Recent Publications
Nakhoul Farid, Nakhoul Nakhoul: Active vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 infections: review (Ir J Med Sci . )
SARS-CoV-2, causing the lethal disease COVid-19, is a public health emergency in the 2020 global pandemic.... In this review, we will explain the cross talk between the active vitamin D and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and summarize the data from the literature.
Anjali Pathania, Avi Matityahu, Itay Onn: Chromosome loading of cohesin depends on conserved residues in Scc3 (Curr Genet . )
Cohesin is essential for sister chromatid cohesion, which ensures equal segregation of the chromatids to daughter cells. However, the molecular mechanism by which cohesin mediates this function is elusive. Scc3, one of the four core subunits of cohesin, is vital to cohesin activity. However, the mechanism by which Scc3 contributes to the activity and identity of its functional domains is not fully understood. Here, we describe an in-frame five-amino acid insertion mutation after glutamic acid 704 (scc3-E704ins) in yeast Scc3, located in the middle of the second armadillo repeat.
Karl Skorecki: Kinins and Chymase: The Forgotten Components of the Renin angiotensin system and their implications in COVID-19 Disease (Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol .)
The unique clinical features of COVID-19 disease present a formidable challenge in the understanding of its pathogenesis. Within a very short time, our knowledge regarding basic physiologic pathways that participate in SARS CoV-2 invasion and subsequent organ damage have been dramatically expanded....Herein we outline the current knowledge regarding the reciprocal interactions of RAAS, BK and chymase that are probably turned-on in COVID-19 disease and participate in its clinical features.
Nehama Cohen Kfir, Mary Rudolf, Miriam Ethel Bentwich, Nomy Dickman, Tzipora C Falik-Zaccai: 'LEADERS': A culturally tailored approach to genetic counseling for minority populations (J Genet Couns . )
We report a novel model for a ‘tailored’ genetic counseling approach designed to increase the use of genetic counseling by the Arab minority in Israel and to better meet the needs of this minority group.
Maya Frank Wolf: A Comparison Of Arabin Cervical Pessary And Vaginal Progesterone Versus Vaginal Progesterone Only In Twin Pregnancy For The Prevention Of Preterm Birth Due To Short Cervix (Harefuah .)
Preterm labor is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Up to 17% of twin pregnancy are preterm. Arabin cervical pessary has been proven as preventing preterm labor in singleton pregnancies. The benefit of it in twin pregnancy is controversial.
The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of preterm delivery in twin gestation with short cervical length in Israel- one center utilized the combined treatment of Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone (study group) and the others utilized vaginal progesterone approach (control group).
Jacob Bornstein: Three-Year Follow-up of 2-Dose Versus 3-Dose HPV Vaccine (Pediatrics . )
Human papillomavirus (HPV) antibody responses to the 9-valent human papillomavirus (9vHPV) vaccine among girls and boys (aged 9-14 years) receiving 2-dose regimens (months 0, 6 or 0, 12) were noninferior to a 3-dose regimen (months 0, 2, 6) in young women (aged 16-26 years) 4 weeks after last vaccination in an international, randomized, open-label trial (NCT01984697). We assessed response durability through month 36.
Dhanoop Manikoth Ayyathan, Gal Levy-Cohen, Sandy Boutros-Suleiman, Michael Blank: Development and characterisation of SMURF2-targeting modifiers (J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem . )
The C2-WW-HECT-domain E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF2 emerges as an important regulator of diverse cellular processes. To date, SMURF2-specific modulators were not developed. Here, we generated and investigated a set of SMURF2-targeting synthetic peptides and peptidomimetics designed to stimulate SMURF2's autoubiquitination and turnover via a disruption of the inhibitory intramolecular interaction between its C2 and HECT domains.
Tal Shachar: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on ED referrals and care for stroke patients: A four-year comparative study (J Crit Care . )
Examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and care provided to patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) at the emergency department (ED).
Offer Amir: Novel technologies in the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a promise during the time of disappointment from pharmacological approaches? (Curr Opin Cardiol . )
Despite numerous attempts, none of a wide variety of tested drugs achieved meaningful improvement in the outcomes of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), making new therapeutic strategies a major unmet medical need. The medical device industry embraced the challenge, developing novel technologies directed to face specific aspects of the pathophysiology of HFpEF. This review focuses on some of the most promising technologies attaining meaningful clinical progress recently in the field of HFpEF therapy.
Avi Peretz: Genomic Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Genotype-to-Phenotype Agreement in Helicobacter pylori (Microorganisms .)
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Helicobacter pylori is increasing and can result in treatment failure and inappropriate antibiotic usage. This study used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to comprehensively analyze the H. pylori resistome and phylogeny in order to characterize Israeli H. pylori.
Samira Khoury, Tharwat Haj Khalil, Eilam Palzur, Samer Srouji: A Multi-Chamber Gas System to Examine the Effect of Multiple Oxygen Conditions on Cell Culture (Tissue Eng Part C Methods . )
The classic Bone tissue engineering (BTE) model for bone regeneration combines three elements: scaffolds, biomaterials and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Incorporation of MSCs and growth factors into a scaffold implanted into the area of bone injury is a proven strategy to achieve successful bone regeneration as demonstrated in the literature. However, a major limitation of using bone grafts or scaffolds is oxygen deprivation in the inner sections of the construct, due to lack of adequate vascularization. To address this limitation, we proposed two treatment strategies for MSC-seeded constructs or adipose tissue scaffolds prior to implantation: (1) oxygen enrichment, (2) acclimation to hypoxia.
Ohad Ronen, Maya Oichman: National Differences on Cost-Analysis of Afirma Genomic Sequencing Classifier (Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) .)
Thyroid nodules of indeterminate cytology can be subjected to molecular testing such as the Afirma Genomic Sequencing Classifier (GSC), thereby minimizing the number of unnecessary diagnostic surgeries. This work aimed to evaluate and compare the cost of routine GSC testing of indeterminate thyroid nodules in different countries.
Majdi Halabi: Comparison of Outcomes of Beta-Blocker Therapy after Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients without Heart Failure or Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (From the Acute Coronary Syndromes Israeli Survey [ACSIS]) (Am J Cardiol .)
The contemporary benefit of routine beta-blocker therapy following myocardial infraction in the absence of heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is unclear. We investigated the impact of beta-blockers on post myocardial infarction outcome in patients without heart failure or LVSD among patients enrolled in the biennial Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS).
Hanan Rohana, Maya Azrad, Orna Nitzan, Dana Binyamin, Omry Koren, Avi Peretz: Characterization of Clostridioides difficile Strains, the Disease Severity, and the Microbial Changes They Induce (J Clin Med)
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major nosocomial disease. The characteristics of different strains, the disease severity they cause, their susceptibility to antibiotics, and the changes they inflict on gut microbiome, have not been comprehensively studied in Israel. A severity score was calculated for 70 patients. Stool samples were tested for toxins presence using a special kit. Bacteria were isolated, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed for several antibiotics. Strains were classified by Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and changes in gut microbiome were tested.