Intraarterial multi-modal reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke: a10 year single-center experience.

Background: Only 0.5% of stroke patients in Israel are treated with endovascular multi-modal reperfusion therapy (MMRT) each year.

Objectives: To assess our experience with MMRT over the last decade.

The outcomes of pregnancy in women exposed to the new macrolides in the first trimester: a prospective, multicentre, observational study.

Background: Macrolides are a group of commonly prescribed antibiotics. There is some doubt surrounding the use of the newer macrolides in pregnancy.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare outcomes of pregnancies exposed to the new macrolides clarithromycin, azithromycin and roxithromycin with non-teratogenic preparations.

Cell surface expression of CD25 antigen (surface IL-2 receptor α-chain) is not a prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results of a retrospective study of 281 patients.

Using the database of the Israeli CLL Study Group, we investigated the incidence and prognostic significance of CD25 expression on the surface of lymphocytic leukemia cells. Strong CD25 expression was found in 46 (16.4 %) of 281 tested cases and was correlated with the presence of splenomegaly (p = 0.

Cardiac structure and function as predictors of mortality in persons 85 years of age.

Individuals aged > 85 years are the world's most rapidly growing age group and have a high incidence of cardiovascular mortality. The objective of this study was to prospectively determine the prognosis of abnormal cardiac structure and function in an age-homogenous, community-dwelling population of subjects born in 1920 and 1921. Subjects were recruited from the Jerusalem Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Pharmacological basis of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin: impact on cancer therapy.

We review here various pharmacological aspects of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) which have important implications on the safety and efficacy profile of this important agent. Particularly, the formulation properties of PLD and its long circulation time and the relationship between the high microvascular permeability of tumors and the selective accumulation of PLD in tumors are addressed. Emphasis is given to the correlation of pharmacokinetic parameters with pharmacodynamic effects of PLD.

Gastrointestinal colonization with ESBL-producing Klebsiella in preterm babies--is vancomycin to blame?

In this study, we examine the possible association between treatment with vancomycin and colonization with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Variables compared between newborns which developed rectal colonization and those who did not include: gestational age, birth weight, gender, and total length of hospital stay until positive stool culture or discharge, treatment with vancomycin, and positive blood culture for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. We found that lower birth weight, younger gestational age, and treatment with vancomycin were statistically significant risk factors for gastrointestinal colonization with ESBL-producing Klebsiella.

Correlation between fetal heart rate reactivity and mortality and severe neurological morbidity in extremely low birth weight infants.

Objective: To determine the correlation between specific fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities and the incidence of death, severe (grade 3-4) intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular echogenicity (PVE) in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) within the first 4 days after birth.

Methods: The study included live-born ELBW infants ≤ 30 weeks' gestation who were born in 2000-2007 at Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel, and, who had FHR monitoring during the 24 h before delivery and cranial ultrasound during the first 4 days of life. FHR pattern was analyzed for the presence of baseline rate, reactivity, variability and decelerations.

The use of blood counts and blood cultures to screen neonates born to partially treated group B Streptococcus-carrier mothers for early-onset sepsis: is it justified?

Background: No clear recommendations exist regarding the approach to evaluate neonates born to partially treated group B Streptococcus (GBS)-carrier mothers for early-onset GBS (EO-GBS) sepsis.

Objective: To determine the yield and drawbacks of screening, all neonates born to GBS-carrier mothers who received only one dose of IV antibiotic, less than 4 hours, before delivery (partially treated).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all complete blood counts (CBCs) and blood cultures obtained from infants born during the period 2005 to 2009 to GBS-positive screened mothers treated with only one dose of antibiotic prior to delivery.

Contribution of animal models to the research of the causes of diabetes.

In most publications, animal models of diabetes have mainly been investigated for their multiple etiologies as well as for changes leading to diabetes and their genetic derivation. Aspects which seem important and need a special research endeavor are the mechanism of the causes of diabetes and the lapse into complications in different species, their molecular basis and possible arrest and prevention. A concise list and and short discussion of the intensively studied rodents is presented of spontaneous or nutritional background causing Type 2 diabetes but omitting diabetes evoked by transgenic manipulations or gene knockout techniques.

Lung function response to bronchodilator nebulization via hood in wheezy infants: a pilot study.

Background: In infants, small volume nebulizers with a face mask are commonly used to facilitate aerosol therapy. However, infants may be disturbed by mask application, causing poor mask-to-face seal and thus reducing the dose delivered.

Objectives: To compare lung function response to bronchodilator nebulization via two delivery devices: hood versus mask.

Micro-organ ovarian transplantation enables pregnancy: a case report.

A 19-year-old thalassemic woman had tissue from one of her ovaries cryopreserved prior to bone marrow transplantation, total body irradiation and sterilizing chemotherapy. As expected, premature ovarian failure resulted from this treatment. Transplantation of her thawed ovarian tissue resulted in return of menstrual cycling and the patient then underwent several IVF cycles.

A prospective pilot study of atypical pressure ulcer presentation in a skilled geriatric nursing unit.

Local (extrinsic) and systemic (intrinsic) risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers over bony prominences such as the sacrum, coccyx, ischium, gluteal area, and leg area (heels) have been extensively studied and documented. Several case studies have described (but little is known about) pressure ulcers in atypical anatomical locations. A descriptive pilot study was conducted to document the occurrence, cause, prevention, assessment, and treatment of pressure ulcers in atypical anatomical locations.

Health-related quality of life two years after injury due to terrorism.

Background: During the past few decades, terrorist acts have been an unfortunate reality worldwide. There is a striking paucity of research investigating the multitude of long-term outcomes after severe physical injury due to terrorist attacks, a unique subgroup of trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to provide a profile of the long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) after injury due to terrorist attacks and to explore the relationships between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), occupational status and injury severity with HR-QOL.

Serum thymidine kinase 1 activity in breast cancer.

Aims: Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis and an important proliferation marker. We explored the association of preoperative serum TK1 activity with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in terms of recurrence-free survival (RFS) in breast cancer (BC) patients.

Patients And Methods: TK1 activity in serum of 120 healthy women and 161 BC patients was measured by quantitative ELISA.

Sinus floor augmentation using large (1-2 mm) or small (0.25-1 mm) bovine bone mineral particles: a prospective, intra-individual controlled clinical, micro-computerized tomography and histomorphometric study.

Objectives: To compare the amount of newly formed bone after sinus floor augmentation with two different particle sizes of bovine bone mineral (BBM) using clinical, micro-computerized tomography (CT) and histological techniques.

Methods: Bilateral sinus floor augmentations were performed in 10 patients. Six to 9 months later, bone samples were retrieved and analyzed.

Multifocality in well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas calls for total thyroidectomy.

Background: Multifocality is an important factor when recommending surgery for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The aim of this study is to assess the incidence and characterize the spread pattern of multifocal PTC (mPTC) in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.

Methods: All thyroidectomies performed between 2003 and 2008 were reviewed identifying 289 patients.

Interleukin-6 and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide cord blood levels in premature infants: correlations with perinatal variables.

Background: Elevated cord blood levels of interleukin-6 and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide were associated with neonatal complications; however, simultaneously obtained values have not been compared to date.

Objectives: To study the association of cord blood levels of IL-6 and NT-proBNP with perinatal variables of premature infants and examine the relationship between the obtained values.

Methods: Cord blood IL-6 (89 samples) and NT-proBNP (66 samples) levels obtained from infants delivered before 32 weeks of gestation were analyzed for associations with perinatal variables and possible correlation between both samples.

Monitoring long-term treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin: how important is intensive cardiac follow-up?

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD; Doxil or Caelyx) has been shown to be as effective as conventional doxorubicin, and to have a significantly better cardiac safety profile. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of delivering doses exceeding 700 mg/m of PLD to patients with solid tumors. A review of the medical records of 149 patients with a variety of solid tumors treated with PLD was performed.

In vivo degradation of collagen barrier membranes exposed to the oral cavity.

Objectives: The purpose of this human clinical trial was to compare the degradation profiles of three different collagen membranes under conditions mimicking exposure to the oral cavity.

Materials And Methods: Three collagen membranes, ribose cross-linked (RCL), glutaraldehyde cross-linked (GCL), and non-cross-linked (NCL) were tested. The membranes were placed over the buccal mucosa of 20 human volunteers, apical to the gingival margins in the maxillary premolar and molar region.

The consequences of consanguinity on the rates of malformations and major medical conditions at birth and in early childhood in inbred populations.

The rate of malformations and major medical conditions in early childhood was analyzed in a single village according to the degree of relationship between the parents. In the village, 70-80% of the marriages are between descendants of the founders and therefore consanguineous. In the period 1992-2003, in 99 of 2,610 children, a major malformation was diagnosed at birth and seven additional fetuses were aborted because of a severe malformation.

Fertility preservation in young cancer patients.

As a result of advances in treatment, almost 80% of children and adolescents who receive a diagnosis of cancer become long-term survivors. The increased survival rate of children and adolescents with cancer has resulted in a major interest in the long-term effects of cancer treatment on the possibility for future fertility. Currently established methods for the preservation of fertility are available only for pubertal males and females.

Circulating tumor M2 pyruvate kinase and thymidine kinase 1 are potential predictors for disease recurrence in renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy.

Objectives: Pyruvate kinase type M2 (TuM2-PK) and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) are the key enzymes involved in tumor cells metabolism and proliferation. We explored the association of their preoperative circulating levels with disease recurrence in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: We measured the plasma levels of TuM2-PK levels and serum TK1 activity preoperatively in patients with RCC, using a quantitative ELISA, and correlated the results with clinicopathological parameters.

Traumeel S for pain relief following hallux valgus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In spite of recent advances in post-operative pain relief, pain following orthopedic surgery remains an ongoing challenge for clinicians. We examined whether a well known and frequently prescribed homeopathic preparation could mitigate post-operative pain.

Method: We performed a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of the homeopathic preparation Traumeel S in minimizing post-operative pain and analgesic consumption following surgical correction of hallux valgus.