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The presence of a microinflammatory response is one of the possible pathological mechanisms related to the development of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAAION), a common cause of optic neuropathy in old age. We tested whether individuals with NAAION harbor a heightened microinflammatory response compared to controls. We measured the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in NAAION patients during hospital admission and in four matched controls for each patient, retrieved from a large cohort of 20,000 apparently healthy individuals. We included 128 NAAION patients and 512 controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls regarding the inflammatory biomarkers. This is the first report showing a lack of difference in ESR and hs-CRP levels between NAAION patients and matched controls, suggesting NAAION is not associated with a heightened inflammatory response, such as the one associated with multiple atherothrombotic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blunted adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) responses related to aging in obese Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in modified regulation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene. Isoproterenol activated cAMP deposit in isolated adipocytes quickly decreased the expression of the mRNAs for LPL and FAS. The expression of FAS and LPL mRNAs in cells from older rats is not restricted by isoproterenol.

Examines digoxin-like immunoreactivity in congestive heart failure. Examination on the urine and plasma from patients with congestive heart failure; Discovery of antidigoxin antibodies in toxaemia of pregnancy and experimental hypertension in rats; Indication of natriuretic activity in digoxin-like immunoreactive substance.

Background: Chest-pain patients deemed safe for discharge from internal medicine wards might still be at risk for adverse outcomes., Hypothesis: CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score improves risk stratification of low-risk chest-pain patients discharged after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rule-out., Methods: We accessed medical records of patients who were admitted to internal medicine wards at a single medical center during 2010-2016 and discharged following an ACS rule-out. Patients were classified according to CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score: 0-1 (low), 2-3 (intermediate), >3 (high). Primary endpoint was occurrence of ACS at 1 year; 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality (ACM) were secondary outcomes., Results: Of 12 449 patients, 7057 (57%) had low, 3781 (30%) intermediate, and 1611 (13%) high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores. Compared with a low score, intermediate and high scores were associated with significantly increased risk for 1-year ACS during the first year (OR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.91-4.37, P < 0.01 and OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 3.02-7.74, P < 0.01, respectively). Each 1-point increase in CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc was associated with a 37% increased risk for 1-year ACS. A higher CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was associated with significantly higher 30-day ACM. Hazard ratios for 30-day ACM were 1.9 (95% CI: 1.1-3.4, P = 0.03) and 4.4 (95% CI: 2.4-7.9, P < 0.01) for intermediate and high CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores, respectively, compared with a low score. Each 1-point increase in CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was associated with 43% increased risk for 30-day mortality., Conclusions: High CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score (>3) was associated with adverse outcomes among chest-pain patients discharged from internal medicine wards following ACS rule-out., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The objective of the current study was to analyze written language of native Hebrew-speaking medical residents, as reflected in admission notes and discharge letters for patients admitted to medical wards in a 700-bed university hospital., Methods: Twenty admission notes and 20 discharge letters written by 40 native Hebrew- speaking residents with at least one year experience were analyzed. The residents worked in the Internal medicine departments of a 700-bed university hospital. Admission notes and discharge letters were randomly chosen for the analysis which was carried out using predefined linguistic criteria and the extent to which English or Latin terms were incorporated into Hebrew medical language such as the structure of sentences and paragraphs. (Complete list of the linguistic criteria can be found in the methods and results sections)., Results: The most important findings were that the level of language was unexpectedly low. Many English or Latin medical terms were written using Hebrew letters. The creation of 'new' abbreviations was common. Sentences were telegraphic and lacked coherence, for example there were sentences written in internet language and short message service (SMS) messages. Texts were not organized and sometimes important details were missing., Conclusions: The writing style of medical residents should be improved substantially in order for them to be able to write coherently. One possible solution is to incorporate a course in writing into the medical school curriculum.

Background: Treatment of hyperlipidemia is important for secondary prevention in patients suffering from coronary heart disease. It has been proven that "young elderly" (patients aged 65-75 years) can benefit from the treatment at least as much as younger patients., Objective: To assess the adequacy of treatment as part of secondary prevention in "young elderly" and younger patients., Methods: In this prospective study, 389 patients discharged from the hospital with the diagnosis of coronary heart disease were divided according to age groups. Data were collected regarding lipid profile examinations, dietary and drug therapy, and results of lipid profiles., Results: Less than one-third of the patients achieved target low density lipoprotein levels. More patients in the older age group achieved the treatment goals. The goals were achieved despite the fact that the percentage of patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs was lower in the older age group., Conclusion: The percentage of patients treated for hyperlipidemia as part of a secondary prevention plan in Israel is similar to that in other developed countries. The fact that more "young elderly" patients achieve adequate lipid profiles compared to younger patients indicates that there is no age discrimination towards this patient group. The finding that less than one-third of the patients reach the treatment goals should prompt physicians to treat hyperlipidemia more aggressively.