Recent Publications

Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) is an innovative ultrasound image processing technique that provides greater detail and better visualization of small branching vessels. We assume that SMI will provide sufficient information regarding the severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and reflecting histological changes.

Aims: The aims was to assess the capabilities of SMI imaging regarding the early detection of kidney dysfunction and renal fibrosis in comparison to the reference standard renal biopsy for the early diagnosis of kidney fibrosis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly the delivery of healthcare all around the world. In part, an abnormal and unexplained high non-COVID-related cardiovascular mortality rate was reported during the outbreak. We assess the correlation between anxiety level and decision to seek medical care (DSMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cognitive impairment is frequently reported among anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) patients as well as anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL) carriers, but it is less studied than other manifestations of this condition. Moreover, the exact prevalence of cognitive impairment in these patients has not been accurately determined, mainly due to inconsistency in the tools used to identify impairment, small sample sizes, and variability in the anti-phospholipid antibodies measured and positivity cutoffs...In this article, we review the current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical associations, and treatment of cognitive impairment associated with APS and aPL positivity.

Studies have demonstrated a potential correlation between low vitamin D status and both an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and poorer clinical outcomes. This retrospective study examines if, and to what degree, a relationship exists between pre-infection serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and disease severity and mortality due to SARS-CoV-2.

(Amiel A Dror, Amani Daoud, Yoav Namir, Orly Yakir, Yair Shachar, Mark Lifshitz, Ella Segal, Lior Fisher, Matti Mizrachi, Netanel Eisenbach, Doaa Rayan, Maayan Gruber, Amir Bashkin, Edward Kayko)

The paucity of early Pleistocene hominin fossils in Eurasia hinders an in-depth discussion on their paleobiology and paleoecology. Here we report on the earliest large-bodied hominin remains from the Levantine corridor: a juvenile vertebra (UB 10749) from the early Pleistocene site of 'Ubeidiya, Israel, discovered during a reanalysis of the faunal remains. 

This article examines the positioning of the identity of Arab female students, future teachers as an agency for change and social leadership.

[Hebrew] In their article published in this issue of Harefuah, Greenhouse et al. describe a complicated case of a woman with delayed diagnosis of breast cancer, presenting with spinal cord compression due to spin metastases and a locally advanced breast lesion. The patient had concurrent symptomatic infection with COVID-19, and was successfully diagnosed and treated, resulting in neurologic recovery. This case raises several issues, relevant to the care of patients with breast cancer.

Assesses the success rate and complications of Lacrijet monocanalicular stent (FCI S.A.S, Paris, France) intubation in children treated for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).

Malaria is a prevalent parasitic disease that is estimated to kill between one and two million people-mostly children-every year. Here, we query PubMed for malaria drug resistance and plot the yearly citations of 14 common antimalarials. 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an insidious neurodegenerative disorder representing a serious continuously escalating medico-social problem. The AD-associated progressive dementia is followed by gradual formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.... Here, we use a transgenic AD mouse model, demonstrating age-dependent brain insulin signaling abnormalities, reduced brain insulin receptor levels, and substantial energy metabolism alterations, to evaluate the effects of arginase inhibition with Norvaline on glucose metabolism. 

The advancement of human genomics has revolutionized our understanding of the genetic architecture of many skeletal diseases, including osteoporosis. However, interpreting results from human association studies remains a challenge, since index variants often reside in non-coding regions of the genome and do not possess an obvious regulatory function.... The goal of this review is to summarize the evidence supporting the utility of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) for accelerating our understanding of human skeletal genomics and outlining the remaining gaps in knowledge.

Fatty pancreas (FP) is an old observation, but a new disease with clinical implications and several associated comorbid conditions, ranging from mild to life-threatening diseases. Herein, we aimed to assess the association between FP and pancreatic cancer (PC) development.

Common bile duct (CBD) stone is a commonly encountered disease that is associated with various clinical presentations ranging from the mild form of biliary colic to the severe complication of acute cholangitis. Recently, diabetes mellitus (DM) has been linked to the development of biliary diseases; however, no data regarding the association of DM with acute cholangitis development in the setting of CBD stone exist. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether DM represents a risk factor for acute cholangitis in patients with CBD stone.

Cat scratch disease (CSD), caused by Bartonella henselae, usually presents as regional lymphadenopathy/lymphadenitis, known as typical CSD or as atypical CSD, which includes, among others, neurological manifestations. Serology for anti-B. henselae IgG antibodies is the most commonly used diagnostic tests for CSD. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is given for an increasing number of medical conditions and may cause interference with serological testing. We report six patients with neurological manifestations and two patients with Kawasaki disease mimicking typical CSD, mistakenly diagnosed as CSD due to false-positive serology following IVIG therapy.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with several cardiovascular manifestations including myocardial injury, myocarditis, arrhythmia, and pulmonary embolism. Rare cases of stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or takotsubo syndrome have also been reported during the acute infection, and secondary to stress following lockdown and self-isolation...Here, we review the special considerations in the diagnosis and management of takotsubo syndrome during the current pandemic.