Are there disparities in acute stroke treatment between the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel? Results from the National Acute Stroke Israeli registry.

BACKGROUND: According to the latest reported data from the National Acute Stroke Israeli Survey (NASIS), around 18,000 strokes occur annually in Israel. Data regarding disparities in stroke care between the Jewish and the Arab populations in Israel are lacking. AIMS: We wished to compare demographics, comorbidities, stroke characteristics and outcomes between Jewish and Arab stroke patients in Israel that were acutely treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), in order to test if there are disparities or any ethnic-specific parameters. METHODS: The National Acute Stroke Israeli registry of patients undergoing revascularization (NASIS-REVASC) prospectively enrolled patients in six comprehensive stroke centers between 1/2014 and 3/2016. In this observational research, we compared demographics, comorbidities, time metrics, stroke characteristics and outcomes between Jewish and Arab patients enrolled. RESULTS: NASIS-REVASC included 1432 patients out of which 143 (10%) were of Arab ethnicity and 1289 (90%) of Jewish ethnicity. Arab patients were significantly younger (66 ± 14 vs. 73 ± 29, p = 0·004), exhibited higher rates of smoking and diabetes (31% vs. 18% and 57% vs. 34%, p < 0·001 for both), and were less often treated with systemic thrombolysis (48% vs. 59%, p = 0·012). However, the rates of any interventional treatment with either intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy as well as the rates of favorable outcomes and mortality were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite several baseline differences between Arab and Jewish Israeli stroke patients, treatment allocations, survival and functional outcomes were similar indicating lack of disparity in stroke care among patients treated acutely with IVT and/or EVT in Israel. DATA ACCESS STATEMENT: Full data is available following a formal request to the NASIS-REVASC registry at the Israeli Health Ministry.

A screen identifying genes responsive to Dpp and Wg signaling in the Drosophila developing wing.

Morphogens control developmental decisions by regulating the expression of different sets of target genes in specific regions. The products of these genes drive the region specific developmental program and lead to the formation of different adult structures. Therefore, identification of the morphogens downstream target effectors is an essential step in deciphering the mechanisms underlying organ development. In the Drosophila developing wing, signaling by the morphogens Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Wingless (Wg) plays global roles in controlling differentiation, growth, and survival. However, only a handful of their downstream target genes have been identified. Here, we describe a screening method designed to quickly search through large collections of P-Gal4 enhancer-traps for candidate genes that are transcriptionally regulated by Dpp or Wg signaling. Using this screening method, we screened a small collection of lethal P-Gal4 insertion lines that are expressed in the wing disc. We identified 10 novel putative Dpp and/or Wg target genes in the developing wing. Further study of the roles of the genes recognized in this screen should shed light on how morphogens control various processes in organ development.