Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Israel”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Survival following spinal cord injury in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Survival following spinal cord injury (SCI) has greatly improved since the unsuccessful attempts to repair the damaged spinal cord were replaced by systematic prevention and treatment of complications caused by the neural damage. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the main outcome measures in patients with spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, the major referral center for rehabilitation medicine for hospitals throughout Israel. SUBJECTS: 250 consecutive patients, injured between 1959 and 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rates and mortality risk factors. METHOD: Demographic, clinical, and mortality data were collected from the hospital charts and from the Population Registry of the Israel Ministry of Internal Affairs. Survival rates were estimated using the product limit (Kaplan-Meyer) method, and their association with known risk factors was analyzed with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The survival rate after injury was 81% after 10 years, 75% after 20 years, and 62% after 30 years, and 50% after about 36.5 years. Survival was found to be negatively associated with age (P=0.01) and with high spinal level of injury (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Survival rates in the studied population are similar to those reported in other countries, and are close to those of the general population living in Israel in the same time period. The study demonstrates that developing countries can reach survival rates comparable to those of developed countries, and may contribute to better survival predictions of patients with SCI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

American medical students in Israel: stress and coping--a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Medical students studying abroad face the double stress of adjusting to a new cultural environment while at the same time, coping with the usual stresses of medical school. In a previous article, we examined the perceived stress and coping of American medical students studying in Israel. AIMS: The current study was designed to follow up changes in made in response to the original study. PARTICIPANTS: First year students, NY/American Program, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. METHODS: Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL), Appraisal Dimension Scale (ADS) and two instruments specifically designed for the study. RESULTS: Students' coping with their adjustment to Israel was highly correlated to their adjustment to medical school. There was significant improvement in student mental health and student satisfaction and a corresponding reduction in dysfunctional defence mechanism and a previous pattern of heavy drinking. DISCUSSION: The results are discussed in terms of improvements in the student support system proposed at the time of the initial study as well as changes in the student body. Limitations and future directions for research are also discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Helicobacter pylori and peptic ulcer disease therapies: a survey of gastroenterologists in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori has become a therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current management strategies of Israeli gastroenterologists in the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori-related peptic ulcer disease, 14 years after the discovery of H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to all specialists in gastroenterology, members of the Israel Gastroenterological Association (IGA). Replies were received from 60% of Israel Board-certified gastroenterology specialists. RESULTS: Over 89% of the gastroenterologists (89.1%) noted that they recommend anti-H. pylori treatment. 94.5% said that they treat duodenal ulcer in the first presentation with anti-H. pylori medication and 75% said that they do so in cases of recurrent duodenal ulcer. According to the replies received, there is a strong consensus towards triple treatment as the favored anti-H. pylori treatment; no one noted the use of dual treatment. Seven-day triple treatment was prescribed by 83.6% of the gastroenterologists who responded. Of these, the great majority, 89.1%, stated that they use proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in combination with any two of the following antibiotics: metronidazole (47.3%), tinidazole (29.1%), clarithromycin (61.8%), and amoxicillin (40%). CONCLUSION: At the time of the survey, most Israel Board-certified gastroenterology specialists prescribed triple anti-H. pylori treatment of one-week's duration.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2001

Physician visits, emergency room utilization, and overnight hospitalization in the old-old in Israel: the cross-sectional and longitudinal aging study (CALAS).

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this paper is to assess the risk factors for physician contact in the month before the interview (PM) and emergency room utilization (ERU) and overnight hospitalization (OH) in the year before the interview, through the use of the behavioral model as a conceptual framework. DESIGN: A random stratified sample of subjects age 75 to 94 was selected from the National Population Register (a complete listing of the Israeli population maintained by the Ministry of the Interior). The study sample consisted of Jews living in Israel on January 1, 1989, stratified by age (four 5-year age groups: 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, and 90-94), sex, and place of birth (Europe/America, Asia/Africa, and Israel). SETTING: Community-dwelling old-old Jewish Israelis. PARTICIPANTS: 1,487 people living in the community at the time of the baseline interview. MEASUREMENTS: The dependent variables were PM in the month before the interview and ERU and OH in the previous year. The independent variables were: predisposing variables (age, sex, place of birth, and education); enabling variables (income and the social network variables of marital status, living arrangements, and number of in-person contacts per week with any child); and need variables (number of self-reported chronic medical conditions, subjective health, depressive symptoms, number of difficulties with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, measures of physical robustness, and engaging in regular physical sportive activities). RESULTS: The predisposing and enabling factors were only minimally associated with utilization rates in the old old in Israel, with the exception of lower rates of ERU by those who were living alone. Age was not significantly associated with healthcare utilization in the old-old population studied. Healthcare utilization was found to be associated primarily with health and functional status. CONCLUSION: In a system of free and equal access to healthcare services, the demand for health services by a population with high levels of chronic disease and disability is driven primarily by health needs, rather than by extraneous factors such as income and education. The study indicates that equity in the provision of health services is attainable. Policy makers should provide for actual need, remove artificial barriers, and prepare accurate estimates of future needs.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

Assistance with personal care activities among the old-old in Israel: a national epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate rates of difficulty, need for assistance, and receipt of assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) among the old-old in Israel; (2) describe the living arrangements of the dependent old-old; and (3) gain insight into the caregiving provided to the disabled members of this population. DESIGN: A random stratified sample of 1,820 subjects age 75 to 94 selected from the National Population Register (NPR), a complete listing of the Israeli population maintained by the Ministry of the Interior. The study sample consisted of Jews living in Israel on January 1, 1989, stratified by age (four 5-year age groups: 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94), sex, and place of birth (Europe-America, Middle East/North Africa, Israel). SETTING: National sample of old-old Jewish Israelis. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand eight hundred twenty Israelis age 75 to 94 who were living in the community or in institutions at the time of the baseline interview. MEASUREMENTS: Participants' disability status was classified in terms of difficulty with, needing help with, and receiving help with any of five ADLs (washing/bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, and eating). Only those receiving assistance from a person (as opposed to a device) were considered to be receiving help. The independent variables used included sociodemographic, health, and social network characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent of those age 75 to 94 were found to be receiving personal assistance with at least one ADL. The most dependent were those age 90 to 94, women, those born in the Middle East or North Africa, and those living in an institution. Among those dependent in one or more ADLs, the overall community:institutionalized ratio was 2.4:1. Those who were dependent in three to five ADLs were about twice as likely to live in an institution as were those who were dependent in one or two ADLs. The Middle Eastern/North African born were more likely to be dependent, and at any given level of disability were more likely to be living in the community with a child and receiving the majority of their caretaking from the informal sector, primarily their family. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the families of disabled older people, particularly the Middle Eastern/North African born, provide a great deal of care for their older relatives despite the availability of a full range of services, providing no evidence of withdrawal of family care when state home and institutional care are available. This finding may imply underutilization of services, which should be investigated further to determine if it is caused by barriers to utilization or by the free choice of the disabled old-old and their families.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

Mortality trends in men and women with acute myocardial infarction in coronary care units in Israel. A comparison between 1981-1983 and 1992-1994. For the SPRINT and the Israeli Thrombolytic Survey Groups.

AIMS: To assess trends in the management and subsequent outcome in men and women in two cohorts of consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction hospitalized in coronary care units in Israel, in the pre-reperfusion and the reperfusion eras. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared trends in the in-hospital management, and 30-day and 1-year mortality in men and women in two cohorts of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction in coronary care units in Israel, in the pre-reperfusion and the reperfusion eras. The first cohort of 5839 consecutive patients (4315 men, 74%) was from the Secondary Prevention Reinfarction Israeli Nifedipine Trial (SPRINT) registry of 1981-1983; the second cohort of 1940 patients (1429 males, 74%) derived from two prospective nationwide surveys conducted in all coronary care units in Israel in January/February 1992 and 1994. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction in both periods were comparable. Patients in 1992-94 received aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers and nitrates more frequently than in 1981-83. Thrombolysis, coronary angiography, angioplasty and bypass grafting were not used in 1981-83, whereas in 1992-94 these procedures were used in 45%, 28%, 11% and 4% of men, respectively, and in 39%, 20%, 9% and 3% of women, respectively. The 30-day age-adjusted mortality declined, in men, from 17.0% in 1981-83 to 10.8% in 1992-94 (multivariate-adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0. 69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55 to 0.87), and the cumulative 1-year age-adjusted mortality declined from 24.6% to 16.9% (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.70%; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.81). In women, the decline in mortality rates were of similar magnitude, from 24.0% to 15.1% (OR=0.70; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.94), and from 33.6% to 21.0% (HR=0.67; 95% CI 0.55 to 0.81), respectively. In both sexes, the decline in mortality was more marked in patients reperfused by thrombolysis and/or mechanical revascularization, but was also evident in non-reperfused patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite higher mortality in both periods in women compared to men, the prognosis of men and women with acute myocardial infarction improved considerably during the last decade, with a similar decline in 1-year mortality of approximately 30%. The implementation in daily practice of new therapeutic modalities proven to be effective in clinical trials after acute myocardial infarction, probably played a major role in this favourable outcome in both sexes.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Routine two-step skin testing for tuberculosis in the staff of a geriatric hospital in Israel: booster and conversion rates.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of positive skin tests amongst the staff of a 200 bed geriatric hospital in Haifa, Israel. By comparing the findings with those of a study performed five years previously, we hoped to ascertain the number of conversions which had occurred in the period studied. This was undertaken in order to assess a new policy from the Israel Ministry of Health regarding skin testing for health care workers. We also hoped to decide upon the frequency of skin testing required and to compare data from recent immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of TB. In 1997, we performed two-step skin testing (TSST) on 318 health care workers. We ascertained the number of positive reactions on the first and second testing and calculated the number of subjects who showed significant boosting. We also compared the results to those obtained in a study in 1992 and calculated the rate of conversion. We used multivariate analysis to examine the effects of age, gender, country of origin, years in Israel, previous BCG vaccination, previous exposure to contagious TB, work site and area of residence in the city, on the response to TSST. Between 1990 and 1996, 655 000 immigrants from the former USSR arrived; 'recent immigration' was defined from that date onward. The final number of positive reactions out of 282 subjects, who were either positive or negative on step 1 and presented for step 2, was 171 (60%). Booster effect was not significantly associated with any of the variables examined. The size of reaction in TSST was related to country of origin and recent immigration. The 83 recent immigrants from the former USSR had more frequent (61%) and larger reactions (mean (sd): 9.0 (6.46) mm) than the 114 native-born Israelis with 39% positive reactions (6.2 (5.89) P= 0.009). Comparison with 1992 revealed 26 (31%) of previous negatives as positive. Conversion was associated with age. All conversions save one were in individuals younger than 50 years (P= 0.07). In conclusion, TSST, performed to enable detection of recent infection after exposure to contagious TB, was relevant for 40% of health care workers (HCWs). Second step testing contributed an additional 23% positive reactions. New immigrants had larger initial reactions. Conversion occurred mostly in younger workers and could be either due to unrecognized TB in the hospital or to exposure in the community.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The burden of uncomplicated cases of chickenpox in Israel.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the direct medical burden and work loss associated with uncomplicated chickenpox in Israel. METHODS: A total of 155 otherwise healthy children and adolescents with chickenpox were recruited from 10 physician offices in central Israel. Direct and indirect medical burdens were determined by caregiver interview. RESULTS: Mean age was 3.3 +/- 2.3 years. 51% of the patients were under three years of age. Each patient made on average 1.15 visits to a general practitioner. Most patients were taken to the Doctor's office only once during the illness while 23 patients (15%) were seen twice. Three patients were referred to the emergency room. Antihistamines (39%) and Calamine lotion (28%) were the most frequently prescribed medications, followed by acyclovir (17%) and antibiotics (6%). Following the patient's illness there were 72 cases of secondary spread of varicella to household members. The individuals who cared for the child missed a combined total of 2.5 days from work (on average per varicella episode). CONCLUSIONS: Israeli children acquire chickenpox at a younger age than children in North America and England and consume more prescribed medications. While the work loss in the present study was comparable to previous reports, the direct medical costs inflicted by this infection in Israel are not negligible even for uncomplicated cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The burden of uncomplicated cases of chickenpox in Israel.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the direct medical burden and work loss associated with uncomplicated chickenpox in Israel. METHODS: A total of 155 otherwise healthy children and adolescents with chickenpox were recruited from 10 physician offices in central Israel. Direct and indirect medical burdens were determined by caregiver interview. RESULTS: Mean age was 3.3+/-2.3 years. 51% of the patients were under 3 years of age. Each patient made on average 1.15 visits to a general practitioner. Most patients were taken to the Doctor's office only once during the illness while 23 patients (15%) were seen twice. Three patients were referred to the emergency room. Antihistamines (39%) and Calamine lotion (28%) were the most frequently prescribed medications, followed by acyclovir (17%) and antibiotics (6%). Following the patient's illness there were 72 cases of secondary spread of varicella to household members. The individuals who cared for the child missed a combined total of 2.5 days from work (on average per varicella episode). CONCLUSIONS: Israeli children acquire chickenpox at a younger age than children in North America and England and consume more prescribed medications. While the work loss in the present study was comparable to previous reports, the direct medical costs inflicted by this infection in Israel are not negligible even for uncomplicated cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Measles antibody prevalence rates among young adults in Israel.

BACKGROUND: In Israel, vaccination coverage against measles is high, yet seroepidemiologic studies have shown that more than 15% of the 18-year-old population were unprotected against the disease. A 2-dose program of vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella at the ages of 1 and 6 years was begun in 1990, supplemented by a measles catch-up plan for all 13-year-olds. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of antimeasles antibodies at induction to the Israel Defense Forces in the first doubly vaccinated birth-cohort. METHODS: In 1996, serum samples of 540 recruits, 339 men and 201 women, were tested for measles virus antibody. Findings were compared with surveys conducted in 1987 and 1990. RESULTS: Measles antibodies were present in 95.6% (95% CI, 93.5-97.1) of the recruits. Antibody prevalence was higher in women than in men (99% vs 93.5%; P =.0096). A slightly lower seroprevalence was found in recruits born in the former Soviet Union. The results were substantially higher than the seroprevalence rates found in 1987 (73.3%) and 1990 (84.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of antimeasles antibodies in the young adult population in Israel points to the success of the double-vaccination policy in promoting immunity against the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Acculturation attitudes and sociocultural adjustment of sojourner youth in Israel.

Among 300 Jewish sojourner youth (age range: 15-18 years) from the Russian Federation, the authors investigated associations of acculturation attitudes, measures of sociocultural adjustment, and length of the encounter with the host society, Israel. All the youth were participating in a 1-3-year program of high school studies in Israel. In the light of J. W. Berry's (1997) acculturation model, the authors examined the assumptions that the participants' adjustment to Israeli society would require readiness to abandon some of their previous identity and to adopt elements of a new identity characteristic of the host society. Lower degrees of separation and higher degrees of integration were positively linked with measures of sociocultural adjustment. The adjustment scores tended to decrease over time spent in Israel.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1998

Commitment among Arab adolescents in Israel.

Arab adolescents' commitments to their own self-development, their family, their extended family, the Arab people, and their village were explored. The sample consisted of 662 Arab adolescents in 12th grade in 7 high schools in Arab villages, Arab towns, and mixed towns (Jews and Arabs) in Israel. The findings reflect the unique situation of Arab adolescents living in Israel. The polarity found between individualistic and collectivistic ideas, in terms of commitment, illustrates the cultural transformation that Arab society in Israel is currently undergoing.

Acculturation↗
PubMed2005

Perception of health care delivery in Israel: women's voices.

In this article, we describe the results of nine focus groups in which women were asked to discuss their perception of the women's health care delivery system in Israel. The focus groups, held in Israel in 2001, included nearly 150 women with diverse demographic characteristics. This project solicited focused input from women of different ages from the periphery as well as highly populated areas. The responses were categorized into designated themes and are presented here to demonstrate the range of women's feelings toward health care. The qualitative findings of this research show that place of residence affects the women's sense of responsibility for their health and their use of private care. Age was found to affect knowledge and use of health information, the frequency of visits to the doctor, and the general level of satisfaction with the system. These findings are important to improve health care delivery and can serve as a basis for forging policy changes in Israel.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suicide among the elderly in Israel.

This comparative analysis examines the data on attempted and completed suicides among the aged population (65+) in Israel to assess what changes have occurred in recent years. The sources of the data used in this review were statistics reported by the Israeli Ministry of Health and the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics for two decades, 1962-1971 and 1977-1986, with additional data provided for previous years. Analysis of these data shows a rise in both attempted and completed suicides among the elderly in Israel over the last decade. However, a comparison with selected European and Western countries reveals that these rates are still lower than those of other Western countries. These findings are discussed within the framework of family care, religious tradition, and social policy. In light of the fact that suicide rates are shown to rise with increasing age both in Israel and in other countries, the need to understand suicide among the elderly is becoming even more urgent and should generate more research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Hospitalization for varicella in central Israel.

In order to determine the impact of chickenpox on the general population, we conducted a retrospective study in four medical centres in central Israel. Hospital records of 182 patients discharged with the diagnosis of varicella during a 3-y period were reviewed. The patients' mean age was 7.9 y. A total of 14 patients (8%) were immunocompromised. Bacterial skin or soft tissue infection was the most common complication (32%). Other complications included gastrointestinal manifestations (14%), pneumonia (12%), febrile seizures (10%) and CNS complications (9%). Twenty-one percent of patients were discharged with the diagnosis of uncomplicated varicella. One patient died, one underwent liver transplantation for liver failure and four had persistent neurological sequelae. Forty-four patients (24%) received acyclovir for an average duration of 5.7 d. The mean hospital stay was 4.3 d; it was significantly longer for patients with CNS complications (8 d). We estimate that the hospitalization rate in Israel is 1/285 cases of chickenpox. While mortality from varicella was found to be relatively rare, the economic burden of this infection in Israel is quite substantial.

Age Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Israel 2000: immigration and gender differences in alcohol consumption.

The present study addresses the association between immigration from the former Soviet Union (FSU) and gender and alcohol consumption among a representative sample of young adults in Israel 2000. Previous studies that were conducted on FSU immigrants to Israel indicate higher consumption than that of resident Israelis and immigrants of earlier periods. The current study aims to assess alcohol consumption among FSU and resident Israelis five years later to determine whether the discrepancy in alcohol consumption stays consistent or reduces. In addition, gender differences in alcohol consumption among the Israeli society were examined as well, as a special case of socio-culture differences. The data came from the 2000 national survey of drinking in Israel. Of 5,004 Jewish Israelis, 532 were immigrants from the FSU who arrived since 1989, and 4,472 were resident Israelis. The FSU group was compared with resident Israelis, and males were compared to females on several drinking variables. Logistic regression was the principal method of analysis. Demographics and cultural variables as main effects or in interaction with FSU and gender were controlled. The FSU group was significantly more likely to report drinking in the last twelve months plus drinking in the last thirty days than resident Israelis. Women's reported drinking in the last twelve months was one fourth of men's and during the past thirty days was one fifth of men's. Further investigation on the associations between the success of FSU acculturation in the Israeli society and drinking patterns as well as attitudes toward women and gender differences in alcohol consumption may provide explanations for gender and immigration gaps in alcohol consumption.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1999

Epidemiological characteristics of spotted fever in Israel over 26 years.

During the summer of 1997, 2 confirmed and several suspected fatal cases of spotted fever (SF) occurred in previously healthy young adults in Israel. This unusual cluster of events stimulated the current study. The incidence of SF in Israel from 1971-98 was analyzed. Incidence increased until 1980, declined until 1994, and increased slightly from 1994-97. Incidence was higher during the summer, among children aged 0-9 years, and in rural settlements in central Israel. From 1971-1997, 31 deaths were reported, mostly in the elderly. The deaths that occurred in 1997 are a reminder that, despite the fact that morbidity due to SF is described mainly in children, SF can have a rapidly fatal outcome in healthy young adults. Thus, even during periods of low incidence, careful monitoring and high awareness for prompt diagnosis and treatment are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Drug-resistant HIV infection among drug-naive patients in Israel.

BACKGROUND: In Israel, <0.06% of the general population is infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with a much higher prevalence among specific groups. These groups are distinguished demographically by risk behavior category and by virus subtype. We investigated transmission of drug resistance within groups to assess the impact of these factors. METHODS: Plasma samples from >15% of all patients with new diagnoses of HIV infection were randomly collected between June 1999 and June 2003. Sequences from 176 drug-naive patients included 20 of subtype A, 20 of subtype AE, 2 of subtype AC, 29 of subtype B, 100 of subtype C, and 5 of subtype F. RESULTS: Major drug resistance mutations (protease: L90M; reverse transcriptase: M41L, K103N, V106M, M184V, Y181S, G190A, L210W, T215Y/F, and K219R) were detected in 1 subject with A subtype, 3 with subtype B, and 9 with subtype C. In addition, 1 subject with A subtypes, 2 with subtype B, and 10 with subtype C had secondary mutations (protease: M46I; reverse transcriptase: A98G, K101Q, and V108I). Only 1 patient had mutations associated with >1 class of drugs. Among subjects who contracted HIV infection in Israel, 16 of 56 (1 of 7 with subtypes A or AE, 4 of 17 with subtype B, and 11 of 32 with subtype C; P=.7-1.0) carried resistant virus--a significantly higher proportion (P<.001) than in subjects infected in other countries (10 of 120 infected). CONCLUSIONS: Drug-resistant virus was detected in 14.8% of patients with new diagnoses of HIV infection but in 28.6% of patients known to have been infected in Israel. The implications include a need for pretreatment resistance testing and for better programs aimed at prevention of transmission, directed particularly at patients. We did not find significant differences in transmission of resistant virus between those infected with subtypes B and C, despite the different demographic background. A conclusive analysis and interpretation should await a more extensive study.

Adult↗