Background Vaccines for COVID-19 are currently available for the public in Israel. The compliance with vaccination has differed between sectors in Israel and the uptake has been substantially lower in the Arab compared with the Jewish population. Aim To assess ethnic and socio-demographic factors in Israel associated with attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines prior to their introduction. Methods A national cross-sectional survey was carried out In Israel during October 2020 using an internet panel of around 100,000 people, supplemented by snowball sampling. A sample of 957 adults aged 30 and over were recruited of whom 606 were Jews (49% males) and 351 were Arabs (38% males). Results The sample of Arabs was younger than for the Jewish respondents. Among the men, 27.3% of the Jewish and 23.1% of the Arab respondents wanted to be vaccinated immediately, compared with only 13.6% of Jewish women and 12.0% of Arab women. An affirmative answer to the question as to whether they would refuse the vaccine at any stage was given by 7.7% of Jewish men and 29.9% of Arab men, and 17.2% of Jewish women and 41.0% of Arab women. Higher education was associated with less vaccine hesitancy. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the ethnic and gender differences persisted after controlling for age and education. Other factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were the belief that the government restrictions were too lenient and the frequency of socializing prior to the pandemic. Conclusions The study revealed a relatively high percentage reported would be reluctant to get vaccinated, prior to the introduction of the vaccine. This was more marked so for Arabs then Jews, and more so for women within the ethnic groups. While this was not a true random sample, the findings are consistent with the large ethnic differences in compliance with the vaccine, currently encountered and reinforce the policy implications for developing effective communication to increase vaccine adherence. Government policies directed at controlling the pandemic should include sector-specific information campaigns, which are tailored to ensure community engagement, using targeted messages to the suspected vaccine hesitant groups. Government ministries, health service providers and local authorities should join hands with civil society organizations to promote vaccine promotion campaigns.

Background: More research is ongoing on obesity as a risk factor for cancer occurrence. Cell of origin (COO), stage and National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index (NCCN-IPI) are frequently used for risk evaluation and treatment tailoring in patients with Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Relatively, few studies assessed the prognostic role of obesity and leptin level in patients with DLBCL. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity and leptin level on response and prognosis in DLBCL. Methods: A single institution prospective study that included patients with DLBCL. For each patient, demographic data, body mass index (BMI), serum leptin level by ELISA, response and survival were determined. Results: Seventeen (24.3%) out of the 70 patients in our cohort were classified as obese (BMI>30). They had a higher serum leptin level (p < 0.001) and less response to R-CHOP chemotherapy (P= 0.003). Forty (57.14%) patients had elevated serum leptin level with B symptoms, Cell of origin and response to chemotherapy were significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant relationship between BMI and survival. On the other hand, higher serum leptin was associated with worse disease-free survival (p=0.035). Conclusion: The results support a relationship between both BMI and serum leptin level and response to treatment in DLBCL patients. Leptin level like other common prognostic factors is related to disease-free survival.

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Background Grey platelet syndrome (GPS) is a rare cause of mild-to-severe bleeding. Up till now, there has been no definite treatment for GPS. Case presentation We reported a case diagnosed as GPS and presented with menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, gingival bleeding, and left hypochondrial pain. The platelet count was 18 thousand/cmm. Ultrasound splenic diameter was 22.0 cm. The multidisciplinary team decided to perform splenectomy; however, the patient was unfit for surgery. Partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) was performed. Follow-up after 24 months showed a normal menstrual cycle and absent pain. Platelet count rise to 70, 55, and 51 thousand/cmm after 1, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Splenic diameter showed a significant decrease to 11.2 cm after 24 months. Conclusion PSE is effective and safe in symptomatic patients with GPS.