Publications by authors named "Bnaya Alon"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the risk of post-contrast Acute Kidney Injury (PC-AKI) in patients aged 85 and older undergoing CT scans with intravenous contrast media, addressing the lack of data for this super-elderly group.
  • It analyzed a cohort of 7,078 hospitalized patients, finding a 5.72% overall occurrence of AKI within 72 hours post-scan, with slightly higher rates in the non-IV contrast group but no significant differences between those receiving and not receiving contrast.
  • Results indicate that contrast-enhanced CT scans are generally safe for super-elderly patients, especially those with normal to mild kidney dysfunction, contributing valuable insights to the risk-benefit assessment of such procedures in this age group.
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Limited literature exists on chloramphenicol's clinical use. In this retrospective, single-center case-series, we examined 183 chloramphenicol-treated and 81 piperacillin-tazobactam-treated medical patients. Chloramphenicol recipients were older, more debilitated, cognitively impaired, and penicillin allergic, while increased need for inotropics, higher leukocyte count, and higher creatinine levels were notable in the piperacillin-tazobactam group.

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An increased prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) has been reported in kidney stone formers (KSFs), along with an elevated cardiovascular risk. The aim of the current study is to assess whether VC in these patients develops at a younger age and is influenced by stone composition. This single-center, matched case-control study included KSFs with uric acid or calcium oxalate stones (diagnosed based on stone analysis) and age- and sex-matched controls without a history of nephrolithiasis.

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Introduction: Monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition diseases (MIDDs) are a group of systemic diseases, characterized by deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulin predominantly in the kidney. In the absence of overt hematologic disease, MIDDs are classified as a part of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance. Patients with MIDD may present with a nephrotic syndrome and kidney function impairment.

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Background: The use of a tunneled catheter as the primary vascular access among old hemodialysis patients is frequent. Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is a common complication, associated with increased mortality. Data regarding the clinical presentation and outcomes of CRBSI among old hemodialysis patients is limited.

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The term pseudohyperkalemia refers to a false elevation in serum potassium levels due to potassium release from cells in vitro. Falsely elevated potassium levels have been reported in patients with thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and hematologic malignancies. This phenomenon has been particularly described in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

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Intravenous (IV) fluid is frequently used to treat patients who have been admitted with an acute infection; among these patients, some will experience pulmonary congestion and will need diuretic treatment. Consecutive admissions to the Internal Medicine Department of patients with an acute infection were included. Patients were divided based on IV furosemide treatment within 48 h after admission.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on the immune response to the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD), measuring antibody levels at various time points after vaccination.
  • Results showed significant increases in antibody levels after the third vaccine dose, but these levels declined after six months. HD patients were found to have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection compared to PD patients.
  • The conclusion highlighted that while both groups had a strong antibody response post-vaccination, the type of dialysis (HD vs. PD) significantly affected the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
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Article Synopsis
  • Keratin-based hair-straightening treatments are common in Israel but have been linked to severe acute kidney injury (AKI), with reports indicating potential systemic absorption of harmful ingredients.
  • A study reviewed 26 patients aged 14-58, who experienced AKI symptoms like nausea and abdominal pain after using these treatments from 2019-2022, with significant findings from kidney biopsies.
  • The study highlights acute oxalate nephropathy as a primary concern, suggesting that the absorption of glycolic acid derivatives could be a largely unrecognized cause of kidney issues, especially in young and otherwise healthy individuals.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study evaluated how dialysis patients responded to three vs. four doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine, involving 106 participants.
  • - After the third dose, patients showed increased antibody levels, which declined but remained higher than before; the fourth dose significantly boosted these antibody levels again.
  • - Despite the increased antibody response with four doses, the infection risk among patients remained similar whether they received three or four doses.
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Gastrointestinal manifestations are common among patients with advanced kidney disease. Common symptoms include poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Prevalent lesions include esophagitis, gastritis, and duodenitis.

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Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important cause of nosocomial infections. Active surveillance for CRAB carriage to identify and isolate colonized patients is used to reduce transmission.

Objectives: To assess the rate and risks of clinical infection among CRAB-carrier and non-carrier patients.

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Background: Acid-base balance is maintained by kidney excretion of titratable acids and bicarbonate reabsorption. Metabolic alkalosis is uncommon in dialysis-treated patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the rate of metabolic alkalosis in pediatric patients treated with peritoneal dialysis.

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Pseudohyperkalemia, a false elevation of potassium level in vitro, can be observed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients due to fragility of leukocytes along with a high leukocyte count. This retrospective, observational study included all patients diagnosed with CLL at our hospital who had at least one leukocyte count ≥ 50.0 × 10/L during the years 2008-2018.

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Background: The liberal administration of hydroxychloroquine-sulphate (HCQ) to COVID-19 patients has raised concern regarding the risk of QTc prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias, particularly when prescribed with azithromycin. We evaluated the incidence of QTc prolongation among moderately and severely ill COVID-19 patients treated with HCQ and of the existence of concomitant alternative causes.

Methods: All COVID-19 patients treated with HCQ (between Mar 1 and Apr 14, 2020) in a tertiary medical centre were included.

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ANCA testing plays an established critical role in the diagnosis of ANCA Associated vasculitis (AAV). The spectrum of diseases associated with positive ANCA has recently broadened, thus calling into question the diagnostic implications of ANCA positivity in a hospital setting. We retrospectively studied all adult patients who had a positive ANCA test (by Indirect Immunofluorescence (IIF), ELISA or both) performed over the span of 19 years.

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