Fluoroquinolones and the risk for incidental seizures: a comparative retrospective study.

Background: Over the years, reports have associated fluoroquinolones (FQ) with seizures. The incidence and whether FQ compared to non-epileptogenic antibiotic are associated with increased risk of seizures has yet to be examined.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of hospitalized patients treated with FQ (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin) or macrolides (MA: azithromycin or roxithromycin) between January 2009 and January 2021 in a large tertiary academic medical centre.

Proximal femoral multiple myeloma pathological fractures, impending and actual fractures - a patient survival study.

Introduction: The femur is a common site for Multiple Myeloma (MM) involvement. This study explores the impact of preventive surgery for anticipated femoral pathological fractures (IFF), based on Mirels classification, versus treatment of pathological femur fracture (PFF) on MM patient mortality and morbidity.

Methods: Retrospective cohort of 33 patients undergoing surgery due to femoral MM involvement (2004-2015), 18 patients with PFF, 15 patients with IFF, followed up until deceased or to July 2016.

Identifying patients at risk for depression after radical cystectomy.

Introduction: We aimed to assess rates of depression in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy and identify its predictors.

Methods: Depressive symptoms in 42 consecutive patients were evaluated using the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) on the day prior to surgery, postoperative day (POD) 6, six weeks after surgery, and 12-18 months postoperatively.

Results: Fifteen patients (36%) presented with BDI scores ≥10 before the operation; this rate increased to 64% on POD 6 and 69% at six weeks post-surgery.

The value of protein allostery in rational anticancer drug design: an update.

Introduction: Allosteric drugs are advantageous. However, they still face hurdles, including identification of allosteric sites that will effectively alter the active site. Current strategies largely focus on identifying pockets away from the active sites into which the allosteric ligand will dock and do not account for exactly how the active site is altered.

An algorithm for the surgical approach to spontaneous temporal bone CSF leak.

Objective: To suggest a comprehensive algorithm for the surgical approach for correcting of sources of temporal bone CSF leaks.

Methods: A case series for patients operated in a single academic tertiary referral center between 2011 and 4.2022.

Outcomes in Pregnancies Complicated with Preterm Hypertensive Disorders with and without Late Antenatal Corticosteroids.

Objective:  This study aimed to determine whether administration of a late preterm (34-36 weeks) course of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) is associated with improved short-term neonatal outcomes among pregnancies complicated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) who delivered in the late preterm period.

Study Design:  A single tertiary center retrospective cohort study, including pregnant individuals with singleton fetuses who delivered between 34.0 and 36.

Exploring pathological link between antimicrobial and amyloid peptides.

Amyloid peptides (AMYs) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as the two distinct families of peptides, characterized by their unique sequences, structures, biological functions, and specific pathological targets. However, accumulating evidence has revealed intriguing pathological connections between these peptide families in the context of microbial infection and neurodegenerative diseases. Some AMYs and AMPs share certain structural and functional characteristics, including the ability to self-assemble, the presence of β-sheet-rich structures, and membrane-disrupting mechanisms.

A nationwide neurosurgical inter-disciplinary service for cancer-related refractory pain.

Purpose: Neurosurgical ablative procedures, such as cordotomy and cingulotomy, are often considered irreversible and destructive but can provide an effective and individualized solution for cancer-related refractory pain, when all other approaches have been unsuccessful. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of a novel approach to managing refractory cancer pain. It involves an interdisciplinary team led by a neurosurgeon at a renowned national referral center.

Assessing the state of obesity care: Quality, access, guidelines, and standards.

Background: An international panel of obesity medicine experts from multiple professional organizations examined patterns of obesity care and current obesity treatment guidelines to identify areas requiring updating in response to emerging science and clinical evidence.

Aims: The panel focused on multiple medical health and societal issues influencing effective treatment of obesity and identified several unmet needs in the definition, assessment, and care of obesity.

Methods: The panel was held in Leesburg, Virginia in September 2019.

Review: Cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders: multi-scale reasoning and computational guide.

The connection and causality between cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders have been puzzling. How can the same cellular pathways, proteins, and mutations lead to pathologies with vastly different clinical presentations? And why do individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, face higher chances of cancer emerging throughout their lifetime? Our broad review emphasizes the multi-scale aspect of this type of reasoning. As these examples demonstrate, rather than focusing on a specific organ system or disease, we aim at the new understanding that can be gained.

Insights into Central Congenital Hypothyroidism: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

Context: Central congenital hypothyroidism (CCH) is a thyroid hormone deficiency at birth caused by inadequate pituitary stimulation of the thyroid gland. Although primary CH has been studied extensively, studies on CCH are sparse.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of CCH in Israel and describe its clinical features, neonatal screening results, and outcomes.

Applications to augment patient care for Internal Medicine specialists: a position paper from the EFIM working group on telemedicine, innovative technologies & digital health.

Telemedicine applications present virtually limitless prospects for innovating and enhancing established and new models of patient care in the field of Internal Medicine. Although there is a wide range of innovative technological solutions in Europe, there are overarching elements associated with such technologies when applied to the practices of Internal Medicine specialists. The European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM) strongly advocates for active leadership and influence from the Internal Medicine societies and specialist physicians across Europe in the development and application of telemedicine and digital technologies in healthcare.

Physical restraint and associated agitation.

Background: Physical restraint of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) has an estimated prevalence of 50%. Many medical centres do not have specific protocols for physical restraint, and the decision of whether to physically restrain a patient is up to the nursing staff. Disadvantages of physical restraint include injuries, exacerbation of agitation and an increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Factors affecting decisions of an HMO Drug Exemptions Committee on individual patient requests for coverage of non-formulary drugs.

Background: In Israel, coverage of health needs is delivered by four health maintenance organizations (HMOs), which are budgeted by the government according to the recommendations of the National Drug Formulary (NDF) Committee. For medications not listed in the NDF, individuals may request to cover the costs by the HMO Exemptions Committee (DEC). The objectives of the current study, a first of its kind, are to document the DEC decision process, to identify its components and to determine the decisions' clinical outcome.

Patterns of recurrence in patients with CRSwNP who underwent complete FESS.

Purpose: To analyze recurrence patterns of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in patients who underwent complete FESS and identify predisposing factors for different patterns of recurrence.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with CRSwNP who underwent complete FESS at our tertiary medical center. Recurrence patterns were classified into edema, polyp and normal endoscopy, as well as into early (within 6 months) and late recurrence.

The Fate of Mitral Valve Surgery in the Pediatric Age: A 25-Year Single-Center Experience.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural history of patients after mitral valve intervention in the pediatric age. This is a retrospective study including all patients who underwent mitral valve surgery from 1998 to 2022. The patients' surgical reports, postoperative records, and ambulatory visits were reviewed.

Single cell spatial biology over developmental time can decipher pediatric brain pathologies.

Pediatric low grade brain tumors and neurodevelopmental disorders share proteins, signaling pathways, and networks. They also share germline mutations and an impaired prenatal differentiation origin. They may differ in the timing of the events and proliferation.

Bowel Perforation During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Diagnosis, Management, and Follow-up.

Unlabelled: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the procedure of choice for large kidney stones, but serious complications such as bowel perforation may occur. We discuss the diagnosis and management of colonic and small-bowel perforations due to PCNL and suggest principles for care and prevention. We emphasize the significance of imaging tools to direct percutaneous access, the importance of early diagnosis, and the relatively high success rate for conservative management.

Does the gestational age at which the glucose challenge test (GCT) is conducted influence the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)?

Purpose: This study's objective is to investigate disparities in the rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis, influenced by the timing of the glucose challenge test GCT.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included women with singleton or twin pregnancies exhibiting abnormal GCT result between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, followed by an oral glucose tolerance test OGTT during the same period. Data regarding pregnancy follow-up from patients' deliveries at a singular tertiary medical from 2014 to 2022 were retrieved.

The effect of tranexamic acid on blood transfusion in lower gastrointestinal bleeding-A double blind prospective randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a common emergency. Tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces clot breakdown by inhibiting the action of plasmin and has been shown to reduce the need for blood transfusion in trauma, surgical procedures, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This study examined the efficiency of intravenous TXA in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Mitogen signaling strength and duration can control cell cycle decisions.

Decades ago, mitogen-promoted signaling duration and strength were observed to be sensed by the cell and to be critical for its decisions: to proliferate or differentiate. Landmark publications established the importance of mitogen signaling not only in the G cell cycle phase but also through the S and the G/M transition. Despite these early milestones, how mitogen signal duration and strength, short and strong or weaker and sustained, control cell fate has been largely unheeded.