Estrogens and the risk of breast cancer: A narrative review of literature

In female mammals, the development and regulation of the reproductive system and non-reproductive system are significantly influenced by estrogens (oestrogens). In addition, lipid metabolism is another physiological role of estrogens. Estrogens act through different types of receptors to introduce signals to the target cell by affecting many estrogen response elements. Breast cancer is considered mostly a hormone-dependent disease. Approximately 70% of breast cancers express progesterone receptors and/or estrogen receptors, and they are a good marker for cancer prognosis. This review will discuss estrogen metabolism and the interaction of estrogen metabolites with breast cancer. The carcinogenic role of estrogen is discussed in light of both conventional and atypical cancers susceptible to hormones, such as prostate, endometrial, and lung cancer, as we examine how estrogen contributes to the formation and activation of breast cancer. In addition, this review will discuss other factors that can be associated with estrogen-driven breast cancer

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on smoking habits and lifestyle: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aims: Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, the resultant psychological disturbances led to more tobacco consumption and deteriorated smoking behaviors among smokers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the smoking behaviors of the Jordanian population. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was designed using the Google Forms service and distributed by social media platforms. Responses were collected starting from November 12, 2020, until November 24, 2020. Results: A total of 2511 respondents completed the survey, 77.3% were females. Males were significantly smoking more than females (p < 0.0001). Smoking was significantly more common among respondents who were older than 18 years old, married, held master's and PhD degrees, and working in non-health-related fields (p < 0.0001). Participants who smoke were more likely to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle during the pandemic. Females who started smoking last year were 2.6-fold more than males (p < 0.0001). We also noticed that there is a significant relationship between those who started smoking and are <18 years, living in a family consisting of seven members or more, being unemployed, having a diploma or bachelor's degree in a health-related major, having no chronic illnesses, increasing of daily meals or night meals, almost daily sugar intake, starting to follow social media account concerning physical activity, exercising once or twice a week, and sleeping more hours per day since the beginning of the pandemic (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The results of our study showed that the lockdown had a significant impact on people's lifestyles including smoking habits. Most of our sample's smoker participants experienced a change in their smoking level mostly, an increase. While those who had a decrease in their smoking level experienced a somehow healthier lifestyle regarding nutrition and other aspects.The publication of this article was funded by the Qatar National Library.Scopu

A cross‐sectional study of the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on the physical activity of Jordanian population

Abstract Background Since the declaration of the COVID‐19 pandemic on 11th March 2020, the public health recommendations have applied lockdowns and restrictions to limit the spread of the disease. These measures determined outdoor activities and access to many forms of exercise. Objective The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the physical activity (PA) of the Jordanian population. Methods A cross‐sectional online survey was designed using Google Forms services and distributed on social media platforms during the first two weeks of November 2020 to evaluate the exercise activity changes during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the study population. In this research, we included those who perform any form of physical activity (n = 1103). The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 (IBM SPSS Corp, SPSS Statistics ver. 26, USA). The categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and proportions and were compared using the Chi‐square. For all analyses, P‐value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 1103 out of 2,511 (43.9%) respondents who participated in the survey were physically exercising during the COVID‐19 pandemic. 41.8% were exercising at an irregular frequency, while 21.5% were exercising daily, 16.8% were exercising three to five times a week, and 19.9% were exercising once or twice a week. Moreover, 282 (25.6%) respondents started doing some form of exercise during the pandemic. Those significantly were less than 18‐year‐old, male gender, were single, were non‐smokers, and had a diploma or bachelor's degree in a health‐related major. These changes in the level of exercise have been attributed by 57.8% of respondents to the health aspects where they realized the importance of exercising in strengthening the immune system against diseases, including COVID‐19. Conclusion The current study showed that lockdown, due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, had a positive impact on the healthy lifestyle of the Jordanian population which was attributed to their feeling of the importance of sports practice on the immune system and the availability of time for those activities. However, the younger and individuals were more aware of the importance of these practices which highlights the importance of considering other age groups in future studies of healthy behaviors

Human monkeypox virus in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The end of smallpox in 1980 and the subsequent stopping of vaccination against smallpox was followed by the emergence of monkeypox (mpox), a viral disease of animal origin, meaning that it is transmitted from animal to human. The symptoms of mpox are similar to smallpox, except that they are less severe in terms of clinical features. In the case of public health, the mpox virus is one of the most important orthopoxviruses (such as variola, cowpox, and vaccinia) that come from the family Poxviridae. Mpox occurs mostly in central Africa and sometimes in tropical rainforests or some urban areas. Also, there are threats other than COVID-19, that must be addressed and prevented from spreading, as there has been an outbreak of mpox cases since May 7, 2022, throughout the USA, Europe, Australia, and part of Africa. Objectives: In this review, we will discuss mpox between the past, the present and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it offers an updated summary of the taxonomy, etiology, transmission, and epidemiology of mpox illness. In addition, the current review aims to highlight the importance of emerging pandemics in the same era such as mpox and COVID-19. Methods: A literature search was done for the study using online sources like PubMed and Google Scholar. Publications in English were included. Data for study variables were extracted. After the duplicate articles were eliminated, full-text screening was performed on the papers' titles and abstracts. Results: The evaluation included a series documenting mpox virus outbreaks, and both prospective and retrospectiveinvestigations. Conclusions: monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is primarily found in central and western Africa. The disease is transmitted from animals to humans and presents symptoms similar to those of smallpox, including fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash. Monkeypox can lead to complications such as secondary integument infection, bronchopneumonia, sepsis, and encephalitis, as well as corneal infection that can result in blindness. There is no specific clinically proven treatment for monkeypox, and treatment is primarily supportive. However, antiviral drugs and vaccines are available for cross-protection against the virus, and strict infection control measures and vaccination of close contacts of affected individuals can help prevent and control outbreaks

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Jordanian eating and nutritional habits

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, variable measures have been implemented to control the invasion of SARS-CoV-19 worldwide. Some of these measures included lockdowns for several months in some countries. In Jordan, various protocols have been implemented to deal with the epidemic, such as border closures, closures and local protocols for open days until we reach the partial opening in mid-2021. These measures and protocols have affected all sectors in the country, including the education system and the economy. In addition, lifestyle is one of the measurement issues that have been affected by government regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eating and nutrition habits of the Jordanian population. An online sectional survey was built using Google Forms from Google. Responses were collected from November 12, 2020, through November 24, 2020. Researchers submitted a total of 2,511 responses. The results showed that there was a significant decrease in sugar intake (P = \u3c0.005) with no critical fat and oil intake (P = 0.12). There was a significant change in daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, garlic, onions, and ginger, and downloads of health-related applications and supplements (P \u3c 0.005). In addition, there was an increase in appetite, weight and number of daily meals. These changes are attributed to the extra free time due to lockdown and studying or working from home has significant impacts. However, 31.4% of respondents reported that the limited economic availability of food products and the closure of restaurants and cafes lead to a healthier lifestyle. Only 26.2% have been influenced by family members, friends, doctors, or social media to change their eating habits during the pandemic