Recent Publications
Adi Eshel, Omry Koren: Bloodstream infections' origins following fecal microbiota transplantation: a strain-level analysis (Blood Adv . )
We observed high rates of bloodstream infections (BSIs) following fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for graft-versus-host-disease (33 events in 22 patients). To trace the BSIs' origin, we applied a metagenomic bioinformatic pipeline screening donor and recipient stool samples for bacteremia-causing strains in 13 cases. Offending strains were not detected in FMT donations. Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii could be detected in stool samples before emerging in the blood. In this largest report of BSIs post-FMT, we present an approach that may be applicable for evaluating BSI origin following microbiota-based interventions. Our findings support FMT safety in immunocompromised patients but do not rule out FMT as an inducer of bacterial translocation.
Keren Agay-Shay: Low and High Ambient Temperatures during Pregnancy and Birth Weight among 624,940 Singleton Term Births in Israel (2010-2014): An Investigation of Potential Windows of Susceptibility (Environ Health Perspect . )
Exposure to heat during pregnancy has been associated with reduced fetal growth. Less is known about associations with cold and the potential for critical time windows of exposure. We aimed to evaluate, in a national retrospective cohort, critical windows of susceptibility during pregnancy to extreme temperatures (low and high) and fetal growth, among 624,940 singleton term births in Israel during the period 2010-2014.
Zohar Hamo, Maya Azrad, Boris Fichtman, Avi Peretz: The Cytopathic Effect of Different Toxin Concentrations From Different Clostridioides difficile Sequence Types Strains in Vero Cells (Front Microbiol . )
Clostridioides difficile is one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated diarrhea, with severity ranging from mild, self-limiting disease, to life-threatening toxic megacolon. C. difficile infection (CDI) pathogenesis is mediated by the TcdA and TcdB toxins. This work aimed to draw correlations between toxin levels, bacterial strains, and disease severity in 63 CDI patients.
Fabio Kusniec, Ibrahim Marai, Offer Amir: The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery (Front Cardiovasc Med . )
The association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains controversial. Our objective was to investigate the real-world relationship between BMI and in-hospital clinical course and mortality, in patients who underwent CABG.
Wisam Sbeit, Tawfik Khoury: Fatty Pancreas Represents a Risk Factor for Acute Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study (Pancreas . )
Fatty pancreas (FP), previously believed to be without clinical significance, recently has been shown to be associated with comorbid diseases. We aimed to explore whether FP predispose to acute pancreatitis.
Elon Glassberg: Sub-cutaneous Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administration results in seroconversion among young adults (Vaccine. )
Route of vaccine administration plays a role in extent and quality of immunogenicity. 790 military personnel accidentally received the first of two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA anti Covid-19 vaccine using a needle intended for subcutaneous administration. A serological blood test (on day 21, prior to the second intramuscular dose) was performed, analyzing whether immunological response was elicited. 98.2% demonstrated seroconversion. IgG titers were negatively correlated with age and did not correlate with BMI. Our results could help reassure providers confronted with a similar mistake and may even imply a possibly new and effective administration route.
Tamar Leshem, Shani Gilron, Maya Azrad, Avi Peretz: Characterization of reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine among Gram-negative bacteria (Microbes Infect . )
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is one of the most commonly used antiseptic, acting against Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria, yeast and fungi. However, over use may lead to reduced susceptibility of different bacteria to CHG. This study aimed to characterize the CHG susceptibility among Gram-negative strains in Israel, to evaluate factors that may affect this susceptibility, and to compare CHG susceptibility between ESBLs bacteria to strains without these enzymes.
Elon Glassberg, Avi Benov: Low-Titer Group O Whole-Blood Resuscitation in the Prehospital Setting in Israel: Review of the First 2.5 Years' Experience (Transfus Med Hemother .)
The Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps (IDF-MC) implemented the use of low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) as the first-choice resuscitation fluid in the IDF airborne Combat Search and Rescue Unit (IDF-CSAR) for aerial evacuation of both military and civilian casualties in June 2018 for injured patients with hemorrhagic shock and at least one of the following: systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, heart rate >130 beats/min, deterioration of consciousness without head injury or hemoglobin concentration ≤7 g/dL.
Michael Edelstein: Migration and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease in Europe: a systematic review Lancet Infect Dis .)
Migrant populations are one of several underimmunised groups in the EU or European Economic Area (EU/EEA), yet little is known about their involvement in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. This information is vital to develop targeted strategies to improve the health of diverse migrant communities. We did a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42019157473; Jan 1, 2000, to May 22, 2020) adhering to PRISMA guidelines, to identify studies on vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks (measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, hepatitis A, varicella, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae) involving migrants residing in the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
Ayelet Barr, Sophia Eilat-Tsanani: Prescribing Analgesics for Low Back Pain: Is There a Gender Difference (J Womens Health (Larchmt) .)
Gender differences have been described in many fields of pain. However, research is inconclusive as to gender difference in pain management. Our study aimed to investigate gender differences in prescribing analgesics for low back pain.
Offer Amir: Myocarditis after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine against Covid-19 in Israel (N Engl J Med . )
Approximately 5.1 million Israelis had been fully immunized against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after receiving two doses of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) by May 31, 2021. After early reports of myocarditis during adverse events monitoring, the Israeli Ministry of Health initiated active surveillance.
Sunanda Biswas Mukherjee, Alessandaro Gorohovski, Eliad Levy, Sumit Mukherjee, Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern: Seasonal UV exposure and vitamin D: Association with the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission in Europe (FEBS Open Bio .)
Several recent studies have demonstrated that low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D levels are associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection. The primary source of vitamin D production in humans is environmental UV radiation. In many viral respiratory diseases, peak infection rates are observed during winter due to reduced UV exposure and low temperatures. In Europe, the second wave of COVID-19 began early in the winter of 2020. Investigating the impact of seasonal temperature and UV exposure on COVID-19 transmission could thus aid in prevention and intervention.
Maamoun Basheer, Elias Saad, Rechnitzer Hagai, Nimer Assy: Clinical Predictors of Mortality and Critical Illness in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia (Metabolites . )
Early identification of patients with COVID-19 who will develop severe or critical disease symptoms is important for delivering proper and early treatment. We analyzed demographic, clinical, immunological, hematological, biochemical and radiographic findings that may be of utility to clinicians in predicting COVID-19 severity and mortality.
Andrei Braester, Sahar Khouri, Bennidor Raviv, Masad Barhoum: Is There a Predictive Value of High Mean Platelet Volume in Early Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism? (Isr Med Assoc J)
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious disease, which demands a fast accurate diagnosis to begin suitable treatment. It presents a major problem in the emergency department (ED), and its confirmation requires adequate evaluation. We evaluate a potential role of mean platelet volume (MPV) in differentiating VTE from other potential diagnosis in patients with suspected VTE.
R Khamisy-Farah: Higher rates of COVID-19 but less severe infections reported for patients on Dupilumab: a Big Data analysis of the World Health Organization VigiBase (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci . )
Dupilumab (Dupixent®) is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-4 and IL-13 signaling used for the treatment of allergic diseases. Whilst biologic therapy is traditionally regarded as immunosuppressive and capable to increase the infectious risk, Dupilumab does not display these characteristics and may be even protective in certain cases. We investigated the link between Dupilumab therapy and SARS-CoV-2 infection.