הדס רבינוביץ (1), מתתיהו ברקוביץ (1), אהובה גוליק (2), שגב שני (3)

(1) היח' לפארמאקולוגיה קלינית, (2) המח' לרפואה פנימית א', מרכז רפואי אסף הרופא, צריפין, (3) המח' למדיניות טכנולוגיות רפואיות, מכב"י שירותי בריאות

כל חומר בעל פעילות פארמאקולוגית המסוגל לגרום להשפעה טיפולית על הגוף, עלול לגרום להשפעות-לוואי. מיגוון הדוגמאות בספרות מצביע על כך שיש צורך במעקב אחר השפעתה של תרופה במשך כל מחזור חייה (post-marketing surveilance), מאחר שידוע כי רק כ- 50% מהתגובות הלא-רצויות מתגלות בניסויים הקליניים הנערכים טרם תחילת שיווקה של התרופה.

טלי סחר, שרה סלון

היח' לחקר רפואה טבעית, בית-החולים האוניברסיטאי הדסה עין-כרם, ירושלים

בעולם המערבי גדל והולך הטיפול בשיטות ריפוי משלימות. מגמה זו הביאה להכללת היכרות עם שיטות ריפוי משלימות בפקולטות לרפואה ברחבי העולם.

פנינו אל דיקני ארבע הפקולטות לרפואה בישראל, במטרה לבדוק באלו מהפקולטות לרפואה קיימת היום תכנית לימודים כלשהי, שבמסגרתה נחשפים הסטודנטים להיבטים תיאורטיים או מעשיים של שיטות ריפוי משלימות, והאם נשקלת האפשרות לכלול תוכנית כזו בעתיד. כמו-כן, ערכנו סקר בקרב 154 סטודנטים לרפואה מהפקולטה לרפואה של האוניברסיטה העברית בהדסה עין-כרם, על-מנת לבחון את מידת החשיפה של הסטודנטים לתחומים שונים ברפואה המשלימה ואת עמדותיהם ביחס להיכרות עם הנושא במהלך הלימודים.

מתוצאות סקר הסטודנטים עולה בבירור, כי מרבית הסטודנטים לרפואה הביעו התעניינות בשיטות טיפול משלימות. 93% הביעו עניין לכלול קורס בחירה ברפואה משלימה במסגרת לימודיהם בפקולטה לרפואה, ו-54% מסטודנטים שהשתתפו בסקר נחשפו לשיטות ריפוי משלימות בעקבות חיפוש אחר חומר קריאה בנושא, קבלת טיפולים או לימוד של שיטה אחת או יותר.

בכל הפקולטות לרפואה בישראל קיימת היום חשיפה במידה זו או אחרת לשיטות טיפול משלימות, אך רוב תוכניות הלימודים הקיימות בישראל, מלבד התוכנית באוניברסיטת בן-גוריון, אינן עונות על הדרישה הקיימת בקרב הסטודנטים. עם-זאת, בכל הפקולטות לרפואה בישראל נשקלת אפשרות להרחיב את החשיפה לנושא בעתיד.

Attitude of Hospital Visitors Towards Cigarette Smoking inside Hospital Buildings; One More Step Towards a "Smoke Free Hospital" in Israel

S. Varsano*, S. Shachar⁺, O. Bacal⁺, N. Eldor⁺, G. Hevion**, M. Garenkin^#

Meir General Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Sava 44281 and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Israel ^*Asthma Care - Education Unit, Department of Pulmonary Medicine ⁺Meir School of Nursing **Hospital Management Office ^#Epidemiology and Medical Data Unit

In order to determine a policy within the hospital restricting smoking we previously surveyed the attitude of the hospital staff towards smoking inside the hospital buildings. In the present survey we examined the attitude of the hospital visitors on the same issue. One hundred and fifty-seven hospital visitors participated in the survey and answered a questionnaire; 93 visitors were smokers, 64 were non-smokers.

Eighty-eighth percent of the visitors smoked during their visit, 4 cigarettes on the average, during an average length of stay of 2.8 hours, until completing the questionnaire. Eighty-three percent of the smokers were aware of the law that prohibits smoking in public buildings, and 71% were aware of the signs and advertisements that prohibit smoking in the hospital. Two thirds of the smokers declared that they would have refrained from smoking in the hospital if others around them also refrained from smoking and justified the law that prohibits smoking in public buildings, including hospitals. Sixty-nine percent of the smokers declared that they were willing to cooperate with hospital management in restricting smoking to the hospital grounds outside the hospital buildings, and would accept directives regarding smoking restriction from any hospital personnel. In fact, only 11% of the smokers were requested to stop smoking during their visit.

These findings reinforce the results of our pervious survey conducted among the hospital staff and indicates the existence of a paradoxical vicious cycle of behavior among smokers and non-smokers, visitors and staff, in the hospital. On the one hand the smokers do not have the self-obedience necessary to stop smoking while visiting in the hospital, although they are aware of their misdeed. On the other hand the non-smokers lack the confidence that they will obtain the cooperation of the smokers, although the smokers are willing to cooperate. Both groups expect someone else to either actively restrict them from smoking or to encourage them to restrict the smokers.

Our findings suggest that this “someone else” is the hospital management (and the staff endorsed to implement this directive).

Aggressive Surgical Approach in Pancreatic Cancer - Is it Justified?

V. Catz-Snir, P. Schachter, M. Shimonov, Y. Avni, G. Gvirtz, A. Czerniak

Depts. of Surgery, Gastroenterology, and Diagnostic Radiology, Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Resection presents the only possible cure for pancreatic cancer. An aggressive surgical approach may extend the limits of resection and offer cure for more patients. 37 women and 28 men, mean age 67 years (range 33-84) with focal lesions underwent pancreatic resection (1993-1999). Cancer of the pancreatic head was found in 45, in the ampulla in 4 and in the body or tail in 16. There was a tumor larger than 5 cm in 9, vascular involvement in 8, and a combination of both in 6.

All were evaluated prior to exploration by standard imaging techniques and 44 by laparoscopic ultrasound. 42 underwent pancreatico-duodenectomy, 16 distal subtotal pancreatectomy and 3 local excision of an ampullary tumor. Benign lesions were found in 8 (focal pancreatitis in 4 and a serous cystic lesion in 4).

Curative resection (microscopically negative margins, negative lymph nodes) was achieved in 44. 2 died 1-2 months after operation of septic complications (2% operative mortality). The most frequent complication (in 8) was pancreatic fistula. Additional complications included anastomotic-line bleeding (3), intra-abdominal abscess (2), and 1 developed portal vein thrombosis (treated surgically).

1- and 2-year survival in those after curative pancreatic resection was 81% and 55% respectively. 2-year survival in those after palliative resection (positive resection margins or positive lymph nodes) was 50% and 11%, respectively.

After proper selection of those in whom it is possible to perform curative resection, regardless of size or vascular involvement, an aggressive surgical approach is justified.
 

Regulation of Natural Medicines in Israel and Abroad

T. Lavy, B. Haran, J. Shemer, S. Shani

Israel Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Policy and Economics Unit; Israel Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care; Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Hand-in-hand with the public's growing interest in health care, there has been an increasing demand for natural health products considered both safe and medically effective. But many such products have not been shown to meet efficacy and safety criteria and therefore can not be registered as pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, it is quite clear that some products do have pharmacological activity and are being used for therapeutic or preventive effects.

In Israel, the marketing rules for food or dietary supplements prevent their manufacturers from claiming medicinal/healing properties that the product might have, and allow only limited health statements. But great demand for these products has created massive publication attributing medicinal indications for products whose quality, efficacy and safety have neither been examined nor proven according to accepted medical criteria.

We review the regulation and supervision of natural health products in Israel and other developed countries and find a broad range of opinions about natural health products. They range from acceptance as conventional drugs reimbursable by the health insurance, as in Switzerland and Germany, to their status as dietary supplements requiring no significant authorization or supervision, as in the USA.

Analysis of the current situation in Israel and the western world would indicate that some natural health products do possess pharmacological activity and therefore manufacturers should be allowed to make limited claims for specified therapeutic properties. A stricter set of registration regulations are needed for proof of safety, efficacy and quality of these products, but more lenient than those for registering a pharmaceutical product.

Relationship between Occupation and Clinical Characteristics during Pregnancy and Recommendation to Stop Working

S. Gazit-Nissim, E. Sheiner, M. Mazor, I. Shoham-Vardi

Depts. of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

We examined the relationship between occupation and clinical characteristics during pregnancy and medical recommendations to stop working. Using a case-control design, we compared 58 working women who had preterm births, with 126 who had delivered at term. All women were interviewed postpartum while still in hospital.

There were no differences between the groups with regard to physical activity outside the home, weekly work hours, nor duration of work. Only a small proportion had been exposed to unusually difficult working conditions, to hazardous agents or to a very uncomfortable working environment. Women who had had preterm births were advised more often to leave their jobs or modify their working patterns. Multivariate analysis revealed that the physician's decision to recommend cessation of work was influenced primarily by complications during the current pregnancy.

It appears that our patients at risk for preterm birth are probably correctly identified, and receive appropriate guidelines as to working patterns. It is possible that a poor obstetric history or previous abortions may paradoxically have a protective effect, as they influence the physician to recommend cessation of work.

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.

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.

Thallium Scan and Pulmonary Carcinoma 

Adam Mor, Amit Segev, Rami Herskoviz, Yoseph A. Mekori

Dept. of Medicine B, Meir General Hospital, Kfar Saba Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv

A 70-year-old man was admitted for exacerbation of congestive heart failure. In his assessment thallium scan of the heart was performed. An incidental finding was a focus of absorption in the right lung. The lesion was later diagnosed as adenocarcinoma based on the cytological findings.

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.

Presurgical Neuropsychological assessment in Epilepsy: The Wada Test

Fani Andelman, Miri Neufeld, Irith Reider-Groswasser, Uri Kremer, Yoram Segev, Itzhak Fried

Functional Neurosurgery and EEG and Epilepsy Units, Section of Neuroradiology; and Pediatric Neurology Unit; Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv

37 candidates for epilepsy surgery underwent the intra-carotid amytal procedure (IAP; also known as the Wada test) to determine hemispheric speech dominance and memory capacity. 31 demonstrated left hemisphere speech dominance, 2 showed evidence for bilateral language and 4 demonstrated right hemispheric language dominance.

Our study supports a correlational relationship between handedness, lesion laterality and age of onset of seizures, as reported in earlier studies. Left-handed patients with a left hemisphere lesion whose seizures began to an early age had a strong tendency for reversed language dominance.

Asymmetry of at least 20% in performing the memory test was taken as the cutoff score for demonstrating laterality of lesions. The asymmetry score correctly predicted laterality of lesions in all 28 patients; 6 did not have asymmetry scores and 3 were examined for language only. None of the patients who successfully passed the Wada memory test had any significant postsurgical memory deficits; 1 had transient reduction in verbal memory and 4 who did not pass the test were not operated on for this reason.

Our results demonstrate the importance of the Wada test in determining cerebral speech dominance, in predicting post-surgical amnesia, and support its usefulness in predicting laterality of seizure focus in candidates for temporal lobectomy.

Spinal and Extra-Spinal Tumors Mimicking Discal Herniation

E. Tamir, Y. Mirovsky, D. Robinson N. Halperin

Orthopedics Dept., Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin

Low back pain radiating to a limb is usually caused by lumbar disc herniation. Tumors of the spinal cord or near the sciatic or femoral plexus can cause neural compression and clinical signs similar to those of disc herniation. Such tumors are usually misdiagnosed as discal herniation and appropriate treatment is delayed. We present 4 men who had tumors causing low back pain radiating to the leg: a 70-year-old with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, a 20-year-old with aneurysmal bone cyst of the vertebral column, a 52-year-old with retroperitoneal sarcoma and a 32-year-old who also had retroperitoneal sarcoma. Diagnosis and trwere delayed because the clinical symptoms were ascribed to lumbar disc herniation. The latter 2 patients had CT-scans showing lumbar disc herniation, but similar findings are common among asymptomatic individuals.

The differential diagnosis of low back pain radiating to the leg should include tumor when there is a history of cancer, pain not relieved by conservative treatment nor by lying down, pain is increased at night, pain accompanied by weight loss, and when physical examination demonstrates injury to more than 1 nerve root. In these circumstances work-up should include EMG, radioisotope scan and CT of the pelvis.

Can Police Car Flashing-Light Induce Encephalographic Discharges and Seizures?

G. Vainstein, V. Yofe, N. Gadoth

Dept. of Neurology, Meir General Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba

The new police car flashing-light device (930 Heliobe Lightbar) has recently been implicated as potentially epileptogenic. We exposed 30 epileptic patients, 30 nonepileptic patients who suffered from headache and 15 normal volunteers to this light source. All had routine EEGs with standard intermittent photic stimulation, followed by 3-minute stimulation with the Lightbar. In none were either seizures or EEG changes induced. In 1 epileptic spike-and-wave activity induced by standard photic stimulation was enhanced with the Lightbar.

We could not confirm that the Lightbar is epileptogenic.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Training of Family Physicians with Regard to Addiction to Illicit Drugs

Aya Peleg, Roni Peleg, Pesach Shvartzman

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Unit, and Dept. of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Substance abuse is one of the most serious problems in Israel. Recent studies show the situation is getting worse. The deleterious outcomes of psychoactive substance abuse include crime, car accidents, physical and mental illness, violence and work injuries.

48 family physicians in the Negev completed a questionnaire which included training, diagnostic and treatment skills, attitudes, knowledge and need for training in this field. 38 family physicians (81%) had had no training, most (96%) indicated the importance of such training. 34 (71%) said that their medical skills could not cope with the problems of addiction, and 29 (64.5%) claimed that the quality of care of addict patients is reduced because of lack of knowledge and diagnostic skills. These findings support the conclusion that efforts should be invested in training family physicians in the field of psychoactive drugs, licit and illicit.

The Israeli Pharmaceutical Market

Segev Shani, Joshua Shemer

Pharmaceutical Policy and Economics Unit, Israeli Center for Health Technology Assessment in Health Care, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The pharmaceutical market in Israel has undergone many major changes over the past 2 years. We detail measures taken with regard to drug prices and utilization, from 1992 until 1995, when the National Health Insurance Law was implemented. This provides an information base for marketing and dispensing of drugs, economic planning in the public health system, and for physicians and pharmacists in clinical practice.

The national expenditure on pharmaceuticals in 1994 was 9.4% of the annual national health expenditure. From this fact, and the number of registered drugs and the number of clinical trials conducted, it appears that our pharmaceutical market is quite diversified and well developed compared to other markets in the western world. This size advantage enables our sick funds to purchase drugs at much lower prices than the private sector.