• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2022

The study aims to investigate Lebanese-Chinese relations within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Lebanon formally joined the effort in 2017; this paper emphasizes Lebanon's geostrategic importance. The paper presents an assessment of the investment risks in Lebanon, which is considered an economically unstable country with a volatile security situation, with many internal and external political hurdles. The paper refers to the obstacles and challenges that the Chinese investor may face in Lebanese society. The study employs qualitative descriptive analysis to address the status of Chinese investment in Lebanon and the consequences of this partnership; the paper examines previous research related to the Belt and Road Initiative and the Lebanese political, security, and economic situation literature. Due to the deteriorating security situation, external intervention, and the economic crisis, the results reveal that Lebanon is not a top investment priority for China, which is a big impediment to China entering into economic cooperation with Lebanon. The findings of this study suggest that the Lebanese government should adopt an anti-corruption policy to build confidence for the Chinese investor, reduce unnecessary public spending, and hold a national dialogue to build confidence among the Lebanese parties.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.761-767
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• 2015

Background: In this study, we used Daucus carota oil extract (DCOE) to target acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. All the AML cell lines tested were sensitive to the extract while peripheral mononuclear cells were not. Analysis of mechanism of cell death showed an increase in cells positive for annexinV and for active caspases, indicating that DCOE induces apoptotic cell death in AML. Inhibition of the MAPK pathway decreased sensitivity of AML cells to DCOE, indicating that cytotoxicity may be dependent on its activity. In conclusion, DCOE induces selective apoptosis in AML cells, possibly through a MAPK-dependent mechanism.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.11
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to present the results and analyses of clinical trials, including updates on the different functions of root canal sealers. Materials and Methods: In June 2023, we performed a comprehensive search of ClinicalTrials.gov to identify interventional clinical trials pertaining to root canal sealers. In total, 23 clinical trials conducted up to June 2023 were included in this study. Results: Approximately half of the trials (11 out of 23) were completed, while none were terminated or withdrawn. Each included trial had a minimum of 10 participants, with 11 trials having more than 100 participants. None of the assessed trials provided outcomes, and the majority (17 out of 23) lacked associated publications. In terms of geographic distribution, the USA and Canada did not contribute to any root canal sealer trials. Conclusions: This study highlights the lack of diversity in trial locations, the absence of reported results, and a scarcity of clinical trials examining the physicochemical properties of different sealers. Most published trials primarily focused on assessing the post-operative pain effect of these sealers, but no significant difference was found regarding post-operative pain control.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence, distribution, and radiological features (as per the Shear classification) of dentigerous cysts in a Lebanese sample. Materials and Methods: It was an epidemiological, cross-sectional, 5-year retrospective study of 137 dentigerous cysts treated at Lebanese Army Dental Departments. The collected data comprised demographic and radiological information corresponding to patients from July 2015 to July 2020. Syndromic cases were excluded. Demographic data and the radiological features of cases were studied and analyzed. Results: Dentigerous cysts were treated in 109 patients (58.7% males and 41.3% females; mean age: 28.3±16.3 years) out of 6,013 patients(52% males and 48% females), with a prevalence of 1.8%. Dentigerous cysts were more commonly found in patients in their second and third decades of life than in older age groups. Of the 109 patients, 22.9% had multiple dentigerous cysts. Of the 137 cysts, 71.5% were mandibular. The most prevalent anatomical location was the posterior mandible, followed by the posterior maxilla. The most commonly involved tooth was the mandibular third molar. Regarding radiological types, the central type was the most common (60.6%), followed by the lateral type (29.2%), and the circumferential type (10.2%). Conclusion: The results of this study were similar to studies of other populations in terms of distribution and features. Multiple non-syndromic dentigerous cysts were more common than reported in other studies, which warrants further clinical studies to reveal previously undetected factors.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.346-356
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• 2021

Purpose: Campylobacter species are currently the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. In Lebanon, Campylobacter infection occurrence is underdiagnosed owing to the lack of specific culture and rapid test kits, particularly among children. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, laboratory findings, and clinical characteristics of Campylobacter infection in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in South Lebanon. Methods: We conducted a 6-month retrospective cohort study between January and June 2018, including 291 children aged between 1 month and 12 years, who were admitted to a tertiary healthcare center in South Lebanon. The medical files of the patients were reviewed to retrieve the required clinical information, including clinical and laboratory data. Results: The prevalence of campylobacteriosis agents in pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis is 12.02%. Patients infected with Campylobacter had more severe acute gastroenteritis than Campylobacter-negative patients and often presented with high-grade fever, diarrhea episodes more than six times per day, diarrhea lasting for more than five days, and dehydration. Indeed, children with high-grade fever (≥38.5℃) were five times more likely to test positive for Campylobacter than those with low-grade fever. In addition, the results showed a higher Vesikari score for the majority of Campylobacter-positive patients with severe acute gastroenteritis compared to a moderate profile for Campylobacter-negative patients. Conclusion: The present study findings highlight that Campylobacter infection is frequent among children with acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, the detection of Campylobacter should be carried out for the diagnosis of human gastroenteritis in Lebanon, along with the detection of routine enteropathogens.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.2345-2353
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• 2021

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of upper thoracic manipulation (UTM) and proprioceptive training versus proprioceptive training alone on forward head posture (FHP) and cervicocephalic joint position sense (CJPS) in asymptomatic university students during a short interval of time. Objectives: To evaluate whether the suggested combination would provide greater benefit, and be superior to proprioceptive training alone in improving proprioceptive acuity and head posture. Design: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty-three university student volunteers with asymptomatic FHP were recruited. Subjects were randomly assigned to a manipulation group (n=16) receiving UTM combined with proprioceptive training or a proprioception group (n=17) receiving proprioceptive training only. The intervention period lasted 5 weeks in total, and consisted of one 15 to 20-minute session per week. FHP and CJPS were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: A significant pre- to post-intervention decrease in FHP and joint position error was identified in both groups (P<.05). Subjects in the manipulation group demonstrated greater improvements in CJPS and head posture compared to the proprioception group (P<.05). Conclusion: These findings support employing either intervention for treating asymptomatic students with FHP. However, the addition of UTM to proprioceptive training was more effective than proprioceptive training alone in reducing joint position errors and improving head posture.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1255-1262
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• 2014

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate any associations between benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VDR gene (FokI, BsmI, ApaI and Taq${\alpha}$I loci) and the CYP17 gene (MspA1I locus), as well as TA repeat polymorphism in SRD5A2 gene among Lebanese men. Materials and Methods: DNA extracted from blood of 68 subjects with confirmed BPH and 79 age-matched controls was subjected to PCR/PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The odds ra=tio (OR) of having a genotype and the relative risk (RR) of developing BPH for having the genotype were calculated and the alleles were designated risk-bearing or protective. Results: Our data indicated that the A and B alleles of the VDR ApaI and BsmI SNPs were highly associated with increased risk of BPH (p=0.0168 and 0.0002, respectively). Moreover, 63% of the controls compared to 43% of the subjects with BPH were homozygous for none of the risk-bearing alleles (p=0.0123) whereas 60% of the controls and 28% of the subjects with BPH were homozygous for two or more protective alleles (p<0.0001). Conclusions: For the first time, our study demonstrated that ApaI and BsmI of the VDR gene are associated with risk of BPH among Lebanese men. Our study also indicated that overall polymorphism profile of all the genes involved in prostate physiology could be a better predictor of BPH risk.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1806-1816
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• 2019

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus possessing multiple virulence factors controlling pathogenicity. Cell wall proteins are the most important among these factors, being the first elements contacting the host. Ddr48 is a cell wall protein consisting of 212 amino acids. A DDR48 haploinsufficient mutant strain was previously found necessary for proper oxidative stress response and drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to further elucidate the role of Ddr48 by performing additional phenotypic characterization assays. A combinatory proteomic and bioinformatics approach was also undertaken to determine differentially expressed cell wall proteins. Results showed that the mutant strain exhibited a 10% decrease in adhesion mirrored by a 20% decrease in biofilm formation, and slight sensitivity to menadione, diamide, and SDS. Both strains showed similar hyphae formation, virulence, temperature tolerance, and calcofluor white and Congo red sensitivities. Furthermore, a total of 8 and 10 proteins were identified exclusively in the wild-type strain grown under filamentous and non-filamentous conditions respectively. Results included proteins responsible for superoxide stress resistance (Sod4 and Sod6), adhesion (Als3, Hyr4, Pmt1, and Utr2), biofilm formation (Hsp90, Ece1, Rim9, Ipp1, and Pra1) and cell wall integrity (Utr2 and Pga4). The lack of detection of these proteins in the mutant strain correlates with the observed phenotypes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2018

Purpose: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity and remains a major cause of hospitalization. Following the Syrian refugee crisis and insufficient clean water in the region, this study reviews the etiological and epidemiological data in Lebanon. Methods: We prospectively analyzed demographic, clinical and routine laboratory data of 198 children from the age of 1 month to 10 years old who were admitted with the diagnosis of AGE to a private tertiary care hospital located in the district of Nabatieh in south Lebanon. Results: Males had a higher incidence of AGE (57.1%). Pathogens were detected in 57.6% (n=114) of admitted patients, among them single pathogens were found in 51.0% (n=101) of cases that consisted of: Entamoeba histolytica 26.3% (n=52), rotavirus 18.7% (n=37), adenovirus 6.1% (n=12) and mixed co-pathogens found in 6.6% (n=13). Breast-fed children were significantly less prone to rotavirus (p=0.041). Moreover, children who had received the rotavirus vaccine were significantly less prone to rotavirus (p=0.032). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the high prevalence of E. histolytica infection as the major cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in hospitalized children, during the summer period likely reflecting the insanitary water supplies and lack of hygiene. Moreover the 42.4% of unidentified causative pathogens should prompt us to widen our diagnostic laboratory arsenal by adopting new diagnostic technologies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2329-2336
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• 2016

Background: Despite the existence of established guidelines advocating the use and value of chemotherapy order templates, chemotherapy orders are still handwritten in many hospitals in Lebanon. This manuscript describes the implementation of standardized chemotherapy order templates (COT) in a Lebanese tertiary teaching hospital through multiple steps. Initial Assessment: An initial assessment was conducted through a retrospective appraisal of completeness of handwritten chemotherapy orders for 100 adult patients to serve as a baseline for the project and identify parameters that might afford improvement. Choice of solution: Development of over 300 standardized pre-printed COTs based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network templates and adapted to the practice culture and patient population. Implementation: The COTs were implemented, using Kotter's 8-step model for leading change, by engaging health care providers, and identifying and removing barriers. Evaluation: Assessment of physicians' compliance with the new practice (122 orders assessed) was completed through two phases and allowed for the identification of areas of improvement. Lessons Learned: Overall, COT implementation showed an average improvement in order completion from 49.5% (handwritten orders) to 77.6% (phase 1-COT) to 87.6% (phase 2-COT) reflecting an increase of 38.1% between baseline and phase 2 and demonstrating that chemotherapy orders completeness was improved by pre-printed COT. As many of the hospitals in Lebanon are moving towards standardized COTs and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) in the next few years, this study provides a prototype for the successful implementation of COT and demonstrates their role in promoting quality improvement of cancer care.