Yael Bliman-Tal MD, Irena Rabinovich MD, Marina Pekar-Zlotin MD, Yaakov Melcer MD, Neta Eisenberg MD, and Noam Smorgick MD
Background: Laparoscopic removal of ovarian dermoid cysts has been associated with increased risk for recurrence.
Objectives: To investigate the risk factors associated with recurrence of dermoid cysts.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all women who underwent cystectomy for ovarian dermoid cysts by laparoscopy or laparotomy. At discharge, patients were instructed to undergo a yearly ultrasound exam. A follow-up telephone call was conducted to assess whether an additional surgery for dermoid cysts was required and whether ultrasound recurrence of dermoid cysts was suspected.
Results: The study cohort included 102 participants (92 [90.2%] operated by laparoscopy and 10 [9.8%] by laparotomy). The mean follow-up from the index surgery to the interview was 72.1 ± 38.2 months. The rates of recurrent surgery were similar among women who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy compared with laparotomy (5/92 [5.4%] vs. 1/10 [10.0%], respectively; P = 0.5), while the rates of reported ultrasound recurrence were significantly lower in the laparoscopy group compared with the laparotomy group (10/102 [10.9%] vs. 4/10 [40.0%], respectively; P = 0.03). Additional factors including age, cyst diameter, diagnosis of torsion, intraoperative cyst spillage, estimated blood loss, intraperitoneal adhesions, and postoperative fever were not associated with recurrence.
Conclusions: Ultrasound recurrence of dermoid cysts is not uncommon and could be associated with the surgical approach.
Sophia Eilat-Tsanani MD, Amal Zoubi MD, and Rawi Hazzan MD
Background: Hepatitis D virus may cause a disease at various severities in the presence of hepatitis B virus, using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) on the external envelope in its replication process. Thus, people identified with HBsAg in blood tests should also be tested for hepatitis D virus.
Objectives: To describe the situation of performance of blood tests for detection of hepatitis D virus in patients positive for hepatitis surface antigen during 9 years in a population with heterogeneous origins in the north region of Israel.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the database of Clalit Health Services.
Results: We found 3367 people were positive for HBsAg during the study period; 613 (18%) were tested for hepatitis D. People who tested for hepatitis D were younger (47.3 ± 15 years vs. 50.5) and showed a higher rate of visiting the gastroenterology clinic (80.6% vs. 41%). The rate of positive blood tests for hepatitis D was too small for analysis, but it still demonstrated tendency for higher rates in the Ethiopian Jewish group.
Conclusion: The recommendation for performance of blood test for hepatitis D virus was followed to a small extent. Considering the ethnic diversity of the population in Israel, activities to raise rates of performance should be considered.
Tavor Ben-Zeev MS, Yehuda Shoenfeld MD FRCP MaACR, and Jay R. Hoffman PhD
The connection between physical exercise and the brain has long been studied. The evidence showing that physical exercise plays a significant role on neurogenesis and cognitive function has primarily been based on research examining aerobic exercise. In this review, we described three exercise modalities: aerobic, anaerobic, and resistance exercise and their impact on brain plasticity and cognitive function. While each of these exercise modalities have been demonstrated to positively influence brain plasticity and cognitive function, the specific mechanism that stimulates these changes appear to differ to some degree between these training modalities. The effect of aerobic and anaerobic exercise appears to be primarily mediated by changes in expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), lactate, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and several additional proteins within the brain. However, resistance exercise appears to influence brain plasticity by myokines such as irisin, insulin-growth factor-1 (IGF1), and BDNF that are secreted from skeletal tissue and stimulate neurogenesis within the brain. In addition to the various training modes, manipulation of various acute program variables such as intensity, volume, and rest intervals leads to numerous possible training paradigms that can provide a different stimulus for neurogenesis. This review focuses on the three primary training modes and their connection to neurogenesis and cognitive function.
Yulia Zinchenko MD PhD, Anna Malkova MD, and Anna Starshinova Prof
Yocheved Aronovitz MD, Daniel Oren MD MSc, Rawan Agbariah MD, Asaf Vivante MD PhD, and Irit Tirosh MD
Aviv Gour MD, Emily Elefant MD, Feda Fanadka MD, Meir Kestenbaum MD, and Nirit Lev MD, PhD
Naim Mahroum MD and Yehuda Shoenfeld MD FRCP MaACR
Jozélio Freire de Carvalho MD PhD and Yehuda Shoenfeld MD FRCP MaACR
Daniel M. Gelfman MD FACC FACP
Ayman Khoury MD MHA, Gil Gannot MD, and Amir Oron MD