Generic drugs use during the COVID-19 pandemic among Lebanese patients using psychotropics: An opportunity for generic drug promotion.

Introduction: The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed several challenges leading to the shortage of medications due to the disruption of their supply chains. Among others, patients using psychotropics encountered difficulties finding their medication despite the efforts of investing in local production. Encouraging patients to use generic drugs can be an effective strategy to ensure sustainable access to medication.

Predictors of antibiogram performance and antibiotic resistance patterns in the northern Syrian region: A cross-sectional investigation.

Introduction: Antibiogram use is crucial in the fight against antibiotic resistance in Syria, helping to guide treatment decisions, monitor resistance trends, and implement measures to mitigate this global health threat. This study explores the predictors of antibiogram performance and antibiotic resistance patterns in hospital settings in the Northern Syrian region.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was performed over six months, from the beginning of September 2022 to February 2023, targeting patients admitted to two hospitals in Syria with susceptibility to infection.

Predictors of all-cause mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients taking corticosteroids: a multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study.

Unlabelled: Despite the recommendations to avoid using corticosteroids systematically for hospitalized coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients, healthcare professionals used personalized treatments, including corticosteroids, as adjuncts to treat their patients due to their limited access to treatment options. This study aims to evaluate the use of corticosteroids among hospitalized COVID-19 patients with all-cause mortality as the primary outcome and to assess the predictors of all-cause mortality associated with the characteristics of the patients and the corticosteroid regimens adopted.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was performed over three months targeting 422 COVID-19 patients from six hospitals in Lebanon.

Development and validation of a short tool to assess the awareness of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a cross-sectional study among pregnant women in Lebanon.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) are responsible for most perinatal and fetal mortality. Few programs are patient-centered during pregnancy, thereby increasing the risks of misinformation and misconceptions among pregnant women and, as a result, malpractices.

Objective: This study aims to develop and validate a form to assess the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women about HDPs.

Assessment of community pharmacists' knowledge of the differences between generic drugs and biosimilars: A pilot cross-sectional study.

Background: Pharmacists' knowledge of the differences in the characteristics between generic drugs and biosimilars is essential to ensure good practice and lower pharmaceutical bills.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge and perception of using and substituting biosimilars and generic drugs.

Design: A pilot cross-sectional study was performed over 2 months (August-September 2022) targeting community pharmacists in their work site.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption patterns of psychotropic drugs and predictors of limited access to medication.

Background: Despite the efforts of the health system to improve access to medications during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, such as online consultations, encouraging generic prescriptions, and other measures to limit the storage of medication, psychotropic patients faced significant challenges in accessing their medications.

Objectives: This study aimed (1) to compare the consumption of psychotropics before and during the pandemic, (2) to assess the association between having difficulties finding the medications and the general characteristics of the patients, and (3) to assess the predictors of these difficulties.

Design: A case-control study was performed in which 128 patients (cases) were recruited during the pandemic (July-October 2021), and 256 patients (controls) using psychotropics before the pandemic were matched for age and sex.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy practice and on the provision of pharmaceutical care: A cross-sectional study among community pharmacists.

Background: Community pharmacists played an essential role in the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic; both pharmaceutical care and community pharmacists were affected, given that, patients' needs and demands increased due to the fear of lockdowns and shortage of medication throughout the pandemic.

Objectives: This study was based in Lebanon and aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) pharmacists, including infection rates, pay, and working hours, and (2) pharmacy practice, including medicine and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages.

Design: A cross-sectional study involving 120 community pharmacists was carried out between August and November 2021.

Knowledge, perception and acceptance of generic drugs in the general Lebanese population: A cross-sectional survey among adults.

Background: Many governments encouraged generic use to enhance health equality and minimise health expenditure. The lack of knowledge and acceptance of generic medicines are the main barriers to their use.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess population knowledge and perception towards generic drugs, identify their primary sources of information and examine which variables are independently related to their acceptance.

Evaluation of Pharmacists' Preferences and Barriers to Access Continuing Education: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon.

The implementation of continuing education programs for pharmacists in Lebanon is emerging and needs to be further developed and strengthened to fill the gaps between knowledge acquisition and its application in the workplace. This study examined the perceptions of pharmacist preferences for and barriers to access programs. A crosssectional descriptive study was undertaken with a convenience sample of 142 pharmacists who were surveyed in their workplace.

Knowledge and Beliefs of Cancer Risk Factors and Early Cancer Symptoms in Lebanon: A Cross-sectional Survey Among Adults in the Community.

Background: Lebanon has an increasing cancer burden. Sufficient knowledge of cancer risk factors and early cancer symptoms can help lower cancer burden by facilitating primary prevention and early diagnosis. This study (i) assessed Lebanese adults' knowledge and beliefs of cancer risk factors and early cancer symptoms, (ii) analyzed whether knowledge was correlated with personal behavior, and (iii) assessed the presence of barriers that keep knowledge from turning into healthcare seeking behavior.

Multiple hPOT1-TPP1 cooperatively unfold contiguous telomeric G-quadruplexes proceeding from 3' toward 5', a feature due to a 3'-end binding preference and to structuring of telomeric DNA.

Telomeres are DNA repeated sequences that associate with shelterin proteins and protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Human telomeres are composed of 5'TTAGGG repeats and ends with a 3' single-stranded tail, called G-overhang, that can be specifically bound by the shelterin protein hPOT1 (human Protection of Telomeres 1). In vitro studies have shown that the telomeric G-strand can fold into stable contiguous G-quadruplexes (G4).