Genetic counseling and genetic testing for pathogenic germline mutations among high-risk patients previously diagnosed with breast cancer: a traceback approach.

Genetic counseling and testing are more accessible than ever due to reduced costs, expanding indications and public awareness. Nonetheless, many patients missed the opportunity of genetic counseling and testing due to barriers that existed at that time of their cancer diagnoses. Given the identified implications of pathogenic mutations on patients' treatment and familial outcomes, an opportunity exists to utilize a 'traceback' approach to retrospectively examine their genetic makeup and provide consequent insights to their disease and treatment.

Molecular Characteristics of Colistin Resistance in and the Activity of Antimicrobial Combination Therapy in a Tertiary Care Medical Center in Lebanon.

(1) Background: Infections with pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria, such as , are becoming increasingly common, especially in healthcare facilities. In this study, we selected 15 colistin-resistant clinical isolates from a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, to test combination therapies and determine their sequence types (STs) and the mechanism of colistin resistance using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). (2) Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing via broth microdilution against 12 antimicrobials from different classes and growth rate assays were performed.

Seroprevalence of Human Brucellosis among Syrian Refugees in Jordan, 2022.

Introduction: Brucellosis is prevalent in Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated factors among Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult Syrian refugees who attended the Public Health Lab (PHL) in Al Mafraq governorate, during the period of May-June 2022 to obtain a health certificate, which is legally required to receive governmental authorization for employment in Jordan.

The epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis: multicenter, hospital-based surveillance of meningococcal meningitis in Iraq.

Objectives: Outbreaks of have reached alarming levels due to the pathogen's ability to cause severe complications, presenting as meningitis or septicemia. Our study reports the results of the first wide-scale surveillance of meningococcal meningitis in Iraq.

Methods: The study included all consecutive cases of clinically suspected meningitis between June 2018 and May 2020 at 18 major hospitals around Iraq ( = 2314).

Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Critically Ill Patients With Cancer Before and After Intensive Care Unit Admission Measured by EQ-5D 3-Level: A Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is considered a distress journey with an increased demand and cost for informal caregiving. This study aimed to generate utility values through assessing the quality of life (QoL) of family caregivers using the EQ-5D-3L measure before and after ICU admission of their family members.

Methods: A 1-year prospective cohort study (January 2017 to February 2018) was conducted at a comprehensive cancer center in Jordan.

Differences in clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and survival outcomes between older and younger breast cancer patients.

In developing countries, breast cancer is diagnosed at a much younger age. In this study we investigate the dichotomies between older and young breast cancer patients in our region. The study involved two cohorts; older patients (≥ 65 years, n = 553) and younger ones (≤ 40 years, n = 417).

Effect of level of hormone-receptor expression on treatment outcomes of "triple-positive" early-stage breast cancer.

Purpose: Breast cancer that overexpresses the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and both estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors is recently recognized as a subtype (triple-positive) with distinctive behavior and response to treatment. In this study, we investigate the treatment outcomes and the beneficial effect of anti-HER2 treatment in relation to level of hormone-receptor (HR) expression.

Methods: Consecutive breast cancer patients with triple-positive disease, diagnosed, treated and followed at our institution between 2006 and 2016 were enrolled.

From bugs to drugs: Combating antimicrobial resistance by discovering novel antibiotics.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is emerging at an alarming rate as mortality due to resistant pathogens could rise to 10 million per year by 2050. Since AMR is against all clinically utilized antibiotics, finding novel antimicrobials with unexploited targets remains the main goal worldwide.  Soil microorganisms produce natural products as a significant number of drugs in clinical use are derived from these metabolites.