Pulmonary hypertension associated with lung diseases.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic lung disease (CLD) is both common and underrecognised. The presence of PH in the setting of lung disease has been consistently shown to be associated with worse outcomes. Recent epidemiological studies have advanced understanding of the heterogeneity of this patient population and shown that defining both the specific type of CLD as well as the severity of PH ( deeper phenotyping) is necessary to inform natural history and prognosis.

Reversed halo sign as a radiological feature of tuberculosis - Report of two cases.

Reversed halo sign (RHS) is a radiological feature described as a focal, rounded area of ground-glass opacity surrounded by a ring of consolidation. In this report we describe two unique radiological cases demonstrating diffuse bilateral infiltrates with multiple RHSs in chest CT scans. Both patients were ultimately diagnosed as having tuberculosis (TB) and had been exposed to silica in the past.

A rapid host-protein test for differentiating bacterial from viral infection: Apollo diagnostic accuracy study.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid host-protein test for differentiating bacterial from viral infections in patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) or urgent care center (UCC).

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter, blinded study. MeMed BV (MMBV), a test based on tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), and C-reactive protein (CRP), was measured using a rapid measurement platform.

Suboptimal reliability of FIB-4 and NAFLD-fibrosis scores for staging of liver fibrosis in general population.

Background And Aim: The burden and incidence of liver cirrhosis are increasing worldwide. Early detection of liver fibrosis would help in early interventions and preventing the progression of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The accepted noninvasive markers for liver fibrosis staging, namely fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), have shown inconsistent performance for detecting the fibrosis stage.

SNG100, a novel topical treatment for moderate atopic dermatitis, in patients aged 6 years or older: A randomised, double-blind, active-controlled trial.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases. It is associated with significant itch and impaired quality of life. Systemic treatments are efficient but associated with side effects.

Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes at Term in Women With Gestational Diabetes and the Risk of Neonatal Hypoglycemia.

Objectives: The management for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) arriving at the delivery ward with pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM) has not been elucidated. We tested the hypothesis that prolonged PROM in women with GDM would result in higher rates of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled women with diet or insulin-controlled GDM who presented with spontaneous clear PROM.

European Society of Cardiology quality indicators for the care and outcomes of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Aims: To develop a suite of quality indicators (QIs) for the evaluation of the care and outcomes for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods And Results: We followed the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) methodology for the development of QIs. This included (i) the identification of key domains of care for the management of PAH, (ii) the proposal of candidate QIs following systematic review of the literature, and (iii) the selection of a set of QIs using a modified Delphi method.

Continuous versus disrupted subcutaneous tissue closure in cesarean section: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To compare rates of surgical-site infections following continuous, as compared with interrupted, subcutaneous tissue closure technique during cesarean delivery (CD).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study during 2008-2018. The study group included women who underwent either elective or emergent CD with continuous subcutaneous tissue closure, while the control group comprised those with interrupted subcutaneous tissue closure.

Vaginal fluid index - The fifth amniotic pocket.

Objective: The forebag is a pocket of amniotic fluid preceding the fetal presenting part. Herein we describe the feasibility of transvaginal measurements of the forebag and assess its correlation with the standard amniotic fluid index (AFI).

Methods: A prospective study was carried out between January 2019 and July 2020.

Inhaled corticosteroids and COVID-19 outcomes in asthma: the Israeli experience.

https://bit.ly/3rOYIL2.

Asthma and COVID-19: an update.

As the world faces the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, concerns have been raised that asthma patients could be at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity. However, it appears that asthma is not an independent risk factor for both. Furthermore, asthma is not over-represented in hospitalised patients with severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and there was no increased risk of asthma exacerbations triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 risk and outcomes in adult asthmatic patients treated with biologics or systemic corticosteroids: Nationwide real-world evidence.

Background: Managing severe asthma during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is challenging, particularly due to safety concerns regarding the use of systemic corticosteroids and biologics.

Objectives: We sought to determine the association between biologics or systemic corticosteroids use and PCR positivity for SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes among asthmatic patients.

Methods: We used the computerized database of Clalit Health Services, the largest health care provider in Israel, to identify all asthmatic adult patients who underwent PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2, between March 1, 2020, and December 7, 2020.