Decoding diets: insights on ultra-processed food consumption among Lebanese adults from the updated LEBANese natiONal food consumption survey (LEBANON-FCS).

Introduction: Ultra-processed foods are evident to play a role in the development of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-NCDs). There's a scarcity of data in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) regarding ultra-processed food consumption, which highlights the need for such data in this region that is witnessing a nutrition transition. This study was conducted to assess the dietary pattern of Lebanese adults according to different degrees of food processing.

Airway Management in Austere Settings: Intubation Is Not Always the Best Option.

Management of the airway in austere environments can differ substantially from standard in-hospital airway management. Devices such as nasopharyngeal airways, oropharyngeal airways, endotracheal tubes, extraglottic airways, ventilators, and sedative and paralytic medications may not be available. Weather, scene hazards, difficulties of extrication, transport times, skill sets of rescuers, and availability of advanced equipment are highly variable.

Design, Synthesis and Pro-Inflammatory Activity of Palmitoylated Derivatives of Thioglycolic Acid as New Immunomodulators.

The immune system is essential for the defense against infections and is critically implicated in various disorders, including immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, inflammation and cancer. The current study includes a new design of palmitoylated derivatives of thioglycolic acids (PTGAs) capable of triggering innate immune responses. The new series were accessible through a three-step synthetic route, including N-palmitoylation, Claisen-Schmidt condensation and thia-Michael addition.

Community health assessment of needs and continuous empowerment (CHANCE): a quantitative cross-sectional survey targeting primary health care nurses in Lebanon.

Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) is the cornerstone of any healthcare system, with nurses forming the largest workforce involved in care. This study aimed to assess the current use of core competencies among community-based nurses, identify their learning needs, and assess factors associated with training needs within PHC centers.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used, targeting community health nurses working within primary healthcare centers.

Addressing "what matters most" to reduce mental health stigma in primary healthcare settings: a qualitative study in Lebanon.

Background: "What matters most" (WMM) is a theoretical framework based on medical anthropology and draws on cultural concepts of values and morals. It has been employed to identify cross-cultural aspects of mental health stigma. This approach assists practitioners, advocates, and researchers in assessing stigma-related factors that are relevant to the experiences of individuals in diverse cultural contexts.

The Efficacy and Factors Associated With Epidural Injections in the Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and in Terms of Delaying Laminectomy: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Lumbar epidural injections have been studied as symptomatic treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, results about their efficacy have been controversial, and data regarding their use is scarce. Our purpose in this article is to study the efficacy of epidural injections in the management of pain and disability in patients suffering from spinal stenosis, to study the factors which can affect their efficacy, and to discuss whether they could replace surgery or not.

A RAPID DIAGNOSTIC PCR ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN THEIR SNAIL VECTORS.

Accurate detection of schistosome infections in snails is vital for epidemiologic and laboratory studies. Traditional microscopy methods to detect schistosomes in snails are hindered by long prepatent periods and snail survivorship, leading to inaccurate assessment of infections. A rapid, multiplexed PCR assay targeting Biomphalaria sudanica or Biomphalaria glabrata (internal control) and Schistosoma mansoni DNA is described.

Turbulent trajectories: Experiences of young adults from refugee and host communities in Lebanon during crises.

Young adults living in Lebanon are experiencing the impacts of compounded crises during a critical juncture in the life course. Transitions into young adulthood are complex, unfolding in diverse ways for each individual. Using the concept of vital conjunctures, and a qualitative longitudinal research approach, this article explores how intersecting economic, political and refugee crises in Lebanon are impacting transitions to young adulthood.

A novel technique using integral transforms and residual functions for nonlinear partial fractional differential equations involving Caputo derivatives.

Fractional nonlinear partial differential equations are used in many scientific fields to model various processes, although most of these equations lack closed-form solutions. For this reason, methods for approximating solutions that occasionally yield closed-form solutions are crucial for solving these equations. This study introduces a novel technique that combines the residual function and a modified fractional power series with the Elzaki transform to solve various nonlinear problems within the Caputo derivative framework.

Microbiological and physicochemical water quality assessments of the Upper Basin Litany River, Lebanon.

The Litany River has encountered severe environmental pollution. This study focused on assessing the pollution level in the upper basin of the Litany River by monitoring seasonal variation of water quality and testing physicochemical parameters and microbial qualities. A total of 72 freshwater samples were taken from six sites for 1 year during the four seasons.

Muscle fat infiltration: a narrative review of the magnetic resonance (MR)-based evaluation methods and their clinical applications.

Background And Objective: Muscle fat infiltration (MFI) can be seen in several pathologies of various origin including neuromuscular, endocrinological, or musculoskeletal etiologies. Its evaluation is possible through medical imaging, especially MRI, using qualitative or quantitative methods. This paper is an overview of the techniques used to evaluate MFI in different pathologies.

The Role of Telemedicine in Enhancing Surgical Care Delivery in Africa: A Literature Review.

Background And Aims: In Africa, telemedicine holds great potential to revolutionize surgical care delivery, especially in areas where access to quality treatment is scarce. Data about the use of these services in African countries is, however, limited. To outline the present issues in surgical care delivery, as well as the significant role of telemedicine in advancing surgical care delivery in Africa.

Virus nanotechnology for intratumoural immunotherapy.

Viruses can be designed to be tools and carrier vehicles for intratumoural immunotherapy. Their nanometre-scale size and shape allow for functionalization with or encapsulation of medical cargoes and tissue-specific ligands. Importantly, immunotherapies may particularly benefit from the inherent immunomodulatory properties of viruses.

Social connections related to health and well-being needs identified by children and adolescents affected by displacement in Lebanon: a participatory research study.

Introduction: The social connections surrounding children and adolescents support them in facing challenges and seeking help, ultimately acting as a protective factor in their mental, physical, and behavioral health outcomes across the life course. In complex contexts of political instability and dislocation, these social resources are often fractured, strained, or altogether unavailable, which restricts access to essential services and affects outcomes for these populations. This study aims to identify, characterize, and visually depict social connections related to the health and well-being needs of children and adolescents affected by displacement in Lebanon, by pilot testing the Participatory Assessment Tool for Mapping Social Connections (PATMSC).

Preoperative hemoglobin level and anemia frequency among patients admitted for diabetic lower extremity amputation.

Objectives: Anemia is known to be prevalent in patients with diabetic foot ulcers, but such was not documented in those who required lower extremity amputations (LEAs). In this high-risk population, preoperative anemia could be an additional risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. This study attempts to address the knowledge gap related to the preoperative hemoglobin (Hg) level and anemia prevalence in patients admitted for diabetic LEA.

Demographic factors, knowledge, attitude and perception and their association with nursing students' intention to use artificial intelligence (AI): a multicentre survey across 10 Arab countries.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in healthcare, with a significant impact on nursing practice. As future healthcare practitioners, nursing students must be prepared to incorporate AI technologies into their job. This study aimed to explore the associated factors with nursing students' intention to use AI.

Challenges in accessing health care services for women and girls with disabilities using a humanitarian physical rehabilitation program in Lebanon: a mixed method study.

Background: Achieving equitable healthcare access for persons with disabilities is vital, as they often face various barriers that impact their health and well-being. Recognizing the importance of gender equity, this study aims to explore the specific barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities in accessing quality healthcare services in Lebanon.

Methods: A mixed-method sequential explanatory approach was employed.

Ensemble deep learning and EfficientNet for accurate diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) stands as a significant global cause of vision impairment, underscoring the critical importance of early detection in mitigating its impact. Addressing this challenge head-on, this study introduces an innovative deep learning framework tailored for DR diagnosis. The proposed framework utilizes the EfficientNetB0 architecture to classify diabetic retinopathy severity levels from retinal images.

Efficacy of Wilate Prophylaxis in Reducing Nosebleeds in Patients with Severe VWD - A Post-hoc Analysis of the WIL-31 Study.

Background: Prophylaxis with a von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentrate is recommended in von Willebrand disease (VWD) patients with a history of frequent and severe bleeds. Despite nosebleeds being a frequent manifestation of VWD, few studies have investigated the efficacy of factor prophylaxis in preventing nosebleeds in patients with severe VWD.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of a prospective, 12-month, phase 3 study assessed the efficacy of wilate in the prevention of nosebleeds in 33 patients aged ≥6 years with severe type 1, type 2 or type 3 VWD.