Recent Publications

we outline the importance of micronutrients with an emphasis on the immunomodulatory function of the microbiome and highlight the microbiome's potential as a target for precision medicine in cancer treatment.

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) encephalitis is the most prevalent form of viral encephalitis worldwide. Consensus statements on the rate of mortality are lacking, with most studies emphasizing short-term mortality risks . We aimed to describe variables effecting mortality for HSV-1 encephalitis in a long term well defined HSV cohorts.

In Israel, The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is recommended to both genders up to age 26. Many 18-26 olds missed their opportunity for vaccination during school. Our study described HPV knowledge, attitudes and vaccination intentions among unvaccinated 18-26 Israeli adults across various demographics, aiming to inform future catch-up vaccination strategies. 

Most infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) do not have an underlying anatomical risk factor. Thus, other non-anatomical risk factors should be considered. Since the most common pathogens arise from the fecal microbiota, our aim was to investigate whether the gut microbiota composition differs between febrile infants younger than 2 months with or without UTI.

Compares histopathological findings of placentas of dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), conceived after fresh embryo transfer (ET) and frozen-thawed ET.

The indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical services in peripheral hospitals has not been fully described. We compared the impact of COVID-19 on Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management and outcome in an Israeli peripheral hospital.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a term used to describe trophoblast invasion into the uterine wall. The condition can be fetal at labor due to a lack of spontaneous separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, leading to severe hemorrhage. In this study we aim to evaluate preoperative risk factors for unplanned immediate hysterectomy in PAS uterine-preserving surgeries.

In January 2016, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) published an update to the guidelines concerning the management of adult patients with thyroid nodules and well-differentiated thyroid cancers. One of the revised recommendations states that lobectomy is a reasonable surgical approach for low-risk patients. This systematic review compares the rates of completion thyroidectomy surgeries before and after the publication of the recent ATA guidelines.

Understanding the early stages of human congenital myopathies is critical for proposing strategies for improving musculoskeletal muscle performance, such as restoring the functional integrity of the cytoskeleton. SH3 and cysteine-rich domain 3 (STAC3) are proteins involved in nutrient regulation and are an essential component of the excitation-contraction (EC) coupling machinery for Ca²⁺ releasing. A mutation in STAC3 causes debilitating Native American Myopathy (NAM) in humans, while loss of this gene in mice and zebrafish (ZF) results in premature death. Clinically, NAM patients demonstrated increased lipids in skeletal muscle, but it is unclear if neutral lipids are associated with altered muscle function in NAM. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 induced stac3^-/-/knockout (KO) zebrafish model, we determined that loss of stac3 leads to delayed larval hatching which corresponds with muscle weakness and decreased whole-body Ca²⁺ level during early skeletal development. 

The optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for patients undergoing primary hip or knee arthroplasty remains debated. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of single-dose versus extended antibiotic prophylaxis.

It is unknown whether delay in diagnosis affects morbidity reportedly in paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS). We aimed to explore various aspects of PNS, including prevalence, clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and treatment outcomes.

The role of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) in vascular repair and their association to cardiovascular protection is well established. Objectives: We examined the effect of proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9 mAb) on cEPCs in adults with hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, aiming to establish a pleotropic class effect.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections is challenged by antibiotic resistance. The urease enzyme contributes to H. pylori colonization in the gastric acidic environment by producing a neutral microenvironment. We hypothesized that urease inhibition could affect H. pylori viability. This work aimed to assess the effects of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), ebselen and baicalin on urease activity, bacterial viability and urease genes expression in H. pylori isolates.

Foreign body removal in the facial region poses significant challenges due to the complex anatomy and the proximity to critical structures. This study introduces a soft tissue-borne patient-specific guide (PSG) designed to enhance precision and minimize invasiveness in foreign body removal.

Various interventions have been applied to reduce perineal trauma and obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). The efficacy of warm compresses during the second stage of labor for reducing the occurrence of perineal tears is controversial. Objective: We aimed to compare rates of spontaneous perineal tears requiring suturing, between women who received warm compresses plus perineal massage vs. perineal massage alone.

(Raneen Abu Shqara, Aya Banenbaum, Sari Nahir Biderman, Inshirah Sgayer, Riva Keidar, Nadir Ganim, Lior Lowenstein, Susana Mustafa)