Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis.

To evaluate the frequency, possible risk factors, and outcome of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.There has been an upsurge of CDI in patients with IBD who has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Various risk factors have been found to predispose IBD patients to CDI.A retrospective case-control study on IBD patients admitted with exacerbation and tested for CDI at the Tel Aviv Medical Center in 2008 to 2013. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and prognostic data were retrieved from electronic files and compared between patients who tested positive (CDI+) or negative (CDI-) for CDI.CDI was identified in 28 of 311 (7.31%) IBD patients hospitalized with diarrhea. IBD-specific risk factors (univariate analysis) for CDI included: use of systemic steroids therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-10.6) and combinations of ≥2 immunomodulator medications (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.3). Additional risk factors for CDI that are common in the general population were hospitalization in the preceding 2 months (OR = 6.0, 95% CI 2.6-14.1), use of antacids (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.7-8.4), and high Charlson comorbidity score (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.7). A multivariate analysis confirmed that only hospitalization within the preceding 2 months and use of antacids were significant risk factors for CDI. The prognosis of CDI+ patients was similar to that of CDI- patients.Hospitalized IBD patients with exacerbation treated with antacids or recently hospitalized are at increased risk for CDI and should be tested and empirically treated until confirmation or exclusion of the infection.

Return to flight with multiple sclerosis: aeromedical considerations.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, with versatile manifestations--relapsing-remitting or progressive--and an unpredictable course, with prognoses ranging from minimal neurological impairment to severely disabled. Disease modifying agents can minimize relapse rate and slow disease progression. Yet most patients suffer relapses and progression despite use of these agents. Several of the manifestations of MS may cause overall decrease in the performance of the aviator. These include cognitive impairment, fatigue, and depression. Episodes of spasms, dysarthria, ataxia, parasthesias, diplopia, and hemiplegia, as well as drug side effects may also affect flight. Seizures and episodes of vertigo may occur suddenly and result in in-flight incapacitation. We present our experience with two aviators with definite MS and a navigator with probable MS. The various manifestations of MS are specifically addressed with an emphasis on the aeromedical implications.

Atherosclerosis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases-mechanisms and clinical findings.

Atherosclerosis is one of the major entities leading to morbidity and mortality in the western world. It is known now that atherosclerosis cannot be explained merely by the presence of the Framingham traditional risk factors and that autoimmunity takes a significant role in its pathogenesis. It is also known that individuals with autoimmune diseases demonstrate increased incidence of cardiovascular manifestations and subclinical atherosclerotic disease. The mechanisms for the assumed accelerated atherosclerosis in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and systemic sclerosis include the classical risk factors, but may also be due to chronic inflammatory processes and immune dysregulation. Autoantibodies, autoantigens, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and infectious agents play a role in that process. Involvement of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of accelerated atherosclerosis in rheumatic diseases and the common pathway that leads to this condition may lead to significant change in prevention of treatment.