Background: We intended to determine ethnic differences in the characteristics, management and outcome of acute ischemic stroke between the Israeli Arab and Jewish populations. Methods: A national survey was conducted in 2004 at all 28 hospitals in Israel. Information on demographics, transportation, risk factors, clinical presentation, stroke severity, type and subtype, management and clinical outcome was obtained. Mortality during the 36 months after hospitalization was assessed by matching with national mortality data. Results: Of the 1,540 patients, 169 (11%) were Arabs and 1,371 (89%) were Jews. The mean age of Arab patients was 9 years younger than in Jewish patients (63 ± 11 vs. 72 ± 12 years). Also, Arabs were more likely to be obese (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.19–2.50) and have diabetes (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.01–1.96), while Jews were more likely to have dyslipidemia (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.11–2.17). A greater percentage of the Arab patients arrived at the hospital independently (OR = 3.85; 95% CI: 2.56–5.56) and were less likely to arrive within 3 h of symptom onset (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.39–3.85). Arabs suffered increased rates of lacunar stroke (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.14–2.43) and were discharged home more often (OR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.35–4.25). No differences in severity of stroke, management, complications, disability or mortality were found between the 2 groups. Conclusions: The unique characteristics of the Arab and Jewish populations should be considered when planning stroke-care services and culturally oriented public education programs.

The administration of EPO prior to CA did not reduce the incidence of CIN. Additional prospective research with a larger sample size and in other patient categories is essential to further define the potential protective effect of EPO on prevention of CIN.

Identifying patients who benefit from hyperoxygenation therapy is important, because treatment is time-consuming and involves high costs and complications (minor). Our objective was to develop a model for predicting therapy outcome based on population of patients with and without diabetes. A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a major hospital in Israel. All 385 patients treated between 1/1/1998 and 1/1/2007 for ischemic nonhealing lower extremities wounds were included. Data on medical history, demographic, transcutaneous oximetry, wounds, treatment, and outcome characteristics were collected. Eight factors were identified to optimally predict wound healing: (1) number of hyperbaric oxygenation treatments (odds ratio [OR] = 1.034, p < 0.001), (2) transcutaneous oximetry values at hyperbaric conditions (OR = 1.001, p = 0.019), (3) wound duration (OR = 0.988, p = 0.022), (4) absence of heart disease (OR = 3.304, p < 0.001), (5) being employed (OR = 3.16, p = 0.008), (6) low socioeconomic status (OR = 2.50, p = 0.004), (7a) good/partial granulation wound appearance (OR = 2.73, p = 0.022), (7b) wounds covered with fibrin (OR = 3.16, p = 0.015), and (8) absence of anemia (OR = 2.13, p = 0.016). The model's sensitivity is 78.7%, specificity is 62.9%, and accuracy is 71.8%. We suggest using our model as an adjunct to patients' clinical evaluation. Also, we recommend initiating hyperoxygenation therapy no later than 2 months after wound appearance.