Recent Publications

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).

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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). 

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.

Macromastia (breast hypertrophy) has significant influence on patients' quality of life (QoL), therefore surgical treatment has a clear medical benefit. Rapid improvements in musculoskeletal complaints are being reported long before when final aesthetic results are traditionally evaluated. The study aim is to use the RAND Health Status Survey, a modified validated short-form-36, to analyze patient QoL after breast reduction, and examine whether QoL changes as a function of time post operation.

The aim of this study is to determine the sagittal inclination of lumbar spinous processes (SPs) in individuals with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS).

The prognostic performance of the recently updated American Joint Committee on Cancer lymph node classification of cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been validated. The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic role of extranodal extension (ENE) in cutaneous HNSCC.

The BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are associated with high incidence of venous thrombosis and a significant rate of recurrent events, but there is no consensus regarding their management. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 96 patients with MPN-related venous thrombosis.

The gut microbiome has been shown to influence the response of tumors to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in pre-clinical mouse models and observational patient cohorts. However, modulation of gut microbiota in cancer patients has not been investigated in clinical trials. Here we performed a phase I clinical trial to assess the safety and feasibility of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and re-induction of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in ten patients with anti-PD-1-refractory metastatic melanoma. 

Examines whether audio-voice guidance application improves adherence to resuscitation sequence and recommended time frames during neonatal resuscitation.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is defined as blood loss of ≥ 500-1000 ml within 24 h after delivery. Yet, assessment of blood loss is imprecise. The present study aimed to profile the hemoglobin (Hb) drop after vaginal delivery with versus without PPH.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious end organ complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTN) is an inducible model of LN, which utilizes passive transfer of pre-formed nephrotoxic antibodies to initiate disease. In previous studies, we demonstrated that the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, BI-BTK-1, prevents the development of nephritis in NTN when treatment was started prior to nephrotoxic serum transfer, and reverses established proteinuria as well....