Publications by authors named "Lior Seluk"
Motivations of Israeli physicians to return, or not, to Israel after their fellowship abroad.
Isr J Health Policy Res
November 2024
Background: Emigration of healthcare professionals, particularly physicians, is an unresolved "pandemic", influenced by various factors. In high-income countries, the training phase (fellowship) abroad is critical for career development, yet it poses challenges for the retention of these professionals upon their completion of training. This study aimed to identify the determinants influencing Israeli physicians' decisions to return to their home country after completing fellowship training abroad.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel asthma treatments: Advancing beyond approved novel step-up therapies for asthma.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- The management of severe asthma has evolved to focus on targeted therapies, particularly monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target specific molecular pathways, leading to improved care since the introduction of IgE-targeting biologics in 2003.
- New mAbs targeting interleukin pathways and other molecules have been approved, successfully improving patient symptoms and reducing the need for oral corticosteroids, but many patients still struggle with exacerbations and achieving remission.
- Ongoing research is exploring innovative therapies and molecular targets aimed at personalizing treatment for asthma, despite some experimental therapies not getting approval due to effectiveness issues, with the future looking hopeful for better patient outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the link between eosinophilia and ocular vascular issues, highlighting the procoagulant effects of eosinophils, which can lead to various cardiovascular problems and eye conditions.
- - A retrospective, multicenter analysis of 57 patients revealed that the majority experienced eye issues as the first sign of eosinophil-related diseases, with specific conditions like central retinal artery occlusion being common among them.
- - The findings indicate a poor visual prognosis for these patients, with only 10% achieving full recovery, suggesting the need for urgent treatment and further research on eosinophilia's impacts.
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed lung transplant (LTx) referral rates among patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) based on their pulmonary function tests (PFTs), finding that only 30.7% of eligible patients were referred for transplantation.
- - Key criteria for referral included forced vital capacity (FVC) less than 80% and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) less than 40%, with results showing that younger patients with worse lung function were more likely to be referred.
- - The findings highlight a significant issue of under-referral for LTx among ILD patients, suggesting that more research is needed to address barriers and improve referral practices.
We report 8 cases of persistent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia in patients previously treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in most cases; viral cell cultures confirmed that viable SARS-Co-2 virus was present. Four patients were treated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune globulins with rapid resolution of disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Severe respiratory failure from COVID-19 often necessitates mechanical ventilation and can involve ECMO; lung transplantation is a rare last resort with unclear patient selection and timing.
- - A study of 20 patients supported by ECMO found that 16 remained for analysis, revealing that nine recovered while seven died while waiting for lung transplantation.
- - Younger patients showed a better recovery chance without lung transplantation after about 59 days on ECMO compared to a median of 99 days for those who died, suggesting a delay of 8-10 weeks for referral to transplantation for potentially recoverable patients.
Background: Methacholine challenge tests (MCTs) are used to diagnose airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in patients with suspected asthma where previous diagnostic testing has been inconclusive. The test is time consuming and usually requires referral to specialized centers. Simple methods to predict AHR could help determine which patients should be referred to MCTs, thus avoiding unnecessary testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinically amyopathic dermatomyositis is an uncommon autoimmune disorder in the Middle East. The clinical picture of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis is characterized mainly by pulmonary and dermatological manifestations. Occasionally muscle symptoms are observed as well.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are a group of syndromes that affect the central and peripheral neuromuscular system in association with cancer. Specific antibodies may assist in the diagnosis of PNS. The antibodies tested can be classified into those directed against intracellular neuronal proteins ("well characterized" PNS: Hu, Yo, RI, CV2, amphiphysin, Ma1, Ma2) and those directed against neural surface antigens (autoimmune encephalitis syndromes: NMDA, AMPA, LGI1, CASPR2, GABAR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Despite the thorough mapping of brain pathways involved in eating behavior, no treatment aimed at modulating eating dysregulation from its neurocognitive root has been established yet. We aimed to evaluate the effect of N.I.
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