
The Influence of Antiphospholipid Antibodies on the Relationship Between Hyperurecemia, Gout and...
Antiphospholipid SyndromeEndothelial Dysfunction3 morePatients with hyperuricemia were confirmed to have higher risks of cardiovascular disease, but the exact mechanism remained to be elucidated. Many connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are often associated with antiphospholipid antibodies-associated endothelial impairment. In the present study, the investigators will analyze the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in the serum of the patients with gout/asymptomatic hyperuricemia, with a comparison to the patients of osteoarthritis but without hyperuricemia and gout. The investigators expect to find a correlation between these pathogenic antibody and those cardiovascular co-morbidities.

Clinical Study of PET/CT and Association With Metabolic Syndrome/Depressive Symptoms in Psoriasis...
PsoriasisMetabolic Syndrome1 morePsoriasis is associated with increases in markers of inflammation in the skin and blood and increasingly is thought to be a systemic inflammatory disease and risk factor for incident diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, stroke, and premature cardiovascular death. Furthermore, it is important for clinicians to be aware that psoriasis can have a substantial emotional impact on an individual, which is not necessarily related to the extent of skin disease. FDG-PET/CT represents an innovative approach to studying systemic inflammation in a manner that is sensitive, quantifiable, and anatomically localizable. Also, recent study show that chronic disease such as end stage renal disease with depressive symptoms have decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in several brain areas in F-18-FDG PET/CT. So this protocol was designed to evaluate usefulness of PET/CT to detect systemic inflammation and abnormality of cerebral glucose metabolism and association with metabolic syndrome/major depressive symptoms in patients with psoriasis.

Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome and Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder...
Major Depressive DisorderMetabolic Syndrome1 moreAim 1 is to study prevalence and 1 year incidence of metabolic syndrome in major depressive disorder and factors correlation. Aim 2 is to study prevalence and 1 year incidence of thyroid dysfunction in major depressive disorder and factors correlation.

Quantification and Description of the Increase in Serum Troponin Following Acute Coronary Syndrome...
Acute Coronary SyndromeMyocardial Infarction1 moreThe new assay of troponins T (highly sensitive troponins) detects concentrations much lower than before. Few data are currently available on their kinetics during acute coronary syndrome, especially in regard to the correlation with CK MB. The aim of the present study is to describe the kinetic of highly sensitive troponins in acute coronary syndrome, to correlate it with the concentration of CK MB, and possibly to evaluate their prognostic value with respect to infarct size .

Stiffness of the Skin and Joints in Relation to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel SyndromeThe exact etiology of CTS remains yet unknown. A rise in carpal tunnel pressure is well documented, but why this phenomenon occurs is yet unknown in most patients. There is an absolute or relative narrowing of the carpal tunnel, which results in a compression of the median nerve. The investigators postulate, that a stiffer flexor retinaculum (roof of carpal tunnel) will be less compliant. As a consequence of this stiffer retinaculum the pressure in the carpal tunnel will rise more quickly in stiff patients resulting in CTS-complaints. A relation between connective tissue composition and joint stiffness is proven. This relationship possibly extends to a relation between stiffness of the skin, joint stiffness and the prevalence of CTS.

The Effect of Different Types of Temporary Abdominal Closure on Intra Abdominal Hypertension.
Intra Abdominal HypertensionAbdominal Compartment SyndromeThis is a prospective comparison trial. Patients that will be included in the trial are those that will have operations in which their abdominal closure is temporary, i.e. patients sustaining trauma or septic abdomen. Patients will be grouped according to the method of temporarily abdominal closure (TAC) procedure: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) "Bogota bag" (BB), a sterile intravenous bag silo closure. The two methods are currently accepted with no clear cut evidence to prefer one on another. At Soroka Medical Center the decision to choose either of the methods is at the surgeon's discretion. Intra-abdominal pressure will be measured in all patients by the urinary bladder pressure technique at 6 12 24 ant 48 hours post operation. The measurement is a routine procedure done as part of the monitoring processes of critically ill patients in the General Intensive Care Unit (GICU). Patients will be evaluated for the development of acute intra abdominal hypertension with or without abdominal compartment syndrome.

Craniofacial Microsomia: Longitudinal Outcomes in Children Pre-Kindergarten (CLOCK)
Craniofacial MicrosomiaHemifacial Microsomia3 moreThis study is a multi-center, longitudinal cohort study of 125 infants with craniofacial microsomia (CFM) and 100 infants without craniofacial anomalies. Participants will undergo a series of evaluations between 0-3 years of age to comprehensively evaluate the developmental status of infants and toddlers with CFM. This research design will also explore specific pathways by which CFM may lead to certain outcomes. Specifically, the study explores (1) the longitudinal relations between facial asymmetry and emotion-related facial movements and socialization; and (2) associations among ear malformations, hearing and speech deficits and cognitive outcomes. Results of this research will ultimately lead to future investigations that assess new interventions and corresponding changes in current standards of care for children with CFM.

Observational Study of the Genetic Architecture of Neutrophil-Mediated Inflammatory Skin Diseases...
Other Specified Inflammatory Disorders of Skin or Subcutaneous TissuePyoderma Gangrenosum26 moreThis study investigates the genetic architecture of Neutrophil-Mediated Inflammatory Skin Diseases. After collecting informed consent, all patients' clinical phenotype is graded at inclusion with a detailed case report form and a discovery cohort formed based on the certainty of diagnosis. The DNA of patients in the discovery cohort is analyzed by whole exome sequencing which identifies all protein-coding genetic variants. Subsequently, statistical burden tests are going to identify enrichment of rare coding genetic variants in patients affected by Neutrophil-Mediated Inflammatory Skin Diseases. The ultimate goal is to reveal the responsible gene(s) that may then be targets for clinical intervention.

Non-Invasive Determination of Fetal Chromosome Abnormalities
Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)Edward's Syndrome (Trisomy 18)5 moreThe overall significance of this study is to develop a laboratory developed test (LDT) to use a new marker in the maternal blood to better identify pregnancies that have a child with a chromosome abnormality such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edward's syndrome (trisomy 18), Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), Klinefelter syndrome, (47, XXY), and other chromosome abnormalities. Accomplishing that task would reduce the need for invasive amniocentesis and CVS procedures.

Approach to a Quantitative Follow-up of Non-thyroidal Illness Syndrome
Euthyroid Sick SyndromesNon-thyroidal Illness Syndrome2 moreAQUA FONTIS is a unicentric, multidisciplinary, prospective cross-section and longitudinal study that aims at the development of a more clear-cut diagnostic definition and classification of non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS).