Predictors of surgical site infection after radical cystectomy: should we enhance surgical antibiotic prophylaxis?

Purpose: To compare surgical site infections (SSI) rate after radical cystectomy (RC) over time and ascertain whether antibiotic prophylaxis should be enhanced.

Methods: All medical records of RC patients in a single tertiary uro-oncology center between 2007 and 2017 were analyzed. SSI was defined using the criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes with pazopanib in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas in a compassionate use setting: results of the SPIRE study.

Background: A named patient program (NPP) was designed to provide patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (aSTS) access to pazopanib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The SPIRE study was a retrospective chart review of participating patients.

Patients And Methods: Eligibility criteria for the NPP and SPIRE mirrored those of the pivotal phase-III study, PALETTE, which compared pazopanib with placebo in patients ≥18 years with aSTS and whose disease had progressed during or following prior chemotherapy or were otherwise unsuitable for chemotherapy.

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.

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.

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.

Survival after intervention in patients with low gradient severe aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular function.

Objective: The outcome of aortic valve replacement for patients with low gradient severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction has been debated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of aortic valve intervention on survival in that group.

Methods: A cohort of 416 consecutive patients with low gradient severe aortic stenosis (aortic valve area, ≤ 1 cm(2); mean pressure gradient, <40 mm Hg) and preserved ejection fraction (≥ 50%) were identified from the Sheba Medical Center echocardiography database.

The impact of retrograde intrarenal surgery for asymptomatic renal stones in patients undergoing ureteroscopy for a symptomatic ureteral stone.

Background And Purpose: In the era of rigid ureteroscopy (URS) for ureteral stones, asymptomatic renal stones were often left in place. With the advent of flexible URS, however, the treatment of such renal stones became an attractive option. Data are scarce regarding the impact of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) performed at the time of URS for a symptomatic ureteral stone in comparison with ureteral stone removal alone.

Lymph node metastasis in nasal vestibule cancer: a review.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule (SCCNV) is an uncommon malignancy. Our purpose is to define the incidence of simultaneous and delayed regional metastasis in SCCNV according to the available literature.

Methods: Articles discussing SCCNV and addressing the issue of regional lymph node metastases were reviewed.

Clinical challenges of adoption: Views from Montreal and Tel Aviv.

Adoption is accompanied by well-known risk factors that contribute to unique clinical challenges for children, parents, and clinicians. Adoption also serves to illustrate issues that remain relatively "silent" in the typical transition to parenthood. In this article, the authors review the normal developmental challenges that parents face during adoption, the adoption-related risk factors that may impinge on the child's development and attachment process, and the impact of adoption on the child's development of identity and filiations.

An infant who was born with a life-threatening skin disease: Various aspects of triadic psychotherapy.

A longitudinal case study of a 3-year-old toddler, born with a congenital, severe, life-threatening skin disease, with comorbid diagnoses of failure to thrive and feeding disorder, is described and discussed. The referral, diagnostic, and therapeutic processes are described, and the main themes of the treatment sessions are presented in the associative order that they occurred. The understanding of the case is very much based on the "me-skin'' concept.

A Hebrew adaptation of the tinnitus handicap inventory.

Objective: To establish a Hebrew version of the English THI.

Design: The English THI (THI-E) was translated into Hebrew by two bilingual investigators, independently. A third investigator then constructed the final Hebrew THI version (THI-H) from the two translations.

Serum biochemical markers for brain damage in children with emphasis on mild head injury.

Despite the high incidence of mild pediatric head injuries, only within the past few years has there been increased interest and research in this area. This interest began when the findings from research done in adult patients showed that the effects of mild closed head injuries could interfere significantly with higher cognitive functioning, which impacted daily activities and employment. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often involves a combination of mechanical trauma and local hypoxemia, on which serum biomarker concentrations may provide critical therapeutic data to time the brain injury.

Laryngeal cancer in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

With improved survival, more AIDS patients, especially heavy smokers and alcohol abusers, may be confronted with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Since curative treatment may require aggressive combined therapy, these patients, often suffering from immunosupression and poor general condition, present unique therapeutic challenges. The objective of the study was to describe treatment dilemmas.

Expanding use of ureteral access sheath for stones larger than access sheath's internal diameter.

The internal diameter of the ureteral access sheath limits the size of stones that can be removed during flexible ureteroscopy. We describe a technique that allows removal of larger stones, which are entrapped and removed en bloc with the access sheath. This new technique was shown to be efficient and safe.

Hemorrhagic corpus luteum is associated with ovarian edema.

Background: Most cases of ovarian edema are thought to result from intermittent ovarian/adnexal torsion. This study describes how, in some cases, this etiology was ruled out even though the edema was unexplained.

Study Objective: To evaluate the association between ovarian edema and hemorrhagic corpus luteum.

Resting anal pressure following hemorrhoidectomy and lateral sphincterotomy.

Purpose: The role of high anal pressure in the pathophysiology of hemorrhoids and anal fissures is debated. We compared resting anal pressures following left lateral sphincterotomy and hemorrhoidectomy in a prospective manometric study with emphasis on the recovery of the internal anal sphincter activity.

Methods: Included in the study were 38 patients with third-degree or fourth-degree symptomatic hemorrhoids who underwent hemorrhoidectomy, 50 patients with anal fissure who underwent sphincterotomy, and 12 healthy patients who served as controls.

The feasibility of sharing simulation-based evaluation scenarios in anesthesiology.

Unlabelled: We prospectively assessed the feasibility of international sharing of simulation-based evaluation tools despite differences in language, education, and anesthesia practice, in an Israeli study, using validated scenarios from a multi-institutional United States (US) study. Thirty-one Israeli junior anesthesia residents performed four simulation scenarios. Training sessions were videotaped and performance was assessed using two validated scoring systems (Long and Short Forms) by two independent raters.

The effect of mianserin add-on, on the intensity of opioid withdrawal symptoms during detoxification program--a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, prospective study.

Background: Based on pre-clinical studies regarding the interaction of various antidepressant drugs with the opioid system, we designed a clinical study to be carried out in the 'in-patient detoxification unit' within a large community centre for treatment of drugs dependent people. We evaluated the effect of mianserin add-on, on the intensity of opioid withdrawal symptoms in opiate dependent subjects undergoing medication-supported physical detoxification and integrated psychosocial and psychotherapeutic intervention for the treatment of dependence.

Methods: Mianserin (or placebo) was added to the routine medication protocol, during the 3-week in-patient phase of detoxification in a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

The effects of an external nasal dilator on labor.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an external nasal dilator on several variables characterizing labor in both mother and fetus.

Methods: One hundred and fifty primigravida women in active labor were randomized to wear, throughout labor, either a dilator spring-loaded nasal strip or a placebo device. Data were obtained during labor and compared between the groups.

Radiotherapy for spinal cord compression in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma.

Purpose: Spinal metastases of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) occur rarely and pose a therapeutic problem. Although wide resection is warranted for best local control, it is rarely feasible. A radiotherapy (RT) dose of 70 Gy is usually needed to treat limb STS, but only 45 Gy can be given to the spine.

Lung cancer in patients with HIV infection: is it AIDS-related?

HIV-infected individuals have an increased risk of malignancy, especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. Recently, several workers have noted a raised prevalence of lung cancer in HIV-positive subjects. We describe the diagnosis and clinical course for four HIV-seropositive patients who presented with lung cancer.

The antinociceptive effect of amisulpride in mice is mediated through opioid mechanisms.

Antinociceptive effects of various neuroleptics in animal acute pain-models have been described, mediated trough different pathways including the opioid system. In this study, we assessed the antinociceptive effects of the atypical neuroleptic drug amisulpride, which acts as a selective blocker of dopamine D2 and D3 receptors. Furthermore, at low doses amisulpride has a selective preference for presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors, while at high doses it manifests a preferential action at post-synaptic dopamine receptors.

Mianserin and trazodone significantly attenuate the intensity of opioid withdrawal symptoms in mice.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of trazodone and mianserin on opioid-withdrawal symptoms in morphine-dependent mice. We used a comparative study of the effect of each drug on withdrawal symptoms in one model of acutely high-dose morphine-dependent mice, and two models (high-dose and lu-dose) of chronically morphine-dependent mice at the Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine's laboratory.Trazodone, mianserin or both were given to the morphine-dependent mice together with a high dose of naloxone.

Right prefrontal rTMS treatment for refractory auditory command hallucinations - a neuroSPECT assisted case study.

Auditory command hallucinations probably arise from the patient's failure to monitor his/her own 'inner speech', which is connected to activation of speech perception areas of the left cerebral cortex and to various degrees of dysfunction of cortical circuits involved in schizophrenia as supported by functional brain imaging. We hypothesized that rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), by increasing cortical activation of the right prefrontal brain region, would bring about a reduction of the hallucinations. We report our first schizophrenic patient affected with refractory command hallucinations treated with 10 Hz rTMS.