תוצאת חיפוש

Knowledge of Adolescents about the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Shoshana Weiss

Prevention Department, Israel Society for the Prevention of Alcoholism, Ramat Gan

The level of knowledge of the risks of drinking during pregnancy in 175, 17-18 year olds from kibbutzim in the eastern Upper Galilee was studied in January 1996. This population had the highest rate of involvement with alcohol in Israel and had been involved in alcohol education activities in previous years. About 53.71% of the sample believed that heavy drinking increases the risk of birth defects, but only 20.57% could correctly describe the fetal alcohol syndrome.

Use of Student Feedback by Pre-Clinical and Clinical Course Directors

Ruth Abramowitz, Netta Notzer

Medical Education Unit, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We examined the conceptual and instrumental uses of student feedback on teaching by 2 preclinical and clinical course directors with authority to change structure and content of the courses, assess suitability of instructors and to change methods of student feedback questionnaires have been collected systematically for over 2 decades. A report based on this feedback is sent to course directors, the dean, his assistants and the head of the curriculum committee. Course directors from both groups made broad use of the feedback but made greater use of the report than preclinical course directors. Students had greater regard for individual teaching by clinical course directors than by preclinical course coordinators. No relationship was found between the degree of use of feedback by members of either group and their level of teaching. We conclude that senior faculty use student feedback in their decisions regarding the structure and teaching methods of their courses and are not influenced by individual assessments, positive or negative, by their students.

Salbutamol Intoxication

Haim D. Danenberg

Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

A 20-year-old asthmatic woman who ingested 300 mg of salbutamol (Albuterol) and 30 g of paracetamol is presented. She had sinus tachycardia up to 160/min, hypotension (80/50 mmHg), tremor, hypokalemia (2.1 mEq/l) and hyperglycemia (12.1 mEq/l). Treatment was by gastric lavage, fluids, potassium and N-acetylcysteine. Symptoms resolved in 24 hours.

Superficial Dorsal Penile Vein Thrombosis (Mondor's Disease)

Ran Katz, Arye Blachar

Depts. of Urology and Radiology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Superficial venous thrombosis of the chest wall was first described by Mondor in 1939. Braun-Falco reported in 1955 superficial penile vein involvement in diffuse thrombophlebitis of the abdominal wall and in 1958 Helm and Hodge first described isolated superficial dorsal penile vein thrombosis. Since then, fewer than 50 cases have been reported. The clinical presentation is usually redness and swelling of the dorsum of the penis, accompanied by a palpable, tender thrombotic vein. This acute and painful disease frightens the patient, who is concerned about his fertility and sexual function. The main cause of this disease is frequent sexual intercourse. Diagnosis is based upon anamnesis, physical examination and penile sonography with color Doppler imaging. It is usually a benign disease which resolves quickly under appropriate medical therapy. We present a man who was admitted for this condition and was successfully treated.

Solid Organ Retransplantation

Yaron Ilan, Dan Admon, Michael Friedlander

Division of Medicine, Dept. of Cardiology and Nephrology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem

The need for solid organ retransplantation is a major factor in the shortage of available organs. Between 1972 and 1992, 56 out of 309 kidney transplants and 2 out of 20 liver transplants performed in our hospital were retransplantations. The present study evaluates local and world experience with organ retransplantations in terms of the medical and ethical issues.

Smoking Habits of Young Israeli Soldiers

I. Askenazi, J. Shemer

Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

A random sample of 32,166 soldiers were interviewed (on their day of discharge from the Israeli Defence Forces, between 1980-1995) with regard to smoking habits. Among men, prevalence of current smoking was 46.8%, and among women 32.9%. Over the study period, prevalence in men decreased 27%. Among women, prevalence decreased from 1981 to 1991, but since then it has steadily increased. Among men, mean number of cigarettes smoked decreased from 21.6 in 1989 to 16.6 in 1995. Among women cigarettes smoked decreased from a mean of 14.3 in 1989 to 13.1 in 1995. 65.9% of the men and 49.3% of the women had started smoking by the age of 18. Among men the age distribution of smoking changed hardly at all over the years of the study. However, the proportion of women who began to smoke in the youngest age bracket (15 years of younger) doubled over the course of the study.

Volume Reduction Surgery in Emphysema

M.R. Kramer, I. Bar, I. Eidelman, M. Bublil, I. Nitzan, C. Sprung, S. Godfrey, G. Merin

Depts. of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Anesthesiology, and Institute of Pulmonology, Hadassah-University Hospital and Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem

Volume reduction surgery (VRS) is a new procedure based on the concept that relieving hyperinflation in emphysema improves diaphragmatic and chest wall mechanics and ventilation perfusion mismatch. We present our early experience with 16 patients who underwent VRS from August 1995 to June 1996. Patient selection was based on: PFT, CT scan, V/Q scan, ABG's and 6-min walk. After pulmonary rehabilitation, operation was by median sternotomy and bilateral lung shaving. Pulmonary function improved significantly. FEV1 increased from 0.68 ± 0.2 to 1.0 ± 0.2 L (p<0.01) and FVC increased from 1.7 ± 0.5 to 2.7 ± 0.5 L (p<0.017). Total lung capacity decreased from 129% ± 24% to 108% ± 20% (p<0.03). 6-min walk increased from 221 ± 90 to 404 ± 123 meters (p<0.001). Complications included 1 death, prolonged air leak in 7 cases and infection in 2. Quality of life improved substantially in 12 of the 16 cases; in 3 cases there was only slight improvement and in 1 the condition became worse. Volume reduction surgery is a promising surgical solution in selected patients with advanced emphysema.

The Serotonin Syndrome

L. Broude, I. Iancu, O.T. Dolberg, J. Zohar

Psychiatric Division, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

The frequent use of selective, serotonin reuptake inhibitors has increased the risk of the serotonin syndrome. This condition is related to stimulation of 5HT1A receptors and is characterized by agitation, confusion, tremor, fever and shivering. A 29-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man with the syndrome are reported, The importance of early diagnosis and treatment is emphasized, and aspects of the syndrome in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder are presented.

The Homeless and The Health System: Profile of the Homeless Patient

J. Posen, N. Tanai, S. Spiro, D. Frumer

Social Work Dept., Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv and Faculty of Social Work, Tel Aviv University

The homeless population is mobile and does not use ambulatory health care services. Thus the major contact between the homeless and the medical establishment occurs primarily when they are treated for acute symptoms in hospital. We describe the clinical and sociodemographic profile of the homeless who require hospital services. The research population included 50 homeless treated in the emergency room and various departments of our medical center between October 1994 and August 1995. Social workers used a questionnaire relating to clinical, sociodemographic and social factors. Most patients were men, 76% under the age of 50. The most common diagnosis was alcoholism; other diagnoses included back, limb and joint injuries, infections, skin diseases, and general exhaustion. There were subgroups with differing needs within this homeless population for which appropriate rehabilitation programs are proposed.