Tacrolimus does not Accentuate Hepatic Damage due to Hypoperfusion 

Ron Ben Abraham, Ivgeni Isartal, Richard Nakache, Vallery Rudick, Daniel Ogorek, Gideon Paret, Avi Weinbroum

Dept. of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Organ Transplantation and Postoperative Care Units, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center; and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Deterioration of hepatic function following liver transplantation is a known complication, sometimes attributed to the use of cyclosporin A. Reaction to tacrolimus (Prograf), a relatively new and effective immunosuppressant drug, is thought to result in a much lower grade of organ dysfunction, especially in the transplanted liver.

Using the ex-vivo rat model of isolated perfused liver, we evaluated hepatocellular damage and oxygen extraction when tacrolimus was administered following liver hypoperfusion. Tacrolimus did not worsen hepatic dysfunction caused by the hypoperfusion. Therefore using tacrolimus in the perioperative period might be safer than cyclosporin A, which tends to worsen hepatic damage in the presence of hypoperfusion.

Israel Hospital Pharmaceutical Services: A National Survey 

S. Livny, A. Hammerman, S. Shani, J. Shemer

Hiliel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera; Israel Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care; Gertner Institute, Tel HaShomer; Dept. of Internal Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer; and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Results of a 1996 survey of hospital pharmaceutical services in Israel are presented. A questionnaire was mailed to 46 pharmacy directors in Israel hospitals of which a total of 33 were returned (72%).

The main services provided at hospital pharmacies are production of pharmaceuticals and inventory management. The pharmacy directors estimated that more then half of their pharmacists' time was spent on technical work that did not need their academic, professional knowledge. In Israel general hospitals there are on the average 1.23 full time pharmacist positions per 100 hospital beds and 1.09 positions for other pharmacy employees.

A similar survey carried out in the United States showed an average of 7.4 pharmacists per 100 hospital beds. Pharmacists there have broad clinical roles which, in general Israeli pharmacists do not have.

Computer systems are used in our pharmacies mainly for inventory management. About half of the directors did not think that the location, structure and furnishings of their pharmacy were appropriate for its role.

Under current conditions, Israel hospital pharmacies are not organized to provide pharmaceutical services beyond inventory management and pharmaceutical production. Appropriate budgets and personnel are required to develop clinical pharmacy services at Israel hospitals. This would lead to improved quality of drug treatment and cost-containment and would allow pharmacists to exploit their knowledge, skills and training that under the current system, are only partially utilized.

Non-Penetrating Deep Sclerectomy without Collagen Implantfor Glaucoma

Ben Zion Silverstone, Isaac Aizenman, Carmit Landau, Yaacov Rozenman

Ophthalmology Dept., Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem

Deep sclerectomy (DS) can be used in glaucoma with increased intraocular pressure when medical treatment fails. It involves removing part of the ocular drainage apparatus. Resistance to intraocular fluid drainage is decreased, improving drainage and decreasing intraocular pressure. By avoiding anterior chamber penetration, DS diminishes frequency of the complications of filtering surgery.

24 eyes of 23 patients underwent DS for primary or secondary open angle glaucoma with elevated intraocular pressure not controlled medically. It included preparation of a 4.0 x 4.0 mm limbal-based external scleral flap, dissecting and removing most of an internal scleral flap (leaving it 1 mm smaller than the external flap), unroofing Schlemm's canal and removing fine endothelial tissue lining its inner walls. The external scleral flap was then repositioned and sutured. Collagen implants were not used. In some cases DS was combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and intra-ocular lens implantation.

Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 24.8‏3.9 mmHg initially to 12.8‏4.4 mmHg 6 months after operation (p<0.0001). There was no difference in postoperative intra-ocular pressure between DS as a single procedure or as part of a combined operation. Comations were mild and of short duration.

If long-term follow-up shows that lowered intraocular pressures are maintained, DS should be a surgical option in earlier stages of glaucoma.

Ethnicity and Emergency Department Visits in the Negev

Shahar Livnat, Eyal Almog, Gad Rabinowitch, Yoram Snir

Dept. of Emergency Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center and Dept. of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

The population of the Negev consists mainly of Jews and Bedouin, who have very different life styles. Patients of both ethnic groups use our emergency department exclusively, providing a unique opportunity to study comparative patient habits.

In gathering and processing the information we used Data Mining technology, which allows search for unique patterns in large data bases. We examined demographic data on some 64,000 emergency department visits during 1997-8, mostly medical and surgical cases, but not trauma cases. Many more were by Bedouin than Jews, and between the ages of 25 and 44, more by women than men. There were changes in trends in comparison with an arrival survey conducted some 11 years before.

Pulmonary Involvement in Osler- Weber-Rendu Syndrome 

Efrat Bron-Harlev, Benjamin Zeevi, Ben-Zion Garty

Dept. of Medicine B and Cardiac Catheterization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Ren-du syndrome) is a group of autosomal dominant diseases with variable penetration, characterized by vascular malformations. Recently hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia has been found to be a phenotypic expression of mutations in genes located on chromosomes 9 and 12, and possibly of other genes located on other chromosomes.

We describe 2 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and pulmonary involvement who presented with repeated complaints of dyspnea and cyanosis and were diagnosed as having long-standing asthma. Both were treated with therapeutic catheterization and embolization with good clinical outcomes.

High Dose Endobronchial Brachy - Therapy for Malignant Airway Obstruction

Alex Yarmolovsky, Alan Katz, Eyal Fenig, G. Fink, Daniel Bendayan, Aaron Sulkes, Mordechai R. Kramer

Institutes of Pulmonology and Oncology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Brachytherapy is especially suitable for palliative treatment of endobronchial tumors adjacent to internal organs that might be damaged by intensive external beam radiation, but are easily accessed with a flexible bronchoscope. This treatment is mostly palliative.

30 patients underwent such palliative high-dose endobronchial brachytherapy to alleviate malignant airway obstruction. With the aid of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope an endobronchial catheter was inserted adjacent to the tumor and treatment delivered using a 192Ir remote afterloader for 5-10 min, in 2 or 3 sessions.

There was symptomatic improvement in 26 (86%) and objective improvement in 27 (90%). 1 patient died of hemoptysis.

Type 2 Diabetes among Adolescents in Israel 

Orit Pinhas-Hamiel, Ilana Koren, Pnina Vardi

Maccabi Juvenile Diabetes Center, Ramat Hasharon and Lin Diabetes Center, Haifa

Type 2 diabetes has been considered rare in children and adolescents. Recently, increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes has been reported among adolescents in various parts of the world. We report the occurrence of type 2 diabetes among adolescents in Israel.

A boy of 14 and girls of 16.5 and 17 were pubertal and extremely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) between 39-47 kg/m². Acanthosis nigricans, elevated diastolic blood pressure, and hirsutism with menstrual disorders, were associated with insulin resistance, and should raise suspicion of type 2 diabetes. Significant obesity and strong family histories of type 2 diabetes appeared to be important risk factors. Since type 2 leads to long-term morbidity and mortality, its early identification and appropriate treatment are crucial.

Identifying the Elderly at Risk for Falling 

D. Galinsky, V. Fried, A. Biderman, J. Cwikel, Y. Ben Moshe

Geriatric Dept., Soroka University Hospital and Depts. of Family Medicine and of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; and ESHEL, Beer Sheba

Falling is one of the main problems affecting the health of the elderly. A community project was carried out to detect elderly people at high risk for falls. One of its aims was also to develop tools allowing primary care professionals to detect the elderly at risk for falling. Such a screening test in the community-dwelling elderly (EFST) and a protocol for diagnosis and treatment of the elderly at risk for falls is presented.

Microlaparoscopy in Diagnostic and Operative Gynecologic Procedures 

Dov Dicker, Shmuel Nitke, Itai Bar-Hava, Raul Orvieto, Zion Ben-Rafael, Arie Dekel

Depts. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson and Golda Campuses, Petah Tikva; and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

A recent further development in laparoscopic surgery is microlaparoscoopy. The technique is identical to standard 10 mm laparoscopy except for the use of small, 2 mm scopes and trocars. We used this technique in 19 patients treated from June 1998 to February 1999.

The advantages of microlaparoscopy are: smaller incisions, less risk of damage to pelvic organs and less postoperative pain. However, the use of microlaparoscopy for operative procedures is limited to simple operations due to the limited field of vision. We urge our colleagues to consider microlaparoscopy whenever diagnostic laparoscopy is needed.

Model Internet Course for Physicians 

Arthur Leibovitz, Silvia Balan, Beni Habot

Geriatric Medical Center, Shmuel Harofeh Hospital, Be'er Ya'akov,  (Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University)

The Internet is efficient in coping with the ever-increasing volume of medical knowledge. This and other functions have lead to its integration into daily medical practice. It is therefore imperative to disseminate its use among physicians, as some, unfamiliar with the personal computer (PC), may be reluctant to learn to use it. We therefore developed a course for training physicians in the basics of Internet use, consisting of 6 sessions of 2 hours each. It includes training in PC operation as well as in the main Internet functions. The topics are medicine-oriented, including Medline search, general info search, exploring medical sites and reading medical journals on-line.

41 physicians (8 groups of 4-6 each) with various specialties attended, of whom 38 completed a feedback questionnaire 4 weeks later. 79% reported using the Internet either at home or at their working place. The function used mostly was Medline Search (68%). Although 83% had not been familiar with the PC before, 96% stated that the course was clear and understandable and 99% expressed satisfaction with the quality of the teaching. Based on these results we recommend this course as a model for teaching physicians the use of the Internet.
 

Spontaneous Bilateral Ectopic Pregnancy 

David Rabinerson, B. Kaplan, Zion Ben Rafael, Arie Dekel

Dept. of Gynecology, Beilinson Medical Center, Golda Campus, Petah Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Bilateral, spontaneous ectopic pregnancy is rare (1 in 125-1580 ectopic pregnancies). We describe a 30-year-old, unmarried woman with no predisposing factors for ectopic pregnancy who presented in hypovolemic shock, in the 7th week of gestation, complaining of abdominal pain. On immediate laparoscopy there were found blood and clots in the abdominal cavity, a left ampullar pregnancy (5 cm in diameter), and there was active bleeding from the fimbria of the right tube. Bilateral salpingectomy was performed and she received 3 units of packed red cells. She was discharged in good condition 3 days later. The pathologic diagnosis was pregnancy in each tube. This case emphasizes the need for thorough sonographic and laparoscopic observation in order not to miss the presence of bilateral ectopic pregnancy.

Gyrate Atrophy of Choroid and Retina, and Hyperornithinemia 

B-A. Sela, J. Zlotnik, T. Masos, G. Yablonski, F. Abraham

Institute of Chemical Pathology and Goldschlager Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina is a rare degenerative disease, characterized biochemically by a marked increase in blood ornithine levels, due to deficiency of ornithine S-amino transferase. 4 men aged 35, 36, 48 and 62 years are described with different stages of myopia, night blindness and loss of peripheral vision, which progressed to tunnel vision and partial blindness. Onset of the disease was at ages 3, 10 and 15 years, respectively, while in the 4th patient there was delayed expression starting at about age 50. Most had posterior subcapsular cataracts, and the ocular fundus exhibited demarcated circular areas of chorioretinal degeneration. So far the only patients described in Israel have been of Iraqui origin. Our fourth patient originated from Istanbul, and he may represent a hitherto undescribed variant with a much delayed expression of the disease.

Solid and Papillary Pancreatic Neoplasm 

Michal Soudack, Alon Ben-Nun, Leonid Malkin, Moshe Hashmonai

Depts. of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery A and B, and Pathology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa

Solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas is an interesting and rare malignant tumor. It occurs most commonly in young women. It was first described in 1959 and since then has been referred to by different names, including solid and cystic tumor, solid and cystic epithelial neoplasms, and others. Its malignant potential is low and metastasis is very rare.

Treatment includes partial pancreatectomy with full resection of the tumor. The prognosis is generally very good. We present 3 women (aged 17, 19, 39) diagnosed and treated for solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas. The unique clinical, histological, and epidemiological characteristics of this tumor are detailed.

Treatment of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Abraham Amir, Ram Silfen, Daniel J. Hauben

Dept. of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikvah

Weak and hypernasal speech, along with nasal escape of air, are the main characteristics of velo-pharyngeal incompetence (VPI). We describe 10 years of experience (1989-1998) with surgical treatment of VPI.

51 patients underwent pharyngeal flap elevation. 37 had cleft palate (8 of them submucous), 7 had neuromuscular disorders and another 7 were idiopathic. All underwent evaluation by a speech therapist before and after operation. 25 had further nasal endoscopy and/or videofluroscopy.

There was significant speech improvement in volume and clarity in 35 (73%), mild improvement in 13 (27%) and none in 3. The complication rate was 15% and included sleep apnea, wound infection and dehiscence, stridor and bleeding. Complications were correlated with advanced age.

VPI should be diagnosed as early as possible to achieve good results and to prevent social problems.

Alpha-Amino Adipic Aciduria: a Rare Psycho-Motor Syndrome

Ben-Ami Sela, Tamar Massos, Dov Fogel, Joseph Zlotnik

Pathological Chemistry and Child Development Institutes, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

A 3.5-year-old boy with developmental motor retardation, hypotonicity, and severe speech disturbance had alpha-amino adipic acid in his blood and very high levels in his urine. In only 20 cases has this catabolite of lysine and hydroxylysine been found in high concentrations in urine, due to enzymatic block.

The clinical features associated with alpha-amino adipic aciduria may include mental retardation, developmental and motor delay, learning difficulties, convulsions, speech problems and ataxia. 3 siblings had milder symptoms of psychomotor delay and intermediate degrees of alpha amino-adipic aciduria, suggesting that the described developmental deficits could be related to this metabolite or its derivatives.