Estimates of the incidence, prevalence, and factors associated with common sexually transmitted infections among Lebanese women.

Background: We analyzed the prevalence of active infection with common curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including N. gonorrhea, C. trachomatis, T.

Writing letters in two graphic systems: Behavioral and neural correlates in Latin-Arabic biscripters.

Biscriptuality is the ability to read and write using two scripts. Despite the increasing number of biscripters, this phenomenon remains poorly understood. Here, we focused on investigating graphomotor processing in French-Arabic biscripters.

Leadless Pacing: Where We Currently Stand and What the Future Holds.

Purpose Of Review: Leadless pacemakers (LPs) are emerging as alternative cardiac implantable devices for the treatment of bradyarrhythmia. This article aims to review the data behind the safety and efficacy of these devices while highlighting their pros and cons.

Recent Findings: Prospective non-randomized studies and registries have found that LPs are associated with lower rate of device-related complications mainly driven by lower need for lead-related interventions as compared to traditional pacemakers.

ADIPOQ gene polymorphisms and haplotypes linked to altered susceptibility to PCOS: a case-control study.

Research Question: What role do ADIPOQ variants play in controlling adiponectin concentrations and altered risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Design: Study subjects comprised 583 women with PCOS and 713 age-matched controls. Genotyping of rs182052, rs822393, rs822396, rs7649121, rs3774271, rs266729, rs3774261 and rs6773957 ADIPOQ polymorphisms was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: Of the 16 ADIPOQ variants, the minor allele frequencies of rs182052, rs822393, rs822396, rs7649121, rs3774261 and rs6773957 were significantly different between PCOS cases and controls.

HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 allele and haplotype frequencies in Lebanese and their relatedness to neighboring and distant populations.

Background: This study examined the origin of present-day Lebanese using high-resolution HLA class I and class II allele and haplotype distributions. The study subjects comprised 152 unrelated individuals, and their HLA class I and class II alleles and two-locus and five-locus haplotypes were compared with those of neighboring and distant communities using genetic distances, neighbor-joining dendrograms, correspondence, and haplotype analyses. HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DRB1, DQB1) were genotyped at a high-resolution level by PCR-SSP.

Contrasting association of Leptin receptor polymorphisms and haplotypes with polycystic ovary syndrome in Bahraini and Tunisian women: a case-control study.

Background: The present study examined the contribution of ethnicity to the association of leptin receptor gene (LEPR) gene variants with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Tunisian and Bahraini Arabic-speaking women.

Methods: Subjects consisted of 320 women with PCOS, and 446 eumenorrhic women from Tunisia, and 242 women with PCOS and 238 controls from Bahrain. Genotyping of (exonic) rs1137100 and rs1137101 and (intronic) rs2025804 LEPR variants was done by allelic exclusion.

Maternal HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP loci are linked with altered risk of recurrent pregnancy loss in Lebanese women: A case-control study.

Problem: We investigated the association between idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DRB1 alleles and DPB1-DQB1-DRB1 haplotypes.

Method Of Study: Case-control retrospective study involved 93 Lebanese women with unexplained RPL, and 113 multiparous Lebanese women with two or more successful pregnancies, and no miscarriages who served as controls. DPB1, DQB1, and DRB1 genotyping was performed by PCR-SSP.

Circulating leptin concentration, LEP gene variants and haplotypes, and polycystic ovary syndrome in Bahraini and Tunisian Arab women.

Background And Aim: Epidemiological studies suggested that ethnic/racial background influences the associations of altered leptin secretion and leptin gene (LEP) polymorphisms with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We investigated the association between LEP variants and plasma leptin levels with PCOS in Tunisian and Bahraini Arab women.

Subjects And Methods: Retrospective case-control study, involving 255 PCOS cases and 253 control subjects from Bahrain, and 320 women PCOS cases and 447 controls from Tunisia.

Association of adiponectin gene variants with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage according to obesity status: a case-control study.

Background: This study addresses whether the association of adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) variants with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is influenced by obesity.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study performed in outpatient obstetrics/gynecology clinics. Study subjects comprised 308 women with RPL, defined as ≥ 3 consecutive miscarriages of unknown etiology, and 310 control women.

New insights into genotype-phenotype correlation for GLI3 mutations.

The phenotypic spectrum of GLI3 mutations includes autosomal dominant Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome (GCPS) and Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS). PHS was first described as a lethal condition associating hypothalamic hamartoma, postaxial or central polydactyly, anal atresia and bifid epiglottis. Typical GCPS combines polysyndactyly of hands and feet and craniofacial features.

[Care of the elderly in Lebanon].

Of the Arab countries, Lebanon is the nation with the highest number of people aged 65 and over. Most live in the community, within their families, and only 4 000 elderly people are homed in institutions.

[GDx-VCC NFI analysis in Lebanese glaucoma patients].

Purpose: To describe the Nerve Fiber Indicator (Nerve Fiber Index; NFI) parameter findings and progression in Lebanese glaucoma patients or suspects.

Study Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Patients And Methods: A review was conducted of the GDx VCC examinations performed between January 2003 and December 2008 in an ophthalmological diagnostic center, in 1063 Lebanese subjects referred for this testing by their ophthalmologists.

Monitoring the levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals in Lebanon and validation of an HPLC/UV detection for the determination of DON in crushed wheat (bulgur).

This paper reports for the first time a method for determining deoxynivalenol (DON) in crushed wheat (bulgur) using an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet light detection. Linearity (r (2) > 0.999), selectivity and recovery (70-110%) were acceptable.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphisms in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage.

We investigated the association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) gene polymorphisms with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (RM). TNFalpha -1031T/C, -863C/A, -857C/T, -376G/A, -308G/A, -238G/A, and +488G/A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were investigated in 204 RM women and 248 age-matched parous women by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Significantly higher frequencies of -1031C and -376A alleles were seen in RM patients; significant differences were also noted in the distribution of -1031T/C, -376G/A, and -238G/A genotypes between case and control subjects.

[Clinical study comparing at 5 years a ceramic and a ceromer used for making esthetic inlays].

Thirty-six inlays, equally divided between a vitro ceramic and a composite resin, were bonded in pair, on the same type of teeth in fifteen patients. They were followed for a mean period of 60 months. The results showed that both materials were clinically acceptable for restoring posterior teeth, even though ceramic yielded better results concerning colour match.

STAT3 polymorphisms linked with idiopathic recurrent miscarriages.

Problem: We investigated the association of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)3 gene variants with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (RM).

Method Of Study: A case-control study involving 189 RM patients and 244 control women was carried out. STAT3 (rs1053004 and rs1023023) genotyping was performed by allelic discrimination/real-time PCR method.

Radiopacity of resin-based materials measured in film radiographs and storage phosphor plate (Digora).

This study compared the radiopacity of 41 resin-based materials using conventional dental x-ray film (Ultraspeed-D) and a digital system (Digora) based on storage phosphor plate technology. For the film-based technique, optical density measurements were carried out using an X-Rite densitometer. Al equivalents (mm) were calculated as described in the literature using a calibration curve of Optical Density versus the thickness of aluminum.

Infantile spasms in Down syndrome: good response to a short course of vigabatrin.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of vigabatrin (VGB) in the treatment of infantile spasms (ISs) associated with Down syndrome (DS) and to assess the feasibility of early discontinuation to reduce the possible retinal toxicity.

Methods: Five children with ISs with DS were treated with vigabatrin as first-line monotherapy in an open prospective study. The short-term response was evaluated, and VGB was continued in responders.

[Extrapontine myelinolysis: treatment with TRH].

Central pontine and extra-pontine myelinolysis are a well known complication of hyponatremia. Other causes may be present. We report a case of head injury in a 13 year-old girl, who recovered well after surgery for extra-dural hematoma, but presented endocrinological disorders with hyperglycemia followed by a severe hyponatremia.

Congenital cyst of the pancreas. Antenatal diagnosis.

We hereby report the third case of antenatal diagnosis of congenital cyst of the pancreas. It is a very rare lesion and could present as a differential diagnosis of any intra-abdominal cystic mass. Early treatment is easy and prevents complications such as ascites and pancreatitis in case of intra-pancreatic enteric duplication.

[Right-sided endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus during the neonatal period. (A case report)].

Right-sided infectious endocarditis in the neonate, due to staphylococcus aureus, is a rare entity. A high index of suspicion should be used when dealing with a very sick neonate, especially with aggressive reanimation. Although the diagnosis is clinical, echocardiography is essential to confirm the diagnosis and also is an excellent mean to follow the evolution of the disease.