Has COVID-19 Changed Pediatric Acute Rhinosinusitis Epidemiology During the First 2 Pandemic Years?

Objective: To study national pediatric acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) burden fluctuations before and during the first 2 coronavirus-19 (COVID) years, characterized by alternating lockdown and relaxation periods, the introduction of COVID vaccines, and the emergence of nonalpha COVID variants.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study covering the 3 pre-COVID years and the first 2 COVID years from a big database of the largest Israeli Health Maintenance Organization. For comparison purposes, we explored ARS burden trends with those of urinary tract infection (UTI), which is unrelated to viral diseases.

Heterogeneity of B cell lymphopoiesis in patients with premalignant and active myeloma.

To better characterize the heterogeneity of multiple myeloma (MM), we profiled plasma cells (PCs) and their B cell lymphopoiesis in the BM samples from patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering MM, and active MM by mass cytometry (CyTOF) analysis. Characterization of intra- and interneoplastic heterogeneity of malignant plasmablasts and PCs revealed overexpression of the MM SET domain (MMSET), Notch-1, and CD47. Variations in upregulation of B cell signaling regulators (IFN regulatory factor 4 [IRF-4], CXCR4, B cell lymphoma 6 [Bcl-6], c-Myc, myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 [MYD88], and spliced X box-binding protein 1 [sXBP-1]) and aberrant markers (CD319, CD269, CD200, CD117, CD56, and CD28) were associated with different clinical outcomes in clonal PC subsets.

AL amyloidosis clonal plasma cells are regulated by microRNAs and dependent on anti-apoptotic BCL2 family members.

Background: Noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted attention as biological pathway regulators, which differ from chromosomal translocations and gene point mutations. Their involvement in the molecular mechanisms underlying light chain (AL) amyloidosis pathogenesis is yet to be elucidated.

Aims: To decipher specific miRNA expression profile in AL-amyloidosis and to examine how miRNAs are involved in AL pathogenesis.

Fluctuations in Pediatric Acute Otitis Media Burden During the First Two COVID-19 Years in Israel.

Background: To study pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) burden fluctuations before and during the first two COVID years, which were characterized by measures to reduce the spread of airborne diseases. We used urinary tract infection (UTI) as a comparison infection.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study encompassing three pre-COVID years (March 1, 2017-February 29, 2020) and the first two COVID years (March 1, 2020-February 28, 2021, and March 1, 2021-February 28, 2022).

Effect of gender on presentation and outcome of renal colic.

Objectives: To examine gender-related differences in the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients admitted to the emergency department ED with ureteral stones.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to the ED at our institution, found to have a ureteral stone on CT. Clinical, laboratory, imaging parameters, and outcomes were collected.

Audiometry-Confirmed Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Incidence among COVID-19 Patients and BNT162b2 Vaccine Recipients.

Objective: To compare sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) incidence rates over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the COVID-19 vaccination campaign periods to pre-COVID-19 periods.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Secondary hospital.

An electrolyte flip flop - a patient with chronic hyperkalemic acidosis presenting with severe hypokalemic alkalosis.

A 76-year-old man was evaluated in our emergency department (ED) for right toe swelling and pain. His initial ED workup revealed volume overload, uncontrolled hypertension, slow atrial fibrillation, refractory hypokalemia, mixed metabolic alkalosis and respiratory acidosis, with a normal plasma pH, and hypernatremia. His medical chart revealed long standing hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis, related to his diabetic kidney disease.

Gestational hemodilution as a putative risk factor for postpartum depression: A large-scale nationwide longitudinal cohort study.

Background: While anemia during pregnancy has been linked to increased postpartum depression (PPD) risk, longitudinal studies on the association between gestational hemodilution, represented by decreased hematocrit (Hct) during the transition from the 1st to 2nd trimester, and PPD risk, are scarce. The current study aimed to investigate this association in a nationwide cohort over the perinatal period.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 104,715 women who gave birth between January 2008 and December 2015.

A DNA methylation atlas of normal human cell types.

DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mark that governs gene expression and chromatin organization, thus providing a window into cellular identity and developmental processes. Current datasets typically include only a fraction of methylation sites and are often based either on cell lines that underwent massive changes in culture or on tissues containing unspecified mixtures of cells. Here we describe a human methylome atlas, based on deep whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, allowing fragment-level analysis across thousands of unique markers for 39 cell types sorted from 205 healthy tissue samples.

Post-operative pain following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy- clinical correlates.

Objectives: Management of postoperative pain following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) is a significant goal. We sought to identify risk factors and clinical correlates of postoperative pain in order to improve perioperative management and patient satisfaction.

Materials And Methods: A single-center, retrospective analysis, from a prospectively maintained database, of all consecutive patients who underwent PCNL for renal calculi between January 2011 and August 2018.

Mitigating the interference of Daratumumab with immunofixation electrophoresis. A single-center experience using Hydrashift 2/4 kit.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for approximately 10% of hematological malignancies. The monoclonal immunoglobulin G kappa (IgG-κ) daratumumab can bind to CD38 on MM cells and be detected in serum immunofixation (IF), causing pitfalls in M-protein quantification.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of mitigating the interference of IgG MM treated with daratumumab.

Vaccination Coverage among Immunocompromised Patients in a Large Health Maintenance Organization: Findings from a Novel Computerized Registry.

Immune-compromised patients (IPs) are at high risk for infections, some of which are preventable by vaccines. Specific vaccines are recommended for IP; however, the vaccination rate is suboptimal. The aim of this study is to describe the development of an IP registry and to assess vaccination rates in this population.

Severe Life-Threatening Sepsis Complicating Infected Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty.

Thumb Carpometacarpal (CMC) total joint arthroplasty is commonly performed with increasing numbers worldwide. We present a case of Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) leading to severe septic shock and disseminated septic emboli 8 months following uneventful thumb CMC arthroplasty. Such extensive and life-threatening infection following thumb CMC arthroplasty has not been reported.

Preliminary study of sound touch elastography in diffuse thyroid disease in children.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of sound touch elastography (STE) in conjunction with conventional ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of diffuse thyroid disease (DTD) and normal thyroid in children.

Methods: Studies performed on 62 children with DTD and 30 normal volunteers were reviewed. Standard gray scale ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound and STE of the examinees, and the serum test results of children with DTD were collected, analyzed and compared.

Head and neck cancer surgery in elderly patients: the role of frailty assessment.

Objectives: To study whether any risk model, frailty index, patients' comorbidities, or demographic characteristics correlate with postoperative morbidity in elderly patients who underwent surgery for head and neck cancer (HNC). A secondary objective was to compare between frailty indexes that are used at our medical center.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of head and neck cancer patients operated between 2007 and 2021 was performed.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum Resulting From Passionate Cheering at a Soccer Match.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare and self-limiting clinical entity, often triggered by activities causing acute changes in intrathoracic pressure such as childbirth, strenuous exercise, vomiting, and coughing. We present a case of a young male soldier who developed spontaneous pneumothorax following persistent yelling while attending a soccer match. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum may be preceded by a variety of strenuous activities, and clinicians should be aware of this entity when performing the evaluation of patients with nonspecific symptoms such as chest pain and dyspnea.

Recurrent congenital cytomegalovirus infection in a sequential pregnancy with severe sequelae, and a possible association with prophylactic valacyclovir treatment: a case report.

Recurrent congenital cytomegalovirus infections in consecutive pregnancies are rarely reported. Due to the risk of fetal infection from preconception maternal infection, a 6-month interval after primary maternal infection is generally advised before a new conception. Recently, high-dose valacyclovir treatment was shown to prevent fetal infection in first trimester primary infections.

Spontaneous stone expulsion in patients with history of urolithiasis.

Objectives: To examine differences in the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with ureteral stones, with prior history of urolithiasis compared to patients with a first stone event.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who visited the ED that were found to have a ureteral stone on CT. Patients were stratified into two groups: without history of urolithiasis (Group 1) and with history of urolithiasis (Group 2).