Harnessing Variability Signatures and Biological Noise May Enhance Immunotherapies' Efficacy and Act as Novel Biomarkers for Diagnosing and Monitoring Immune-Associated Disorders.

Lack of response to immunotherapies poses a significant challenge in treating immune-mediated disorders and cancers. While the mechanisms associated with poor responsiveness are not well defined and change between and among subjects, the current methods for overcoming the loss of response are insufficient. The Constrained Disorder Principle (CDP) explains biological systems based on their inherent variability, bounded by dynamic boundaries that change in response to internal and external perturbations.

Treatment of Recalcitrant Hailey-Hailey Disease With Naltrexone and Dupilumab: A Report of Two Cases.

This report presents two cases of patients with long-standing, treatment-resistant Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) who experienced significant symptom relief through a combination therapy of oral naltrexone and dupilumab injections. The therapeutic potential of targeting the Th2 pathway and Ca signaling with dupilumab in managing HHD manifestations is highlighted. The findings suggest that Th2 blockade with dupilumab, in conjunction with naltrexone, effectively controls recalcitrant HHD, indicating a role of cytokine response in altering disease pathogenesis.

Characteristics and Trends of Strabismus Surgeries at a Tertiary Hospital Over 2 Decades - What Can Be Learned for Years to Come?

Purpose: To analyze characteristics and trends of strabismus surgeries in an Israeli hospital over 2 decades.

Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study including all strabismus surgeries (666) performed during 2000-2019 at an Israeli tertiary hospital. Electronic medical records (EMRs) were directly retrieved to produce an anonymized database.

[THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY GERIATRIC SURGERY UNIT AT THE CHAIM SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER - FIRST YEAR OF ACTIVITY].

Introduction: Recently, a Geriatric Surgery Unit (GSU) was established in the Sheba Medical Center. The Unit's aims include: professional assessment of surgical candidates, approval of the surgical plan by a multidisciplinary team discussion (MTD), and meeting the specific needs of the geriatric patient undergoing surgery.

Methods: We describe the establishment of the GSU and preliminary results from the first year of its activity (January-December 2022).

Prenatal Exposure to Acid Suppressor Medications and Development of Ductus Arteriosus in Term Newborns.

Objective:  The ductus arteriosus normally closes after birth. Histamine 2 receptor antagonist (HRA) has been associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We aimed to study the characteristics of term infants with PDA and their possible association with prenatal exposure to antacids-proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and HRA.

Abolishing ARF8A activity promotes disease resistance in tomato.

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a family of transcription factors that regulate auxin-dependent developmental processes. Class A ARFs function as activators of auxin-responsive gene expression in the presence of auxin, while acting as transcriptional repressors in its absence. Despite extensive research on the functions of ARF transcription factors in plant growth and development, the extent, and mechanisms of their involvement in plant resistance, remain unknown.

Home Versus Hospital Rehabilitation of Older Adults Following Hip Fracture Yields Similar Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

The increase in hip fractures (HF) due to aging of the population and the rise in attractiveness of services provided at home following the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasize the need to compare outcomes of home versus hospital HF rehabilitation. To date, studies comparing the 2 services have focused primarily on clinical outcomes rather than patient-reported outcomes (PROs). This longitudinal observational study evaluated PROs of older adults with HF in the 2 settings.

Dissecting the complex sex-based associations of myopia with height and weight.

Objectives: To assess height and weight as possible sex-specific risk factors for bilateral myopia among young adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 101,438 pre-enlisted young adult males and females, aged 17.4 ± 0.

Caffeine in Skincare: Its Role in Skin Cancer, Sun Protection, and Cosmetics.

Caffeine is ubiquitous in our society-not only in the drinks consumed but also increasingly in dermatologic topicals. Given that coffee and caffeine are increasingly used for the production of many dermatologic anti-cancer topicals, sunscreens, and cosmetics, it is of imperative importance to review the basic science and clinical evidence for such claims. In this concise review, we outline the current evidence.

TOR coordinates cytokinin and gibberellin signals mediating development and defense.

Plants constantly perceive and process environmental signals and balance between the energetic demands of growth and defense. Growth arrest upon pathogen attack was previously suggested to result from a redirection of the plants' metabolic resources towards the activation of plant defense. The energy sensor Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase is a conserved master coordinator of growth and development in all eukaryotes.

Perception of Goals and Expected Outcomes in Older Hip Fracture Patients and Their Medical Staff: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Goal-oriented patientcare is a key element in qualityhealthcare. Medical-caregiver's (MC) are expected to generate a shared decision-making process with patients regarding goals and expected health-outcomes. Hip-fracture patients (HFP) are usually older-adults with multiple health-conditions, necessitating that agreed-upon goals regarding the rehabilitation process, take these conditions into consideration.

Characteristics of pediatric ocular trauma in a tertiary hospital in Israel 2011-2020 - How can public prevention policy be improved?

Purpose: To describe and analyze characteristics and trends of pediatric ocular trauma during 2011-2020.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study. Data were collected on all pediatric ocular trauma cases that presented to a Rambam Health Care Campus during 2011-2020.

To charge or not to charge: reducing patient no-show.

Background: In order to reduce patient no-show, the Israeli government is promoting legislation that will allow Health Plans to require a co-payment from patients when reserving an appointment. It is hoped that this will create an incentive for patients to cancel in advance rather than simply not show up. The goal of this policy is to improve patient access to medical care and ensure that healthcare resources are utilized effectively.

The Suitability of Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes in Older Adults Following a Hip Fracture Using the Short-Form 36 Questionnaire: A Qualitative Description Approach.

Hip-fractures (HF) in older adults are associated with poor outcomes and high costs. Measuring quality-of-care of HF patients has focused on clinical definitions rather than on measuring outcomes that are meaningful to the patient. Healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly interested in patient-reported outcome measures (PROs).

Characteristics and differences of strabismus surgeries performed in private versus public settings: a national multicenter study.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the demographics, diagnoses, and surgical procedure types of strabismus repair in public and private hospitals in Israel in order to highlight possible disparities between them.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study included all strabismus surgeries in seven private hospitals, compared with two large public university-affiliated hospitals from June 2016 to June 2021. Electronic medical records were directly retrieved to produce an anonymized database.

Modulating auxin response stabilizes tomato fruit set.

Fruit formation depends on successful fertilization and is highly sensitive to weather fluctuations that affect pollination. Auxin promotes fruit initiation and growth following fertilization. Class A auxin response factors (Class A ARFs) repress transcription in the absence of auxin and activate transcription in its presence.

Childhood blindness incidence and aetiologies trends in Israel 2014-2020: what should we focus on?

Objectives: Analyse trends in incidence and aetiologies of childhood blindness (CHB) in Israel during 2014-2020, with comparison to the previous decade.

Methods: Descriptive, retrospective population-based trend study using Poisson regression. Data retrieved from the Israeli National Registry of the Blind included demographics, registration-years, and aetiologies.

The role of Israeli researchers in the scientific literature regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Background: The accurate and timely publication of scientific findings is a key component of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the role of Israeli researchers in the scientific literature regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Methods: Content and bibliometric analysis of articles included in the Web of Science database regarding COVID-19 vaccines, that were published between January 2020 and June 2022.

The Effect of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction on Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis in Asymptomatic Patients.

Introduction: To evaluate the impact of asymptomatic meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) on laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) outcomes and dry eye signs and symptoms.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent LASIK surgery between July 2017 and February 2018 at Care Vision Refractive Clinic, Tel Aviv, Israel, was done. Patients were divided into those who had preoperative asymptomatic significant MGD (MGD group) and those who did not have preoperative significant MGD (control group).

Can the Duration of In-Hospital Ventilation in Patients with Sepsis Help Predict Long-Term Survival?

Mechanical ventilation is a cornerstone in the treatment of critical illness, especially sepsis. Prolonged mechanical ventilation, for a duration exceeding 21 days, is associated with higher rates of in-hospital and post-discharge mortality. Our aim was to assess the association between in-hospital ventilation duration and long-term life expectancy in patients ventilated in intensive care units specifically due to sepsis of any origin.

The correlation between shoulder pathologies and sleep disorders.

Objective: To assess and characterize the correlation between shoulder pathologies and sleep disturbances.

Methods: Participants enrolled into this case-control study were divided into two groups: patients with an established clinical diagnosis of active shoulder pathology (study group), and patients without any shoulder pathology (control group). All patients completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaire, in addition to questions related to participant demographics, health status, medication, and other known insomnia risk factors.