Ethnic Disparities in Chronic Diseases: Comparison Between Arabs and Jews in Israel.

Background: The lifestyle of the Arab population in Israel has changed in the last few decades, and modernization and urbanization have impacted the prevalence of chronic diseases.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of chronic diseases in the Arab population compared to the Jewish population in Israel.

Methods: This retrospective study included Arab and Jewish people insured by Israel's largest health maintenance organization.

Trauma-Induced Vestibular Dysfunction: Improved Repair Under Local Treatment With α1-Antitrypsin.

Aim: To characterize vestibular recovery in a mouse model of unilateral labyrinthotomy under local AAT and dexamethasone treatment.

Background: Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a circulating tissue-protective molecule that rises during inflammatory conditions and promotes inflammatory resolution. Its local concentration in human perilymph inversely correlates with the severity of inner ear dysfunction; concomitantly, mice that overexpress AAT and undergo inner ear trauma rapidly restore vestibular function.

Local Alpha1-Antitrypsin Accelerates the Healing of Tympanic Membrane Perforation in Mice.

Background: Most tympanic membrane (TM) perforations heal spontaneously, but 10%-20% remain chronic and might lead to impaired hearing and recurrent middle ear infections. Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) is a circulating tissue-protective protein that is elevated under inflammatory conditions and is currently indicated for genetic AAT deficiency. Recently, AAT has been shown to promote tissue remodeling and inflammatory resolution.

Impact of sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on left atrial functions in patients with type-2 diabetes and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Background: We aimed to assess the impact of adding sodium glucose co-transporters-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2I) on cardiac remodeling in type 2 diabetic patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) that had been under-represented in most clinical trials through the analysis of left atrial (LA) phasic functions with 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D- STE.

Methods: We enrolled 70 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and stable HFmrEF (35 patients received one of SGLT-2I either empagliflozin or dapagliflozin). Laboratory assessment and echocardiographic evaluation were carried out at baseline and after 6 months.

Biomarker array for prediction of acute kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention for patients who had acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and is associated with poor outcomes. AKI is diagnosed by the dynamic change of serum Cr, but it could not predict AKI. This study aimed to evaluate a biomarker array that may fulfill this shortage.

The Significance of Bell's Palsy That Presents as Monocranial Versus Polycranial Neuropathy: A Case Series and Systematic Literature Review.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Bell's palsy (BP) presenting as polycranial neuropathy (PCN) compared with BP caused by isolated facial nerve (CNVII).

Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of the medical records of all consecutive patients who were diagnosed with BP at a single tertiary referral center between 2010 and 2017. Included were patients 18 years or older who were clinically diagnosed with BP and completed 7 days of systemic steroidal treatment and at least 6 months of follow-up.

Prevalence and determinants of resistant hypertension in the delta region of Egypt: A prospective observational study.

Background And Aims: Hypertension (HTN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality affecting about 30%-40% of the adult population in developed countries. Fewer data were published about the prevalence, sociodemographics, and clinical characteristics of the resistant hypertensive population in Egypt. Hence, our aim is to focus the attention on these determinants especially in the delta region of Egypt.

Acute otitis media in the first two months of life and the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Information on pneumococcal vaccination's impact on the prevention of acute otitis media (AOM) at very young ages is limited.

Objectives: To define the trends in tympanocentesis-proven AOM incidence, clinical characteristics, microbiology, and antibiotic resistance in infants <2 months of age in southern Israel, before and after the sequential introduction of 7- and 13-valent PCVs.

Methods: A retrospective population-based cohort study including children <2 months of age diagnosed with AOM at the pediatric emergency room between January 2005-Decmber 2009 (pre-vaccination group, group 1) and January 2013-July 2021 (post-PCV13 introduction, group 2).

The effect of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines on occurrence of recurrent acute otitis media among infants diagnosed with acute otitis media at an age younger than 2 months.

To examine the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) on the occurrence of recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) among infants diagnosed with an early acute otitis media (AOM) episode. Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with a first episode of AOM at an age < 2 months. Data included clinical, demographic, and microbiological findings at the first AOM episode.

Detection of right ventricular dysfunction by three - dimensional echocardiography and two - dimensional speckle tracking in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline- based chemotherapy.

Background: Despite the cardiotoxic effect of anthracycline on the left ventricle (LV) was totally identified. The assessment of the anthracycline effect on the right ventricle(RV) by conventional echocardiography was a challenge due to its complex geometry. We aimed to evaluate the impact of anthracycline on the RV volume and function using 3 dimensional -echocardiography (3DE) and 2 dimensional -speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in patients with breast cancer.

Safety and long-term efficacy of tonsillectomy versus subtotal tonsillectomy in children with sleep disordered breathing.

Objectives: to compare safety and long-term symptoms after TE compared to Subtotal Tonsillectomy (STT).

Methods: A retrospective review data of 412 patients, one to twelve years old that underwent either TE or STT, as treatment for sleep disorder breathing, at two different medical centers. Symptoms were assessed by a questionnaire 3-5 years post-surgery.

COVID-19 Vaccination Among the Arab Bedouin Population: Lessons Learned From a Minority Population.

We investigated the causes of low COVID-19 vaccination rates among a minority population and highlighted interventions for increasing the vaccination rate. We reviewed the experience during the mass vaccination campaign period among the Arab Bedouin (AB) in Israel, attempting to determine important causes of low vaccination rates and gathered information from real-life experience and through direct contact with the population during the campaign. Causes for low vaccination rates in the AB are related to the health system infrastructure, crisis management strategies, and population characteristics.

Treatment Modality and Second Primary Tumors of the Head and Neck.

Introduction: Second primary tumors (SPTs) in head and neck cancer are thought to occur from premalignant lesions that are present at the time of the primary tumor diagnosis. The association of the modality used to treat the primary lesion with SPT occurrence is not clear.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of SPTs in patients with head and neck malignancies, according to treatment modality.

Diabetes and glycemic control in necrotizing otitis externa (NOE).

Purpose: Although the association between necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is well known, there is little knowledge in regards to the effects of DM and glycemic control on the outcome of NOE. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of DM duration and glycemic control, and in-hospital glycemic control on NOE severity.

Methods: A retrospective case series analysis, including all patients hospitalized between 1990 and 2018 due to NOE were included.

Retroauricular Abscess in Adults.

Objectives: To describe the clinical course and outcome of a group of adults who presented with a subperiosteal abscess (SPA) MATERIALS and METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with SPA.

Results: Between 2001 and 2015, 7 such patients-5 men and 2 women-were identified. Their age ranged from 18 to 62 years.

Computer tomography findings in necrotizing otitis externa based on the offending pathogens.

Purpose: High-resolution temporal bone computer tomography (HRTBCT) is the most common initial radiological modality used for the assessment of necrotizing otitis externa (NOE).

Objectives: (1) To compare the extension of disease, as seen on HRTBCT, in patients with NOE caused by different pathogens and (2) assess whether radiological findings may suggest the offending pathogen in cases of sterile-NOE.

Methods: All NOE patients were hospitalized between 1990 and 2018.

Impact of occlusive material and cochlea-carotid artery relation on eustachian tube occlusion in subtotal petrosectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the success rate of eustachian tube (ET) occlusion in subtotal petrosectomy relative to the occlusive material used and to the varying protympanum anatomy, by means of standardized alignment of the cochlea-carotid artery relation on computed tomography images.

Patients And Methods: All cases of subtotal petrosectomy carried out by the same surgeon at a tertiary care referral center were retrospectively evaluated. Only cases with available computed tomography prior to second stage cochlear or middle ear implantation were included.

Impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on acute mastoiditis in children in southern Israel: A 12-year retrospective comparative study (2005-2016).

Objectives: To define the trends in acute mastoiditis (AM) incidence, microbiology, complications and management in children, before and after the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PVC13) introduction.

Methods: Medical records of all AM patients <15 years of age diagnosed during 2005-2016 were reviewed. The study years were divided into three periods: pre-vaccination (2005-2008), interim (2009-2011) and post-PCV13 vaccination (2012-2016).

Trauma-induced vestibular dysfunction: Possible functional repair under α1-antitrypsin-rich conditions.

Transient vestibular organ deafferentation, such that is caused by traumatic tissue injury, is presently addressed by corticosteroid therapy. However, restoration of neurophysiological properties is rarely achieved. Here, it was hypothesized that the tissue-protective attributes of α1-antityrpsin (AAT) may promote restoration of neuronal function.

Limitations of ultrasound in predicting bilaterality vs unilaterality of well-differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of ultrasonography in the differentiation of a bilateral and a unilateral WDTC to help physicians decide on performing a total or a partial thyroidectomy.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective chart review of all patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma following a total thyroidectomy or a complete thyroidectomy between January 2013 and December 2015 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in Soroka University Medical Center in southern Israel. The preoperative ultrasound images of the thyroid were compared to the final pathology in the contralateral lobe.

Endogenous α1-antitrypsin levels in the perilymphatic fluid correlates with severity of hearing loss.

Objectives: To determine the levels of endogenous α1-antitrypsin in the perilymph of patients undergoing cochlear implant (CI), and its reverse association with the severity of hearing loss.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Surgery for necrotizing otitis externa-indications and surgical findings.

Purpose: Treatment for necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) includes long term antibiotic and surgery in selected cases. Indications and extent of surgery, however, are still not defined. The aims of this study were: (1) present our experience in surgery for NOE (2) compare high-resolution computer tomography and perioperative findings (3) suggest recommendations for indications and extent of surgery.