Paths to improve voluntary blood donation in mixed public/private blood donation systems such as in Lebanon?

Background: The World Health Organization advocates for the achievement of 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRD) globally by the year 2020. However, until today, little was known in Lebanon regarding its actual rate or influencing factors, particularly donor motivations and behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of blood donors in Lebanon.

The Emergence of Invasive Serotype 24F in Lebanon: Complete Genome Sequencing Reveals High Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Characteristics.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a global health problem. IPD incidence has significantly decreased by the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). Nevertheless, non-PCV serotypes remain a matter of concern.

A case control study on the contribution of factor V-Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations to the genetic susceptibility of deep venous thrombosis.

Background: Insofar as the inherited prothrombotic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) factor V G1691A (FV-Leiden), prothrombin (PRT) G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), C677T are inherited risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE), the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of single and combined SNPs in 198 patients with documented deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and 697 control subjects, and to estimate the associated risks.

Methods: Factor V-Leiden, PRT G20210A, and MTHFR C677T were analyzed by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Results: The prevalence of the heterozygote and homozygous variants for FV-Leiden (52.