HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Israel: a 35-year epidemiological and clinical overview, 1981-2015.

BACKGROUND: This study is the first to describe major epidemiological trends and clinical characteristics among Israeli men who have sex with men (MSM), who are at a higher risk for HIV infection. METHODS: This retrospective study includes all individuals reported to the Israeli Ministry of Health with HIV and self-identified as MSM between 1981 and 2015. The incidence rates of HIV infection and AIDS-defining diseases were analyzed and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were calculated from time of HIV infection notification to AIDS diagnosis and death across three consecutive periods representing antiretroviral treatment availability. RESULTS: The trend of increase in HIV incidence is similar to Western Europe, although Israeli rates are lower. Of 2052 HIV/AIDS Israeli MSM diagnosed during the follow-up, 296 (14.6%) developed AIDS. MSM constitute 28.4% of all HIV/AIDS cases and 41.5% of cases among men. Average times from HIV-notification until AIDS diagnosis were 15.5 [14.0-16.9], 16.0 [15.5-16.4], and 6.7 [6.7-6.8] years, within 1981-1996, 1997-2007, and 2008-2015, respectively. The HIV-incidence rate among Israeli MSM slightly declined from 2012, after peaking in 2011 at 6.2 per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: The recent reduction in HIV-incidence and in AIDS diagnoses among Israeli MSM is encouraging. Nevertheless, the disproportionate incidence of HIV among MSM requires sustained efforts to abate further infections.

Survey results of currently used techniques and materials by dentists for fabrication of complete removable dental prostheses.

The present study was based on the screening of procedures and materials used by dentists in constructing complete removable dental prostheses, considering their professional background and years of experience. Questions arose regarding differences and similarities within the local dental society, of which approximately 75% were trained in Europeans countries with differences in academic background, and compared to international dentistry. A questionnaire web site was used in order to anonymously collect answers to the survey by general practicing and specialist dentists. The survey contained 28 multiple choice questions that were based on 5 parameters: years of experience, location of dental studies, specialization, location and field of specialization. One hundred one survey sheets were collected. The results show statistical significance (p less than 0.05) for the following comparisons: practicing time had an impact on practitioner-technician interaction, while the level of qualification had an effect on articulator and face-bow usage. Location of dental studies, specialization and residency had impact on final impression materials, teeth set-up as well as tooth shape and color selection. The differences found between dentists’ working techniques set the ground for future research that should focus on rating the success of the different methods towards a goal of creating recommendations for an ideal set of working techniques.

Interoperable atlases of the human brain.

The last two decades have seen an unprecedented development of human brain mapping approaches at various spatial and temporal scales. Together, these have provided a large fundus of information on many different aspects of the human brain including micro- and macrostructural segregation, regional specialization of function, connectivity, and temporal dynamics. Atlases are central in order to integrate such diverse information in a topographically meaningful way. It is noteworthy, that the brain mapping field has been developed along several major lines such as structure vs. function, postmortem vs. in vivo, individual features of the brain vs. population-based aspects, or slow vs. fast dynamics. In order to understand human brain organization, however, it seems inevitable that these different lines are integrated and combined into a multimodal human brain model. To this aim, we held a workshop to determine the constraints of a multi-modal human brain model that are needed to enable (i) an integration of different spatial and temporal scales and data modalities into a common reference system, and (ii) efficient data exchange and analysis. As detailed in this report, to arrive at fully interoperable atlases of the human brain will still require much work at the frontiers of data acquisition, analysis, and representation. Among them, the latter may provide the most challenging task, in particular when it comes to representing features of vastly different scales of space, time and abstraction. The potential benefits of such endeavor, however, clearly outweigh the problems, as only such kind of multi-modal human brain atlas may provide a starting point from which the complex relationships between structure, function, and connectivity may be explored.

[Impressions for implant supported prostheses].

A crucial aspect for successful outcome of implant supported restoration is it's accurate fit. The implant and the prosthetic component have precise machine fit, thus small discrepancies can lead to stress applied to the implants when connecting the restoration. The accuracy of the master cast is of great significance and depends on both clinical and laboratory factors. The purpose of this article is to discuss the various materials and methods available for impressions and the effect of implants' location, number and angulations on the accuracy of the impressions.

The Human Connectome Project: a data acquisition perspective.

The Human Connectome Project (HCP) is an ambitious 5-year effort to characterize brain connectivity and function and their variability in healthy adults. This review summarizes the data acquisition plans being implemented by a consortium of HCP investigators who will study a population of 1200 subjects (twins and their non-twin siblings) using multiple imaging modalities along with extensive behavioral and genetic data. The imaging modalities will include diffusion imaging (dMRI), resting-state fMRI (R-fMRI), task-evoked fMRI (T-fMRI), T1- and T2-weighted MRI for structural and myelin mapping, plus combined magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography (MEG/EEG). Given the importance of obtaining the best possible data quality, we discuss the efforts underway during the first two years of the grant (Phase I) to refine and optimize many aspects of HCP data acquisition, including a new 7T scanner, a customized 3T scanner, and improved MR pulse sequences.

[Current status of implant-abutment--part 1: abutments for cemented versus screw retained restorations].

Fixed implant supported single crowns and fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) have become an accepted treatment option for replacing and restoring missing teeth. Recent systematic reviews summarized excellent 5- and 10-year survival rates for both reconstruction types. In screw-retained restorations, the fastening screw provides a solid joint between the restoration and the implant abutment or between the restoration and the implant itself. With cement-retained prostheses, this restorative screw is eliminated for many reasons: esthetics, occlusal stability, and fabrication of passively fitting restorations. The purpose of this article is to review the variety of implant-abutments available for fabrication of fixed implant-supported restoration and compare between the various abutment forms (screw vs. cement retained).

[The influence of dental implant surface on osseointegration: review].

Dental implant therapy is a prevalent and successful treatment, based on research and clinical experience. Ossointegration is the main factor that responsible for success or failure, initially of the implant, and in some cases followed with the whole treatment failure. The osseointegration process is influenced by several factors, among them the surface texture. Dental implants are available with different surface modifications that have been developed for enhancing clinical performances. This paper reviews the main treatments used for changing dental titanium implant surfaces, and compare the clinical performance of different types of implants. Based on existent literature, modified implant surface improves significantly the ability to achive optimise bone-implant contact and improve osseointegration. This review did not find any significant major differences between the surface modifications in use this days in terms of survival and success of specific implant. There are several methods that are no longer in use, due to poor clinical performance in the past.

Dysregulation of kisspeptin and neurogenesis at adolescence link inborn immune deficits to the late onset of abnormal sensorimotor gating in congenital psychological disorders.

Neuropsychological syndromes including schizophrenia often do not manifest until late adolescence or early adulthood. Studies attributing a role in brain maintenance to the immune system led us to propose that malfunction of immune-dependent regulation of brain functions at adolescence underlies the late onset of such diseases/syndromes. One such function is sensorimotor gating, the ability to segregate a continuous stream of sensory and cognitive information, and to selectively allocate attention to a significant event by silencing the background (measured by prepulse inhibition; PPI). This activity is impaired in schizophrenia, as well as in several other neuropsychological diseases. Using a model of prenatal immune activation (maternal polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C) injection), often used as a model for schizophrenia, and in which abnormal PPI has a delayed appearance, we demonstrated a form of immune deficit in the adult offspring. Similar abnormal PPI with a delayed appearance was found in congenitally immune-deficient mice (severe combined immune deficient, SCID), and could be reversed by immune reconstitution. This functional deficit correlated with impairment of both hippocampal neurogenesis and expression of the gene encoding kisspeptin (Kiss1) that manifested at adulthood. Moreover, exogenous administration of a kisspeptin-derived peptide partially reversed the gating deficits in the SCID mice. Our results suggest that a form of congenital immune deficiency may be a key factor that determines manifestation of developmental neuropsychological disorders with onset only at early adulthood.

Age-dependent spatial memory loss can be partially restored by immune activation.

Aging is often associated with a decline in hippocampus-dependent spatial memory. Here, we show that functional cell-mediated immunity is required for the maintenance of hippocampus-dependent spatial memory. Sudden imposition of immune compromise in young mice caused spatial memory impairment, whereas immune reconstitution reversed memory deficit in immune-deficient mice. Analysis of hippocampal gene expression suggested that immune-dependent spatial memory performance was associated with the expression of insulin-like growth factor (Igf1) and of genes encoding proteins related to presynaptic activity (Syt10, Cplx2). We further showed that memory loss in aged mice could be attributed to age-related attenuation of the immune response and could be reversed by immune system activation. Homeostatic-driven proliferation of lymphocytes, which expands the existing T cell repertoire, restored spatial memory deficits in aged mice. Thus, our results identify a novel function of the immune system in the maintenance of spatial memory and suggest an original approach for arresting or reversing age-associated memory loss.

The relation between gain in cognition during rehabilitation on functional outcome among hip fracture adult patients with and without pre- hip fracture dementia.

The purpose of the present study was focused on the relationship between change in cognition and the functional outcome during rehabilitation in demented and non-demented adult hip fracture patients. We studied seventy consecutive adult patients with hip fracture admitted to our rehabilitation wards. Functional outcome was assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The gain in cognition during the rehabilitation process was measured by the difference in Mini Mental State Examination scores at admission and discharge. Data was analyzed by t-test, chi square-test and linear regression. Patients without dementia presented and discharged from the rehabilitation ward with statistically significant higher total, motor, and gain functional independence measure scores compared to patients with dementia. In a multiple regression analyses, gain in Mini Mental State scores examination were not independently associated with higher total and motor functional independence measure scores at discharge (beta = 0.086, p = 0.194; beta = 0.077, p = 0.309, respectively). Our findings suggest that there is no association between functional outcome and cognitive gain at the end of the rehabilitation process among adult hip fracture patients with and without dementia. However hip fracture adult patients with dementia should not be deprived of a post-acute rehabilitation.

Tonotopic mapping in auditory cortex of the chinchilla.

Using single-unit electrophysiological methods we have mapped sound frequency (or cochleotopic) representation in the auditory cortex of the chinchilla. We describe the surgical approach to expose this area. We report on maps from six subjects and note a considerable variation in shape between individuals. In general, the primary area has a cochleotopic/tonotopic organization in which low frequencies are represented rostrally and higher frequencies caudally. Neurons in the primary area have latency and tuning properties comparable to other mammalian species. A region anterior to the primary (AI) auditory are has a reverse tonotopic map and may be analogous to the anterior auditory field (AAF) reported in other species.

The effects of anesthesia on otoacoustic emissions.

We have measured transient-evoked and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) in the chinchilla and compared them in the awake and anesthetized animal (using either ketamine or barbiturate agents). We report a significant increase in OAE amplitudes during anesthesia, particularly using ketamine. These effects are most evident for transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) as measured in the non-linear mode. Our data support the hypothesis that tonic activity levels in cochlear efferents may be reduced by anesthetic effects, either directly or indirectly (e.g., by general reductions in descending pathway activity), and that reduced cochlear efferent activity will result in the observed increase of OAE amplitudes.

Local haemodynamic changes associated with neural activity in auditory cortex.

We used an optical technique to study haemodynamic changes associated with acoustically driven activity in auditory cortex of the chinchilla. Such changes are first detectable c. 0.5 s after stimulation, peak at 2-3 s, and decay within a further 3-6 s. This intrinsic signal imaging reveals activity in separate cortical areas, including primary auditory cortex (AI), secondary auditory cortex (AII) and an anterior auditory field (AAF). We have measured the timing of haemodynamics associated with each area, and find that AI has a different time course from AII and AAF; its haemodynamic change recovers more rapidly. We also show that within AI and AII, place specific activity related to acoustic stimulus frequency can be resolved by this optical imaging method. Our results show the close association between blood flow change and the local metabolic demands of neural activity. The data provide information about the potential of other functional imaging methods (e.g. PET, fMRI) which rely on activity related haemodynamic events.

Arterial blood supply to the auditory cortex of the chinchilla.

Utilizing optical imaging we identified and named the arteries that supply the primary auditory cortex in the chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger). The primary auditory cortex is located 2-3 mm caudal to the medial cerebral artery and is supplied by it. Using corrosion casts and scanning electron microscopy we visualized the capillary networks in the auditory cortex and found regional variations in the densities of the capillary bed. We hypothesize that the uneven capillary densities observed in the auditory cortex correspond to neurologically more active areas.

Comparison of distortion-product and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions with ABR threshold shift in chinchillas with ototoxic damage.

In this study we compare distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and ABR threshold shifts in an animal model (chinchilla) of cochlear hearing loss. Subjects were treated with an aminoglycoside (amikacin) to produce basal cochlear lesions of various degree. DPOAE and TEOAE were measured throughout the treatment period and until hearing thresholds stabilized. ABR thresholds to tone pip stimuli were determined. Cytocochleograms of cochleas were prepared using scanning microscopy. DPOAEs (2f1-f2) were compared to fast Fourier transform (FFT)-analyzed TEOAEs components in the 1-, 2-, and 4-kHz frequency regions. Both types of emission were compared with corresponding ABR thresholds. There was no significant linear correlation between these different measures of cochlear function. Moreover, the amplitudes of DPOAEs reflected smaller regions of cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) damage better than TEOAEs. These results suggest that DPOAEs can be used to more accurately monitor hair cell function at specific hearing locations than TEOAEs.

Phosphorylation of the human cytomegalovirus 86-kilodalton immediate-early protein IE2.

We have investigated the phosphorylation state of the human cytomegalovirus 86-kDa immediate-early (IE) protein IEP86 from transfected and infected cells. We show that multiple domains of IEP86 are phosphorylated by cellular kinases, both in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that serum-inducible kinases play a significant role in cell-mediated IE protein phosphorylation and that a member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MAPK) family, extracellular regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), phosphorylates several domains of IEP86 in vitro. Alanine substitution mutagenesis was performed on specific serines or threonines (T27, S144, T233/S234, and T555) found in consensus MAP kinase motifs. Analysis of these mutations showed that T27 and T233/S234 are the major sites for serum-inducible kinases and are the major ERK2 sites in vitro. S144 appeared to be phosphorylated in a serum-independent manner in vitro. All of the mutations except T555 eliminated specific phosphorylation in vivo. In transient transfection analyses, IEP86 isoforms containing mutations in S144 and, especially, T233/S234 displayed increased transcriptional activation relative to the wild type, suggesting that phosphorylation at these sites in wild-type IEP86 may result in reduction of its transcriptional activation ability.

Tonotopic mapping in auditory cortex of the adult chinchilla with amikacin-induced cochlear lesions.

We have found a reorganization of tonotopic maps (based on neuron response thresholds) in primary auditory cortex of the adult chinchilla after amikacin-induced basal cochlear lesions. We find an over-representation of a frequency that corresponds to the border area of the cochlear lesion. The reorganization observed is similar in extent to that previously seen in a developmental model. The properties of neurons within the over-represented area were investigated in order to determine whether their responses originated from a common input (an indication of true plasticity) or represented only the result of truncating the activity of the sensory epithelium ("pseudo-plasticity"). Some aspects of our data fit with a true plasticity model and indicate the potential for the deafferented cortex of the mature cortex to regain connections with the surviving sensory epithelium.

A second Dr(a-) proposita with anti-Dra and a family with the Dr(a-) phenotype in two generations.

An Israeli Jewish woman who originated from the Uzbekskaya SSR in the south of the Soviet Union, had anti-Dra in her serum and her red cells were Dr(a-) as were those of three of her four children. All Dr(a-) red cells had weakened expression of their Cra, Tca, Esa, IFC, and other Cromer-related antigens. It is suggested that the Dr(a-) phenotype may result from inheritance of a dominant inhibitor gene, although a relatively common recessive allele of Dra was not excluded. Anti-Dra was inhibited by serums from the Dr(a+), but not the Dr(a-), members of the family.

Frequency selectivity as a potential measure of noise damage susceptibility.

The notched-noise procedure of Patterson (1974, Journal of the Accoustical Society of America, 55, 802-809; 1976, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 59, 640-654) was employed in revealing changes in auditory frequency selectivity (FS) in noise-exposed industrial workers in manufacturing plants in which noise levels in the working environment exceeded 90 dB(A). With 4 kHz as the test frequency, both threshold and FS measures were applied to three groups of non-exposed young adults (total N = 61) for reference values and to workers in three different factories, some ('noise-exposed') working in noise levels over 90 dB(A) (total N = 222). In another study involving 185 workers only the FS test was repeated after a work session, and the results are reported on 31 who worked in high noise levels. Pre-work-shift data showed that when thresholds were better than 30-dB HL most FS values were 10 dB or more, while subjects with hearing threshold levels beyond that showed reduced FS. Two post-work-shift studies of 144 ears of the noise-exposed workers showed significant deleterious changes in both thresholds and FS but the relationships were different in the two studies. The findings indicate that the notched-noise test is sensitive to noise-induced auditory damage, even after a single work-shift. Attractive features of the procedure are that it reduces the need for a quiet test environment and that it can be more resistant to testee manipulation or threshold 'learning' effects, often seen in industrial audiometric testing.