Recent Publications

The link between the gut microbiota and social behavior has been demonstrated, however the translational impact of a certain microbiota composition on stable behavioral patterns is yet to be elucidated. Here we employed an established social behavior mouse model of dominance (Dom) or submissiveness (Sub). 

Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis), a neglected tropical disease that affects more than 240 million people around the world, is caused by infection with the helminth parasite Schistosoma. As part of their secretome, schistosomes release extracellular vesicles (EVs) that modulate the host immune response.... Evidence indicates a selective targeting of schistosomal EVs, however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear yet....Deciphering the bioactive cargo, function, and selective targeting of the parasite-secreted EVs may facilitate the development of novel tools for diagnostics and delivered therapy to schistosomiasis, as well as to immune-associated disorders.

We aimed to assess risk factors for anemia at delivery by conducting a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study database including 1527 women who delivered vaginally ≥ 36 gestational weeks. 

COVID-19 is a complex disease with a multifaceted set of disturbances involving several mechanisms of health and disease in the human body. Sex hormones, estrogen, and testosterone, seem to play a major role in its pathogenesis, development, spread, severity, and mortalities. Examination of factors such as age, gender, ethnic background, genetic prevalence, and existing co-morbidities, may disclose the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection, morbidity, and mortality, paving the way for COVID-19 amelioration and substantial flattening of the infection curve. In this mini-review, we focus on the role of testosterone through a discussion of the intricate mechanisms of disease development and deterioration.

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) imposes a serious public health pandemic affecting the whole world, as it is spreading exponentially. Besides its high infectivity, SARS-CoV-2 causes multiple serious derangements, where the most prominent is severe acute respiratory syndrome as well as multiple organ dysfunction including heart and kidney injury. While the deleterious impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pulmonary and cardiac systems have attracted remarkable attention, the adverse effects of this virus on the renal system is still underestimated....The current review focuses on the critical role of ACE2 in renal physiology, its involvement in the development of kidney injury during SARS-CoV-2 infection, renal manifestations and therapeutic options.

Health care workers have described the hospital environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic as “a war zone”. They describe a chaotic, traumatizing environment surrounded by death of individuals unable to say their good-byes with family and family members unable to grieve in their culturally acceptable manner. The medical literature and the lay press describe ‘burnout’ amongst staff. A few articles mention posttraumatic stress disorder but do not describe the differences....

Assesses the prevalence of ophthalmic findings in patients with Darier disease, an autosomal dominant genetic skin disorder, in an effort to evaluate the need for eye examinations in the management of the disease.

The last few years have seen considerable advances in our understanding of the genetic factors influencing osteoporosis, driven by a range of break-throughs. The seven papers comprising this Research Topic together provide a timely update, describing new insights into the genetic architecture of osteoporosis, application of genetic findings to study causal inference, and state-of-the-art approaches to functional genomics, paving the road for multi-omic applications.

As liver biopsy is invasive and has poor patient acceptability. There is an unmet need for non-invasive biomarkers in NASH patients for prognostication, and
identifying patients suitable for clinical trials for treatment and monitoring. The IGF-1 protein is associated with adiposity, insulin resistance and liver fibro
genesis. We assessed the performance of IGF-1 generation test in NAFLD patients after single SC Growth Hormone (GH) administration

Propranolol emerged as the first-line therapy for infantile hemangioma (IH). Determinants of interindividual variation in drug response and predictors of rebound growth after drug discontinuation are yet to be firmly established We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of a relatively large cohort of patients with IH treated by propranolol and to determine predictors of (i) an excellent response to treatment (≥90 improvement) and (ii) of rebound growth after drug cessation

Data regarding the risks of obstetrical anal sphincter injury (OASI) among women who never delivered vaginally undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors and the rate of OASI among women undergoing TOLAC who never delivered vaginally.

A 31-year-old male amateur bodybuilder presented with a 2-year history of chronic pain over the sternum and a clicking sensation in the chest wall on movement. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no cause for his symptoms. Dynamic ultrasound scan performed at a specialist sports center revealed pseudoarthrosis of the manubriosternal joint (MSJ). After a period of conservative management (rest and analgesia), he failed to improve and underwent debridement and fusion of the MSJ with plates and screws. At follow-up 23 months later, he remains pain-free and has returned to weight lifting and bodybuilding.

The association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and melanoma is yet to be investigated. We aimed to assess assess the bidirectional association between BP and melanoma and to delineate the epidemiological features of patients with both diagno

During infectious disease outbreaks, the weakest communities are more vulnerable to infection and its deleterious effects. In Israel, the Arab and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities have unique demographic and cultural characteristics that place them at higher risk of infection. Examines socioeconomic and ethnic differences in rates of COVID-19 testing, confirmed cases and deaths, and analyzes patterns of transmission in ethnically diverse communities.

During March and April 2020, reductions in non-COVID-19 hospital admissions were observed around the world. Elective surgeries, visits with general practitioners, and diagnoses of medical emergencies were consequently delayed. Compares the characteristics of patients admitted to a northern Israeli hospital with common surgical complaints during three periods: the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and a regular period.

(Ibrahim Abu Shakra, Maxim Bez, Samer Ganam, Rola Francis, Amir Muati, Amitai Bickel, Fahed Merei, Khatib Kamal, Eli Kakiashvili)