Maternal Colonization of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Preterm Rupture of Membranes.

Aim: Maternal colonization by Enterobacteriaceae that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-E) has risen, and the antimicrobial resistance of ESBL-E is significant. We aimed to evaluate the rates of ESBL-E colonization among women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and of maternal-neonatal vertical transmission. We also aimed to compare obstetrical and neonatal complications among ESBL-E positive versus negative maternal colonization in pregnancies complicated by PPROM.

Photoswitchable Arylazopyrazole Surfactants at the Water-Air Interface: A Microscopic Perspective.

Surfactants play an important role in modifying the properties of water-air interfaces. Here, we combine information from molecular dynamics simulations, surface tensiometry, and vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy to study the interfacial behavior of photoswitchable arylazopyrazole (AAP) surfactants. This combination of the experimental techniques allows a direct relation between surface tension and surface concentration rather than just the bulk concentration.

Photo-induced drug release at interfaces with arylazopyrazoles.

Smart responsive materials have spurred the progress in high-precision drug delivery. Enormous attention has been given to characterizing drug release in bulk aqueous solutions, however, aqueous-hydrophobic interfaces are vital components of biological systems which serve as the point of entry into cells. These interfaces are involved in many key biomolecular interactions, and while the potential for drug molecules to adsorb to these interfaces is recognized, their specific role in the context of drug release remains largely unexplored.

Photoresponsive arylazopyrazole surfactant/PDADMAC mixtures: reversible control of bulk and interfacial properties.

In many applications of polyelectrolyte/surfactant (P/S) mixtures, it is difficult to fine-tune them after mixing the components without changing the sample composition, pH or the ionic strength. Here we report on a new approach where we use photoswitchable surfactants to enable drastic changes in both the bulk and interfacial properties. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) mixtures with three alkyl-arylazopyrazole butyl sulfonates (CAAP) with -H, -butyl and -octyl tails are applied and / photoisomerization of the surfactants is used to cause substantially different hydrophobic interactions between the surfactants and PDADMAC.

Charge Regulation at the Nanoscale as Evidenced from Light-Responsive Nanoemulsions.

Emulsions are indispensable in everyday life, and the demand for emulsions' diversity and control of properties is therefore substantial. As emulsions possess a high internal surface area, an understanding of the oil/water (o/w) interfaces at the molecular level is fundamental but often impaired by experimental limitations to probe emulsion interfaces in situ. Here, we have used light-responsive surfactants (butyl-AAP) that can photoisomerize between and isomers by visible and UV light irradiation to tune the emulsion interfaces.

Antibiotic treatment of women with isolated intrapartum fever vs clinical chorioamnionitis: maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Background: Clinical chorioamnionitis refers to the presence of maternal fever (≥38°C) and at least 2 clinical signs: (1) maternal tachycardia (>100 bpm), (2) fetal tachycardia (>160 bpm), (3) maternal leukocytosis >15,000/mm, (4) purulent vaginal discharge, and (5) uterine tenderness. Few data exist to guide the appropriate management of women with isolated intrapartum fever in the absence of other clinical signs suggesting chorioamnionitis.

Objective: This study compared maternal and neonatal infectious outcomes and microbiological outcomes between women with isolated intrapartum fever and women with clinical chorioamnionitis.

The locus controls glycogen aggregation in astrocytes of the aged hippocampus without impacting cognitive function.

In aged humans and mice, aggregates of hypobranched glycogen molecules called polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) accumulate in hippocampal astrocytes. PGBs are known to drive cognitive decline in neurological diseases but remain largely unstudied in the context of typical brain aging. Here, we show that PGBs arise in autophagy-dysregulated astrocytes of the aged C57BL/6J mouse hippocampus.

Bacteriology and clinical outcomes of urine mixed bacterial growth in pregnancy.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective was to analyse the risk of significant bacteriuria in repeat urine cultures from pregnant women, following initial mixed bacterial results.

Methods: This retrospective study examined maternal characteristics and clinical features of women who repeated urine cultures due to previous mixed cultures results.

Results: Of 262 women included, 80 (30.

Association between BNT162b2 vaccination and health-related quality of life up to 18 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection in Israel.

We determined whether COVID-19 vaccination was associated with Quality of Life (QoL) changes among individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Israel. Using a validated questionnaire, we collected information about socio-demographics, SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination and QoL (using the EQ-5D-5L tool) 3-18 months post-infection among adults tested for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction in Northern Israel between March 2020-June 2022. We compared post-COVID QoL between those vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of infection and those not, using an adjusted linear regression model, stratified by time elapsed since infection.

The Utility of Maternal TORCH Screening Due to Obstetrical Indications in Detecting Congenital Infections: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: The diagnostic yield of TORCH screening for obstetrical indications is unclear. We evaluated TORCH testing results among women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios; and associations with congenital infections in neonates.

Method: This retrospective single-center study included all the women diagnosed with IUGR, polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios who underwent serological TORCH testing during 2010-2019.

Changes in Quality of Life Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Jewish and Arab Populations in Israel: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities is under-researched. We investigated changes in health-related inequalities following SARS-CoV-2 infection between the Jewish majority and the Arab/Druze minority in Israel. Patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test processed from one of the Northern-Israeli government hospitals between 03/2021 and 05/2022 were invited to participate.

Time to reconsider antibiotic prophylaxis in women with prolonged rupture of membranes: The trend of Enterobacteriaceae in peripartum infections.

Objective: The proportion of neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) by gram-negative bacteria has increased. The authors examined bacterial distribution in the amniotic membrane cultures of women with peripartum fever (PPF) and related perinatal outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study covered the period 2011 to 2019.

Single versus dual antibiotic regimen in women with term prolonged rupture of membranes and intrapartum fever: a retrospective study.

Objectives: The impact of E. coli in causing peripartum infections has been increasing due to rising ampicillin resistance. In this study, we compared maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with prolonged rupture of membranes (ROM >18h) and intrapartum fever, according to two antibiotic regimens they received, and describe the bacterial distribution focusing on risk factors for Enterobacteriaceae-related infectious morbidity.

Associations between reported post-COVID-19 symptoms and subjective well-being, Israel, July 2021 - April 2022.

The impact of individual symptoms reported post-COVID-19 on subjective well-being (SWB) is unknown. We described associations between SWB and selected reported symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We analysed reported symptoms and subjective well being from 2295 participants (of which 576 reporting previous infection) in an ongoing longitudinal cohort study taking place in Israel.

Clinical implications of uterine cultures obtained during urgent caesarean section.

Background: Postpartum endometritis (PPE) is 12-25 times more common following caesarean sections (CS) performed after labour onset than after vaginal delivery. Risk factors for PPE include prolonged rupture of membranes (ROM), chorioamnionitis, prolonged labour, multiple cervical examinations and Group B Streptococcus colonisation of the lower genital tract.

Aims: We compared uterine culture results and microbial antibiotic susceptibility according to ROM duration in emergent intrapartum CS.

Maternal colonization with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in term versus preterm pregnancies.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and risk factors of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) colonization among women who delivered preterm and at term.

Methods: A prospective observational study of maternal ESBL-E rectovaginal colonization in threatened preterm labor and low-risk term pregnancies was conducted between March 2017 and August 2021 at the Galilee Medical Center, Israel. Obstetric and neonatal complications were compared between colonized and non-colonized mothers and neonates.

Association between BNT162b2 vaccination and reported incidence of post-COVID-19 symptoms: cross-sectional study 2020-21, Israel.

The effectiveness of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines against the long-term COVID-19 symptoms expressed by a substantial proportion of patients is not well understood. We determined whether vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was associated with incidence of reporting long-term symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. We invited individuals PCR-tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection at participating hospitals between March 2020 and November 2021 to fill an online questionnaire that included information about demographics, acute COVID-19 episode and symptoms they were currently experiencing.

Assessing the impact of a positive Biofire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel result on clinical management and outcomes.

A rapid and accurate diagnosis of meningitis/encephalitis (ME) is required for early and effective intervention or adjustment of empirical treatment. This study retrospectively analyzed 485 records of patients hospitalized at the Padeh Poriya Medical Center during 2016-2020, due to a suspicion of ME. Pathogen distribution in cerebrospinal fluid samples, as determined using the BioFire® FilmArray ME Panel (MEP), is presented, as well as comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics, clinical management and outcomes of MEP (105) vs MEP (380) patients.

Adsorption of CTAB on Sapphire- at High pH: Surface and Zeta Potential Measurements Combined with Sum-Frequency and Second-Harmonic Generation.

The adsorption of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) on sapphire- surfaces was studied at pH 10 below the surfactants' critical micelle concentration. The evolution of interfacial potentials as a function of CTAB concentration was characterized by surface and zeta potential measurements and complemented by molecular dynamic (MD) simulations as well as by second-harmonic (SHG) and vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. The changes in interfacial potentials suggest that the negative interfacial charge due to deprotonated surface aluminols groups is neutralized and can be even overcompensated by the presence of CTA cations at the interface.

Molecular Diagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease: a 25-Year Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Various Clinical Specimens and Different PCR Assays.

Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused primarily by Bartonella henselae, is a common etiology of infectious regional lymphadenopathy. Lymphadenopathy is preceded by a primary inoculation lesion and may progress to suppuration. Laboratory diagnosis of CSD is hampered by the limitations of available confirmatory tests.

Misleading Positive Serology for Cat Scratch Disease following Administration of Intravenous Immunoglobulin.

Cat scratch disease (CSD), caused by , usually presents as regional lymphadenopathy/lymphadenitis, known as typical CSD or as atypical CSD, which includes, among others, neurological manifestations. Serology for anti- IgG antibodies is the most commonly used diagnostic tests for CSD. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is given for an increasing number of medical conditions and may cause interference with serological testing.

COVID-19 Vaccination Compliance and Associated Factors among Medical Students during an Early Phase of Vaccination Rollout-A Survey from Israel.

COVID-19 is "a once-in-a-century" pandemic, bringing with it unparalleled health, social, and economic ramifications. As part of the world's efforts to restrain the pandemic, vaccine development has been expedited. This population-representative survey in Israel aimed to investigate whether the knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination status of medical students affect their intention to recommend COVID-19 vaccination (as well as reasons for refusal and acceptance of the vaccine).

Nanoscale Effects on the Surfactant Adsorption and Interface Charging in Hexadecane/Water Emulsions.

Nanoscale properties at interfaces play a key role in the colloidal stability of emulsions and other soft matter materials where physical properties need to be controlled from the nano to macroscopically visible length scales. Our molecular level understanding of oil-water interfaces arises mostly from results at extended interfaces and the common view that emulsions are stabilized by a large number of surfactant molecules at the droplet's interface which, however, has been recently challenged. In this work, we show that the particle size and the curvature of oil droplets at the nanoscale is of great importance for the interface adsorption of dodecyl sulfate surfactants and possible counterion condensation at the charged hexadecane-water interface.