Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) Vaccine Effectiveness against Symptomatic Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 Infection among Outpatients in Sentinel Sites, Lebanon, July-December 2021.

On 14 February 2021, Lebanon implemented nationwide vaccination, offering the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine to adults over 50 years of age. We estimated the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. We conducted a test-negative case-control (TND) study among symptomatic adults aged 50 years and older who presented with influenza-like illness (ILI) or COVID-19-like illness (CLI) in surveillance sentinel sites between 1 July and 31 December 2021.

Pleural Kaposi Sarcoma in Two HIV-Positive Patients.

Kaposi sarcoma is a neoplasm caused by human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) that commonly presents as subcutaneous lesions but can also involve visceral organs such as the gastrointestinal and pulmonary systems. Diagnosis is achieved through histopathological analysis of cutaneous lesions or lymph nodes. In this study, we report two patients, recently diagnosed with HIV, who were later found to have cutaneous and visceral (pleural) Kaposi sarcoma.

Predictors of drug-resistant epilepsy in childhood epilepsy syndromes: A subgroup analysis from a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Previous studies assessing factors associated with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) were constrained by their amalgamation of all epilepsy syndromes in their analyses and the absence of uniform criteria for defining DRE. Our objective was to identify predictors of DRE among the four primary childhood epilepsy syndrome groups within a cohort of children with new onset seizures, using the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition of DRE and the recent classification of epilepsies.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 676 children with new onset seizures initiated on antiseizure medication.

Paths to improve voluntary blood donation in mixed public/private blood donation systems such as in Lebanon?

Background: The World Health Organization advocates for the achievement of 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRD) globally by the year 2020. However, until today, little was known in Lebanon regarding its actual rate or influencing factors, particularly donor motivations and behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of blood donors in Lebanon.

Prospective study of epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone: Clinical features, response to treatment, and likelihood of medication withdrawal.

Objective: This prospective study aimed to delineate the demographics, natural progression, and treatment response of patients newly diagnosed with epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (EGTCA). Furthermore, our objective includes assessing the seizure recurrence rate post antiseizure medication (ASM) discontinuation within this cohort, alongside exploring predictive factors for seizure relapse.

Methods: The study cohort, derived from an ongoing, prospective, multicenter investigation on children and adults with new-onset unprovoked seizures, included consecutive patients enrolled between March 2010 and March 2020, and meeting mandatory ILAE criteria for EGTCA diagnosis.

The Lebanese percreta group: A retrospective cohort study of both radical and conservative management outcomes of abnormally invasive placenta.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to illustrate the outcomes of abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) cases managed in three leading centers in Lebanon.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study. Patients managed conservatively (cesarean delivery with successful placental separation) or radically (cesarean hysterectomy) were included in the study.

Odds and associated factors for thrombosis development among Lebanese COVID-19 patients: a case-control retrospective study.

Background: Thromboembolism is reported to be up to 27% in COVID-19 patients due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dysregulated systemic inflammation and various patient traits play a vital role in thrombosis progression.

Purpose: To assess odds and associated factors for thrombosis development among Lebanese COVID-19 patients.

Surgical Approaches to Serous Retinal Detachment With Retina-Lens Touch in Eyes With Nanophthalmos.

To describe the visual outcomes and problems that resulted from surgical treatment of nanophthalmic complete retinal detachment (RD) with retina-lens contact. A multicenter retrospective case series with deep sclerectomy as a treatment was performed. Five cases had extensive deep sclerectomies, 3 with intended drainage of subretinal fluid (SRF).

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.

Recovery course of persistent posterior subretinal fluid after successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To investigate best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subretinal fluid (SRF) absorption time or ellipsoid zone (EZ) restoration time and various variables in patients with persistent SRF after successful primary repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study allowed independent analysis of the healing pattern by two observers based on composite of serial cross-sectional macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. Univariate and multivariate analyses were implemented.

A homozygous frameshift variant expands the clinical spectrum of SAMD9 gene defects.

SAMD9, a ubiquitously expressed protein, is involved in several mechanisms, including endosome fusion, growth suppression and modulation of innate immune responses to stress and viral infections. While biallelic mutations in SAMD9 are linked to normophosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis, heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in the same gene are responsible for MIRAGE, a multisystemic syndrome characterized by myelodysplasia, infection, restriction of growth, adrenal hypoplasia, genital phenotypes, and enteropathy. A two-and-a-half-year-old girl, from a consanguineous Lebanese family, was included in this study.

Cerebrovascular disease in patients with COVID-19 infection: a case series from Lebanon.

COVID-19 has been associated with a variety of multi-organs complications, with an increasing proportion of patients presenting with neurologic manifestations. There is still an uncertainty in the relationship between stroke and COVID-19. Therefore, in this study, the authors report 18 cases of acute stroke occurring in the setting of COVID-19 infection, including 11 ischaemic strokes and 7 haemorrhagic strokes and identified in a Lebanese tertiary hospital.

Early predictors of remission in children and adolescents with new-onset epilepsy: A prospective study.

Purpose: This study aims to identify predictive factors of a two-year remission (2YR) in a cohort of children and adolescents with new-onset seizures based on baseline clinical characteristics, initial EEG and brain MRI findings.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 688 patients with new onset seizures, initiated on treatment with antiseizure medication was evaluated. 2YR was defined as achieving at least two years of seizure freedom during the follow-up period.

Risk of recurrence in patients with an unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure and generalized epileptiform discharges on EEG.

Objective: The decision to initiate treatment in patients with a first unprovoked seizure remains controversial. Studies have reported a recurrence rate ranging from 21%-50%, but most have included patients with different etiologies, electroencephalography (EEG) findings, and seizure types. This study aimed to determine the risk of recurrence in patients with a first unprovoked generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizure with evidence of generalized spike-wave discharges (GSWDs) on EEG and compare the efficacy of antiseizure medications (ASMs) in preventing recurrence.

Potential Prognostic and Predictive Role of Monocyte and Lymphocyte Counts on Presentation in Patients Diagnosed With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Nearly 40% of patients will die of relapsed disease despite the use of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy. Many prognostic markers established in the chemotherapy era are no longer valid in the rituximab era.

Characterization and susceptibility of non-albicans isolated from various clinical specimens in Lebanese hospitals.

Background: Invasive fungal infections have presented a challenge in treatment. In the past, it was known that the frontrunner in such infections is s with little emphasis placed on non-albicans species (NAC). Studies worldwide have shown a rise in fungal infections attributed to non-albicans species.

Results from the second WHO external quality assessment for the molecular detection of respiratory syncytial virus, 2019-2020.

Background: External quality assessments (EQAs) for the molecular detection of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are necessary to ensure the standardisation of reliable results. The Phase II, 2019-2020 World Health Organization (WHO) RSV EQA included 28 laboratories in 26 countries. The EQA panel evaluated performance in the molecular detection and subtyping of RSV-A and RSV-B.

variant associated with pigmented paravenous chorioretinal atrophy.

Purpose: To report a case of Pigmented Paravenous Chorioretinal Atrophy (PPCRA) associated with a novel dominant variant.

Methods: Case report. The patient underwent multimodal retinal imaging, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT Angiography (OCTA), blue-light autofluorescence (BAF), and ultra-widefield pseudocolor retinography and autofluorescence.

Recommendations for Early and Comprehensive Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Its Related Cardio-Renal Complications.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health problem accompanied by an elevated risk of complications, the most common being cardiac and renal diseases. In Lebanon, the prevalence of T2D is estimated at 8-13%. Local medical practice generally suffers from clinical inertia, with gaps in the yearly assessment of clinical manifestations and suboptimal screening for major complications.

Quality of Life in Adult Patients With Epilepsy in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic and heterogeneous neurological disorder that impairs the quality of life (QOL) of sufferers and affects their mental health in many aspects. Few studies have been conducted in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, on the QOL of patients with epilepsy. The aim of our study is to assess the burden of epilepsy on the life of adult patients in Lebanon and measure the impact of sociodemographic and clinical factors on the QOL.

Multimodal imaging in Schubert-Bornschein congenital stationary night blindness.

Background: Schubert-Bornschein (SB) is the most common type of people with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB). The aim of the study is to describe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in patients with SB CSNB.

Methods: Prospective, observational case series including three patients with genetically confirmed CSNB along with matched controls, who underwent complete ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging.

Replacement of the Alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2 by the Delta variant in Lebanon between April and June 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand globally, with case numbers rising in many areas of the world, including the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Lebanon experienced its largest wave of COVID-19 infections from January to April 2021. Limited genomic surveillance was undertaken, with just 26 SARS-CoV-2 genomes available for this period, nine of which were from travellers from Lebanon detected by other countries.

Utility of hematological and inflammatory biomarkers in predicting recovery in critical Covid-19 patients: Our experience in the largest Covid-19 treating center in Lebanon.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has led to a catastrophic shortage of ICU beds. This has resulted in the need to identify patients that can be discharged early before full clinical recovery. We designed this study to determine if in changes routine tests like CBCD and CRP can be a useful complement to clinical status when deciding to discharge patients from ICU.

Talazoparib in -mutated advanced breast cancer: is earlier better?

Talazoparib is an oral PARP inhibitor approved for locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer. There is no consensus, however, as to whether it is better used as a first-line treatment or after other therapies in patients with mutations. In fact, talazoparib showed its superiority compared with chemotherapy in the survival and quality of life of patients with mutations, with an acceptable toxicity profile.