Post-ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Platelet Reactivity Is Associated With the Extent of Microvascular Obstruction and Infarct Size as Determined by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background Despite optimized medical management and techniques of primary percutaneous coronary intervention, a substantial proportion of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) display significant microvascular damage. Thrombotic microvascular obstruction (MVO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of microvascular and subsequent myocardial damage attributed to distal embolization and microvascular platelet plugging. However, there are only scarce data regarding the effect of platelet reactivity on MVO.

Long-term trajectories and current BMI are associated with poorer cognitive functioning in middle-aged adults at high Alzheimer's disease risk.

Introduction: We examined relationships of body mass index (BMI) with cognition in middle-aged adults at Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk due to parental family history.

Methods: Participants are offspring of AD patients from the Israel Registry of Alzheimer's Prevention (N = 271). Linear regressions assessed associations of BMI and cognition, and whether associations differed by maternal/paternal history.

Humoral immune response in multiple sclerosis patients following PfizerBNT162b2 COVID19 vaccination: Up to 6 months cross-sectional study.

Appropriate immune response following COVID-19 vaccination is important in the context of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). In a prospective cross-sectional study, we determined SARS-COV-2 IgG response up to 6 months following PfizerBNT162b2 vaccination in 414 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 89 healthy subjects. Protective response was demonstrated in untreated MS patients (N = 76, 100%), treated with Cladribine (N = 48, 100%), Dimethyl fumarate (N = 35, 100%), Natalizumab (N = 32, 100%), and Teriflunomide (N = 39, 100%), similarly to healthy subjects (N = 89, 97.

4-Aminopyridine is a promising treatment option for patients with gain-of-function -encephalopathy.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are devastating disorders characterized by epilepsy, intellectual disability, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms, for which available treatments are largely ineffective. Following a precision medicine approach, we show for -encephalopathy that the K channel blocker 4-aminopyridine can antagonize gain-of-function defects caused by variants in the K1.2 subunit in vitro, by reducing current amplitudes and negative shifts of steady-state activation and increasing the firing rate of transfected neurons.

Ras isoform-specific expression, chromatin accessibility, and signaling.

The anchorage of Ras isoforms in the membrane and their nanocluster formations have been studied extensively, including their detailed interactions, sizes, preferred membrane environments, chemistry, and geometry. However, the staggering challenge of their epigenetics and chromatin accessibility in distinct cell states and types, which we propose is a major factor determining their specific expression, still awaits unraveling. Ras isoforms are distinguished by their C-terminal hypervariable region (HVR) which acts in intracellular transport, regulation, and membrane anchorage.

"One-stop shop" for the evaluation of the infertile patient: hystero-salpingo foam sonography combined with two and three dimensional ultrasound and sonohysterography.

Hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy) is considered an acceptable alternative for hysterosalpingography (HSG). By combining HyFoSy with two and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) ultrasound and hysterosonography, a complete fertility work-up can be done. We aimed to evaluate the value of a combined ultrasound examination for fertility work-up.

The perils of true knot of the umbilical cord: antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum complications and clinical implications.

Background: True knot of the umbilical cord (TKUC) is found in 0.3-2.1% of pregnancies and is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

A unique sonographic presentation of prenatal volvulus associated with malrotation.

This is a unique case of prenatal diagnosis of bowel malrotation suspected by an abnormal course of the duodenum. Early detection of volvulus was enabled, leading to timely intervention and a favorable outcome.

Novel mutation in coagulation factor VII (Carmel mutation): Identification and characterization.

Background: Measurement of factor VII (FVII) activity does not enable prediction of bleeding tendency in individuals with inherited FVII deficiency.

Objective: To characterize the molecular and functional features of FVII in a family with FVII deficiency and correlate them with the bleeding tendency.

Patients/methods: We studied 7 family members with very low FVII activity using prothrombin time (PT), activated factor VII (FVIIa), FVII activity level, and thrombin generation.

SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics and B-cell memory response over time in COVID-19 convalescent subjects.

Objectives: The worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highlights the need for assessment of long-term humoral immunity in convalescent subjects. Our objectives were to evaluate long-term IgG antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and B-cell memory response in COVID-19 convalescent subjects.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from a cohort of subjects recovering from COVID-19 and from healthy subjects who donated blood.

Dorsal penile curvature and megameatus intact prepuce hypospadias: A common association in a rare variant of hypospadias.

Background: Megameatus intact prepuce (MIP) is a rare variant of hypospadias. Unlike the hooded ventrally absent prepuce in non-MIP hypospadias, the prepuce in MIP hypospadias is fully circumferential and intact. The distal urethra remains wide with a deep glanular groove.

Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptorACE2 in human heart is associated with uncontrolled diabetes, obesity, and activation of the renin angiotensin system.

Background: Diabetic and obese patients are at higher risk of severe disease and cardiac injury in corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 is mainly via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is highly expressed in normal hearts. There is a disagreement regarding the effect of factors such as obesity and diabetes on ACE2 expression in the human heart and whether treatment with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors or anti-diabetic medications increases ACE2 expression and subsequently the susceptibility to infection.

Body mass index trajectories among people with obesity and association with mortality: Evidence from a large Israeli database.

Objective: Previous studies using longitudinal weight data to characterize obesity are based on populations of limited size and mostly include individuals of all body mass index (BMI) levels, without focusing on weight changes among people with obesity. This study aimed to identify BMI trajectories over 5 years in a large population with obesity, and to determine the trajectories' association with mortality.

Methods: For inclusion, individuals aged 30-74 years at index date (1 January 2013) with continuous membership in Clalit Health Services from 2008 to 2012 were required to have ≥1 BMI measurement per year in ≥3 calendar years during this period, of which at least one was ≥30 kg/m.

sTREM-1 as a diagnostic biomarker for acute appendicitis in children.

Background: The typical history of acute appendicitis is observed in less than 60% of cases. Therefore, searching for a surrogate marker is mandatory. Our goal was to determine whether the soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1) is an efficient biomarker for acute appendicitis.

Rapid seroconversion and persistent functional IgG antibodies in severe COVID-19 patients correlates with an IL-12p70 and IL-33 signature.

Despite ongoing efforts to characterize the host response toward SARS-CoV-2, a major gap in our knowledge still exists regarding the magnitude and duration of the humoral response. Analysis of the antibody response in mild versus moderate/severe patients, using our new developed quantitative electrochemiluminescent assay for detecting IgM/IgA/IgG antibodies toward SARS-CoV-2 antigens, revealed a rapid onset of IgG/IgA antibodies, specifically in moderate/severe patients. IgM antibodies against the viral receptor binding domain, but not against nucleocapsid protein, were detected at early stages of the disease.

Coronary sinus reducer transfemoral extraction after intraprocedural device migration: A case report.

The coronary sinus reducer migration during implantation procedure is a rare complication with no standard bailout strategy. Transfemoral extraction of the reducer can be a safe and successful method, as demonstrated by this case report.

Diagnosis of patent foramen ovale using maximum intensity T-projection imaging.

Accurate diagnosis of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and grading of right-to-left shunt severity by the standard method of transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with bubble injection is often challenging. We proposed the novel Maximum Intensity T-Projection (MIP) Imaging method as a complementary or alternative approach for simplified diagnosis and grading of PFO. MIP Imaging represents the superimposition of all frames of an echocardiographic video onto one image.

Systolic Blood Pressure and Risk for Ventricular Arrhythmia in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Low systolic blood pressure (SBP) was previously suggested to be a marker for heart failure and mortality in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction. We aimed to explore the association of SBP on risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) and atrial arrhythmias as well as appropriate and inappropriate Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) therapy. The study population comprised 1,481 of 1,500 (99%) patients enrolled in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial - Reduce Inappropriate Therapy trial.

Nursing work environment, professional self-actualization and marketing of the nursing profession: Cross-sectional study.

Aim: To explore associations between nurses' sense of professional self-actualization, nursing work environment and their involvement in promotion and marketing of the nursing profession.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Methods: 144 nurses from various clinical fields completed a promotion and marketing activity questionnaire, selected items from the Brief Index of Self-Actualization and a part of the Revised Nursing Work Index.

Successful pregnancy in a patient with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy due to ACAD9 deficiency.

Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family member 9 (ACAD9) is an enzyme essential for the assembly of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. ACAD9 deficiency can cause lactic acidosis, myopathy, cardiomyopathy, intellectual disability, and early demise. We present a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and epilepsy due to recessive ACAD9 mutations.

Clinical Presentation of Sustained Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Without Cardiac Arrest.

Background "Palpitations" are one of the most common complaints prompting medical attention. Textbooks of medicine and cardiology as well as guideline documents and position papers describe palpitations as a common symptom of ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, data to support this description are lacking.