Machine learning-based prediction of disease progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) affects 10-15% of multiple sclerosis patients and presents significant variability in the rate of disability progression. Identifying key biological features and patients at higher risk for fast progression is crucial to develop and optimize treatment strategies. Peripheral blood cell transcriptome has the potential to provide valuable information to predict patients' outcomes.

An innocent bystander or a predisposing culprit? Kidney injury following pediatric liver transplantation.

Background: Survival after pediatric liver transplantation has increased dramatically over the years, revealing extra-hepatic complications including impaired kidney function. We conducted a large single-center retrospective study to evaluate kidney outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation.

Methods: From electronic charts of 121 children who underwent liver transplantation during 2007-2020, we collected pre- and post-transplant data.

No immediate change in systemic cytokines following an eccentric muscle training session in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Eccentric muscle contractions elicit distinct physiological responses, including modulation of the cytokine profile. Although relevant for rehabilitation, the effect of eccentric muscle training on the immune system has never been investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives: Examine the immediate cytokine response of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10, IL-17a, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha after a moderate eccentric training session in individuals with MS.

Clinical correlation between disease progression and central vein sign in pediatric onset multiple sclerosis: A binational study.

Background: The central vein sign (CVS) has been proposed as a novel MRI biomarker to improve diagnosis of pediatric-onset MS (POMS). However, the role of CVS in POMS progression has yet to be discovered.

Objectives: To investigate the appearance of CVS and its correlation with POMS disease progression.

Biliary strictures post pediatric liver transplantation-incidence and risk factors in a single tertiary referral transplant center.

Background: Biliary strictures are a significant cause of morbidity and graft loss in pediatric liver transplant recipients. Risk factors for the development of biliary strictures are not fully established. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of biliary strictures and treatment modalities outcomes and to identify potential risk factors for occurrence.

Mapping brain volume change across time in primary-progressive multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: Detection and prediction of the rate of brain volume loss with age is a significant unmet need in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). In this study we construct detailed brain volume maps for PPMS patients. These maps compare age-related changes in both cortical and sub-cortical regions with those in healthy individuals.

Deciphering the shift from benign to active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Insights into T regulatory cell dysfunction and apoptosis regulation.

Background: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a common demyelinating disease among young adults, follows a benign course in 10-15% of cases, where patients experience minimal neurological disability for a decade following disease onset. However, there is potential for these benign cases to transition into a clinically active, relapsing state.

Objective: To elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the transition from benign to active RRMS using gene expression analysis.

The Use of Active Coagulation Whole Blood-An Innovative Treatment Strategy for Hard-To-Heal Wounds.

Background: Deep and tunneling wounds are a challenge to apply and maintain most advanced wound dressings to promote effective healing. An autologous whole blood clot is a topical treatment and has been found to be safe and effective in healing cutaneous wounds. The active coagulation whole blood (ACWB) clot treatment, using the patient's own blood, is used to treat deep and tunneling wounds, by mixing the blood with coagulation components and applying it into the wound cavity allowing the clot to re-form inside the wound.

Approach to determine nodal surfaces of some s-electron systems.

The paper is devoted to the study of the nodal surfaces of the wave functions for fermion systems. Using the quantum Monte Carlo method, implicit equations of nodal surfaces for some s-electron systems containing two-five electrons are numerically obtained. The obtained results are in agreement with the provisions of other researchers.

Implementing living-donor pediatric liver transplantation in Southern Vietnam: 15-year results and perspectives.

Background: ND2 in Ho Chi Minh City is currently the only public center that performs PLT in Southern Vietnam. In 2005, the first PLT was successfully performed, with support from Belgian experts. This study reviews the implementation of PLT at our center and evaluates the results and challenges.

[KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION DURING THE SARS-COV-2 PANDEMIC IN ISRAEL: EXPERIENCE FROM A LARGE-VOLUME CENTER].

Introduction: Since its outbreak in December 2019, the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has led to global, social, economic and healthcare crises affecting millions of people and causing the death of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The pandemic, with its heavy workload, imposed on hospital services and personnel significantly affected solid organ transplantation. Concerns for potential exposure to the virus and its related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV2) have profoundly altered the process of organ donation and recovery, acceptance of organ offers, management of potential recipients and living donors, and above all transplanted and immunosuppressed patients.

[RISK FACTORS FOR EARLY GRAFT LOSS AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION - BEILINSON TRANSPLANT CENTER EXPERIENCE].

Introduction: Kidney graft failure within the first year after kidney transplantation is a devastating event for the patients and for the transplantation teams. Better understanding of the risk factors for this event may help us to reduce its incidence.

Methods: We evaluated the incidence of kidney graft failure (the combined endpoint of patient and graft survival) in the first year after transplantation.

[ROBOTIC-ASSISTED KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION - IMPLEMENTATION AND INITIAL EXPERIENCE AT BEILINSON TRANSPLANT CENTER].

Introduction: Robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) has brought the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to the field of renal transplantation. The robotic platform overcomes some of the major limitations of the laparoscopic approach facilitating complex surgical procedures such as kidney transplantation with non-inferior or improved outcomes, particularly in obese patients. In this article we describe the implementation of the RAKT program, donor and recipient selection, our unique surgical technique, and analyze early results.

Normalization of Large-Scale Transcriptome Data Using Heuristic Methods.

In this study, we introduce an artificial intelligent method for addressing the batch effect of a transcriptome data. The method has several clear advantages in comparison with the alternative methods presently in use. Batch effect refers to the discrepancy in gene expression data series, measured under different conditions.

In-depth characterization of long-term humoral and cellular immune responses to COVID-19m-RNA vaccination in multiple sclerosis patients treated with teriflunomide or alemtuzumab.

Background: The impact of disease-modifying therapies on the efficacy to mount appropriate immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is currently under investigation.

Objective: To characterize long-term humoral and cellular immunity in mRNA-COVID-19 MS vaccinees treated with teriflunomide or alemtuzumab.

Methods: We prospectively measured SARS-COV-2 IgG, memory B-cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 RBD, and memory T-cells secreting IFN-γ and/or IL-2, in MS patients vaccinated with BNT162b2-COVID-19 vaccine before, 1, 3 and 6 months after the second vaccine dose, and 3-6 months following vaccine booster.

Faster progression to multiple sclerosis disability is linked to neuronal pathways associated with neurodegeneration: An ethnicity study.

Although the causes of multiple sclerosis are largely unknown, genetic and environmental components play an important role. Geographic distribution, varying with latitude, reflects both genetic and environmental influences. We conducted a retrospective exploratory observational study to characterize the disability progression of 2396 Jewish patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, followed at the Sheba Multiple Sclerosis Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; 188 patients who originated in Iraq and 2207 patients who originated in northern Europe.

Use of autologous whole blood clot in the treatment of complex surgical wounds: a case series.

Objective: Dehiscence and infection of hard-to-heal surgical wounds results in an increased risk of complications and mortality. A hard-to-heal surgical wound will present decreased levels of growth factors along with increased levels of debris and matrix metalloproteinases, resulting in the destruction of the extracellular matrix (ECM). ActiGraft (RedDress Ltd.

Age-related blood transcriptional regulators affect disease progression in pediatric multiple sclerosis.

Background: Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis patients (POMS) are defined as multiple sclerosis with an onset before the age of 18 years. Compared to adult onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS), POMS has more severe disease activity at onset, but better recovery. Little is known about the molecular mechanism responsible for the differences in the clinical presentations.

COVID-19 Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7): Humoral, memory B and T cells in COVID-19 pediatric convalescents.

Background: Studies of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral and adaptive response in COVID-19 non-vaccinated pediatric convalescents are controversial and further evidence from the pediatric population are needed.

Objectives: To elucidate SARS-CoV-2 humoral and memory B- and T-cells responses in pediatric convalescents as compared with the adult.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 80 non-vaccinated, IgG-positive, COVID-19 convalescents (age 8.

Leupeptin accelerates recovery after sciatic transection and repair, but not crush injuries in rats.

We aimed to explore previously reported discrepancies in success with leupeptin by comparing outcomes of two types of injury: transection and crush. Male rats were randomized into vehicle and leupeptin treatment groups (n = 6/transection group; n = 10/crush group). Leupeptin (12 mg/kg) was administered via intramuscular injection into the gastrocnemius muscle twice a week for the duration of the study.

Pediatric Wound Closure by a Tension-Relief System.

Surgical reconstruction in pediatric patients can often be complex. Primary wound closure is almost always the preferred technique in the reconstructive ladder; however, it is not always possible in pediatric patients. We report the pediatric use of the TopClosure Tension-Relief System, an innovative skin-stretching technique for secure primary wound closure of large defects.

Efficacy of leupeptin in treating ischemia in a rat hind limb model.

Prolonged tourniquet use can lead to tissue ischemia and can cause progressive muscle and nerve injuries. Such injuries are accompanied by calpain activation and subsequent Wallerian-like degeneration. Several known inhibitors, including leupeptin, are known to impede the activity of calpain and associated tissue damage.

The Role of Early Sequential Biopsies in Delayed Renal Graft Function of Transplanted Kidney Is Reduced in Modern Immunosuppression Era.

Background: Delayed graft function (DGF) immediately after kidney transplantation is considered a risk factor for acute rejection. According to clinical guidelines, a weekly allograft biopsy should be performed until DGF resolves. Based on clinical evidence, the first biopsy is considered appropriate.