryngeal manifestations, including laryngeal edema, secondary to TKIs treatment have not been well studied, despite their potential lethality.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognition, symptoms, and smoking in schizophrenia: A randomized controlled study.

Schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive deficits which persist after acute symptoms have been treated or resolved. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to improve cognition and reduce smoking craving in healthy subjects but has not been as carefully evaluated in a randomized controlled study for these effects in schizophrenia. We conducted a randomized double-blind, sham-controlled study of the effects of 5 sessions of tDCS (2 milliamps for 20minutes) on cognition, psychiatric symptoms, and smoking and cigarette craving in 37 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were current smokers.

Endoscopic Occlusion of Tracheoesophageal Fistula in Ventilated Patients Using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder.

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a challenging, life threatening condition. It most commonly appears in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, who cannot withstand open neck or chest surgery. An endoscopic technique could be better tolerated by these patients.

Dural enhancement and thickening in acute mastoiditis.

Dural enhancement and thickening in imaging studies observed in acute mastoiditis patients is an uncommon phenomenon. It is infrequently seen in dural sinus thrombosis, and may be caused by infiltration of inflammatory cells and an increased number of thin-walled blood vessels. We present a three-year-old boy who presented with acute mastoiditis, complicated by subperiosteal abscess.

Changing trends of acute otitis media bacteriology in central Israel in the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines era.

Background: The widespread use of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has changed acute otitis media (AOM) bacteriology. Only scattered data with regard to this effect of PCV13 have been published so far.

Methods: We retrospectively identified children <6 years of age who presented to our hospital with AOM, and had middle ear fluid (MEF) cultures obtained during tympanocentesis or from spontaneous otorrhea during 2008-2013, when PCV7 (2009) and PCV13 (2010) were gradually introduced in the Israeli National Immunization Program.

Preparation of medical personnel for an early response humanitarian mission - lessons learned from the Israeli defense forces field hospital in the Philippines.

Introduction: Humanitarian aid provision and early medical response missions to areas ravaged by natural disasters are as essential nowadays as in the past, and medical personnel play a pivotal role in these delegations.

Case Description: In November 2013, tropical cyclone Haiyan (Yolanda) slammed the Philippines archipelago, leaving more than an estimated 6000 dead in its wake while demolishing vital infrastructure and affecting the life of an estimated 25 million locals. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) rapidly constructed and sent a humanitarian aid delegation which included a field hospital deployment with medical capabilities from diverse specialty fields.

Treatment of horizontal canal BPPV: pathophysiology, available maneuvers, and recommended treatment.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe the pathophysiology of horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, the available maneuvers for its management, and the recommended treatment.

Data Sources: PubMed, Cochrane library.

Review Methods: Review of the available literature.

Adult supraglottitis: changing trends.

There is no clinical dynamic staging system which scores according to severity all the anatomical regions in adult supraglottitis. The objective of the study was to describe the demographics, clinical presentation, interventions and outcomes of adult patients diagnosed with acute supraglottitis (AS), and to study the correlation of a new AS classification with the need for airway intervention, in comparison with the current classification. This was a retrospective, cohort study conducted at a secondary medical care center.

Importance of viruses in acute otitis media.

Purpose Of Review: Acute otitis media occurs as a complication of viral upper respiratory tract infection. Bacterial otopathogens and respiratory viruses interact and play important roles in acute otitis media development. A better understanding of viral and bacterial interactions may lead to innovative ways to lessen the burden of this common childhood disease.