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Biomedical subjects

J Shemer

Publications and source records attributed to J Shemer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Parachuting injuries: a retrospective study of 43,542 military jumps.

Parachuting is regarded as relatively safe. This study was conducted to describe the rates and patterns of parachuting injuries at the Parachuting Israeli Training Center to those at other training centers. Data on 43,542 military jumps were collected from accident reports and flight manifests. Two categories of injuries were defined: major (fractures, dislocation, head trauma) and minor (contusion, bruises, sprains). The overall injury rate was 0.89%. The injury rate for major injuries was 0.21%; the most frequent major injuries were ankle fractures and head trauma. The minor injury rate was 0.68%; the most frequent minor injury was ankle sprain. We conclude that our data at the parachuting center matched those at other training centers in terms of injury rate and distribution of injuries.

Ankle Injuries↗
PubMed1998

Advanced trauma life support versus Combat Trauma Life Support courses: a comparison of cognitive knowledge decline.

This prospective study was conducted to compare cognitive knowledge decline among graduates of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Combat Trauma Life Support (CTLS) courses in Israel. The investigation was based on multiple-choice questions that tested the results of 211 ATLS and CTLS course graduates and was performed 3 to 66 months after completion of the courses. These results were then compared with the examination outcomes immediately after the course. A statistical model based on survival analysis was used to evaluate the decline pattern and extent and to compare the two courses. No significant difference was found in the rate of decline in knowledge gained from the two courses after a given period. Priority for refresher courses should be set regardless of type of course previously attended by physicians.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[ATLS course for surgery residents--should it be mandatory?].

Senior surgeons were asked about mandatory participation of general surgery residents in the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) course. Although trauma care in Israel is given by surgical residents, in the opinion of their senior mentors the course should continue to be mandatory for them.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1997

[Orthopedic ward policy in introduction of new types of total hip implants].

The use of different types of total hip implants in medical centers in Israel was surveyed. Questionnaires were sent to all orthopedic ward directors in Israel requesting information on the number of total hip arthroplasties performed between the years 1984-1993, the types of implants used, and whether attending physicians or residents perform the operations. 22 of 24 orthopedic wards responded but 1 ward was excluded because only the results for 1993 were reported. 5 wards reported more and 16 fewer than 50 operations a year. 15 different types of implants were in use in Israel in that period, and in 5 wards 5 or more types of implants were used. Only 1 of the wards performed more than 50 operations a year. We conclude that the indiscriminate use of multiple technologies in wards performing few operations can lead to the long "learning curves" previously associated with poor results. Orthopedic surgeons should resist the impulse to introduce new implants, thus improving results and lowering expenditure. The need for regulating the introduction of new implants is emphasized.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗
PubMed1997

[Epidemiological characteristics of outbreaks of diarrhea and food poisoning in the Israel Defense Forces in the years 1978-1995].

Acute infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and food poisoning are problems of great importance in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). They involve individual and epidemic morbidity, with impairment of health of individual soldiers and in the activities of units. Outbreaks of gastrointestinal infectious diseases must be reported to the IDF army health branch, which conducts epidemiological investigation. This study is based on data from yearly epidemiological reports for 1978-1989, and from a computerized database for the years 1990-1995. The incidence of outbreaks is characterized by an unstable trend. It was highest at the end of the 80's (68.3 per 100,000 soldiers on active duty) and lowest for the last 2 years (1994-1995, 36.3 per 100,000). The incidence of soldiers involved in food-borne outbreaks has been more stable, constantly declining during the course of the years. There was marked seasonality with a peak in the summer months. Sporadic morbidity was constant in 1990-1995, with a yearly attack rate of 60% in soldiers on active duty. Shigella strains were the leading cause of outbreaks until 1993, while in 1994-1995 their proportion decreased, with an increase in the proportion of Salmonella strains. As to Staphylococcus aureus, its role in causing food poisoning has been characterized by marked changes. Shigella sonnei replaced Shigella flexneri as the leading strain. 73.3% of outbreaks were small, with fewer than 40 soldiers involved, while 5.4% of outbreaks affected more than 100 soldiers. Outbreaks in which a bacterial agent was identified or which occurred in new-recruit bases were larger than those in which a bacterial agent was not identified, or which occurred in active field unit bases. In conclusion, the rates of infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract are still high, although there has been a marked decrease since 1994. The incidence of outbreaks has also decreased, as well as the role of Shigella as a leading causative agent.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1997

Size at birth, maternal nutritional status in pregnancy, and blood pressure at age 17: population based analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of size at birth, maternal nutrition, and body mass index on blood pressure in late adolescence. DESIGN: Population based analysis of birth weight corrected for gestational age, mother's weight before pregnancy and weight gain in pregnancy, obtained from the Jerusalem perinatal study, and blood pressure and body mass index at age 17, available from military draft records. SETTING: Jerusalem, Israel. SUBJECTS: 10,883 subjects (6684 men and 4199 women) born in Jerusalem during 1974-6 and subsequently drafted to the army. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures measured at age 17 and their correlation with birth weight, size at birth, mother's body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy, and height and weight at age 17. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly and positively correlated with body weight, height, body mass index at age 17, and with mother's body weight and body mass index before pregnancy, but not with birth weight or mother's weight gain in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Variables reflecting poor intrauterine nutrition, including low maternal body mass index before pregnancy, poor maternal weight gain in pregnancy, and being born small for gestational age, were not associated with a higher blood pressure in late adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[ATLS course in emergency medicine for physicians?].

Implementation of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) skills among practicing physicians and its perceived utility in their civilian practices, as well as in their potential army combat assignments, was evaluated. 177 physicians in various subspecialties, who were graduates of ATLS training courses, answered a specially designed telephone questionnaire. An unexpectedly high percentage of physicians (47%) had used their ATLS training when called to treat trauma victims. 67% of physicians stressed the contribution of the ATLS course to enhancing their skills. We believe that a properly designed ATLS course for general practitioners would be very beneficial for trauma victims.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1997

[Smoking habits of young Israeli soldiers].

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.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Double-blind vaccine-controlled randomised efficacy trial of an investigational Shigella sonnei conjugate vaccine in young adults.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this double-blind randomised vaccine-controlled trial was to assess the efficacy of a conjugate vaccine composed of Shigella sonnei O-specific polysaccharide bound to Pseudomonas aeruginosa recombinant exoprotein A (S sonnei-rEPA) and of an oral, live-attenuated Escherichia coli/S flexneri 2a (EcSf2a-2) hybrid vaccine among military recruits in Israel at high risk of exposure to Shigella spp. We report here our preliminary findings on the efficacy of S sonnei-rEPA; we have not documented sufficient cases to assess the efficacy of EcSf2a-2. METHODS: Between April, 1993, and August, 1994, male Israeli Military recruits aged 18-22 years were asked to take part in our study. We enrolled 1446 soldiers from seven separate field sites (groups A-G). Soldiers were randomly allocated one injection of S sonnei-rEPA and four doses of oral placebo (n = 576), four oral doses of EcSf2a-2 and one injection of saline placebo (n = 580), or one injection of meningococcal tetravalent control vaccine and four doses of oral placebo (n = 290). Because there were no cases of S flexneri 2a, the EcSf2a-2 and meningococcal vaccines were the control group. We defined S sonnei shigellosis as diarrhoea with a positive faecal culture for S sonnei. Each group of soldiers was followed up for 2.5-7.0 months. The primary endpoint was protective efficacy of S sonnei-rEPA against S sonnei shigellosis. FINDINGS: Cases of culture-proven S sonnei shigellosis occurred in four groups of soldiers (groups A-D), which comprised 787 volunteers (312 received S sonnei-rEPA, 316 received EcSf2a-2, and 159 received meningococcal control vaccine). In groups A-C, cases of shigellosis occurred 70-155 days after vaccination, whereas in group D cases occurred after 1-17 days. In groups A-C, the attack rate of shigellosis was 2.2% in recipients of S sonnei-rEPA compared with 8.6% in controls (protective efficacy 74% [95% CI 28-100], p = 0.006). S sonnei-rEPA also showed significant protection against shigellosis in group D (43% [4-82], p = 0.039). Prevaccination and postvaccination ELISA measurements of antibody to S sonnei lipopolysaccharide among recipients of S sonnei-rEPA showed that the vaccinees who developed S sonnei shigellosis had significantly lower serum IgG and IgA responses to the homologous lipopolysaccharide than those who did not (p = < 0.05). INTERPRETATION: One injection of S sonnei-rEPA confers type-specific protection against S sonnei shigellosis. The high antibody concentration induced by the conjugate vaccine in volunteers who did not develop shigellosis suggests that there is an association between serum antibody titre and protection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Ketamine in the field: the use of ketamine for induction of anaesthesia before intubation in injured patients in the field.

Intubating the subconscious, struggling patient in a pre-hospital setting can be a difficult task even in experienced hands. We performed a clinical prospective study to evaluate the applicability of ketamine for induction of anaesthesia before intubation in the field. Ketamine was distributed to all air medical rescue teams--trained reserve army volunteers from various medical specialties. Lectures and literature concerning the use of ketamine for anaesthesia induction before intubation were given. The physicians were instructed to administer ketamine, in a dose of 2 mg/kg intravenously, if a single intubation attempt failed. Following the administration of ketamine, a questionnaire was filled in by the physician. Analysis of the data was performed after 24 months. During the study period, intubation was indicated in 161 injured patients evacuated by air in Israel. In 29 patients (18 per cent) the first intubation attempt had failed and they were given ketamine. The reasons for failure of the first intubation attempt were restlessness or trismus in 23 patients and traumatic distortion of the upper airway anatomical landmarks in six. Following ketamine administration, intubation was successful in 19 patients (65.5 per cent) in all of whom the indication for ketamine administration was restlessness or trismus. All patients with upper airway anatomy distortion were given a cricothyroidotomy. There were no complications attributed to ketamine. All patients reached hospital alive. This preliminary study suggests that the use of ketamine in this pre-hospital setting is safe. The drug is effective in cases where the primary reason for failure to intubate is restlessness or trismus. The drug is not effective in cases of anatomical damage to the upper airway. In these cases, cricothyroidotomy should probably be performed as early as possible.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Seronegative spondyloarthropathy in familial Mediterranean fever.

To define a possible association between familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SNSA) and to study features of SNSA in FMF patients, we screened for the presence and manifestations of SNSA in 3,000 FMF patients attending the National Center for FMF in our institution. This population included 160 patients with chronic arthritis, most who suffered from SNSA. Patients were considered to suffer from SNSA if they had chronic arthritis, inflammatory back/neck pain, and sacroiliitis. Patients who had other diseases associated with SNSA were excluded. Eleven patients, nine men and two women, with chronic monoarthritis or oligoarthritis, grade 2 (four patients) or grades 3 to 4 (seven patients), sacroiliitis, and inflammatory back pain met the criteria for diagnosis of SNSA of FMF. These patients were rheumatoid factor (RF) and HLA-B27 negative. In seven patients, spondyloarthropathy developed while they received colchicine, and in four before colchicine. Most patients responded to treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, but three required second-line agents. These findings suggest that SNSA is one of the musculoskeletal manifestations of FMF that may occur despite colchicine therapy and requires specific treatment.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1997

Prehospital cricothyroidotomy by physicians.

To evaluate cricothyroidotomy in the field and the influence of physicians' medical specialty or previous experience on the success rate of this procedure, a retrospective study was conducted. Between October 1991 and April 1995, 29 cricothyroidotomies were performed in the prehospital setting in Israel. Twenty-six (89.6%) cricothyroidotomies were successfully performed. There was no evidence of higher success rate when the performers were surgeons, anesthesiologists, or intensive care specialists (100% success), compared to that of all other specialties (83.33%). All physicians had successfully completed the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course, but only three had previously performed cricothyroidotomy. Acute complications included failure to establish an airway in 3 cases, minor bleeding in 2 cases, and an air leak around the cannula in 1 patient. These results show that following brief training (eg, the ATLS course) physicians are capable of performing emergency cricothyroidotomy in the field with a high success rate and minimal complications, regardless of medical specialty.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Interhospital patient transfer: a quality improvement indicator for prehospital triage in mass casualties.

The need for interhospital patient transfer after mass casualties may be a consequence of triage errors. Indications for interhospital patient transfer following seven suicidal bus bombings in Israel were reviewed to identify possible errors in triage at the scene. Medical records of victims arriving to hospitals were analyzed for age, injury description, injury Severity Score (ISS), and indication and destination of interhospital transfer. A total of 473 victims were involved, 74 of whom died at the scene (15.6%). Mean victim age was 29 +/- 16 (SD) years. Interhospital transfer was necessary for 29 patients. Indications for transfer included (1) mandatory lifesaving procedures on route to trauma center (n = 14), (2) underdiagnosis at the scene (n = 1), (3) insufficient local resources (n = 9), and (4) triage-related errors (n = 5). The ratio between interhospital transfer due to triage errors and the victim population who may need to be transferred is suggested as quality assurance (QA/QI) indicator for triage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

An outbreak of Trichinella spiralis infection in southern Lebanon.

An outbreak of trichinosis occurred during January 1995 in a south Lebanese village with a population of 800-1000 persons. The estimated number of persons treated for a Trichinella-like illness was 200. Sixty-three persons sought medical attention at a local infirmary: 44 of them were diagnosed as having trichinosis or suspected trichinosis according to their clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory tests. An environmental investigation indicated that the source of infection was pork obtained from a single butcher in the village and consumed uncooked, as an ingredient of 'kubeniye' (a local dish), during Christmas and New Year's meals. Sera of patients, suspected patients, and asymptomatic controls were tested for the presence of anti-Trichinella antibodies. Eight (89%) of the 9 tested patients were positive, 1 (11%) was negative. Among the 7 suspected patients, 2 (28.5%) were positive, 3 (42.9%) had equivocal results, and 2 (28.5%) were negative. Among the 20 asymptomatic persons, 3 (15%) were positive, 12 (60%) negative and 5 (25%) had equivocal results. Specimens from the implicated pork meat were examined by microscopy and were found to contain encysted larvae of Trichinella spiralis. This outbreak of trichinosis is one of the largest reported. Previous outbreaks in Lebanon occurred under very similar circumstances, indicating a need to control and prevent the trading of pork meat that is not under veterinary control, and to increase the awareness of the population for this problem.

Adult↗