Recent Publications

We recently reported in Gut that the microbiome is unequivocally implicated in early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) aetiology, starting in the first trimester (T1), and other groups have shown continued microbiota dysbiosis in women with GDM in second trimester (T2) and third trimester (T3). In continuation of our T1 research, we now have data showing that dietary interventions, the preferred and primary treatment of GDM, are effective in part by altering the gut microbiota. 

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality because of stroke and in some cases may promote heart failure. According to several studies, catheter ablation is superior to antiarrhythmic therapy in preventing AF recurrence.

Data on the effect of catheter ablation within different racial and ethnic groups are scarce. Because of genetic diversity and varying environmental milieus between different ethnic groups, ethnic differences might influence the effectiveness and safety of the catheter ablation procedure.

The Israeli Catheter Ablation Registry provides an excellent opportunity to explore the effectiveness and safety of AF catheter ablation for patients within 2 ethnic groups that utilize the same national healthcare system and constitute most of the Israeli population: patients of Arab and patients of Jewish ethnicities.

The cause of death for Pharaoh Tutankhamun (ca. 1330–1324 BCE) is still unknown despite the advancement in modern paleopathology and the introduction of computed tomography mummy examination and modern molecular pathology, including PCR-based gene analysis. Many speculations regarding his unexpected death have been published, including crush injury, infectious diseases such as malaria, and hereditary disease. We discuss for the first time all these events that could have ultimately caused Tutankhamun's sudden death, particularly sickle cell disease, which can cause osteonecrosis and lead to walking disability, bone deformities, and fragility. 

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Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) refers to the backflow of acidic stomach content into the larynx, pharynx, and upper aerodigestive tract. The diagnosis of LPR is based on the patient's history and findings of the laryngoscopy associated with LPR. Other possible manifestations consistent with LPR symptoms include laryngeal cancer, vocal fold granulomas, Reinke's space edema, and vocal polyps. In this study, we compared the characteristics of patients with LPR symptoms and incidental laryngeal findings (ILF) in the laryngoscopic evaluation to those without ILF (WILF).

Macrosomia is associated with increased risk of fetal and maternal complications such as trauma during birth, cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and shoulder dystocia. Sonographic estimation of fetal weight is imprecise particularly in excessively large fetuses, prompting the need for additional measures to assess the feasibility of vaginal delivery of a macrosomic newborn and thus improve prenatal consultation.

Dapagliflozin or Saxagliptin in Pediatric Type 2 DiabetesDapagliflozin (a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor) and saxagliptin (a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor) have both been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults but not in children. In this randomized trial of 245 pediatric patients (10 to 17 years of age) with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, dapagliflozin but not saxagliptin significantly reduced A1C compared with placebo.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown cause characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas. The disease can affect any organ including the nervous system. Neurosarcoidosis occurs in about 5% patients with sarcoidosis. The clinical presentation of neurosarcoidosis is varied, and it can involve the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system, separately or in different combinations. The diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis is challenging, as biopsies from the nervous system are not readily available. Anti-TNFα agents are becoming one of the cornerstone treatments for neurosarcoidosis. In this case-based review, we discuss two cases of neurosarcoidosis with different clinical presentations.

The Lymphocyte-Activation Protein 3 (LAG-3) inhibitory receptor is expressed on regulatory plasma cells (PCs). Micro-environmental cells that express LAG-3 were found to be increased during the progression of smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). To assess the possible role of LAG-3 expression on regulatory PCs in patients with plasma cell dyscrasia. 

Patients on dialysis (PoD) are at high risk of severe morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. Characterizing long-term vaccine immune responses in these patients will help optimize vaccine schedule for PoD. This study aimed to determine whether long-term humoral and B and T cell-responses post 3^rd and 4^th dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine differed between PoD and controls.

The mechanism responsible for stroke in patients younger than 50 often remains unknown. This study was designed to assess whether high-resolution intracranial vessel wall MR imaging (icVWI) may be instrumental in determining stroke cause.

The article assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Obstetrician-Gynaecologists (OB/GYNs) in Israel regarding COVID-19, its impact on fertility, pregnancy and childbirth, and their positions on COVID-19 vaccines.

This study examines how the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization, severity, length, and mortality in adult patients.

The article assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Obstetrician-Gynaecologists (OB/GYNs) in Israel regarding COVID-19, its impact on fertility, pregnancy and childbirth, and their positions on COVID-19 vaccines.

Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) poses a significant risk to cirrhosis patients with ascites, emphasizing the critical need for early detection and intervention. This retrospective observational study spanning a decade aimed to devise predictive models for SBP using routine laboratory tests. Additionally, it aimed to propose a novel scoring system to aid SBP diagnosis.

(George Abdo, Rasha Rawajdey, Wadie Abu Dahoud, Jammal Massalha, Taleb Hajouj, Mohammad H Assadi, Nseir William)