A Retrospective Database Analysis of Before and After Social Distancing in Relation to Pediatric Infection Rate and Healthcare Services Usage During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: Social distancing policy was introduced in Israel in 2020 to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of social distancing on other infections in children, by comparing disease rate and healthcare utilization before and after social distancing.

Methods: This was a before-and-after study.

Continuous Remote Patient Monitoring Shows Early Cardiovascular Changes in COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 exerts deleterious cardiopulmonary effects, leading to a worse prognosis in the most affected. This retrospective multi-center observational cohort study aimed to analyze the trajectories of key vitals amongst hospitalized COVID-19 patients using a chest-patch wearable providing continuous remote patient monitoring of numerous vital signs. The study was conducted in five COVID-19 isolation units.

An autonomous debating system.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is defined as the ability of machines to perform tasks that are usually associated with intelligent beings. Argument and debate are fundamental capabilities of human intelligence, essential for a wide range of human activities, and common to all human societies. The development of computational argumentation technologies is therefore an important emerging discipline in AI research.

Pathological presentation of cardiac mitochondria in a rat model for chronic kidney disease.

Background: Mitochondria hold crucial importance in organs with high energy demand especially the heart. We investigated whether chronic kidney disease (CKD), which eventually culminates in cardiorenal syndrome, could affect cardiac mitochondria and assessed the potential involvement of angiotensin II (AngII) in the process.

Methods: Male Lewis rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy allowing CKD development for eight months or for eleven weeks.

Increased CD11b+ cells and Interleukin-1 (IL-1) alpha levels during cardiomyopathy induced by chronic adrenergic activation.

Background: Systemic CD11b+ cells have been associated with several cardiac diseases, such as chronic heart failure.

Objectives: To assess the levels of circulating CD11b+ cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines in cardiomyopathy induced by chronic adrenergic stimulation.

Methods: Male Lewis rats were injected with low doses of isoproterenol (isoprel) for 3 months.

TRPV2 knockout mice demonstrate an improved cardiac performance following myocardial infarction due to attenuated activity of peri-infarct macrophages.

Background: We have recently shown that the expression of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 channel, TRPV2, is upregulated in the peri-infarct zone 3-5 days following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Further analysis has demonstrated that invading monocytes maturing to macrophages merely harbor the documented elevated expression of this channel.

Purpose: Assess cardiac function in TRPV2-KO mice compared to TRPV2-WT following AMI and analyze the potential involvement of TRPV2-expressing macrophages in the recovery process.

Sustained Elevation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Angiopoietin-2 Levels After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) exposes the systemic vasculature to increased mechanical forces. Endothelial adaptation to mechanical stimuli is associated with angiogenic activation through various growth factors. We studied the potential angiogenic shift evoked by TAVR.

Down-Regulation of Cardiac Erythropoietin Receptor and its Downstream Activated Signal Transducer Phospho-STAT-5 in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often accompanied by impairment of cardiac function that may lead to major cardiac events. Erythropoietin (EPO), a kidney-produced protein, was shown to be beneficial to heart function. It was suggested that reduced EPO secretion in CKD may play a role in the initiation of heart damage.

Differential Effects of Colchicine on Cardiac Cell Viability in an in vitro Model Simulating Myocardial Infarction.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the effects of colchicine, currently in clinical trials for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), on the viability of cardiac cells using a cell line model of AMI.

Methods: HL-1, a murine cardiomyocyte cell line, and H9C2, a rat cardiomyoblast cell line, were incubated with TNFα or sera derived from rats that underwent AMI or sham operation followed by addition of colchicine. In another experiment, HL-1/H9C2 cells were exposed to anoxia with or without subsequent addition of colchicine.

Power-Assisted Liposuction Versus Tissue Resection for the Isolation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Phenotype, Senescence, and Multipotency at Advanced Passages.

Background: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) can be isolated from subcutaneous fat harvested by tissue resection or liposuction.

Objectives: The authors compared ASCs isolated by tissue resection or power-assisted liposuction (PAL) to determine whether either surgical procedure yielded ASCs with improved purity and competence that was preserved for several passages.

Methods: For this experimental study, ASCs were isolated from fat harvested by tissue resection or PAL from six patients who underwent abdominoplasty.

Leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin in the metabolic adjustment to burn injury in children.

Objective: Leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin have diverse roles in the control of inflammation and metabolism in a normal state as well as in a chronic disease state. The aim of this study was to evaluate their role in the extreme metabolic and proinflammatory state after burn injury and during the initial weeks of recovery.

Methods: A prospective descriptive study in a tertiary care center was undertaken.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 cation channel is abundant in macrophages accumulating at the peri-infarct zone and may enhance their migration capacity towards injured cardiomyocytes following myocardial infarction.

Purpose: A novel family of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, that may hold a role in calcium homeostasis, has recently been described. By employing a GeneChip array analysis we have demonstrated a clear and specific upregulation of the TRP vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) mRNA in the left ventricles (LV) 3-5 days post-acute myocardial infarction (MI) compared to sham-operated controls, both in rats and in mice. We sought to characterize the cardiac cellular subpopulations in which TRPV2 is overexpressed upon acute MI.

Serum ischemia modified albumin and vascular endothelial growth factor levels following intravitreal bevacizumab injections.

Purpose: Previous reports have demonstrated that the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are reduced after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab. This study aimed to determine the serum levels of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), a marker of ischemia, and VEGF following intravitreal injections of bevacizumab.

Methods: This was a prospective study.

Adiponectin concentration in the orbital fat of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Background: "Graves' ophthalmopathy" (GO), is an inflammatory disease of the orbit, with extensive adipose tissue involvement. Previous studies of orbital fat derived from such patients have demonstrated overexpression of the adiponectin gene and messenger RNA.

Aim: The study reported here aimed to measure the protein concentration of orbital adipose tissue adiponectin in GO patients, in comparison to healthy controls.

Accelerated renal fibrosis in cardiorenal syndrome is associated with long-term increase in urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels.

Background: Cardiac events are the main cause of death among patients with end-stage renal failure. Even a mild renal disease is currently considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications following myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the present study was to detect histological, sera and urine characteristics of kidney injury in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) compared to chronic kidney disease (CKD) with an intact cardiac function.

Galectin-3 mediates cross-talk between K-Ras and Let-7c tumor suppressor microRNA.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and active (GTP-bound) K-Ras contribute to the malignant phenotype of many human tumors by increasing the rate of cell proliferation, survival, and migration. These Gal-3-mediated effects result from a selective binding to K-Ras.GTP, causing increased nanoclustering in the cell membrane and leading to robust Ras signaling.

Movement skills of younger versus older adults with and without Down syndrome.

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are often physically inactive, which may accelerate the onset of disease and aging symptoms. Eight older persons with DS (aged 54-61), and 10 younger persons with DS (aged 26-35) living in a residential care center were examined. Eighteen age- and gender-matched individuals without DS served as control groups.

The familial Mediterranean fever gene as a modifier of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenopathy syndrome.

Objective: Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenopathy (PFAPA) syndrome is a sporadic disease, characterized by periodic attacks of inflammation. Mutations in the MEFV, the gene associated with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), may lead to subclinical inflammation in asymptomatic carriers and modify the phenotype of some inflammatory diseases. We aimed at investigating the effect of MEFV gene mutations on disease phenotype in PFAPA.

Galectin-3 promotes chronic activation of K-Ras and differentiation block in malignant thyroid carcinomas.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas are deadly tumors that are highly invasive, particularly into the bones. Although oncogenic Ras can transform thyroid cells into a severely malignant phenotype, thyroid carcinomas do not usually harbor ras gene mutations. Therefore, it is not known whether chronically active Ras contributes to thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation, although galectin-3 (Gal-3), which is strongly expressed in thyroid carcinomas but not in benign tumors or normal glands, is known to act as a K-Ras chaperone that stabilizes and drives K-Ras.

Meconium ileus in patients with cystic fibrosis is not a risk factor for clinical deterioration and survival: the Israeli Multicenter Study.

Objectives: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) presenting with meconium ileus (MI) tend to have worse outcomes than those without MI. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and survival rates among Israeli patients with CF with and without MI after a prolonged follow-up (15-30 years).

Patients And Methods: A multicenter retrospective study.

Sensorimotor impairments and strategies in adults with intellectual disabilities.

Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) show a greater tendency toward deconditioning and having a sedentary lifestyle than their peers without disabilities. The aim of this study was to characterize sensorimotor deficits through coordination tests and during static and dynamic balance. Eight tasks that involved the integration of hand movements with visual information were used here, as well as the Posture Scale Analyzer system to examine postural stability.

Molecular evaluation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in children undergoing hemodialysis and after kidney transplantation.

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been explained by accelerated atherosclerosis and impaired angiogenesis, in which endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may play key roles. Circulating cells with endothelial progenitor phenotype have not been evaluated in children with ESRD. Using a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach, we measured endothelial-specific and progenitor-associated genes VE-cadherin (VE-C), CD146, CD31, tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (Tie-2), Flk1, CD133, and growth factors promoting EPC function, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), erythropoietin (EPO), and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in the blood of pediatric patients undergoing hemodialysis and after transplantation.

Galectin-3 regulates RasGRP4-mediated activation of N-Ras and H-Ras.

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a pleiotropic beta-galactoside-binding protein expressed at relatively high levels in human neoplasms. Its carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) contains a hydrophobic pocket that can accommodate the farnesyl moiety of K-Ras. Binding of K-Ras to Gal-3 stabilizes K-Ras in its active (GTP-bound) state.

The interplay between components of the mitochondrial protein translocation motor studied using purified components.

The final step of protein translocation across the mitochondrial inner membrane is mediated by a translocation motor composed of 1) the matrix-localized, ATP-hydrolyzing, 70-kDa heat shock protein mHsp70; 2) its anchor to the import channel, Tim44; 3) the nucleotide exchange factor Mge1; and 4) a J-domain-containing complex of co-chaperones, Tim14/Pam18-Tim16/Pam16. Despite its essential role in the biogenesis of mitochondria, the mechanism by which the translocation motor functions is still largely unknown. The goal of this work was to carry out a structure-function analysis of the mitochondrial translocation motor utilizing purified components, with an emphasis on the formation of the Tim44-mHsp70 complex.