Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant in intensive care unit patients in Mediterranean countries, 2019.

Introduction: The colonization of patients by carbapenemase-producing (CPE) has been associated with heightened mortality, especially in vulnerable individuals within intensive care units (ICUs). Our study aimed to comprehensively assess CPE prevalence among ICU patients across the Mediterranean region pre-COVID-19, conducting a multicenter prevalence study in the first quarter of 2019.

Methods: We collected clinical data and rectal or fecal samples from 256 ICU patients for CPE testing.

Unmet Needs and Strategies to Promote Patient Engagement in the Arab World: Experts' Opinion.

Background: The significance of patient engagement (PE) is widely acknowledged as a crucial element in fostering positive health outcomes, elevating care quality, and streamlining healthcare systems. Despite its recognized advantages, the level of patient engagement in Arab nations remains suboptimal.

Methods: A high-level assembly was convened in Dubai with 11 distinguished patient advocates from diverse Arab countries.

A Comparison of Mini Open Transverse Incision and Longitudinal Incision for the Release of Moderate and Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Objectives: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition seen in daily clinical practice. Multiple minimally invasive techniques have emerged in the last decades for median nerve decompression. However, many research are needed to study the outcome on the patients and their safety profile.

Early Outcomes and Complications of Surgically Treated Diabetic Hallucal Infection.

Background: Severely infected diabetic ulcers of the big toe often necessitate surgical treatment. Depending on the wound stage and presence of osteomyelitis, conservative surgery and amputation are the main surgical treatments. Few articles reported the outcomes and complications of such procedures.

Stress Fracture of the Trapezoid in a Professional Tennis Player.

Repetitive microtrauma can lead to trapezoid and second metacarpal stress fractures in racket sport players. Nontraumatic trapezoid stress fractures are rare and difficult to diagnose. To our knowledge, only 3 cases had been reported as of May 2023.

Genome Engineering as a Therapeutic Approach in Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review.

Cancer is one of the foremost causes of mortality. The human genome remains stable over time. However, human activities and environmental factors have the power to influence the prevalence of certain types of mutations.

Ocular Pathology and Genetics: Transformative Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Anterior Segment Diseases.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a revolutionary influence in the field of ophthalmology, providing unparalleled capabilities in data analysis and pattern recognition. This narrative review delves into the crucial role that AI plays, particularly in the context of anterior segment diseases with a genetic basis. Corneal dystrophies (CDs) exhibit significant genetic diversity, manifested by irregular substance deposition in the cornea.

Candida glabrata hospital isolate from Lebanon reveals micafungin resistance associated with increased chitin and resistance to a cell-surface-disrupting agent.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the resistance mechanisms to micafungin and fluconazole in a clinical isolate of Candida glabrata.

Methods: The isolate was whole-genome sequenced to identify amino acid changes in key proteins involved in antifungal resistance, and the isolate was further characterised by pathogenicity-related phenotypic assays that supported the sequencing results.

Results: Amino acid substitutions were detected in 8 of 17 protein candidates.

A rare case of ectopic adrenal gland in an adult inguinal cord lipoma: Case report and literature review.

Introduction: Ectopic adrenocortical tissue is defined as the presence of accessory adrenal cortex tissue outside the suprarenal location of the adrenal glands. It is not an infrequent finding during inguinal operations in infants, however, its incidence in adults is found to be less than 1 %.

Case: We report a case of ectopic adrenal tissue incidentally found in a cord lipoma of a 68-year-old man, presenting for elective inguinal hernia repair.

Morgellons disease: a narrative review.

Morgellons disease is characterized by the persistent delusion of skin infestation, ultimately inflicting wounds and impairing quality of life. There is insufficient and conflicting research pertaining to this condition, imposing challenges on clinicians in understanding, diagnosing, and treating it. In this review, we summarize the available literature on Morgellons disease including its historical evolution, epidemiology, proposed pathophysiology, underlying structural and functional brain pathologies, typical and atypical clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment.

Unipolar Hip Hemiarthroplasty in Geriatric Patients: A Prospective Study and Analysis of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.

Introduction: Femoral neck fractures (FNF) in the geriatric population are commonly treated with hip replacement procedures, such as total hip arthroplasty, unipolar hip hemiarthroplasty (UHA), and bipolar hip hemiarthroplasty (BHA). The optimal treatment remains controversial, considering outcomes and cost-effectiveness, with UHA often being cheaper. This prospective observational study aims to evaluate UHA's clinical and radiological outcomes, safety, and survivorship compared to existing literature.

Outcomes of total hip arthroplasty using dual mobility cups following failed internal fixation of proximal femoral fractures at a mean follow-up of 6 years.

Introduction: Performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) after failed internal fixation of proximal femoral fractures (PFF) is known to be associated with high rates of complications. Dual mobility cups (DMC) are known to lower dislocation events in high-risk patients. Very few reports investigated the outcomes of THA using DMC following failure of internal fixation for PFF.

Monitoring negative pressure wound therapy for diabetic foot ulcers using WhatsApp.

Foot complications of patients with diabetes could lead to amputations and early death. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are usually difficult to treat and impose huge financial burden. Monitoring wound progress is the mainstay of any treatment and alternatives to face-to-face consultations such as tele-medicine have been proposed.

Impact of the 4th of August Beirut explosion mass casualty incident on a university hospital microbial Flora.

Background: Following the Beirut explosion, our university hospital received at least 350 casualties. Subsequently, infection control standard practices were compromised. Concerns for Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) infections in injured patients and a resulting hospital outbreak were raised.

Longitudinal genomic surveillance of multidrug-resistant carriage in critical care patients.

Colonization with multidrug-resistant strains causes a substantial health burden in hospitalized patients. We performed a longitudinal genomics study to investigate the colonization of resistant strains in critically ill patients and to identify evolutionary changes and strain replacement events within patients. Patients were admitted to the intensive care unit and hematology wards at a major hospital in Lebanon.

Outcomes of conventional and advanced energy devices in laparoscopic surgery: a systematic review.

Introduction: Hemostasis is an important step in all surgical procedures. Mechanical methods of hemostasis have been gradually abandoned in favor of electrosurgery. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrosurgical instruments utilized in minimally invasive gynecological procedures.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) secondary to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy - A case report.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common and benign cause of chronic hair loss that affects both males and females. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe and minimally invasive technique with promising outcomes in patients with AGA, alongside other therapeutics use. The currently available data in the literature assures that the rate of side effects is low but includes infection and localized reaction (Stevens and Khetarpal, Feb.

Antimicrobial effects of chlorine dioxide in a hospital setting.

Chlorine dioxide is a powerful disinfectant with strong antibacterial properties. We conducted a study at different sites of the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital to determine the efficacy of the ECOM air mask in decreasing the particle load. Air cultures were obtained from three different locations, namely the patients' elevator, visitors' elevator and mobile clinic and the number of colonies grown on each type of agar was determined.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

(1) Background: COVID-19 infection has affected almost 6 million people worldwide. Geniculate Ganglion Zoster resulting in Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (RHS) has been rarely described in this context. (2) Methods: Here, a case of RHS in the context of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection is reported followed by a literature review of the previously published cases (PubMed research combining "COVID-19" and "Ramsay Hunt Syndrome" or their abbreviations/synonyms, searching for data published at any time till October 2023).

Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants during the 2023 flu season and beyond in Lebanon.

Background: Early SARS-CoV-2 variant detection relies on testing and genomic surveillance. The Omicron variant (B.1.

An uncommon complication of a common injury: Acute foot compartment syndrome following an ankle sprain: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Acute foot compartment syndrome (FCS) is a rare but potentially devastating complication that can occur following severe trauma of the limbs. In very are cases, such syndrome occurs following minor trauma. We present an exceptional case of acute FCS as a complication of an ankle sprain.