A Comprehensive Review Highlighting the Prospects of Phytonutrient Berberine as an Anticancer Agent.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from various medicinal plants, emerges as a potential therapeutic agent against diverse human diseases. It has particularly shown notable anticancer efficacy against breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, and liver cancer. Berberine results in inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and suppressing angiogenesis, positioning it as a versatile, multitargeted therapeutic tool against cancer.

A Review of Anemia Prevalence, and Prevention and Control Strategies, in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region.

Anemia is a global public health and nutrition problem. However, data on its prevalence and potential causal factors in the 22 countries of the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia region are not systematically collected, analyzed, and reported, leading to challenges in formulating appropriate preventative strategies. We examined available anemia prevalence data among different population groups through reviewing survey reports from 2010 to 2022; conducted a literature review to explore underlying determinants of anemia including iron deficiency; and collated and reviewed program and policy documentation across the region.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: a literature review and case study.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare but treatable inherited neurometabolic disorder that can lead to severe sequelae if left untreated. Chenodeoxycholic acid is a safe and effective treatment for CTX. Early diagnosis is essential to improve patient outcomes.

Suboptimal Attainment of Global Goals of Human Rights, Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals in Gaza During 2023-2024.

The Israel military occupation, ongoing for over 75 years, has profoundly impacted the health and well-being of Palestinians. Despite longstanding calls for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustainable development, the response of global health systems and organizations to crises such as the recent large-scale military assault on Gaza in October 2023 has been inadequate. There is a critical need to examine why these global health approaches have failed and how they can be restructured to address the unique challenges in Gaza effectively.

Addressing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness and Knowledge Gaps Among Lebanese Medical Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: In Lebanon, HIV prevalence among key populations such as men who have sex with men is high at 12%, warranting a need for targeted healthcare efforts. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective prevention measure, yet global challenges persist, including limited awareness of PrEP among healthcare professionals. This study investigates PrEP awareness within the Lebanese medical community.

Food insecurity and lifestyle behaviours in university students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative survey across three countries.

Background: University students, often unemployed and reliant on low-nutrition foods, are susceptible to food insecurity (FI) with potential physical and mental health challenges. This study explores FI and its impact on lifestyle behaviours among university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was performed by sending an online questionnaire to university students in Lebanon, Cyprus, and Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk of swallowing disorders in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis in comparison to healthy controls: a Survey of 50 cases.

Purpose: To investigate the risk of swallowing disorders and the frequency and intensity of vocal tract symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis (CRSwNP).

Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with CRSwNP presenting to the rhinology clinic of a tertiary referral center between March 2023 and March 2024, were recruited. Patients with acute or recent history of respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, pharyngitis or otitis, were excluded.

Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair and Mortality at Hospitals Without Investigational Device Trials.

Importance: Fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repairs (F/BEVAR) have been adopted by many centers. However, national trends of F/BEVAR use remain unclear, particularly at sites who perform them without an US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA)-approved investigational device exemption (IDE).

Objective: To quantify the use of F/BEVAR in the US and to determine if mortality was different at IDE vs non-IDE sites.

A higher global diet quality score is associated with lower risk of obesity among male university students in Lebanon: a pilot study.

Objective: This pilot study aims to assess the diet quality amongst Lebanese male university students using the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS), identify its association with obesity, and determine the key drivers of consumption of foods associated with higher NCDs risk.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sampling approach, comprising 385 male students aged between 18 and 24 years at the American University of Beirut. Dietary data was collected using 24-h recall, where participants detailed all foods and beverages consumed in the past 24 h, including portion sizes.

Humoral correlate of vaccine-mediated protection from tuberculosis identified in humans and non-human primates.

Development of an effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccine has been challenged by incomplete understanding of specific factors that provide protection against (Mtb) and the lack of a known correlate of protection (CoP). Using a combination of samples from a vaccine showing efficacy (DarDar [NCT00052195]) and Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-immunized humans and nonhuman primates (NHP), we identify a humoral CoP that translates across species and vaccine regimens. Antibodies specific to the DarDar vaccine strain () sonicate (MOS) correlate with protection from the efficacy endpoint of definite TB.

Predictors of Functional Impairment in Severe COVID-19 Patients Two Months After Discharge.

Background: The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale is a validated tool used to measure the functional status of patients discharged from the hospital.

Objectives: To describe the functional limitations of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the time of discharge and two months afterward, and to identify risk factors associated with functional impairment.

Design: Retrospective study.

Phase II trial of blood-brain barrier permeable peptide-paclitaxel conjugate ANG1005 in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.

Background: This study is a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeable peptide-paclitaxel conjugate ANG1005 in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG) (NCT01967810).

Methods: Seventy-three patients were enrolled in 3 separate arms-recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) (Arm 1), bevacizumab refractory GBM (Arm 2), and grade 3 anaplastic gliomas (AGs) (Arm 3). The study was started in October 2013, and the data were locked on September 29, 2017.

Development of a Transcultural Social Ethical and Integrated Care Model, for Dependent and Older People Populations at Risk of Exclusion in the Mediterranean Sea Basin (TEC-MED): A Research Protocol.

Background: Higher life expectancy has produced a higher older people porpulation, not necessarily with a consistent quality of life, showing a high rate of vulnerability and dependence. The current social and health crisis situation has highlighted the need to create new integrated models of care that could be translated into social and health policies.

Objective: The present study aims to develop, test, and validate an innovative integrated care model for older people with dependence and at risk of social exclusion and their caregivers.

An Unusual Diagnosis of Rectosigmoid Leiomyoma in an Adult: A Rare Case Report.

Leiomyomas are uncommon tumors of the gastrointestinal system, representing around 0.03% to 0.05% of all rectal tumors.

The effectiveness of digital health versus standard care on exclusive breastfeeding duration among postpartum mothers in LMIC: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of digital health interventions compared to standard care in promoting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among postpartum women in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: The PRISMA guidelines of reporting were followed for the searching of four databases and screening following eligibility criteria: articles presenting digital health interventions, conducted as randomized control trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental, or mixed-method studies, reporting on EBF duration and early initiation of breastfeeding, and published in the English language were included.

Results: Of 1595 articles screened, only 10 published between 2013 and 2023 met the criteria.

Tumor mutational burden: why is it still a controversial agnostic immunotherapy biomarker?

For the past few years, researchers and oncologists have been pushing to find biomarkers that would help predict which treatment option would best work on a patient. Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) is one of the latest biomarkers that is being studied and considered as a promising agnostic immunotherapy biomarker. However, it still shows controversial results in studies due to the difficulty in finding solid comparable results.

Factors associated with care-resistant behavior in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's Uniform Data Set.

Introduction: Little is known about the factors associated with care-resistant behavior in community-dwelling persons living with dementia.

Methods: Regression modeling was performed on 41,143 responses to a standardized questionnaire from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's Uniform Data Set.

Results: In the fully adjusted mixed-effects regression model, collinearity was low, with no variance inflation factor above 1.

Update on Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Review.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a significant health care concern in neonatal care as advances in neonatal intensive practices have improved the survival rates of premature infants. The management and screening of ROP have evolved significantly, with notable trends and advancements aimed at improving outcomes. The use of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections has emerged as a prominent initial treatment for ROP in addition to laser photocoagulation.

Just the Tip of the Iceberg: a Brief Report of the Tip-of-the-Tongue Score as an Embedded Validity Indicator for the Children's Auditory and Visual Naming Tests.

Objective: Explore the tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) scores from the Children's Auditory and Visual Naming Tests (cANT, cVNT) as embedded validity indicators (EVIs).

Method: A retrospective design of 98 consecutively referred youth aged 6-15 years (M = 11.28, SD = 2.

Evolving Food Allergy Clinical Trials to Become More Patient-Centered.

The current FDA paradigm may not fully capture important patient-centered outcomes or measure a primary outcome that is truly meaningful to patients. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are standardized tools measuring the patient's experience in food allergy clinical trials, which can help support shared decision-making (SDM) and further our understanding of treatment impact. Food allergy PROMs include quality of life (QoL), health state utility (HSU), severity, and self-efficacy measures.

Treated wastewater reuse and its impact on soil properties and potato and corn growth.

Water scarcity is a growing challenge in semi-arid regions. Many farmers have resorted to treated wastewater (TWW) as an available and low-cost water source. This study investigated the impact of irrigating potato (Solanum Tuberosum) and corn (Zea mays) with tertiary-treated (TW) and secondary-treated (SW) wastewater compared to freshwater, over two years.