A Health Care Clinical Data Platform for Rapid Deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithms for Cancer Care and Oncology Clinical Trials.

The xCures platform aggregates, organizes, structures, and normalizes clinical EMR data across care sites, utilizing advanced technologies for near real-time access. The platform generates data in a format to support clinical care, accelerate research, and promote artificial intelligence/ machine learning algorithm development, highlighted by a clinical decision support algorithm for precision oncology.

My Model is Unfair, Do People Even Care? Visual Design Affects Trust and Perceived Bias in Machine Learning.

Machine learning technology has become ubiquitous, but, unfortunately, often exhibits bias. As a consequence, disparate stakeholders need to interact with and make informed decisions about using machine learning models in everyday systems. Visualization technology can support stakeholders in understanding and evaluating trade-offs between, for example, accuracy and fairness of models.

Vaccine Coverage Associated With Ending a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Wave: A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: Two SARS-CoV-2 waves in Israel ended while a substantial number of individuals remained unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. The indirect protective effect of the first BNT162b2 vaccination campaign in Israel was evaluated between 22 December 2020 and 18 May 2021.

Methods: The daily percentage of new polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases among unvaccinated individuals was analyzed for trends.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on respiratory syndromic and sentinel surveillance in Israel, 2020: a new perspective on established systems.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges for the existing respiratory surveillance systems, and adaptations were implemented. Systematic assessment of the syndromic and sentinel surveillance platforms during the pandemic is essential for understanding the value of each platform in the context of an emerging pathogen with rapid global spread.AimWe aimed to evaluate systematically the performance of various respiratory syndromic surveillance platforms and the sentinel surveillance system in Israel from 1 January to 31 December 2020.

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Activity with Sentinel Surveillance: Lessons Learned from the First Wave in Israel.

Background: Guidelines for pandemic preparedness emphasize the role of sentinel and syndromic surveillance in monitoring pandemic spread.

Objectives: To examine advantages and obstacles of utilizing a sentinel influenza surveillance system to monitor community severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) activity based on Israel's experience from mid-March to mid-May 2020.

Methods: Several modifications were applied to the influenza surveillance system.

Digitally Designed Ovate Pontic as a Predictable Procedure to Improve Accuracy, Hygiene, Esthetics.

The implant-retained fixed partial denture, or bridge, is a highly efficient restorative modality. The primary challenge with this restoration, however, lies in achieving the optimal design of the pontic, which needs to be esthetic, comfortable, and easily cleansable by the patient, a factor that can directly enhance prosthesis longevity. An ovate design is desirable for the pontic area.

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster against SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Breakthrough Complications, Israel.

We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech, https://www.pfizer.com) booster dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduction of complications (hospitalization, severe disease, and death) among breakthrough cases in persons in Israel >16 years of age for <20 weeks.

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Vaccine in Adolescents during Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Infection, Israel, 2021.

In Israel, the BNT162b2 vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was approved for use in adolescents in June 2021, shortly before an outbreak of B.1.617.

A New Concept of Safety Distance to Place Implants in the Area of the Inferior Alveolar Canal to Avoid Neurosensory Disturbance.

Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage following implant placement is a severe complication that can compromise a patient's quality of life. Previous studies have suggested that a safety zone of 2 mm, if maintained, might avoid this problem. This retrospective study evaluates implants placed in closer proximity to the IAN without resulting in any postoperative neurologic complications and suggests a new concept of safety distance.

Delayed respiratory syncytial virus epidemic in children after relaxation of COVID-19 physical distancing measures, Ashdod, Israel, 2021.

Following low incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, we noted a resurgence in hospitalised children in spring/summer 2021 following relaxation of public health measures. We compared this outbreak to previous autumn/winter seasons. We found higher weekly case numbers and incidence rates, more cases from urban neighbourhoods with lower socioeconomic status, and similar clinical presentation and severity.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus hospitalization burden: a nation-wide population-based analysis, 2000-2017.

Objectives: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a known cause of morbidity among young children, while RSV-related disease in the elderly is not fully recognized. Several RSV candidate vaccines for infants, pregnant women and adults are under development. We aimed to estimate nationwide age-specific hospitalizations and seasonal trends, to help determine the optimal age for vaccination.

Zinc and the modulation of Nrf2 in human neuroblastoma cells.

Zinc plays a key role in the modulation of neuronal redox homeostasis. A decreased zinc availability is associated with neuronal NADPH oxidase and nitric oxide synthase activation, deregulation of redox signaling, and impaired glutathione synthesis. The present work tested the hypothesis that zinc is necessary in the neuronal defense response against dopamine (DA)-induced oxidative stress, in particular through heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) upregulation.

Margin assessment before intraoperative radiotherapy during breast conserving surgery-Does the addition of MarginProbe decrease the need for addition of fractionated whole breast radiation?

When performing Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS) with Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), positive resection margin necessitates not only re-lumpectomy-but also the addition of fractionated whole breast radiation. This retrospective study of 106 patients undergoing BCS and IORT aims to evaluate intraoperative margin assessment use in our center, and the contribution of the MarginProbe device (MP) to achieving negative surgical margins. Eleven out of 106 lumpectomy specimens had a total of 17 margins positive for tumor cells.

PDA Points to Consider: Best Practices for Document/Data Management and Control and Preparing for Data Integrity Inspections.

The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) has identified 11 current questions related to data management and control that have been frequently cited in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections or have led to FDA regulatory actions.

Influenza Season Hospitalization Trends in Israel: A Multi-Year Comparative Analysis 2005/2006 Through 2012/2013.

Background: Influenza-related morbidity impacts healthcare systems, including hospitals.

Objective: To obtain a quantitative assessment of hospitalization burden in pediatric and internal medicine departments during influenza seasons compared with the summer months in Israel.

Methods: Data on pediatric and internal medicine hospitalized patients in general hospitals in Israel during the influenza seasons between 2005 and 2013 were analyzed for rate of hospitalizations, rate of hospitalization days, hospital length of stay (LOS), and bed occupancy and compared with the summer months.

Spatial distribution of West Nile virus in humans and mosquitoes in Israel, 2000-2014.

Objectives: Israel has a long history of West Nile virus (WNV) morbidity, and the rate of detection of WNV in mosquitoes has been high since 2000. The aim of this study was to integrate several WNV datasets in order to gain an insight into the geographical distribution of WNV in Israel.

Methods: Three choropleth maps were generated showing WNV human morbidity, WNV prevalence in mosquitoes, and the results of a nationwide serological survey, based on the division of Israel into 15 sub-districts.

The seroprevalence of West Nile Virus in Israel: A nationwide cross sectional study.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel, affecting yearly 40-160 individuals. Israel is located on a central migratory path between Africa and Eurasia and most West Nile Fever (WNF) cases reported in recent years were among residents of the coastal plain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV among the Israeli population and to assess correlates for WNV infection.

West Nile virus outbreak in Israel in 2015: phylogenetic and geographic characterization in humans and mosquitoes.

Objectives: West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel and was responsible for several outbreaks in the past 16 years. The aim of the present study was to investigate the spatial distribution of WNV acute infections from an outbreak that occurred in 2015 in Israel and report the molecular and geographic characterization of WNV isolates from human cases and mosquito pools obtained during this outbreak.

Methods: Using a geographical layer comprising 51 continuous areas of Israel, the number of WNV infection cases per 100 000 people in each area and the locations of WNV-infected mosquitoes in 2015 were analysed.

Process Evaluation of a Sport-Based Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Demand-Creation Intervention in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Grassroot Soccer (GRS) developed 2 brief and scalable voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) promotion interventions for males in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, consisting of a 60-minute interactive, soccer-themed educational session with follow-up behavioral and logistical reinforcement. Both interventions were led by circumcised male community leaders ("coaches") ages 18-30. "Make The Cut" (MTC) targeted adult males on soccer teams and "Make The Cut+" targeted boys in secondary schools.

Mapping breast tissue types by miniature radio-frequency near-field spectroscopy sensor in ex-vivo freshly excised specimens.

Background: Receiving real-time information on tissue properties while performing biopsy procedures has the potential of improving biopsy accuracy. The study goal was to test the ability of a miniature flexible Radio-Frequency (RF) sensor (Dune Medical Devices), designed to be mounted on the surface of surgical tools, in measuring and mapping the various breast tissue types and abnormalities in terms of electrical properties.

Methods: Between January and October 2012, 102 patients undergoing lumpectomy, open-biopsy or mastectomy, in 3 medical centers, were enrolled in this study.

A Sport-Based Intervention to Increase Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Adolescent Male Students: Results From the MCUTS 2 Cluster-Randomized Trial in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Background: Mathematical models suggest that 570,000 HIV infections could be averted between 2011 and 2025 in Zimbabwe if the country reaches 80% voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) coverage among 15- to 49-year-old male subjects. Yet national coverage remains well below this target, and there is a need to evaluate interventions to increase the uptake.

Methods: A cluster-randomized trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Make-The-Cut-Plus (MTC+), a single, 60-minute, sport-based intervention to increase VMMC uptake targeting secondary school boys (14-20 years).

Application of the double kernel density approach to the analysis of cancer incidence in a major metropolitan area.

Rationale: Although cancer is a main cause of human morbidity worldwide, relatively small numbers of new cancer cases are recorded annually in single urban areas. This makes the association between cancer morbidity and environmental risk factors, such as ambient air pollution, difficult to detect using traditional methods of analysis based on age standardized rates and zonal estimates.

Study Goal: The present study investigates the association between air pollution and cancer morbidity in the Greater Haifa Metropolitan Area in Israel by comparing two analytical techniques: the traditional zonal approach and more recently developed Double Kernel Density (DKD) tools.