Simultaneous and synchronous bilateral endoscopic treatment of urolithiasis: a multicentric study.

Introduction: The general prevalence of bilateral urolithiasis has risen to 15% and bilateral non-simultaneous treatment has been reported to have good outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery (SBES).

Material And Methods: An international multicenter analysis was performed between May 2015 and December 2017.

Assessing the effectiveness of empiric antimicrobial regimens in cases of septic/infected abortions.

Introduction: Infected abortion is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate surgical and medical interventions. We aimed to assess the common pathogens associated with infected abortion and to test the microbial coverage of various empiric antimicrobial regimens based on the bacteriological susceptibility results in women with infected abortions.

Methods: A retrospective study in a single university-affiliated tertiary hospital.

MRI lesions in the sacroiliac joints of patients with spondyloarthritis: an update of definitions and validation by the ASAS MRI working group.

Objectives: The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) MRI working group (WG) was convened to generate a consensus update on standardised definitions for MRI lesions in the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), and to conduct preliminary validation.

Methods: The literature pertaining to these MRI lesion definitions was discussed at three meetings of the group. 25 investigators (20 rheumatologists, 5 radiologists) determined which definitions should be retained or required revision, and which required a new definition.

A modified tarsorrhaphy in patients with facial nerve palsy.

Purpose: We report our experience with a modified tarsorrhaphy (MT) technique in patients with facial nerve palsy (FNP).

Methods: This study involved a retrospective chart review of patients with FNP undergoing MT over a 10-year period in one Medical Center. Patient demographics, presence of lagophthalmos, occurrence of eyelid malpositions, recurrent retraction, and repeat procedures were noted from medical records.

Fertility outcomes in patients with tubo-ovarian abscesses after an oocyte retrieval: a longitudinal cohort analysis.

Purpose: To determine the impact of pelvic inflammation caused by tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) on ovarian response to stimulation.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis that was carried out in a tertiary university-affiliated medical center included 15 women with TOA during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The ovarian response to stimulation and the pregnancy rate were compared in two subsequent cycles, the initial IVF cycle that was complicated by TOA after oocyte retrieval (first treatment cycle) and the following IVF treatment (second treatment cycle) that occurred within a period of a year from the first cycle.

Hospital-onset adult invasive pneumococcal disease in Israel: Sicker patients, different pathogens.

Objectives: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) usually has its onset in the community (CO-IPD), but it can commence following hospitalization (HO-IPD). This study compared HO-IPD and CO-IPD cases during the implementation of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) program for children in Israel.

Methods: This was a nationwide retrospective cohort study of adult (age >18 years) IPD patients covering the period from the implementation of the PCV7/13 program in 2009/2010 through 2015.

Acute supraglottic laryngitis complicated by vocal fold immobility: prognosis and management.

Purpose: Acute supraglottic laryngitis (ASL) is manifested by supraglottic inflammation that has the potential for rapid and fatal airway obstruction. Complete/incomplete vocal fold immobility (VFIm) in the setting of ASL may contribute to airway obstruction. The rate of VFIm complicating ASL is not known, and it is not clear whether its occurrence alters the course and the management of ASL, particularly the need to secure the airway (by endotracheal intubation/tracheostomy).

The association of reduced global longitudinal strain with cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction among patients receiving cancer therapy.

Background: Cardiotoxicity is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients receiving cancer therapy. The most commonly used definition is cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) defined by a left ventricular ejection fraction reduction. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) has been implied to be superior in detecting early subclinical dysfunction.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Outcomes After Aortic Valve Repair Surgery.

Objective: To assess early and late clinical outcomes in patients who underwent aortic valve repair surgery for aortic valve insufficiency, and to investigate predictors for recurrence.

Methods: Of 151 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve repair surgery for varying degrees of aortic insufficiency (AI) in our department between 2004 and 2018, 60 (40%) underwent aortic root replacement, 71 (47%) aortic cusp plication, 31 (20%) subcommissural annuloplasty, 29 (19%) circular annuloplasty, and 28 (18%) autologous pericardial patch augmentation.

Results: One patient died in the hospital (0.

Permethrin Cream for the Treatment of Demodex Blepharitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of permethrin 5% cream for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.

Methods: Patients with confirmed Demodex blepharitis were prospectively recruited and treated with permethrin 5% cream for 6 months. Blepharitis symptoms, ocular examination findings, ocular surface disease index, and ex vivo eyelash Demodex counts were regularly assessed.

Aortic Regurgitation.

Purpose Of Review: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a common form of valvular disease which is characterized by reflux of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle (LV) during diastole. AR results from various etiologies, affecting the aortic valve cusps or the aortic root. The clinical presentation of patients with AR depends on the severity of the regurgitation and differs whether AR develops acutely or if it progresses over a prolonged period, allowing the cardiac chambers to adapt.

Very late-onset flap margin corneal ulcer following laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To report and characterize cases of very late onset (5 years or more after surgery) flap margin corneal ulcers after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure.

Methods: A retrospective case series of consecutive patients who were diagnosed with very late flap margin corneal ulcers following LASIK, between January 2014 and July 2017. All patients were treated with topical antibiotics and were followed up until complete resolution.

Overuse and Underuse of Visual Field Testing Over 15 Years.

Unlabelled: PRéCIS:: A 15-year analysis of 198,843 visual field (VF) tests revealed a growing trend for their performance for nonglaucoma indications. Adherence to glaucoma management guidelines was suboptimal. Guidelines for referral to VF assessments should be established.

Whole-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging Inflammation in Peripheral Joints and Entheses in Axial Spondyloarthritis: Distribution and Changes during Adalimumab Treatment.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) inflammatory lesions of peripheral joints and entheses, and their response to adalimumab (ADA) treatment and agreement with clinical measures of disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Explorative analysis of an investigator-initiated randomized controlled trial of ADA. WB-MRI was performed at weeks 0, 6, 24, and 48.

Long-term health-related quality of life after mandibular resection and reconstruction.

Purpose: To compare short- and long-term quality of life (QOL) scores in patients undergoing mandibular resection and reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: All the patients who underwent resection and reconstruction of the mandible between 2000 and 2015 at a large tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed. Their QOL was measured by the University of Washington QOL questionnaire.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus increases long-term mortality risk after isolated surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) adversely affects morbidity and mortality for major atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases and is associated with increased risk for the development of aortic stenosis. Clinical data regarding the impact of DM on outcomes of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) have revealed inconsistent results. The aim of the current study was to investigate and compare the impact of type 2 DM on short-, intermediate- and long-term mortality between DM and non-DM patients who undergo isolated AVR.

Preoperative Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Defect.

The mortality rate after the development of ventricular septal defect (VSD) remains high despite progress in pharmaceutical therapy, invasive cardiology, and surgical techniques. Although early surgical repair of postinfarction VSD is associated with a high mortality rate, in hemodynamic unstable patients surgery cannot always be postponed and surgical repair may be required urgently. We present two cases of patients diagnosed with postinfarction VSD who were in cardiogenic shock with multiorgan failure despite optimal treatment.

Unilateral Refractive Lens Exchange with a Multifocal Intraocular Lens in Emmetropic Presbyopic Patients.

: To evaluate the visual outcome and patient satisfaction after a unilateral multifocal IOL implantation in the non-dominant eye of emmetropic patients with presbyopia. : An interventional case series of consecutive patients who underwent unilateral phacoemulsification with femto-laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and refractive lens exchange (RLE), followed by an implantation of a trifocal diffractive IOL (FineVision Micro F), was performed in the non-dominant eyes of emmetropic patients with presbyopia. After 6 months of follow-up, the main outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA).

Real-world referral pattern and outcomes of diabetic patients who undergo revascularization: data from the prospective Multi-vessel Coronary Artery Disease (MULTICAD) Israeli Registry†.

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus patients with multivessel coronary artery disease present with a poor prognosis. We aimed to explore real-life clinical outcomes of diabetic patients who were referred for coronary revascularization.

Methods: We used data from the Multi-vessel Coronary Artery Disease (MULTICAD) Israeli Registry.

Development and Validation of an OMERACT MRI Whole-Body Score for Inflammation in Peripheral Joints and Entheses in Inflammatory Arthritis (MRI-WIPE).

Objective: To develop a whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for peripheral arthritis and enthesitis.

Methods: After consensus on definitions/locations of MRI pathologies, 4 multireader exercises were performed. Eighty-three joints were scored 0-3 separately for synovitis and osteitis, and 33 entheses 0-3 separately for soft tissue inflammation and osteitis.

The 'SILENT Alarm': When History Taking Reveals a Potentially Fatal Toxicity.

Introduction: The combination of acute/sub-acute neurological and metabolic derangements should always raise the suspicion of toxicity, either endogenous or exogenous. The adverse effects of psychiatric medications are especially difficult to determine since the psychiatric background of patients is often inaccessible.

Clinical Presentation: A 66-year-old man presented to the emergency department with dysarthria and uncontrolled tremor, rapidly deteriorating into a complex of severe neurological and metabolic derangements.

The OMERACT MRI in Enthesitis Initiative: Definitions of Key Pathologies, Suggested MRI Sequences, and a Novel Heel Enthesitis Scoring System.

Objective: To develop and validate an enthesitis magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for spondyloarthritis/psoriatic arthritis, using the heel as model.

Methods: Consensus definitions of key pathologies and 3 heel enthesitis multireader scoring exercises were done, separated by discussion, training, and calibration.

Results: Definitions for bone and soft tissue pathologies were agreed.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome following Cardiac Surgery: Comparison of the American-European Consensus Conference Definition versus the Berlin Definition.

Background: Lung injury with development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious complication which can occur after major surgery, including cardiac surgery.

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the prevalence, risk factors, and mortality of ARDS following cardiac surgery according to the American-European Consensus Conference (AECC) definition and the new Berlin definition of ARDS.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational study that included prospectively collected data from consecutive adult patients, aged from 18 to 92 years, who had undergone cardiac surgery (both on and off pump) at a large tertiary university hospital over 5 years (from September 2012 to September 2017).

Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Low Versus Intermediate to High Surgical Risk.

Referral of low surgical risk (LSR) patients for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) becomes common in multiple tertiary centers, and clinical trial data for this population are not available to date. We performed a retrospective analysis on an Israeli multicenter registry. LSR and intermediate-high surgical risk (I-HSR) were defined by a Society of Thoracic Surgery score of <4% and ≥4%, respectively.