BV score differentiates viral from bacterial-viral co-infection in adenovirus PCR positive children.

Background And Objectives: Adenovirus causes acute respiratory illness that can mimic bacterial infection, making it challenging to differentiate adenoviral infection from adenoviral-bacterial co-infection. A host-protein score (BV score) for differentiating bacterial from viral infection that combines the expression levels of TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand, interferon gamma-induced protein-10, and C-reactive protein exhibited a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98% in prior studies. Here we evaluate BV score's diagnostic accuracy in pediatrics with adenovirus PCR detection.

Simplifying the diagnosis of optic tract lesions.

Optic tract lesions (OTL) are often difficult to diagnose. We suggest an algorithm to simplify the often-challenging diagnosis of OTL. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively collected from the electronic files of 6 patients diagnosed with OTL at a tertiary medical center in 2016-2020.

Incidence and risk factors for central nervous system relapse in patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL). We aimed to evaluate the incidence of CNS relapse as first treatment failure event and the effect of the induction chemotherapy regimen, central nervous system - international prognostic index (CNS-IPI) and other clinical and laboratory variables on the risk of CNS relapse in 564 PMLBCL patients treated with immunochemotherapy. Only 17 patients (3.

Trace Elements in Tears: Comparison of Rural and Urban Populations Using Particle Induced X-ray Emission.

We aimed to evaluate the types and concentrations of trace elements in tears of individuals living in urban and rural environments using particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and the possible association with exposure to air pollution and suggest a novel method for tear-based biomonitoring studies. This cross-sectional pilot study comprised 42 healthy subjects, 28 living in a rural area and 14 in an industrial city. Tears were collected with Schirmer paper and characterized by PIXE.

The Effects of Rudeness on NICU Medical Teams Studied by a New Tool for the Assessment of Decision-Making Group Dynamics.

Background: Group decision-making can be placed on a continuum of group dynamics, between Groupthink and Polythink.

Objective: To present a new assessment tool for the characterization of medical teams' decision-making group dynamics, and test it to study the effects of exposure to rudeness on various types of group dynamics.

Methods: Three judges who watched videotapes of critical care simulations evaluated 24 neonatal intensive care unit teams' decision-making processes.

Real-world experience with belantamab mafodotin therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: A multicentre retrospective study.

Belantamab mafodotin, an immuno-conjugate targeting B-cell maturation antigen, showed single-agent activity in phase 1 and 2 studies, and was recently approved for heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Real-world data and long-term follow-up are scarce. We conducted a multisite retrospective study aimed to assess safety and efficacy of belantamab mafodotin monotherapy administered via the GSK expanded access compassionate care programme.

Characteristics of endovascular pneumococcal infections; a decade of nationwide surveillance study.

In order to characterize pneumococcal endovascular infection in the post-vaccination era, a retrospective nationwide study based on the Israeli Adult IPD database was conducted. Between 2010 and 2019, 0.6% (23 cases) of IPD cases were of endovascular type, occurring mainly in males (72.

Expanding the natural history of CASK-related disorders to the prenatal period.

Aim: To assess whether microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia (MICPCH) could manifest in the prenatal period in patients with calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) gene disorders.

Method: In this international multicentre retrospective study, we contacted a CASK parents' social media group and colleagues with expertise in cerebellar malformations and asked them to supply clinical and imaging information. Centiles and standard deviations (SD) were calculated according to age by nomograms.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in children with ADHD: A randomized, sham-controlled pilot study.

Background: ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a pediatric prevalence of 5.2%.While medication treatment for ADHD is effective, it does not address all symptoms and a small but notable subgroup does not respond to medications.

An Observational Study on the Use of Peripheral Intravenous Lines vs. Central Lines in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background And Objectives: There is a debate regarding the preferred intravenous (IV) access for newborns. Our aim was to study practices regarding the choice of vascular access and outcomes.

Methods: A seven-month prospective observational study on IV lines used in all newborns admitted to Bnai Zion Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Increased serum level of alpha-2 macroglobulin and its production by B-lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common adult's leukemia in the western world, is caused in 95% of the cases by uncontrolled proliferation of monoclonal B-lymphocytes. The complement system in CLL is chronically activated at a low level the classical pathway (CP). This chronic activation is induced by IgG-hexamers, which are formed after binding to alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M).

Continuous versus Bolus Gastric Tube Feeding in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Supported with Noninvasive Respiratory Support: A Randomized, Pilot Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare time to full feeding (TFF) between continuous gastric feeding (CGF) and bolus feeding (BF) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants supported with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and to evaluate feasibility and identify methodological pitfalls for future large-scale studies.

Study Design: This study is a randomized controlled, prospective, pilot study. VLBW premature infants, supported with NIV, were randomized while still on trophic feeding <20 mL/kg/day to receive feeding over 2 hours of CGF or over 15- to 30-minute BF.

Clinical features, therapy patterns, outcomes and prognostic factors of solitary plasmacytomas: a report of the Israeli Myeloma Study Group.

Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) is a rare plasma cell dyscrasia. In this retrospective multicenter study, 68 SP patients were included. Compared to solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (SEP), patients with solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) were younger (57.

Development of a distributed international patient data registry for hairy cell leukemia.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, comprising only 2% of all leukemias. The Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation (HCLF) has developed a patient data registry to enable investigators to better study the clinical features, treatment outcomes, and complications of patients with HCL. This system utilizes a centralized registry architecture.

Factors associated with failed epidural blood patch after accidental dural puncture in obstetrics: a prospective, multicentre, international cohort study.

Background: Epidural blood patch is commonly used for management of post-dural puncture headache after accidental dural puncture. The primary aim was to determine factors associated with failed epidural blood patch.

Methods: In this prospective, multicentre, international cohort study, parturients ≥18 yr receiving an epidural blood patch for treatment of post-dural puncture headache were included.

Monkeypox DNA levels correlate with virus infectivity in clinical samples, Israel, 2022.

The current monkeypox virus global spread and lack of data regarding clinical specimens' infectivity call for examining virus infectivity, and whether this correlates with results from PCR, the available diagnostic tool. We show strong correlation between viral DNA amount in clinical specimens and virus infectivity toward BSC-1 cell line. Moreover, we define a PCR threshold value (Cq ≥ 35, ≤ 4,300 DNA copies/mL), corresponding to negative viral cultures, which may assist risk-assessment and decision-making regarding protective-measures and guidelines for patients with monkeypox.

Association of viral load with TRAIL, IP-10, CRP biomarker signature and disease severity in children with respiratory tract infection or fever without source: A prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Background: To investigate the association of viral load (VL) with (i) tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma-induced protein-10, C-reactive protein, and a combinatorial score (BV score), and (ii) clinical severity.

Study Design: In this prospective, multicentre cohort substudy, children with respiratory tract infection or fever without source were enrolled. VL for influenza virus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus was measured from nasopharyngeal swabs.

The anxiety caused by abnormal results of Down syndrome screening tests.

The objective of our survey was to evaluate the anxiety experienced by women receiving abnormal results of prenatal Down syndrome screening by an electronic anonymous survey. Anxiety level was evaluated by a six-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Of 559 respondents, high anxiety scores were reported in the majority (86.

Impact of acupuncture and integrative therapies on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A multicentered, randomized controlled trial.

Background: To explore the impact of acupuncture with other complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) modalities on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and quality of life (QoL) in oncology patients.

Methods: In this prospective, pragmatic, and patient-preference study, patients with CIPN were treated with acupuncture and CIM therapies (intervention group) or standard care alone (controls) for 6 weeks. Patients in the intervention arm were randomized to twice-weekly acupuncture-only (group A) or acupuncture with additional manual-movement or mind-body CIM therapies (group B).

Use of the Auto-inflammatory Disease Activity Index to monitor disease activity in patients with colchicine-resistant Familial Mediterranean Fever, Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency, and TRAPS treated with canakinumab.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of the autoinflammatory disease activity index (AIDAI) as a tool to assess disease activity in patients with hereditary recurrent fever syndromes (HRFs) treated with canakinumab.

Methods: Patients with active colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever (crFMF), mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), or tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) were enrolled in the phase III CLUSTER study and asked to complete the AIDAI questionnaire daily. All patients included in the analysis were treated with canakinumab, but regimens and periods of treatment varied per study protocol.

Predictors of persistent overactive bladder following surgery for advanced pelvic organ prolapse.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Reliable risk factors for persistent urgency following pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery are still unclear. We aimed to identify preoperative parameters related to persistent postoperative urgency in a cohort of women following surgery for POP stage 3-4 with concomitant overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, women with POP stage 3-4 and OAB who underwent POP repair during November 2012-December 2020 were included.