The compliance of nutrition claims on pita bread in Lebanon and risk on public health: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Mislabeling is a type of fraud, that can lead to major health concerns, especially when used on staple foods like bread. This study aimed to assess the compliance of nutrition claims on pre-packaged Pita bread in Mount Lebanon with national (LIBNOR; NL 661:2017) and international (CODEX; CAC/GL -2-1985) standards.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and Lebanese bread samples (n = 75) were collected from all the registered bakeries in Mount Lebanon directorate (n = 25).

The Fluoride Debate: The Pros and Cons of Fluoridation.

Fluoride is one of the most abundant elements found in nature. Water is the major dietary source of fluoride. The only known association with low fluoride intake is the risk of dental caries.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Circulating Potassium Channel Levels.

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death are more frequent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is associated with QT prolongation, and QT prolongation is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death. Because QT prolongation can be mediated by potassium channel loss of function, we tested whether OSA or continuous positive airway pressure therapy altered mRNA expression of circulating white blood cell potassium channels.

Sleep Apnea in Type 2 Diabetes.

IN BRIEF Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) alters glucose metabolism, promotes insulin resistance, and is associated with development of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a key moderator of the effect of OSA on type 2 diabetes. However, chronic exposure to intermittent hypoxia and other pathophysiological effects of OSA affect glucose metabolism directly, and treatment of OSA can improve glucose homeostasis.

Successful Treatment of Idiopathic Onychodystrophy With 300 Microsecond 1064 nm Nd:YAG Laser.

Onychodystrophy is the temporary or permanent change in the nail structures. It can be secondary to an inflammatory condition or infectious disease, however many cases of onychodystrophy are idiopathic in nature. In secondary onychodystrophy the treatment is directed towards the underlying process, with subsequent improvement in the appearance of the affected nails depending on the etiology.

Nutritional and health status among nursing home residents in Lebanon: comparison across gender in a national cross sectional study.

Background: This study described the differences between elderly men and women living in Lebanese long-term care nursing homes on socio-economic, health and nutritional status.

Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. Field researchers obtained data from 221 residents; 148 (67%) women and 73 (33%) men, living in 36 nursing homes.

Factors influencing the yield of mesenteric angiography in lower gastrointestinal bleed.

Aim: To assess if certain triaging rules could be established to optimize the yield of mesenteric angiography.

Methods: Medical records of 101 patients were retrospectively reviewed and parameters relating to age, gender, pulse rate, blood pressure, serum hemoglobin, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the number of packed red blood cells (PRBC) transfused in the 12 and 24 h prior to the angiography were tabulated in two groups with positive and negative angiography results.

Results: We found no correlation between gender, pulse rate, blood pressure or serum hemoglobin and positivity of the mesenteric angiogram.

Atypical presentation of congenital yellow nail syndrome in a 2-year-old female.

Background: Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare clinical entity of unknown etiology that is characterized by a triad of yellow nails, respiratory manifestations, and lymphedema. The condition appears in the mid- to later years of life and only rarely in childhood. We describe a rare case of YNS with an atypical clinical presentation consisting of only yellow and dystrophic nails in a 2-year-old female since birth.

Dynaclose tape: a practical alternative to punch biopsy site closure.

Background: A punch biopsy is a common therapeutic and diagnostic procedure that is routinely performed by dermatologists. A thin cylinder of tissue is removed with a biopsy punch, which creates a full-thickness wound. Sutures are used for primary closure as part of standard practice and are removed in follow-up 5 to 14 days later.

Allergic contact dermatitis from dimethyl fumarate after contact with a Chinese sofa.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate has been successfully used in the treatment of psoriasis in the past. Despite its clinical use, cutaneous contact with this molecule may cause contact dermatitis.

Objective: We report a case in which skin exposure to a synthetic fabric sofa containing dimethyl fumarate made by a Chinese furniture manufacturer resulted in a severe, pruritic, papulovesicular, eczematous dermatitis to the sites of contact with the sofa.

Comparative study of IQ-ultra and Finn Chambers test methodologies in detecting 10 common standard allergens that cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Background: Patch testing is routinely used in contact dermatitis clinics because it is the gold standard for the evaluation of potential allergic contact dermatitis.

Objective: The study was undertaken to evaluate possible differences in reactivity between the Finn Chamber and IQ-Ultra patch-testing methodologies.

Methods: Patients were patch-tested simultaneously with the Finn Chamber and IQ-Ultra patch tests.

Developing criteria for elderly nursing homes: the case of Lebanon.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to establish a set of measurable criteria for elderly nursing homes (ENHs) in Lebanon. Donabedian's model known by structure/process/outcome was used as the driving conceptual framework for the study.

Design/methodology/approach: The study reports on a panel discussion where administrators, caregivers and specialists, separately established and exchanged key information on best practice approach.

Erratum to: The Wide-Awake Approach to Dupuytren's Disease: Fasciectomy under Local Anesthetic with Epinephrine.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s11552-009-9239-y.].

Members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins provide a differential molecular signature between parental and CD133+ DAOY medulloblastoma cells.

Members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) family are involved in metabolic stress and resistance phenotypes of cancer cells. New breakthroughs in brain cancer therapy have exploited that molecular signature and proved that efficient delivery of therapeutic agents involve LRP-mediated mechanisms. We performed gene expression profiling of CD133, a cell surface cancer stem cell marker, and of LRP in response to in vitro nutrient deprivation.

Quality of life and wellbeing of the elderly in Lebanese nursing homes.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess quality of life in relation to wellbeing among Lebanese nursing home elderly residents. The study attempts to understand the impact of structures, processes and skills on elderly health status.

Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, 220 normally functioning elderly respondents from 33 nursing homes were studied.

Validity and reliability of the Arabic version of activities of daily living (ADL).

Background: The Activity of Daily Living (ADL) is an instrument that screens elderly respondents for physical functioning and assesses whether they are dependent or independent in their daily activities. This study demonstrates a translation procedure and obtains the reliability and validity of a translated, Arabic ADL.

Methods: The ADL was translated to Arabic through a forward translation method followed by a committee-consensual approach.

Ileo-anal j-pouch cancer: an unusual case in an unusual location.

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouchanal anastomosis (IPAA) is the surgical treatment of choice for complicated ulcerative colitis. Development of ileal pouch-related cancer is a rare event and usually occurs in association with backwash ileitis or chronic pouchitis. We report a case of adenocarcinoma at the inlet of an ileal pouch in a 68-year-old Caucasian male, 14 years after restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis in the absence of severe chronic pouchitis or backwash ileitis.

Endoscopic balloon dilation of ileal pouch strictures.

Background: Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical treatment of choice in patients with ulcerative colitis. Strictures can occur at the inlet and outlet of the pouch. Endoscopic balloon dilation has been successfully used in patients with Crohn's strictures at the small intestine and colon.

Basic principles for evaluation of less deformable erythrocyte subpopulations with the Microfiltrometer.

The Microfiltrometer consists of a filtration system for diluted erythrocyte suspensions, through a filter containing 30 cylindrical micropores, 5 microm in diameter, under the influence of a driving pressure. A feeding sinusoidal alternating current of 40 kHz, 300 microA is delivered to the filter. The change in impedance is collected for each temporary flow of erythrocytes through a given micropore.

A comparison of 15N proline and 13C leucine for monitoring protein biosynthesis in the skin.

The tracers L 15N-proline and L(1-13C)-leucine were used to explore the synthesis of skin proteins in vivo in rabbits. They orally received a single dose containing an equimolecular mixture of L(1-13C)-leucine and L 15N-proline. The changes in the amounts of these tracers in blood and skin were monitored for a total of 8 h.

An improved scheme of leucine derivative fragmentation in mass spectrometry.

This study illustrates the contribution of stable isotopes to amino acid mass spectrometry. The mass spectra of natural leucine and 1(13)C leucine were compared and the mass fragmentography pattern analysed. This analysis indicates that the position of the stable isotope in tracer molecules should be very dependent on the analytical procedure used for their determination.