Nineteen months into the pandemic, what have we learned about COVID-19-related outcomes in patients with psoriasis?

Background: The impact of psoriasis on the outcomes of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is yet to be precisely delineated.

Objectives: To assess the risk of COVID-19, COVID-19-associated hospitalization, and mortality among patients with psoriasis as compared with age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched control subjects. In addition, we aim to delineate determinants of COVID-19-associated hospitalization and mortality in patients with psoriasis.

Hidradenitis suppurativa and the risk of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, and peripheral vascular disease: a population-based study.

Previous studies have identified an association between myocardial infarction (MI), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). To evaluate the risk and prognostic outcomes of MI, CVA, and PVD in patients with HS. A population-based retrospective cohort study using the computerized database of Clalit Health Services (CHS), the largest managed care organization in Israel, was conducted to compare the incidence of MI, CVA, and PVD among patients with HS (N = 6779) with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects (N = 33,260).

Influence of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination on the efficacy and safety of Botulinum toxin type A injections.

Background: Concerns have been raised recently regarding the efficacy and safety of Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injections following COVID-19 vaccination.

Aims: To assess the influence of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine on the safety and efficacy of BTA injections performed for aesthetic indications.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study followed patients undergoing periodic BTA treatments who completed two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine.

Investigating the epidemiological relationship between vitiligo and psoriasis: a population-based study.

Background: The association of vitiligo with psoriasis is inconsistent in the current literature.

Objective: To assess the bidirectional association between vitiligo and psoriasis.

Methods: A population-based study was performed to compare vitiligo patients (n = 20,851) with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects (n = 102,475) regarding the incidence of new-onset and the prevalence of preexisting psoriasis.

COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Among Individuals With Schizophrenia in Israel.

Importance: Individuals with schizophrenia are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness and mortality. Previous reports have demonstrated vaccination gaps among this high-risk population; however, it is unclear whether these gaps have continued to manifest with the booster dose.

Objective: To assess gaps in first, second, and booster vaccinations among individuals with schizophrenia.

The association of uveitis with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses: a large-scale population-based study.

Purpose: To examine the association of uveitis with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) chronic infections METHOD: This is a population-based cross-sectional study. The study encompassed 13,183 consecutive patients with uveitis and 65,331control subjects. The prevalence of chronic HBV and HCV infections was compared between patients diagnosed with uveitis and age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls.

Determinants and Effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination Among Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Population-Based Study.

Background: The effectiveness of messenger RNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is yet to be delineated. It remains largely unknown how AD-related immunosuppressive medications affect the development of vaccine-induced immunity.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine among patients with AD and to assess its effectiveness in protecting against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, COVID-19-associated hospitalization, and mortality.

The risk, predictors and outcomes of amyloidosis in ankylosing spondylitis: a longitudinal population-based cohort study.

Objectives: The risk of amyloidosis during the course of AS is yet to be firmly established. We aimed to evaluate the risks, predictors and prognostic outcomes of amyloidosis among patients with AS.

Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted comparing AS patients (n = 5911) with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects (n = 29 007) with regard to incident cases of amyloidosis.

COVID-19 hospitalisation, mortality, vaccination, and postvaccination trends among people with schizophrenia in Israel: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia have an increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, nonetheless, no previous study has provided a year-long account of this risk, or assessed postvaccination trends in this population. This study assessed temporal trends in COVID-19 hospitalisation and mortality among people with schizophrenia during the first year of the pandemic, the predictors for COVID-19 vaccination, postvaccination infection, admission to hospital, and mortality.

Methods: In this longitudinal cohort study, people with schizophrenia (n=25 539) and controls (n=25 539) were assessed for COVID-19 outcomes before and after vaccination, up to April 30, 2021.

The burden of neurological comorbidities in six autoimmune bullous diseases: a population-based study.

Background: Apart from bullous pemphigoid (BP), the association of other autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBDs) with neurological conditions is poorly understood.

Objective: To estimate the association between a wide array of AIBDs and neurological conditions.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study recruited patients with BP, mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), pemphigoid gestationis (PG), pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF).

A dynamic prediction score for obstetric anal sphincter injury among nulliparous women delivering vaginally.

Objective: To develop a risk score for obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) occurrence among nulliparous women delivering vaginally, based on data available at admission for delivery and as labor progresses.

Methods: A retrospective study of all nulliparous women who delivered vaginally between March 2011 and January 2021. Characteristics were compared between OASI and no-OASI groups.

Risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injury among women undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean.

Objective: Data regarding the risks of obstetrical anal sphincter injury (OASI) among women who never delivered vaginally undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors and the rate of OASI among women undergoing TOLAC who never delivered vaginally.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study of all women undergoing a TOLAC and never delivered vaginally between 3/2011 and 6/2020.

The association between vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery and anal sphincter injury.

Introduction: Vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery (VAVD) is considered a major risk factor for obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). However, it is difficult to estimate its true contribution to the occurrence of OASIS, as its performance may be confounded by other determinants. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association of VAVD with OASIS among primiparous women compared to SVD.

Risk of anal sphincter injury in trial of labor post cesarean section.

Introduction: We wanted to evaluate whether secundiparas who achieved vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) were at an increased risk for obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) compared to primiparas who delivered vaginally, with a stratification by the mode of delivery-spontaneous or operative vaginal delivery.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of primiparous women who delivered by vacuum-assisted delivery between March 2011 and June 2019. Primiparas delivering vaginally and secundiparas undergoing VBAC were compared.

Validation of the Wexner scale in a Hebrew-speaking population.

Introduction: The Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score, known as the Wexner Score (WS), is a simple, disease-specific questionnaire for anal incontinence (AI) assessment. We aimed to translate and validate a Hebrew version of the WS.

Methods: Between November 2018 and December 2019, the WS was back translated and reviewed by a multidisciplinary pelvic floor team.

Prognostic relevance of topoisomerase II α and minichromosome maintenance protein 6 expression in colorectal cancer.

Background: Despite rising incidence rates of colorectal malignancies, only a few prognostic tools have been implemented in proven clinical routine. Cell division and proliferation play a significant role in malignancies. In terms of colorectal cancer, the impact of proliferation associated proteins is controversially debated.

Association Between the Frank Sign and Cardiovascular Events.

Clinicians have attempted to find early preclinical physical diagnosis signs to detect vascular diseases at the preclinical stage and to prevent clinical deterioration in time. An interesting example of such signs is the Frank sign, which was first described by Dr Sonders T. Frank in 1973.

Levels of adhesion molecules in peripheral blood correlat with stages of diabetic retinopathy and may serve as bio markers for microvascular complications.

Background: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus, developing within 15 years in 50% of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and in 10% of patients with type 2 DM. The correlation between levels of inflammatory markers in the peripheral blood and retinopathy staging has not been studied yet, and the purpose of this prospective study was to find a possible association between inflammation and staging of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: A prospective (pilot) study that measured level of adhesion molecules in the peripheral blood of 10 healthy subjects and 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Impaired ability to grow colonies of endothelial stem cells could be the mechanism explaining the high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of patients with depression.

Background: Subjects with depression are more prone to develop cardiovascular complications. Severity of depression is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Several mechanisms were suggested including accelerated atherosclerosis, alteration of the cardiac autonomic response with a decrease in heart rate variability.

Vascular responsiveness in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is used for staging of progression of micro and macro-vascular complications of patients with DM. Our hypothesis was that diabetic patients at different stages of retinopathy would have different vascular responsiveness that will be used as a surrogate marker of macro-vascular disease for risk assessment of cardiovascular complications.

Methods: A prospective study enrolled 96 patients.

Family history associated with pelvic organ prolapse in young women.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) among young women is a relatively rare disorder with a unique clinical background. The objective of our study was to investigate the relative risk factors for POP and the relationship between family history and POP development in young women.

Methods: In a retrospective longitudinal study we investigated 26 young patients (age <45 years) who underwent POP surgery and compared them to a control group of 26 patients (age >55 years) who underwent similar surgery and were matched with regard to parity.

Ethnic differences among implantable cardioverter defibrillators recipients in Israel.

Heart failure is an increasingly common condition arising from a variety of different pathophysiological processes. Little is known about the unique features of Israeli Arabs who present with heart failure and who undergo cardiac device implantation. The study population comprised of 4,671 patients who were enrolled in the national Israeli Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator registry.