Exploring the need for surgical face masks in operating room: a comprehensive literature review.

Surgical face masks (SFM) are pivotal in preventing surgical site infections (SSI) in the operating room (OR). However, there are currently no specific recommendations for their most effective use. SFM effectiveness is influenced by factors such as material, fit, and duration of use, sparking ongoing debates about their benefits and risks in surgery.

Magic Touch sirolimus-coated balloon: animal and clinical evidence of a coronary sirolimus drug-coated balloon.

The Magic Touch sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB) was recently introduced in Europe and features robust clinical technology different from other devices on the market. This device is able to deliver a sufficient sirolimus dose to the target segment to reduce neointimal proliferation with very little exposure downstream and no apparent adverse effects at sustained high drug concentrations. The SCB represents a promising novelty within the drug-coated balloon arena due to its mid-term efficacy and safety in the treatment of coronary artery disease, especially in and small-vessel coronary lesions.

A challenging diagnosis of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the middle finger in an infant: A case report.

Introduction: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare sarcoma, accounting for less than 0.1 % of tumors. While it predominantly occurs in adults, pediatric cases are unusual.

Drug-Coated Balloon in Acute Coronary Syndromes: Ready for the Prime Time?

Purpose Of Review: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are a major global health concern. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) has been endorsed as safe and effective in the management of culprit and non-culprit lesions of ACS. However, permanent metallic implants may have drawbacks, including the need for prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and the risk of long-term stent-related complications.

Performance of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in cardiovascular disease.

Aims: The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) as a new class of drug in treating type 2 diabetes has expanded beyond its original framework. Positive results have been achieved in reducing symptoms in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this article is to present an in-depth review of the basic principles of this class of medications and how it has brought benefits to patients affected particularly by heart failure.

Evaluating the academic scientific laboratories' safety by applying failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) at the public university in Lebanon.

Workers at scientific academic laboratories are at risk of potential exposure to different types of hazards. The study's purpose was to assess the potential failure modes (FMs) of hazards facing them through the application of the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method to propose corrective actions preventive actions (CAPA) to mitigate them and to improve the safety outcomes in these workplaces (WP) at the Lebanese public University (PbU). The potential FMs leading to accident occurrence in biological and chemical labs were identified and prioritized, their causes and effects were determined by applying two surveys, and the risk priority number (RPN) for each failure was calculated.

Microendoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Tracheostomy (MUGPT): A Case Series Describing a Novel Technique for Performing Percutaneous Tracheostomy.

A percutaneous tracheostomy is a common surgical procedure done in intensive care. Several different techniques have been described. Recently, the addition of bronchoscopy or ultrasound has been advocated to decrease the risks and complications associated with the procedure; however, both aids used alone, bronchoscopy or ultrasound, have some drawbacks and pitfalls.

Case Report of Tetrodotoxin Poisoning from in Lebanon.

The Indo-Pacific pufferfish is a tetrodotoxin-containing species believed to have entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is primarily found in the liver, intestine, and ovaries of . We report a case of a patient with TTX poisoning from consumption in Lebanon.

Prevalence of Accident Occurrence Among Scientific Laboratory Workers of the Public University in Lebanon and the Impact of Safety Measures.

Background: Workers are exposed to several risks in academic laboratories due to the presence of potentially hazardous substances. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of accident occurrence and associated risk factors among laboratory workers at the scientific laboratories of the public university in Lebanon and the impact of safety measures training and availability

Methods: In this observational study, a survey was conducted for one year in scientific laboratories at faculties of the public university.

Results: Among the participants ( = 220), 45.

Introducing artificial intelligence to the radiation early warning system.

Although radiation level is a serious concern which requires continuous monitoring, many existing systems are designed to perform this task. Radiation early warning system (REWS) is one of these systems which monitor the gamma radiation level in air. Such system requires high manual intervention, depends totally on experts' analysis, and has some shortcomings that can be risky sometimes.

VIP modulates human macrophages phenotype via FPRL1 via activation of RhoA-GTPase and PLC pathways.

Objective And Design: This study is aimed at uncovering the signaling pathways activated by vasoactive intestinal peptide in human macrophages MATERIALS: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived macrophages were used for the in vitro investigation of the VIP-activated signaling pathways.

Methods And Treatment: Time-course and dose-response experiments and siRNA were used in human macrophages co-challenged with various concentrations of VIP and different MAPK pharmacologic inhibitors to investigate signaling pathways activated by VIP. Flow analysis was performed to assess the levels of CD11b, CD35 and CD66.

Serum Cadmium Levels and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The increase in the prevalence of metabolic disorders globally is becoming a public health concern. Previous studies have reported an association between environmental exposures to hazardous substances, including various heavy metals, and the risk for metabolic syndrome. However, reports on the contributions of cadmium (Cd) to the risk for obesity and diabetes remain inconsistent.

Impact of growth temperature on the adhesion of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs to food-contact-surfaces.

This study investigated the effect of the growth temperature (20 and 37 °C) of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs on their adhesion to stainless steel and polycarbonate. This study also evaluated the ability of the DLVO and XDLVO mathematical models to predict this adhesion. The rise of growth temperature from 20 to 37 °C significantly influenced the adhesion of studied E.

fMLP-dependent activation of Akt and ERK1/2 through ROS/Rho A pathways is mediated through restricted activation of the FPRL1 (FPR2) receptor.

Objective And Design: The objective of this study is to uncover the signal transduction pathways of N-formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in monocyte.

Materials Or Subjects: Freshly isolated human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) were used for in vitro assessment of signal transduction pathways activated by fMLP.

Treatment: Time-course and dose-response experiments were used to evaluate the effect of fMLP along with the specific inhibitors/stimulators on the activation of downstream signaling kinases.

Forensically Relevant Blow Flies in Lebanon Survey and Identification Using Molecular Markers (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Calliphoridae are among the first insects associated to decomposing animal remains. We have collected 1,841 specimens of three calliphorid genera: Calliphora, Lucilia, and Chrysomya, from different Lebanese localities as a first step in implementing a database of insects of forensic relevance for the country. Blow-flies are crucial for the estimation of the postmortem interval.

Sulfur compounds reactivity in the ODS of model and real feeds on W-SBA based catalysts.

W based catalysts were synthesized by dry impregnation of SBA-15 mesoporous silica with phosphotungstic acid (HPW) solution with W contents between 5 and 20%, the HPW compound being preserved after calcination. The catalysts performance and the reactivity of various sulfide compounds were evaluated in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of model solutions and of real diesels, with sulfur contents ranging from 50 to 2000 ppm. The reactivity of benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene compounds was different in the ODS of model solutions but globally identical in the ODS of SRGO.

Detailed secondary structure models of invertebrate 7SK RNAs.

The 7SK RNA is a small nuclear RNA that is involved in the regulation of Pol-II transcription. It is very well conserved in vertebrates, but shows extensive variations in both sequence and structure across invertebrates. A systematic homology search extended the collection of 7SK genes in both Arthropods and Lophotrochozoa making use of the large number of recently published invertebrate genomes.

Bithiophenic MALDI matrices as valuable leads for the selective detection of alkaloids.

Alkaloids represent a group of biologically most interesting compounds commonly used in modern medicines but also known for exhibiting severe toxic effects. Therefore, the detection of alkaloids is an important issue in quality control of plants, dietary supplements, and herbal pharmaceutical and mostly facilitated by methods such as GC or LC-MS. However, benefitting from the development of selective matrices as well as requiring very little sample preparation, MALDI-MS may also provide a valuable supplement to these standard analytical methods.

Synthesis of hydroxyethyl-methacrylate-(L)-histidine methyl ester cryogels. Application on the separation of bovine immunoglobulin G.

In this study cryogels based 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) functionalized with N-methacryloyl-L-histidine methyl ester (MAH) were synthesized and used for the adsorption and separation of bovine IgG. Two series of cryogels functionalized with 5 and 10 mg of MAH as pseudobioaffinity ligand were prepared and characterized by swelling test, FTIR and SEM analysis. The adsorption efficiency of the bovine immunoglobulin into cryogels is discussed with respect to the following chromatographic parameters: pH, flow rate, initial IgG concentration, adsorption time and ionic strength.

[PHEMA/PEI]-Cu(II) based immobilized metal affinity chromatography cryogels: Application on the separation of IgG from human plasma.

The immobilized metal-affinity chromatography (IMAC) has gained significant interest as a widespread separation and purification tool for therapeutic proteins, nucleic acids and other biological molecules. The enormous potential of IMAC for proteins with natural surface exposed-histidine residues and for recombinant proteins with histidine clusters. Cryogels as monolithic materials have recently been proposed as promising chromatographic adsorbents for the separation of biomolecules in downstream processing.

Effects of methanol extracts from roots, leaves, and fruits of the Lebanese strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne) on cardiac function together with their antioxidant activity.

Context: Several plant-derived natural products have been used in clinical phase for applications in neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases. Arbutus andrachne L. (Ericacea) is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region.

Acute corneal hydrops mimicking infectious keratitis as initial presentation of keratoconus in a 10-year-old child.

Purpose. To report a case of acute hydrops in a 10-year-old child with advanced keratoconus. Case Presentation.

Affinity composite cryogel discs functionalized with Reactive Red 120 and Green HE 4BD dye ligands: application on the separation of human immunoglobulin G subclasses.

Naturally produced by the human immune system, immunoglobulin nowadays is widely used for in vivo and in vitro purposes. The increased needs for pure immunoglobulin have prompted researchers to find new immunoglobulin chromatographic separation processes. Cryogels as chromatographic adsorbents, congregate several mechanical features including good compatibility, large pore structure, flexibility, short diffusion pathway and stability.