Intranasal Oxytocin Combined With Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: An Add-on Randomized Controlled Trial.

Some but not other studies on oxytocin for schizophrenia, particularly those using a higher dose, indicate that oxytocin improves negative symptoms of schizophrenia. We performed an add-on randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of high-dose oxytocin, social skills training, and their combination in the treatment of negative symptoms and social dysfunction in schizophrenia. Fifty-one subjects with schizophrenia were randomized, employing a two-by-two design: intranasal oxytocin (24 IU X3/day) or placebo, and social skills training or supportive psychotherapy, for 3 weeks.

Enhancing Coronary Revascularization Decisions: The Promising Role of Large Language Models as a Decision-Support Tool for Multidisciplinary Heart Team.

Background: While clinical practice guidelines advocate for multidisciplinary heart team (MDHT) discussions in coronary revascularization, variability in implementation across health care settings remains a challenge. This variability could potentially be addressed by language learning models like ChatGPT, offering decision-making support in diverse health care environments. Our study aims to critically evaluate the concordance between recommendations made by MDHT and those generated by language learning models in coronary revascularization decision-making.

Perinatal outcomes in pregnancies achieved after fertility treatments with and without diet-controlled GDM.

Objective: To evaluate the rates of adverse perinatal outcomes among women who conceived after fertility treatments with and without diet-controlled GDM.

Methods: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, all pregnancies of non-diabetic and diet-controlled GDM women who conceived after fertility treatments (in-vitro fertilization - IVF and ovulation induction - OI) and delivered between the years 1996-2016 in a tertiary medical center, were included. Pregnancies of women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus, and those complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus A2, multiple pregnancies, congenital malformations and those lacking prenatal care, were excluded.

Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) from 2011 to 2024: A comprehensive bibliometric review.

Introduction: Autoimmune/Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA) encompasses a spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions triggered by various adjuvants, leading to significant health challenges. This study aims to understand the research landscape and future directions of ASIA through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

Methods: Relevant original articles were retrieved from the Scopus database, focusing on publications from 2011 to July 2024.

Painful Call About the Under-Reporting of Children's Pain During Humanitarian Crises.

Humanitarian crises often require urgent medical care to people of concern. Such medical aid includes assessing and treating acute medical needs and ongoing chronic health conditions. Among the people of concern there are children, who are often the most vulnerable population in humanitarian contexts because they often lack the experience, independence, and cognitive and verbal skills to deal with the ordeals they are facing.

Transgenic Expressing Active Human LH Receptor in the Gonads Exhibit a Decreased Fecundity: Towards a Platform to Identify New Orally Active Modulators of Gonadotropin Receptor Activity.

Background/objectives: The gonadotropins luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and their receptors are major regulators of reproduction in mammals and are absent in insects. We previously established transgenic lines expressing a constitutively active human LH receptor variant (LHR) and the wild-type receptor (LHR; inactive in the absence of an agonist). That study showed that ubiquitously expression of LHR-but not of LHR-resulted in pupal lethality, and targeted expression in midline cells resulted in thorax/bristles defects.

The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Leishmaniasis, mainly cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), is endemic in Israel. In recent years, the diagnosis of leishmaniasis has transitioned to a molecular diagnosis.

Objective: To summarize all cases of leishmaniasis and the identified species seen in Israel based on molecular diagnosis.

Comparative Analysis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management: Hospital-based Versus Community-based Care.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic gastrointestinal disorders characterized by recurrent inflammation. Achieving mucosal healing and preventing disease progression are primary treatment goals.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare disease characteristics, medication utilization, procedures performed, and hospitalizations between IBD patients treated in hospital and community settings using the Leumit Health Service database.

When to choose intraosseous access in prehospital trauma care: A registry-based study from the Israel Defense Forces.

Purpose: Prompt vascular access is crucial for resuscitating bleeding trauma casualties in prehospital settings but achieving peripheral intravenous (PIV) access can be challenging during hemorrhagic shock due to peripheral vessel collapse. Early intraosseous (IO) device use is suggested as an alternative. This study examines injury characteristics and factors linked to IO access requirements.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Video Head Impulse Test Results.

Objective: To investigate the association between sleep deprivation and vestibular dysfunction by Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT).

Methods: This prospective clinical trial explores the impact of acute sleep deprivation on the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) in medical residents. The study involved healthy physicians from diverse medical disciplines.

Asciminib in Advanced-Line Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Objectives: Asciminib, a novel allosteric BCR::ABL1 inhibitor, targets the ABL1 myristoyl pocket to potentially reduce toxicity and enhance efficacy. It is approved for Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) in patients with resistance or intolerance to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or those with the T315I mutation.

Methods: This retrospective analysis evaluated patients with CML treated with asciminib under a managed-access program across eight Israeli centers from July 2019 to August 2022.

Identification of a central network hub of key prognostic genes based on correlation between transcriptomics and survival in patients with metastatic solid tumors.

Background: Dysregulated pathways in cancer may be hub addicted. Identifying these dysregulated networks for targeting might lead to novel therapeutic options.

Objective: Considering the hypothesis that central hubs are associated with increased lethality, identifying key hub targets within central networks could lead to the development of novel drugs with improved efficacy in advanced metastatic solid tumors.

Comparative Analysis of First-Line Antihypertensive Treatment Classes.

Background: The best first-line monotherapy for hypertension remains uncertain, as current guidelines suggest that thiazides, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are appropriate in the absence of specific comorbidities. We aimed to compare the outcomes of first-line antihypertensive classes in a real-life setting with a long follow-up period.

Methods: This nationwide retrospective new-user cohort study included patients insured by the largest health maintenance organization in Israel.

Low Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Blood Activity Is Associated with Shortened Survival of Renal Cell Cancer Patients and Survivors: Retrospective Analysis of 1830 Patients.

Sarcopenia is characterized by a loss of muscle mass and function and is often associated with frailty, a syndrome linked to physical disability and shortened survival in various patient populations, including cancer patients. Low serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values, serving as a biomarker for sarcopenia, were previously associated with frailty and shortened survival in several cancers. In the current study, we aimed to test the association between low ALT and shorter survival in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients and survivors.

Alopecia Areata and malignancies: uncertainties clarified by a large-scale population-based study.

The association of AA with malignancies has been a scope of controversy as the current literature is highly inconsistent in this regard. To evaluate the association between AA and hematological malignancies (HMs) and solid malignancies (SMs) using a large-scale, real-life computerized database. A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the prevalence of HMs and SMs among patients with AA relative to age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched control subjects.

The Updated Registry of Fast Myocardial Perfusion Imaging with Next-Generation SPECT (REFINE SPECT 2.0).

The Registry of Fast Myocardial Perfusion Imaging with Next-Generation SPECT (REFINE SPECT) has been expanded to include more patients and CT attenuation correction imaging. We present the design and initial results from the updated registry. The updated REFINE SPECT is a multicenter, international registry with clinical data and image files.

Transformations in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Surgical Practices: A Longitudinal Study of Trends and Predictions.

Introduction: The workload for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery is expected to rise with an increase in life expectancy and a growing population. Surgical modalities for BPH have evolved, shifting toward minimally invasive transurethral procedures. This study aimed to investigate the trends in BPH surgical procedures across medical centers in Israel.

Rationalizing the Influence of Small-Molecule Dopants on Guanine Crystal Morphology.

Many spectacular optical phenomena in animals are produced by reflective assemblies of guanine crystals. The crystals comprise planar H-bonded layers of π-stacked molecules with a high in-plane refractive index. By preferentially expressing the highly reflective π-stacked (100) crystal face and controlling its cross-sectional shape, organisms generate a diverse array of photonic superstructures.

Adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: Defining Incidence, Risk Factors for Hospitalization, and Poor Outcomes, a Regional Cohort Study, 2016-2022.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of illness in adults, especially older adults and those with underlying conditions. This study aimed to assess the incidence of RSV hospitalizations in adults and identify risk factors for hospitalization and poor outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from two hospitals in southern Israel from 2016-2022.