The effect of the transition to molecular diagnosis on the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of bacterial gastroenteritis in Northern Israel.

Background: The transition to PCR-based diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis (BGE) can increase the sensitivity but might reduce the clinical specificity. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the effect of the change from culture to PCR-based diagnostics on the reported incidence and positivity rates of BGE due to , and species and (2) to compare the demographics, medical background, clinical characteristics and pre-analytic variables between cases with PCR-positive, culture-negative samples to cases with PCR-positive, culture-positive samples.

Methods: The study was performed at the Emek Medical Centre that serves a population of 0.

Statins markedly potentiate aminopeptidase inhibitor activity against (drug-resistant) human acute myeloid leukemia cells.

This study aimed to decipher the molecular mechanism underlying the synergistic effect of inhibitors of the mevalonate-cholesterol pathway (i.e., statins) and aminopeptidase inhibitors (APis) on APi-sensitive and -resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.

Inflammatory Molecular Endotypes in Bronchiectasis: A European Multicenter Cohort Study.

Although inflammation and infection are key disease drivers in bronchiectasis, few studies have integrated host inflammatory and microbiome data to guide precision medicine. To identify clusters among patients with bronchiectasis on the basis of inflammatory markers and to assess the association between inflammatory endotypes, microbiome characteristics, and exacerbation risk. Patients with stable bronchiectasis were enrolled at three European centers, and cluster analysis was used to stratify the patients according to the levels of 33 sputum and serum inflammatory markers.

Treatment of Facial Asymmetry Using Distraction Osteogenesis in a Mandible First Approach.

Background: Facial asymmetry includes several etiologies, among them trauma to the condylar area during early childhood and congenital malformations such as hemifacial microsomia. This article describes the management of facial asymmetry in adolescents and young adults using a mandible first approach by distraction osteogenesis, followed by maxillary Le-Fort I as a second stage.

Methods: Eighteen patients 14-25 years of age presented with unilateral hypoplasia of the jaws which manifested clinically by deviation of the chin and canting of the occlusal plane.

Effect of the Mechanical Properties of Soft Counter-Faces on the Adhesive Capacity of Mushroom-Shaped Biomimetic Microstructures.

The effects of mechanical properties and contact environment conditions on the adhesiveness of the biomimetic adhesive mushroom-shaped micro-structure have been experimentally investigated. The idea is based on the adhesive micro-structures and surfaces inspired by nature after observing the abilities of some animals. Applications are proposed in various fields of engineering and technology.

Analytical study of the Lorenz system: Existence of infinitely many periodic orbits and their topological characterization.

We consider the Lorenz equations, a system of three-dimensional ordinary differential equations modeling atmospheric convection. These equations are chaotic and hard to study even numerically, and so a simpler "geometric model" has been introduced in the seventies. One of the classical problems in dynamical systems is to relate the original equations to the geometric model.

Prognostic implications of ultra-short heart rate variability indices in hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease that poses a serious health risk. It is important to identify high-risk patients early in the course of their treatment. In the current study, we evaluated the prognostic value of ultra-short heart-rate variability (HRV), an index of vagal nerve activity, in IE.

Standards of care for CFTR variant-specific therapy (including modulators) for people with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has entered the era of variant-specific therapy, tailored to the genetic variants in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. CFTR modulators, the first variant-specific therapy available, have transformed the management of CF. The latest standards of care from the European CF Society (2018) did not include guidance on variant-specific therapy, as CFTR modulators were becoming established as a novel therapy.

The effect of changing respiratory rate settings on CO levels during nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in premature infants.

Objective: To examine the change in CO, when applying NIPPV with either a low or a high rate in stable premature infants.

Study Design: Prospective, controlled, crossover study. Preterm infants on NIPPV were monitored by tcCO during two rate changes switching every hour between high (30 bpm) and low (10 bpm) set rates.

Comparative Phenotypic, Genomic, and Transcriptomic Analyses of Two Contrasting Strains of the Plant Beneficial Fungus .

Trichoderma virens is a beneficial fungus that helps plants fight pathogens and abiotic stresses and thereby enhances crop yields. Unlike other spp., there are two well-defined strains (P and Q) of T.

Implementing electronic patient reported outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease: patient participation, score reliability and validity.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended for assessing patient-centered outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main aims were to assess the level of participation in an electronic PROM (ePROM) data collection system among patients with IBD, and evaluate reliability and validity of the resulting scores.

Methods: Patients included in the IBD registry of Maccabi Healthcare Services, a state-mandated healthcare provider for over 2.

Ultra Short Heart Rate Variability Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Patients with a Clinical Presentation Consistent with Myocarditis: A Derivation Cohort Analysis.

Myocarditis prognosis varies substantially, hence identification of novel prognostic factors is crucial. The prognostic role of ultra-short heart-rate variability (HRV) in myocarditis remains unknown. In a retrospective study, adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital due to clinically suspected myocarditis were included.

Less is better than more with resection of periacetabular tumors - A retrospective 16 years study and literature review.

Introduction: Wide resections of periacetabular tumors create a sizeable bony defect that inevitably results in severe loss of function. Reconstruction of such defects usually requires using large metal implants, a feature associated with considerable surgery extension and complications. The aim of this study is to report resection with no reconstruction of the bony defect.

Association between COVID-19 Burden, Population Vaccination Status, and Urologic Oncology Surgery Volume: A National Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Initial deleterious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on urologic oncology surgeries are well described, but the possible influence of vaccination efforts and those of pandemic conditions on surgical volumes is unclear. Our aim was to examine the association between changing vaccination status and COVID-19 burden throughout the pandemic and the volume of urologic oncology surgeries in Israel. This multi-center cross-sectional study included data collected from five tertiary centers between January 2019 and December 2021.

Malaria parasites utilize two essential plasma membrane fusogens for gamete fertilization.

Cell fusion of female and male gametes is the climax of sexual reproduction. In many organisms, the Hapless 2 (HAP2) family of proteins play a critical role in gamete fusion. We find that Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of human malaria, expresses two HAP2 proteins: PfHAP2 and PfHAP2p.

Large waves and navigation hazards of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

We present a statistical analysis of deep-water buoy measurements of large waves generated during two major storms of the Eastern Mediterranean in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The largest waves observed do display similar characteristics to those of the Draupner, Andrea, and El Faro rogue waves in that second order bound nonlinearities enhance the linear dispersive focusing of extreme waves. We also present a novel analysis of waves in space-time to predict potential risks posed by such large waves to navigation.

Limited climate change mitigation potential through forestation of the vast dryland regions.

Forestation of the vast global drylands has been considered a promising climate change mitigation strategy. However, its actual climatic benefits are uncertain because the forests' reduced albedo can produce large warming effects. Using high-resolution spatial analysis of global drylands, we found 448 million hectares suitable for afforestation.

Long-term outcomes of elderly patients with peritoneal metastases of colorectal origin after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Introduction: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) were reportedly safe for the elderly. However, long-term survival data in this subgroup of patients are scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the peri-operative and long-term outcomes of CRS + HIPEC in colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRC-PM) in patients ≥70 years of age.

Prevalence, trends and outcomes of long-term inhaled antibiotic treatment in people with cystic fibrosis without chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection - A European cystic fibrosis patient registry data analysis.

Background: Long-term treatment with inhaled antibiotics is recommended for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). However, pwCF without chronic PA infection are also commonly treated with inhaled antibiotics. Using data from the European Cystic Fibrosis Patient Registry (ECFSPR) we aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with inhaled antibiotic treatment in pwCF without chronic PA infection, and long-term outcomes with inhaled antibiotics use.