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GST Primary GST Primary Best Strategies for Health Care Quality Im... Best Strategies for Health Care Quality Improvement - Diabetes Quality Improvement Strategies for Antibio... Kathryn McDonald, Stanford-UCSF Evidence-b... Systematic review assessing the effect of ... Quality Improvement Strategies for Antibiotics Management Kathryn McDonald, Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center, 117 Encina Commons, Stanford, CA 94305-6019, Kathy.mcdonald@stanford.edu Systematic review assessing the effect of quality improvement strategies on appropriate prescribing of antibiotics and appropriate choice of antibiotics. Adherence Adherence Assistive Devices Assistive Devices Childhood Burn Hanson MacMillan Childhood Burn Hanson MacMillan CLSA_9 CLSA_9 Cyberabuse Cyberabuse Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Violent ... This review included randomized trials abo... Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Violent Men who Batter Their Partners This review included randomized trials about the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on domestic violence. The intervention included programs based on the Duluth Model. The violence had to be committed by a male toward his female partner. The violence also had to be physical. The primary outcomes were new arrests and convictions, and new reports of violence. CABG vs PCI CABG vs PCI Quality Improvement Strategies for Prevent... Quality Improvement Strategies for Preventing Nosocomial Infections (Created 17-Feb-06) Quality Improvement Strategies for Asthma ... Quality Improvement Strategies for Asthma Control Erectile Dysfunction (Created 30-Jan-06) Erectile Dysfunction (Created 30-Jan-06) Inequality - Smoking Cessation to Reduce S... This review was the first part of a projec... Inequality - Smoking Cessation to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences This review was the first part of a project about inequality. It included randomized trials about the effect of smoking cessation interventions on reducing socio-economic differences. The studies had to report data either on persons with low socio-economic groups status or, preferably, on both low and high socio-economic groups. Diet and Physical Activity to Reduce Socio... This review was the second part in a proje... Diet and Physical Activity to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences This review was the second part in a project about inequality. It included randomized trials about the effect of interventions on reducing socio-economic differences in diet and physical activity. The studies had to report data either on persons with low socio-economic groups status or, preferably, on both low and high socio-economic groups. Workfare The data in SRS are not identical to the d... Workfare The data in SRS are not identical to the data in the published report. We used SRS only for an updated search. The review included randomized trials about the effect of welfare-to-work programs. Participants were welfare recipients. There were basically two types of programs. The educational type tried to build knowledge and skills in order to help the welfare recipients acquire jobs that could support them economically. The "work first" approach was more aimed at getting the participants quickly into a job. Exercise interventions for the management ... The objective of this systematic review wa... Exercise interventions for the management of frailty The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of current exercise interventions on the management of frailty. A comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, Cinahl, Scopus, Ageline, Eric, and SportDiscus databases was conducted and produced 1808 citations. So far we have completed 2 levels of “title and abstract” screening and we ended up with 262 articles. We have just started the full text screening. Eligibility criteria included original studies whose participants were identified as frail or prefrail with specific criteria and in which structured physical activity was included as at least one component of the intervention. Create a free account, build a dictionary with saved terms to re-use later! Public Domestic Violence - Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy Smoking Cessation to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences Diet and Physical Activity to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences Workfare Exercise Interventions for the Management of Frailty Search     Simple Advanced Refine (4 coded questions)  Any of these:   Exact Phrase: All of these: None of these: Author: Periodical: Projects: No restrictions   Libraries: Public   Select SRS Projects Show Saved Terms Select Library Show articles that do not have abstracts  Type of Article Clinical Trial Editorial Letter Meta-Analysis Practice Guideline Randomized Controlled Trial Review Addresses Bibliography Biography Case Reports Classical Article Clinical Conference Clinical Trial, Phase I Clinical Trial, Phase II Clinical Trial, Phase III Clinical Trial, Phase IV Comment Comparative Study Consensus Development Conference Consensus Development Conference, NIH Controlled Clinical Trial Corrected and Republished Article Dictionary Directory Duplicate Publication English Abstract Evaluation Studies Festschrift Government Publications Guideline Historical Article Interview In Vitro Journal Article Lectures Legal Cases Legislation Multicenter Study News Newspaper Article Overall Patient Education Handout Periodical Index Published Erratum Retracted Publication Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 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Retraction of Publication Scientific Integrity Review Support of Research Technical Report Twin Study Validation Studies Not a Primary Study or Review Unknown Primary Study Case Series Case Control Cohort Study Observational Study Qualitative Research CBA or ITS Registry Double Blind Controlled before after study Quasi-randomized trial Simple before after study Cluster-RCT Non-Randomized Study Report Book Book chapter Dissertation Conference procedings Secondary Research Not RCT Humans or Animals Humans Animals Ages All Infant: birth-23 months All Child: 0-18 years All Adult: 19+ years Newborn: birth-1 month Infant: 1-23 months Preschool Child: 2-5 years Child: 6-12 years Adolescent: 13-18 years Adult: 19-44 years Middle Aged: 45-64 years Middle Aged + Aged: 45+ years Aged: 65+ years 80 and over: 80+ years Undetermined Language English French German Italian Japanese Russian Spanish Afrikaans Albanian Unknown Arabic Armenian Azerbaijani Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Esperanto Estonian Finnish Georgian Greek, Modern Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Icelandic Indonesian Kinyarwanda Korean Latin Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Malayalam Maori Multiple Languages Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese Pushto Romanian Sanskrit Scottish gaelic Serbian Slovak Slovenian Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Not English Not French Results(1-25 of 795) Sort By: Publication Date Relevance Took: 0.406 seconds to search 17,750,454  Action: Copy Results to new Clipboard Build Search Link Page 1 of 32 1 2 3 4 > Last >> (795 articles found) Not only headache: higher degree of sexual pain symptoms among migraine sufferers. Apr 2008 Gal Ifergane,Itzhak Z Ben-Zion,Ygal Plakht,Keren Regev,Itzhak Wirguin Chronic illness and chronic pain can have profound negative effects on relationship and sexual satisfaction, yet the influence of migraine on sexuality has not been previously evaluated. To assess sexual functions in subjects with migraine compared to those with no migraine. We evaluated female uni... ( view more )versity students using the Israeli sexual behavior inventory (ISBI). Migraine was diagnosed according to self-reported symptoms according to the IHS criteria. Several dimensions of female sexuality-desire, orgasm, sexual avoidance, interpersonal sexual relationship, health influence, satisfaction and pain were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. Thirty-three (23.9%) of the participants met the IHS criteria for episodic migraine with and without aura. Sexual activity, desire, orgasm and satisfaction from sexual life did not differ significantly between migraine sufferers and non-sufferers. Migraine patients reported lower ISBI scores, higher health influence on sexual life, higher levels of sexual pain and lower sexual satisfaction. Migraine negatively affected the sexual life of sufferers. Sexual pain disorder is more common among migraine sufferers compared to non-migraineurs. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori isolates to the antiadhesion activity of a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry. Dec 2004 Haim Shmuely,Ora Burger,Itzhak Neeman,Jacob Yahav,Zmira Samra,Yaron Niv,Nathan Sharon,Erwin Weiss,Abed Athamna,Miriam Tabak,Itzhak Ofek The sensitivity of a large number of antibiotic-resistant and nonresistant Helicobacter pylori isolates to the antiadhesion effect of a high-molecular-mass, nondialysable constituent of cranberry juice was tested. Confluent monolayers of gastric cell line in microtiter plate wells were exposed to b... ( view more )acterial suspensions prepared from 83 H. pylori isolates from antibiotic-treated and untreated patients in the presence and absence of the cranberry constituent. Urease assay was used to calculate the percentage of adhesion inhibition. In two thirds of the isolates, adhesion to the gastric cells was inhibited by 0.2 mg/mL of the nondialysable material. There was no relationship between the antiadhesion effect of the cranberry material and metronidazole resistance in isolates from either treated or untreated patients (N=35). Only 13 isolates (16%) were resistant to both the nondialysable material and metronidazole, and 30 (36%) were resistant to the nondialysable material alone. There was no cross-resistance to the nondialysable material and metronidazole. These data suggest that a combination of antibiotics and a cranberry preparation may improve H. pylori eradication. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Cardiac contractility modulation by electric currents applied during the refractory period in patients with heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Dec 15, 2002 Carlo Pappone,Salvatore Rosanio,Daniel Burkhoff,Yuval Mika,Gabriele Vicedomini,Giuseppe Augello,Itzhak Shemer,David Prutchi,Walid Haddad,Ricardo Aviv,Yehuda Snir,Itzhak Kronzon,Ottavio Alfieri,Shlomo A Ben-Haim We assessed the feasibility of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) by electric currents applied during the refractory period in patients with heart failure (HF). Extracellular electric currents modulating action potential and calcium transients have been shown to potentiate myocardial contractil... ( view more )ity in vitro and in animal models of chronic HF. CCM signals were biphasic square-wave pulses with adjustable amplitude, duration, and time delay from sensing of local electric activity. Signals were applied to the left ventricle through an epicardial vein (in 12 patients) or to the right ventricular (RV) aspect of the septum endocardially (in 6 patients). Simultaneous left ventricular (LV) and aortic pressure measurements were performed using a Millar catheter (Millar Instruments, Houston, Texas). Hemodynamics during RV temporary dual-chamber pacing was regarded as the control condition. Both LV and RV CCM stimulation increased dP/dt(max) to a similar degree (9.1 +/- 4.5% and 7.1 +/- 0.8%, respectively; p <0.01 vs controls), with associated aortic pulse pressure changes of 10.3 +/- 7.2% and 10.8 +/- 1.1% (p <0.01 vs controls). Regional systolic wall motion assessed quantitatively by color kinesis echocardiography was markedly enhanced near the CCM electrode, and the area of increased contractility involved 4.6 +/- 1.2 segments per patient. In 6 patients with HF with left bundle branch block, CCM signals delivered during biventricular pacing (BVP) produced an additional 16.1 +/- 3.7% increase in dP/dt(max) and a 17.0 +/- 7.5% increase in pulse pressure compared with BVP alone (p <0.01). CCM stimulation in patients with HF enhanced regional and global measures of LV systolic function, regardless of the varied delivery chamber or whether modulation was performed during RV pacing or BVP. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Binding of sigma-ligands to C57BL/6 mouse brain membranes: effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors and subcellular distribution studies suggest the existence of sigma-receptor subtypes. Apr 1991 Y Itzhak,I Stein,S H Zhang,C O Kassim,D Cristante Our preliminary studies indicated that certain monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors display high affinity for the sigma-binding sites labeled with (+)[3H]-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-1-(propyl)piperidine [(+)[3H]-3-PPP] in C57BL/6 mouse brain (Itzhak, Y., and Kassim, C. D.: Eur. J. Pharmacol. 176: 107-108,... ( view more ) 1990). In the present study, the drug specificity and the subcellular distribution of (+)[3H]-3-PPP, (+)[3H]-N-allylnormetazocine [(+)[3H]SKF 10047] and [3H]1,3-di-o-tolyl-guanidine ([3H]DTG) binding sites in C57BL/6 mouse brain were investigated, and the properties of clorgyline interaction with the (+)-3-PPP/sigma-binding site(s) were examined. (+)[3H]-3-PPP binding, but not [3H]DTG binding, is inhibited by low concentrations (nM) of the dextrorotatory (+)-isomers of SKF 10047, 3-PPP and deprenyl and the type A MAO inhibitor, clorgyline. The haloperidol-sensitive/(+)[3H]SKF 10047 binding sites display virtually identical sensitivity towards the MAO inhibitors as (+)-3-PPP binding sites. These observations suggest a distinction between [3H]DTG and (+)[3H]-3-PPP/(+)[3H]SKF 10047 binding sites in the mouse brain. Clorgyline interaction with (+)-3-PPP/sigma-sites is competitive and reversible unlike the interaction of clorgyline with MAO-A. The sigma-ligands tested do not inhibit MAO activity and bind to sites that are apparently distinct from the MAO binding sites labeled with [3H]-N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. However, the mitochondrial fraction of the mouse brain that expresses MAO activity and high density of [3H]-N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine binding sites also comprises high density of (+)-3-PPP/(+)SKF 10047 binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Ecthyma gangrenosum caused by disseminated Exserohilum in a child with leukemia: a case report and review of the literature. 2003 Nov-Dec Itzhak Levy,Jeremiah Stein,Shai Ashkenazi,Zmira Samra,Gilat Livni,Itzhak Yaniv We report an 8-year-old boy with acute leukemia who developed ecthyma gangrenosum secondary to infection with Exserohilum spp., a rare cause of human disease. The skin, paranasal sinuses and lungs were involved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ecthyma gangrenosum caused by... ( view more ) Exserohilum spp. This case emphasizes the importance of prompt skin biopsy for early diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening infection. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Cardioplegic ischemia or reperfusion: which is a main trigger for tumor necrosis factor production? Jul 4, 2008 Dmitry Pevni,Inna Frolkis,Itzhak Shapira,Doron Schwartz,Idit Schwartz,Tamara Chernichovski,Nahum Nesher,Gideon Uretzky BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) that also possesses negative inotropic and direct cardiotoxic effects. We investigated whether myocardial ischemia and/or reperfusion is the trigger for TNF-alpha synthesis... ( view more ) and whether TNF-alpha release is time dependent. METHODS: Isolated rat hearts undergoing 30 min of coronary perfusion with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution followed by cardioplegic arrest for 60 min of global cardioplegic normothermic ischemia (GCI) and 30 min of reperfusion using a modified Langendorff model. Myocardial TNF-mRNA expression and TNF-alpha protein levels in effluent from the coronary sinus were measured at baseline and then after 15, 30, and 60 min of GCI and after 10 and 30 min of reperfusion. RESULTS: GCI induced myocardial TNF-alpha mRNA expression and elevation protein TNF-alpha levels in a time-dependent manner after 30 min of ischemia from 78+/-17 pg/ml to 915+/-287 pg/ml after 60 min (p<0.0015). Reperfusion did not cause time-dependent increase of TNF-alpha synthesis and release but was accompanied by progressive decrease of left ventricular (LV) function. There was a correlation between TNF-alpha protein levels and depression of LV function immediately after GCI but not with TNF-alpha protein levels at 30 min of reperfusion. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that myocardial ischemia rather than reperfusion is the main trigger for time-dependent TNF-alpha synthesis. Depression of LV function during reperfusion correlated significantly only with TNF-alpha levels at the end of GCI. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles The effect of ethnic origin on pulmonary prediction equations in a Jewish immigrant population. Jun 2008 Arie Steinvil,Elizabeth Fireman,Ofir Wolach,Uzi Rebhun,Michael Cohen,Itzhak Shapira,Shlomo Berliner,Ori Rogowski BACKGROUND: Ethnic origin affects spirometric prediction values. Our aims were to investigate the effect of ethnic origin on prediction equations in an immigrant-based society, identify possible deviations from commonly used prediction equations and analyze the effect of miscalculation in a large c... ( view more )ohort of apparently healthy individuals. METHODS: Healthy never-smokers participants from a large Israeli survey underwent lung function testing and were divided into two major ethnic groups: Ashkenazi Jews (AJ) and Sephardic Jews (SJ). Data were analyzed by multiple linear regressions. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) and the FEV(1)/FVC ratio were measured according to ERS-ATS guidelines. RESULTS: The study population comprised 3150 individuals (AJ=1817; SJ=1333). AJ tended to be older and taller than SJ (all p<0.005). Ethnicity entered as a significant regression variable for FVC for both genders and for FEV(1) for females only. The final regression model for both FVC and FEV(1) had R(2)=0.71 and the standard error of the estimate (SEE) for FVC and FEV(1) were 0.54 and 0.43L, respectively. The regression model for the FEV(1)/FVC ratio has less statistical strength (R(2)=0.06, SEE=6.15%). We found statistically significant underestimates of predicted lung volumes from the commonly used prediction equation for each ethnic group. CONCLUSIONS: Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews have different ranges of normal pulmonary function values. Lung function prediction equations in an immigrant-based society should be based on local and not previously reported regional equations and adjusted for ethnic attributed variance. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Comparative analysis of homocysteine concentrations in patients with retinal vein occlusion versus thrombotic and atherosclerotic disorders. Jun 2008 Anat Kesler,Varda Shalev,Ori Rogowski,Orit Shimron,Bracha Shainberg,Ben-Ami Sela,Itzhak Shapira,Ophira Salomon,Shlomo Berliner The objectives of the present study were to determine the concentrations of plasma homocysteine in a large (n = 562) cohort of patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to compare them with the values observed in other vascular thrombotic and atherosclerotic conditions. Results were compared w... ( view more )ith those observed in patients with deep vein thrombosis (n = 1700), pulmonary embolism (n = 542), transient ischemic attack (n = 1301), cerebrovascular accident (n = 1299), myocardial infarction (n = 3087), as well as peripheral artery occlusive disease (n = 1946). No differences were found between the age-adjusted estimated marginal mean +/- SE for homocysteine concentrations in individuals with RVO and in those who had other atherosclerotic and atherothrombotic diseases The respective concentrations for RVO, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery occlusive disease were 13.8 +/- 0.4, 14.7 +/- 0.3, 14.3 +/- 0.5, 14.2 +/- 0.3,14.6 +/- 0.3, 13.8 +/- 0.2, 14.4 +/- 0.2 pmol/l for men and 11.4 +/- 0.4, 10.7 +/- 0.2, 10.8 +/- 0.3, 10.8 +/- 0.2, 11.8 +/- 0.2, 11.2 +/- 0.2 pmol/l for women. In conclusion, the concentrations of homocysteine observed in patients with RVO are similar to those detected in other thrombotic and atherosclerotic vascular disorders. In view of the fact that this is a common disorder of the elderly, increased homocysteine concentrations often reported in patients with RVO could reflect the underlying atherothrombotic condition and might not necessarily be specifically related to the RVO per se. This information is relevant in researching the potential etiopathologic role, if any, of increased homocysteine concentrations in RVO. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Modulation of extracellular matrix protein phosphorylation alters mineralization in differentiating chick limb-bud mesenchymal cell micromass cultures. Jun 2008 Adele L Boskey,Stephen B Doty,Valery Kudryashov,Philipp Mayer-Kuckuk,Rani Roy,Itzhak Binderman Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are important regulators of cellular and extracellular events. The purpose of this study was to define how these events regulate cartilage matrix calcification in a cell culture system that mimics endochondral ossification. The presence of casein kinase... ( view more ) II (CK2), an enzyme known to phosphorylate matrix proteins, was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The importance of phosphoprotein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation was examined by comparing effects of inhibiting CK2 or phosphoprotein phosphatases on mineral accretion relative to untreated mineralizing controls. Specific inhibitors were added to differentiating chick limb-bud mesenchymal cell micromass cultures during the development of a mineralized matrix at the times of cell differentiation, proliferation, formation of the mineralized matrix, or proliferation of the mineral crystals. The mineralizing media for these cultures contained 4 mM inorganic phosphate and no organic-phosphate esters; control cultures had 1 mM inorganic phosphate. Mineralization was monitored based on (45)Ca uptake and infrared characterization of the mineral; cell viability was assessed by three independent methods. Treatments that caused cell toxicity were excluded from the analysis. Inhibition of CK2 activity with apigenin or CK2 inhibitor II reduced the rate of mineral deposition, but did not block mineral accretion. Effects were greatest during the time of mineralized matrix formation. Inhibition of phosphoprotein phosphatase activities with okadaic acid, calyculin A, and microcystin-LR, at early time points also markedly inhibited mineral accretion. Inhibition after mineralization had commenced increased the mineral yield. Levamisole, an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor, had no effect on mineral accretion in this system, suggesting the involvement of other phosphatases. Adding additional inorganic phosphate to the inhibited cultures after mineralization had started, but not earlier, reversed the inhibition indicating that the phosphatases were, in part, providing a source of inorganic phosphate. To characterize the roles of specific phosphoproteins blocking studies were performed. Blocking with anti-osteopontin antibody confirmed osteopontin's previously reported role as a mineralization inhibitor. Blocking antibodies to bone sialoprotein added from day 9 or on days 9 and 11 retarded mineralization, supporting its role as a mineralization nucleator. Antibodies to osteonectin slightly stimulated early mineralization, but had no effect after the time that initial mineral deposition occurs. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate the importance of the phosphorylation state of extracellular matrix proteins in regulating mineralization in this culture system. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles 3-isobutylmethylxanthine inhibits hepatic urea synthesis: protection by agmatine. May 30, 2008 Itzhak Nissim,Oksana Horyn,Ilana Nissim,Yevgeny Daikhin,Suzanne L Wehrli,Marc Yudkoff We previously showed that agmatine stimulated hepatic ureagenesis. In this study, we sought to determine whether the action of agmatine is mediated via cAMP signaling. A pilot experiment demonstrated that the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), inhibited urea synthesis alb... ( view more )eit increased [cAMP]. Thus, we hypothesized that IBMX inhibits hepatic urea synthesis independent of [cAMP]. We further theorized that agmatine would negate the IBMX action and improve ureagenesis. Experiments were carried out with isolated mitochondria and (15)NH(4)Cl to trace [(15)N]citrulline production or [5-(15)N]glutamine and a rat liver perfusion system to trace ureagenesis. The results demonstrate that IBMX induced the following: (i) inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and diminished O(2) consumption during liver perfusion; (ii) depletion of the phosphorylation potential and overall hepatic energetic capacity; (iii) inhibition of [(15)N]citrulline synthesis; and (iv) inhibition of urea output in liver perfusion with little effect on [N-acetylglutamate]. The results indicate that IBMX directly and specifically inhibited complex I of the respiratory chain and carbamoyl-phosphate synthase-I (CPS-I), with an EC(50) about 0.6 mm despite a significant elevation of hepatic [cAMP]. Perfusion of agmatine with IBMX stimulated O(2) consumption, restored hepatic phosphorylation potential, and significantly stimulated ureagenesis. The action of agmatine may signify a cascade effect initiated by increased oxidative phosphorylation and greater ATP synthesis. In addition, agmatine may prevent IBMX from binding to one or more active site(s) of CPS-I and thus protect against inhibition of CPS-I. Together, the data may suggest a new experimental application of IBMX in studies of CPS-I malfunction and the use of agmatine as intervention therapy. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Diagnosing acute appendicitis in adults: accuracy of color Doppler sonography and MDCT compared with surgery and clinical follow-up. May 2008 Diana Gaitini,Nira Beck-Razi,David Mor-Yosef,Doron Fischer,Ofer Ben Itzhak,Michael M Krausz,Ahuva Engel OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of color Doppler sonography and contrast-enhanced MDCT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults and their utility as a triage tool in lower abdominal pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 420 consec... ( view more )utive adult patients, 271 women and 149 men, 18 years old or older, referred from the emergency department to sonography examination for clinically suspected acute appendicitis between January 2003 and June 2006. Patients underwent sonography of the right upper abdomen and pelvis followed by graded compression and color Doppler sonography of the right lower quadrant. CT was performed in 132 patients due to inconclusive sonography findings or a discrepancy between the clinical diagnosis and the sonography diagnosis. Sonography and CT reports were compared with surgery or clinical follow-up as the reference standard. Statistical analyses were performed by Pearson's chi-square test and cross-tabulation software. RESULTS: Sonography and CT correctly diagnosed acute appendicitis in 66 of 75 patients and in 38 of 39 patients, respectively, and correctly denied acute appendicitis in 312 of 326 and in 92 of 92 patients. Sonography was inconclusive in 17 of 418 cases and CT, in one of 132 cases. Sonography and CT allowed alternative diagnoses in 82 and 42 patients, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for sonography were 74.2%, 97%, 88%, 93%, and 92%, respectively, and for CT, 100%, 98.9%, 97.4%, 100%, and 99%. CONCLUSION: Sonography should be the first imaging technique in adult patients for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and triage of acute abdominal pain. CT should be used as a complementary study for selected cases. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriatic arthritis: a case-control study. May 2008 Lihi Eder,Devy Zisman,Menashe Barzilai,Arie Laor,Michal Rahat,Michael Rozenbaum,Haim Bitterman,Joy Feld,Doron Rimar,Itzhak Rosner OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: Forty patients with PsA were enrolled. Controls were matched by age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors. All patients and controls underwent duplex scan of the carotid ... ( view more )arteries. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was evaluated and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was recorded. The plaques were graded and carotid plaque index was calculated. RESULTS: Patients with PsA had a higher IMT (mean +/- standard deviation, 1.04 +/- 0.35 mm vs 0.88 +/- 0.29 mm in controls; p = 0.03), and had a higher carotid plaque index than did matched controls (2.3 +/- 2.6, compared to 1.12 +/- 2.09; p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PsA status as well as age and triglyceride levels were associated with the presence of carotid plaque. Other traditional risk factors were more prevalent among patients with PsA; however, they were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that patients with PsA may have an increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis. These findings may not be solely attributable to traditional risk factors alone. Special attention and strict control of atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with PsA is warranted. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Functional analysis of individual cells and microenvironment of breast cancer-draining lymph nodes. May 2008 Naomi Zurgil,Assaf Deutsch,Elena Afrimzon,Yana Shafran,Reuven Tirosh,Judith Sandbank,Itzhak Pappo,Mordechai Deutsch The development of distant metastases is the major cause of death in breast cancer (BC). In many BC cases, metastases are present in patients with no metastasis-positive lymph nodes (LN). Hence, there is a need to improve prognosis by a better prediction of the nodal status and tumor spread. The cu... ( view more )rrent study is designed to develop and utilize new functional characteristics of the cells and microenvironment of BC-draining LN, which may help to improve the estimation of LN metastatic involvement. Innovative devices and methodologies were developed for collecting, transferring, and analyzing LN at an individual-cell resolution. Using these devices, a suspension of living cells were prepared from the LN and processed for various assays, including immunophenotypic analysis, activation status, and invasion activity. The functional profile of tumor-activated LN cells showed an increase in the intracellular enzymatic reaction rate, accompanied by a homogeneous distribution of transferrin receptor as well as by a significant increase in matrix metalloproteinase proteolytic activity. Moreover, the proportion of cells exhibiting such a profile was significantly higher in tumor-containing LN than in tumor-free LN. Thus, the live and postfixation features of LN cells and their microenvironment, correlated with the functional status of the LN, may serve to improve their predictive value in breast cancer examination. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Tricuspid prosthesis stenosis associated with endocarditis: a new M-mode finding. May 2008 Michael A Logue,Gila Perk,Itzhak Kronzon A man with endocarditis was found to have prosthetic tricuspid valve (TV) stenosis without regurgitation. The large vegetation moved into the TV prosthesis orifice in diastole. A seldom-recognized echocardiographic finding was observed in which the interatrial septum bulged toward the left atrium i... ( view more )n diastole. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Ethnic groups and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in Israel. May 2008 Ofir Wolach,Yaron Arbel,Michael Cohen,Uri Goldbourt,Uzi Rebhun,Itzhak Shapira,Shlomo Berliner,Ori Rogowski High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a biomarker that correlates with atherothrombotic risk and outcome. hs-CRP is influenced by various modifiable and non-modifiable factors. We studied the relationship between ethnic background and hs-CRP level, among the Jewish population in Israel. A... ( view more ) total of 3659 men and 2180 women were divided into two ethnic groups (Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews), based on the knowledge of Jewish immigration patterns throughout the centuries. Mean hs-CRP levels were calculated for each group and were adjusted for various factors known to influence hs-CRP. Sephardic Jews were found to have higher adjusted mean hs-CRP levels (2.0 mg l(-1) for men and 3.9 mg l(-1) for women) compared with Ashkenazi Jews (1.5 mg l(-1) for men and 2.9 mg l(-1) for women). Ethnic background emerged as an independent significant predictor of hs-CRP levels. We demonstrated that ethnicity is an important factor when considering hs-CRP as a marker of atherothrombotic risk. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Left atrial appendage thrombus outside of a 'successful' ligation. May 2008 Robert Donnino,Paul A Tunick,Itzhak Kronzon A 79-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement surgery, and had ligation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) using an epicardial approach. On a post-operative echocardiographic evaluation, the distal portion of the LAA was excluded, leaving no communication with t... ( view more )he left atrium. The proximal portion of the LAA, however, was in continuity with the circulation and a large thrombus was present within it. While previous reports of incomplete LAA ligation have involved disruption of the suture line, this present report describes a case of incomplete ligation due to persistence of the proximal portion of the appendage. Thus, thrombus formation occurred despite a 'successful' epicardial exclusion of the distal LAA. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Electrocardiographic QT interval and cardiovascular reactivity in fibromyalgia differ from chronic fatigue syndrome. May 2008 Jochanan E Naschitz,Gleb Slobodin,Dauod Sharif,Madeline Fields,Hillel Isseroff,Edmond Sabo,Itzhak Rosner BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) frequently overlap clinically and have been considered variants of one common disorder. We have recently shown that CFS is associated with a short corrected electrocardiographic QT interval (QTc). In the present study, we evaluated wh... ( view more )ether FM and CFS can be distinguished by QTc. METHODS: The study groups were comprised of women with FM (n=30) and with CFS (n=28). The patients were evaluated with a 10 min supine-30 min head-up tilt test. The electrocardiographic QT interval was corrected for heart rate (HR) according to Fridericia's equation (QTc). In addition, cardiovascular reactivity was assessed based on blood pressure and HR changes and was expressed as the 'hemodynamic instability score' (HIS). RESULTS: The average supine QTc in FM was 417 ms (SD 25) versus 372 ms (SD 22) in CFS (p<0.0001); the supine QTc cut-off <385.7 ms was 79% sensitive and 87% specific for CFS vs. FM. The average QTc at the 10th minute of tilt was 409 ms (SD 18) in FM versus 367 ms (SD 21) in CFS (p<0.0001); the tilt QTc cut-off <383.3 ms was 71% sensitive and 91% specific for CFS vs. FM. The average HIS in FM patients was -3.52 (SD 1.96) versus +3.21 (SD 2.43) in CFS (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: A relatively short QTc and positive HIS characterize CFS patients and distinguish them from FM patients. These data may support the contention that FM and CFS are separate disorders. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Enhanced cancer risk among patients with bipolar disorder. May 2008 Micha BarChana,Itzhak Levav,Irena Lipshitz,Inna Pugachova,Robert Kohn,Abraham Weizman,Alexander Grinshpoon BACKGROUND: In contrast to numerous epidemiological studies that explored the risk for cancer among persons with schizophrenic psychoses, analogous studies conducted on people with bipolar disorder are rarer, despite some commonalities in biological, treatment-related variables and unhealthy lifest... ( view more )yles. This study investigates the risk for cancer among psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. METHODS: Linkage analysis was conducted based on the psychiatric and the cancer national databases. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for both aggregated sites and for breast cancer were calculated by comparing the incidence rates among hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder with the incidence rates in the Jewish-Israeli general population. RESULTS: An enhanced cancer risk was found for bipolar disorder in both genders: men, SIR 1.59 (95% CI 1.01-2.17); women, SIR 1.75 (95% CI 1.31-2.18). The risk for breast cancer was higher, but not significantly, than in the general female population, SIR 1.70 (95% CI 0.99-2.41). LIMITATIONS: Our sample was derived from psychiatric inpatients, thus it is likely that the bipolar disorder cases had greater severity. Putative factors such as diet, smoking and medications were not investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed an enhanced risk for cancer among patients with bipolar disorder. Clinicians might note this risk for timely diagnosis and treatment. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Exposure to and fear of terror as predictors of self-rated health among apparently healthy employees. May 2008 Arie Shirom,Sharon Toker,Itzhak Shapira,Shlomo Berliner,Samuel Melamed The effects of exposure to terror on physical health were investigated by relating objective exposure to terror and fear of terror to self-rated health (SRH), a proxy measure of health status. Our respondents were apparently healthy (N=4,877, 38% women) adults who completed self-report questionnair... ( view more )es. Objective exposure was assessed by the number of terrorist attacks and their casualties in a respondent's urban area prior to her/his completion of the questionnaire. Using several alternative assessments, objective exposure to terror did not predict SRH for both the genders. As hypothesized, fear of terror negatively predicted SRH for both females and males (beta=-0.04, -0.05, respectively). The effects of subjective and objective exposure were not found to be more pronounced among women relative to men, thus disconfirming our hypotheses in this regard. Our findings suggest that living under continuous fear of terror may adversely influence physical health irrespective of objective exposure. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Predictive value of high sensitivity CRP in patients with diastolic heart failure. Apr 25, 2008 Yoav Michowitz,Yaron Arbel,Dov Wexler,David Sheps,Ori Rogowski,Itzhak Shapira,Shlomo Berliner,Gad Keren,Jacob George,Arie Roth BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been tested in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) and mixed results have been obtained with regards to its potential predictive value. However, the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with diastolic HF is not established. We studied the predi... ( view more )ctive role of high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) in patients with diastolic HF. METHODS: HsCRP levels were measured in a cohort of CHF outpatients, 77 patients with diastolic HF and 217 patients with systolic HF. Concentrations were compared to a large cohort of healthy population (n=7701) and associated with the HF admissions and mortality of the patients. RESULTS: Levels of hsCRP did not differ between patients with systolic and diastolic HF and were significantly elevated compared to the cohort of healthy subjects even after adjustment to various clinical parameters (p<0.0001). In patients with diastolic HF, hsCRP levels associated with New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA-FC) (r=0.31 p=0.01). On univariate Cox regression model hsCRP levels independently predicted hospitalizations in patients with systolic but not diastolic HF (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: HsCRP concentrations are elevated in patients with diastolic HF and correlate with disease severity; their prognostic value in this patient population should be further investigated. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Temperature dependences for the reactions of O- and O2- with O2(a1Deltag) from 200 to 700 K. Apr 10, 2008 Anthony Midey,Itzhak Dotan,A A Viggiano Rate constants and product ion distributions for the O- and O2- reactions with O2(a 1Deltag) were measured as a function of temperature from 200 to 700 K. The measurements were made in a selected ion flow tube (SIFT) using a newly calibrated O2(a 1Deltag) emission detection scheme with a chemical s... ( view more )inglet oxygen generator. The rate constant for the O2- reaction is approximately 7 x 10(-10) cm3 s-1 at all temperatures, approaching the Langevin collision rate constant. Electron detachment was the only product observed with O2-. The O- reaction shows a positive temperature dependence in the rate constant from 200 to 700 K. The product branching ratios show that almost all of the products at 200 K are electron detachment, with an increasing contribution from the slightly endothermic charge-transfer channel up to 700 K, accounting for 75% of the products at that temperature. The increase in the overall rate constant can be attributed to this increase in the contribution the endothermic channel. The charge-transfer product channel rate constant follows the Arrhenius form, and the detachment product channel rate constant is essentially independent of temperature with a value of approximately 6.1 x 10(-11) cm3 s-1. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Prednisone treatment for vestibular neuritis. Apr 2008 Avi Shupak,Anthony Issa,Avishay Golz, Margalit Kaminer,Itzhak Braverman OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of corticosteroids in the treatment of vestibular neuritis (VN). DESIGN: Prospective controlled randomized. METHODS: Thirty VN patients, 15 in the study and 15 in the control group, were the subjects of the study. The study group was treated by 1 mg/kg prednisone fo... ( view more )r 5 days, followed by gradually reduced doses of prednisone for an additional 15 days, and vestibular sedatives for symptomatic relief during the first 5 days after presentation. The control group received a placebo and similar vestibular sedatives. The patients had a baseline evaluation and follow-up examinations after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The groups were compared for the presence of symptoms and signs, caloric lateralization on the electronystagmography (ENG), the presence of other pathologic findings in the ENG, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores. RESULTS: No differences were found between the groups in the occurrence of symptoms and signs, degree of caloric lateralization, presence of other ENG pathologic findings, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores at the end of the study. Complete resolution was observed in 64% of the study and in 80% of the control group. The study group showed earlier recovery of ENG lateralization at the 1- and 3-month follow-up evaluations and higher rates of complete resolution at the 3- and 6-month follow-up points. CONCLUSION: Prednisone therapy might enhance earlier recovery but does not improve the long-term prognosis of VN. The clinical and laboratory parameters in VN are not correlated, and both are required for complete patient evaluation. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Concurrent influenza A and group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. Apr 2008 Itzhak Brook,Alan E Gober OBJECTIVES: A concurrent group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS)-influenza virus pharyngotonsillitis (PT) is generally not considered in diagnoses, even though mixed bacterial-viral infections are common in other respiratory tract infections. This report describes our experience in diagnosing ... ( view more )a potential mixed GABHS-influenza virus PT in children. METHODS: Acute and convalescent antistreptolysin O (ASO) and anti-DNase B titers were obtained from 12 children with acute PT and clinical presentation that suggested viral infection, and in whom both rapid influenza A virus and rapid GABHS tests were positive. RESULTS: The children did not receive any antimicrobial therapy, and all recovered from their acute PT within 2 to 5 days and were all asymptomatic upon their return visit 3 to 4 weeks later. GABHS was recovered from 2 of the children on their return visit. However, ASO and anti-DNase B titers were not elevated in these individuals. The ASO and anti-DNase B titers determined in the first serum samples were less than the age-adjusted normal values for all of the children. However, these titers rose by at least two-dilution (0.2 logarithm) in the convalescent sera as compared with the acute ones in 4 of the 12 children (33%). One of the 8 children who had no increase in ASO and anti-DNase B titers had an acute GABHS PT 5 months later. One-year follow-up of all of the children showed no anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: This report is the first to describe a concomitant GABHS and influenza A virus PT, as evident by increased ASO and anti-DNase B titers in a third of the patients who had both of these organisms detected in their upper airways. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles High-resolution depth electrode localization and imaging in patients with pharmacologically intractable epilepsy. Apr 2008 Arne Ekstrom,Nanthia Suthana,Eric Behnke,Noriko Salamon,Susan Bookheimer,Itzhak Fried Localization and targeting of depth electrodes in specific regions of the human brain is critical for accurate clinical diagnoses and treatment as well as for neuroscientific electrophysiological research. By using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging combined with 2D computational unfolding,... ( view more ) the authors present a method that improves electrode localization in the medial temporal lobe. This method permits visualization of electrode placements in subregions of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, allowing for greater specificity in relating electrophysiological and anatomical features in the human medial temporal lobe. Such methods may be extended to therapeutic procedures targeting specific neuronal circuitry in subfields of structures deep in the human brain. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Growth retardation and destruction of experimental squamous cell carcinoma by interstitial radioactive wires releasing diffusing alpha-emitting atoms. Apr 1, 2008 Tomer Cooks,Lior Arazi,Michael Schmidt,Gideon Marshak,Itzhak Kelson,Yona Keisari In the present study, we examined the antitumoral effects caused by the release of alpha emitting radioisotopes into solid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tumors. Using a novel method termed DART (Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy), we assessed the efficacy of short-lived daughters of (224)R... ( view more )a releasing alpha particles, dispersing in the malignant tissue, to cause tumor growth retardation and destruction. It was carried out using specially designed wires loaded with (224)Ra activities in the range of 7-42 kBq in a set of experiments performed on BALB/c and nude mice bearing metastatic SCC tumors derived from either mouse SQ2 or human CAL27 cell lines. The insertion of a DART wire to the center of 6-7 mm primary tumors, retarded tumor growth, reduced lung metastatic load, prolonged life expectancy and in some cases caused tumor eradication. These effects were enhanced either when treating smaller tumors or treating identical tumors with 2 DART wires. Similar experiments on human-derived SCC tumors in nude mice were consistent with the outcomes of the murine model. Histological assessments revealed the tissue damage pattern, and indicated a role for the tumor vasculature in the dispersion of the atoms and the propagation of the damage. Our findings indicate that Diffusing Alpha-emitting Radiation Therapy is effective in a model system using SCC primary tumors. The in situ destruction of primary solid tumors by DART is evidently a necessary step toward curing cancer and might be augmented by chemotherapy and other modalities such as immunotherapy or antigrowth factors agents. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Page 1 of 32 1 2 3 4 > Last >> (795 articles found)

      
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