(1) ד' כהן, (2) ש' כהן, (3) ד' שילר

(1) בית-חולים נוף-הגפן, חיפה, (2) יח' למיקרוסקופ-אלקטרון, הפקולטה לרפואה ב' רפפורט, הטכניון, חיפה, (3) המרכז לשירותים לקשיש בעמקים, עפולה

גרגירי בירבק (ג"ב) (birbeck granules), המכונים גם גרגירים של תאי לאנגרהאנס (ת"ל), הם אברונים מיוחדים המצויים בציטופלסמה של ת"ל ומשמשים כאחד הסימנים לזיהויים. אברונים אלה נבדקו בת"ל באפידרמיס של חולים מבוגרים עם פצעי לחץ והושוו לאלה שבת"ל באפידרמיס של קבוצת בקרה. נמצאה עלייה בשיעור של כ-47% p<(0.001) במספר ג"ב בת"ל מהאפידרמיס ה-sacral הסמוך לנגע של החולים, ועלייה בשיעור של כ-68% p<(0.005) במספר ג"ב בת"ל התקין של החולים. בהשוואה לקבוצת הבקרה. חלק מג"ב בת"ל של החולים נראו בדמות הגרגירים בת"ל בקבוצת הבקרה. הם היו מפוזרים בתוך הציופלסמה של התא בצורת מקלות יחידים או מחבטי טניס. בנוסף, אובחנו באפידרמיס של החולים גם מבנים בלתי-סדירים של ג"ב, כגון מבנים שלפוחיתיים הקשורים לשניים או שלושה מבנים דמויי-מקלות הקשורים למיטוכונדריה, לליזוזום או זה לזה בצורת מעגל. כן נראו ג"ב בקשר ישיר עם קרום הפלסמה של ת"ל והודגמו מבנים של קבוצות או ערמות של ג"ב, בצורת מקלות מקבילים הסמוכים זה לזה. שני סוגי המבנים האחרונים שיקפו מצבי היווצרות של ג"ב. ריבוי ג"ב הדגים, ככל הנראה, מצב פעיל של ת"ל באפידרמיס של החולים. לא ברור אם השינויים בצורתם (morphologic changes) של ג"ב משפיעים על תיפקודם של ת"ל בהצגת אנטיגן; ייתכן שהם אחראים באופן חלקי לזיהומים המאובחנים בחולים עם פצעי לחץ. ייתכן גם שריבוי ג"ב והשינויים המבניים שלהם מבטאים תגובת ת"ל לדלקת.

(1) ודים לטיצ'בסקי, (1) יואב טלמון, (1) אלבין סמט, (2) יצחק כהן

(1) המח' לרפואת אא"ג, (2) המכון לפתולוגיה, בית-חולים לגליל מערבי, נהריה

Verrucous carcinoma היא שאת נדירה מהסוג של שאתות קשקש ממאירות – squamous cell carcinoma. האזור האופייני להתהוות שאתות מסוג זה הוא בחלל הפה והלוע. בדרך-כלל מתהוות השאתות ברירית של החניכיים והלחיים. מובאת בזאת פרשת חולה של גבר בן 70, שהופנה למרפאתנו עקב קושי בנשימה דרך האף. בבדיקה נמצא גוש ממאיר באף, שאובחן כשאת ממאירה מסוג verrucous carcinoma. למיטב ידיעתנו, זהו הדיווח הראשון והיחיד בישראל על שאת מסוג זה באף.

The Influence of the Presence of Students on the Consultation - Attitudes of Tutors in Family Medicine Clinics

Shlomo Vinker, Shlomo Monnickendam, Orly Cohen, Simon Zalewski and Eliezer Kitai

Dept of Family Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, University of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv.

Background: The consultation is the pivot of clinical teaching in ambulatory care. It is therefore essential that students observe the consultation. The students' presence itself influences the consultation and also requires the patients' consent. Moreover the introduction in Israel of the ``Patients' Rights Act'' in 1996 has made us more acutely aware of the place of the patient in teaching especially with regard to the consent to be part of the teaching process.

Aim: This study was undertaken in order to investigate how tutors in family medicine perceive changes in the consultation caused by the presence of students.

Methods: An anonymous physician questionnaire was distributed on the first day of the 6th year clinical clerkship in family medicine. The questions pertained to perceived influence on length and content of the consultation. In addition physician and patient background information was gathered; and the physicians were asked to estimate the patients' willingness to be part of the teaching process.

Results: 46 tutors in family medicine participated, 70% of whom were female. Sixty four percent of the doctors thought that the student's presence had an influence on the consultation. Ninety one percent thought that it increased consultation length, especially of the physical part (93%). More than half thought that the student's presence might interfere with asking intimate questions. The majority held the opinion that the patient's gender and socioeconomic background were inconsequential. Ninety two percent of physicians estimated that 5% or less of the patients would refuse the presence of a student.

In conclusion: Tutors in family medicine think that the presence of a student affects the consultation. Those involved in and responsible for teaching should take this into account. Further research of these changes with objective measurements is needed.

The Chemotherapeutic Treatment of Advanced Hodgkin's Disease

R. Epelbaum¹, N. Haim¹, M. Ben-Shahar¹, I. Valtuch¹, D. Faraggi³, A. Sharabi-Nov³, Y. Ben-Arie², Y. Cohen⁴

Departments of Oncology¹ and ²Pathology, Rambam Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; ³Department of Statistics, Haifa University, Haifa; and ⁴Department of Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheba

Between 1972 and 1994, 121 adult patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease received MOPP (M) combination chemotherapy, MOPP alternating with ABVD (M-A) or MOPP and ABV hybrid (M/A). Radiation therapy was given to 1/3 of them. The median age was 35 years, 58% had stage III and 42% had stage IV disease. Failure-free survival at 10 years was 43.9%. It was 66.7%, 48.4% and 29.9% for patients treated by M/A, M-A and M, respectively. Overall survival at 10 years was 40.8%, and 78.2%, 48% and 27.7% for patients treated by M/A, M-A and M, respectively. Multivariate analysis found age (above or below 65 years) and combination chemotherapy (with or without adriamycin) to be significant prognostic factors. M/A combination was more myelotoxic, while M combination caused more second primaries. Today, 80% of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease may be cured, with low rate of long-term toxicity.

In Vitro Interferon-Gamma Release in Diagnosis of Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions

S. Halevy, A. D. Cohen, N. Grossman

Dermatology Dept, Skin Bank and Investigative Dermatology Laboratory, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Diagnosis of cutaneous adverse drug reactions is an accepted terminology. Is a challenge. Drug-specific T-cell clones (CD4+ or CD8+), with a Th1- or a Th2-type cytokine-release pattern, may be generated from the peripheral blood in CADRs. In vitro drug-induced cytokine-release suggests a drug-specific immune response, and may implicate the drug as a possible inducer of the skin reaction.

We evaluated the diagnostic role of in vitro drug-induced interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release from peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with CADRs. We studied 22 patients with CADRs following intake of 45 drugs (1-4 drugs per patient). Drugs were classified into 3 categories of suspicion. 17 patients who took 39 drugs of the same type (1-4 drugs per patient) without developing adverse reactions, served as controls. In vitro drug-induced release of IFN-γ from peripheral blood lymphocytes, following in vitro challenge with the unmodified drugs, was evaluated.

The mean IFN-γ increase following 45 drug tests (60.8±85.2%) was higher (p<0.05) than in controls after 39 drug tests (30.1±27.7%). Significance was greater (p<0.005) when the mean IFN-γ increase for the 24 highly suspected drugs (75.1±93.4%) and that for the controls were compared.

This study suggests that the in vitro drug-induced IFN-γ release test may serve as a diagnostic tool in CADRs.

Photodynamic Therapy of Nasal Basal Cell Carcinoma

R. Haddad, M. Cohen, O. Kaplan, R. Greenberg, H. Kashtan

Dept. of Surgery, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive modality used topically for several skin cancers. We evaluated the effects of PDT on basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the nose, using aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as a photosensitizer and a non-laser light source (Versa-LightTM). The advantages of this light source are synergistic, hyperthermia and fewer side effects.

A paste of 20% ALA was applied topically to biopsy-proven BCC of the nose. Lesions were covered with occlusive light-shielding dressing and after 18 hours they were submitted to 10 minutes of exposure to the light. Initial evaluation was made after 21 days and every 3 months thereafter. Patients who did not respond after 2 treatments were referred for surgery.

Mean follow-up in 31 patients was 19 months (range 6-36). There were no significant side-effects. There was complete response in 24/27 (88.9%), in whom there was recurrence in 2/27 (7.4%).
 

Reactions of Patients to Complementary Medicine

Bella Bar-Cohen, Freda DeKeyser, Nurit Wagner

Division of Nursing and School of Nursing, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem

350 patients attending 11 large out-patient clinics completed questionnaires evaluating attitudes to, and experience with complementary medicine. 129 (36%) respondents reported using complementary medicine. 14% of them used complementary medicine for the current medical problem for which they were attending the clinic.

Pain was the most common medical problem for which complementary medicine was used, followed by respiratory problems and cancer. Common therapeutic modalities used were acupuncture, homeopathy, nutrition and herbal medicine.

Women, the secular as opposed to the religious, and those with higher education were more apt to use complementary medicine. No differences were found in age, national origin, length of living in Israel, and diet (vegetarian, natural foods or regular diet) between those who used complementary medicine and those who did not. No relationship was found between the use of complementary medicine and perceived poor health status, locus of control, or satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship.

Diphtheria in a Highly Immunized Population 

Rivka Sheffer, Esther Marva, Rachel Mimon, Paul Slater, Avital Cohen, Tamat Shohat

Tel Aviv District Health Office, Central Laboratory and Epidemiology Dept., Public Health Services, Jerusalem

Although diphtheria vaccination is routine world-wide, outbreaks of the disease continue to occur in supposedly vaccinated populations. The incidence of diphtheria in Israel is very low, with only 3 cases reported in the past 24 years (all in unvaccinated children). In 2 of the 3 an asymptomatic carrier was identified among the patients' close contacts, presumable the source of the infection.

We describe a recent case of diphtheria. It is important for physicians to be aware of the possibility of diphtheria occurrimg despite the high rate of vaccination in our population.

The Decision-Making Process of Abortion High Committees 

Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Yehuda Snir

Faculty of Law, University of Haifa

Factors influencing the decision-making process of the Abortions High Committees (after the 23rd week of pregnancy), and whether there are differences between decisions of different Committees were examined. A questionnaire was sent to the 45 members of these committees of whom 24 responded (53%). Some hospitals refused to cooperate because they did not want to evoke discussion about the practices of the Committees.

The significant factors that play a part in the decision as to whether or not to allow an abortion are the medical condition of the fetus, the medical and psychological state of the mother, and the week of pregnancy. The data also show that women committee members are more inclined to authorize abortion than men, and that the more religious members are less inclined to authorize abortions. No differences were found between hospitals, and the age of committee members had no influence. Members did not accord any importance to fear of litigation in their considerations.

Use of Civilian Emergency Departments by Israel Defense Force Soldiers 

A.D. Cohen, A. Porath, R. Bessorai, A. Shulman, Y. Snir

Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces; Depts. of Medicine F and Orthopedics and Emergency Dept., Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Many physicians, civilian as well as in military, feel that some referrals of soldiers to civilian emergency departments are inappropriate and that soldiers should receive medical attention within their military units. We therefore evaluated referrals of soldiers to our emergency department.

707 referral letters from military physicians and the corresponding emergency room discharge letters were evaluated. Most soldiers were referred for mild trauma (45.0%) or miscellaneous diseases (52.9%); 22 (3.1%) were hospitalized.

It appears that some military physicians use the civilian hospital emergency department as a surrogate for an out-patient specialty clinic and for x-ray and laboratory services. This is in contrast to the designated functions of the emergency department which are to provide emergency and trauma services and to evaluate the need for hospitalization of referred patients.

Development of Molecular Tests for Rapid Detection of Enteropathogens 

Miri Yavzori, Nir Uriel, Nurith Porat, Ron Dagan, Ruhama Ambar, Ofer Shpilberg, Dani Cohen

Army Health Branch Research Unit, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces; Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Amplification of specific DNA sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enables rapid, sensitive and direct, specific identification of pathogens at very low concentrations in clinical samples. Studies in recent years have reported identification of several enteropathogens directly from stool samples by PCR. The amplification process includes the use of primers complementary to the DNA sequences specific to the pathogen, thus relying on the pathogen's genotype, rather than its phenotype on which identification by the methods of classical microbiology were based.

We have developed PCR protocols for the differential identification of enteropathogens resembling the normal flora (enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), E. coli O-157), Shigella spp, and the detection of enteropathogens that can not be grown on classic growth media (Norwalk virus). The amplification process is inhibited by several substrates present in fecal material (phenol, hemoglobin), limiting DNA extraction by phenol. The protocols we have developed for direct detection of Shigella spp and ETEC in stools circumvent inhibition of PCR by the use of a 4-hour pre-enrichment step in brain-heart infusion broth.

Rapid and accurate identification of enteropathogens is important for prompt and focused intervention to stop the chain of transmission in outbreaks of gastroenteritis in military and civilian populations.

Etoposide and Cisplatin for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer 

David B. Geffen, Sofia Man, Yoram Cohen*

Dept. of Oncology, Soroka-University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

Etoposide and cisplatin (EP) has been the standard therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at many cancer centers for over a decade. We analyzed our experience with EP in NSCLC to provide a baseline for comparison with new drugs. From 1986 through 1994, 46 of our patients with NSCLC received EP as first-line chemotherapy. Radiation therapy was administered to 25 of them, including 20 who received it immediately before or concomitantly with chemotherapy. Toxicity was mild and included only 1 episode of neutropenic fever and 1 case of reversible renal failure.

Overall response was 22%. In 3, response was complete (pathologically documented in 2 of them) and in 7 partial. Median survival in locally advanced (stage III) and metastatic disease (stage IV and recurrent) were 12 months and 7 months, respectively. 2 patients are alive and free of disease more than 6 years after diagnosis.

Our results are consistent with other published studies of EP in NSCLC. EP provides modest benefit in locally advanced NSCLC, with minimal toxicity.

Jules E. Harris Chair in Oncology.

Elective Repair of Infra-Renal Aortic Aneurysm 

J.D. Cohen, P. Singer, M. Haddad, A. Zelikovski

Depts. of General Intensive Care and Vascular Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Age over 80 years is generally considered an independent risk factor in elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). As the general population increases in age, more elderly are likely to be candidates for such surgery.

We studied prospectively 100 consecutive patients undergoing elective AAA surgery between 1992-1995. All were operated on by the same team of anesthetists and surgeons and all were transferred to the general ICU for at least the first 24 hours. 16 were above the age of 80 (Group I) and 84 below (Group II).

We recorded preoperative factors (demographics, medical history, risk factor indices, EKG findings, as well as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and stress imaging when indicated); intraoperative factors (duration of surgery, size of aneurysm, complications and units of blood transfused); postoperative factors (length of ICU stay, duration of ventilation, APACHE II [Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation] and TISS [Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System] scores; complications in the ICU, need for readmission to the ICU, and mortality).

In Group I LVEF was greater (p=0.03) and aneurysm size significantly larger (p=0.036), but there were no other significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to pre- and intraoperative data. Group I patients were not ventilated as long (p=0.038), but there were no significant differences in outcome factors. Mortality for the whole group was 5% and was not significantly different in the 2 groups (1/16 in Group I and 4/84 in Group II).

We conclude that there is no excess morbidity or mortality in octogenarians undergoing AAA surgery. However risk of the aneurysms rupturing is significantly greater since they are larger. We suggest that age not be considered the sole criterion for aneurysm repair, or at least not in selected patients with normal LVEF.

Carcinoma of the Cecum Presenting as Intussusception

Mordechai Shimonov, Oleg Kaminsky, Maya Cohen

Depts. of Surgery and Radiology, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva

In intussusception a proximal bowel segment (intussusceptum) invaginates into the lumen of a distal bowel segment (intussuscipiens). In adults intussusception represents a rare cause of intestinal obstruction and is usually secondary to an identifiable lesion that requires surgical treatment other than that of the intussusception itself.

We present a 57-year-old woman with metastatic colonic carcinoma of the ileocecal valve and intussusception of the ileum into the cecum. Right hemicolectomy was performed.

Hemorrhoidectomy Using A Circular Stapler 

Asaf Levanon, Arie Biterman, A. Behar, Oded Cohen

Dept. of Surgery A, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa

We compared traditional local excision of hemorrhoids in 40 patients (group A) with excision using the CDH-33 surgical stapler designed for bowel anastomosis, in 41 (group B). In this technique a purse-string suture is prepared 3 cm above the dentate line, and the stapler is inserted and used to form a mucosa-mucosal anastomosis. This technique is less time-consuming than the traditional technique.

Data were collected from patients' medical files and from detailed questionnaires in which symptoms prior to and after operation were reported. Mean ages were 53.0 and 51.5 years and male/female ratios were 1.0:1.2 and 1.0:1.1 respectively, neither significant. The most common complaints in both groups were pain and rectal bleeding. All patients had a lower-GI investigation prior to operation to exclude other causes of rectal bleeding.

Recovery averaged 2 months in both groups. Patient satisfaction was assessed by decrease or absence of symptoms on return to normal daily activities. Satisfaction tended to be greater in group B. More patients in group A complained of tightness and discomfort at the operative site, but this was not significant.

We are extending our study to a larger number of patients to determine if there are statistically significant differences between the results of the 2 methods.