Intensive Care Admissions and Associated Severity of Influenza B Versus A During Influenza B Vaccine-mismatched Seasons.

Patients admitted to hospital with influenza B and A in Jerusalem, Israel, during the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 influenza seasons demonstrated similar rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and associated disease severity. Most (63%) influenza B ICU patients received influenza B-mismatched trivalent vaccine. These findings call into question the equivalence of trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines in preventing severe influenza B.

Ca2+ Channels in Anterior Pituitary Somatotrophs: A Therapeutic Perspective.

Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) plays a key role in GH secretion. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the physiology and molecular machinery of VGCCs in pituitary somatotrophs. We next discuss the possible involvement of Ca2+ channelopathies in pituitary disease and the potential use of Ca2+ channel blockers to treat pituitary disease.

Incomplete methylation of a germ cell tumor (Seminoma) in a Prader-Willi male.

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisystem genetic disorder characterized by lack of satiety leading to morbid obesity, variable degrees of mental retardation, behavior disorders, short stature, and hypogonadism. The underlying genetic cause for PWS is an imprinting defect resulting from a lack of expression of several paternally inherited genes embedded within the 15q11.2-q13 region.

Diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab following bevacizumab failure in Israel (DERBI study).

Purpose:: To evaluate the outcome of second-line intravitreal ranibizumab treatment in eyes with diabetic macular edema having persistent edema following initial therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab.

Methods:: Diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab following bevacizumab failure in Israel was a retrospective, multi-center study. Consecutive eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema following at least three previous intravitreal bevacizumab injections prior to intravitreal ranibizumab, at least three-monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections and at least 12 months of follow-up were included.

The Artemisinin Derivative Artemisone Is a Potent Inhibitor of Human Cytomegalovirus Replication.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major cause of disease in immunocompromised individuals and the most common cause of congenital infection and neurosensorial disease. The expanding target populations for HCMV antiviral treatment along with the limitations of the currently available HCMV DNA polymerase inhibitors underscore the need for new antiviral agents with alternative modes of action. The antimalarial artemisinin derivative artesunate was shown to inhibit HCMV yet has demonstrated limited antiviral efficacy , prompting our search for more potent anti-HCMV artemisinin derivatives.

Differential cytotoxicity and intracellular calcium-signalling following activation of the calcium-permeable ion channels TRPV1 and TRPA1.

Several members of the transient receptor channel (TRP) family can mediate a calcium-dependent cytotoxicity. In sensory neurons, vanilloids like capsaicin induce neurotoxicity by activating TRPV1. The closely related ion channel TRPA1 is also activated by irritants, but it is unclear if and how TRPA1 mediates cell death.

APOBEC3A Is Upregulated by Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the Maternal-Fetal Interface, Acting as an Innate Anti-HCMV Effector.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of congenital infection and is associated with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disabilities and intrauterine growth restriction. Yet our current understanding of the mechanisms modulating transplacental HCMV transmission is poor. The placenta, given its critical function in protecting the fetus, has evolved effective yet largely uncharacterized innate immune barriers against invading pathogens.

The bacterial Sec system is required for the organization and function of the MreB cytoskeleton.

The Sec system is responsible for protein insertion, translocation and secretion across membranes in all cells. The bacterial actin homolog MreB controls various processes, including cell wall synthesis, membrane organization and polarity establishment. Here we show that the two systems genetically interact and that components of the Sec system, especially the SecA motor protein, are essential for spatiotemporal organization of MreB in E.

The effect of endometrial injury on implantation and clinical pregnancy rates.

Aim: To assess the effect of endometrial scratching (ES) on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer outcome (IVF-ET) Materials and methods: Retrospective matched case control study including all fresh IVF cycles performed between January 2006 and December 2012 at an academic IVF center. ES with an endometrial biopsy catheter was performed in the cycle preceding the index IVF cycle. Patients (n = 238) were pair matched with controls according to age, number of previous failed IVF cycles and number of embryos transferred.

Physical activity and maximal oxygen uptake in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Background: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is the most common genetic syndrome causing life-threatening obesity. Strict adherence to a low-calorie diet and regular physical activity are needed to prevent weight gain. Direct measurement of maximal oxygen uptake (VO max), the "gold standard" for assessing aerobic exercise capacity, has not been previously described in PWS.

Zika Virus Infects Early- and Midgestation Human Maternal Decidual Tissues, Inducing Distinct Innate Tissue Responses in the Maternal-Fetal Interface.

Unlabelled: Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a cause of congenital brain anomalies and a range of placenta-related abnormalities, highlighting the need to unveil the modes of maternal-fetal transmission. The most likely route of vertical ZIKV transmission is via the placenta. The earliest events of ZIKV transmission in the maternal decidua, representing the maternal uterine aspect of the chimeric placenta, have remained unexplored.

HSV1 MicroRNA Modulation of GPI Anchoring and Downstream Immune Evasion.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that utilizes variable mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring pathway is a multistep process in which a myriad of different proteins are covalently attached to a GPI moiety to be presented on the cell surface. Among the different GPI-anchored proteins there are many with immunological importance.

Where are things inside a bacterial cell?

Bacterial cells are intricately organized, despite the lack of membrane-bounded organelles. The extremely crowded cytoplasm promotes macromolecular self-assembly and formation of distinct subcellular structures, which perform specialized functions. For example, the cell poles act as hubs for signal transduction complexes, thus providing a platform for the coordination of optimal cellular responses to environmental cues.

High Normal Uric Acid Levels Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Diabetes in Lean, Normoglycemic Healthy Women.

Context: The risk associated with serum uric acid (SUA) levels within the normal range is unknown, especially among lean and apparently healthy adults.

Objective: Evaluating whether high-normal SUA levels, 6.8 mg/dL and below, are associated with an increased diabetes risk, compared with low-normal SUA.

Anthropometric adjustments are helpful in the interpretation of BMD and BMC Z-scores of pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Unlabelled: Anthropometric adjustments of bone measurements are necessary in Prader-Willi syndrome patients to correctly assess the bone status of these patients. This enables physicians to get a more accurate diagnosis of normal versus abnormal bone, allow for early and effective intervention, and achieve better therapeutic results.

Introduction: Bone mineral density (BMD) is decreased in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).

Quaternary Lidocaine Derivative QX-314 Activates and Permeates Human TRPV1 and TRPA1 to Produce Inhibition of Sodium Channels and Cytotoxicity.

Background: The relatively membrane-impermeable lidocaine derivative QX-314 has been reported to permeate the ion channels transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) to induce a selective inhibition of sensory neurons. This approach is effective in rodents, but it also seems to be associated with neurotoxicity. The authors examined whether the human isoforms of TRPV1 and TRPA1 allow intracellular entry of QX-314 to mediate sodium channel inhibition and cytotoxicity.

Old Challenges and New Perspectives on Developing Military Physicians: The First 4 Years of the New Israeli Model.

Military medicine comprises a set of unique characteristics that differentiate it from other medical specialties. Faced with challenges in recruiting, educating, and training military physicians, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps redefined the paradigm for educating military physicians by establishing the Army Program for Excellence in medicine (APEX). This program created a military medical track at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine in Jerusalem.

Methods for studying RNA localization in bacteria.

The subcellular localization of RNA transcripts provides important insights into biological processes. Hence, understanding the mechanisms underlying RNA targeting is a high priority aim of modern cell biology. The advancements in imaging techniques, such as in situ hybridization and live-cell imaging, coupled with the evolution in optical microscopy led to the discovery that bacterial RNAs, despite the lack of nucleus, are specifically localized.

Age differences in clinical manifestation and prognosis of thyroid eye disease.

Purpose: To examine the clinical differences in manifestation, course, treatment, and prognosis of thyroid eye disease (TED) in patients younger than 40 years of age at diagnosis compared to older patients.

Methods: Medical record review of 131 TED patients was performed. The patients were divided into two age groups, Group 1 ≤ 40 years (23 patients) and Group 2 > 40 years (108 patients).

Irisin and the Metabolic Phenotype of Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Context: Hyperphagia, low resting energy expenditure, and abnormal body composition contribute to severe obesity in Prader Willi syndrome (PWS). Irisin, a circulating myokine, stimulates "browning" of white adipose tissue resulting in increased energy expenditure and improved insulin sensitivity. Irisin has not been previously studied in PWS.

Human cytomegalovirus induces a distinct innate immune response in the maternal-fetal interface.

The initial interplay between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and innate tissue response in the human maternal-fetal interface, though crucial for determining the outcome of congenital HCMV infection, has remained unknown. We studied the innate response to HCMV within the milieu of the human decidua, the maternal aspect of the maternal-fetal interface, maintained ex vivo as an integral tissue. HCMV infection triggered a rapid and robust decidual-tissue innate immune response predominated by interferon (IFN)γ and IP-10 induction, dysregulating the decidual cytokine/chemokine environment in a distinctive fashion.

Infectivity and insertional mutagenesis of endogenous retrovirus in autoimmune NZB and B/W mice.

Murine leukaemia virus has been suggested to contribute to both autoimmune disease and leukaemia in the NZB mouse and in the (NZB × NZW) F1 (abbreviated B/W) mouse. However, with apparently only xenotropic but no ecotropic virus constitutively expressed in these mice, few mechanisms could explain the aetiology of either disease in either mouse strain. Because pseudotyped and/or inducible ecotropic virus may play a role, we surveyed the ability of murine leukaemia virus in NZB, NZW and B/W mice to infect and form a provirus.