Eating habits and obesity among Lebanese university students.

Background: In the past year Lebanon has been experiencing a nutritional transition in food choices from the typical Mediterranean diet to the fast food pattern. As a consequence, the dietary habits of young adults have been affected; thus, overweight and obesity are increasingly being observed among the young. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity on a sample of students from the Lebanese American University (in Beirut) and to examine their eating habits.

Hematoma rates in drainless deep-plane face-lift surgery with and without the use of fibrin glue.

Objective: To determine the rate of hematoma formation in drainless deep-plane rhytidectomy and compare it with the rate using the same technique with the use of fibrin glue.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 605 patients (78 male and 527 female) who, over a 6-year period, underwent deep-plane face-lift surgery (n = 544) or lateral superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS)ectomy (n = 61) by the senior author (S.S.

A novel approach in clinical immunosuppression monitoring: drug lymphocyte level.

Like others, we have shown a weak correlation between drug blood levels and clinical outcome and immune response. We recently established that in contrast to blood levels, drug lymphocyte levels are strongly associated with therapeutic efficacy. The discordance between the 2 methodologies regarding clinical outcome and immune response is related mainly to the weak association between drug blood level and target-cell content.

Synthesis of monofunctional curcumin derivatives, clicked curcumin dimer, and a PAMAM dendrimer curcumin conjugate for therapeutic applications.

Curcumin, the primary active ingredient in the spice turmeric, was converted to reactive monofunctional derivatives (carboxylic acid/azide/alkyne). The derivatives were employed to produce a 3 + 2 azide-alkyne "clicked" curcumin dimer and a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer-curcumin conjugate. The monofunctional curcumin derivatives retain biological activity and are efficient for labeling and dissolving amyloid fibrils.

Bioavailability of a new generic formulation of mycophenolate mofetil MMF 500 versus CellCept in healthy adult volunteers.

Several studies have revealed a decreased incidence of early graft rejection with the use of mycophenate mofetil (MMF). The cost of the drug is, however, prohibitive especially in developing countries with limited resources. We compared the pharmacokinetic profile of a new MMF generic formulation (MMF 500 batch number: 06T3001; Medis Tunis) with those of Cellcept, (batch number: M1427; Hoffmann La Roche, Switzerland) in healthy volunteers.

An assay for the determination of sirolimus levels in the lymphocyte of transplant patients.

Unlabelled: Both tacrolimus (TAC) and sirolimus (SRL) bind to the same immunophilin FKBP12; however, their mechanisms of action are distinct. SRL inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (TOR), which is an enzyme critical to the immune function. TOR inhibition blocks the signal that mediates T-cell proliferation by preventing cell-cycle progression from G1 to S phase.

Activity of chemotherapy in the palliative treatment of salivary gland tumors: review of the literature.

Chemotherapy is sometimes used as palliation for patients with salivary gland tumors not amenable to curative treatment. However, if chemotherapy improves survival is unknown. To identify some prognostic parameters in this disease, we conducted an extensive review of the literature.

Cyclosporine lymphocyte maximum level monitoring in de novo kidney transplant patients: a prospective study.

Objectives: To determine prospectively the temporal variations of cyclosporine-A lymphocyte maximum level, whole blood maximum concentration, and total lymphocyte count in patients with de novo kidney transplantation.

Materials And Methods: Lymphocyte maximum level, whole blood maximum concentration, and total lymphocyte count were prospectively measured in 35 patients at 1, 2, and 3 months after kidney transplantation. Two groups--a biopsy-proven acute rejection group (REJ+) and a rejection-free group (REJ-)--were compared.

Identification of cognate ligands for the Escherichia coli phnD protein product and engineering of a reagentless fluorescent biosensor for phosphonates.

The Escherichia coli phnD gene is hypothesized to code for the periplasmic binding component of a phosphonate uptake system. Here we report the characterization of the phosphonate-binding properties of the phnD protein product. We find that PhnD exhibits high affinity for 2-aminoethylphosphonate (5 nM), the most commonly occurring natural phosphonate produced by lower eukaryotes, but also binds several other phosphonates with micromolar affinities.

Switchability of neoral and equoral according to Food and Drug Administration rules and regulations.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if a drug product contains a drug substance that is chemically identical and is delivered to the site of action at the same rate and extent as another drug product, then it is equivalent and can be substituted (switchable) for that drug product. Methods used to define bioequivalence as stated by the FDA rules (FDA 21 CFR 320, 24) are (1) pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in healthy volunteers, (2) comparative clinical trials, and (3) pharmacodynamic (PD) studies (bioactivity). We evaluated the switchability of Equoral (IVAX-USA) with Neoral (Novartis Switzerland using all FDA rules.

Short scar face-lift with the use of fibrin sealant.

Fibrin sealants have been used in surgical procedures for decades. This article focuses on the short scar face-lift and the applicability of Tisseel fibrin sealant, or "tissue glue," in expediting the healing process in a series of consecutive patients undergoing face-lift surgery. The evolution of the face-lift incision into the short scar and the adjunctive use of the Tisseel fibrin sealant have both resulted in faster recovery.

Computational design of receptors for an organophosphate surrogate of the nerve agent soman.

We report the computational design of soluble protein receptors for pinacolyl methyl phosphonic acid (PMPA), the predominant hydrolytic product of the nerve agent soman. Using recently developed computational protein design techniques, the ligand-binding pockets of two periplasmic binding proteins, glucose-binding protein and ribose-binding protein, were converted to bind PMPA instead of their cognate sugars. The designs introduce 9-12 mutations in the parent proteins.

Streptococcal antigen I/II binds to extracellular proteins through intermolecular beta-sheets.

One of the functions associated with the oral streptococcal surface protein I/II is to bind to human extracellular matrix molecules or blood components, which could act as opportunistic ligands in pathological circumstances. In order to understand the relative specificity of the binding repertoire of this bacterial adhesin, we examined by infrared measurements the mode of binding of the protein I/II from Streptococcus mutans OMZ175 (I/IIf) to fibronectin and fibrinogen. This approach revealed the beta-structure forming capacity of I/IIf upon interaction with both proteins.

The role of generics in transplantation: TM-MMF versus Cellcept in healthy volunteers.

Because several studies having revealed a relation between early graft rejection and long-term graft survival, potential benefits have been attributed to MMF. The cost of the drug is, however, prohibitive, which renders its long-term use in countries with limited income. We thus compared the pharmacokinetic profiles of a new MMF generic formulation (MM-Cept developed by Ivax CR) with those of Cellcept (Hoffman La Roche) in healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of equoral versus neoral in stable renal transplant patients: a multinational multicenter study.

We studied the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of the new generic cyclosporine formulation, Equoral capsules, after the switch from original formulation Neoral capsules in stable renal transplant patients. The study was carried out in accordance with the basic principles defined in the US 21 CFR Part 312.20 and the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Cyclosporine blood level monitoring. Cross-reactivity of anti-cyclosporine A monoclonal with its sulphate metabolite: an in vitro study.

Cyclosporine is metabolized in the liver by the Cytochrom P450 system. Many of the metabolites have been identified and thoroughly studied. However the sulphate metabolite is the least known.

Polymorphous hemangioendothelioma of the neck.

Polymorphous hemangioendotheliomas are rare, low-grade borderline malignant vascular tumors of endothelial cell origin. To the best of our knowledge (MEDLINE 1966-2002), there have been nine cases of polymorphous hemangioendothelioma reported in the English literature. Most of the initial patients reported were men, but we present the third case in a woman.

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: analysis of indications and the treatment of 100 patients.

Traditionally, lower lid blepharoplasty has been confined to a choice of skin or skin-muscle flap transcutaneous blepharoplasty. In the past decade, in particular, various new techniques and technologies have emerged, altering our ability to treat the lower eyelids. These techniques include transconjunctival blepharoplasty, a variety of canthopexy procedures, fat-conserving or fat-replacing methods, wedge excision, and laser resurfacing techniques, and they allow a more individualized approach based on variations in anatomical features and patient goals.

Control of a biomolecular motor-powered nanodevice with an engineered chemical switch.

The biophysical and biochemical properties of motor proteins have been well-studied, but these motors also show promise as mechanical components in hybrid nano-engineered systems. The cytoplasmic F(1) fragment of the adenosine triphosphate synthase (F1-ATPase) can function as an ATP-fuelled rotary motor and has been integrated into self-assembled nanomechanical systems as a mechanical actuator. Here we present the rational design, construction and analysis of a mutant F1-ATPase motor containing a metal-binding site that functions as a zinc-dependent, reversible on/off switch.

Construction of a fluorescent biosensor family.

Bacterial periplasmic binding proteins (bPBPs) are specific for a wide variety of small molecule ligands. bPBPs undergo a large, ligand-mediated conformational change that can be linked to reporter functions to monitor ligand concentrations. This mechanism provides the basis of a general system for engineering families of reagentless biosensors that share a common physical signal transduction functionality and detect many different analytes.