Publications by authors named "Shifrin A"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, focusing on whether it causes any exacerbation of the disease as seen through MRI imaging.
  • A retrospective analysis of 84 MS patients revealed that those with early onset MS who were vaccinated had an increased risk of developing new lesions, while adult-onset patients did not show the same risk.
  • The findings generally indicate that the vaccine is safe for MS patients, but close monitoring via MRI is advised for those with early-onset MS due to the observed risks.
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Background And Objectives: Primary CNS vasculitis (PCNSV) is a rare inflammatory disorder that affects the blood vessels of the central nervous system (CNS). We aimed to analyze the neurological presentations, clinical follow-up, and long-term outcomes of patients with primary central nervous system vasculitis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records to assess the neurological presentation, rate of remission, and functional status at the last follow-up in patients with primary central nervous system vasculitis seen in our center in the last 13 years (2010-2023).

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Background: Torcular dural sinus malformations (tDSMs) are rare vascular malformations that present in fetuses and infants. Existing data on prognostic imaging features, as well as the associated morbidity and mortality, are limited and variable. We therefore reviewed cases of tDSMs diagnosed on fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at our referral center to identify pre- and postnatal MRI imaging features associated with long-term outcomes.

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To investigate preferences for evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the role of likely PTSD in those preferences. Undergraduate students ( = 119) and participants recruited from trauma support groups ( = 126) read descriptions of front-line recommended treatments for PTSD, including prolonged exposure therapy (PE), cognitive-processing therapy (CPT), and medication therapy (MT). Participants selected their treatment of choice and provided ratings of the credibility and their personal reactions to each treatment.

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receive immunomodulatory treatments which can influence their ability to maintain vaccine specific serological response overtime. MS patients treated with cladribine tablets developed a positive serology response following two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. However, there is only limited data regarding the effect of cladribine tablets on long-term humoral response after the second and the third booster.

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Background: multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are treated with immunomodulatory treatments that can influence their ability to develop a protective antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Vaccine efficacy is important for treatment decision and for patients' reassurance. The main objective is to assess antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in MS patients treated with cladribine.

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Objective: Research has documented the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and increased cannabis use, but the studies largely rely on cross-sectional or longitudinal designs. Few studies have examined the impact of recent (i.e.

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Alemtuzumab (ALM) effectively prevents relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS). It causes lymphocyte depletion with subsequent enhancement of the T-regulatory cell population. Direct administration of ALM to T cells causes cytolysis.

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Introduction: We evaluated the clinical performance of an expanded mutation panel in combination with microRNA classification (MPTX) for the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Materials And Methods: MPTX included testing of fine-needle aspirates from multiple centers with a combination of ThyGeNEXT mutation panel for strong and weak driver oncogenic changes and ThyraMIR microRNA risk classifier (both from Interpace Diagnostics; Pittsburgh, PA). MPTX test status (positive or negative) and MPTX clinical risk classifications (low, moderate, or high risk) were determined blind to patient outcomes.

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Advanced analyses of electroencephalography (EEG) are rapidly becoming an important tool in understanding the brain's processing of pain. To date, it appears that none have been explored as a way of distinguishing between migraine patients with aura (MWA) vs. those without aura (MWoA).

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Background: We report results of a multicenter clinical experience study examining the likelihood of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules to undergo surgery or have malignant outcome based on multiplatform combination mutation and microRNA testing (MPT).

Methods: MPT assessed mutations in BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS, and PIK3CA genes, PAX8/PPARγ, RET/PTC1, and RET/PTC3 gene rearrangements, and the expression of 10 microRNAs. Baseline clinical information at the time of MPT and clinical follow-up records were reviewed for 337 patients, of which 80% had negative MPT results.

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Objectives: Most patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). We aimed to verify previously reported imaging and clinical findings, and to identify new MRI findings that might serve as prognostic factors for a second clinical episode or a change in the MRI scan during the first year following a CIS.

Materials And Methods: We identified from our medical records, 46 individuals who presented with an episode of CIS, which was followed clinically and with imaging studies.

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Background and aims We examined the potential role religious beliefs may play in disordered gambling. Specifically, we tested the idea that religiosity primes people to place their faith in good fortune or a higher power. In the context of gambling, however, this may lead to gambling fallacies (e.

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Article Synopsis
  • Migraineurs with aura (MWA) show increased sensitivity to everyday sensory stimuli compared to those without aura (MWoA), which has been linked to a higher frequency of migraine attacks.
  • In a study involving 53 female migraineurs, MWA participants reported greater sensory over-responsiveness and experienced a higher magnitude of pain when subjected to stimuli, along with more frequent migraine episodes.
  • The findings suggest that MWA may have underlying sensory modulation issues, indicating a potential overlap between abnormal sensory responsiveness and migraine characteristics across different types.
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Background: Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2 is an autosomal dominant cancer syndrome associated with the development of thyroid cancer and tumors or hyperplasia in other endocrine organs. It is caused by mutations in the RET gene and can be phenotypically classified into MEN types 2A and 2B. MEN2B is often sporadic resulting from a spontaneous mutation, M981T.

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Objective: Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a serious infection requiring prompt treatment and potential neurosurgical intervention. Although contrast-enhanced spine MRI is the mainstay for diagnosis of SEA, unenhanced MRI is typically performed for patients with nonspecific symptoms or insufficient clinical information. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of imaging features suggestive of SEA at unenhanced spine MRI.

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Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of remote nonpainful electrical upper arm skin stimulation in reducing migraine attack pain.

Methods: This is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, crossover, sham-controlled trial. Migraineurs applied skin electrodes to the upper arm soon after attack onset for 20 minutes, at various pulse widths, and refrained from medications for 2 hours.

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Background: Limited data are available on the analysis of somatic mutations in metastatic lymph nodes in adult and pediatric patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Methods: A total of 92, microdissected, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 39 patients were analyzed for the presence of somatic mutations utilizing the ThyGenX next-generation sequencing test.

Results: Somatic mutations were detected in 67% of papillary thyroid carcinoma specimens.

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Context: Molecular testing for oncogenic mutations or gene expression in fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) from thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology identifies a subset of benign or malignant lesions with high predictive value.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a novel diagnostic algorithm combining mutation detection and miRNA expression to improve the diagnostic yield of molecular cytology.

Setting: Surgical specimens and preoperative FNAs (n = 638) were tested for 17 validated gene alterations using the miRInform Thyroid test and with a 10-miRNA gene expression classifier generating positive (malignant) or negative (benign) results.

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Objective: Parathyroid gland malignancies are considered rare. The most common of these tumor types is primary parathyroid carcinoma. Metastatic spread from other cancers may also occur with up to 10% of cancers from other sites showing parathyroid involvement at autopsy.

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Objective: To describe a unique case of a metastatic thymic carcinoma to the hyperplastic parathyroid gland and to present a challenging management dilemma.

Methods: Our patient is 60-year-old, intellectually disabled man with history of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome, a surgery in 1985 for hypercalcemia with removal of one parathyroid gland, surgery in 2007 with findings of extensively necrotic well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumor) of the thymus. In 2012, he presented with persistent hypercalcemia (calcium level 11.

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