Throughout history, Jewish people have long been recognized for their achievements in the world of medical science. For example, prior to the Holocaust, many outstanding physicians in Germany were Jewish. However, even in the 1930s, refugee European Jewish doctors faced significant barriers when they tried to escape and practice elsewhere because of long-standing prejudices and anti-Jewish quotas in medical schools and hospitals around the world. Eventually quotas fell, and the period after World War II once again saw a tremendous growth in numbers of Jews excelling in medicine internationally. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a resurgence of antisemitism worldwide. It is especially noticeable in the world of healthcare. This article evaluates and highlights examples of antisemitism in four countries by authors from each of these jurisdictions.
When patients undergoing ventral or incisional hernia repair are reoperated for recurrence with an incidence rate of 16.0% following open repair and 18.8% following minimally invasive repair, it is time for re-evaluation of the real benefit of laparoscopy in ventral hernia repair.
Background: There is an increasing body of literature associating edentulism with cognitive impairment. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the available data, emphasizing the role of removable dental prostheses in preventing cognitive deterioration and promoting brain health in elderly individuals.
Aim: This systematic review investigates the relationship between the use of removable dental prostheses and physiological or adaptive changes at the cerebral level in partially and completely edentulous patients.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with an initial search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies published up to June 2023 in English were considered. A risk of bias assessment was performed for included studies.
Results: Of the 86 studies initially screened, 13 met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate a positive association between the use of removable dental prostheses and improved cognitive function, with potential therapeutic implications for managing cognitive decline.
Conclusion: Removable dental prostheses play a crucial role in enhancing neurological health and preventing cognitive decline, making them an important consideration in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.
Background: Chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), significantly impact patients’ quality of life by limiting physical function, mobility, and overall well-being. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), particularly home-based programs, has emerged as a vital non-pharmacological intervention to address these limitations. However, comprehensive assessments of the impact of home-based PR on both lung function and disability in COPD patients remain limited.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week home-based PR program on pulmonary function and disability in COPD patients, using pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) to assess outcomes across multiple domains.
Methods: A prospective, single-arm pre–post interventional study was conducted among 62 COPD patients at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur. Participants completed a 12-week home-based PR program, which included endurance exercises, breathing techniques, and self-management education. Pulmonary function tests were conducted, and disability levels were assessed using WHODAS 2.0 at baseline and after completing the program.
Results: Improvements were observed in pulmonary function, with forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), showing substantial increases (FVC: 2.50±0.43 L to 2.85±0.59 L; FEV1 1.53±0.33 L to 1.63±0.34 L; P<0.001). The WHODAS 2.0 scores demonstrated notable reductions in disability, particularly in the life activities and participation domains (P<0.001). Cognitive and self-care scores remained stable, while improvements in mobility were observed but not significant. Regression analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between increases in FVC and reductions in WHODAS 2.0 total scores (r=-0.65), highlighting FVC as a key predictor of disability reduction.
Conclusion: The 12-week home-based PR program improved lung function and reduced disability in COPD patients. These findings support the role of home-based PR as a viable, patient-centered alternative to traditional rehabilitation, addressing both physical and social dimensions of health. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, the potential for broader implementation, and expanding access to underserved populations.
Viral hepatitis, primarily caused by hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, is widely recognized for its impact on liver function, but emerging evidence suggests it also affects cognitive function. This review explores the causes, manifestations, and impact of cognitive impairments in patients with viral hepatitis, to better understand this often-overlooked aspect of the disease. A literature review was conducted, focusing on studies published in PubMed up to August 2024. Key areas covered include the pathophysiological mechanisms behind cognitive impairment in viral hepatitis, clinical manifestations observed in affected patients, the implications for their daily functioning and overall well-being, and the tools used in cognitive assessments. Common manifestations included deficits in attention, memory, executive function, and psychomotor speed. These cognitive challenges can significantly impact daily activities, occupational performance, and social interactions, contributing to reduced quality of life. Cognitive impairments in viral hepatitis patients represent a significant concern that extends beyond liver health. Recognizing and addressing these cognitive issues are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Enhanced diagnostic strategies and targeted interventions are needed to better manage cognitive symptoms and support affected individuals in maintaining their quality of life. This narrative review aims to enhance clinical practice and inform future research directions.
Background and Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) poses a significant healthcare challenge, characterized by chronic gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms impacting individuals’ well-being. Treatment preferences may vary among patients from different ethnic groups, such as Arab and Jewish Israelis, necessitating tailored approaches.
Methods: A bilingual (Hebrew/Arabic) questionnaire assessing patients’ preferences regarding treatment goals was developed. It was administered online in Israeli IBS Facebook groups, as well as in two hospital gastroenterology clinics.
Results: The study included 267 IBS patients (91 Arabs and 176 Jews). Demographic analysis revealed a higher proportion of females in both groups, with a significantly greater percentage among Jews compared to Arabs (84% versus 64.8%, respectively, P<0.001). The median age was 32 years for both Arabs and Jews (interquartile ranges of 26–42 and 24–62, respectively). Arabs exhibited higher rates of mixed-type IBS and constipation, while Jews had a higher prevalence of predominant diarrhea IBS. Arabs reported more bloating, higher rates of IBS-related comorbidities, and more medication usage. When asked to rate the importance of treatment goals, both populations preferred improvement in abdominal pain, bloating, and regular defecation, while assigning lower importance to improving difficulty in mental and/or physical aspects of intercourse, as well as arthralgia and myalgia. Arab patients assigned lower importance scores to various symptoms compared to their Jewish counterparts.
Conclusion: This study highlights the impact of ethnicity on patients’ treatment goals. Understanding patients’ preferences will enable tailoring an individual approach to each IBS patient.
Dear Editor, ... The recommendation by Roth and Wald to en-force stricter regalia policies and uphold profession-alism at commencements is crucial. However, such measures should be complemented by proactive educational interventions. ...
The recently published paper “US Medical Schools’ 2024 Commencements and Antisemitism: Addressing Unprofessional Behavior” discusses antisemitism expressions and unprofessional behavior in US medical schools’ 2024 commencement ceremony. While we share the authors’ concerns regarding rising antisemitic, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim bias, alongside hateful behavior toward minorities and immigrants in the US in general and in medical schools in particular, we are also concerned about the significant bias informing this paper. The authors mistakenly conflate antisemitism with harsh criticism of Israeli government and the actions of its military, and legitimate acts of solidarity with people under oppression. This fallacy is further aggravated by serious concerns (mentioned by the authors themselves) involving the paper’s methodological and statistical shortcomings. Ultimately, the paper lacks scientific rigor and appears to be ideologically motivated rather than a contribution to objective research. Scholars worldwide, Jews and Israelis amongst them, have demonstrated that these are legitimate protests, and the interpretation of their messaging as antisemitic is just another way to silence Palestinian voices calling for freedom and liberation, and delegitimizing critique on the Israeli government. This paper aims to provide the reader with currently published evidence and scientific controversy regarding this issue, that the discussed paper failed to mention.
To the Editor,
We read with great interest the article titled “Local Flap Reconstructions in Oral Cavity Defects: An Insight from 104 Cases” and commend the authors for their valuable contribution to the field of reconstructive surgery. We believe that individuals diagnosed with oral cancer undergoing flap reconstruction should have physical therapy incorporated into their prehabilitation and postoperative rehabilitation.
To the Editor. We thank authors Babar as well as Abu Fraiha and Leibowitz for their interest in and correspondence about our paper regarding the regalia and symbols worn by medical students and the protests and disruptions at commencement ceremonies.
