Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Is Associated with Platelet Activity and Bleeding Tendency in Patients with Gaucher Disease.

Bleeding tendency, a prominent feature of patients with Gaucher disease (GD), is associated with abnormal platelet function. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein with neuroprotective potential stored in alpha granules of circulating platelets. Here we studied BDNF levels in 50 patients with type I GD (GD1) and their correlation with platelet activity and bleeding tendency.

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies inhibit seropositive response to Covid-19 vaccination in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients within 6 months after treatment.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Although vaccines have been developed, patients on immunosuppressive therapy are less likely to respond. This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy of a Covid-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.

Trauma and pregnancy: Is flow cytometry detection and quantification of fetal red blood cells useful?

Objective: To assess whether positive flow cytometry quantification of fetal red blood cells is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in cases of mild trauma during pregnancy.

Study Design: A retrospective database study was conducted at a single tertiary center between 2013 and 2019. All pregnant women with viable gestation involved in trauma who underwent flow cytometry quantification of fetal red blood cells were included in the study.

The cellular immunological responses of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting compared with those of patients undergoing valve replacement.

Objective: Major surgical intervention such as cardiac surgery has been shown to have profound effects on the immune system. We conducted a prospective study comparing the effects of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) versus isolated valve surgery.

Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 59 patients undergoing either elective CABG or elective isolated valve replacement surgery.

Prospective evaluation of colonization with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteriaceae among patients at hospital admission and of subsequent colonization with ESBL-producing enterobacteriaceae among patients during hospitalization.

Objective: To determine the rates of and risk factors for carriage and acquisition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae during hospitalization.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a 550-bed teaching hospital.

Direct fluconazole susceptibility testing of positive Candida blood cultures by flow cytometry.

The standard methods for yeast susceptibility testing require 24-48 h of incubation. As there has been an increase in incidence of non-albicans Candida species, the clinician is very often wary of initiating therapy with fluconazole until a final susceptibility report is generated, especially when treating very sick patients. A rapid reliable susceptibility testing method would enable the clinician to prescribe fluconazole, thus avoiding more toxic or expensive therapy.

Susceptibilities of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae to ertapenem, meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam with and without clavulanic acid.

Background: Faced with the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) pandemic, we compared the susceptibilities of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae to ertapenem, meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam with and without clavulanate.

Methods: 121 strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were studied. 70 strains were originally reported as resistant to ceftazidime based upon disk diffusion; 51 strains were originally reported as sensitive to ceftazidime based upon previous guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, but subsequently shown to be ESBL producers.

Acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms among hospital patients hospitalized in beds adjacent to critically ill patients.

Objective: To assess whether patients hospitalized in beds physically adjacent to critically ill patients are at increased risk to acquire multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Design: Cohort study.Setting.