Israel Ministry of Health

About: Israel Ministry of Health is a government organization based out in Jerusalem, Israel. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 1633 authors who have published 2108 publications receiving 65387 citations.

Clearance by the mucociliary system in ‘simple chronic otitis media’

Abstract: This is a study of the rate of middle ear clearance in chronic otitis media and atelectatic ears. The clearance rate was measured with the aid of non-soluble saccharin, introduced into the middle ear through an existing perforation in 'chronic ears', or through a ventilating tube in atelectatic ears. Cholesteatomatous ears were excluded. Altogether 122 ears were examined and about two-thirds of the subjects felt the sweet taste in their mouths thereafter. The average time it took for the saccharin to be transported from the middle ear to the taste buds was 33' 22" minutes in non-infected (i.e. dry) chronic ears (38 patients or 66 per cent). Wet or infected ears with chronic otitis media (30 patients, or 58 per cent) showed a slower transport rate, averaging 54' 22" minutes--the difference was significant at the 0.01 level. 8 (63 per cent) of the atelectatic ears transported the saccharin at an average rate of 50' 25". This study demonstrated that most ears with 'simple' chronic otitis media and atelectatic ears have a patent eustachian tube and that their mucociliary system can transport foreign particles through it. When the ear is infected, transport tends to be slowed down.

Safe handling of oral antineoplastic medications: Focus on targeted therapeutics in the home setting.

Abstract: Introduction With the growing number of oral targeted therapies being approved for use in cancer therapy, the potential for long-term administration of these drugs to cancer patients is expanding. The use of these drugs in the home setting has the potential to expose family members and caregivers to them either through direct contact with the drugs or indirectly by exposure to the parent compounds and/or their active metabolites in contaminated patients' waste. Methods A systematic literature review was performed and the known adverse health effect of 32 oral targeted therapeutics is summarized. In particular, the carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and embryo-fetal toxicity, along with the route of excretion were evaluated. Results Carcinogenicity testing has not been performed on most of the oral targeted therapeutics and the genotoxicity data are mixed. However, the majority of these drugs exhibit adverse reproductive effects, some of which are severe. Currently, available data does not permit the possibility of a health hazard from inappropriate handling of drugs and contaminated patients waste to be ignored, especially in a long-term home setting. Further research is needed to understand these issues. Conclusions With the expanding use of targeted therapies in the home setting, family members and caregivers, especially those of reproductive risk age, are, potentially at risk. Overall basic education and related precautions should be taken to protect family members and caregivers from indirect or direct exposure from these drugs. Further investigations and discussion on this subject are warranted.