There are about 9745 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Israel. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
Prostate biopsy is usually conducted transrectal, ultrasonography guided. Since the area is not sterile, infection can be induced during the procedure. Prophylaxis antibiotic against gram-negative bacteria decreased significantly the amount of infections. Quinolones are considered preferred treatment but there is already an increase in resistance rates. TMP-SMX can not be used empirically due to a high percent of resistant uropathogens. One of the options is aminoglycosides, especially gentamicin. Advantages: very low resistance rate in the community, high concentration is urinary tract, slow clearance, no resistance developed under treatment, chip and with very few side effects.
HIV infection is a growing problem in Israel with over 4000 known patients who are either infected with the virus or have developed AIDS. Patients are usually followed for years until they develop an increase in their viral load (HIV-1 RNA) or their CD4 + cells decline. At this point, patients are usually treated with Highly Active, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART). The mainstay of response to such treatment is the lowering of viral load and increase in CD4+ cells. Food supplements for HIV patients have been given in several studies, with controversial results. A meta-analysis published recently [1] assessed whether micronutrient supplements are effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in adults and children with HIV infection. They recommended supporting the current WHO recommendations to promote and support adequate dietary intake of micronutrients wherever possible. We expect to enroll 140 subjects in this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study. Seventy subjects will be enrolled in the rice-supplement arm and 70 subjects in the control group, which will receive supplemental, flavored dextrose to their current medical treatment. The treatment duration is 24 weeks with follow-up at 36 weeks from enrollment. The target population is HIV-1 infected individuals who may be either on anti-retroviral therapy or not on therapy. Subjects must be with either CD4+ cells are <500 cells/mm3, or HIV plasma RNA level is > 5000 copies/ml. The primary objective is to demonstrate the efficacy of food supplementation versus a flavored-dextrose supplement with respect to increment of patient CD4+ cell count from baseline at 24 weeks, or virological response defined as lowering of plasma HIV-1 RNA and immunologic response.
The phospholipids of mammalian spermatozoa possess a distinctive fatty acid composition with high proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The lipid composition is a major determinant of the membrane flexibility and sperm motility required for proper fertilization. It also influences the sperm plasma membrane's fluidity, chilling sensitivity and thermotropic lipid phase transition (LPT) and these parameters determine our ability to cryopreserve these cells. Our hypotheses is that by providing dietary supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids an improvement of sperm parameters (number, motility, viability) can be achieved. We also expect alteration spermatozoal plasma membrane fatty acid composition, making it more chilling resistant. Experimental methodology: 1) Characterize fatty acid composition of the spermatozoa of normal and abnormal spermatozoa by gas chromatography. 2) Characterize sperm plasma membrane LPT by FTIR spectrometer. 3) Run a randomized double-blind, placebo controlled, crossed-over dietary fatty acid supplementation pilot trial in human sub-fertile patients. Large scale trial will follow, if justified. In both trials sperm characterization of each participant will be conducted before, during and following the trial. Subfertile males will benefit greatly if their sperm parameters can be improved and cryopreserved while ensuring enhanced post-thawing survival. We believe that changing the fatty acid composition of sperm plasma membrane by simple dietary means will open the way to improve the fertility of those that needs it the most.
Healthy babies(age 8-18 months) following a routine blood count, with no anemia or iron deficiency, will be randomly placed in two groups. Group 1 will receive a 3 months preventive dose of an iron preparation (Ferripel 3 iron polysaccharide complex). Group 2 will be followed up as a control group. Following a nutritional questionnair, parents of all babies will receive instruction regarding appropriate nutrition in the 2nd year of life. A follow-up blood count will be taken from all participating babies 3 months after recruitment. The study aims to evaluate effectiveness of iron supplementation in the 2nd year of life. The hypothesis is that babies who receive iron supplementation in the 2nd year of life are less likely to develop iron deficiency or anemia.
The purpose of this study is to see whether patients undergoing ESWL, for upper tract urinary stones between 1.5-2.0cm, may be treated by expulsion therapy(Tamsulosin) instead of inserting ureteral stents .
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic disorder of the liver causing jaundice and liver damage. When Cystic Fibrosis affects the liver, the damaged liver looks like the liver in PSC. This study is designed to answer the question whether isolated PSC may be a form of CF only in the liver
Glucagon like peptides receptors expression in the stomach of diabetes type 2 Glucagon like peptides (GLP-1, GLP-2), are hormones secreted by L cells located along the gastrointestinal tract. These hormones are secreted after meals and have some roles in regulating the digestion process, absorption, and sending signals to the brain that regulate food consumption. GLP peptides affect peripheral targets and have an important homeostatic role. GLP-1 decreases the circulatory glucose level and GLP-2 has trophic effects which enable adequate intestine growth. We aimed in our study to investigate the GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptor expression in different zones of the stomach in diabetes type 2 patients. If there are differences, it might explain the pathological gastric emptying in these patients. Understanding the function of these peptides may lead to new therapeutic options for diabetic patients with delayed gastric emptying. Methods: 20 diabetes type 2 patients with symptoms that need upper endoscopy will be included in the study and 20 controls aged 18-70 years. Patients with neurological disease will be excluded. During esophagogastroduodenoscopy 3 biopsies will be taken from the antrum, corpus and cardia. The biopsies will be stored in -70. After RNA extraction the GLP receptors expression will established by real time PCR method. Patients with different expression compared to control will undergo isotopic scan for gastric emptying.
Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the main causes of development of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. There are no published studies which have investigated the incidence of NAFLD in pregnant women or the correlation between the metabolic changes in pregnancy and this phenomenon. We aimed in our study to explore the incidence of NAFLD in pregnancy by ultrasonography (US) during the end of the pregnancy or immediately after birth (after 36 weeks) and to look for a correlation between fatty liver and demographic, clinical, nutritional and laboratory data during pregnancy.
Diabetes is a highly atherogenic disease. Pomegranate juice has impressive antioxidant properties. It has been proven to decrease oxidant stress and to cause the regression of atherosclerotic plaques in hypercholestrolemic and diabetic patients.Furthermore it has been proven to potentiate the biologic activity of the enzyme paraoxonase 1 which is very important in preventing atherosclerosis. The study will try to prove that a polyphenolic extract from pomegranate (POMx) has the same desired effects.
The purpose of this ex-vivo study is to evaluate the insertion procedure for the ProstaPlant implant in human prostates and the support that it supplies to the prostate.