Safety and Outcomes of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Patients with hematologic malignancy (HM) often experience high rates of thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopathy, anemia, leukopenia, and coagulopathy, which can significantly increase the risk of procedural and postoperative complications. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in critically ill patients with HM. : This retrospective cohort study included patients with HM who underwent PDT between 2012 and 2023 at a tertiary academic center.

Dialysis Patients' Evaluation of Lung Edema at Home Using a Mobile Phone Tele-Ultrasound Application: A Pilot Study.

: Home rehabilitation improves patient satisfaction and reduces the need for specialist consultations. Hemodialysis is a costly post-ICU service that requires frequent monitoring. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of patients self-scanning their lungs with an ultrasound device within the hospital.

Assessing the Impact of the Prone Position on Acute Kidney Injury.

: Prone positioning is a standard intervention in managing patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and is known to improve oxygenation. However, its effects on other organs, particularly the kidneys, are less well understood. This study aimed to assess the association between prone positioning and the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), specifically in overweight and obese patients.

The Role of Anterior Vaginal Prolapse in Co-Existent Underactive Overactive Bladder Syndrome-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

CUOB (co-existent underactive overactive bladder) syndrome is a clinical entity that embraces storage and emptying symptoms, not strictly correlated with urodynamic findings. We assessed the differences between patients diagnosed with CUOB with/without cystocele. The study group was allocated from 2000 women who underwent urodynamic studies between 2008 and 2016.

Strategies for Early Keratoconus Diagnosis: A Narrative Review of Evaluating Affordable and Effective Detection Techniques.

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal disorder that can lead to irreversible visual impairment if not detected early. Despite its high prevalence, early diagnosis is often delayed, especially in low-to-middle-income countries due to limited awareness and restricted access to advanced diagnostic tools such as corneal topography, tomography, optical coherence tomography, and corneal biomechanical assessments. These technologies are essential for identifying early-stage keratoconus, yet their high cost limits accessibility in resource-limited settings.

Outcomes of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Long-Term Retrospective Analysis.

: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a well-established treatment for severe obesity, yet its effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are not well understood. MBS in this population presents unique challenges, including the potential for exacerbating inflammatory disease activity and causing complications such as malnutrition and medication malabsorption. This study aims to assess the long-term outcomes of MBS in IBD patients, focusing on both metabolic outcomes and its impact on the course of IBD.

Neuroinflammation: A Driving Force in the Onset and Progression of Alzheimer's Disease.

: The goal of this commentary is to highlight several key components of the inflammatory process as it relates to amyloid toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the role of neuroinflammatory factors and peripheral inflammatory events. : Google Scholar and PubMed were used to find articles with the following keywords: Alzheimer's disease, amyloids, neuroinflammation, peripheral inflammation, microglia, cytokines, and treatments. Sources that were case reports, not peer-reviewed, or older than 30 years were excluded.

Navigating the Collective: Nanoparticle-Assisted Identification of Leader Cancer Cells During Migration.

Cancer-related deaths primarily occur due to metastasis, a process involving the migration and invasion of cancer cells. In most solid tumors, metastasis occurs through collective cell migration (CCM), guided by "cellular leaders". These leader cells generate forces through actomyosin-mediated protrusion and contractility.

Fatty Acid Content and Profile in in Response to Exposure to Variable Growth Conditions in Indoor Photobioreactors.

Seaweed presents a sustainable alternative source of valuable fatty acids (FAs) involving omega-3 (-3) and omega-6 (). As such, there is great potential to reduce pressure on wild fish populations, helping to combat overfishing and its associated global impacts. This study explored the effect of various environmental factors on the FA content and profile of using indoor photobioreactors.

The Role of microRNA-22 in Metabolism.

microRNA-22 (miR-22) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of metabolic processes and has emerged as a therapeutic target in metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic-associated liver diseases. While miR-22 exhibits context-dependent effects, promoting or inhibiting metabolic pathways depending on tissue and condition, current research highlights its therapeutic potential, particularly through inhibition strategies using chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides. This review examines the dual regulatory functions of miR-22 across key metabolic pathways, offering perspectives on its integration into next-generation diagnostic and therapeutic approaches while acknowledging the complexities of its roles in metabolic homeostasis.

The Involvement of Glutamate-mGluR5 Signaling in the Development of Vulvar Hypersensitivity.

Provoked vulvodynia (PV) is the leading cause of vulvar pain and dyspareunia. The etiology of PV is multifactorial and remains poorly understood. PV is associated with a history of repeated vulvar inflammation and is often accompanied by sensory neuromodulation as a result of activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the sensory nerve terminals.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Hemostatic System Activation in Relation to Shift Workers, Social Jetlag, and Chronotype in Female Nurses.

Circadian misalignment, due to shiftwork and/or individual chronotype and/or social jetlag (SJL), quantified as the difference between internal and social timing, may contribute to cardiovascular disease. Markers of endothelial dysfunction and activation of the coagulation system may predict cardiovascular pathology. The present study aim was to investigate the effects of shift work, SJL, and chronotype on endothelial function and coagulation parameters.

Relative Distribution of DnaA and DNA in Cells as a Factor of Their Phenotypic Variability.

Phenotypic variability in isogenic bacterial populations is a remarkable feature that helps them cope with external stresses, yet it is incompletely understood. This variability can stem from gene expression noise and/or the unequal partitioning of low-copy-number freely diffusing proteins during cell division. Some high-copy-number components are transiently associated with almost immobile large assemblies (hyperstructures) and may be unequally distributed, contributing to bacterial phenotypic variability.

Role of miR-181 Family Members in Stroke: Insights into Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, making early diagnosis and effective treatment crucial for reducing its impact. In response to the limited efficacy of current treatments, alternative therapeutic strategies, such as novel biomarkers and therapies, are emerging to address this critical unmet medical need. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.

Mortality in Antinuclear Antibody-Positive Patients with and Without Rheumatologic Immune-Related Disorders: A Large-Scale Population-Based Study.

: To explore the potential association between positive ANA serology and all-cause mortality in a large cohort of patients, including those with and without rheumatological conditions and other immune-related diseases. : A retrospective cohort study analyzed all-cause mortality among 205,862 patients from Clalit Health Services (CHS), Israel's largest health maintenance organization (HMO). We compared patients aged 18 and older with positive ANA serology (n = 102,931) to an equal number of ANA-negative controls (n = 102,931).

The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Endothelial Dysfunction.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents several diseases encompassing a heterogeneous group of biochemical and physiological abnormalities characterized by structural and functional alterations in the myocardium, including the endothelium of the coronary arteries. MS also affects a substantial portion of the global population. Understanding the risk factors, the development and treatment associated with MS are of paramount importance for early identification, treatment and prevention.

Predictive Factors Associated with Inappropriate Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitors Use in Hospitalized Patients: A Case-Control Study.

: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective agents for treating acid-related gastrointestinal disorders. The prescription of an intravenous (IV) formulation of PPIs has increased dramatically. The aims of this study were to assess the appropriateness of IV PPI use and to define the risk factors and outcomes associated with its inappropriate use.

Missing Regulation Between Genetic Association and Transcriptional Abundance for Hypercholesterolemia Genes.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it plays a causal role in the development of atherosclerosis. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have successfully identified hundreds of genetic variants associated with LDL-C. Most of these risk loci fall in non-coding regions of the genome, and it is unclear how these non-coding variants affect circulating lipid levels.

Exploring the Gating Mechanism of the Human Copper Transporter, hCtr1, Using EPR Spectroscopy.

Ctr1 is a membrane-spanning homotrimer that facilitates copper uptake in eukaryotic cells with high affinity. While structural details of the transmembrane domain of human Ctr1 have been elucidated using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, the transfer mechanisms of copper and the conformational changes that control the gating mechanism remain poorly understood. The role of the extracellular N-terminal domains is particularly unclear due to the absence of a high-resolution structure of the full-length hCtr1 protein and limited biochemical and biophysical characterization of the transporter in solution and in cell.

VDAC1: A Key Player in the Mitochondrial Landscape of Neurodegeneration.

Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 (VDAC1) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein that plays a crucial role in regulating cellular energy metabolism and apoptosis by mediating the exchange of ions and metabolites between mitochondria and the cytosol. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are central features of neurodegenerative diseases. The pivotal functions of VDAC1 in controlling mitochondrial membrane permeability, regulating calcium balance, and facilitating programmed cell death pathways, position it as a key determinant in the delicate balance between neuronal viability and degeneration.

The Impact of Radiotherapy on the Primary Tumor in Patients with Metastatic High-Volume Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Retrospective studies suggest that local radiotherapy on the prostate improves overall survival in the metastatic setting, but its benefit in patients with high-burden metastatic disease is still uncertain. We conducted a retrospective study of 100 high-metastatic-burden prostate cancer patients at Hadassah Ein Karem Medical Center from 2004 to 2021. Patients receiving local RT alongside standard treatment were compared to those receiving standard treatment alone.

Predictive Factors for the Discontinuation of Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy: Enhancing Patient Selection to Improve Oncological Outcomes-A Single-Center Experience.

: Since 2011, Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) has emerged as a promising treatment option for patients with peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) who are not eligible for cytoreductive surgery (CRS). Repeated minimal-invasive treatment is one of the key features and the current empirical standard treatment (ST) consists of at least three administrations over about three months. However, many patients are unable to complete the full course, limiting the potential benefits of PIPAC.

A Retrospective, Single-Center Study Comparing Neoadjuvant ACTHP vs. DCbHP in HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is the preferred treatment approach for stage II-III HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). Real-life data comparing regimens with or without anthracyclines combined with two HER2 drugs is lacking. We compared the efficacy and toxicity of two commonly used regimens.

Kinetics and Kinematics of Shape Tracing in Children with Probable Developmental Coordination Disorder (pDCD).

Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) exhibit visual-motor deficits affecting handwriting. Shape tracing, a key prerequisite for handwriting, supports motor and cognitive development but remains underexplored in research, particularly in objectively studying its role in children with DCD.

Objectives: To compare the kinetics (pressure applied to the writing surface) and kinematics (spatial and temporal aspects) of shape tracing in children with pDCD to those of typically developing (TD) peers utilizing a digitized tablet.

Child Maltreatment and Medical Traumatic Stress-A Double-Edged Sword.

Background/objectives: Medical procedures can be a traumatic event for both children and their parents. Children who have experienced maltreatment or early traumatic experiences are at a higher risk for various emotional, behavioral, and health issues, including declining mental health. This may include experiencing heightened distress following medical procedures.