Clinical Mentorship as a Bridge to Life in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Moria Golan^1,2, Tali Gogol-Ostrowsky¹

¹Shachaf-Eeting Disorders Intensive Treatment Center, Kibbutz Nasn. ²School of Nutritional Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot

The aim of this article is to describe a community-based multi-modality intensive treatment program, which demonstrates a significant reduction in symptoms of eating disorders while providing an opportunity to deal with the functional and social skills. Treatment is delivered through a multidisciplinary team. The uniqueness of the team is in the inclusion of clinical mentors. These are social workers, art therapists and graduate level psychology students who are trained to connect with clients in an informal, intensive manner (10-40 hours a week). The mentors focus on legitimizing healthy attitudes to food, eating and life, while highlighting the pain and loss associated with the disorder. The mentors serve as meal companion and calming figure, representing the healthy self-caring voice. The relationship established during the many hours spent together becomes a powerful experience, completely different from the isolation of the disorder. The treatment intervenes in most areas of life, focusing on an active search for possibilities, in contrast to the emptiness associated with the disorder.

This article presents the results and principles of a 2.5-year practice. Seventeen patients, ill for 6 years and more, completed this program more than a year ago. An assessment of their BMI and their general outcome using Eckert scales was performed. One year after completing the program, 76% of the patients were defined as recovered and 12% were almost recovered with only a few remaining symptoms. All of these patients function satisfactorily in the community, both in social and occupational aspects. Six percent were partially recovered and 6% suffered from regression during the first year of follow-up.

This treatment provides the intensity required in hospitalizations, while enabling patients to stay in the community and maintain those activities that survive the disorder. This program has proven to work well with chronic patients. Further data, not analyzed as yet, also indicates the efficacy of this treatment in acute cases.

Following 90 Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Manifestations of the Disease, Follow-Up of Antibodies Titers and Correlations with Clinical Manifestations in the Israeli Population - Patients in the Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Ibrahim Marai, Yair Levi, Gezal Godard, Yehuda Shoenfeld

Department of Medicine B and Research Unit of Autoimmune Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center (affiliated to Tel-Aviv University), Israel.

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) with venous or arterial thrombosis, recurrent pregnancy loss or thrombocytopenia. The syndrome can be either primary or secondary to an underlying condition, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The purpose of the study was to review the manifestations of the APS in Israeli patients and to investigate the difference between patients with primary or secondary syndrome. Analysis of the correlation between the manifestations of the disease and the antibody titers [LA (lupus anticoagulant), IgG aCL (anticardiolipin), IgM aCL] was also performed.

In the study there were 90 patients with APS in the Sheba Medical Center. The clinical findings for all patients were recorded according to established protocol.

Results: Arterial thrombotic events were present in 51.1% of the patients; cereberal ischemic attacks were the most frequent arterial events. Venous thrombotic events were present in 45.6% patients; deep venous thrombosis was the most frequent venous event. Obstetric complications were found in 37.3% of patients; the most frequent complication was abortions. The clinical findings of patients with primary or secondary syndrome were similar. Patients with APS associated with lupus had a high prevalence of hemolytic anemia (28.6% v 3.3%; P=0.001), and ANA (antinuclear antibody) (75% v 12.9%; P=0.0001). There was no correlation between the antibody titers (LA, IgG aCL, IgM aCL) and clinical manifestations. The patients received anticoagulant treatment and antiaggregant drugs to prevent recurrence of symptoms. Clinical manifestations in Israeli patients did not differ from those in non-Israeli patients.

Conclusions: Venous or arterial thrombosis and obstetric complications are the most frequent clinical findings in APS. There was no different in clinical manifestations between primary and secondary syndrome. The findings of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and ANA were more frequent in patients with secondary APS. There was no correlation between antiphospholipid antibody titers and manifestations of disease. Overall, the patients require therapy with anticoagulant treatment and antiaggregant drugs. The clinical manifestations were similar in Israeli and non-Israeli patients.

נתן גדות

המח' למחלות עצבים, ביה"ח מאיר, כפר סבא והפקולטה לרפואה סאקלר, אוניברסיטת תל אביב

למרות ההישגים העצומים באבחנה ובטיפול בכיפיון במהלך חמישים השנים האחרונות, לוקה לעיתים הגישה הקלינית היומיומית לחולים אלה בקיבעון מחשבתי המוביל להנחות שגויות ובהתאם, לשיקולים קליניים וטיפוליים מוטעים. ברשימה זו, נתייחס למספר "מובנים מאליו" שנשתרשו בקהילייה הרפואית בישראל ובעולם לגבי איבחון וטיפול בכיפיון. נבחון את ההצדקה בהפניה של כל אדם שנתקף בהתקף כיפיון אחד, למחלקה לרפואה דחופה. ננסה להבהיר מה הן בדיקות העזר הנהוגות לצורך איבחון ומעקב ארוך-משך בכיפיון ומי מהן אכן חיונית. ננסה להבהיר מהו השימוש הנכון במנת העמסה של נוגד-כיפיון ומדוע לא תמיד צריך להגיע לרמת נסיוב טיפולית "תקינה". ונבהיר שוב את המושג situation determined seizures.

Pseudomembranous Colitis: Clinical, Endoscopic and Radiological Correlation - A 2 - Year Experience

Fabiana Benjaminov MD⁽¹⁾, Rivka Zissin MD⁽²⁾, Benjamin Novis MD⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾Gastroenterology Institute and ⁽²⁾CT Unit, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Abstract: The incidence rates of pseudomembranous colitis are rising. Early diagnosis and treatment are required for management of this potentially life-threatening disease. This report outlines our 2-year experience (1997-1998) at the gastrointestinal institute with 43 patients diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis and describes the clinical course and imaging studies.

The group consisted of 25 women and 18 men, aged 34-93 years (mean: 67). Thirty-nine patients were treated with antibiotics. Twelve patients were referred directly to an endoscopic examination with a presumed clinical diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis (diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain) that was confirmed by colonoscopy. Thirty-one were referred to colonoscopy following abdominal imaging performed to clarify cause of fever and abdominal pain. Twenty-nine patients had an abdominal CT, one had an US and one a barium follow-through. The CT finding suggesting pseudomembranous colitis included colonic mural thickening in 28 patients (71% diffuse versus 29% segmental colitis), with an average wall thickness of 16 mm. Sixteen patients (59%) had pericolonic fat changes and 15 patients (51%) had ascites. All of these patients, except one, had endoscopic findings consistent with pseudomembranous colitis.

Five patients (11.6 %) died due to the severe PMC.

To conclude, as an abdominal CT is often performed in the acutely ill patient, it may arouse the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis in the proper clinical setting. Such a suspected diagnosis justifies endoscopic evaluation, which is the most reliable diagnostic examination.

Atrophic Gastritis Presenting with Pulmonary Embolism

Muhammad A. Abdul-Ghani, Rima Feldman, Moshe Shai, Jacob Varkel

Dept. of Medicine C, Western Galilee Hospital, Naharia

Atrophic gastritis is an autoimmune gastropathy in which there is destruction of gastric parietal cells. This results in intrinsic factor deficiency and disturbance in vitamin B12 absorption. Its clinical manifestationa are therefore the consequences of B12 deficiency and include anemia and neurological defect. In addition, lack of B12 results in metabolic changes, including disturbances of methionine metabolism and accumulation of homocysteine.

In recent years, there has been increasing evidence suggesting that hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for thrombo-embolic disease. We describe a 51-year-old man with atrophic gastritis, severe B12 deficiency and hyperhomocystein-emia. The initial clinical manifestation was pulmonary embolism, without either anemia or neurological signs. B12 deficiency should therefore be considered in patients being investigated for hypercoagulability.

Hospitalization for Renal Colic: Epidemiological Features and Clinical Manifestations

Yahav Oron, Amir Shahar, Eran Dolev

Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; Israel Defense Forces Medical Center; Meir General Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba; and Dept. of Medicine H, Sourasky-Tel Aviv Medical Center

The medical records of all patients referred to the emergency department (ED) of Sheba Medical Center for renal colic during 1996 were analyzed. Patients discharged from the ED and those hospitalized were compared.

There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to average age or sex distribution. Statistically significant differences were found with regard to frequency of chills and fever, history of renal colic, referral for renal colic during that year or hospitalization for renal colic or nephrolithiasis, previous positive imaging, stone removal by surgery or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, fever exceeding 37.5^o and administration of fluids, pethidine or pramin in the ED, prolonged stay in the ED and previous appendectomy.

A conditional regression model tested the predictive value of each of those factors. Inclusion of independent variables into the model led to an overall correct classification rate of 84.43%, with 44.83% sensitivity and 93.16% specificity. There were correlations between referrals for renal colic, overall renal colic rate and average monthly temperature, so there was no pure correlation between average monthly temperature and referrals to the ED for renal colic.

The major indications for hospitalization were actually the clinical ones, indicating either an active metabolic disease or suspected obstruction of the urinary tract. Treatment in the ED and duration of the visit indicated disease severity.

Videothorascopic Sympathectomy for Palmar Hyperhidriosis

Nahum Nesher, Ronen Galili, Ram Sharony, Gidon Uretzky, Milton Saute

Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lady Davis - Carmel Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Palmar hyperhidriosis is not a life-threatening disease but leads to loss in the quality of life. Conservative treatment is ineffective and major surgery involves perioperative complications and esthetic impairment.

From 1992 to 1998 we treated 156 patients with palmar hyperhidriosis using a single port, drainless videothoracoscopic procedure with almost no complications.

Family Physicians' Attitudes to Clinical Guidelines for Treatment of Diabetes 

Sasson Nakar, Shlomo Vinker, Tal Baro-Aloni, Eliezer Kitai

Dept. of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Clinical guidelines are systematically developed statements designed to help practitioners and patients make decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical states. Attitudes of family physicians to clinical guidelines for treating diabetes and guidelines in general were evaluated from anonymous questionnaires answered by physicians participating in continuous medical education throughout the country (May-June 1998). The questionnaire dealt with attitudes to the recently published specific guidelines for treating the diabetic patient and overall perception of the efficacy of clinical guidelines.

293 family physicians, aged 40.2‏7.0 responded (83%). 93.5% appreciated the guidelines and thought them applicable. Most (83.7%) reported the guidelines to be of help in their daily work; 31.4% said they were oversimplified; a quarter said they aimed main at containing costs. Most respondents preferred written guidelines of up to 5 pages.

In view of our results, attention can now be turned to developing ways to implement the guidelines. To improve adherence, they need to be short and the rate of publication of new clinical guidelines should be slowed.

Progressive Ptosis in Children as a Presenting Sign of Kearns-Sayre Syndrome 

Ron Gal, Eli Lahat

Pediatric Neurology Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Mitochondrial encephalopathies represent a heterogeneous group of various neurological syndromes caused by defects in mitochondrial metabolism. All clinical syndromes can be subdivided by type of biochemical defect into 3 subgroups: defective oxidation, defects in pyruvate metabolism and various defects in the respiratory chain.

We present a 12-year-old girl admitted for evaluation of progressive ptosis over a period of 3 years, diagnosed as having the rare mitochondrial encephalopathy, Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Impact of Clinical Pharmacist on Drug Therapy in Medical Departments

Ariel Hamerman, Rimona Rotem, Naftali Meidan, Avi Porath

Pharmacy Services, Hospital Management and Medical Dept. F, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheba

Several studies have documented the impact of clinical pharmacy services on patient care and drug costs in hospital wards. However most hospitals in Israel do not provide such services and until recently their benefits in local health care have not been demonstrated. We therefor determined whether the activity of a pharmacist in the medical department of a medical center leads to improved quality of drug utilization and reduced costs.

During the first 3 months of the clinical pharmacist's work all interventions and consultation were documented. The effect of these interventions on drug costs was calculated by the change in drug acquisition costs during the study period compared with those of preceding months, as well as in the other 5 medical departments of the hospital without clinical pharmacy services.

During the study period the pharmacist joined 44 clinical rounds in which he documented 40 consultations in response to physicians' requests for drug information and 42 interventions on his own initiative. The pharmacist's recommendations were accepted in 38 of the 42 cases (90%). In 10 cases the pharmacist's initiative in improving the quality of drug therapy led to an increase in drug acquisition costs. However, the overall drug costs during the study period decreased 12.6%. During the same period drug costs in the other medical departments decreased only 2.2%.

The results of this study conform with those of many other studies that show a beneficial impact of the clinical pharmacist on the quality of drug therapy and on drug costs. They indicate that the clinical pharmacist can play a crucial role in the medical department.

Clinical, Social and Economic Aspects of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Jacob Feldman, Liora Peleg, Abraham Yaretzky

Geriatric Dept., Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

It is well known that maelderly patients are referred to nursing homes because of "functional decline" without being thoroughly in. We studied 9 elderly patients, all referred to hospital due to functional decline and diagnosed as follows: spinal stenosis - 2 cases, depression - 3, thyrotoxicosis -1, Parkinson -1, polypharmacy and congestive heart failure -1 patient each. Proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment prevent unnecessary hospitalization in nursing homes. Our study is meant to draw attention to this crucial aspect of geriatric medicine.

Information Provided for Informed Consent in Clinical Trials

Avishay Sella

Genitourinary Medical Oncology Unit, Dept. of Oncology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The Helsinki Declaration contains recommendations guiding physicians who conduct clinical trials. One is that the requirement for informed consent is essential for approval of a trial. An important component of the informed consent doctrine is that all data required for the participant's decision must be provided. We analyze data of a therapeutic trial, and define 12 data components outlined in, or directly derived from the Helsinki Declaration.

61 instances of informed consent for therapeutic clinical trials from various fields of medicine, from 1994 to 1997, were analyzed. In each the presence of the 12 components was evaluated.

The data demonstrated that there were only 5 components cited in most cases of informed consent: trial objectives, methods, treatment plan, risks, and the option of withdrawing. Benefit to the participant was mentioned in half the cases, while only limited information was provided about other components such as life-threatening and unpredictable risks, and alternative treatment.

Examples of informed consent from 1997 showed statistical improvement since 1994 in the data concerning trial objectives, methods, risks and alternative therapy. Informed consent documents of international multicenter trials compared with local trials showed statistical improvement in the data components of the trial objectives, methods, and risks, including those of potentially life-threatening and unpredictable risks, and alternative therapy. Analysis of informed consent showed that not all components required for a comprehensive decision regarding participation in a clinical trial are included. These data emphasize the need to design a structured informed consent protocol in which all the required data components are specifically outlined for potential participants.

Prognostic Implications in Pediatric Head Injuries

Gideon Paret, Ron Ben Abraham, Susana Berman, Amir Vardi, Rami Harel, Yossi Manisterski, Zohar Barzilay

Depts. of Pediatric Intensive Care and of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

An unselected series of 200 consecutive cases of major head trauma in children aged 6 months to 16 years, seen during 4 years, was studied. Injuries were due to road accidents (40%), falls (30.5%) and other causes (29.5%), and were assessed clinically and by cranial CT.

On admission the Glasgow Coma Score ranged from 4.72-11.65 and in addition to pupillary responses and brain stem reflexes, was a significant predictor of outcome. Brain edema, midline shift, intracranial hemorrhage and also hyperglycemia, hypokalemia and coagulopathy, were associated with poor outcome. While 17% died, 53% were discharged in good functional condition.

Early identification of clinical features related to prognosis can help the caring team provide maximal support for patient and family.

Determining Power Factors of Clinical Departments in a Medical Center

Netta Notzer

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

The intradepartmental power factors in a medical center were studied. 3 strategic contingency factors were examined, based on the model of Hickson et al. (1971): centrality, substitutability, and coping-with uncertainty. Only coping-with-uncertainty contributed directly to departmental power, and not the summation of the 3.

Power derives from department resources, connections and influence outside the medical center. Aspects related to in- patient treatment or teaching of residents did not contribute directly to departmental power status. Power is gained in stages: in the first the department contributes to the factor of centrality (mainly patient treatment, teaching and research). In the middle stage, power is gained due to the factor of substitutability- the unique services and research which the department has developed. The third stage contributes directly to power-coping with uncertainty. This implies the ability of a department to solve crucial problems of the medical center. Surprisingly, the clinical field (i.e. surgery) did not contribute significantly to power. The current trend is toward empowering ambulatory units in the medical center.

Clinical and Immunological Characteristics of HIV-Positive AIDS in Children in Northern Israel

E. Kedem, A. Etzioni, E. Shahar, S. Pollack

Institute of Immunology, Allergy and AIDS and Dept. of Pediatrics A, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

We are treating 11 children in our AIDS clinic. All were infected by vertical transmission from carrier mothers. However, among 31 HIV-carrier AIDS patients who were under follow-up during pregnancy, supposedly taking zidovudine prophylaxis, only 1 (3.3%) gave birth to a baby infected with HIV. Our children with HIV and AIDS are 3 months to 12 years of age (average 4.5 years); mean age at diagnosis was 18 months. All are either symptomatic or have laboratory evidence of progressive immunodeficiency, 1 is asymptomatic (N2), 1 has mild symptoms (A2) and the rest present significant symptoms or AIDS-defining disease. All have moderate to severe immunodeficiency, as evidenced by CD4+ cells counts. 60% have rapidly progressive disease, based on their symptomatology and immune state, whereas clinical reports in the literature point to only 10-15%. However, the average CD4+ cell count was 22% (749/mm³) at diagnosis and 22% (759/mm³) at last follow-up. These stable findings during an average follow-up of 28 months probably reflect the effect of medical and supportive treatment.

All received antiretroviral medication consisting of a combination of 2 or 3 drugs. 8 of 11 also received prophylactic treatment against opportunistic infections and 8 of 11 are clinically well. Routine follow-up and a good relationship with the patient's family increase cooperation and promote optimal medical treatment, and consequently improve the clinical condition and quality of life.