Urinary tract infections with low and high colony counts in young women. Spontaneous remission and single-dose vs multiple-day treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to test whether the spontaneous cure rate is higher in dysuric women with low urinary colony counts (10(2) to 10(4) colony-forming units [cfu] per milliliter) than in women with high colony counts (> or = 10(5) cfu/mL) and whether the response of patients with low colony counts to single-dose treatment is better than those with high colony counts. METHODS: Dysuric women underwent a clinical interview, examination, urine culture, and microscopic examination of urine, and were asked to postpone treatment for 2 days. At that time, the urine tests were repeated. Women with bacterial urinary tract infection were randomized to a group given a single dose of 1200 mg of norfloxacin and to a group treated with 400 mg of norfloxacin twice daily for 7 days. Cure rates were tested at 1 and 5 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Of 146 women with urinary tract complaints, 113 (25 patients with sterile urine cultures, 21 with low colony counts, and 67 with high colony counts) agreed to postpone antibiotic treatment. Two days after the initial urine culture, only one patient with a low initial colony count had a sterile urine culture (5%, 95% confidence interval, 0% to 14%); and 10 patients (48%, 95% confidence interval, 27% to 69%) had a colony count of 10(5) cfu/mL or more. The rate of spontaneous cure in women with high initial colony count was 7%, 95% confidence interval, 1% to 13%. One week after treatment, the cure rates were 48 (84%) of 57 patients given single-dose treatment vs 49 (98%) of 50 patients treated for 7 days. Five weeks after treatment the rates were 63% and 83%, respectively. The efficacy of single-dose treatment in patients with low urinary counts were similar to those with high counts, and less than that achieved by 7 days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The spontaneous cure rate for a 2-day period is minimal in patients with both a low and a high colony count, but half of the patients with low urinary counts will have high colony counts after this interval. The response to single-dose treatment is similar in patients with low and high colony counts, and lower than with multiday treatment.

Urinary tract infections and sexual activity in young women.

A group of 147 young women with symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) were compared with a control group of 105 symptom-free young women belonging to the same population. On logistic-regression analysis, sexual activity was the only significant and independent behavioral difference between the groups (87% of women with UTI were sexually active vs 32.7% of the control group). Of the 147 episodes of UTI, only 28.9% occurred within 24 hours of sexual intercourse; of 24 episodes that occurred during follow-up, the percentage that occurred within 24 hours of intercourse was 33.3%. This finding is in discordance with the close temporal association between UTI and sexual intercourse reported in previous studies.

A clinical model for diagnosis of urinary tract infection in young women.

To develop a clinical model for diagnosis of bacterial urinary tract infection, we conducted a prospective study on 266 dysuric young women, 147 of whom had urinary tract infections. Five variables were found to be significant and independent correlates to bacterial urinary tract infection on logistic regression analysis: sexual activity, absence of vaginal discharge, short duration of complaints, leukocyturia, and hematuria. An algorithm combining the logistic model and a Gram-stained urine specimen, which was used in only a third of our patients, afforded a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 84%. The algorithm was validated in a second set of 166 dysuric women, 77 of whom had urinary tract infections. The algorithm led to a diagnosis of bacterial urinary tract infection with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 79%; the only laboratory test needed except for urinalysis was a Gram's stain of urine, obtained for 30% of the patients.

Blocking antibodies and T cell subsets in long-term survivors of renal allografts.

Fc-receptor blocking antibodies as well as T cell subsets were studied in a group of 12 long-term survivors of renal allografts. The absolute number of T suppressor cells was similar to that found in a control group, but there was a significant decrease in the total number of T helper lymphocytes and a decreased helper/suppressor ratio. Sera from all patients tested showed inhibitory activity in the erythrocyte antibody model against leukemic B lymphocytes, demonstrating the presence of Fc-receptor blocking antibodies. Also inhibited was the ability of normal human lymphocytes to form E rosettes and to induce a local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction. These findings indicate that the Fc blocking antibodies are beneficial to the patient, possibly by abrogating the cellular and humoral immune mechanism that is detrimental to the kidney allograft.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and physical and cognitive performance at 17 years of age.

To estimate the effect of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia on long-term cognitive ability in full-term newborns with a negative Coombs test, we performed a 17-year historical prospective study of 1948 subjects. Intelligence tests and medical examinations performed at the military draft board were stratified according to serum bilirubin concentration. A logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for the confounding effects of gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, ethnic origin, socioeconomic class, paternal education, birth order, and the administration of phototherapy and exchange transfusion. No direct linear association was shown between neonatal bilirubin levels and intelligence test scores or school achievement at 17 years of age. However, the risk for low intelligence test scores (IQ score less than 85) was found to be significantly higher (P = .014) among full-term male subjects with serum bilirubin levels above 342 mumol/L (20 mg/dL) (odds ratio, 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-6.79). This association was not observed among female subjects. We conclude that severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, among full-term male newborns with a negative Coombs test, could be associated with lower IQ scores at 17 years of age.

Measles immunization strategies for an epidemiologically heterogeneous population: the Israeli case study.

Although the vaccine against measles has been routinely applied over a quarter of a century, measles is still an active disease in Israel. The January 1991 outbreak caused high morbidity in infant and adolescent populations and high mortality, especially among nomad Bedouins in the southern region of the country. The Bedouins form a small fraction of the total Israeli population (ca. 2%), but it is thought that they may experience significantly higher rates of transmission than the majority group. In this work we use deterministic compartmental mathematical models to define the optimal immunization strategy for a population consisting of a majority group characterized by low transmission rates and a minority group characterized by high transmission rates; this study allows both for transmission differences between the two groups, and for possible differences in the average cost (or difficulty) in reaching individuals for vaccination. Our analysis shows that the optimal vaccination policy for such a population involves different strategies for the two groups: a smaller fraction is to be vaccinated in the minority group if transmission in this group is not much larger than in the majority group, whereas, if the difference in transmission is very large, a higher proportion is to be vaccinated in the minority group. The advantage of this non-uniform vaccination policy is that it involves vaccination of a smaller fraction of the total population (and costs less, if there are differential costs between the groups), as compared with the proportion vaccinated under the conventional uniform vaccination policy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Familial Mediterranean fever: analysis of inheritance and current linkage data.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and inflammation of serosal surfaces. Unlike many mendelian disorders, the mode of transmission has been subject to some controversy as segregation analysis studies have always demonstrated fewer "observed" than "expected" affected individuals. Despite efforts to map the gene causing FMF, no definite linkage has been yet identified. This review analyses the epidemiologic and genetic characteristics in order to evaluate critically the inheritance of the disease and provide a perspective on the current biochemical and molecular genetic studies whose aim is to locate the gene for this disease.

Cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte aggregation in meningitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the difference in aggregation of cerebrospinal fluid cells from patients with bacterial, viral, aseptic and partially treated meningitis can be used for diagnostic purposes. METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid samples of 100 patients with meningitis (15 bacterial, 13 partially treated, 10 viral and 62 aseptic) were compared on the basis of the predefined leukocyte aggregation score (LAS). RESULTS: Mean LAS was 56% in the bacterial meningitis group (range, 15 to 90%), 5.8% in the partially treated meningitis group (range, 0 to 27%), 2% in the proven viral meningitis group (range, 0 to 5%) and 2% in the aseptic meningitis group (range, 0 to 15%). All patients with bacterial meningitis had a LAS of > 15%, whereas all those with viral or aseptic meningitis had a score of < 15%. Although most patients with partially treated meningitis had a low LAS, several had higher scores, which may indicate bacterial infection. There was no statistical correlation between number of cells, type of cells (mononuclear or polymorphonuclear) or cerebrospinal fluid protein and glucose concentration and degree of leukocyte aggregation for the different groups. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the LAS may contribute to the immediate differential diagnosis of bacterial or viral meningitis, especially in patients with very high pleocytosis, as sometimes seen in enteroviral meningitis. It may also serve as a guide for the likelihood of bacterial infection in cases of partially treated meningitis. Additional studies are needed to confirm these observations.

The cognitive outcome of full-term small for gestational age infants at late adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cognitive and academic performance of adolescents who were born small for gestational age (SGA) at term. METHODS: A 17-year historical prospective study was done by matching neonatal data of 1758 infants to the results of the medical and intelligence assessment performed at age 17 years at the army draft board medical examination in Israel. The results of children born SGA (weight at term birth below the third percentile) were compared to those of children who were born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). RESULTS: After adjustment by a multiple linear regression analysis, the mean (+/- standard error of the mean) intelligence test scores were 103.1 +/- 2.9 versus 105.8 +/- 1.5 (P = 0.3) for the males and 100.3 +/- 2.5 versus 104.7 +/- 1.6 (P < .03) for the females. Males born SGA at term were found to have lower educational achievements (having less than 12 years of schooling or attending a vocational school) compared with the AGA group. The odds ratio for this finding after adjustment by a logistic regression analysis was 2.40 (95% confidence interval 1.07-5.39; P < .03). Intranatal events were not found to have an effect on the measured neurodevelopmental outcome. CONCLUSION: Infants born SGA at term have an increased risk for lower cognitive performance and schooling achievements than those born AGA; this result seems to be unrelated to their intranatal course.

Apgar scores and cognitive performance at 17 years of age.

The association between low Apgar scores (7 or less) at 1 and 5 minutes and cognitive performance in late adolescence was assessed. A 17-year follow-up of 1942 subjects was performed. The intelligence test scores at 17 years of age were matched with 1- and 5-minutes Apgar scores. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to control for the possible confounding effect of perinatal factors (birth weight, gestational age, serum bilirubin levels, birth order) and demographic characteristics (ethnic origin, paternal education, social class). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of a low 1-minute Apgar score were 8 and 8% and of a low 5-minute Apgar score 1.5 and 5%, respectively. Low Apgar scores are poorly correlated with long-term intellectual outcome.

Birth weight and intellectual performance in late adolescence.

The impact of birth weight on cognitive performance in late adolescence was assessed in a study of 20,567 male infants born in Jerusalem between 1964-1970. The 17-year follow-up was performed by matching computerized data base records. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of birth weight on intelligence test scores, adjusting for the influence of ethnic origin, maternal and paternal education, social class (determined by area of residence), maternal age, and birth order. These confounders explained 22% of the variance in intelligence test scores. The adjusted differences in intelligence test scores were significantly lower for groups with birth weight less than 2000 g (-6.5 points), 2000-2499 g (-3.6 points), and 2500-2999 g (-1.6 points) compared with the group weighing 3000-3499 g. Most low birth weight infants achieved intellectual performance within the normal range. However, despite this reassuring finding, low weight at birth in male subjects was found to have a statistically significant independent association with inferior intelligence test achievements in late adolescence.

Changes in body height among selected ethnic groups.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the effects of genetic factors and environmental influences on adolescence body height. DESIGN: The study was a retrospective survey of mean standing height collected from computerised medical draft records of 17-18 year old adolescents, born between 1950 and 1971. SETTING: All the studied population is resident of the state of Israel. PARTICIPANTS: About half a million records of recruits were examined. The sex distribution was: 61% male, 39% female. Ethnic distribution of the studied population was according to the countries of origin: Poland 7.8%, Romania 22.0%, Yemen 11.4%, Iraq 17.5%, Morocco 27.4%, and Israel 7.8%. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Marked differences in standing height measures were found between the ethnic groups compared to the Israeli reference group. A linear increase of 1.1 mm/year for reference males and 0.8 mm/year for the female population was found over the 22 years of study period. Ethnic groups with lower mean height were found to have a significantly greater increase in height during the period studied. CONCLUSIONS: Israel as an immigration country may serve as a model for the study of environmental and genetic factors. Under conditions found in Israel, body height continues to increase with year of birth, while significant differences in height between ethnic groups has diminished.

Effect of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice on cognitive performance.

Phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was introduced to our medical center in March 1971. To assess the influence of phototherapy on subsequent cognitive outcome, we compared the intelligence test scores at 17 years of age of subjects born 4 months before and 10 months after the introduction of phototherapy. The intelligence quotient score (mean +/- SE) at 17 years for 84 subjects with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was 108 +/- 2 for those treated by phototherapy and 107 +/- 2 for controls matched for gestational age and birth weight. The confounding effect on intelligence quotient scores of perinatal factors (bilirubin concentrations, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score) and demographic characteristics (ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, paternal education) was taken into account in a multiple logistic regression analysis by using a General Linear Models procedure. Phototherapy was found to have no independent effect on intelligence quotient scores after adjustment for the effect of confounding factors. We conclude that for full-term newborn infants with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, phototherapy had neither a beneficial nor an adverse effect on intellectual ability in late adolescence.

Presternal swelling in mumps.

A case of presternal swelling associated with mumps is presented. presternal swelling occurs secondary to obstruction of the lymphatic drainage from the anterior-superior chest wall by the enlarged cervical salivary glands. The occurrence of this complication in mumps is discussed.

Clinical information system based on the medical smart card.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 5 years Israel has implemented a nationwide health insurance plan covering the entire population of the country. We have developed a clinical information system based on electronic-chip health care medical smart cards. Health care cards are used in several European countries and chip smart cards have been successful in many sectors. Our project involves the community use of the MSC, thereby enabling health care professionals to skillfully employ card systems in the health care sector. This system can easily arrange electronic medical charts in clinics, facilitating the confidential sharing of personal health databases among health professionals. OBJECTIVES: To develop an MSC applicable for daily use in the community and hospital system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The MSC project, currently underway in Israel and the USA, will aid in determining the costs, benefits and feasibility of the MSC. Successful implementation of the MSC in chosen clinics will promote a nationwide willingness to adopt this promising technology.

Epidemiological trends of pediatric emergency referrals in Israel.

BACKGROUND: In the last decade pediatric emergency medicine in Israel advanced to a stage of independent emergency pediatric departments. At the same time, injuries and childhood, trauma--a global health problem--became the main cause of mortality and emergency referrals in children over the age of one year. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of pediatric referrals to emergency departments and the rate of pediatric trauma referrals in Israel. METHODS: The records from EDs of Israel's 24 public hospitals for a 6 year period (1994-99) were collected. The records based on computerized ED records were used to identify the basic demographics of pediatric ED referrals. Routine data for all pediatric patients were collected from pediatric and general EDs. This study is an analysis of the accumulated anonymous ED databases. RESULTS: Pediatric referrals to EDs accounted for 2,907,912 patients, 37% of them due to trauma. The mean hospitalization rate was 21%. No significant changes were observed during the 6 years in the rate of pediatric ED referrals and in the ED hospitalization rate of children. There is a constant trend of increase in trauma referrals of children. CONCLUSIONS: The ED is a major site for the delivery of healthcare to children in Israel. One of every four children in the community is referred every year to an ED, and more than one-third of those referrals are due to trauma.

The prevalence of specific IgE antibodies to natural rubber latex in healthcare workers in Israel.

BACKGROUND: According to studies from different countries, the prevalence of natural rubber latex sensitization in healthcare workers ranges from 2.9 to 17%. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of NRL-specific IgE antibodies in healthcare workers in Israel. METHODS: Three hundred healthcare workers, mostly from a major pediatric tertiary care facility, and 15 non-healthcare workers completed a questionnaire on signs and symptoms of NRL allergy and other respiratory and food allergies. NRL-specific IgE antibodies were assayed with the DPC AlaSTAT-ELISA method. RESULTS: Seventy of the 300 workers (23.3%) reported symptoms of NRL allergy: hand eczema and pruritus in 63, upper respiratory tract and ocular symptoms in 10, shortness of breath in 2, and generalized rash in 6. None had anaphylaxis due to latex exposure. There was a significant correlation of symptoms of NRL allergy with atopy and job category (nurses, laboratory technicians, nurse assistants and dental medicine workers), but not with gender, age, or years of employment. The in vitro tests for specific IgE antibodies against NRL were positive (> or = 0.70 IU/ml) in five workers (1.66%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of the prevalence of NRL-specific IgE antibodies in healthcare workers in Israel. Our 1.66% sensitization rate is much lower than that reported for healthcare workers in other countries. This difference may be due to our inclusion of a study population with a relatively low exposure to latex gloves (pediatricians compared to surgeons). Further studies are needed in this and other high risk populations in Israel.

Immunity to varicella zoster virus in young Israeli adults.

BACKGROUND: Chickenpox is a highly contagious childhood infection caused by varicella zoster virus, a virus of the herpes family. Although a mild and self-limiting disease in otherwise healthy children, chickenpox can be a complicated and even life-threatening disease in adults, pregnant women and immunosuppressed individuals. Among infants whose mothers had varicella during the first trimester of pregnancy, 2-3% will develop a congenital VZV syndrome that includes a combination of scarring, limb deformation, central nervous system impairment and ocular injury. In 1974, a live attenuated virus vaccine against VZV was developed in Japan and has been thoroughly tested for safety, efficacy and long-term effects. In March 1995 the vaccine was licensed in the U.S. for use in healthy children only. OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of immunity to VZV in young Israeli adults. METHODS: On the assumption that a randomly picked sample of 18-year-old army recruits in Israel is representative of the general Jewish population, 900 sera samples were taken for 3 years (1985,1988,1992). The sera were analyzed for IgG to VZV with a commercial ELISA kit using microwells coated with VZV antigens. RESULTS: A total of 98% of the samples tested positive for VZV antibodies. The difference in serologic values between the recruitment years was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The majority of the Israeli population reaches adulthood already immunized against VZV, with immigrants having slightly lower immunity rates. Nonetheless, a few dozen cases of chickenpox are diagnosed in the IDF annually. These data should be taken into account when a vaccination program is devised. Should such a program be implemented, it would be interesting to repeat the serosurvey for comparison. A shift in the peak occurrence age might necessitate the administration of a booster vaccine at an older age.

Seroprevalence of pertussis antibodies among adolescents in Israel.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing number of reports of pertussis among older children and adults. The development and licensure of an acellular pertussis vaccine offer the possibility of adult vaccination against the disease. Information on immunity to pertussis in this age group is needed before any vaccination policy can be considered. OBJECTIVES: To study the seroepidemiology of pertussis antibodies in a random sample of adolescents. METHODS: Serum IgG antibodies to whole-cell lysate of Bordetella pertussis were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera of 533 Israeli military recruits aged 17-18 years. Epidemiologic variables were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed for correlation with pertussis antibodies. RESULTS: Of the sera tested 58.6% were positive for pertussis IgG antibodies, while 35.4% were negative and 6% were borderline. The seropositivity rate was significantly higher among females and non-smokers than among males and smokers. Serum samples of subjects found negative to Bordetella pertussis on recruitment were tested again, using the same ELISA assay, 2-3 years later. Seroconversion during the 3 year military service was detected in 12.5% of 40 subjects. Using the pertussis toxin as the antigen in a subsample of 160 sera, the seroprevalence was lower than that detected by the whole-cell lysate on the same sera (45% vs. 58%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant part of the adolescent population in Israel has low titer of serum IgG antibodies to the multiple antigens of B. pertussis. The relatively low concentration of anti-pertussis antibodies, together with the serological evidence of exposure to the disease indicates that booster immunization with the acellular pertussis vaccine of military recruits should be considered after more information on the incidence of clinical cases of pertussis will be available.

Risk factors for stress fractures among Israeli infantry recruits.

In order to answer the question of why the stress fracture morbidity rates among Israeli infantry recruits are so high, we prospectively evaluated 392 infantry recruits for risk factors for stress fractures. Prior to training, each recruit underwent a detailed evaluation. Using multivariate analysis, five risk factors for tibial fractures were identified: shorter tibial length (p less than 0.0001); relatively greater valgus knee alignment (p less than 0.002); right leg dominance (p less than 0.02); external rotation of the hip greater than 65 degrees (p less than 0.02); and training in specific subunits (p less than 0.0002., 0.03). No risk factors for femoral stress fracture were found by multivariate analysis.