Recent Publications

 Endothelial dysfunction is one of the underlying mechanisms to vascular and cardiac complications in patients with COVID-19. We sought to investigate the systemic vascular endothelial function and its temporal changes in COVID-19 patients from a non-invasive approach with reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT).

Endometrial cancer (EC) is currently the most common malignancy of the female genital tract in developed countries. Although it is more common in postmenopausal women, it may affect up to 25% in the premenopausal age and 3-5% under the age of 40 years. Furthermore, in the last decades a significant shift to pregnancy at older maternal ages, particularly in resource-rich countries, has been observed. Therefore, in this scenario fertility-sparing alternatives should be discussed with patients affected by EC. This study summarizes available literature on fertility-sparing management of patients affected by EC, focusing on the oncologic and reproductive outcomes. 

Vulval lichen planus (VLP) is a rare, but often chronic, inflammatory disease whose symptoms include genital pain, discomfort, and dyspareunia. The clinical manifestations include erythema, erosions, and scarring. The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate patient-reported outcomes and clinical findings in patients with VLP.

We read with interest the Letter by Verd et al. commenting on our Editorial regarding vaccination of children and adolescent against severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).^1,2 Indeed, when deciding on vaccination policy against SARS-CoV-2 many considerations need to be examined, including the safety of vaccines, the effectiveness in preventing illness (mainly severe), the impact on transmission of the virus, and effect of vaccination on disease prevention at the community and country level.

Despite significant advances in the management of heart failure (HF), further improvement in the outcome of this chronic and progressive disease is still considered a major unmet need.... This manuscript will review the rationale for monitoring HF patients and discuss previous and ongoing attempts to develop clinically meaningful monitoring devices to improve daily HF health care, with particular emphasis on the recent advances and clinical trials relevant to this evolving field.

 Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) has a higher incidence described in certain groups, namely, in women with vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (vHSILs) and/or human papillomavirus squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). This review describes terminology, vHSIL, and VSCC in their association with ASCC and the published recommendations for early detection of this cancer in these women.

The risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and its complications among patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated by dupilumab is yet to be determined. We aimed to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19-associated hospitalization, and mortality among patients with AD treated by dupilumab.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.