Sex Education in Lebanon and France

International audienceThis work is a comparison between France and Lebanon. It analyzes the conceptions of Lebanese and French teachers on issues concerning human sexuality and its education. Our goal is to highlight the different conceptions of teachers in both countries and to identify the parameters to which these differences are correlated. All the multivariate analyses conducted show two very different systems of conceptions, very significantly differentiating Lebanese teachers' conceptions of French teachers ones. French teachers, unlike their Lebanese colleagues, are more conducive to early learning topics related to sexuality to students between 6 and 15 years old depending on the subject. They are more likely to accept abortion and homosexuality, to focus on safer sex as an attitude that can reduce the spread of AIDS, and to consider that the teaching of STIs is not only the issue of biology teachers. The differences between Lebanon and France are not reducible to religion: each country has its own identity rooted in its specific geographical, historical, economic and cultural context

Etat des lieux de l'éducation à la sexualité dans les établissements privés et publics au Liban

Ce travail tente de tracer un état des lieux de l'éducation à la sexualité dans les divers établissements scolaires libanais : privés religieux, privés non confessionnels et publics. Il présente les résultats d'une enquête dans plus d'une centaine d'établissements divers pour savoir dans lesquels l'enseignement de ce thème est ou non, ou plus ou moins, mis en œuvre, et pour analyser les caractéristiques de cet enseignement quand il existe (classes et matières concernées, thèmes abordés,...). Des directeurs, des coordonnateurs et des enseignants de 104 établissements libanais répartis selon les diverses zones géographiques du Liban ont répondu à un questionnaire. L'ensemble des analyses a montré, selon les établissements, une diversité qui porte sur le degré d'implémentation de l'ES, sur sa définition, sur les cadres et les personnes les plus appropriés pour la mettre en œuvre. Cette diversité sans corrélation significative avec le statut de l'établissement peut constituer un obstacle à l'implémentation de l'ES dans le cadre scolaire libanais

L'Education à la Sexualité (ES) dans les établissements privés et publics au Liban

International audienceCe travail concerne une facette de l'état des lieux sur l'implémentation de l'éducation à la sexualité (ES) dans divers types d'établissements scolaires libanais : privés religieux, privés non confessionnels et publics. Il présente les résultats d'une enquête dans plus d'une centaine d'établissements pour savoir dans lesquels l'enseignement de ce thème est ou non, ou plus ou moins, mis en œuvre, et pour analyser les caractéristiques de cet enseignement quand il existe (classes et matières concernées, thèmes abordés,...). Des directeurs, des coordonnateurs et des enseignants de 104 établissements répartis selon les diverses zones géographiques du Liban ont répondu à un questionnaire. L'ensemble des analyses a montré, selon les établissements, certaines convergences et une diversité, sans corrélation significative avec le statut de l'établissement, portant sur le degré d'implémentation de l'ES, sur les cadres et les personnes les plus appropriés pour la mettre en œuvre. Les points de vue aussi bien convergents, que divergents, peuvent participer aux difficultés d'implémentation de l'ES dans le cadre scolaire libanais

Imatinib a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor: a potential treatment for SARS- COV-2 induced pneumonia

Introduction: As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, awaiting the development of a vaccine, researchers are looking among the arsenal of available drugs, for a potential cure or medication to improve patients’ outcome. A highly elevated levels of cytokines in COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission, has suggested that a “cytokine storm” was associated with disease severity. Methods: We summarize published key findings about imatinib, aiming to rationalize its use as a potential pharmacologic treatment for COVID-19. Results: Data from cellular, animal models and clinical trials, showed a beneficial role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the regulation of inflammation, the maintenance of endothelial barrier integrity, as well as the expression of antiviral properties. This data is especially derived from imatinib, the most studied Abl family kinase inhibitor, that is currently in clinical use for multiple medical conditions. Discussion: Based on this encouraging data, we hypothesize that imatinib might be beneficial for the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, in the aim of preventing disease progression into the severe phenotype of hypoxic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This concept can be considered for evaluation in a randomized controlled study

Registries in rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions. Paediatric Behçet's disease: an international cohort study of 110 patients. One-year follow-up data

Objective. To set-up an international cohort of patients suspected with Behçet's disease (BD). The cohort is aimed at defining an algorithm for definition of the disease in children. Methods. International experts have defined the inclusion criteria as follows: recurrent oral aphthosis (ROA) plus one of following—genital ulceration, erythema nodosum, folliculitis, pustulous/acneiform lesions, positive pathergy test, uveitis, venous/arterial thrombosis and family history of BD. Onset of disease is <16 years, disease duration is ≤3 years, future follow-up duration is ≥4 years and informed consent is obtained. The expert committee has classified the included patients into: definite paediatric BD (PED-BD), probable PED-BD and no PED-BD. Statistical analysis is performed to compare the three groups of patients. Centres document their patients into a single database. Results. At January 2010, 110 patients (56 males/54 females) have been included. Mean age at first symptom: 8.1 years (median 8.2 years). At inclusion, 38% had only one symptom associated with ROA, 31% had two and 31% had three or more symptoms. A total of 106 first evaluations have been done. Seventeen patients underwent the first-year evaluation, and 36 had no new symptoms, 12 had one and 9 had two. Experts have examined 48 files and classified 30 as definite and 18 as probable. Twenty-six patients classified as definite fulfilled the International Study Group criteria. Seventeen patients classified as probable did not meet the international criteria. Conclusion. The expert committee has classified the majority of patients in the BD group although they presented with few symptoms independently of BD classification criteri

Mutational signatures in GATA3 transcription factor and its DNA binding domain that stimulate breast cancer and HDR syndrome

Transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in many biochemical processes. Many human genetic disorders have been associated with mutations in the genes encoding these transcription factors, and so those mutations became targets for medications and drug design. In parallel, since many transcription factors act either as tumor suppressors or oncogenes, their mutations are mostly associated with cancer. In this perspective, we studied the GATA3 transcription factor when bound to DNA in a crystal structure and assessed the effect of different mutations encountered in patients with different diseases and phenotypes. We generated all missense mutants of GATA3 protein and DNA within the adjacent and the opposite GATA3:DNA complex models. We mutated every amino acid and studied the new binding of the complex after each mutation. Similarly, we did for every DNA base. We applied Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatic calculations feeding into free energy calculations. After analyzing our data, we identified amino acids and DNA bases keys for binding. Furthermore, we validated those findings against experimental genetic data. Our results are the first to propose in silico modeling for GATA:DNA bound complexes that could be used to score effects of missense mutations in other classes of transcription factors involved in common and genetic diseases. © 2021, The Author(s)

Socio-demographic and cardiovascular disease risk factors associated with dementia:Results of a cross-sectional study from Lebanon

Little evidence from the Arab region is available on dementia and its associated risk factors. This study is the first in Lebanon to examine the association between community older adults' socio-demographics and cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRF) and dementia in the aim of closing the knowledge gap. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 2013 in Beirut and two districts of Mount Lebanon with 502 older adults (65years and above) and their informants. Data was collected on CVDRF and socio-demographics using structured questionnaires and dementia was assessed using the 10/66 Dementia Research Group validated tools. Multivariable analysis was done using a generalized estimating equation to account for cluster effect. Being older and perceiving personal income as insufficient significantly increased the odds of dementia [OR75–84years=4.00 (95%CI=1.46, 10.95); OR85+years=7.07 (1.84, 27.03); ORinsufficient income=3.90 (1.58, 9.60)]. Having uncontrolled hypertension (versus no hypertension) was the only significant CVDRF that increased the odds of dementia [OR=6.35 (1.60, 25.10)]. Interventions targeting uncontrolled hypertension that aim to increase awareness about proper management of this chronic condition would contribute to the needed preventive efforts against CVDRFs in response to dementia risk. Further research on the association between income sufficiency – one indicator of low socio-economic status – and dementia is warranted. Keywords: Dementia, CVD risk factors, Uncontrolled hypertension, Income, Lebano

Knowledge, Perception, Attitudes and Behavior on Influenza Immunization and the Determinants of Vaccination

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the knowledge of, perception, attitudes, and behaviors toward influenza virus and immunization, and the determinants of vaccination among students, patients, and Healthcare Workers (HCWs) at the American University of Beirut and its affiliated Medical Center. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study between October 2016 and January 2017 utilizing a self-administered questionnaire that was provided to 247 randomly selected adult participants. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, prior vaccination against influenza, knowledge, perception, attitudes, and behaviors toward influenza and influenza immunization. A multivariable regression model was used to evaluate for independent associations between the different variables and regular or yearly vaccination as a primary outcome. RESULTS: The overall survey response rate was 77%. A substantial proportion of respondents (47.4%) had never received the influenza vaccine. Only 10.2% of students, 19.1% of patients, and 35.6% of HCWs reported regular or yearly influenza vaccine uptake. HCWs had the lowest knowledge score about influenza and its vaccine despite high self-reported levels of knowledge. Barriers to vaccinations included lack of information (31%), fear of adverse effects (29%), and a perception of not being at risk (23%). Several factors were independently associated with regular or yearly vaccination uptake including having children (adjusted OR = 3.8; 95% CI 1.2-12.5), a "very good" self-reported level of knowledge (OR = 16.3; 95% CI 1.4-194.2) and being afraid of the consequences of influenza (OR = 0.2; 95% CI 0.1-0.6). CONCLUSION: Adherence rates with regular or yearly vaccination against influenza remain low across all study groups. We were able to identify predictors as well as barriers to vaccination. Future awareness and vaccination campaigns should specifically aim at correcting misconceptions about vaccination, particularly among HCWs, along with addressing the barriers to vaccination. Predictors of vaccination should be integrated in the design of future campaigns