Barriers to colorectal cancer screening in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a scoping review using the theoretical domains framework.

Background: Colorectal cancer screening plays a key role in mitigating morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Regions such as the Eastern Mediterranean Region experience a particularly large burden of colorectal cancer. While trends have been described at the country level within the region, it is important to understand what barriers exist to colorectal cancer screening, so that more effective interventions can be conceptualized and implemented.

Risk Stratification of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Metastatic to the Lymph Nodes.

Context.—: The pathologic nodal staging of prostatic adenocarcinoma is binary for regional lymph nodes. Stages pN0 and pN1 indicate the absence or presence of regional nodal metastasis, respectively, whereas patients with metastasis to nonregional lymph nodes are staged as pM1a.

Energy drinks consumption and perceptions among University Students in Beirut, Lebanon: A mixed methods approach.

Background: Energy drinks (ED) are caffeine- and sugar-rich beverages with other ingredients that are marketed for their energy-boosting and performance-enhancing effects. The consumption of these drinks, with and without alcohol, is dramatically increasing worldwide, despite the reported side effects and potential harms to consumers. Few studies, to date, have explored the perceptions and experiences of young adults towards these beverages.

Factors Affecting Smoking Initiation and Cessation Among Saudi Women Attending Smoking Cessation Clinics.

Objectives: Smoking is one of the most adaptable risk behaviours associated with increased mortality rates, yet over one billion individuals worldwide are smokers. This study aimed to examine self-reported reasons for starting and quitting smoking among women attending smoking cessation clinics in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study took place between January 2014 and January 2017 in Saudi Arabia using previously collected data.

Distribution of hemoglobinopathy disorders in Saudi Arabia based on data from the premarital screening and genetic counseling program, 2011-2015.

The prevalence rates of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Saudi Arabia are considered one of the highest compared to surrounding countries in the Middle East (0.05% and 4.50%, respectively).

An overview of mortality & predictors of small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer among Saudi patients.

Lung cancer ranks as the top cancer worldwide in terms of incidence and constitutes a major health problem. About 90% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at advance stage where treatment is not available. Despite evidence that lung cancer screening improves survival, guidelines for lung cancer screening are still a subject for debate.

Validation of a pregnancy planning measure for Arabic-speaking women.

Background: The prevalence of unplanned pregnancy in Saudi Arabia has not been thoroughly investigated.

Objective: To conduct a psychometric evaluation study of the Arabic version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP).

Methods: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the LMUP, we conducted a self-administered online survey among 796 ever-married Saudi women aged 20-49 years, and a re-test survey among 24 women.

Cholera outbreak in Homa Bay County, Kenya, 2015.

Cholera is among the re-emerging diseases in Kenya. Beginning in December 2014, a persistent outbreak occurred involving 29 out of the 47 countries. Homa Bay County in Western Kenya was among the first counties to report cholera cases from January to April 2015.

Mercury health risk assessment among a young adult Lebanese population.

Mercury (Hg) exposure represents a significant public health concern at a global level. This study aims at assessing Hg exposure and risk among Lebanese young adults based on Hg biomonitoring and seafood intake. A group of 166 young adults were administered a questionnaire to assess Hg exposure and were asked to provide a hair sample.

Public knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Bahrain: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is one of the major health problems worldwide. Despite the low prevalence of HIV in Bahrain, educational and awareness programs remain highly important in controlling and preventing the spread of the disease. This study aimed to assess the public's knowledge, risk perceptions, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Bahrain.

Use of Lean methodology to improve operating room efficiency in hospitals across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether an intervention on process efficiency using the Lean methodology leads to improved utilization of the operating room (OR), as measured by key performance metrics of OR efficiency.

Design: A quasi-experimental design was used to test the impact of the intervention by comparing pre-intervention and post-intervention data on five key performance indicators.

Setting: The ORs of 12 hospitals were selected across regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Assessment of Dietary Intake Patterns and Their Correlates among University Students in Lebanon.

Introduction: Unhealthy dietary habits are major risk factors for chronic diseases, particularly if adopted during early years of adulthood. Limited studies have explored the food consumption patterns among young adults in Lebanon. Our study aimed to examine common dietary patterns and their correlates among a large sample of university student population in Lebanon, focusing on correlation with gender and body mass index (BMI).

Association of CYP3A4/5 genotypes and expression with the survival of patients with neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a rare pediatric disease in Lebanon for which poor prognosis remains a major challenge. Genetic polymorphism of genes coding for drug‑metabolizing enzymes may influence the response of a patient to chemotherapy. This study investigates a possible association between CYP3A4/5 polymorphism and expression levels and survival in NB patients.

Age, body mass, usage of exogenous estrogen, and lifestyle factors in relation to circulating sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations in postmenopausal women.

Background: Circulating concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hormone-dependent cancers; however, correlates of SHBG concentrations are not well understood.

Methods: We comprehensively investigated correlates of SHBG concentrations among 13 547 women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative and who had SHBG measurements. We estimated study- and ethnicity-specific associations of age, reproductive history, usage of exogenous estrogen, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, coffee intake, and dietary factors with SHBG concentrations.

Sex hormone levels and risk of breast cancer with estrogen plus progestin.

Background: Although high endogenous sex hormone levels and estrogen plus progestin (E+P) therapy are associated with increased breast cancer risk, it is unknown whether pretreatment levels of sex hormones modify E+P effect on breast cancer.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study within the Women's Health Initiative randomized clinical trial of E+P. The trial enrolled 16608 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years with intact uterus and no breast cancer history.

The Young Adults' Cigarette Dependence (YACD) score: an improved tool for cigarette dependence assessment in university students.

Background: Cigarette smoking induces dependence in young smokers.

Purpose: The primary objective of this work was to validate the use of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young Lebanese university students, and to improve it eventually by adding new items covering DSM-IV and ICD-10 dependence components.

Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional study on university students.

Relationship between mammographic density and breast cancer death in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.

Background: Women with elevated mammographic density have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. However, among women diagnosed with breast cancer, it is unclear whether higher density portends reduced survival, independent of other factors.

Methods: We evaluated relationships between mammographic density and risk of death from breast cancer and all causes within the US Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.

The association of menopause status with physical function: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether postmenopause status is associated with self-reported limitations in physical function.

Methods: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation is a multisite, multiethnic, longitudinal study of midlife women. Women aged 45 to 57 years (N = 2,566) completed the physical function scale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 on visit 4 (2000-2001).

Quantifying mediating effects of endogenous estrogen and insulin in the relation between obesity, alcohol consumption, and breast cancer.

Background: Increased exposure to endogenous estrogen and/or insulin may partly explain the relationship of obesity, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption and postmenopausal breast cancer. However, these potential mediating effects have not been formally quantified in a survival analysis setting.

Methods: We combined data from two case-cohort studies based in the Women's Health Initiative-Observational Study with serum estradiol levels, one of which also had insulin levels.

Sex hormone levels and risks of estrogen receptor-negative and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers.

Background: Endogenous sex hormone levels are associated with risks of breast cancer overall and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors; however, their associations with ER-negative tumors remain unclear.

Methods: In a case-cohort study within the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study among postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years, we examined associations between endogenous testosterone and estradiol levels and the risks of ER-negative and ER-positive breast cancers. Serum levels of bioavailable testosterone and estradiol were assessed at the baseline visit in 317 invasive breast cancer case subjects and in a subcohort of 594 women.

Changes in invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ rates in relation to the decline in hormone therapy use.

Purpose: To assess trends in invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) incidence in association with changes in hormone therapy (HT) use in regular mammography screeners.

Methods: We included 2,071,814 screening mammography examinations performed between January 1997 and December 2006 on 696,385 women age 40 to 79 years; 9,586 breast cancers were diagnosed within 12 months of a screening examination. We calculated adjusted annual rates (mammogram level) for prevalent HT use, incident invasive breast cancer (overall and by tumor histology and estrogen receptor [ER] status), and incident DCIS.

The association of bone mineral density with prostate cancer risk in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study.

We investigated the association of bone mineral density (BMD) measures with prostate cancer (PCa) risk in older men enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. We hypothesized that men with higher BMD, a marker of exposure to endogenous sex hormones, would have an increased incidence of PCa. The cohort included 4,597 men (89% White, 65 years or older) with no prior history of PCa.

National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank: a standard based biospecimen and clinical data resource to enhance translational research.

Background: Advances in translational research have led to the need for well characterized biospecimens for research. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank is an initiative which collects annotated datasets relevant to human mesothelioma to develop an enterprising biospecimen resource to fulfill researchers' need.

Methods: The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank architecture is based on three major components: (a) common data elements (based on College of American Pathologists protocol and National North American Association of Central Cancer Registries standards), (b) clinical and epidemiologic data annotation, and (c) data query tools.