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Objective: This is a cross sectional study aimed to asses novel semi objectve compter assisted method to asses the symmetry amog unilateral cleft lip patients. Design: using Standard inferior view nose photos that were uploaded to Digimizer© Version 4.6.1 (2005–2016 MedCalc Software) Image Analysis, symmetry percentage was calculated and compared between cleft and non-cleft neonates. This method was compared to two subjective methods of rating symmetry. Setting: This a cross sectional pilot study performed in the Univresity Medical Center using standard inferior views of unilateral cleft patients which were compared to non-cleft neonates. Patients: Photographs of 71 neonates with unilateral complete and incomplete cleft lip and 30 neonates without facial cleft, which were born at the university medical center, Beer Sheba, Israel, were analyzed in a standard manner to determine nasal symmetry. Main measures: the novel method proposed produced a nominal value for percentage of symmetry. Results: Using Pearson's correlation test we found intra-rater reliability of 91.2% (p < 0.001) and Inter-rater reliability of 82.9% (p < 0.001). The analysis correlated with the surgeons subjective scores in both the numerical ranking method at 73% (p < 0.001) and 72.6% (p < 0.001) and the Ordinal ranking method at 87.6% (p < 0.001) and 77.7% (p < 0.001). The ability of the method to discriminate healthy from Cleft Lip patients overall was 92.3% With high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: This method accurately distinguishes healthy patients from cleft lip patients. We have achieved High levels of inter and intra-rater reliability. Significant correlations were found between our semiobjective method and the subjective scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of stage I breast cancer (BC) patients diagnosed during the current era of screening mammography, immunohistochemistry receptor testing, and systemic adjuvant therapy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 328 stage I BC patients treated consecutively in a single referral center with a follow-up period of at least 12 years. The primary endpoints were invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and overall survival (OS). The influence of tumor size, grade, and subtype on the outcomes was analyzed. Results: Most patients were treated by lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy, and adjuvant endocrine therapy, and most (82%) were of subtype luminal A. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 25.6% of our cohort. Only 24 patients underwent gene expression testing, which was introduced toward the end of the study period. Mean IDFS was 14.64 years, with a 15-year IDFS of 75.6%. Mean OS was 15.28 years with a 15-year OS of 74.9%. In a Cox multivariate analysis, no clinical or pathologic variable impacted on OS and only tumor size (<1 cm vs. 1–2 cm) impacted significantly on IDFS. During follow-up, 20.1% of the cohort developed second primary cancers, including BC. The median time to diagnosis of a second BC was 6.49 years. Conclusion: The study results emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up and screening for subsequent malignancies of patients with stage I BC and support the need for using prognostic and predictive indicators beyond the routine clinicopathological characteristics in luminal A patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), but the association with DTC aggressiveness is controversial. To evaluate the association between preoperative body mass index (BMI)/other metabolic parameters and DTC aggressiveness in our surgical cohort, we retrospectively evaluated patients following thyroid surgery who were diagnosed with DTC between December 2013 and January 2021. Baseline characteristics, histopathological features, treatment modalities, and follow-up data were studied. We conducted logistic regression to analyze the association between BMI/other metabolic parameters and adverse DTC features. The final study cohort included 211 patients (79.6% women; mean age± standard deviation 48.7 ± 15.9 years): 66 (31.3%) with normal weight, 81 (38.4%) with overweight, and 64 (30.3%) with obesity. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 7–93). Complete versus partial thyroidectomy was more common among patients living with overweight or obesity than in normal weight patients (79.7% versus 61.7%, p = 0.017, respectively). Logistic regression demonstrated that higher BMI was associated with mildly increased risk for lymph nodes metastases (odds ratio [OR] 1.077, 95% CI: 1.013–1.145), and higher triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio was associated with aggressive histological variants of DTC (OR 1.269, 95% CI 1.001–1.61). To conclude, specific adverse clinical and histopathological DTC features were indeed associated with higher BMI and higher TG/HDL-C ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine body weight change in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) using antagonist protocol after up to three treatment cycles. Methods: A prospective cohort study among IVF patients treated between 2018 and 2019. Each patient underwent weight measurement three times during the treatment cycle: before treatment, at the beginning of the hormonal stimulation, and at the completion of the cycle, on the day of the pregnancy test. Data were also analyzed according to the body mass index (BMI) groups for normal weight, overweight, and obese patients. Finally, weight changes were recorded following altogether 519 treatment cycles, 240, 131, and 148 cycles, for normal weight, overweight, and obese patients, respectively. Results: The change in the patient's weight was clinically non-significant either during the waiting period or during gonadotropin administration, and overall, during the first, second, or third treatment cycles. The recorded mean total weight change of 0.26 ± 1.85, 0.4 ± 1.81, and 0.17 ± 1.7, after the first, second, or third treatment cycles, represent a change of 0.36%, 0.56%, and 0.23% of their initial weights, respectively. This change of less than 1% of the body weight falls short of the clinically significant weight gain of 5%-7%. Analyzing the data for the various BMI groups, the changes observed in body weight were under 1%, hence with no clinical significance. Conclusion: The findings of the study reject the myth that hormone therapy involves clinically significant weight gain, and this can lower the concerns of many patients who are candidates for treatment of assisted reproductive technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cognitive behavioral and mindfulness interventions have been shown to promote well-being in individuals with chronic illness. However, the underlying psychological processes through which these interventions impact well-being are not fully explored. This secondary analysis study aimed to examine the role of perceived social support, interpersonal sensitivity, and perceived stress as mediators of the positive effect of individualized online Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness Intervention (COBMINDEX) on life satisfaction among patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Method: Patients with mild or moderately active disease (n=142) were randomly assigned to either COBMINDEX intervention or treatment-as-usual control group. After a period of 3 months, the control group also received the COBMINDEX intervention. Complete data were collected from 120 patients (COBMINDEX=60, TAU=60). Analysis of covariance assessed group differences in post-intervention scores, controlling for baseline scores. Multiple parallel mediation analysis assessed the proposed mechanisms for the entire sample. Results: Individuals in the COBMINDEX condition reported significantly lower levels of perceived stress (F=28.06, p<0.01) and interpersonal sensitivity (F=12.78, p<0.01) than those in the control condition. The COBMINDEX group also had significantly higher levels of life satisfaction (F=9.79, p<0.01) compared to the control group. Perceived social support did not differ across groups (F=2.73, p=0.10). Analysis of indirect effects revealed significant effects of perceived stress (b=0.52, 95% CI [0.16, 1.03]) and interpersonal sensitivity (b=0.73, 95% CI [0.31, 1.35]); thus, the positive effect of COBMINDEX on life satisfaction was mediated by changes in interpersonal sensitivity and perceived stress. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of targeting mental processes such as interpersonal sensitivity to enhance patients' life satisfaction. These findings suggest that practitioners might consider COBMINDEX as an adjunct intervention for patients with CD. Preregistration: The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05085925) and with the Ministry of Health in Israel (https://my.health.gov.il/CliniTrials/Pages/MOH_2020-02-24_008721.aspx). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Erdafitinib, a fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor is a standard post chemotherapy advanced treatment line for metastatic urothelial carcinoma harboring FGFR2/3 genomic alterations. It was approved based on a phase 2 clinical trial, revealing a 40% response rate, and 13.8 months overall survival. These FGFR genomic alterations are uncommon. Thus, real-world data on erdafitinb use is scant. We herein describe erdafitinib treatment outcome in a real world patient cohort. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients treated with erdafitinib from 9 Israeli medical centers. Results: Twenty-five patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (median age 73, 64% male, 80% with visceral metastases) were treated with erdafitinib between January 2020 to October 2022. A clinical benefit (complete response 12%, partial response 32%, stable disease 12%) was seen in 56%. Median progression-free survival was 2.7 months, and median overall survival 6.73 months. Treatment related toxicity = grade 3 occurred in 52%, and 32% discontinued therapy due to adverse events. Conclusions: Erdafitinib therapy is associated with a clinical benefit in the realworld setting, and associated with similar toxicity as reported in prospective clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children with a pituitary hormone deficiency are at risk for secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI). A stimulation test is usually performed for diagnosing AI, evaluating both the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and growth hormone (GH)‐IGF‐1 axes. This single test is preferred by clinicians and is considerably more tolerable by patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the glucagon stimulation test (GST), which is commonly used to assess both axes. Its diagnostic capability for GH deficiency is high and well accepted, however its utility for determining secondary AI has not been well established. Methods: This retrospective study involved 120 patients under 18 years of age with short stature who had undergone both a GST and low dose ACTH stimulation test (LDACTH test). Twenty‐six children who had more than 6 months elapsed between the two tests were excluded from the study. The study was conducted on patients of the Pediatric Endocrinology Department at Soroka University Hospital, a tertiary medical centre in Beer Sheva, Israel. Statistical analyses were carried out via IBM SPSS (v. 22), with a significance level determined at p <.05. Results: Different cortisol cut‐off values were assessed for GST and it was determined that the highest combined sensitivity and specificity yielded a cut‐off point of 320 nmol/L (56% sensitivity and 83% specificity) while the currently accepted cut‐off value (500 nmol/L) yielded 100% sensitivity and 6% specificity. Conclusion: The results of this study show that GST is not an optimal tool for diagnosing secondary AI. Therefore, clinicians using this test should interpret its results with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Chronic abdominal pain and fatigue are characteristics of Crohn's disease (CD) and contribute to functional impairments. Aims: To examine whether CD‐tailored cognitive‐behavioural and mindfulness intervention (COBMINDEX) is effective in reducing abdominal pain and fatigue in patients with CD and whether changes in abdominal pain and fatigue mediate any beneficial effects of COBMINDEX on impairments in work productivity and daily activities. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a parallel‐group multicentre randomised controlled trial. Patients with mild‐to‐moderate CD (n = 142) were randomised into either intervention group receiving COBMINDEX, or control group receiving treatment‐as‐usual for 3 months followed by COBMINDEX. Complete data were collected from 120 patients (34.0 ± 10.7 years, 62.5% female, intervention = 60, control = 60). Analysis of covariance assessed group differences in 3‐month follow‐up scores, controlling for baseline scores. Multiple parallel mediation analysis assessed the proposed mechanisms for the entire sample. Results: The intervention group demonstrated significantly lower levels of abdominal pain (F = 17.46, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.13), fatigue (F = 7.26, p = 0.008, η2p = 0.06) and impairments at work (F = 4.82, p = 0.032, η2p = 0.07) and daily activities (F = 6.26, p = 0.014, η2p = 0.05), compared with treatment‐as‐usual. Moreover, changes in abdominal pain and fatigue significantly mediated the beneficial effects of COBMINDEX on patients' work productivity (b = −9.90, SE = 2.86, 95% CI: −16.11 to −4.94) and daily activities (b = −9.65, SE = 1.91, 95% CI: −13.77 to 6.35), independent of changes in disease activity. Conclusions: COBMINDEX is effective at reducing abdominal pain and fatigue in patients with CD, which in turn leads to improvement in functioning. Clinicians should incorporate screening for severe abdominal pain and fatigue and consider offering cognitive‐behavioural and mindfulness training. ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT05085925. Ministry of Health in Israel (https://my.health.gov.il/CliniTrials/Pages/MOH_2020‐02‐24_008721.aspx). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods A retrospective cohort study including 678 consecutive FET cycles performed between the years 2004 and 2017 was conducted. Patients older than 45 years old were excluded. FET cycles were stratified as follows: (1) two-day (2d) embryos thawed and cultured to three-day (3d) versus 3d embryos thawed and transferred; (2) 2d or 3d embryos thawed and cultured to blastocysts versus blastocysts thawed and transferred. A p-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Maternal age, BMI, smoking, and basal FSH of the 2d and 3d cultured embryo group (n = 110) and the 3d non-cultured embryo group (n = 189) were comparable. Endometrium preparation protocols and the achieved endometrial thickness did not differ between groups. Pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy, live birth rate, abortions, multiple pregnancies, perinatal outcomes, and birth weight were comparable. The 2d and 3d embryos cultured to blastocyst (n = 41) compared to non-cultured blastocyst (n = 338) showed that the non-cultured blastocyst patients had higher smoking rates and longer follicular phase. Endometrial thickness was comparable. The 2d and 3d embryos cultured to blastocyst stage had higher multiple pregnancies rate compared to the blastocyst non-cultured group, whereas pregnancy rate, implantation rate, live birth rate, miscarriages, perinatal outcomes, and birth weight were comparable. Conclusion We could not demonstrate that the post-thaw culture had a significant impact on the outcome of FET cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bariatric surgeries involve manipulation of the viscera and are associated with significant postoperative pain. Paracetamol is a nonopioid analgesic with a rapid onset, and it is effective and safe. The study compared the effects of pre‐ and postincisional intravenous paracetamol administration for optimal postoperative pain management in patients undergoing bariatric surgeries. Methods: This is a prospective, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled randomized clinical trial of adult patients, admitted electively for laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group of patients was given paracetamol at the beginning of the operation, prior to the surgical incision, the other group of patients received the same treatment at the end of the operation. Results: Patients who were given preincisional intravenous paracetamol presented significantly lower visual analog scale (VAS) scores following the surgery compared with patients who were given intravenous paracetamol in the last 30 minutes of the operation (VAS, median [IQR] = 2 [2‐3] vs. 5 [3‐6]; p < 0.001). They also required fewer postoperative opioids and tramadol (in milligrams, respectively, 1 [0‐5] vs. 7.5 [5‐10] and 300 [100‐400] vs. 400 [200‐500]) compared with later analgesia administration (p < 0.001 and p = 0.03). The levels of inflammatory markers measured at fixed intervals from paracetamol administration were not statistically different between the study groups. Conclusion: Early analgesia with intravenous paracetamol, given before the surgical incision, may result in lower VAS scores postoperatively compared with the same treatment administered toward the end of the operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effect of traffic-related noise (TRN), environmental noise (EN) and traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on preeclampsia. Methods: We followed 285 pregnant women from Maternal and Child Health Clinics who reported exposure to TRN on a scale from 0 (absence of EN) to 10 (high level of EN). EN was measured using a portable dosimeter, and NOx was calculated using the AERMOD pollutant dispersion model. Results: Using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for maternal age, BMI, number of births, fetal sex and maternal chronic illness, TRN (score ≥ 6 vs. score < 6) and TRAP (NOx ≥ 300 µ/m3 vs. NOx < 300 µ/m3) were noted as independent risk factors for preeclampsia, with OR = 3.07 (95% CI 0.97; 9.70, p = 0.056) and OR = 3.43 (95% CI 1.20; 9.87, p = 0.022), respectively. Joint exposure to TRN and TRAP was associated with a significant and independent risk for preeclampsia (OR of 4.11 (95% CI 1.31; 12.94, p = 0.016). Conclusions: In our population, traffic-related noise and ambient TRAP were risk factors for preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We analyzed outcomes of doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by weekly paclitaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer (BC), in an everyday practice with long-term follow-up of patients. Methods: All patients (n = 200) who received the AC-paclitaxel combination as NAC for BC at the Soroka University Medical Center from 2003 to 2012 were included in this retrospective cohort study. AC was administered on an every 3-week schedule (standard dose) until May, 2007 (n = 99); and subsequently every 2-week dose dense (dd) (n = 101). Clinical pathologic features, treatment course, and outcome information were recorded. Complete pathologic response (pCR) was analyzed according to BC subtype, dose regimen, and stage. Results: Median age was 49 years; 55.5% and 44.5% of patients were clinically stage 2 and 3, respectively. Standard dose patients had more T3 tumors. Subtypes were human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive 32.5% (of whom 82% received trastuzumab), hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative 53%, and triple negative 14.5%. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was performed in 48.5% of patients; only 9.5% were deemed suitable for BCS prior to NAC. Toxicity was acceptable. The overall pCR rate was 26.0% and was significantly higher in the dd group and HER2-positive patients. With a median follow-up of 9.51 years median event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) are 10.85 years and 12.61 years, respectively. Patients achieving pCR had significantly longer EFS and OS. Conclusion: NAC for BC with AC-paclitaxel can be safely administered in the "real-world' setting with high efficacy. Current efforts are aimed at increasing rates of pCR and identifying patients who may benefit from additional therapy or conversely, de-escalated treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma has a striking temporal character, in which time-of-day, patient age, and season each influence disease activity. The extent to which rhythms in asthma activity reflect exposure to specific disease triggers remains unclear. In this study, we examined how virus mitigation strategies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic ("lockdown measures") affected rhythms in asthma clinical activity in children. To this end, we retrospectively analyzed asthma clinical presentations in children aged <18 years to our regional academic medical center, comparing 4 years of medical records prior to COVID-19 lockdown measures with the 12 months immediately after the institution of such measures. We correlated these data to positive viral test results, febrile seizures, and allergic clinical surrogates (allergic reaction visits and Emergency Department [ED] antihistamine prescriptions, respectively) over the same time frame. In the 12 months following the institution of the COVID-19 lockdown, positivity rates for common respiratory viruses dropped by 70.2% and ED visits for asthma among children dropped by 62% compared to pre-COVID years. Lockdown suppressed seasonal variation in positive viral tests and asthma ED visits, while diurnal rhythms in asthma visits were unchanged. Asthma seasonality correlated most strongly with rhinovirus positivity both before and after the institution of COVID lockdown measures. Altogether, our data support a causal role for viruses in driving seasonal variability in asthma exacerbations in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) is a self-report measure of psychological symptoms in clinical and non-clinical populations. However, norms for BSI are lacking for patients with chronic illness, such as Crohn's disease (CD). This study aimed to provide BSI clinical norms using a cohort of CD patients. Adult Israeli CD patients (n = 430) completed questionnaires regarding clinical, demographic and psychological aspects of disease, including BSI. Their BSI data were compared with published norms from adult Israeli population and British psychiatric outpatients. CD patients in active disease state had higher levels of mental health symptoms than those in remission. Interestingly, levels of symptomatology did not differ with respect to disease duration. No significant sex differences in BSI dimensions were found, with the exception of somatization. Being younger than 60 years and having lower economic status were associated with more severe psychological symptoms. Psychological symptom levels in CD patients were high in comparison to the Israeli general population, but low compared to British psychiatric outpatients. Results confirm the link between CD and elevated psychological symptoms. The findings highlight the need to use appropriate BSI norms when assessing clinically significant levels of psychological symptoms in non-psychiatric patients with chronic illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare pregnancy outcomes between pregnancies following day 2, day 3, and days 5/6 fresh embryo transfer (ET). A retrospective cohort study including all pregnancies following fresh IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ET cycles performed between January 2014 and December 2015 at Fertility and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Unit of the tertiary Soroka University Medical Center. The study groups consisted of 48, 72, 120, and 144 hours embryos. Pregnancies were confirmed by a serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin measurement. Data regarding patients' medical history, infertility workup, fertility treatment characteristics, and outcome, as well as obstetrical outcome, were collected from patients' medical records and IVF Laboratory database. Multiple regression models were constructed to control for confounders. Patients who underwent fertility preservation treatment, cycles of oocyte donation or in vitro maturation oocytes, and cases of preimplantation genetic testing were excluded. A total of 534 pregnancies following fresh IVF/ICSI ET on day 2 (n = 189, 35.4%), day 3 (n = 200, 37.5%), and days 5 or 6 (n = 145, 27.2%) were included. Live birth rate demonstrated a linear association to the developmental stage at ET with the highest rates in blastocysts and gradually lower in day 3 and day 2 ET (79.2, 65.8, and 60.6%, respectively, p =.001). A positive linear association was also observed between ET age and clinical pregnancy rate (77.3, 87.5, and 90.3% for days 2, 3, and 5/6, respectively, p =.002), as well as with combined pregnancy complication rate (29, 37.3, and 43.3%, p =.026). However, using multivariate logistic regression model controlling for ET age, maternal age, smoking, obesity, initial HCG level and peak E2 level, live birth rate was comparable between the study groups regardless of ET age. Pregnancy complications were comparable between the groups; however, a composite pregnancy complications variable was higher in the blastocyst pregnancies compared to cleavage embryos pregnancies. The common approach of blastocyst transfer, as high quality of the embryo, has not proven beneficial in terms of live birth rate. Moreover, cleavage stage embryos were not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. The current data suggest maternal age has an independent effect on live birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the association between the achievements of medical students and whether they were admitted via the pre-medical track or the regular direct track. Methods: We performed a comparative retrospective data study using data from a three-year experimental cohort in a six-year medical school. We analyzed the academic achievements of all students admitted at one Israeli medical school between 2013-2015, either directly to the six-year program or via a pre-medical track. We compared averages of both yearly final grades and final medical examinations grades between the two groups. Descriptive statistics were calculated and differences between groups were evaluated using multivariate analysis. Results: Of the 324 students included in the study, 65 (20.1%) were enrolled in all three cohorts of the pre-medical track. Age and Gender distribution were nearly similar for both tracks. For the first two cohorts, the average final grades of year one of pre-medical students were significantly higher than those of regular direct track (F=(3,167) 6.10, p=0.001), but the opposite was true for the third cohort (F=(3,110)2.38, p=0.073). No further statistically significant differences were found neither between the groups in their final exams grades nor between choosing a MD/PhD optional track and admission pathway. Conclusions: Our results suggest promising achievements with the pre-medical admission pathway. This should encourage further discussion about the significant potential human resources lost by current admission processes and may question the effectiveness of six-year programs in medical schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neuropathic, chronic pain is a common and severe complication following thoracic surgery, known as post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS). Here we evaluated the efficacy of an ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on pain control compared to traditional pain management with intravenous opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) six months after thoracic surgery. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed data from a questionnaire survey. We interviewed all patients who underwent elective video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) at Soroka University Medical Center between December 2016 and January 2018. The responses of ninety-one patients were included. Results: Participants reported PTPS in both groups, 43% of patients in the SAPB group and 57% of patients in the standard group, which failed to reach significance. However, we demonstrated that the percentage of pain occurrence trended lower in the SAPB group. There was significantly less burning/stitching or shooting, shocking, pressure-like, and aching pain in SAPB patients compared to the standard protocol group. Patients in the SAPB group had significantly less pain located in the upper and lower posterior thorax anatomical regions compared to the standard protocol group. Moreover, we found a significant difference in occurrence of PTPS depending on the type of thoracic surgery. From both study groups, 69% of patients who underwent lobectomy reported pain, compared with 41.9% of those in the segmental (wedge resection) procedure, and 42.1% of patients in other procedures. Conclusion: While the present study did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction of PTPS after SAPB concerning postoperative pain control, there was a trend of a decrease. We also found significance in the type of pain and location of pain after thoracic surgery between the two groups, as well as a significant difference between pain occurrence in types of thoracic surgeries from both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, struggle with chronic somatic symptoms that could bring about emotional distress. This study assessed the relative role of somatization, and depressive and anxiety symptoms in disease activity among 619 Crohn's patients (18–79 years; 58.3% women). Structural equation modeling revealed that somatization was the only unique predictor of disease activity beyond depression and anxiety. In addition, the effect of somatization on disease activity was stronger in men compared to women. Findings suggest that somatization represents a distinct domain of psychological distress that may play a role in the health of patients with Crohn's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have found that HbA1C variability is an independent risk factor for diabetic complications in type 2 diabetic patients. This study aims to find factors contributing to higher HbA1C variability in the community. Methods: The study was conducted in the southern district of Israel, in Clalit Health Services (CHS). The study population was type 2 diabetic individuals aged 40–70 years in 2005, with a follow-up period of 11 years, until 2015. The definition of HbA1C variability was done by the standard deviation from the average HbA1C value of the entire study period, which was calculated for each participant. The study population was divided into two groups, "variability group" with HbA1C SD > 1.2, and "comparison group" of participants with HbA1C SD ≤ 1.2. In the univariate analysis we used X2 or Fisher test for categorical variables and independent t-test for numeric continuous variables. In the multivariate analysis we used logistic regression as well as assessing for possible interactions. Statistical analysis was ascribed for p < 0.05. All the data was drawn from the computerized medical system used by all primary care physicians and nurses in CHS working in the community. Results: The study population included 2866 participants, the average age was 58.6 years, 43.3% men and 56.7% women. Each participant had an average of 20.9 HbA1C measures in their computerized medical record during the 11 years of follow up. The mean HbA1C value was 7.8%. We found 632 patients (22%) with a high variability, whereas 2234 (78%) had a low variability of HbA1C. In the "variability group" there was a higher percentage of smokers, BMI ≥ 30 and a higher rate of visits to diabetic clinics compared to the "no variability" group. In the "variability group" we found a much higher use of insulin and ACE inhibitors. The highest frequency of variability was between HbA1c values of 8.1–8.5. The multivariate analysis showed that HbA1C variability was associated with insulin use (OR = 4.1, p < 0.001), with age (OR = 0.939, p < 0.001), and Ischemic heart disease (OR = 1.258, p = 0.03). BMI ≥ 30 was almost statistically significant (OR = 1.206, p = 0.063). Gender was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: In conclusion, HbA1C variability might be used as an additional marker in Diabetes Mellitus type 2, reflecting the disease complexity characteristics and the patient's lifestyle profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first local spread of COVID-19 in Israel was detected in March 2020. Due to the diversity in clinical presentations of COVID-19, diagnosis by RT-PCR alone might miss patients with mild or no symptoms. Serology testing may better evaluate the actual magnitude of the spread of infection in the population. This is the first nationwide seroprevalence study conducted in Israel. It is one of the most widespread to be conducted thus far, and the largest per-country population size. The survey was conducted between June 28 and September 14, 2020 and included 54,357 patients who arrived at the Health Maintenance Organizations to undergo a blood test for any reason. A patient was considered seropositive after two consecutive positive results with two different kits (Abbott and DiaSorin).The overall seroprevalence was 3.8% (95%CI 3.7–4.0), males higher than females [4.9% (95%CI 4.6–5.2) vs. 3.1% (95%CI 2.9–3.3) respectively]. Adolescents had the highest prevalence [7.8% (95%CI 7.0–8.6)] compared to other age groups. Participants who had undergone RT-PCR testing had a tenfold higher risk to be seropositive. The prevalence-to-incidence ratio was 4.5–15.7. Serology testing is an important complimentary tool for assessing the actual magnitude of infection and thus essential for implementing policy measures to control the pandemic. A positive serology test result was recently accepted in Israel as being sufficient to define recovery, with possible far-reaching consequences, such as the deploying of employees to ensure the maintenance of a functional economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/6633210.]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critically ill patients with severe hypoxemia are often treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) with inhaled nitric oxide (iNO). These patients are at higher risk when they require intrahospital transportation. In this study, we collected clinical and laboratory data from 221 patients who were hospitalized in the general ICU and treated with iNO at Soroka Medical Center, Israel, between January 2010 and December 2019. We retrospectively compared the 65 patients who received iNO during intrahospital transportation to the 156 patients who received iNO without transportation. Among critically ill patients who were transported while being administered iNO, only one patient had an adverse event (atrial fibrillation) on transport. We found that maximal iNO dosage during ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and percent of vasopressor support were the only independent risk factors for ICU mortality in both study groups. No difference in primary outcome of ICU mortality rate was found between the critically ill patients treated with iNO during intrahospital transportation and those who were treated with iNO but not transported during the ICU stay. We anticipate that this study will advise clinical decision-making in the ICU, especially when treating patients who are administered iNO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The rate of diabetic ketoacidosis at time of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes remains high. We examined whether visits to a primary care clinic up to a month prior to diagnosis of new onset diabetes affected ketoacidosis rates. Methods: Retrospective chart review of children who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014. Data collection included demographics, age at diagnosis, number of visits to the primary care clinic during the month prior the diagnosis, relevance to diabetes and outcome of those visits and the presence of ketoacidosis at diagnosis. We examined the relationship between the rate of ketoacidosis at diagnosis and the number of visits in the clinic, and to the demographic characteristics. Results: Of 159 patients, 115 visited their clinic in the month prior to diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. The rate of ketoacidosis at diagnosis was similar between those who visited the clinic and those who did not (37.4% compared to 38.6%). There was no difference in ketoacidosis rates between the different ethnic and socio‐economic groups. Conclusion: Medical encounters in the month prior to diagnosis of type 1 diabetes did not reduce ketoacidosis rates in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze preeclampsia as a risk factor for pediatric endocrine disease. Study Design: A population-based cohort analysis comparing the risk of endocrine morbidity of children born between 1991-2014 to mothers with and without preeclampsia. Results: The study included 253,808 deliveries. Exposed offspring had significantly more endocrine hospitalizations (0.7% vs 0.4%; p < 0.001), specifically obesity (0.4% vs 0.2%, p < 0.001). While controlling for confounders, the exposed offspring had significantly more endocrine morbidity (OR 1.433 95% CI 1.115–1.841 p = 0.005). Conclusion: Preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for long-term endocrine disease of the offspring, specifically obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have shown that the peripheral blood pretreatment neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a prognostic measure in various cancers. The few studies evaluating NLR in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients yielded inconsistent results. Objectives: The primary objective of our study was to test the ability of pretreatment NLR to predict the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with GBM treated by combined modality therapy (surgery, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy). A secondary objective was to evaluate the toxicity of the combined modality protocol in a consecutive series of patients treated in our center, in the context of a real-world universal health-care setting. Methods: We analyzed 89 patients with GBM in a retrospective cohort analysis who were treated in Soroka University Medical Center's Oncology Department between the years 2005–2016. We analyzed NLR as a dichotomous variable at 3 cut-off points, 2.5, 3 and 4, as a predictor of OS and PFS. Methylation status of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter was not determined. Results: No significant correlation was found between NLR and either OS or PFS. Factors that predicted a shorter OS were age and extent of surgery. Patients over 70 years of age had a statistically significant shorter OS, 12.5 months (95% CI: 10.4–14.5 months) versus 17.6 months (95% CI: 14.2–21.1 months) in those 70 years of age and younger (p = 0.004). The OS of patients undergoing partial resection (12.7 months 95% CI: 8.3–17.1 months) or biopsy only (9.3 months 95% CI: 7.8–24.6 months), was significantly shorter than that of patients undergoing total resection (18.9 months, 95% CI: 11.8–26.0 months; p = 0.035). There were no treatment-related deaths. The most common grade III–IV toxicities were thrombocytopenia, 12.4%, and fatigue, 13.5%. Conclusions: In our cohort of GBM patients treated with combined modality therapy, pretreatment NLR was not prognostic. Toxicity of treatment was acceptable. Investigation of the NLR with larger groups of patients selected by MGMT status is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether offspring of women following bariatric surgery as well as offspring of obese women are at an increased risk for long-term pediatric endocrine morbidity.Setting: This study was conducted at the university hospital.Methods: A population-based cohort study compared the incidence of long-term (up to the age of 18 years) occurrence of endocrine morbidity between offspring of mothers following bariatric surgery and obese mothers, as compared with parturients without obesity and without prior bariatric surgery.Results: During the study period 220,563 newborns met the inclusion criteria; 1001 were delivered by patients following bariatric surgery, 2275 were delivered by obese women and 217,287 were delivered by normal weight women without prior bariatric surgery. Long-term endocrine morbidity was more common in the bariatric group (2.3%) and the obesity group (1.5%) as compared with the comparison group (0.5%; P < 0.001). Specifically, pediatric obesity was significantly more common in children of mothers following bariatric surgery (1.8%) and of mothers with obesity (1.2%) as compared with the comparison group (0.2%; P < 0.001). Children born to women following bariatric surgery as well as obese women had higher cumulative incidence of pediatric endocrine morbidity (Log rank, P < 0.001). The results remained significant when controlling for maternal factors, adjusted HR 6.25, 95% CI 4.10-9.50; P < 0.001 for women following bariatric surgery and aHR 2.40 95% CI 1.69-3.40; P < 0.001 for obese women.Conclusion: Offspring of women following bariatric surgery as well as those of obese women are at an increased risk for long-term pediatric endocrine morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of seizures in the neonatal period is thought to be high due to a lower seizure threshold of the immature brain. Data on seizures in extremely premature infants are scarce. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether seizures are an independent risk factor for in-hospital death and to determine the incidence of seizures in extremely premature infants. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Included were infants born under 28 weeks' gestation and monitored with amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) over the first 3 days of life. The number and duration of seizures was retrieved from aEEG recordings together with clinical data. The association of seizures and other parameters with mortality was assessed using univariable analyses methods. Relevant parameters were used for a multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results: Overall, 229 infants were included in the study. Forty-six infants had at least one seizure episode yielding an incidence of 20%. In univariable analyses, gestational age (p < 0.001), birthweight Z-score (p < 0.001), seizures (p = 0.025), suppressed background aEEG (p < 0.001), and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH; p < 0.001) were associated with death before discharge. In multivariable analysis, gestational age (HR = 0.61, p < 0.001), background aEEG activity (HR = 0.30, p < 0.001), birth weight Z-score (HR = 0.51, p = 0.04), and severe IVH (HR = 2.60, p < 0.001) were found to be significant predictors of mortality while the presence of seizures in the first 3 days of life trended to significantly predict an increased risk of mortality (HR = 1.53, p = 0.09). Conclusions: Although seizure incidence was relatively high in this cohort of extremely preterm infants and infants with seizures were more likely to die, seizures alone are not a predictor for early death. However, they may be an important indicator of pathologies that are not immediately diagnosed yet could eventually lead to death among this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients who undergo surgical procedures that impair the integrity of the chest wall frequently experience extremely severe postoperative pain. Opiates and weaker analgesics, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are not sufficiently effective in achieving control of severe pain and might cause respiratory and gastrointestinal complications. In the past decade, there has been an increased interest in the use of regional nerve blocks for post-thoracoscopy and post-thoracotomy analgesia. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind and single-center study. We recruited 104 patients who underwent elective thoracoscopy. Prior to surgery, the participating patients were randomized into one of two study groups: Group 1- the "standard control group" that received standard postoperative pain control with intravenous opioids, NSAIDs and acetaminophen (paracetamol) and Group 2- the "block group" that was treated by ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane (SAP) block (a single injection of 0.25% bupivacaine hydrochloride 2 mg/kg plus dexamethasone 8 mg) with standard postoperative pain control regimen. We compared the clinical, laboratory, and postoperative pain assessment data of both groups. Results: Patients in the SAP block Group 2 reported significantly lower levels of pain after thoracic surgery as assessed by their visual analog scale scores, as compared to the patients in the standard pain control Group 1 (P<0.001). The total dosage of morphine and tramadol required for pain relief during the first hours after surgery was significantly lower in the patients who received SAP block. Also, the incidence of vomiting after surgery was significantly lower among the patients who received SAP block than among the patients who received standard pain control. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that SAP block is an effective adjuvant treatment option for post-thoracic surgery analgesia. Compared to the current methods used for post-thoracic surgery pain relief, SAP block has some significant merits, particularly its ease of use and its low potential for side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The onset age of physiological puberty is greatly variable. This variability has been attributed to environmental factors and to genetic factors although a very little is explained by genome-wide associations studies. Previously, we reported the existence of an association between the onset age of puberty and final height. It is known that final height is associated with parental height (specifically, with the "target height"). We hypothesized that the variability of the onset age of puberty contributes to the attainment of a final height which is similar to the target height. We hypothesized that whenever a child's height-percentile differs from the target height percentile (we called this difference the "height gap"), the onset of puberty is advanced or delayed so that they are closer or even equal at the end of pubertal growth. The association between height gap and onset age of puberty was investigated in the reported study. Methods: The study is an observational retrospective study on growth during puberty in 170 Israeli (60 girls) and 335 Polish children (162 girls). Anthropometric measurements were analyzed by multivariable linear regression with the onset age of the pubertal growth spurt (PGS) as the dependent variable, and two independent variables "height gap" and body mass index (BMI)—both standardized. Results: The adjusted coefficient of determination (adj R2) between the onset age of the PGS and the two independent variables was 0.69 (Israeli girls), 0.50 (Israeli boys, BMI excluded), 0.25 (Polish girls) and 0.13 (Polish boys). A prediction model for the onset age of puberty is presented. Conclusions: The association between the "height gap" and the onset age of puberty suggests that the variability of this age is part of the targeted process of statural growth. The proposed model may explain idiopathic cases of precocious and delayed puberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Deviation in the development of the female reproductive organs from the normal anatomy has been shown to have an impact on obstetrical outcomes and neonatal morbidity.Material and Methods: In this retrospective population-based cohort study, short-term neonatal morbidity and mortality were compared in pregnancies of women with and without uterine anomalies. The analysis included deliveries that occurred between the years 1991 and 2013 in a tertiary medical center. Statistical analysis included multiple logistic regression models.Results: During the study period, 256,299 deliveries met the inclusion criteria; 0.49% (n = 1251) of which occurred in women diagnosed with Müllerian anomalies. In the regression model, Müllerian anomalies were noted as an independent risk factor for placental abruption (adjusted odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.8; p = .001), intrauterine growth restriction (adjusted odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.4; p < .001), pathological presentation (adjusted odds ratio, 13.5; 95% confidence interval, 11.9-15.1; p < .001) and cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 13.4; 95% confidence interval, 11.5-15.6; p < .001) while controlling for multiple confounders. Perinatal mortality, however, was not found to be increased in the exposed group in a model controlled for gestational age and weight (adjusted odds ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-1.02; p = .061).Conclusion: Women with Müllerian anomalies are at an increased risk for multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. Perinatal mortality, however, is not increased when controlled for gestational age and weight suggesting that mortality in these pregnancies is mediated by preterm delivery and small for gestational age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In contrast to an emergency department of thoracotomy (EDT), an urgent thoracotomy (UT) is defined as a surgical thoracic intervention performed in the operating room within the first 48 hours of the patient's intensive care unit (ICU) stay. The factors affecting survival after UT are not fully understood. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and outcome of patients with blunt and penetrating chest injuries who underwent UT. Methods All adult patients who had blunt or penetrating chest trauma and who underwent UT, were included in the study. All data were collected from the patients' hospital and ICU records. Forty-five patients with thoracic injuries who underwent UT during the first 48 hours of ICU stay were analyzed. Of these, 25 had penetrating chest injuries, and 20 had blunt thoracic injuries. Of the penetrating injuries, 16 were stab wounds, and 9 were gunshot wounds. Results Overall ICU mortality was 29% (n=13) and was significantly higher in the blunt chest trauma group than in the penetrating trauma group (45% vs 16%; p=0.04). Lung parenchyma injuries (lacerations and contusions) were the most common intraoperative findings in both groups. The following independent predictors of in-hospitalmortality were found: an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of >40; an Acute Physiology and Chronic Evaluation II (APACHE II) score of>30; prolonged duration of UT; low body temperature onadmission to the ED; abnormal arterial blood lactate, bicarbonate, and pH at the end of UT; and use of vasopressors during the first 24 hours of ICU stay. Conclusion Mortality after UT was higher in patients with blunt chest trauma. The UT should be performed in both penetrating and blunt chest trauma as quickly as possible and should be limited to damage control. It alsoemerges that acidosis and hypothermia in chest trauma patients need to be treated extremely aggressively before, during, and after UT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different etiologies for recurrent pregnancy loss have been identified, among them are: anatomical, endocrine, genetic, chromosomal and thrombophilia pathologies. Aims: To assess medical and obstetric characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes, among women with uterine abnormalities and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This study also aims to assess the impact of uterine anatomic surgical correction on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A retrospective case control study of 313 patients with two or more consecutive pregnancy losses followed by a subsequent (index) pregnancy. Anatomic abnormalities were detected in 80 patients. All patients were evaluated and treated in the RPL clinic at Soroka University Medical Center. Out of 80 patients with uterine anatomic abnormalities, 19 underwent surgical correction, 32 did not and 29 had no clear record of surgical intervention, and thus were excluded from this study. Results: Women with anatomic abnormalities had a higher rate of previous cesarean section (18.8% vs. 8.6%, P=0.022), tended to have a lower number of previous live births (1.05 vs. 1.37, P=0.07), and a higher rate of preterm delivery (22.9% vs. 10%, P=0.037). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, anatomic abnormality was identified as an independent risk factor for RPL in patients with previous cesarean section after controlling for place of residence, positive genetic/autoimmune/endocrine workup, and fertility problems (OR 7.22; 95% CI 1.17–44.54, P=0.03). Women suffering from anatomic abnormalities tended to have a higher rate of pregnancy loss compared to those without anatomic abnormalities (40% vs. 30.9%, P=0.2). The difference in pregnancy loss rate among women who underwent surgical correction compared to those who did not was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In patients with previous cesarean section, uterine abnormality is an independent risk factor for pregnancy loss. Surgical correction of uterine abnormalities among RPL patients might have the potential to improve live birth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined by two or more failed clinical pregnancies. Three to four percent of the couples with RPL have chromosomal aberrations (CA) in at least one partner. The parent’s structural chromosomal abnormalities may cause an unbalanced karyotype in the conceptus which could lead to implantation failure, early or late pregnancy loss, or delivery of a child with severe physical and/or mental disabilities. Objective: To compare live birth rates of couples with CA to couples with normal karyotypes and to investigate medical and obstetric characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of couples with CA and RPL who attend an RPL clinic at a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective cohort study, including 349 patients with two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. The study group consisted of 52 patients with CA, and the control group consisted of 297 couples with normal karyotype. All patients were evaluated and treated in the RPL clinic at Soroka University Medical Center and had at least one subsequent spontaneous pregnancy. Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics were not found to be statistically different between the two groups. The group of carriers of CA had 28/52 (53.8%) live births in their index pregnancy vs. the normal 202/297 (68%) (P=0.067, CI 95%) in the control group. No statistically significant etiology was found between the study group and the control group. A statistically significant difference in live birth rates was found when comparing the total amount of pregnancies [index pregnancy (IP)+post index pregnancy (PIP)] between the study group and the control group (54.16% vs. 67.82%, respectively, P=0.0328). Conclusion: Patients with RPL and CA who have spontaneous pregnancies, have a good prognosis (63.4%) of a successful pregnancy with at least one of the pregnancies (index or post index) resulting in a live birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Peritonitis is a major complication of bariatric surgery due to direct damage to the natural barriers to infection. Most such secondary peritoneal infections are caused by Gram-negative microorganisms; however, under certain conditions, Candida species can infect the peritoneal cavity following bariatric surgery.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and microbiological data of morbidly obese patients who suffered infectious complications following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) at the Soroka Medical Center between January 2010 and June 2015.Results: Out of 800 patients who underwent LSG, 43 (5.3%( developed secondary peritonitis and were admitted to our General Intensive Care Unit during the study period. Intraperitoneal leaks, intraabdominal abscesses and pleural effusions were significantly more common in patients with fungal infection than in those with non-fungal infections (p values 0.027, < 0.001, and < 0.014, respectively). Leaks situated at the suture line of gastro-esophageal area occurred much more frequently in the fungal infection group than in the non-fungal infection group (94.7 vs 41.7%, p < 0.001). Microbiological analysis of the abdominal and pleural fluids of patients with invasive fungal infectious complications showed the presence of commensal polymicrobial bacterial infections—mainly Streptoccocus constellatus and coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. Leakage at the suture line of gastro-esophageal area (upper suture part) and administration of parenteral nutrition were found to be independent predictors for invasive fungal infections after LSG.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that invasive fungal infection is a significant postoperative infectious complication of bariatric LSG surgery in morbidly obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: How psycho-social variables affect the degree of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) is incompletely understood. Therefore, we measured and compared the impact of psycho-social variables on the active disease state in UC and CD.Method: One hundred and twenty-two UC and 305 CD patients with active disease completed questionnaires detailing their psychological symptoms, threatening experiences, disease-coping strategies, satisfaction with life, quality of life, and demographics.Results: UC and CD patients were aged (mean, SD) 38.6 ± 14.0 and 45.2 ± 15.1 years, respectively. The psychological symptom index (median, IQR) was greater in UC 1.24 (0.8) than CD 0.9 (0.8), p < 0.001. UC used more emotion-focused strategies, 24.5 (5.7) than CD, 23.0 (5.7), p < 0.03; problem-focused strategies, 16.4 (4.5) vs. 15.4 (4.2), p < 0.04; and dysfunctional strategies, 23.7 (5.7) vs. 22.0 (5.0), p < 0.01. UC activity correlated with gender, age, economic status, psychological symptoms, threatening experiences, all coping strategies, satisfaction with life, and quality of life (p < 0.02-0.001). CD activity correlated with economic status, psychological symptoms, threatening experiences, dysfunctional strategies, satisfaction with life, and quality of life (p < 0.05-0.001). UC activity was predicted by psychological symptoms (9.1% variance), economic status (6.9%), problem-focused strategies (4.2%), and threatening experiences (1.3%); CD activity by threatening experiences (5% variance) and psychological symptoms (4%). In path analysis, psychological symptoms and problem-focused strategies mediated the effects of economic status, age, and threatening experiences on UC activity. In CD, the dominant pathway was threatening experiences impacting on psychological symptoms.Conclusion: The impact of psycho-social variables on the active disease state differs between UC and CD, thus indicating a need for specifically tailored psychotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: The progression of carotid-plaque volume in patients with type 2 diabetes is common. Previous observational studies showed an association between moderate alcohol and reduced risk of coronary disease. We examined whether consuming moderate wine affects the progression of carotid atherosclerosis.Subjects/methods: In the CASCADE (CArdiovaSCulAr Diabetes and Ethanol), a 2-year randomized controlled trial, we randomized abstainers with type 2 diabetes were to drink 150 ml of either red wine, white wine, or water, provided for 2 years. In addition, groups were guided to maintain a Mediterranean diet. We followed 2-year changes in carotid total plaque volume (carotid-TPV) and carotid vessel wall volume (carotid-VWV), using three-dimensional ultrasound.Results: Carotid images were available from 174 of the 224 CASCADE participants (67% men; age = 59 yr; HbA1C = 6.8%). Forty-five percent had detectable plaque at baseline. After 2 years, no significant progression in carotid-TPV was observed (water, -1.4 (17.0) mm3, CI (-2.7, 5.5), white-wine, -1.2 (16.9) mm3, CI (-3.8, 6.2), red wine, -1.3 (17.6) mm3, CI (-3.4, 6.0; p = 0.9 between groups)). In post hoc analysis, we divided the 78 participants with detectable baseline carotid plaque into tertiles. Those with the higher baseline plaque burden, whom were assigned to drink wine, reduced their plaque volume significantly after 2 years, as compared to baseline. Two-year reductions in Apo(B)/Apo(A) ratio(s) were independently associated with regression in carotid-TPV (β = 0.4; p < 0.001). Two-year decreases in systolic blood pressure were independently associated with regression in carotid-VWV (β = 0.2; p = 0.005).Conclusions: No progression in carotid-TPV was observed. In subgroup analyses, those with the greatest plaque burden assigned to drink wine may have had a small regression of plaque burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To examine the associations of daily hassles with the somatic and psychological health of Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Method: A cross‐sectional study of 400 self‐selected adult CD patients was performed with completion of demographic, medical, and psychosocial questionnaires: economic status; Patient Harvey‐Bradshaw Index of disease activity; Daily Hassles Scale (DHS); Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36 Physical and Mental Health) quality of life measures; Brief Symptom Inventory of psychological stress with summary Global Severity Index (GSI); Family Assessment Device; and List of Threatening Life Experiences. Analyses included correlations, regressions, and Sobel test statistic. Results: The patients were aged 38.7 ± 14.1 years, 61% female and 67% working. The Patient Harvey‐Bradshaw Index was 5.52 ± 4.87. The DHS was 88.0 ± 23.2, similar in men and women, higher in smokers, and increased with greater disease activity (p < .001). The most commonly reported hassles were time, social, and work. DHS had significant negative correlations with age, disease duration, and economic status and positive correlations with GSI, SF‐36, and SIBDQ. An increased Daily Hassles score was associated with reduced SIBDQ (p < .001) and SF‐36 Mental Health (p < .001) and increased GSI (p < .001) and Patient Harvey‐Bradshaw Index (p < .001). This effect of DHS on Patient Harvey‐Bradshaw Index was mediated by GSI (Sobel t = 6.09, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Daily hassles in CD patients are shown for the first time to be associated with increased psychological stress and disease activity and reduced quality of life and lower economic status. This has psychotherapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) surgical procedures are more likely to cause nosocomial Candida peritonitis than lower GIT procedures and they thus constitute an independent risk factor for mortality. Because of the severity of postsurgical fungal infections complications, intensivists and surgeons need to be extremely aware of their clinical importance in critically ill postsurgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We analyzed the clinical and microbiological data of 149 oncologic patients who were hospitalized in the ICU at Soroka Medical Center between January 2010 and January 2015 after undergoing upper GIT surgery for gastric cancer. Invasive fungal infections related to secondary peritonitis following oncologic upper GIT surgery had a higher mortality rate than patients with nonfungal postoperative infectious complications. The presence of gastroesophageal junction leakage and advanced age were found to be independent risk factors for invasive fungal infection after oncologic upper GIT surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify trends in preterm delivery (PTD) as well as seasonality, temporal variation and the effect of heat stress on its incidence.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective population-based study, we included all deliveries taking place at the Soroka University Medical Center between the years 1988-2012. A time series database was built including meteorological factors and the number of spontaneous versus induced PTDs for each day. Data were analyzed using time-series analyses.Results: During the study period, 263 709 deliveries occurred, 7.9% of which were preterm. Spontaneous PTD rate steadily decreased, while induced PTD rate increased. A significant annual and seasonal variation was noted in PTD incidence. A significant higher incidence of spontaneous PTD was demonstrated during the summer period with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 4.1 (95%CI: 3.1-5.5; p < 0.001). This trend was not significant for induced PTD. A significant linear association was noted between the heat-stress index and the rates of spontaneous (IRR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.05-1.10; p < 0.001) but not induced PTDs.Conclusions: Spontaneous PTD is more common during the summer and its rate is declining steadily over the past decades. Increased outdoor temperature has a significant effect on the incidence of spontaneous, but not induced, PTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]