Infant and young child feeding practice status and its determinants in UAE: results from the MISC cohort.

Background: To evaluate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and their determinants among infants and young children in the United Arab Emirates using the 2021 WHO/UNICEF IYCF guidelines.

Methods: The Mother and Infant Study Cohort (MISC), is a prospective study of mothers recruited in their third gestational trimester and followed with their infants up to 18 months of age (n = 167). Data were collected at 3rd trimester, delivery, 2, 6, 12, and 18 months postpartum via questionnaires, review of medical records, anthropometric measurements, and 24-hour dietary recalls of the child's intake at 6, 12, and 18 months.

The Lebanese health economic evaluation guideline.

Background: Economic evaluation guidelines (EEGs) serve as a valuable tool to assist appraisers in making consistent and transparent recommendations, standardize EE studies, enhance their quality, and minimize methodological uncertainties. As other LMICs, Lebanon aims for UHC where EEG is a necessity. This paper aims to report on the Lebanese health EEG (LEEG) and its reference case, including the intermediate results leading to the final decisions.

Analysis of Plant Physiological Parameters and Gene Transcriptional Changes Under the Influence of Humic Acid and Humic Acid-Amino Acid Combinations in Maize.

The study investigated the application of humic acids (HAs) and a combination of humic acids and amino acids (HA+AA) in maize under field conditions. Based on preliminary data in the literature, the aim was to investigate the effects of the two plant conditioning compounds on plant physiological parameters. In addition to measuring plant physiological parameters in the field, a complete transcriptome analysis was performed to determine exactly which genes were expressed after the treatments and in which physiological processes they play a role.

Suboptimal dietary knowledge predicts lower diet quality for cancer prevention among university students in Beirut.

University students are at a pivotal stage of shaping cancer risk factors. Little is known about their dietary behavior in Lebanon, a country heavily burdened by cancer. This cross-sectional study assessed the dietary knowledge of and adherence to cancer prevention guidelines among university students in Beirut, Lebanon.

Metabolic Syndrome as a Risk Factor Among Lebanese Patients with Substance Use Disorder Undergoing Treatment for Recovery Through Rehabilitation or Opioid Substitution Treatment.

Data about metabolic syndrome (MS) in people who use drugs (PWUD) undergoing treatment for recovery are limited. We aimed to explore the extent of the MS and its predominant components and determinants in a sample of PWUD undergoing treatment for recovery through rehabilitation or opioid substitution treatment (OST) in Lebanon. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of each treatment modality on the MS; This was a cross-sectional study, in which demographics and treatment-related, nutritional, and biochemical data of the participants were collected.

Food insecurity and lifestyle behaviours in university students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative survey across three countries.

Background: University students, often unemployed and reliant on low-nutrition foods, are susceptible to food insecurity (FI) with potential physical and mental health challenges. This study explores FI and its impact on lifestyle behaviours among university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was performed by sending an online questionnaire to university students in Lebanon, Cyprus, and Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparative Analysis of Osteoarthritis Therapeutics: A Justification for Harnessing Retrospective Strategies via an Inverted Pyramid Model Approach.

In this review, we seek to explore two distinct approaches to the clinical management of OA: a prospective approach, addressing primarily one's genetic predisposition to OA and generating early intervention options, and the retrospective approach, aimed at halting or reversing OA progression post-symptom onset. The clinical management of OA remains challenging, largely due to the limited availability of preventative treatments and failure of existing therapies to modify or reverse the underlying pathophysiology. The prospective approach involves the identification of genetic markers associated with OA and utilizes in vitro and in vivo models to characterize the underlying disease mechanism.

Triglyceride and Glucose Index as an Optimal Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome in Lebanese Adults.

Globally, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is on the rise, especially in Arab countries, which emphasizes the need for reliable ethnic-specific biochemical screening parameters. Two hundred twenty-one Lebanese adults were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Biochemical parameters including Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA), Triglyceride and Glucose index (TyG), ratio of Triglycerides to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) were assessed for their prediction of MetS.

Transcriptome datasets of maize plant cultures treated with humic- and amino acids.

There has been a global surge in the need for commercially accessible plant conditioners that are derived from natural ingredients and are therefore environmentally benign. Currently, sustainable agriculture and minimizing the ecological impact are of great importance. Preparations that contain commonly used humic acids and/or natural amino acids are ideal for meeting these criteria.

Diminishing calcifications as a potential predictor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma arising in association with IPMN in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive benign fibroinflammatory condition involving repeated episodes of pancreatic inflammation, which lead to fibrotic tissue replacement and subsequent pancreatic insufficiency. A lifetime risk of developing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in patients with chronic pancreatitis is reported to be 1.5%-4%.

Interventional Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with L. Plants When Compensating Irrigation Using Saline Water.

High salinity reduces agriculture production and quality, negatively affecting the global economy. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) enhance plant metabolism and abiotic stress tolerance. This study investigated the effects of 2 g/L foliar Zinc oxide NPs on L.

Experimental validation of a low-cost maximum power point tracking technique based on artificial neural network for photovoltaic systems.

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a technique involved in photovoltaic (PV) systems for optimizing the output power of solar panels. Traditional solutions like perturb and observe (P&O) and Incremental Conductance (IC) are commonly utilized to follow the MPP under various environmental circumstances. However, these algorithms suffer from slow tracking speed and low dynamics under fast-changing environment conditions.

Deep pelvic endometriosis causing ureteral obstruction.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease characterized by the presence and growth of endometrial glands and stroma outside of the uterine cavity. The pathogenesis is unclear, but a common theory attributes the condition to retrograde menstruation into the peritoneal cavity via the fallopian tubes. Hormonal influence causes these ectopic tissues to undergo cyclical bleeding, resulting in subsequent inflammation and scar tissue formation; however, it can affect postmenopausal women.

The role of 3D cinematic rendering in the evaluation of upper extremity trauma.

Traumatic upper extremity injuries are a common cause of emergency department visits, comprising between 10-30% of traumatic injury visits. Timely and accurate evaluation is important to prevent severe complications such as permanent deformities, ischemia, or even death. Computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography (CTA) are the favored non-invasive imaging techniques for assessing upper extremity trauma, playing a crucial role in both the treatment planning and decision-making processes for such injuries.

Emerging Trends in Non-Protein Amino Acids as Potential Priming Agents: Implications for Stress Management Strategies and Unveiling Their Regulatory Functions.

Plants endure the repercussions of environmental stress. As the advancement of global climate change continues, it is increasingly crucial to protect against abiotic and biotic stress effects. Some naturally occurring plant compounds can be used effectively to protect the plants.

The Influence of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Salt Stress on the Morphological and Some Biochemical Characteristics of L. Plants.

Salinity reduces crop yields and quality, causing global economic losses. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) improve plant physiological and metabolic processes and abiotic stress resistance. This study examined the effects of foliar ZnO-NPs at 75 and 150 mg/L on tomato Kecskeméti 549 plants to alleviate salt stress caused by 150 mM NaCl.

An incidental large adrenal schwannoma: A case report.

Adrenal schwannoma is a rare tumor of Schwann cell origin that represents less than 0.2% of all adrenal tumors. These typically benign tumors are most often found in the head, neck, and limbs.

KCTD Proteins Have Redundant Functions in Controlling Cellular Growth.

We explored the functional redundancy of three structurally related KCTD (Potassium Channel Tetramerization Domain) proteins, KCTD2, KCTD5, and KCTD17, by progressively knocking them out in HEK 293 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. After validating the knockout, we assessed the effects of progressive knockout on cell growth and gene expression. We noted that the progressive effects of knockout of KCTD isoforms on cell growth were most pervasive when all three isoforms were deleted, suggesting some functions were conserved between them.