A Queen City Legacy: 45 Years of Research in Pregnant Women with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, The Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant.

The Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant (PPG) was a 15-year program focused on enhancing the care for women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) during pregnancy and improving the well-being of their offspring. Launched in July 1978 at the University of Cincinnati, the PPG pursued a multifaceted research agenda encompassing basic science, animal and placental studies, and maternal and neonatal clinical trials to understand the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of IDDM during pregnancy. A total of 402 singleton pregnancies in 259 women with IDDM were enrolled prior to 10 weeks gestation over the 15-year period.

Is Pregnancy a Risk Factor for Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy and Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes? A Matched Cohort Study.

Objective:  This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the development or deterioration of nephropathy and retinopathy over time is not affected by pregnancy in women with pregestational type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Study Design:  Prospective, observational study of nephropathy and retinopathy follow-up during pregnancy and in a subsequent period of 2 years in a group of pregnant women with T1DM (study group) that we compared with pair-matched non-pregnant women with T1DM (control group) who underwent similar intensive follow-up.

Results:  The rate of renal microvascular complications was similar at entry, 17.

Hypoglycemia in Pregnant Women with Type 1 Diabetes: Is It Inevitable?

The human body has abundant mechanisms to counteract hypoglycemia and prevent neuroglycopenia primarily involving the secretion of glucagon and adrenalin. Within several years from the onset of diabetes, people with type 1 diabetes lose their ability to mount a counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia and develop hypoglycemia unawareness, thus being at risk for deteriorating to a state of severe hypoglycemia and neuroglycopenia. Pregnant individuals with type 1 diabetes are particularly prone to experience severe hypoglycemia during the first half of pregnancy.

Economic Analysis of National Program for Hepatitis C Elimination, Israel, 2023.

In 2021, the Israel Ministry of Health began a national hepatitis C elimination program. Implementing a World Health Organization goal, Israel's program involved targeted screening, barrier minimization, workup simplification, awareness campaigns, and a patient registry. We evaluated program costs for testing and treatment.

Enantiomeric separation of flavanone on Chiralpak® IA column and determination of the chiral mechanism.

Thirteen flavanone racemates were successfully separated using a Chiralpak® IA column and isopropanol-hexane (50:50, v/v). The mobile phase flow rate and detection wavelength were 0.5 mL/min and 254 nm.

Embryonic, Fetal, and Neonatal Complications in Infants of Diabetic Mothers: Insights from the Cincinnati Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant.

This study aimed to review how the Cincinnati Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant (PPG) contributed to the understanding and treatment of neonatal complications in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs). This is a retrospective review of all PPG work on glycemic control at different pregnancy time points and its association with embryonic, fetal, and neonatal complications, such as congenital malformations (CMs), intrauterine growth restriction, macrosomia, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), asphyxia, and polycythemia. We found that maternal vasculopathy and poor glycemic control during embryogenesis, but not frequency of maternal hypoglycemic episodes or insulin therapy, are independent risk factors for major CMs.

Unraveling the Magnesium Connection: The Cincinnati PPG's Pioneering Work on Mineral Metabolism in Diabetes and Pregnancy.

This study aimed to review the Cincinnati PPG's contribution to the understanding and treatment of neonatal hypocalcemia (NHC) in infants of diabetic mothers. This study is a retrospective review of the NIH-funded Program Project Grant (PPG) works related to mineral metabolism in type 1 diabetic pregnant women. The PPG investigators first described the epidemiology and the additional risk factors for NHC, namely prematurity and neonatal asphyxia, but also recognized the independent effect of maternal diabetes mellitus.

Selenium concentrations in expressed human milk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We aimed to systematically review articles that reported selenium (Se) concentrations in human milk (HM).

Methods: using PRISMA guidelines we searched MEDLINE and Embase using the terms "human milk and Selenium". All clinical trials and systematic reviews were retrieved.

Census-Dependent Mortality of Ventilated Patients With COVID-19 in Israel: Noninterventional Observational Cohort Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to several surges in the mass hospitalization rate. Extreme increases in hospital admissions without adequate medical resources may increase mortality. No study has addressed the impact of daily census of ventilated patients on mortality in the context of the pandemic in a nationwide setting.

Vitamin D and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.

(1) Background: Vitamin D supplementation after type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) onset has led to conflicting results on beta-cell preservation. Aim: This paper presents a systematic review to verify whether randomized prospective controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrate that improved vitamin D status confers protection on T1DM. (2) Methods: A systematic review was conducted up until 18 January 2024 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, using keywords "vitamin D", "type 1 diabetes", and "children".

A Statistical Approach to the High Mortality Rate of Israeli Citizens Held Hostage in Gaza.

Background: According to Hamas sources, many Israeli hostages in Gaza were killed by indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes, together with a large number of Palestinian citizens.

Objectives: To verify whether the estimated death rate of Israeli hostages was similar to the estimated death rate of Gaza citizens from these acts of war.

Methods: We used two estimates of hostage death rates, one obtained from Israeli intelligence sources, and one published by a Hamas spokesperson.

Effect of maternal age on neonatal outcomes in very low birth weight singleton infants: a population-based study.

Background: Little is known on the impact of maternal age (MA) on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants' outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that at both ends of MA there are increased adverse neonatal outcomes in VLBW infants.

Methods: We used the Israel National Neonatal Network VLBW (≤1500 g) database.

Capnography for catheter location confirmation in minimally invasive surfactant administration.

Objectives: Minimally Invasive Surfactant Treatment (MIST) is a common method for administering surfactant as a treatment for respiratory distress syndrome. However, tracheal catheter placement can be difficult to confirm. We assessed the presence of carbon dioxide (CO) in tracheal and esophageal gas aspirated using CO detector.

Trends in Health Quality-Related Publications Over the Past Three Decades: Systematic Review.

Background: Quality assessment in health care is a process of planned activities with the ultimate goal of achieving a continuous improvement of medical care through the evaluation of structure, process, and outcome measures. Physicians and health care specialists involved with quality issues are faced with an enormous and nearly always increasing amount of literature to read and integrate. Nevertheless, the novelty and quality of these articles (in terms of evidence-based medicine) has not been systematically assessed and described.

Nipple/Areola Dimensions in Early Breastfeeding.

Nipple dimensions may be an important factor in breastfeeding (BF) initiation success. To establish standards of nipple/areola dimensions in early BF and to determine whether maternal age, gestational age (GA), parity, cup size, previous BF experience, and early (<2 hours) BF affect nipple dimensions (assessed on the second day of BF). A total of 205 consecutive BF women were enrolled.

Dual Therapy vs. Monotherapy for the Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Systematic Review.

To evaluate the efficacy of dual patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) pharmacotherapy compared to monotherapy we searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and references of relevant articles through October 20, 2021 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing dual PDA treatment vs. monotherapy. Data were analyzed using a fixed effects model.

Vitamin D and Asthma: a Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.

Purpose Of The Review: To perform a systematic review of prospective clinical trials to determine whether improving vitamin D status improves asthma control.

Recent Findings: In cross sectional studies suboptimal viramin D status is often associated with poor asthma control. However, decreased 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25 (OH) D) concentrations might not be causally associated with asthma control.

A simple noninvasive biomarker can reflect both the acute and chronic pulmonary impact of patent ductus arteriosus shunting.

Aim: The SFR (SpO /FiO ratio) offers a continuous, noninvasive reflection of pulmonary function regardless of whether the baby is ventilated or breathing spontaneously. We hypothesized that significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) shunting would impair pulmonary oxygen diffusion, reflected by decreased SFR; and that early PDA related decreases in SFR predict subsequent chronic lung disease (CLD).

Methods: We retrospectively examined records from preterm neonates ≤30 weeks gestational age.

Does Early Neonatal Thrombocytopenia Affect Ductal Therapeutic Response to Acetaminophen in Preterm Neonates?

Objective: Perinatal thrombocytopenia has been shown to affect responsiveness to therapeutic ductal closure with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. This has not been studied in responsiveness to acetaminophen, which has less effect on platelet function. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether thrombocytopenia affects ductal responsiveness to acetaminophen.

Preterm Singleton Birth Rate during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Population-Based Study.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic national lockdown period on the rate of singleton preterm births in Israel.

Study Design: This is a population-based cohort study of 3,41,291 singleton infants born in the months of January to July 2017 to 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the influence of period and year on the rates of preterm births during the lockdown period (11 March - 5 May 2020) compared with rates before (January 1 2020 - March 10 2020), and after the lockdown (May 6 2020-June 30 2020) and to the corresponding periods in 2017to 2019.

The need for cardiac surgery differential tariffs in Israel at the era of aging population and emerging technology: Importance of procedure type and patient complexity as assessed by EuroSCORE.

Background: Reimbursement for cardiac surgical procedures in Israel is uniform and does not account for diversity in costs of various procedures or for diversity in patient mix. In an era of new and costly technology coupled with higher risk patients needing more complex surgery, these tariffs may not adequately reflect the true financial burden on the caregivers. In the present study we attempt to determine whether case mix and complexity of procedures significantly affect cost to justify differential tariffs.

Early breast expression for very low birth infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit: the challenges of cesarean deliveries.

Aim Of The Study: In preterm infants, the use of human milk is associated with unique benefits. However, successful breast feeding rates and prolonged breastfeeding duration is often reduced in preterm infants. Nevertheless, early initiation of breast expression after birth is believed to be one of the major variables that should improve the odds of successful breastfeeding.

Infant delivery and maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison of the well-baby versus neonatal intensive care environments.

Objective: To describe impact of COVID-19 pandemic on stress and mood of new mothers, in particular in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); a secondary objective was to assess whether customary social gender distancing practiced by ultra-religious Jews and Muslims offers built-in anti-stress protection.

Methods: Cross-sectional, observational survey of mothers of 52 normal newborn nursery (NNB) and 52 NICU infants. In all, 86 filled all the 6 questionnaires (Demographics, COVID-19 virus experience, Mental Health Inventory, Neonatal Satisfaction Survey, Parental Stressor Scale, and Questionnaire of Coping Strategies).