Parents providing palliative care for children with cancer.

Parents of children with cancer provide paediatric palliative care (PPC). However, the activities they perform remain underexplored, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where the care heavily relies on family involvement. The aim of this study is to identify parental PPC tasks and intentions to perform PPC tasks and to determine their associated factors.

Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Pain Resilience Scale among Lebanese Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.

Background: The Pain Resilience Scale (PRS), which measures behavioral perseverance and the ability to regulate emotions and cognition despite ongoing pain, lacks an Arabic version.

Objectives: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate an Arabic version of the Pain Resilience Scale (PRS-A) among Lebanese adults.

Methods: Phase 1 involved translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the PRS into Arabic.

Psychometric validation of the Arabic multiple sclerosis resiliency scale: Uncovering resilience factors in Lebanese MS patients for clinical and research advancements.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease that involves the central nervous system (CNS). Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may experience difficulty adapting to their diagnosis as the unpredictable nature of the disease can be challenging to cope with.

Methods: The purpose of this study is twofold.

Assessing the outcomes of prescribing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers for COVID-19 patients.

Background: Patients with heart failure were affected severely by COVID-19. Most heart failure patients are on guideline directed medical therapy, which includes ACE inhibitors (ACEI) and ARBs. These medications were controversial at the beginning of the pandemic due to their interplay with the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 binds in the lungs.

Unfolding parental knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward palliative care for children with cancer.

Background: Parents' views toward pediatric palliative care (PPC) remain underexplored, especially in low/middle-income countries where care relies heavily on families. A better understanding of parents' perspectives would inform strategies to support PPC integration into the care of children with cancer. This multicenter study aimed to examine knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward PPC among parents of children with cancer in Lebanon to uncover areas for improvement and determine associated factors.

Risk of thromboembolic events in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A systematic review.

The risk of thromboembolism in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients remains uncertain and was assessed in this review to better weigh benefits vs. risks of prophylactic anticoagulation in this population. A search was performed through three databases: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library until 2022.

Predictors of quality of life in older adult patients in Lebanon: a cross sectional study.

Background: The older adult population in Lebanon is anticipated to double by year 2030. The health care resources available for the geriatric population is limited and there is much reliance on the social support of family caregivers. Older adults have double the rate of hospital utilization in comparison to the regular Lebanese population where 4.

The effect of an enhanced recovery protocol in pediatric patients who undergo colostomy closure and Malone procedures.

Purpose: Pediatric colorectal studies have shown enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols can safely improve outcomes. This study sought to determine the impact of an ERAS pathway on the outcomes of children with colorectal conditions who underwent colostomy closure or Malone procedure.

Methods: A single-institution, retrospective cohort study of children who underwent colostomy closure or Malone procedure between 2016 and 2020 was performed.

Blood Transfusion is Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Pediatric Solid Tumor Oncology Patients Following Tumor Resection.

Background: Packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion is a lifesaving intervention that also has proinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Adults with a malignancy who receive PRBC transfusion have increased rates of infection, tumor recurrence, and decreased survival. The effect of PRBC transfusion among children with solid tumors is unknown.

Predictive Capacity of Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Variability for Cardioautonomic and Vascular Dysfunction in Early Metabolic Challenge.

Diabetic patients present established cardiovascular disease at the onset of diagnostic metabolic symptoms. While premature autonomic and vascular deterioration considered risk factors for major cardiovascular complications of diabetes, present in initial stages of metabolic impairment, their early detection remains a significant challenge impeding timely intervention. In the present study, we examine the utility of beat-to-beat blood pressure variability (BPV) parameters in capturing subtle changes in cardiac autonomic and vascular control distinguishing between various risk categories, independent of the average BP.

Longitudinal study on the effect of surgical weight loss on beat-to-beat blood pressure variability in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a study protocol.

Introduction: Alterations in linear and non-linear parameters of beat-to-beat blood pressure variability (BPV) have been shown to predict disease prognosis and distinguish between risk categories in various pathological conditions, independently of average blood pressure levels. Obesity places subjects at elevated risk of vascular diseases, including hypertension, resulting in serious cardiac, respiratory and cerebral events. However, little is known about the status of vascular dynamics in obese and morbidly obese adults.

Beat-to-beat blood pressure variability: an early predictor of disease and cardiovascular risk.

Blood pressure (BP) varies on the long, short and very-short term. Owing to the hidden physiological and pathological information present in BP time-series, increasing interest has been given to the study of continuous, beat-to-beat BP variability (BPV) using invasive and noninvasive methods. Different linear and nonlinear parameters of variability are employed in the characterization of BP signals in health and disease.

Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: A Progressive Consequence of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is one of the earliest complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D), presenting a silent cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent research relates the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in T2D to an ensuing chronic, low-grade proinflammatory and pro-oxidative environment, being the hallmark of the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic inflammation emerges as adipose tissue inflammatory changes extending systemically, on the advent of hyperglycemia, to reach central regions of the brain.

Macrophage responses associated with COVID-19: A pharmacological perspective.

COVID-19 has caused worldwide death and economic destruction. The pandemic is the result of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has demonstrated high rates of infectivity leading to great morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations. At present, scientists are exploring various approaches to curb this pandemic and alleviate its health consequences, while racing to develop a vaccine.

Worsening baroreflex sensitivity on progression to type 2 diabetes: localized vs. systemic inflammation and role of antidiabetic therapy.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is an early cardiovascular manifestation of type 2 diabetes (T2D) that constitutes an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless, its underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood. We recently showed that localized perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) inflammation underlies the incidence of parasympathetic CAN in prediabetes.

Decentralization of solid waste management services in rural Lebanon: Barriers and opportunities.

Rapid urbanization, closure of dumps, and insufficient infrastructure funding in Lebanon have resulted in improper municipal solid waste management (MSWM), creating a continuing trash crisis in recent years. In Beirut and Mount Lebanon, MSWM was carried out in centralized waste processing and disposal facilities operated by the government. The trash crisis and failure of the centralized system prompted several municipal authorities to decentralize MSWM by establishing local facilities, paid by the council taxes charged to beneficiary households.

Quality of care, spirituality, relationships and finances in older adult palliative care patients in Lebanon.

Background: Despite making up a big proportion of the world population, older adults received little palliative care services. Moreover, palliative quality of care provided to older adults has been shown to be poor. Adequate clinician communication, familial support, and religious/spiritual support have been identified as main factors in providing good quality of care.

Pesticide practices in coastal agricultural farms of Lebanon.

The agricultural sector in Lebanon relies heavily on agrochemicals for crop protection; thus exposing humans and the environment to the harmful effects of pesticides. This study investigated Lebanese farmers' pesticide use practices and explored the underlying factors associated with farmers' choices. Of the 104 surveyed farmers, around 87% were willing to use pesticides that are less toxic to humans and the environment than those currently using, if available.

Multidimensional Rasch Analysis of the Arabic Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery Subscales.

Background And Purpose: Investigation of the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery (A-OFER) subscales.

Methods: Partial credit model (PCM) analyses of 2037 Lebanese nurses' responses to the chronic fatigue (CF), acute fatigue (AF), and intershift recovery (IR) subscales.

Results: The data were a better fit to the three-dimensional Rasch PCM; difference, χ2 = 2199.

The translation and cultural adaptation validity of the Actual Scope of Practice Questionnaire.

Background: Information on the scope of nursing practice is urgently needed in the Eastern Mediterranean region to help policy makers and directors of nursing develop informed workforce plans.

Aims: This study aimed to validate the Arabic translation and cultural adaptation of the Actual Scope of Practice Questionnaire (A-ASCOP).

Methods: The process of translation and cultural validation adhered to WHO guidelines.

The relationship between work-related musculoskeletal disorders, chronic occupational fatigue, and work organization: A multi-hospital cross-sectional study.

Aims: To identify the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, levels of chronic occupational fatigue, and how they vary with individual and work organization factors.

Design: A multi-hospital cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Nurses from 39 hospitals completed self-reported questionnaires from June to September 2015.

Multidimensional Analysis of the Arabic Version of the Actual Scope of Nursing Practice Scale.

Background And Purpose: Data were analyzed from a national convenience sample of 3,000 bedside nurses in Lebanon to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the first Arabic version of the Actual Scope of Nursing Practice (A-ASCOP) questionnaire.

Methods: The method used in this study was application of the partial credit model using the multidimensional random coefficients multinomial logit model.

Results: A-ASCOP subscales ( = .

Vitamin D supplementation and muscle strength in pre-sarcopenic elderly Lebanese people: a randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: Previous studies have shown that improving vitamin D status among the elderly may lead to an improvement in muscle mass and muscle strength. In our study, vitamin D supplementation showed significant improvements in vitamin D concentrations as well as appendicular muscle mass in pre-sarcopenic older Lebanese people. However, we found no significant effect on muscle strength.

The first Arabic version of the Actual Scope of Nursing Practice Scale: Psychometric evaluation.

Aim: We examined the validity and reliability of nursing activity levels of complexity in the first Arabic version of the Actual Scope of Nursing Practice Questionnaire.

Background: Nurse executives need valid and reliable data on the scope and complexity of nursing practice to make decisions about cost-effective and safe deployment of the nursing workforce. We translated the English version of the Actual Scope of Nursing Practice Questionnaire into Arabic for use in Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean region.