Recent Publications

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a significant risk factor for gastric cancer (GC) development. A growing body of evidence suggests a causal link between infection with H. pylori and increased DNA breakage in the host cells. While several mechanisms have been proposed for this damage, their relative impact on the overall bacterial genotoxicity is unknown. Moreover, the link between the formation of DNA damage following infection and the emergence of cancerous structural variants (SV) in the genome of infected cells remained unexplored.

(Hadas Sibony-Benyamini, Rose Jbara, Tania Shubash Napso, Layan Abu-Rahmoun, Daniel Vizenblit, Michal Easton-Mor, Shira Perez, Tamar Leshem, Avi Peretz, Yaakov Maman)

Peripheral nerve injury enhances mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) expression in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), which is associated with neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to chronic pain development. Here, we investigate the effect of TSPO ligand Etifoxine, on the development of chronic pain and motor dysfunction following sciatic nerve injury.

(Yaseen Awad-Igbaria, Reem Sakas, Lama Milhem, Tom Fishboom, Aviv Ben-Menashe,Jean F Soustiel, Eilam Palzur)

Recent studies suggest a link between gut microbiota and neurological diseases, implicating the microbiome's role in neurological health. However, the specific alterations in the microbiome associated with migraine remain underexplored. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature to determine whether migraine patients are associated with changes in gut microbiota composition.

Type 2 chronic inflammatory diseases (T2IDs) are highly prevalent among women of reproductive age. Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody, is increasingly used to treat T2IDs. While dupilumab is not approved during pregnancy, smaller studies suggest no increased risk of pregnancy complications (adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs)). Additional data are required to better assess the drug's safety during pregnancy. Objectives: To retrospectively assess the risk of APOs in dupilumab-treated pregnant women in a large real-world database.

Examines the association between refraction, ocular biometry and a child's behavioral disorder using the Conners' Parent Rating Scale.

Ascites is a product of fluid accumulation within the peritoneal cavity. Underlying etiologies include cirrhosis, congestive heart failure (CHF), nephrotic syndrome, and malignancies. Patients with cirrhotic ascites are at increased risk for infections, especially spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), which is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Ascites is diagnosed both clinically and sonographically. SBP is diagnosed via abdominal paracentesis, a relatively safe and effective procedure. However, abdominal paracentesis carries risks such as bleeding, bowel perforation, and infection. Objectives: To identify new inflammatory markers as alternative or replacement methods for accurately evaluating patients before and after abdominal paracentesis and how these new inflammatory markers can be evaluated from a simple, inexpensive, and routinely performed blood sample.

Letter to the editor

Implementation Science (IS) is a scientific discipline that has been in existence for approximately thirty years. The goal of this discipline is to develop and refine rigorous approaches to producing change in the health system, and thereby to shrink the quality gap between best practice and current practice more quickly and more completely than could occur through naturalistic change alone.

The impact of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) extends beyond health, potentially affecting long-term income and employment dynamics. In Israel, disparities exist between Jewish and Arab populations across many dimensions, including socioeconomic. The study's primary aim was to compare changes in employment and income among COVID-19-infected and non-infected participants among Jews and Arabs, the two main population groups comprising the population of Israel.

(Haneen Shibli, Paul Kuodi, Amiel Dror, Hiba Zayyad, Ofir Wertheim, Kamal Abu Jabal, Saleh Nazzal, Daniel Glikman, Michael Edelstein)

Antibiotics are currently the primary treatment of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection. Yet, due to rapid development of resistance and high recurrences rates, there is an unmet need for new antimicrobials for C. difficile infections. This study assessed the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates from Israel to two recently developed antibiotics, ridinilazole (RDZ) and ibezapolstat (IBZ), and to standard-of-care antibiotics.

Cutibacterium acnes plays a key role in the development of acne vulgaris, with biofilm formation contributing to its persistence and resistance to antimicrobial treatments. A critical component of C. acnes biofilms is poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), an exopolysaccharide that facilitates both biofilm stability and biocide resistance. This study evaluated the efficacy of the PNAG-degrading enzyme dispersin B in enhancing the susceptibility of C. acnes biofilms to benzoyl peroxide (BP), a common anti-acne agent. 

Esophageal motility disorders (EMDs) encompass a range of functional abnormalities, including achalasia, ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), and distal esophageal spasm (DES). Diagnostic modalities like high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM), Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (FLIP), and impedance analysis are invaluable but often limited by interpretive variability and the need for expert analysis. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in addressing these challenges. This manuscript explores the integration of AI in EMD diagnostics, showcasing its ability to enhance diagnostic accuracy, optimize workflows, and standardize interpretation across centers.

The disorders of neurogastroenterology and motility (NGM) are common, yet studies have shown that medical students have a relative lack of knowledge and confidence in this field, which may lead to poorer patient outcomes. We sought to evaluate whether this is also true of residents during the next stage of medical training.

Trauma is a leading cause of preventable death, with a significant portion of trauma deaths occurring in the prehospital setting. Interventions such as chest drainage may play a critical role in managing life-threatening conditions but face challenges due to poorly defined indications and reliance on anecdotal evidence rather than rigorous studies. Among chest drainage techniques, finger thoracostomy (FT) is a well-described, but controversial, method for decompressing the pleural cavity in emergencies like tension pneumothorax or hemothorax. Despite its simplicity and minimal equipment requirements, FT carries risks, including bleeding, infection, organ injury, temporary effects, and procedural failure. This study examines eight FT procedures performed by Israel Defense Forces providers during the 2023-2024 "Swords of Iron" War in Gaza.

Letter to the editor