Differences in MS clinical and epidemiological characteristics between Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi Jewish patients in Israel: a retrospective single center study.

The prevalence and severity of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) varies across different ethnicities, with a tendency to a more severe phenotype in non-Caucasian populations.  Our objective was to evaluate the differences in disease phenotype between Ashkenazi Jewish and Non-Ashkenazi Jewish patients in Israel. We conducted a single center retrospective cohort study in which subjects were assigned to Ashkenazi or Non-Ashkenazi groups according to self-reported ancestry and disease severity was assessed using the expanded disability status (EDSS), MS severity score (MSSS), progression index (PI) and MRI metrics.

Reinforcing the evidence of oligoclonal bands as a prognostic factor in patients with Multiple sclerosis.

The prognostic value of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients is controversial. While several studies have demonstrated a worse disease course in OCB positive patients, others did not reproduce these findings. We evaluated the prognostic significance of OCB retrospectively based on clinical records of OCB status upon diagnosis and severity outcomes including the MS Severity Score, Progression Index and regional involvement in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Heterotopic heart transplantation: the United States experience.

Introduction: More than 3 decades have passed since the first heterotopic heart transplantation (HHT) was reported. Nowadays, this surgical technique is used rarely, and only in patients who do not qualify for standard orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Current indications mainly comprise refractory pulmonary hypertension and a donor-recipient size mismatch (>20%).

Magnetically guided recellularization of decellularized stented porcine pericardium-derived aortic valve for TAVI.

Application of somatic stem cells for growth, proliferation, and differentiation in a three-dimensional pattern is an important aspect in tissue engineering. Here, we report on our bioreactor, which we applied for magnetically guided recellularization of nitinol-stented valve. Human-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells were cultured in medium in our pulsatile dynamic bioreactor for 4-6 days.

Comparison of hemodynamics in the ascending aorta between pulsatile and continuous flow left ventricular assist devices using computational fluid dynamics based on computed tomography images.

This study aims to investigate differences in hemodynamic conditions in the thoracic aorta for pulsatile and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Patient-specific models were reconstructed from three patients with continuous-flow LVAD (HeartMate II, Thoratec Corporation) and three patients with biventricular assist devices (Excor, Berlin Heart) where only the aortic part was included in the simulations. CFD simulations were performed with constant inflow for the continuous-flow LVADs and time-varying inflow for the pulsatile devices.