Recent Publications
Inbar Ben Shachar, Ilan Atlas: Does sentinel lymph node biopsy in endometrial cancer surgery have an impact on the rate of adjuvant post operative pelvic radiation? An Israeli Gynecologic Oncology Group Study (Gynecol Oncol Rep. )
Compares the rates of post-operative radiotherapy between two methods of lymph nodes assessment during surgical staging for endometrial cancer (EC).
Rawan Mahamid, Helal Said Ahmad, Narjes Azzam, Ali Omari, Amir Mari: The yield of solid swallows in high resolution esophageal manometry among patients with dysphagia and gastro-esophageal reflux symptoms (Minerva Gastroenterol (Torino) .)
Swallowing disorders are frequently reported esophageal symptoms and represent a common cause for referrals to gastroenterology consultations. Esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) is considered the gold standard modality for the evaluation of esophageal peristalsis and esophageal sphincter. The standard protocol of HRM includes water swallows only, that may not assess appropriately esophageal function and symptoms. Hence, we investigated the diagnostic yield of combining solid food swallows (SFS) to standard HRM.
Paul Kuodi, Yanay Gorelik, Michael Edelstein: Characterisation of the long-term physical and mental health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol (PLoS One . )
As of July 2021, there has been more than 185 million documented cases of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections and more than 4 million deaths globally. Despite more than 90% of documented cases being classified as "recovered" from SARS-CoV-2 infection, a proportion of patients reported a wide variety of persisting symptoms after the initial onset or acute phase of the infection, often referred to as "Long Covid". As data on the symptomatology of post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection gradually becomes available, there is an urgent need to organise and synthesise the data in order to define what constitutes Long Covid and assist with its management in clinical and community settings.
Liron Davis, Dmitriy Getselter, Evan Elliott: CTCF in parvalbumin-expressing neurons regulates motor, anxiety and social behavior and neuronal identity (Mol Brain . )
CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a regulator of chromatin organization and has direct effects on gene transcription. Mutations in CTCF have been identified in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. There are wide range of behaviors associated with these mutations, including intellectual disabilities, changes in temperament, and autism. Previous mice-model studies have identified roles for CTCF in excitatory neurons in specific behaviors, particularly in regards to learning and memory. However, the role of CTCF in inhibitory neurons is less well defined.
Hagar Mizrachi: Cuffing Prisoners and Detainees in Israeli Hospitals - a Multi-center Study (Harefuah .)
Describes the extent of prisoner/detainee cuffing and characterize cuffing methods.
Tal Shachar: Massive Brain Swelling Following Reduction Cranioplasty for Secondary Turricephaly (J Craniofac Surg . )
Cranioplasty is commonly performed to treat craniosynostosis. A rare postsurgical complication is massive brain swelling with elevated intracranial pressure. This commonly presents with mydriasis, coma, and seizures; radiologic findings include cerebral edema, parenchymal hemorrhages, and ischemic changes.The authors describe a 9-year-old boy who developed massive brain swelling following reduction cranioplasty for secondary turricephaly.
Ayelet Shai, Evleen Galouk, Reem Miari, Hala Tareef, Mizied Falah:Inhibiting mutant KRAS G12D gene expression using novel peptide nucleic acid-based antisense: A potential new drug candidate for pancreatic cancer (Oncol Lett . )
KRAS mutations, which are the main cause of the pathogenesis of lethal pancreatic adenocarcinomas, impair the functioning of the GTPase subunit, thus rendering it constitutively active and signaling intracellular pathways that end with cell transformation. In the present study, the AsPC-1 cell line, which has a G12D-mutated KRAS gene sequence, was utilized as a cellular model to test peptide nucleic acid-based antisense technology.
Yana Lerner, Surya Sukumaran, Nir Qvit: Exploring Biomolecular Interaction Between the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90 and Its Client Protein Kinase Cdc37 using Field-Effect Biosensing Technology (J Vis Exp .)
Biomolecular interactions play versatile roles in numerous cellular processes by regulating and coordinating functionally relevant biological events. Biomolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids, nucleic acids, and enzymes are fundamental building blocks of living beings; they assemble into complex networks in biosystems to synchronize a myriad of life events. Proteins typically utilize complex interactome networks to carry out their functions; hence it is mandatory to evaluate such interactions to unravel their importance in cells at both cellular and organism levels. Toward this goal, we introduce a rapidly emerging technology, field-effect biosensing (FEB), to determine specific biomolecular interactions. FEB is a benchtop, label-free, and reliable biomolecular detection technique to determine specific interactions and uses high-quality electronic-based biosensors.
Khalaf Kridin: COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Among Individuals With Schizophrenia in Israel (JAMA Psychiatry . )
Individuals with schizophrenia are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness and mortality. Previous reports have demonstrated vaccination gaps among this high-risk population; however, it is unclear whether these gaps have continued to manifest with the booster dose. Objective: To assess gaps in first, second, and booster vaccinations among individuals with schizophrenia.
Sivan Spitzer: Critical Theory, Culture Change, and Achieving Health Equity in Health Care Settings (Acad Med . )
Achieving optimal health for all requires confronting the complex legacies of colonialism and white supremacy embedded in all institutions, including health care institutions. As a result, health care organizations committed to health equity must build the capacity of their staff to recognize the contemporary manifestations of these legacies within the organization and to act to eliminate them. In a culture of equity, all employees-individually and collectively-identify and reflect on the organizational dynamics that reproduce health inequities and engage in activities to transform them. The authors describe 5 interconnected change strategies that their medical center uses to build a culture of equity.
Khalaf Kridin: The association of uveitis with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses: a large-scale population-based study (Eye (Lond) .)
Examines the association of uveitis with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) chronic infections
Annie Reiss, Ron Dar, Zakhar Bramnik, Moaad Farraj: Perigastric Abscess Resection During Roux-en-Y Bypass Surgery After Gastric Banding (Obes Surg . )
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has a low rate of perioperative morbidity and mortality, while long-term complications are not rare. band erosion may be insidious and the patient may be asymptomatic. We present an unusual case of a 51-year-old patient who developed an intra-abdominal abscess after LAGB and required a resectional Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure.
Raneen Abu Shqara, Shany Or, Lior Lowenstein, Maya Frank Wolf: Clinical implications of the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test in the third trimester (Arch Gynecol Obstet .)
The clinical implications of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosed in the third trimester are not well established and controversy continues regarding the performance of diagnostic tests beyond 28-week gestation. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of abnormal third trimester oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results in women at high risk and to compare the obstetric and neonatal outcomes with those of women with normal OGTT results.
Shirley Sarig, Tsafrir Or, Gassan Moady, Shaul Atar: Cardiac assessment accuracy by students using palm-held ultrasound compared to physical examination by skilled cardiologists: a pilot study with a single medical student (Cardiovasc Ultrasound .)
Despite the inherent limitations of the traditional cardiac physical examination (PE), it has not yet been replaced by a more accurate method. We hypothesized that a single medical student, following a brief training (two academic hours) with the PHU, will better identify abnormal findings including significant valvular diseases, pericardial effusion and reduced LV function, as compared to PE performed by senior cardiologists and cardiology fellows. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) served as a 'gold standard'.