Insights into Central Congenital Hypothyroidism: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

Context: Central congenital hypothyroidism (CCH) is a thyroid hormone deficiency at birth caused by inadequate pituitary stimulation of the thyroid gland. Although primary CH has been studied extensively, studies on CCH are sparse.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of CCH in Israel and describe its clinical features, neonatal screening results, and outcomes.

The incidence of acute renal failure and high mortality rate in elderly patients hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia.

Community acquired pneumonia is associated with high mortality and health care costs, especially in old age. The clinical presentation of pneumonia in the elderly may be asymptomatic or atypical. One of the known complication is an acute kidney injury.

Functional dependency and COVID-19 in elderly patients with mild to moderate disease. Experience of tertiary geriatric hospital.

Clinical course of COVID-19 may be associated with functional dependency of geriatric patients. Data from the records of patients admitted to the COVID-19 Geriatric Unit were gathered during three months, including background, clinical aspects, time to resolution of infection and functional status. Functionally dependent patients had higher rates of diabetes (p = 0.

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers.

Background: Despite the high efficacy of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rare breakthrough infections have been reported, including infections among health care workers. Data are needed to characterize these infections and define correlates of breakthrough and infectivity.

Methods: At the largest medical center in Israel, we identified breakthrough infections by performing extensive evaluations of health care workers who were symptomatic (including mild symptoms) or had known infection exposure.

Safety and efficacy of blinatumomab: a real world data.

Despite improvement in survival of newly diagnosed adult precursor B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL), the results of relapsed/refractory disease are poor. Blinatumomab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody directed against CD19/CD3 show clinical activity against relapsed/refractory B-ALL and in minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive patients.We report our "real-world" experience with blinatumomab in patients with relapsed/refractory B-ALL.

Real-world data on incidence, clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with macrofocal multiple myeloma (MFMM) in the era of novel therapies: A study of the Greco-Israeli collaborative myeloma working group.

We investigated incidence, characteristics and outcome of patients with macrofocal multiple myeloma (MFMM) treated mainly with novel therapies. Based on definition (BMPCs <20% and lytic lesions/plasmacytomas, without anemia, renal insufficiency or hypercalcemia) we identified 140 patients with MFMM, among 4650 myeloma patients (3%). Twice the number of patients with typical myeloma were used as controls; 60% were <65 years and 70% had advanced bone disease.

[CURRENT CRITERIA FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS - WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW?].

The understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms of myeloproliferative neoplasms in the last few years led to updating of their diagnostic criteria in the recent classification of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms by the WHO, which was published in 2017. The major changes relating to the diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasms include lowering of the hemoglobin threshold and mandatory bone marrow biopsy as major criteria for the diagnosis of polycythemia vera, as well as adding acquired mutation in either CALR or MPL in addition to the common JAK2V617F mutation as a major criterion for diagnosing essential thrombocythemia or myelofibrosis. We review the newest discoveries on the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms, highlighting the relevant new additions to their diagnostic criteria, and relevant therapeutic considerations.

Long-Term Ultrasound Follow-Up After Pediatric Adnexal Torsion.

Purpose:  Conservative surgical management of adnexal torsion in pre- and post-menarchal girls by de-torsion and adnexal conservation is the current standard of care. The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term outcome of adnexal torsion in this population in terms of ultrasound appearance and ovarian volume.

Methods:  Patients who were surgically treated for adnexal torsion and were < 18 years old at time of surgery were prospectively invited for ultrasound follow-up.

T-Helper 1 Immune Response in Metastatic Lymph Nodes of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Marker For Prolonged Survival.

Background: Although lymph node (LN) metastases is considered a grave prognostic sign in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), patients with positive lymph nodes (PLN) constitute a heterogeneous group. Our purpose was to identify morphological and immune parameters in the primary tumor and in PLN of resected PDAC patients, which could further stratify these patients to different subgroups.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of 66 patients with PDAC who were operated at our institution.

Brain Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Gender Differences in Tinnitus Patients.

Background: Increased metabolism in the left auditory cortex has been reported in tinnitus patients. However, gender difference has not been addressed.

Purpose: To assess the differences in Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) results between the genders in tinnitus patients.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the omentum presenting as an ovarian carcinoma, case report and review of the literature.

Primary omental leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor. We report a case of successfully resected omental leiomyosarcoma whose presentation mimicked ovarian carcinoma. Symptoms of abdominal distension and discomfort that lasted 8 months followed by pain lead to a diagnosis of a large mass in the abdomen.

Metformin Use and Outcome of Sunitinib Treatment in Patients With Diabetes and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Although studies in several cancer types suggest that metformin has antitumor activity, its effect on the outcome of targeted therapies in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is poorly defined. We aimed to analyze the effect of metformin use on the outcome of sunitinib treatment in diabetic patients with mRCC.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of diabetic patients with mRCC, who were treated with sunitinib in 8 centers across 2 countries.

Stercoral colitis: a lethal disease-computed tomographic findings and clinical characteristic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the radiographic findings in stercoral colitis.

Methods: The computed tomographic scans and abdominal radiographs of 13 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed stercoral colitis from 4 affiliated hospitals were reviewed by a board-certified abdominal radiologist blinded to the official imaging, surgical, and pathologic findings.

Results: The median age was 66 years.

Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy: multipractice experience with epinephrine-treated reactions.

Background: Peanut allergy creates the risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis that can disrupt psychosocial development and family life. The avoidance management strategy often fails to prevent anaphylaxis and may contribute to social dysfunction. Peanut oral immunotherapy may address these problems, but there are safety concerns regarding implementation in clinical practice.

Active smoking may negatively affect response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with sunitinib.

Background: Obesity, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes are risk factors for renal cell carcinoma development. Their presence has been associated with a worse outcome in various cancers. We sought to determine their association with outcome of sunitinib treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Can fibromyalgia be associated with whiplash injury? A 3-year follow-up study.

The objective of this study is to assess the long-term outcome and natural history of a cohort of patients with whiplash injury regarding the development of fibromyalgia. Of the 153 patients who were admitted to the emergency room after whiplash injury in 2004, 126 were reassessed 3 years later. Also, 33 of 53 patients from the original control group of hospitalized patients with fractures were reevaluated.

Laparoscopically assisted uterine fibroid cryoablation.

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a safe and effective cryoablation technique for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Study Design: This was a multicenter pilot case series to evaluate cryoablation of uterine fibroids using laparoscopically assisted placement of 17-gauge cryoablation needles. Patient satisfaction was documented with a validated Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life (UFS-QOL) questionnaire.

Nurses' professional and personal values.

The purpose of this study was to measure professional and personal values among nurses, and to identify the factors affecting these values. The participants were 323 Israeli nurses, who were asked about 36 personal values and 20 professional values. The three fundamental professional nursing values of human dignity, equality among patients, and prevention of suffering, were rated first.

Trends in nursing staff allocation: the nurse-to-patient ratio and skill mix issues in Israel.

Purpose: This article describes a case study relating to trends in nurse-to-patient ratios and nursing staff mix in Israel.

Background: In recent years, there has been a worldwide trend towards changing nurse-to-patient ratios and nursing staff mixes. On the one hand, the patient's status has become more complex and requires a more professional nursing staff to maintain treatment, safety and quality, on the other hospitals have become more economically focused.

Clonal variability of group B Streptococcus among different groups of carriers in southern Israel.

A high prevalence of maternal group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage and an extremely low incidence of invasive neonatal disease have been reported from southern Israel. In order to obtain insight into this discrepancy, this study was performed to determine the population structure of GBS from asymptomatic pregnant women living in this area. Seventy-two strains from maternal GBS carriers were characterized using multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

Neck injury and fibromyalgia-- are they really associated?

Objective: To investigate whether whiplash injury may be a trigger for the onset of fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: One hundred fifty-three patients presenting to the emergency room with the diagnosis of whiplash injury were examined. The control group included 53 patients hospitalized with fractures of the limbs, spine, and ribs due to road accident.

Importance of early referral in sudden loss of hearing.

Aim: To examine the personal and clinical characteristics of patients suffering from sudden hearing loss.

Method: The participants were 45 Israeli patients, and the data was collected retrospectively from their medical files.

Results: In most cases the injury was sensory, and in one ear.

Serious consequences to the use of cephalosporins as the first line of antimicrobial therapy administered in hemodialysis units.

Background: The dramatic spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) among hemodialysis (HD) patients led to the replacement of vancomycin with cephalosporins as part of the primary empiric therapy for bacterial infections in HD units. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of this new regimen on the colonization rate of resistant bacteria among HD patients.

Methods: Rectal swabs were taken from 105 HD patients and 91 control hospitalized patients.