Dietary patterns and their associations with postpartum weight retention: results of the MINA cohort study.

Purpose: To examine the association of prepregnancy dietary patterns with postpartum weight retention at 6 months (PPWR) among Lebanese and Qatari women.

Methods: Data for this study were derived from the Mother and Infant Nutrition Assessment (MINA) prospective cohort study conducted in Lebanon and Qatar. Pregnant women were recruited during their first trimester and were followed up for three years.

A triangulated perspective for understanding CAM use in Lebanon: a qualitative study.

Background: Existing evidence marked a prevalent use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies in Lebanon that is concomitant with low rates of disclosure to health care providers and limited knowledge among the general public of safety and side effects of CAM use.

Objectives: To examine the perspectives of Lebanese CAM users, CAM providers, and health care providers (HCPs) regarding their understanding of CAM and of the Push and Pull factors that drive its use.

Methods: A qualitative research study was conducted using in-depth interviews, targeting Lebanese adults (CAM users; 18-65 years) (n=14), CAM providers such as yoga instructors, owners of CAM product outlets, herbalists, and religious figures (n=13); and HCPs including physicians, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists (n=14).

A qualitative investigation of the perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine among adults in Hawai'i.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as a group of diverse medical and healthcare practices outside of conventional medicine modalities. The use of CAM is steadily increasing despite gaps in the scientific evidence supporting its use and the challenges of its regulation and integration into conventional healthcare practices. In this context, perceptions concerning CAM become important.

Prenatal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and intention, and their associations with feeding practices during the first six months of life: a cohort study in Lebanon and Qatar.

Background: Prenatal knowledge, attitude, and intention related to breastfeeding are postulated as important modulators of feeding practices. Using data from the Mother and Infant Nutritional Assessment (MINA) study, a three year cohort conducted in Lebanon and Qatar, this study aimed to characterize breastfeeding practices during the first six months postnatally and examine their associations with prenatal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, exposure, and intention.

Methods: Pregnant women during their first trimester were recruited from primary healthcare centers in Beirut and Doha.

Review of the Nutrition Situation in Jordan: Trends and Way Forward.

Jordan is witnessing an escalating pace of nutrition transition, which may be associated with an increased burden of malnutrition and related non-communicable diseases. This review analyzes the nutrition situation in Jordan by exploring specific nutrition indicators, namely infant and young child feeding, low birthweight, micronutrient deficiencies, anthropometric indicators, and food consumption patterns. Results showed that although most children were ever breastfed and early initiation of breastfeeding had a two-fold increasing trend, rates of exclusive breastfeeding below 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding until two years of age were low.

Development of national dietary and lifestyle guidelines for pregnant women in Lebanon.

Although a number of international diet and lifestyle guidelines during pregnancy (DLGP) exist in the literature, contextualization to low- and middle-income settings is less common. The aim of this study was to present the Lebanese DLGP and to describe the process followed for their development. A mixed-method approach was used including a review and synthesis of existing international DLGP and a consensus building nominal group technique (NGT) with a multidisciplinary group of experts (n = 11).

Postpartum Weight Retention and Its Determinants in Lebanon and Qatar: Results of the Mother and Infant Nutrition Assessment (MINA) Cohort.

Excessive Postpartum Weight Retention (PWR) is postulated to increase the risk of adverse health outcomes for mothers and offspring. Using data from the Mother and Infant Nutritional Assessment (MINA) cohort in Lebanon and Qatar, this study aimed to examine PWR and its determinants at 6 months after delivery. Pregnant women ( = 183) were recruited during their first trimester and were followed up through pregnancy and after delivery.

Sex disparities in dietary intake across the lifespan: the case of Lebanon.

Background: Little is known about sex-based dietary differences in middle-income countries, particularly those undergoing the nutrition transition. This study aims at examining sex disparities in energy and macronutrients' intakes, food consumption patterns, and micronutrients' adequacy in Lebanon, while adopting a life course approach.

Methods: Data were derived from a national cross-sectional survey conducted in Lebanon in 2008/2009.

Differences in Dietary Intakes among Lebanese Adults over a Decade: Results from Two National Surveys 1997-2008/2009.

Amidst the ongoing societal and economic shifts in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR), this study aims at investigating temporal trends in food consumption and nutrient intakes among Lebanese adults, by age and sex. Data were derived from two national cross-sectional surveys conducted in Lebanon during two time periods (1997; 2008/2009). In both surveys, dietary assessment was based on 24-h recalls.

Pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain and birth outcomes in Lebanon and Qatar: Results of the MINA cohort.

Accumulating evidence has highlighted the role of maternal nutritional status on fetal development, birth outcomes and child health. The Mother and Infant Nutritional Assessment (MINA) cohort is a 3-year follow-up study of pregnant women and their children in Qatar and Lebanon. This study reports on the characteristics and determinants of pre-pregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) of MINA particiants, as well as birth outcomes.

The interaction of personal, contextual, and study characteristics and their effect on recruitment and participation of pregnant women in research: a qualitative study in Lebanon.

Background: Declining participation rates are impeding health research. Little is known about factors influencing the decision to participate in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Therefore, this paper reports on the various individual factors and their with contextual factors in influencing participation in research among pregnant women and the recommendations to enhance their recruitment in Lebanon.

Nutritional status and dietary intakes of children amid the nutrition transition: the case of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is undergoing social and economic changes that may impact the nutritional status of children living in its countries. The objective of this review is to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary intakes of children (0-12 years) in selected EMR countries, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the United Arab Emirates. MedLine, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles published between 1990 and 2016; international organizations and governmental websites were also searched.

Review of the nutrition situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

This situation analysis for the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region focuses on specific nutrition indicators, namely low birth weight, exclusive breastfeeding, under- and overnutrition (anthropometric indicators) and anaemia. The regional average prevalence of low birth weight and exclusive breastfeeding was estimated at 19.31% and 29.

Association between urine osmolality and specific gravity in dogs and the effect of commonly measured urine solutes on that association.

Objective: To determine the association between urine osmolality and specific gravity (USG) in dogs and to evaluate the effect of commonly measured urine solutes on that association.

Animals: 60 dogs evaluated by an internal medicine service.

Procedures: From each dog, urine was obtained by cystocentesis and USG was determined with a refractometer.

Liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric assay for the simultaneous quantification of Camptosar and its metabolite SN-38 in mouse plasma and tissues.

A simple, rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method has been developed to simultaneously quantify Camptosar (CPT-11) and its active metabolite, SN-38, in mouse plasma and tissues. A single step protein precipitation with acetonitrile in 96-well plates was used for sample preparation. Camptothecin (CPT) was used as the internal standard.

Improved liquid chromatographic method for mitoxantrone quantification in mouse plasma and tissues to study the pharmacokinetics of a liposome entrapped mitoxantrone formulation.

A simple, rapid HPLC method for quantification of mitoxantrone in mouse plasma and tissue homogenates in the presence of a liposome entrapped mitoxantrone formulation (LEM-ETU) is described. Sample preparation is achieved by protein precipitation of 100 microl plasma or 200 microl tissue homogenate with an equal volume of methanol containing 0.5 M hydrochloric acid:acetonitrile (90:10, v/v).