Recent Publications

This study examines how men evaluate a potentially masculinity-threatening message about the availability of a male birth control pill, framed as being released in the near versus distant future.

Aims: To compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics of individuals with renal glucosuria to matched controls.

The authors deserve praise for their insightful and valuable work in developing and validating the Capsule Endoscopy Training Assessment (CETA). This study represents a timely and necessary advancement in capsule endoscopy (CE) training, effectively addressing the dual need for robust evaluation in both small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and colon capsule endoscopy (CCE). Their structured approach is commendable, and the thoroughness of their validation process adds substantial credibility to CETA's potential application.

Prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) is a risk factor for maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity. Ampicillin is indicated for patients with unknown group B Streptococcus (GBS) status and PROM>18h. Although ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae contribute to maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity, current guidelines on intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis primarily target GBS and do not adequately cover Enterobacteriaceae.

(Raneen Abu Shqara, Daniel Glikman, Gabriela Goldinfeld, Olga Braude, Silas Assy, Dunia Hassan, Inshirah Sgayer, Nadir Ganem, Hadas Shasha-Lavsky, Enav Yefet, Marian Matanis, Lior Lowenstein, Maya Frank Wolf)

Acute appendicitis (AA) represents the most prevalent indication for general surgical intervention during pregnancy. Despite the development of scoring systems for AA diagnosis, their validation in pregnant patient remains incomplete. Given the growing utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), evaluating the accuracy of both scoring systems and MRI in diagnosing AA during pregnancy becomes essential.

Metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) candidates undergo a comprehensive nutritional preparation process by a registered dietitian (RD). The effect of eHealth interventions on the MBS preparation process is unknown. Objectives: To assess the impact of adding an application to the nutritional preparation process on pre-surgery nutritional knowledge, physical, and behavioral parameters among MBS candidates.

Letter to the editor

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evaluating the efficacy and safety of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. However, while they are designed to control confounders and ensure internal validity, their usually stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria often limit the generalizability of findings to broader patient populations. Moreover, RCTs are resource-intensive, frequently underpowered to detect rare adverse events, and sometimes narrowly focused due to their highly controlled environments. In contrast, real-world data (RWD), typically derived from electronic health records (EHRs) and claims databases, offers a valuable counterpart for answering research questions that may be impractical to address through RCTs. Recognizing this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increasingly relied on real-world evidence (RWE) from RWD to support regulatory decisions and post-market surveillance. 

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, HHV-8) is associated with several human malignancies. During latency, the viral genomes reside in the nucleus of infected cells as large non-integrated plasmids, known as episomes. To ensure episome maintenance, the latency protein LANA tethers the viral episomes to the cell chromosomes during cell division. Directional recruitment of protein complexes is critical for the proper function of many nuclear processes. To test for recruitment directionality between LANA and cellular proteins, we directed LANA via catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9) to a repeat sequence to obtain easily detectable dots. 

High-resolution manometry (HRM) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders. While studies have previously reported on HRM findings in patients with dysphagia and/or chest pain, we sought to compare the yield and findings of HRM based on different indications for motility testing.

Microbiome research has expanded significantly in the last two decades, yet translating findings into clinical applications remains challenging. This perspective discusses the persistent issue of correlational studies in microbiome research and proposes an iterative method leveraging in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies toward successful preclinical and clinical trials. 

Chronic effect of colchicine on the liver was not studied enough. We aimed to examine the association between long term colchicine use and incident cirrhosis among new colchicine initiators.

Oxytocin and breast stimulation are methods used for labor augmentation in women with a previous cesarean delivery (CD). Compared to spontaneous labor, labor augmentation has been shown to increase the risk of uterine rupture in women with a previous CD. The optimal method of labor augmentation for women with a prior CD has not been established.

(Raneen Abu Shqara, Gabriela Goldilfield, Tikva Assulyn, Inshirah Sgayer, Nadir Ganem, Lior Lowenstein, Maya Frank Wolf)

Letter to the editor

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare, heterogeneous liver disease marked by autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia, and distinct histological features. Predominantly affecting women, its incidence and prevalence show significant regional variability globally. Therefore, our aim is to examine the trends of AIH and to assess its demographics, management, and disease progression using an extensive population-based database.