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.

The changing epidemiology of upper gastrointestinal cancers in Israel: clinical and screening implications.

Abstract: Western countries and now developing countries have noted a decreasing incidence of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) (esophageal and gastric) cancers, but increasing distal esophageal adenocarcinoma and a shift to fundal-sited gastric cancer. We examined these trends in Israeli Jewish and non-Jewish populations, drawing conclusions on the need to promote prevention and/or screening. Israel Cancer Registry UGI cancer data were computed by ethnicity, immigration after 1990, sex, sites and histology, examining age-standardized rates (ASR)/10 for 2000-2005 and incidence trends during 1980-2005. In Jews, male esophageal cancer incidence has increased (P<0.01) and is highest in European-American-born males (ASR/10, 1.98), but decreasing in the upper two-thirds of esophagus so that in men 89% now occur in the lower one-third. In both sexes this was associated with decreasing squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.01) but increased adenocarcinoma to cause 72.6% of esophageal cancers in men. Gastric cancer incidence is highest in European-American-born males (ASR/10, 11.75); there is a decreasing incidence in both sexes (P<0.01) and gastric site trends are stable. In non-Jews, esophageal cancer incidence is three times higher in men (ASR/10, 0.82); they are only squamous cell cancers and incidence trends are stable. Gastric cancer incidence is twice as high in men (ASR/10, 8.45) and gastric site trends are stable. UGI cancer incidence in Jews and non-Jews, men and women, is low as compared with most developing countries. The important findings are the low but prominent incidence of distal esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma in male immigrants. This requires attention to possible preventive measures in at-risk groups.

Infertility Treatments and Long-Term Neurologic Morbidity of the Offspring.

Abstract: Objective To determine the risk of long-term neurologic morbidity among children (up to 18 years) born following in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ovulation induction (OI) treatments as compared with spontaneously conceived. Study Design A population-based cohort analysis was performed, including data from the perinatal computerized database on all singleton infants born at the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) between the years 1991 and 2014. This perinatal database was linked and cross-matched with the SUMC computerized dataset of all pediatric hospitalizations. Results Neurologic morbidity was significantly more common in IVF (3.7%) and OI (4.1%) offspring as compared with those following spontaneous pregnancies (3.1%; p = 0.017). In particular, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders and headaches were more common in the OI group and sleep disorders in the IVF group, whereas autism and cerebral palsy were comparable between the groups. In the Weibull multivariable analysis, while controlling for maternal age, preterm delivery, birthweight centile, maternal diabetes, and hypertensive disorders, IVF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–1.71; p = 0.001), but not OI (adjusted HR: 1.17' 95% CI: 0.92–1.48; p = 0.196), was noted as an independent risk factor for long-term pediatric neurologic morbidity. Conclusion IVF offspring appear to be at an increased risk of long-term neurologic morbidity up to 18 years of age.

[Synthetic cannabinoids--the new "legal high" drugs].

Abstract: Recently, a new Law, named the "derivative law" (first addition, schedule drug change--2010), was accepted in the Israeli parliament. It will mean that dangerous substances that are closely related structurally to a drug that is listed in the dangerous drugs ordinance will automatically enter the dangerous drugs ordinance. The dangerous drugs that were sold in kiosks were related to 4 major groups: Amphetamines, methamphetamines, cathinone and methcathinone. Over 90% of the substances known as "legal highs" or "hagigat" belong to these groups. Before the law was accepted, merchandisers and clandestine Laboratories took advantage of a state in which every small molecular change in a controlled substance of amphetamines, methamphetamines, cathinone and methcathinone required a long legal process in order to include the new substance in the controlled substance law. During this process, we believe that public health was endangered. The chemists and merchandisers found a new solution to "legally" bypass the "derivative law", by marketing a new group of substances named "synthetic cannabinoids". The synthetic cannabinoids do not resemble the chemical structure of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC] which appears in marijuana or hashish, but affects the body in the same manner and according to the literature, are five times more potent. The synthetic cannabinoids are sold in Israel under different nicknames such as: "Mabsuton", "Mr. Nice Guy", "Spice", "Sabbaba" and "Lemon Grass". The substance can be used in different ways such as smoking, inhaling or swallowing. The use of synthetic cannabinoids causes side effects that include: euphoria, dizziness, headache, thirst, paranoia, insomnia, fatigue and disturbed vision. Cases of hospital admission in Israel due to the use of these substances have been reported. The symptoms included psychiatric disturbances. In an urgent meeting of the multi-ministry committee on psychotropic substances held in December 2010 in the Israel Anti-Drug Authority, it was decided to recommend to the Minister of Health to insert an inclusive group of "synthetic cannabinoids" into the control drug list in Israel. On April 5, 2011, after receiving the approval of the health and welfare committee in the Israeli parliament, the dangerous drugs ordinance (new version)--5732-1973 was amended with the addition of an inclusive group of "synthetic cannabinoids". These include: JWH-018, JWH-133, JWH-073, CP 47, 497, CP 55, 940, HU-331, HU-210, HU-211, HU-250.

Enhancing intensive care capacity: COVID-19 experience from a Tertiary Center in Israel.

Abstract: Dear Editor, The main principals of intensive care unit (ICU) response during a pandemic include increasing capacity through ICU expansion to other areas, surge labor resources, and enhanced infection control practices [1]. Israeli hospitals persistently lack ICU resources [2, 3]. Sheba Medical Center (SMC), a 1900 bed tertiary hospital in Israel, increased ICU surge capacity through rapidly constructing separated COVID-19 ICUs. Disaster preparedness principles and innovative utilization of infrastructure, equipment, and personnel facilitated a fourfold increase in ICU capacity. The key aspects of this plan are outlined below.

Like mother like daughter: low birth weight and preeclampsia tend to reoccur at the next generation.

Abstract: Background: Low birth weight and preeclampsia are both adverse pregnancy and delivery outcomes, with possible influence on future health status. Previous studies have shown that intergenerational f...