Brain drain in Emergency Medicine in Lebanon, building locally and exporting globally.

Objective: Despite the growth of Emergency Medicine (EM) globally, shortages of EM-trained physicians persist in many countries, disproportionately affecting lower middle/low-income countries (LMIC/LIC). This study examines the career paths of graduates of an Emergency Medicine residency-training program established in Lebanon with the aim of building local capacity in EM.

Design And Patients: This descriptive study utilizes secondary data sourced from an alumni database that includes nine cohorts of graduates from an Emergency Medicine residency program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon.

Social determinants of student mental health before and after the Beirut port explosion: two cross-sectional studies.

Background: Students in Lebanon are facing the devastating impact of multiple national crises, including an unprecedented economic collapse and the Beirut port explosion that killed hundreds, injured thousands, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The aim of this study was to identify key social determinants of common mental health symptoms before and after the Beirut port explosion for students at the American University of Beirut, a university based around 4 km from the port.

Methods: Two cross-sectional studies were conducted using a representative sample of undergraduate and graduate students at the American University of Beirut.

Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion: Is it ethical?

Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP), a new method of controlled donation after circulatory death, seems to provide more and better organs for patients on organ transplant waiting lists compared to standard controlled donation after circulatory death. Despite its benefits, the ethical permissibility of TA-NRP is currently a highly debated issue. The recent statement published by the American College of Physicians (ACP) highlights the reasons for these debates.

Guidelines International Network: Principles for Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Health Guideline Enterprise.

Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been defined by the High-Level Expert Group on AI of the European Commission as "systems that display intelligent behaviour by analysing their environment and taking actions-with some degree of autonomy-to achieve specific goals." Artificial intelligence has the potential to support guideline planning, development and adaptation, reporting, implementation, impact evaluation, certification, and appraisal of recommendations, which we will refer to as "guideline enterprise." Considering this potential, as well as the lack of guidance for the use of AI in guidelines, the Guidelines International Network (GIN) proposes a set of principles for the development and use of AI tools or processes to support the health guideline enterprise.

Rates of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in Hospitalized Non-Immunocompromised Pediatric Patients: A 9-Year Retrospective Study at a Lebanese Tertiary Medical Center.

Introduction: Multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections are considered a major public health threat. The objectives of this study were to describe the epidemiology, potential contributing factors, and antimicrobial resistance patterns associated with infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in non-immunocompromised children and adolescents.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) from 2009 to 2017.

Comparing the Prognostic Value of Lactate to the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Among Sepsis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Lactate has long been recognized as a key prognostic biomarker in sepsis. Similarly, the prognostic role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been investigated in various conditions, including sepsis. Previous studies have explored the optimal NLR cutoff to differentiate sepsis survivors from nonsurvivors, predict bacteremia, diagnose sepsis, and assess mortality.

Food Insecurity and Coping Mechanisms: Impact on Maternal Mental Health and Child Malnutrition.

Background: Household food insecurity (HFI) is a serious public health concern in Lebanon. Adverse mental health issues have been reported among food insecure households in addition to physical and nutritional complications. Caregivers in food insecure families tend to adopt different coping mechanisms to mitigate the effects of food insecurity (FI) on their children.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Background/objectives: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with rising incidence rates and significant mortality. While tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and viral infections are established risk factors, the role of dietary patterns, particularly adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in HNC prevention has gained increasing attention. The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between adherence to the MD and the risk of HNC.

Absenteeism Among Healthcare Workers: Job Grade and Other Factors That Matter in Sickness Absence.

Background: Absenteeism among healthcare workers (HCWs) disrupts workflows and hampers the delivery of adequate patient care. The aim of the study was to examine predictors of sick leaves among HCWs in a tertiary medical center in Lebanon.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of sick leaves linked to health records of 2850 HCWs between 2015 and 2018 was performed.

Physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding practices of male and female surgical sterilization procedures in Lebanon.

Objective: Surgical sterilization, including vasectomy in males and tubal ligation in females, is a highly effective but underutilized contraception method. Adoption rates vary globally mostly due to misconceptions by both the general public and practicing physicians. Our survey aims to explore physicians' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about surgical sterilization techniques in Lebanon.

COVID-19 associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication whose association with COVID-19 is controversial. Understanding this connection is essential due to its significant impact on patient outcomes, and timely diagnosis and intervention are critical in managing this condition effectively.

Areas Covered: This paper presents a case of TTP triggered by COVID-19 infection in a 48-year-old female.

Breather, lump and other wave profiles for the nonlinear Rosenau equation arising in physical systems.

This work explores the mathematical technique known as the Hirota bilinear transformation to investigate different wave behaviors of the nonlinear Rosenau equation, which is fundamental in the study of wave occurrences in a variety of physical systems such as fluid dynamics, plasma physics, and materials science, where nonlinear dynamics and dispersion offer significant functions. This equation was suggested to describe the dynamic behaviour of dense discrete systems. We use Mathematica to investigate these wave patterns and obtained variety of wave behaviors, such as M-shaped waves, mixed waves, multiple wave forms, periodic lumps, periodic cross kinks, bright and dark breathers, and kinks and anti-kinks.

Pedestrian POSE estimation using multi-branched deep learning pose net.

In human activity-recognition scenarios, including head and entire body pose and orientations, recognizing the pose and direction of a pedestrian is considered a complex problem. A person may be traveling in one sideway while focusing his attention on another side. It is occasionally desirable to analyze such orientation estimates using computer-vision tools for automated analysis of pedestrian behavior and intention.

Overcoming low status or maintaining high status? A multinational examination of the association between socioeconomic status and honour.

We examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and endorsement of honour. We studied the SES-honour link in 5 studies (N = 13,635) with participants recruited in different world regions (the Mediterranean and MENA, East Asian, South-East Asian, and Anglo-Western regions) using measures that tap into various different facets of honour. Findings from these studies revealed that individuals who subjectively perceived themselves as belonging to a higher (vs.

Di-Genic Inheritance in Genodermatoses: Insights from Two Consanguineous Cases in a Reference Lebanese Center within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.

Introduction: Genodermatoses refer to a group of heterogenous rare genetic diseases with cutaneous expression. Several genodermatoses present with multisystem involvement that can range from mild to life-threatening conditions leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Given the paucity in the literature in the field of genodermatoses, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and building upon the first established genodermatoses database based in Lebanon, this study aimed to decipher the genetic basis of two different types of skin-inherited diseases (androgenic alopecia and vitiligo).

Influence of Bee Venom on Nociception and Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles in Experimental Hyperalgesia.

Hyperalgesia is a condition marked by an abnormal increase in pain sensitivity, often occurring in response to tissue injury, inflammation, or prolonged exposure to certain medications. Inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, play a central role in this process, amplifying pain perception. Developing effective treatments that address the underlying mechanisms of hyperalgesia is an active field of research.

Perioperative Risk: Short Review of Current Approach in Non Cardiac Surgery.

The rate of major surgery is constantly increasing worldwide, and approximately 85% are non-cardiac surgery. More than half of patients over 45 years presenting for non-cardiac surgical interventions have cardiovascular risk factors, and the most common: chronic coronary syndrome and history of stroke. The preoperative cardiovascular risk is determined by the comorbidities, the clinical condition before the intervention, the urgency, duration or type.

The Association Between Periodontitis, Gingivitis, Tooth Loss and Stroke: An Umbrella Study with Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases (CVAs) have several risk factors that are categorized as modifiable and nonmodifiable. Periodontal diseases (PD) have a modifiable role in causing CVA, where several studies suggested direct or indirect correlations with systemic diseases. This study aims to summarize, evaluate and analyze all the evidence available in literature, to reach a better understanding of the relation between periodontitis, gingivitis, tooth loss and CVA.

for targeting MRSA virulence: and studies.

The present study reports the characterization of the phytochemical content and the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from the leaves (LE) and stems (SE) of against Methicillin resistant (MRSA. Important functional groups were determined by analyzing the FTIR spectra of LE and SE. The phytochemical profiles were analyzed by GC-MS, and these characterized the chemicals according to retention periods and peak regions.

Antimicrobial activity of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell secretome against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is still a growing concern in the field of antimicrobial resistance due to its resistance to conventional antibiotics and its association with high mortality rates. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown as a promising and attractive alternative treatment for bacterial infections, due to their antibacterial properties and potential to bypass traditional resistance mechanisms. This study aims to shed light on the antibacterial potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (AD-MSC) secretome against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus spp.

Risk factors for silicotuberculosis among miners: a scoping review.

Background: Miners exposed to silica dust are susceptible to silicotuberculosis (STB) outcome - the development of tuberculosis (TB) in miners with silicosis. STB is an important occupational and public health issue in the twenty-first century. This scoping review aimed to map the risk factors associated with STB.

Analysis of choroidal markers of activity in pachychoroid disease spectrum.

Purpose: To detect choroidal markers of disease activity in eyes with chronic active unilateral pachychoroid disease spectrum (PDS) compared to the non-active contralateral eyes, based on multimodal imaging and particularly indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).

Methods: An observational retrospective case-control study. The study evaluated individuals diagnosed with chronic active unilateral PDS (group 1) by comparing the eyes with the non-active fellow eyes (group 2).