Early Elevated Inflammatory Markers in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Patients Are Associated with Reduced Mortality, Morbidity, and Lung Injury.

The development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has proved to be a highly successful strategy. In this work, the aim is to study the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on the production of inflammatory markers and how this affect morbidity and mortality. Electronic medical record (EMR) data from 210 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from November 2020 to June 2021 were collected.

Yield of alarm features in predicting significant endoscopic findings among hospitalized patients with dyspepsia.

Background: Dyspepsia is a very prevalent upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms complex. Some of these symptoms might arise from serious underlying diseases, so the promotion of evidence-based guidelines could potentially better align evaluation and treatment.

Aim: To determine the value of alarm features as a predictive factor for significant endoscopic findings (SEFs) among hospitalized patients presenting with dyspepsia.

The additive diagnostic value of cytology in fine needle biopsy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A tertiary center experience.

Objective: Endoscopic ultrasound guide fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is the main diagnostic tool for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In most instances, only histology is obtained via FNB, without sending cytological slides. The aim of our study was to assess the additive diagnostic yield of cytology performed through FNB.

Endoscopic ultrasound- versus ERCP-guided primary drainage of inoperable malignant distal biliary obstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background:  We assessed efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) vs. endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) as first-line intervention in malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO).

Methods:  PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched until 01 /12 /2023 for randomized controlled trials of EUS-BD vs.

Ascites fluid calprotectin level is highly accurate in diagnosing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a preliminary proof of concept prospective study.

Ascites is the most common complication of liver cirrhosis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication of ascites. The diagnosis is made by an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count of ≥ 250/mm.

Predictors of spontaneous passage of ingested foreign bodies in adults: twelve years of experience.

Background: Foreign body ingestion in adults is commonly encountered in clinical practice. The therapeutic approach of whether to follow-up or extract is often controversial.

Aim: We aimed to explore predictors for spontaneous passage of ingested foreign bodies by focusing on foreign body type, length, and location of impaction.

Neurosarcoidosis: The Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment Review of Two Cases.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown cause characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas. The disease can affect any organ including the nervous system. Neurosarcoidosis occurs in about 5% patients with sarcoidosis.

Clinical Predictors of Gastrointestinal Bleeding Source before Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a commonly encountered medical emergency. In cases of negative endoscopic evaluations, computed tomography angiography (CTA) is usually the next diagnostic step. To date, data regarding positive CTA examinations are lacking.

Liver Fat Storage Is a Better Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease than Visceral Fat.

Fatty liver is one aspect of metabolic syndrome. The roles and contributions of fatty liver and visceral fat storage to coronary artery disease (CAD) are not clear. This study measured associations among visceral fat storage, fatty liver, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and CAD.

Increased Red Blood Cell Distribution Predicts Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation.

Introduction: Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to be related to underlying chronic inflammation. Our aim is to investigate the relationship of different complete blood count (CBC) parameters such as hemoglobin level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean platelet volume (MPV) or RDW with COPD exacerbation severity.

Methods: In the present retrospective analysis, consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of "COPD Exacerbation" between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015 were evaluated.

Regen-COV-2 Antibody Cocktail Mediated Clearance of SARS-COV-2 in an Immunocompromised Patient.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects different people in different ways. Most infected people develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. This case report presents a patient who had difficulty eradicating the corona virus due to being treated with rituximab, which depletes B lymphocytes and therefore disables the production of neutralizing antibodies.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-A Concise Review of Noninvasive Tests and Biomarkers.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, with a continuously growing prevalence. The pathophysiology of the disease is complex and includes several mechanisms, with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance playing a major role. It is crucial to diagnose NAFLD before it advances to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to cirrhosis, presented by its complications which include ascites, portal hypertension, bleeding varices and encephalopathy.

Cytokine Patterns in COVID-19 Patients: Which Cytokines Predict Mortality and Which Protect Against?

(1) Background/Aim: People infected with SARS-CoV-2 may develop COVID-19 in a wide range of clinical severity. Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by several grades of chronic inflammation and collagen deposition in the interalveolar space. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been demonstrated to cause lung fibrosis without a currently elucidated mechanism.

Convalescent Plasma Reduces Mortality and Decreases Hospitalization Stay in Patients with Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Humans infected with SARS-CoV-2 may develop COVID-19, which manifests across a wide spectrum of clinical severity ranging from mild upper respiratory tract illnesses to diffuse viral pneumonia, causing acute respiratory failure. Many therapies have been tested for their efficacy in treating COVID-19. Controversy surrounds convalescent plasma transfusions as an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Clinical Predictors of Mortality and Critical Illness in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Early identification of patients with COVID-19 who will develop severe or critical disease symptoms is important for delivering proper and early treatment. We analyzed demographic, clinical, immunological, hematological, biochemical and radiographic findings that may be of utility to clinicians in predicting COVID-19 severity and mortality. Electronic medical record data from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from November 2020 to June 2021 in the COVID-19 Department in the Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel, were collected.

Pulmonary Embolism in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Patient Induced by Inferior Vena Cava Mechanical Compression.

Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a common syndrome. Renal and hepatic cysts can cause discomfort, bleeding, rupture, infection, hypertension and a mass effect with compression of adjacent organs.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old man with polycystic kidney disease and hypertension presented to the emergency department for bilateral flank pain.

Clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in an Immunocompromised Patient Mediated by Convalescent Plasma without B-Cell Recovery.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This case report presents a patient who had difficulty eradicating the corona virus due to being treated with Rituximab, which depletes B lymphocyte cells and therefore disables the production of neutralizing antibodies. The combined use of external anti-viral agents like convalescent plasma, IVIG and Remdesivir successfully helped the patient's immune system to eradicate the virus without B-cell population recovery.

Isolation and expansion of high yield of pure mesenchymal stromal cells from fresh and cryopreserved placental tissues.

The injection of placental stromal cells isolated from fetal human tissues (f-hPSC) was reported to indirectly induce tissue regeneration in different animal models. A procedure of f-hPSC isolation from fragments of both selected fresh or cryopreserved bulk placental neonate tissues is proposed, based on their high migratory potential,. The fragments of the desired fetal placental tissues are adhered to a culture dish by traces of diluted fibrin and covered with culture medium.

The hemodynamic response to constant dobutamine infusion: the effect of ADRB1 389 polymorphism and sex.

Objectives: Prolonged activation of the β-1 adrenergic receptor (ADRB1) is associated with receptor desensitization. This process has been suggested to have important pathophysiological and clinical implications in conditions such as congestive heart failure. The contribution of genetic factors to this process is a subject of ongoing research.

Effects of sex and the common ADRB1 389 genetic polymorphism on the hemodynamic response to dobutamine.

Introduction: The ADRB1 389 polymorphism affects responses to the β-1 adrenergic receptor (β1AR) agonist in vitro. Previous studies on its effect on the response to dobutamine stress echocardiography were conflicting. In addition, sex differences in the response to dobutamine have been suggested.

Levels of sirolimus in saliva and blood following oral topical sustained-release varnish delivery system application.

Purpose: Sirolimus (rapamycin) is a mammalian target of rapamycin pathway blocker. The efficacy of sirolimus is currently studied for its antiproliferative properties in various malignancies and particularly in squamous cell carcinoma and other oral disorders. Topical application at the oral cavity can augment sirolimus availability at the site of action by increasing sirolimus levels in saliva and hence efficacy, along with improved safety (low levels in the blood to avoid side effects) and compliance.