The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak introduced unprecedented health-risks, as well as pressure on the economy, society, and psychological well-being due to the response to the outbreak. In a preregistered study, we hypothesized that the intense experience of the outbreak potentially induced stress-related brain modifications in the healthy population, not infected with the virus. We examined volumetric changes in 50 participants who underwent MRI scans before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Israel. Their scans were compared with those of 50 control participants who were scanned twice prior to the pandemic. Following COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, the test group participants uniquely showed volumetric increases in bilateral amygdalae, putamen, and the anterior temporal cortices. Changes in the amygdalae diminished as time elapsed from lockdown relief, suggesting that the intense experience associated with the pandemic induced transient volumetric changes in brain regions commonly associated with stress and anxiety. The current work utilizes a rare opportunity for real-life natural experiment, showing evidence for brain plasticity following the COVID-19 global pandemic. These findings have broad implications, relevant both for the scientific community as well as the general public.
Abstract Background Isolated rectal bleeding in infants is often attributed to the consumption of cow's milk. However, the prevalence of this condition has not been described, and its preferred diagnostic methods and management are controversial. Methods In a prospective population‐based study following 13,019 children from birth, 21 infants with isolated rectal bleeding attributed to cow's milk protein consumption were identified. Following evaluation, parents were encouraged to resume cow's milk protein and infants were followed for reappearance of symptoms and thereafter for 6 yr. In addition, infants with rectal bleeding were compared to a control group of healthy infants. Results The prevalence of isolated rectal bleeding attributed to cow's milk consumption was 0.16%. All infants were asymptomatic within days of dietary modifications. Eleven of the 14 infants (78.5%) whose parents reintroduced cow's milk protein to their diet following our evaluation tolerated it with no adverse effects. Those 11 infants were significantly younger at initial consumption of cow's milk protein (6.7 ± 1.6 months) compared to those who continued elimination diet (17.7 ± 9.2 months), (p = 0.002) while their 1‐yr hemoglobin levels were comparable (p = 0.98). No risk factors for rectal bleeding were identified. Conclusions The prevalence of isolated rectal bleeding attributed to cow' milk is low. The condition is generally benign and resolves quickly with elimination diet. Reintroduction of cow's milk following resolution of symptoms is often well tolerated and is recommended for confirming the diagnosis and avoiding prolonged unnecessary elimination diets.
Provision of healthcare is considered a basic human right. Delivery and uptake is affected by many complex factors. Routine vaccinations are provided free of charge in Israel to all residents. The Palestinian Israeli Collaborative Research (PICR) group conducted research on vaccine impact at eight primary care facilities in east Jerusalem (EJ) and central Israel (IL) which allowed assessment and comparison of interactions of these Arab and Jewish populations, respectively, with healthcare services.Families attending clinic with a child under five years old were invited to participate. Utilisation of healthcare was assessed using data from standardise questionnaires completed after enrolment, using proxies of vaccination status, antibiotic use, primary care physician and hospital visits as well as demographics such as household size. Differences between EJ and IL were assessed using chi squared tests; univariate analyses identified potential confounders which were tested in a multiple logistic regression model for any independent associations between region and outcome.Children in EJ were significantly more likely to live in larger households, with tobacco smokers, to have been breastfed, hospitalised and used antibiotics recently than those in IL, who were significantly more likely to have recently seen a primary care physician (all p < 0.01). Receipt of routine vaccinations, given at well baby clinics, was similar between the regions at above 95% (p = 0.11), except for influenza which was delivered separately at primary physician clinics to 5% (EJ) and 12% (IL). Receipt of pneumococcal vaccine when paid for separately was significantly higher in IL than EJ (3% vs 31%). Multivariate analysis identified the most important independent predictors of these differences as region, age and household size.Healthcare in Israel is of a very high standard, but it is not uniformly utilised within the community in all geographical areas, though in some key areas, such as uptake of most routine childhood vaccination, equality seems to be achieved. To ensure excellent healthcare is achieved across the population, inequalities must be addressed, for instance in health promotion and other activities, which could improve and normalise health outcomes.
Abstract Diffusing alpha-emitters radiation therapy (DaRT) is the only known method for treating solid tumors with highly destructive alpha radiation. More importantly, as a monotherapy, DaRT has been shown to induce a systemic antitumor immune response following tumor ablation. Here, immunomodulatory strategies to boost the antitumor immune response induced by DaRT, and the response specificity, were investigated in the colon cancer CT26 mouse model. Local treatment prior to DaRT, with the TLR3 agonist poly I:C, was sufficient to inhibit tumor growth relative to poly I:C or DaRT alone. DaRT used in combination with the TLR9 agonist CpG, or with the TLR1/2 agonist XS15 retarded tumor growth and increased tumor-rejection rates, compared to DaRT alone, curing 41% and 20% of the mice, respectively. DaRT in combination with CpG, the Treg inhibitor cyclophosphamide, and the MDSC inhibitor sildenafil, cured 51% of the animals, compared to only 6% and 0% cure when immunomodulation or DaRT was used alone, respectively. Challenge and Winn assays revealed that these high cure rates involved a specific immunological memory against CT26 antigens. We suggest that DaRT acts in synergy with immunomodulation to induce a specific and systemic antitumor immune response. This strategy may serve as a safe and efficient method not only for tumor ablation, but also for in situ vaccination of cancer patients.
We have successfully demonstrated the first CMOS-compatible monolithic epitaxial integration of GaN-based infrared (IR) detectors on Si. The device is a GaN/AlGaN quantum cascade detector (QCD) grown selectively in windows on a 4-in Si (111) substrate using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The CMOS compatibility of the QCD growth method was verified by applying it to Si circuitry fabricated on (100) surface of a double hetero-oriented silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate. The photo signal, centered at a wavelength of 4.6 $\mu \text{m}$ , was measured at 110 K. The zero-bias responsivity of 81 $\mu \text{A}$ /W at 18 K and detectivity of $1.2\times 10^{{7}}$ Jones were recorded.
There is great variation in the reported incidence of food allergies, especially the estimated cross allergy to cow's milk and soy.To assess the attitude of allergists, pediatric gastroenterologists, chief pediatricians and physicians working in the community to cross-sensitivity to cow's milk and soybean. Sesame allergy was used to assess the physician's familiarity with food allergy.Questionnaires were mailed to 186 physicians of different disciplines. The opinions of primary physicians in the community were assessed according to 171 questionnaires completed at a food allergy conference.A total of 54% of the allergists estimated that less than 5% of children with cow's milk allergy are allergic to soy, significantly lower than pediatric gastroenterologists and community physicians. On the other hand, only 15% of the pediatric gastroenterologists reported that they encountered patients allergic to sesame, significantly less than allergists (65%) and chief pediatricians (44%). Only half (51%) of the allergists encountered patients allergic to both cow's milk and soy, significantly less than pediatric-gastroenterologists (88%) and chief pediatricians (80%). Although the community physicians felt that the incidence of cross-sensitivity to cow's milk and soy was high, 94% of them were familiar with only a few such patients.There is significant variability in the attitude and judgment of physicians from different specialties regarding food allergy. It seems that the physician's opinion is influenced by "general knowledge" more than by his own experience. We suggest emphasizing through education that there are two distinct entities of cow's milk intolerance: IgE-mediated allergy and non-IgE-mediated.
