Recent Publications

Evaluates pregnant women's intentions to deliver with labor epidural analgesia (LEA) and identify factors influencing decision-making in a diverse population in northern Israel.

(Raneen Abu Shqara, Gabriela Goldinfeld, Sari Nahir Biderman, Tatiana Sher Brodsky, Asal Darwish, Nadir Ganem,  Lior Lowenstein, Maya Frank Wolf)

Assess LLMs' proficiency, clarity, and objectivity regarding COVID-19 impacts in pregnancy.

Among the various factors implicated in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), visceral hypersensitivity and mucosal resistance have been recently re-evaluated in relation to the increasing phenomenon of proton pump inhibitor failure, particularly in patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). Intensive research has allowed us to understand that noxious substances contained in the refluxate are able to interact with esophageal epithelium and to induce the elicitation of symptoms.

Provoked vulvodynia (PV) is the leading cause of vulvar pain and dyspareunia. The etiology of PV is multifactorial and remains poorly understood. PV is associated with a history of repeated vulvar inflammation and is often accompanied by sensory neuromodulation as a result of activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the sensory nerve terminals. Therefore, this study aims to examine the role of glutamate-mGluR5 signaling during the initial inflammatory phase in chronic vulvar pain development in an animal model of PV.

The study by Njie et al. provides a crucial evaluation of the gaps in the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) using recently established quality indicators (QIs). By leveraging a multicenter, retrospective design, the authors highlight significant disparities in care and propose a data-driven framework for improving adherence to best practices. Their findings expose weaknesses in clinical practice, particularly in the underutilization of biopsies during initial food impaction, inconsistencies in long-term monitoring, and the variable implementation of evidence-based management strategies. These gaps suggest systemic issues that, if left unaddressed, could compromise patient outcomes and increase the burden of EoE-related complications.

Septic arthritis occurring in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has received significantly less attention than it deserves. 

Autoimmune diseases are complex conditions characterized by immune-mediated tissue damage and chronic inflammation. Protease-activated receptor 2 (Par2) has been implicated in these diseases, exhibiting dual roles that complicate its therapeutic potential. This review examines the perplexing functions of Par2, which promotes inflammation through immune cell activation while facilitating tissue healing in damaged organs. 

Post-cesarean delivery (CD) acute pain may progress to chronic pain, which may impair maternal bonding and child development.^1,2 In 2013, we compared the efficacy of versus on-demand oral analgesia for post-caesarean pain in a randomized-controlled-trial.³ The fixed-time-interval group had received scheduled paracetamol, tramadol, and diclofenac regardless of pain level, and the on-demand group received medication as needed, with oxycodone reserved for unrelieved pain in both groups. We found that The 'fixed-time-interval' group had lower pain scores, higher satisfaction rate and more breastfeeds.⁴ We aimed to assess the long-term effects of the study protocols on maternal chronic pain and child development.

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"...microbes, if at all discussed in strategy documents, are usually mentioned only in the context of problems they pose (causing disease, food deterioration, materials corrosion, etc.), rarely as solutions they can provide for problems, and consequently are massively underexploited. Reasons for this include..."

Limited whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies in Asian populations result in a lack of representative reference panels, thus hindering the discovery of ancestry-specific variants. Here, we present the South and East Asian reference Database (SEAD) panel ( https://imputationserver.westlake.edu.cn/ ), which integrates WGS data for 11,067 individuals from various sources across 17 Asian countries. 

Cardiac computerized tomographic angiography (CCTA) is perceived as a non-invasive tool for assessment of coronary vessel anatomy. Feature tracking echocardiography has recently emerged as a tool for assessment of regional and global left ventricular function. We aimed to explore the applicability of echocardiographic strain on CCTA cine clips and assess whether global and regional strain parameters are associated with the extent of coronary stenosis.

(Adi Hertz, Michael Jerdev, Itiel Ben-Zakai, Shemy Carasso)

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Maternal colonization by Enterobacteriaceae that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-E) has risen, and the antimicrobial resistance of ESBL-E is significant. We aimed to evaluate the rates of ESBL-E colonization among women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and of maternal-neonatal vertical transmission. We also aimed to compare obstetrical and neonatal complications among ESBL-E positive versus negative maternal colonization in pregnancies complicated by PPROM.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective agents for treating acid-related gastrointestinal disorders. The prescription of an intravenous (IV) formulation of PPIs has increased dramatically. The aims of this study were to assess the appropriateness of IV PPI use and to define the risk factors and outcomes associated with its inappropriate use. 

The within-subject variability (WSV) of pain-intensity reports has gained attention as a predictor of the placebo response but has demonstrated mixed results. We hypothesized that participants' inward- and outward-directed attention will moderate WSV's prediction of the analgesic placebo response.