Arnon D. Cohen

Bio: Arnon D. Cohen is an academic researcher from Clalit Health Services. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Odds ratio. The author has an hindex of 41, co-authored 374 publications receiving 7913 citations. Previous affiliations of Arnon D. Cohen include University of Milan & University of Connecticut.

Pyogenic granuloma of the penile shaft following circumcision.

Abstract: Pyogenic granuloma is a benign vascular, inflammatory proliferation that appears following minor trauma in children. The exact pathogenesis of pyogenic granuloma is unknown, but its formation is closely related to minor trauma, chronic irritation, and hormonal influences. We present a unique case of a pyogenic granuloma that appeared in an infant following circumcision.

Mortality in bullous pemphigoid: A systematic review and meta-analysis of standardized mortality ratios

Abstract: There are inconsistent data on mortality rates in patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP). Trends in mortality in BP throughout the years are yet to be established. The aim of the present study was to study the mortality in BP patients relative to the general population and to estimate trends in standardized mortality over the past 30 years. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies in Medline, Embase and Scopus (1823-2017). Reference lists of included studies were also searched for eligible studies. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to estimate pooled standardized mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Meta-regression models were used to investigate the secular trends in SMR. Ten studies were included covering the period 1960-2015 (1736 patients, 746 deaths). Pooled all-cause SMR was 3.6 (95% CI, 2.6-5.0). There was no trend in all-cause SMR across the last three decades (regression coefficient 0.02 [change in logSMR/year]; 95% CI, 0.04-0.08; P = 0.545). In conclusion, there is a 3.6-fold increased mortality among patients with BP as compared with the age-matched general population. The excess mortality in BP has not changed significantly over the past 30 years.

Autoantibody status in systemic sclerosis patients defines both cancer risk and survival with ANA negativity in cases with concomitant cancer having a worse survival.

Abstract: Background: A higher rate of cancer in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is recognized but the role of SSc-linked autoantibodies status (positive/negative and autoantibody specificities) in the survival of SSc-patients with cancer remains poorly understood. Methods: We utilized the Clalit-Health-Services medical database in a case-control study to evaluate the autoantibody status and specificities of SSc-patients with age- and sex-matched controls with regard to the prevalence of different cancer-subtypes and their impact on mortality. SSc-linked autoantibodies (ANA, anti-centromere, anti-RNP, anti-RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) and anti-Scl-70) status was assessed in terms of cancer risk and outcome. Results: 2,431 SSc-patients and 12,377 age- and sex-matched controls were included. SSc-patients had a relative risk of cancer of 1.90 (95%CI 1.62-2.24, p < 0.0001) and tended to develop malignancies earlier than controls. RNAPIII and Scl-70 autoantibody were associated with an increased overall cancer risk and after SSc diagnosis risk of cancer, respectively. As expected, SSc-patients with cancer had a risk of death of 2.15 (1.65-2.79) in comparison to SSc-patients without cancer. ANA-positive SSc-patients with cancer had a better prognosis than ANA-negative cases (p = 0.0001). Despite the benefit of ANA-positive status on survival, the anti-Scl-70-positive subgroup with cancer had a significant negative impact on the survival compared to Scl-70-positive cases without cancer, whereas anti-RNAPIII and anti-centromere had no significant impact. Conclusion: ANA positivity is an independent predictor of favorable prognosis in SSc-patients with cancer, possibly suggesting that humoral autoimmunity in SSc with cancer may have some benefit. However, no survival benefit was discernible with the common autoantibodies.

Smoking and obesity in systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract: Background Both smoking and obesity have been demonstrated as risk factors in several autoimmune diseases. Little is known about the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and both smoking and obesity. Objectives To investigate the association between SLE, tobacco consumption and body mass index (BMI). Materials and methods Using data from the largest Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in Israel, the Clalit Health Services, we searched for an association between SLE, smoking and obesity. Chi-square and t-test were used for univariate analysis, and a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Data available from Clalit Health Services database included age, sex, BMI, smoking status, socioeconomic status (SES) and diagnoses of chronic diseases. Results The study included 5018 patients with SLE and 25 090 age- and sex-matched controls. In multivariate analysis, we found a significant association between smoking and SLE (OR = 1·91). Conversely, there was no association between BMI and SLE. Conclusion In this study, we have shown that smoking is independently associated with SLE, whereas BMI scores were not.

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine

Abstract: The 11th edition of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine welcomes Anthony Fauci to its editorial staff, in addition to more than 85 new contributors. While the organization of the book is similar to previous editions, major emphasis has been placed on disorders that affect multiple organ systems. Important advances in genetics, immunology, and oncology are emphasized. Many chapters of the book have been rewritten and describe major advances in internal medicine. Subjects that received only a paragraph or two of attention in previous editions are now covered in entire chapters. Among the chapters that have been extensively revised are the chapters on infections in the compromised host, on skin rashes in infections, on many of the viral infections, including cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, on sexually transmitted diseases, on diabetes mellitus, on disorders of bone and mineral metabolism, and on lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. The major revisions in these chapters and many

The Self-Organizing Map

Abstract: An overview of the self-organizing map algorithm, on which the papers in this issue are based, is presented in this article.

The Geometry of Algorithms with Orthogonality Constraints

Abstract: In this paper we develop new Newton and conjugate gradient algorithms on the Grassmann and Stiefel manifolds. These manifolds represent the constraints that arise in such areas as the symmetric eigenvalue problem, nonlinear eigenvalue problems, electronic structures computations, and signal processing. In addition to the new algorithms, we show how the geometrical framework gives penetrating new insights allowing us to create, understand, and compare algorithms. The theory proposed here provides a taxonomy for numerical linear algebra algorithms that provide a top level mathematical view of previously unrelated algorithms. It is our hope that developers of new algorithms and perturbation theories will benefit from the theory, methods, and examples in this paper.

Sarcoidosis

Abstract: 结节病易误诊,据王洪武等~([1])收集国内18篇关于此病误诊的文献,误诊率高达63.2%,当然有误诊就会有误治,如孙永昌等~([2])报道26例结节病在影像学检查诊断的第一印象中拟诊结核5例,其中就有2例完成规范的抗结核治疗,为此应引起临床对本病诊治的重视。

Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an expanding global health problem, closely linked to the epidemic of obesity. Individuals with T2DM are at high risk for both microvascular complications (including retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and macrovascular complications (such as cardiovascular comorbidities), owing to hyperglycaemia and individual components of the insulin resistance (metabolic) syndrome. Environmental factors (for example, obesity, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity) and genetic factors contribute to the multiple pathophysiological disturbances that are responsible for impaired glucose homeostasis in T2DM. Insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion remain the core defects in T2DM, but at least six other pathophysiological abnormalities contribute to the dysregulation of glucose metabolism. The multiple pathogenetic disturbances present in T2DM dictate that multiple antidiabetic agents, used in combination, will be required to maintain normoglycaemia. The treatment must not only be effective and safe but also improve the quality of life. Several novel medications are in development, but the greatest need is for agents that enhance insulin sensitivity, halt the progressive pancreatic β-cell failure that is characteristic of T2DM and prevent or reverse the microvascular complications. For an illustrated summary of this Primer, visit: http://go.nature.com/V2eGfN.