2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in adults with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions. A systematic literature review was then performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in adults with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions. A systematic literature review was then performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Screening and Monitoring of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding screening for interstitial lung disease (ILD) and the monitoring for ILD progression in people with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), specifically rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren disease.

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions related to screening and monitoring for ILD in patients with SARDs. A systematic literature review was performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Screening and Monitoring of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding screening for interstitial lung disease (ILD) and the monitoring for ILD progression in people with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), specifically rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren disease.

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions related to screening and monitoring for ILD in patients with SARDs. A systematic literature review was performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

PRevalence of the Eosinophilic Phenotype Among SeveRE asthma patients in Lebanon: results of the PREPARE study.

Background: The prevalence of eosinophilic asthma in Lebanon, one of the most severe phenotypes among severe asthma, is not known. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of the eosinophilic phenotype defined as an eosinophil count ≥ 300 cells/mm among severe asthma patients in Lebanon.

Methods: The Lebanese Chapter of the PREPARE study was a national, multicenter, cross-sectional observational study.

Central and Peripheral Hemodynamics in Young Adults Who Use Water Pipes and the Acute Effects of Water-Pipe Use.

Background: Tobacco use via water pipe (commonly referred to as water-pipe smoking [WPS]) is popular among young adults globally and exposes those who smoke to toxicants.

Research Question: Is WPS associated with impaired measures of arterial function and does WPS acutely impair these measures in young adults?

Study Design And Methods: We assessed heart rate (HR), brachial and aortic BP, HR-adjusted augmentation index (AI), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) in 62 individuals who use water pipes and 34 individuals who have never used a water pipe recruited from the community (mean age, 22.5 ± 3.

Increased airway resistance among exclusive waterpipe smokers detected using impulse oscillometry.

Introduction: Waterpipe smoking is increasing in popularity, yet the evidence implicating waterpipe smoking in lung disease is limited. We hypothesized that impulse oscillometry (IOS) would detect airway abnormalities in waterpipe smokers (WPS).

Methods: We studied 210 participants, 40 years or older, from the community, of whom 92 were exclusive WPS and 118 were never-smokers.

Copper Deficiency and Polyneuropathy: A Case Report.

Although copper plays a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes, its deficiency is virtually indistinguishable from subacute combined degeneration due to cobalamin deficiency. Moreover, the co-occurrence of deficiencies in other micronutrients and vitamins is common, making the diagnosis even more challenging. Here, we describe a case of copper deficiency in a 50-year-old woman who presented with altered mental status and bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness, numbness, and paresthesia.

Varenicline Treatment for Waterpipe Smoking Cessation.

Background: Waterpipe smoking is increasing worldwide with no proven interventions for cessation. We compared abstinence rates with 12-week varenicline therapy versus placebo among habitual waterpipe smokers willing to quit.

Methods: This double-blind placebo-controlled single-center trial, randomized waterpipe smokers from Lebanon who did not smoke other tobacco products to receive varenicline or placebo for 12 weeks.

Incidence of diabetes and its predictors in the Greater Beirut Area: a five-year longitudinal study.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) remains a world epidemic. Obtaining accurate estimates of its incidence and their predictors will aid in targeting preventive measures, allocating resources, and strategizing its management. The Middle East North Africa region has high T2D prevalence and rates of rise.

Chronic Exposure to Waterpipe Smoke Elicits Immunomodulatory and Carcinogenic Effects in the Lung.

Unlabelled: Effects of waterpipe smoking on lung pathobiology and carcinogenesis remain sparse despite the worldwide emergence of this tobacco vector. To address this gap, we investigated the effects of chronic waterpipe smoke (WPS) exposure on lung pathobiology, host immunity, and tumorigenesis using an experimental animal model that is prone to tobacco carcinogens and an exploratory observational analysis of human waterpipe smokers and nonsmokers. Mice exhibited elevated incidence of lung tumors following heavy WPS exposure (5 days/week for 20 weeks) compared to littermates with light WPS (once/week for 20 weeks) or control air.

Prevalence of programmed death ligand-1 in patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in Lebanon.

Introduction: Programmed death ligand-1 expression has been shown to be a good predictor of response to cancer therapy with checkpoint inhibitors. Its expression varies among different tumor types and among non-small cell lung cancer patients with different clinical and demographic characteristics. The prevalence and determinants of programmed death ligand-1 expression have been previously reported from various regions of the world, but data from Lebanon are lacking.

Randomized Cross-over Trial of Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Needle Aspiration With or Without Suction in Suspected Malignant Lymphadenopathy.

Rationale: The benefit from applying suction during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is unclear.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying suction during EBUS-TBNA of lymph nodes (LN) on the diagnostic yield and specimen quality of EBUS-TBNA smears and cellblocks.

Methods: We conducted a randomized blinded cross-over trial comparing the diagnostic yield and quality of EBUS-TBNA samples obtained with suction (S+) and without suction (S-) from suspected malignant mediastinal LN.

The association of waterpipe smoking with arterial stiffness and wave reflection in a community-based sample.

Purpose: The evidence linking waterpipe smoking to cardiovascular disease is limited. We evaluated the association of waterpipe smoking (WPS) with arterial stiffness and wave reflection measured by augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIx), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV), which are validated predictors of cardiovascular disease.

Materials And Methods: Community-based, cross-sectional study including 205 exclusive waterpipe smokers and 199 matched never-smokers aged 35 years or older (mean age 51.

Questionnaires or Serum Immunoglobulin G Testing in the Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis among Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) results from exposure to a variety of stimuli, which are challenging to identify. Questionnaires and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) testing are methods to identify potentially causative exposures. To perform a systematic review to determine the usefulness of questionnaires and serum IgG testing in identifying exposures that may have caused HP.

Deep targeted sequencing analysis of hot spot mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients from the Middle Eastern population.

Background: The overall 5-year survival of lung cancer remains dismal despite the current treatment regimens. Testing for driver mutations has become routine practice for oncologists due to the presence of targeted therapy readily available for patients. Deep targeted sequencing through next generation sequencing (NGS) is an adequate methodology to detect mutations at multi-genetic levels.

A healthy lifestyle pattern is associated with a metabolically healthy phenotype in overweight and obese adults: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study tried at identifying lifestyle patterns in a sample of Lebanese adults and investigating their association with metabolically healthy overweight and obesity (MHOv/O).

Methods: This study used data from a community-based survey of Lebanese adults living in Greater Beirut (n = 305). Dietary intake was assessed using an 80-item food frequency questionnaire.

Sleepless in Beirut: sleep duration and associated subjective sleep insufficiency, daytime fatigue, and sleep debt in an urban environment.

Purpose: Insufficient sleep is not well studied in developing countries. We assessed sleep duration among adults in Lebanon and examined its potential predictors and relationship with subjective sleep insufficiency, daytime fatigue, and weekday sleep debt.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 501 adults (mean age 45.

Cardiac implantable electronic device infections: Observational data from a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

With increasing rates of device implantation, there is an increased recognition of device infection. We conducted a retrospective observational study in a tertiary care center in Lebanon, with data collected from medical records of patients presenting with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection from 2000 to 2017 with the purpose of identifying etiologies, risk factors and other parameters, and comparing them to available data from the rest of the world. We identified a total of 22 CIED infections.

Association of preoperative systemic corticosteroid therapy with surgical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are at an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risks and benefits associated with preoperative steroids in COPD patients.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improved Program database was used to identify 92 COPD patients who underwent surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 2009 and 2013.

Sleepless in Beirut: Sleep Difficulties in an Urban Environment With Chronic Psychosocial Stress.

Study Objectives: The prevalence of sleep disorders in the Lebanese population is unknown. We assessed the prevalence of insomnia and sleep apnea risk and examined their relationship with sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics in a sample from Greater Beirut.

Methods: This cross-sectional pilot survey included 501 adults from the community (age 45.

Epigenetic Suppression of the T-box Subfamily 2 () in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

(1) The subfamily of transcription factors (s 2, 3, 4 and 5) are markedly down-regulated in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and exert tumor suppressor effects in lung malignancy. Yet, mechanisms underlying suppressed expression of the subfamily in NSCLC are elusive. Here, we interrogated probable epigenetic mechanisms in suppressed expression of the subfamily in human NSCLC.