Recent Publications

Oral P2Y₁₂ receptor antagonists exhibit delayed onset of platelet inhibition in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Selatogrel is a potent, highly selective, and reversible P2Y₁₂ receptor antagonist with a rapid onset and short duration of action. This study sought to assess inhibition of platelet aggregation following subcutaneous administration of selatogrel in patients with AMI.

Personalized cancer immunotherapy targeting patient-specific cancer/testis antigens (CTA) and neoantigens may benefit from large-scale tumor human leukocyte antigen (HLA) peptidome (immunopeptidome) analysis, which aims to accurately identify antigens presented by tumor cells. While significant efforts have been invested in analyzing the HLA peptidomes of fresh tumors, it is often impossible to obtain sufficient volumes of tumor tissues for comprehensive HLA peptidome characterization. This work attempted to overcome some of these obstacles by using patient-derived xenograft tumors (PDX) in mice as the tissue sources for HLA peptidome analysis. 

The home environment is regarded as a safe, comfortable environment, however, home can also be a stressful place. Compared to staying in the indoor home environment, the effects of short visits to outdoor urban environments on short-term psychological, physiological and cognitive responses were not studied previously. This study evaluates whether visits to different urban and ethnic environments, in comparison to staying in the home indoor environment, leads to short-term changes in psychological, physiological and cognitive responses and whether these responses are independent of ethnicity. (Keren Agay-Shay)

Evaluates the efficacy and safety of lymphaticovenular anastomosis in patients with lymphedema. (Assi Drobot , Ibrahim Abu Shakra, Fahed Merei,  Kamal Khatib, Amitai Bickel, Samer Ganam, Grigori Bogouslavski, Nour Karra, Badran Mahran, Walid Kassis, Leonid Kogan, Denis Drobot, Michael Weiss, Eli Kakiashvili)

Letter to the Editor:

There is already broad recognition of the challenges of cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if the current situation last, we anticipate that thousands of cases will be diagnosed late or in some cases will be missed. Herein, we discuss the ramifications of pausing cancer screening programs and turn a spotlight to advocate for maintaining the early detection programs running. This will hopefully prevent a ‘cancer boom’ that will meet an exhausted health system after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will subside.

Characterizes variables that may predict the need for endoscopic intervention in inpatients admitted for several causes who during the hospitalization developed acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB).

The viral pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), generated by a novel mutated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is turning into a serious worldwide public health emergency, evolving exponentially. While the main organ targeted in this diseased are the lungs, other vital organs such as the heart and kidney may be implicated. The main host receptor of the SARS-CoV-2 is angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a major component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The ACE2 is also involved in testicular male regulation of steroidogenesis, and spermatogenesis. As the SARS-CoV-2 may have the potential to infect the testis via ACE2, and adversely affect male reproductive system, it is essential to commence with targeted studies to learn from current pandemic, with the possibility of preemptive intervention depending on findings and the time course of the continued pandemic.

Identifies the changing trends of uropathogens over the years 2010–2017 and examines the incidence of both antibiotic resistance and extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in urine cultures from pediatric patients.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an efficient treatment for ectopic pregnancy, used according to ‘single‐dose’ protocol. Treatment success is evaluated on days 4 and 7 after dose administration, and defined as a decline of ≥15% in beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) levels, with a positive predictive value of 93%. A decrease on day 4 β‐hCG levels was determined to be a good predictor for treatment success. We retrospectively examined changes in β‐hCG levels between days 0 and 4 after MTX treatment as an early predictor for treatment outcome. (Noy Shatkin Hamish, Maya Wolf, Rene Tendler, Avishalom Sharon, Jacob Bornstein, Marwan Odeh)

The serum or plasma microRNA (miRNA) molecules have been suggested as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, in various pathological conditions. However, these molecules are also found in different serum fractions, such as exosomes and Argonaute (Ago) protein complexes. Ago1 is the predominant Ago protein expressed in heart tissue. The objective of the study was to examine the hypothesis that Ago1-associated miRNAs may be more relevant to cardiac disease and heart failure compared with the serum.

Left untreated, obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (OSDB) are associated with adverse effects on growth and development. History and physical examination alone are used for diagnosing children with OSDB, as polysomnography is not always feasible. Our objective was to develop and validate a Hebrew version of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) to help to diagnose and follow-up children before and after adenotonsillectomy surgery for OSDB.

Prophylactic antibiotic use in preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is associated with a significant reduction in intra-amniotic infection and improved neonatal outcome. However, data is insufficient to determine the optimal antibiotic regimen. Considering the rise in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia early-onset sepsis rate and the emergence of ampicillin resistance, our aim is to compare the efficiency of two antibiotic regimens in prolonging pregnancy and reducing infectious morbidity. (Maya Frank Wolf, Inshirah Sgayer, Amir Krencel, Vered Fleisher Sheffer, David Peleg, Inbar Ben Shachar, Hagai Rechnitzer and Jacob Bornstein)

Letter to the editor

The life expectancy of hemophiliacs is similar to that of the general population. As a result, the prevalence of age-related cardiovascular diseases has increased. We present our experience with hemophilia patients who underwent cardiac surgery in our Medical Center between 2004 and 2019. (Amjad Shalabi, Erez Kachel, Liza Grosman-Rimon, Ronny Ben-Avi, Diab Ghanem)

See correction/erratum. 

Immobilization, such as prolonged bed rest, is a risk factor for bone loss in humans. Motivated by the emerging utility of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal of choice for the study of musculoskeletal disease, here we report a model of restricted-mobility-induced osteopenia in adult zebrafish.