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Biomedical subjects

N Ohana

Publications and source records attributed to N Ohana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Biomechanical performance of the new BeadEx implant in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures: restoration and maintenance of height and stability.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral compression fractures are counted among the most common complications of osteoporosis. For treatment, a new, alternative implant has been developed (BeadEx, Expandis, Hof HaCarmel, Israel). The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate whether this implant is able to restore the initial height and three-dimensional stability after fracture and whether it is able to maintain this height and stability during complex cyclic loading. METHODS: The BeadEx implant consists of small titanium rolls, which are pressed into the vertebral body through specially designed, hollow pedicle screws. The height and the three-dimensional flexibility of 18 bisegmental spine specimens (nine T12-L2, nine L3-L5) was measured, first, before and after creating a wedge compression fracture at the middle vertebral body (L1 resp. L4), second, after treatment of the fracture, and, third, during and after complex cyclic loading. The fractures were treated either with BeadEx plus internal fixator, BeadEx plus bone cement or vertebroplasty for comparison. FINDINGS: The height before fracture could almost be restored by BeadEx plus bone cement but not by BeadEx plus fixator and vertebroplasty. The total height loss after cyclic loading was smallest with BeadEx plus bone cement (in median -4.7mm with respect to the intact specimens) but -6.2mm with BeadEx plus fixator and -7.8mm with vertebroplasty. The three-dimensional stability of the specimens was clearly higher if treated with BeadEx plus fixator than with BeadEx plus bone cement or vertebroplasty. INTERPRETATION: From a biomechanical point of view, BeadEx plus bone cement can be recommended as an alternative to vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body fractures. BeadEx plus fixator can be recommended if additional stability is needed.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2005

The prevalence of obesity and associated morbidity among 17-year-old Israeli conscripts.

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents over the last few decades. Obesity is associated with significant psychosocial and physical morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of obesity and associated morbidity, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension, among 17-year-old adolescents. A comparison between the morbidity patterns of females and males was also performed. DESIGN: All 17-year-old Israeli nationals are obliged by law to present at the Israel Defence Forces recruiting office for a medical examination, with the exception of orthodox religious and Arabic adolescents. Height and weight are measured and classified, and a trained specialist evaluates those with suspected associated diseases. The level of education is also recorded. RESULTS: Our survey included 76,732 adolescents, 32,402(42.2%) females and 44,330(57.8%) males. The prevalence of obesity and morbid obesity among 17-year-old Israeli conscripts was 4.1% in males and 3.3% in females. The prevalence of borderline overweight was 12.4% in males and 11.4% in females. The prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes was significantly higher among conscripts with BMI>30 kg/m2 in both genders. There was also a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes in males compared with females(P<0.001, 0.015). A significantly higher prevalence of conscripts without high-school education(<10 years of education) was found among females with BMI>30 kg/m2. There was no significant difference among the male conscripts. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a relatively low prevalence of obesity among 17-year-old Israeli conscripts, but an alarmingly high prevalence of borderline overweight. Obesity was correlated with a higher prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and a lower level of education. There was a significant difference between genders in the prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and this should be further investigated. These data call for the creation of new education programmes on the prevention of overweight among children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Is there a need for lumbar orthosis in mild compression fractures of the thoracolumbar spine?: A retrospective study comparing the radiographic results between early ambulation with and without lumbar orthosis.

Compression fractures of the thoracolumbar spine are common in spinal trauma. Most patients are treated with early ambulation. Bracing is an option not always recommended by the treating team. There are no definite recommendations so far regarding the need for lumbar orthosis in this type of injury. The authors retrospectively compared two methods for treating patients with compression as great as 30%: early ambulation with and without lumbar orthosis. The results show that although demographic variables, type of injury, and cause of injury were similar between the groups, neither treatment emerged as superior. Thoracolumbar fractures with compression as much as 30% can be treated with early ambulation and no external support. Close clinical and radiographic follow-up is essential.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Pelvic lytic lesion, and the need to suspect osteoporosis-related fractures].

Insufficiency fractures of the pelvis may be overlooked as a cause of hip or groin pain. These fractures occur in the elderly, usually those with pronounced osteopenia of the pelvis. Predisposing factors include corticosteroids, local irradiation and postmenopausal osteoporosis. These fractures are difficult to detect clinically and plain radiographs and other studies may be misleading, delaying diagnosis and treatment. A 65-year-old woman had left groin and hip pain for 2 months with no history of trauma. Plain radiographs showed lytic lesions in the left pubic rami. Bone scan revealed increased uptake in that region, suggesting metastatic bone disease. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated fractures in the left superior and inferior pubic rami, with callus formation with no involvement of soft tissues. Quantitative computed tomography indicated low calcium concentration, below fracture threshold. The diagnosis of insufficiency fractures of the pelvis was confirmed by the favorable clinical and radiographic outcome. It is therefore important to be familiar with the appearance and location of these fractures.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis: preliminary densitometric evidence of extremely rapid recovery of bone mineral density.

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis (PAO) is considered a rare complication of pregnancy and lactation, but the actual incidence is unknown. Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is self-limited and usually does not recur during subsequent pregnancies, but little is known about its pathogenesis or the dynamics of bone density during the evolution and recovery phases of an acute episode. We report a case of idiopathic PAO. Follow-up included repeat measurements of bone density, which revealed a striking rate of improvement during the first 6 months after delivery (50% increase) and continuous improvement, at a diminished though still relatively high rate, during the successive year. This observation provides insight into the early stages of recovery from PAO.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

Identification of a starting point of breast skin tears during chicken plucking.

A site (STP) was identified on the skin of the chicken, during defeathering in the slaughter house, at which about 90% of breast skin tears started. This site is on the ventral side of the pectoral tract area. There was no difference in location of this site with respect to different commercial lines, sexes, flocks, or time of the day. In order to demonstrate the importance of a small skin tear to ultimate damage, defeathered chickens with a minor tear at a particular site and undamaged defeathered chickens were passed through the defeathering machine a second time. Thirty-six percent of the STP chickens were torn further, but only a small percentage (about 4%) of the undamaged chickens were harmed.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1996

[Uncommon presentation of perforated colonic diverticuli].

Diverticulosis of the colon is common in the sigmoid, but much less so in the cecum, ascending or transverse colon. We report 2 patients who presented with clinical findings of perforated diverticulitis of the transverse and left colon. A 42- and a 46-year-old man underwent extended right and left hemicolectomies, respectively. The first patient ran an excellent postoperative course. In the second, in whom a double-barrelled colostomy was formed, the proximal colostomy had to be redone because of stomal retraction, but both stomata eventually were closed. On follow-up both patients are symptom-free. The diagnosis of diverticulitis with complications should be considered in patients who present with intra-abdominal masses. Preoperatively, the condition often cannot be differentiated from carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Clinical, biochemical, and genetic findings in a large pedigree of male and female patients with 5 alpha-reductase 2 deficiency.

The present report describes a cluster of eight patients with male pseudohermaphroditism from a large pedigree with steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 deficiency (5 alpha RD), who reside in Southern Lebanon. They were born with unambiguous female external genitalia and reared as girls until puberty, when masculinization occurred, followed by a change of gender role. Semen analysis and testicular histology revealed maturation arrest of spermatogenesis, with low sperm count and motility. Determination of urinary 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reduced adrenal steroids enabled us to diagnose the disease in a male patient with the full-blown clinical syndrome, in another male patient who had undergone bilateral orchidectomy, and in three female individuals with the biochemical derangement. The female patients were unique in this family with respect to their low degree of virilization, but had normal menstrual cycles. Molecular genetic studies were performed on DNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes and from cultured genital skin fibroblasts. The coding sequence of the 5 alpha R2 gene (SRD5A2) was studied by exon-specific PCR, single strand conformation polymorphism, and direct sequencing. A homozygous point mutation was identified in exon 1, leading to a thymidine for adenine substitution, predicting amino acid substitution of leucine for glutamine at position 55.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Arthroscopic surgery of the knee with CO2 laser surgery of the knee].

We present a preliminary report of our experience with the CO2 laser in arthroscopic surgery of the knee. Between August '94 and February '95 a total of 27 knee arthroscopies were done with the Sarplan 1030 30-watt CO2 laser for various knee problems, mostly degenerative arthritis. Complications such as subcutaneous emphysema and reactive effusion were noted, but no other significant problems. Although the arthroscopies were performed in a CO2 medium, which created some technical difficulties, the CO2 laser was very effective in neatly shaving the degenerative, articular cartilage, and in meniscal debridement. With the laser probe, some areas of the knee joint previously not accessible, can be reached and treated. Our impression is that with proper indications, laser arthroscopy has some advantages over traditional arthroscopy. Further technical improvement is needed before it is introduced for routine use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Carotid endarterectomy based on preoperative duplex ultrasound].

Carotid endarterectomy is the most common vascular procedure. Recent studies have suggested that carotid endarterectomy can be performed safely, based solely on ultrasound duplex evaluation in selected patients. We evaluated 12 men and 8 women who underwent carotid endarterectomy, 12 for significant symptomatic disease and 8 for tight, asymptomatic stenosis of the carotid artery. All had duplex ultrasound scans without angiography before operation. They all survived. 2 had hoarseness due to vocal cord paralysis which resolved 5 months later in 1, while in the other it still persisted 2 months after operation. There were no other neurologic complications. During follow-up all have remained symptom-free. We conclude that clinical assessment of carotid artery stenosis with duplex ultrasound scan of good technical quality provides appropriate information on which to base carotid endarterectomy, and is a safe alternative to preoperative angiography.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Bilateral hypoplastic lateral meniscus.

Among other anomalies of the menisci, a hypoplastic medial meniscus is extremely rare, with only four cases being described in the English literature. We were unable to find a description of this anomaly in the lateral knee compartment. A case report of a young patient with an arthroscopic diagnosis of bilateral hypoplastic lateral menisci is presented. We believe the arthroscopist should be familiar with this rare entity, even though it might be an incidental finding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Two cases of CA19-9 producing pulmonary papillary adenocarcinoma].

Two cases of CA 19-9 producing pulmonary papillary adenocarcinoma were reported. Pathological examination showed a well differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma with partially bronchiolo-alveolar cell type. Immunohistochemical study showed a positive straining for CA 19-9 on tumor cells. The level of CA 19-9 decreased after lobectomy and anti-cancer chemotherapy using CDDP and VDS. The series of CA 19-9 level is very useful to evaluate the effect of surgery and chemotherapy. Also it is useful to find out the recurrence of carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1994

[Nd:YAG laser for anorectal surgery: initial experience in Israel].

The use of laser in gastrointestinal diseases started in the mid-70's. The 3 types of laser in use today are CO2, argon and Nd:YAG. We present the first clinical results in Israel of the use of the Nd:YAG laser in anorectal surgery. Between Oct. '91-Dec. '92, 275 patients with anorectal diseases (mostly hemorrhoids, anal fissures and fistulas) and 67 with various perineal lesions were operated on. Within an hour of the end of the operation, most patients were discharged to home with detailed follow-up instructions. 8 needed an extra day of observation in hospital. Postoperative complications included: bleeding (8 patients), wound infection (4) and urinary retention after hemorrhoidectomy (8). 1 patient complained of anal laxity after sphincterotomy, and 4 of recurrence of anal fissure. It is our impression that after laser hemorrhoidectomy patients return quickly to their normal lives; that the rate of complications is not greater than after other accepted techniques; and that the laser method for anal fistulectomy is most efficacious.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1993

Vitiliginous vs pigmented skin response to intradermal administration of interferon gamma.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Decreased sensitization and elicitation of contact allergens in vitiliginous skin has been described. This may be related to altered epidermal Langerhans cell migration with bound hapten to dermis and draining lymph nodes. The aim of the present study was to detect the potential ability of vitiliginous skin to respond to an in vivo immunologic stimulus such as intradermal injections of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). Vitiliginous and normal pigmented skin of each patient was injected intradermally with 10 micrograms of recombinant IFN-gamma diluted in 0.1 mL of sterile water for 3 consecutive days. On day 5, punch biopsy specimens were obtained from the injected sites. Histologic and immunohistochemical staining was performed on all sections. The cryostat sections were stained with adenosine triphosphatase as well as with the indirect immunoperoxidase technique employing murine monoclonal antibodies to HLA-DR, ICAM-1, CD1, CD11a, and CD18. RESULTS: HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression by epidermal cells, combined with perivascular accumulation of mononuclear cells with CD11a and CD18 expression, was observed in all sites injected with IFN-gamma. However, absence of an effect on the epidermal Langerhans cell population was noted only on the vitiliginous skin. CONCLUSION: The reactivity of depigmented and pigmented skin was found to be different after IFN-gamma administration, with fewer CD1-positive cells in the depigmented skin. As adenosine triphosphatase staining also showed fewer positive cells, it may be concluded that no effect on the migration of epidermal Langerhans cells was noted in the involved skin. This may shed light on the immunologic aberration seen in vitiliginous skin.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1989

Skin-isolated, community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus: in vitro resistance to methicillin and erythromycin.

During a 10-month period, skin culture specimens were taken from 1680 healthy outpatients with a variety of community-acquired skin infections. Staphylococcus aureus was found in 1035 (61.6%) of these patients. In vitro resistance to methicillin and erythromycin was 1.0% and 42.9%, respectively. Resistance rates to erythromycin in patients with furunculosis and impetigo were 51.5% and 26.2%, respectively (p less than 0.001). The emergence of erythromycin-resistant strains may be the result of widespread use of this drug in our geographic area. There is also the possibility that certain bacteriologic features associated with erythromycin resistance may foster the development of furunculosis.

Adolescent↗