Recent Publications

Prolonged rupture of membranes (ROM) is associated with peripartum infections; the optimal timing to initiate prophylactic antibiotic treatment is inconclusive. We compared maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity and bacterial distribution in chorioamniotic-membrane cultures according to a ROM-to-delivery interval of 12-18 versus ≥18 hours.

The use of Cone-Beam-Computed-Tomography (CBCT) is rapidly increasing in dentistry. This study aimed to evaluate CBCT use among dentists across various fields and how it is affected by various measures.

Study the etiologies, behind uveitis, examine the anatomical location, and explore how these causes vary across regions in Japan.

Data regarding long-term outcomes of gastrostomy-fed children is scarce. The aim of the study was to analyze the long-term follow-up of children receiving percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in terms of nutritional outcomes, hospitalization, and fundoplication rates. 

Tonsillectomy represents one of the most frequently performed surgical interventions in pediatric otolaryngology (Bohr and Shermetaro, 2023) [1]. The selection of surgical technique plays a crucial role in determining multiple aspects of postoperative recovery, including pain management, healing trajectory, and behavioral adaptation (Karam et al., 2022; Lin et al., 2024). This investigation sought to evaluate the differential impacts of coblation intracapsular tonsillectomy (CIT) versus traditional cold dissection total tonsillectomy (TT) on postoperative behavioral patterns in pediatric patients.

Breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both infants and mothers, but many women discontinue earlier than recommended. This study investigates the factors contributing to early breastfeeding cessation among Arab women in Israel, focusing on multiple factors, such as socio-demographic, work-related, cultural, and religious, impacting breastfeeding duration and shaping breastfeeding practices.

The Renzi obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) score is a validated and published method used for the diagnosis and staging of patients with ODS. It consists of a five-item score with a total score ranging from 0 to 20. This study aimed to cross-culturally validate the Renzi ODS score by translating it into Arabic. 

Chronic, non-communicable inflammatory diseases (CIDs) affect a large portion of the population, imposing a significant morbidity, encompassing a substantial mortality. Thus, they are a major medical burden with a high unmet need. CIDs develop over the span of several years, and the risk of developing CIDs has been linked to genetic and environmental factors. Thus, modification of environmental factors is a promising approach for the prevention of CIDs. Among modifiable environmental factors that have been linked to the CID risk is nicotine dependence. However, for only few CIDs, compelling evidence suggests that nicotine dependence increases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis and asthma) or decreases (e.g., pemphigus) the CID risk. For most CIDs, there are inconsistent, scant, or no reports on the risk of CID associated with nicotine dependence.

Maternal sepsis remains a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. However, it is unclear whether obstetrical, neonatal, and microbiological outcomes associated with maternal bacteremia differ based on the timing of bacteremia presentation. This study aimed to evaluate maternal, neonatal, and microbiological characteristics of bacteremia in pregnancy, with a specific focus on the association between intrapartum antibiotic use and bacteremia caused by ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

The choroid plexus (CP) has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of the neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Lupus patients demonstrate increased serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which can disrupt vital blood-CSF barrier (B-CSFB) functions performed by the CP. However, difficulty accessing this tissue has largely precluded dynamic imaging or evaluation of CP barrier function in vivo.

War and collective trauma significantly affect children's physical and mental well-being. Pediatricians, as frontline healthcare providers, play a critical role in mitigating these impacts. However, many lack the training necessary to effectively address the complex needs of children affected by war. This study assesses the state of pediatricians' training, knowledge, and perceived-competence during the first weeks of the Israeli-Hamas 2023-24 war, and evaluates the effect of a trauma-informed training program on pediatricians' knowledge and perceived-competence in treating children affected by war.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is associated with unfavorable outcomes, and though it is recognized as an important clinical diagnosis, specific quantification and effective management continue to challenge clinicians, representing an unmet need in modern cardiology. Advanced LVDD diagnosis is likely to have a prognostic role among hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and predictors of advanced LVDD among hospitalized patients and its long-term (5-year) prognostic significance on all-cause mortality.

The loss of a parent during childhood is a profound event with enduring impacts on psychological and emotional development. This study investigates the long-term effects of childhood parental loss on attachment patterns and openness to experience, with a focus on the epigenetic modulation of the oxytocin and dopamine systems.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between liver viscosity, as measured by shear wave dispersion (SWD), and fibrosis and inflammation in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Additionally, to assess its potential as a non-invasive biomarker for hepatic fibrosis compared to shear wave elastography (SWE).

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pelvic abscess drainage (EUS-PAD) with lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) is an alternative approach for post-surgical and inflammatory pelvic collections. We assess the safety and efficacy of EUS-PAD with LAMS in a large population of complicated acute diverticulitis (AD).