infection and staple-line leak in patients with class III obesity undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a retrospective study.

Objective: Globally, over 50% of the population is affected by , yet research on its prevalence and impact in patients with obesity undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of infection in individuals with obesity undergoing LSG, evaluate the percentage of postoperative staple-line leaks, and explore the potential link between infection and staple-line leaks.

Methods: This retrospective analysis assessed adult patients with class III obesity who underwent LSG between 2015 and 2020 at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Processed and ultra-processed foods are associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in a cross-sectional sample of urban Lebanese adults.

While low dietary quality has been linked to poor mental health, evidence on more direct relations of specific dietary quality indicators, namely degrees of food processing, with mental health disorders remains limited. This study aims to investigate the association between food groups' intakes, defined based on their degree of food processing, with depression and anxiety symptoms in a sample of Lebanese adults. We hypothesized that higher intakes of ultra-processed foods (UPF) will be related to higher risk of depression and anxiety while an opposite association will be observed for unprocessed or minimally processed foods (MPF).

Role of IL-6, TNF-α and VCAM-1 as predictors of renal impairment in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Background: Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the occurrence of renal impairment (RI) in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). One such mechanism is systemic inflammatory response syndrome, which involves the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6 and vascular cell adhesion molecule [VCAM]-1). The goal of this research was to evaluate the role of IL-6, TNF-α and VCAM-1 as potential predictors of RI and mortality in cirrhotic patients with SBP.

Faith, Friends, and Humor: How Medical Students Cope with Academic Stress in a Private Medical University in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to assess the various coping strategies that medical students at Alfaisal College of Medicine use to adapt to stressors and adversities faced in a medical school environment.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized an online questionnaire distributed to medical students (aged 18+) at Alfaisal University from March 15 to April 30, 2023. Inclusion criteria focused on College of Medicine students from Years 1 to 5.

Retention in care among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a low-resource setting.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the retention in care among a cohort of Egyptian people living with HIV (PLWHIV).

Method: The study was conducted on PLWHIV attending Kasr Alainy HIV and Viral Hepatitis Centre, Cairo, Egypt, from January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2023. PLWHIV were considered not retained in care if there was no documented clinical visit or HIV viral load (VL) or CD4 count test for more than 6 months from their last recorded visit or test.

Vaccine hesitancy among Syrian refugee parents in Canada: A multifaceted challenge in public health.

Vaccine hesitancy presents a significant public health challenge, particularly among Syrian refugee parents in Canada, who navigate unique barriers to vaccination. This cross-sectional study explores the determinants of vaccine hesitancy, considering socio-demographic factors, resettlement conditions, health assessments, and healthcare system interactions. The study involved 540 Syrian refugee parents residing in Ontario with at least one child under 18, interviewed from March 2021 to March 2022.

Blood Pressure Decreases in Overweight Elderly Individuals on Vitamin D: A Randomized Trial.

Context: Evidence for a beneficial role of vitamin D on blood pressure (BP) outcomes is inconclusive.

Objective: This work aimed to investigate the effect of 2 doses of cholecalciferol (vitamin D) supplementation coadministered with calcium on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Methods: Exploratory analyses were conducted from a 1-year, multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Cardiac Ablation in the Pediatric Population at a Tertiary Care Center in a Developing Country.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe our experience and outcome of ablation therapy for arrhythmias in pediatrics at a tertiary care center.

Methods: Data was collected retrospectively from the hospital medical records. All pediatrics presenting to AUBMC between 2000 and 2020 who underwent cardiac ablation were included.

Poor perceived oral health is associated with adverse mental health outcomes among Syrian refugees in Canada.

While inadequate oral health has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes, there is limited understanding of such implications among refugees who bear a disproportionate burden of oral health disparities. This study aims to examine the effect of self-rated oral health on depression, anxiety, and stress among Syrian refugee parents resettled in Ontario. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 540 Syrian refugee parents who resided in Ontario for an average of 4 years and had at least one child under 18 years old were interviewed between March 2021 and March 2022.

The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder and head injury on reactive and appetitive aggression in adult Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Objective: Refugees are highly vulnerable to mental health disorders and head injuries. The primary aim of this study is to examine the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and head injury on reactive and appetitive aggression in adult Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting adult Arab United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-registered Syrian refugees residing in Beirut and southern regions of Lebanon.

The association between age at natural menopause and risk of asthma among postmenopausal women from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between age at natural menopause and incidence of asthma among postmenopausal Canadian women.

Methods: Women between the ages of 45-85 yr were followed for a 10-yr period. Analysis was restricted to naturally postmenopausal women who are nonsmokers and did not have asthma prior to menopause.

Risk of Postoperative Hypermagnesemia in Cardiopulmonary Bypass Assisted Cardiovascular Surgery.

Background: Magnesium administration is a common practice in cardiovascular surgeries utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, concerns persist regarding the risk of hypermagnesemia, particularly in patients with kidney dysfunction. This study aims to determine the incidence of postoperative hypermagnesemia in CPB-assisted cardiovascular surgeries and identify the associated risk factors.

A proposed clinical tool to identify high-risk patients for monogenic lupus: a pilot study.

Objectives: To develop an easy-to-use and efficient clinical score to identify monogenic lupus based on clinical presentations and to stratify patients who may benefit from confirmatory molecular genetic testing.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review identified 55 distinct items across 12 clinical and laboratory domains, narrowed down to the top ten by a panel of 12 expert paediatric rheumatologists with 80% consensus. The proposed score was tested in a pilot study on 10 patients with monogenic lupus and 30 control subjects with various autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.

Derivation and validation of a risk calculator for the prediction of incidence of complications following repair of Achilles Tendon Rupture.

Background: The Achilles tendon is the body's strongest and largest tendon. It is commonly injured, particularly among athletes, accounting for a significant portion of serious tendon injuries. Several factors play a precipitating role in increasing the risk of these injuries.

The prevalence of using beta-blockers and its relationship with social anxiety among health profession students at Umm Al-Qura University.

Background: Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive fear of scrutiny in social situations. Health students are more susceptible to SAD due to academic demands. They may resort to self-medication, particularly beta-blockers (BBs) for managing physical symptoms of SAD.

Associations between total, free and bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D forms with adiponectin and irisin in maternal-neonatal pairs at birth from Greece.

Background: Apart from the well-established skeletal effects, itamin D has been explored as a secretagogue influencing various adipokines, including adiponectin and irisin. Recent evidence suggests that specific forms of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OHD), such as free and bioavailable 25(OH)D, may provide more accurate measurements of vitamin D status. The relationship between vitamin D status and serum irisin and adiponectin concentrations remains largely unexplored, particularly during pregnancy.

Cost-benefit analysis of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention in a developing country.

Background: Studies on breastfeeding promotion and support interventions suggest some economic benefits. This study assessed the direct and indirect costs of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention during the first two years of the infant's life.

Methods: This is a cost-benefit analysis of data generated from a randomized controlled trial that investigated whether provision of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention to Lebanese mothers in the first six months postpartum would improve breastfeeding rates compared to standard obstetric and pediatric care.

Predictors of radiographic pneumonia in febrile children with cancer presenting to the emergency department.

Background: Fever is a common presenting complaint to the pediatric emergency department (PED), especially among oncology patients. While bacteremia has been extensively studied in this population, pneumonia has not. Some studies suggest that chest X-ray (CXR) does not have a role in the investigation of neutropenic fever in the absence of respiratory symptoms, yet non-neutropenic pediatric oncology patients were excluded from these studies.