[PREVALENCE OF ASTIGMATISM BEFORE ROUTINE CATARACT SURGERY: COMPARISON BETWEEN BEDOUIN AND JEWISH POPULATION IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL].

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of corneal astigmatism among patients before routine cataract surgery and overall ocular difference between Jewish and Bedouin population in the south of Israel. METHODS: Retrospective research collecting biometric information from IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany) in patients attending cataract surgery at Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel between the years 2015 -2016. RESULTS: Mean corneal astigmatism among all cohorts was 1.20D ± 0.83, with 1.26D ± 0.84 in Bedouins patients vs 1.17D ± 0.82 in Jews patients (p-value=0.08). Corneal astigmatism lower than 0.5D was seen in 20% of the population, 28% of the population had corneal astigmatism above 1.5D and 9% showed corneal astigmatism higher than 2.5D. When comparing axial length and keratometric characteristics between the two populations, Bedouins had shorter axial length (23.41mm± 1.62 vs. 23.67mm ± 1.55, p=0.01), and flatter corneas on both axes (flat - 43.18D ± 1.76 vs. 43.62D ± 1.79, p<0.01); (steep - 44.44D ± 1.84 vs. 44.77D± 1.89, p<0.01). Higher astigmatism was found in men than in women (1.24D vs.1.15D p- value=0.04) of study group. CONCLUSIONS: In our study we found more than 25% of patients had astigmatism more than 1.5D. Patients attending cataract surgery may therefore benefit the use of advanced IOL types and surgical techniques. In addition, a statistically significant difference between the Bedouin and Jewish populations biometric measurements in patients attending cataract surgery found.

Human brucellosis outbreak acquired through camel milk ingestion in southern Israel.

BACKGROUND: Human brucellosis is common in southern Israel among the semi-nomadic Bedouin, a population that consumes unpasteurized dairy products. Though camel milk ingestion is a known mechanism for brucellosis acquisition, only a few reports of sporadic cases have been published in the medical literature. OBJECTIVES: To describe a local brucellosis outbreak in 15 extended Bedouin family members, following ingestion of infected camel milk. METHODS: Data regarding patient's clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome were collected from the hospital and the health fund clinics' computerized database. Camel's blood and milk were tested for Brucella serology and culture. Cases were defined by positive Rose Bengal test, symptoms correlating with brucellosis, and consumption of infected camel milk. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with acute brucellosis from March to June 2011. Sixty percent of cases had serum agglutination test titers of 1:160 or higher and 4/8 (50%) had positive blood culture for Brucella melitensis. Arthralgia and fever were the most consistent clinical manifestations. Blood and milk serology and milk culture taken from the female camel were positive for Brucella melitensis. CONCLUSIONS: The treating physicians must consider the possibility of infected camel milk ingestion as the mode of infection, both in sporadic cases and in outbreaks of brucellosis.

The Association between Gestational Age and Risk for Long Term Ophthalmic Morbidities among Offspring Delivered in Different Preterm Subgroups.

Objective: To investigate whether there is a linear association between the degree of prematurity and the risk for long-term ophthalmic morbidity among preterm infants. Study design: A population-based, retrospective cohort study, which included all singleton deliveries occurring between 1991 and 2014 at a single tertiary medical center. All infants were divided into four groups according to gestational age categories: extremely preterm births, very preterm births, moderate to late preterm births and term deliveries (reference group). Hospitalizations of offspring up to 18 years of age involving ophthalmic morbidity were evaluated. Survival curves compared cumulative hospitalizations and regression models controlled for confounding variables. Results: During the study period, 243,363 deliveries met the inclusion criteria. Ophthalmic-related hospitalization rates were lower among children born at term (0.9%) as compared with extremely preterm (3.6%), very preterm (2%), and moderate to late preterm (1.4%) born offspring (p < 0.01; using the chi-square test for trends). The survival curve demonstrated significantly different hospitalization rates between the gestational ages (p < 0.001). The regression demonstrated an independent risk for ophthalmic morbidity among extremely preterm born offspring (adjusted hazard ratio 3.8, confidence interval 1.6−9.2, p < 0.01), as well as very preterm and moderate to late preterm (adjusted hazard ratio 2.2 and 1.5, respectively) as compared with term deliveries. Conclusions: The risk for long-term ophthalmic-related hospitalization of preterm offspring gradually decreases as the gestational age increases.

Ocular manifestations of congenital insensitivity to pain: a long-term follow-up.

AIM: To describe ocular manifestations in children with congenital insensitivity to pain with and without anhidrosis (CIPA and CIP). METHODS: We reviewed records of eye examinations of 39 children diagnosed with CIPA or CIP. We collected clinical data, with particular attention to ocular surface findings. Corneal sensitivity was tested by presence of a blink reflex upon touching the cornea. Statistical analysis assessed differences in manifestations between the two conditions, and relationships among corneal sensitivity, presence of corneal opacities and visual acuity (VA). RESULTS: CIPA was diagnosed in 32 children and CIP in 7. The median follow-up periods were 50 months (CIPA group) and 94 months (CIP group). Corneal opacities were present in 23% of CIPA eyes and in 57% of CIP eyes. A blink reflex was positive in 52% of CIPA eyes and in 33% of CIP eyes. We recorded VA ≥20/25 in 36% of CIPA eyes, whereas all patients with CIP had VA ≤20/30. For the whole cohort, we found a negative correlation between a preserved blink reflex and the presence of corneal opacities, and a positive correlation between a preserved blink reflex and VA ≥20/25. CONCLUSION: Children with congenital insensitivity to pain are prone to develop corneal scarring. Patients with CIP tend to have more severe ocular surface disease than those with CIPA, probably due to more prevalent loss of corneal sensation. In both groups, a preserved blink reflex correlated with good vision. Affected children should have close follow-up to promptly treat ocular surface disease and prevent vision loss.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and long-term ophthalmic morbidity of the offspring.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether smoking during pregnancy is correlated with long-term ophthalmic complications of the offspring. STUDY DESIGN: A population-based cohort analysis was performed comparing all deliveries of mothers who reported smoking during pregnancy and non-smoking mothers between 1991 and 2014 at a single tertiary medical center. Hospitalizations of the offspring up to the age of 18 years involving ophthalmic morbidities were evaluated according to a predefined set of ICD-9 codes. A Kaplan-Meier curve was used to compare cumulative hospitalization rate in exposed and unexposed offspring and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to control for confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 243,680 deliveries met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 2965 (1.2%) were children of smoking mothers. Ophthalmic-related hospitalizations were significantly higher in children born to smoking mothers, as compared with the non-smoking group (1.4% vs. 0.1%, p < 0.01). Specifically, these hospitalizations were due to higher rates of visual disturbance rate and ophthalmic infections. The Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated a significant higher cumulative incidence of ophthalmic-related hospitalizations in the smoking group (log rank p < 0.001). Using a Cox proportional hazards model, controlling for potential confounders, maternal tobacco use was found to be independently associated with long-term ophthalmic morbidity of the offspring (adjusted HR = 1.51, CI 1.11-2.04). CONCLUSION: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for long-term ophthalmic morbidity of the offspring. These results are in line with many recent studies that strongly support maternal smoking cessation during pregnancy due to high offspring morbidity risk.

Assisted reproductive technology and long-term ophthalmic morbidity of the offspring.

In this study, we investigate if children born following assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) are at an increased risk for long-term ophthalmic complications. For this purpose, a population-based cohort analysis was conducted which included all deliveries between 1991 and 2014 at a single tertiary medical center. Offspring were classified relative to conception method as ART or spontaneous pregnancies. Offspring hospitalizations up to the age of 18 years involving ophthalmic morbidities were evaluated according to a predefined set of ICD-9 codes. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare cumulative hospitalization rates in exposed (ART) and unexposed offspring (spontaneous), and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to control for potential confounders. A total of 243,682 deliveries were included in the study. In that, 1.8% of the deliveries (4364) were of mothers who underwent fertility treatments and 98.2% (239,318) were conceived spontaneously. Offspring born to mothers who underwent fertility treatments had a significantly higher hospitalization rate involving ophthalmic morbidity, as compared to spontaneously conceived offspring (1.2% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.04). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve pointed to a significantly higher cumulative incidence of ophthalmic morbidity following ART (log rank p = 0.02). Cox proportional hazards model was adjusted for maternal age, preterm delivery, maternal hypertensive disorders, diabetes, and mode of delivery which demonstrated ART as an independent risk factor for long-term pediatric ophthalmic morbidity (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.37, CI 1.04-1.80, p-value = 0.02). We concluded that ART is an independent risk factor for long-term ophthalmic morbidity of the offspring.

Intraocular lens implantation as an isolated risk factor for secondary glaucoma in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on the development of secondary glaucoma after cataract surgery in pediatric patients. DESIGN: Retrospective case series study. METHODS: This study reviewed the medical records of children under 16 years of age who had undergone cataract surgery from 1996 to 2016 for congenital or developmental cataract. In every child an IOL was implanted in the primary surgery. Data collected included demographic information, age at cataract diagnosis and at surgery, surgical procedure, and postoperative follow-up of refraction, cup-to-disc ratio (C/D), intraocular pressure (IOP), and associated systemic and ocular anomalies. Patients with risk factors for glaucoma were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of the 255 children below age 16 years who underwent cataract extraction surgery with primary IOL implantation, 73 (124 eyes) met the inclusion criteria. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 18 years. Only 1 patient (0.8% of the 124 eyes) developed glaucoma in 1 of his 2 operated eyes; the surgeries were performed at 10 months, 1 week apart, and glaucoma was diagnosed 4 months later. One patient had suspected glaucoma in both eyes (incidence of 1.6%). Both these children were of Bedouin origin. CONCLUSION: IOL implantation, by itself, is not a risk factor for development of secondary glaucoma after cataract surgery in a population below 16 years of age.

Differences Between Radiologically Confirmed Pneumonia With and Without Pleural Fluid in Hospitalized Children Younger Than 5 Years in Southern Israel.

We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of pneumonia with and without pleural fluid (PF and Pn, respectively) in hospitalized children younger than 5 years in southern Israel, between 2002 and 2011. Overall, 108 PF and 5811 Pn episodes were recorded. Children with PF were older. Prematurity (6.6% vs 14.0%) and asthma (9.9% vs 23.5%) were less common in PF. Mean temperature and saturation were higher in PF while hemoglobin and sodium levels were lower in PF compared with Pn. Nasal washes were obtained in 30.6% and 39.9% of PF and Pn episodes, respectively, with respiratory syncytial virus identified more commonly in Pn (24.2% vs 42.3%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 5.2% and 0.9% of blood cultures in PF and Pn, respectively. In conclusion, PF differed from Pn in demographic and clinical characteristics, possibly due to differences in etiology. Although both diseases are considered bacterial, a high proportion of viral etiology was found in both, especially in Pn.

Cystic echinococcosis in Southern Israel.

The aim of this retrospective, population-based study was to characterize demographically and clinically cystic-echinococcosis (CE) in southern Israel, between 2005 and 2012. Newly-diagnosed (nd-CE) and past-diagnosed (pd-CE, diagnosed before the study) cases were defined. Two populations live in southern-Israel, receiving medical treatment at a single hospital: the Jewish and the Bedouin populations (resembling resource-rich and resource-poor populations, respectively). 126 CE cases were identified; 55 nd-CE and 71 pd-CE. Mean annual nd-CE incidence per 100,000 in the Bedouin and Jewish populations were 2.7 ± 1.2 and 0.4 ± 0.3, respectively (P<0.001). None of the Bedouin and 86.5% of the Jewish patients were born outside Israel. Liver and lung involvement were recorded in 85.7% and 15.1% of overall-CE, respectively. Abdominal pain, cough, fever, eosinophilia and asymptomatic disease were documented in 63.6%, 32.7%, 27.3%, 41.5% and 12.7% of nd-CE, respectively. Serology sensitivity for first test and any positive test were 67.3% and 83.3%, respectively. Computed tomography, ultrasonography and X-ray diagnosis were documented in 79.2%, 58.4% and 17.0% of overall-CE, respectively, with ultrasonography mainly used in liver-CE and X-ray in lung-CE. Treatment included surgery and albendazole in 50.0% and 55.3% of CE, respectively. We conclude that CE is endemic in southern-Israel among the Bedouin population, while disease is probably mainly imported in the Jewish population. Liver involvement and eosinophilia rates were high compared with those of other endemic regions, possibly due to differences in the timing of diagnosis. These findings may help developing treatment and prevention strategies.

Dramatic increase in laboratory-diagnosed human cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in southern Israel, 2007-2013.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic zoonosis in southern Israel. In recent years, substantial urbanization has been taking place in this region. The introduction of populations into endemic foci was previously reported to facilitate human CL outbreaks. Our aim was to describe a continuous CL outbreak in southern Israel, through laboratory reports of CL diagnosis. METHODS: The Soroka University Medical Center parasitology laboratory is the major laboratory confirming CL cases in our region. Data regarding patients referred to the hospital for CL diagnosis were collected retrospectively. Cases were defined by microscopic findings of skin lesion biopsies. RESULTS: The annual number of cases sent for CL laboratory confirmation increased from a mean of 77 ± 9 in the years 2007-2010 to 178, 327, and 528 in the years 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. The respective increase in annual confirmed/positive cases of CL was from 36 ± 12 to 117, 171, and 282, leading to respective increase in CL rate (per 100 000) from 5.8 ± 1.9 to 18.4, 26.3, and 42.7. The outbreak was mainly (> 60%) observed in the north-west area of the region. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a sevenfold increase in laboratory-confirmed CL was observed in southern Israel in 2007-2013, probably reflecting a bigger outbreak, possibly related to urban expansion bordering with CL foci.