Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Tea Sold in Lebanon: Effects of Type, Packaging, and Origin

Tea is among the oldest and most-known beverages around the world, and it has many flavors and types. Tea can be easily contaminated in any of its production steps, especially with mycotoxins that are produced particularly in humid and warm environments. This study aims to examine the level of ochratoxin A (OTA) and total aflatoxin (AF) contamination in black and green tea sold in Lebanon, evaluate its safety compared to international standards, and assess the effect of different variables on the levels of OTA and AFs. For this, the Lebanese market was screened and all tea brands (n = 37; 24 black and 13 green) were collected twice. The Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) method was used to determine OTA and AFs in the samples. AFs and OTA were detected in 28 (75.7%) and 31 (88.6%) samples, respectively. The average of AFs in the positive (above detection limit: 1.75 μg/kg) samples was 2.66 ± 0.15 μg/kg, while the average of OTA in the positive (above detection limit: 1.6 μg/kg) samples was 3.74 ± 0.72 μg/kg. The mean AFs in black and green tea were 2.65 ± 0.55 and 2.54 ± 0.40 μg/kg, respectively, while for OTA, the mean levels were 3.67 ± 0.96 and 3.46 ± 1.09 μg/kg in black and green tea samples, respectively. Four brands (10.8%) contained total aflatoxin levels above the EU limit (4 μg/kg). As for OTA, all samples had OTA levels below the Chinese limit (5 μg/kg). No significant association (p > 0.05) was found between OTA and tea type, level of packaging, country of origin, country of packing, and country of distribution. However, AF contamination was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in unpacked tea, and in brands where the country of origin, packing, and distributor was in Asia. The results showed that the tea brands in Lebanon are relatively safe in terms of AFs and OTA. © 2023 by the authors

Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children's worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a type of dental caries in the teeth of infants and children that is represented as one of the most prevalent dental problems in this period. Various studies have reported different types of prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children worldwide. However, there has been no comprehensive study to summarize the results of these studies in general, so this study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children in different continents of the world during a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: In this review study, articles were extracted by searching in the national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI) between 1995 and December 2019. Random effects model was used for analysis and heterogeneity of studies was evaluated by using the I2 index. Data were analyzed by using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Version 2) software. Findings: In this study, a total of 164 articles (81 articles on the prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth and 83 articles on the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth) were entered the meta-analysis. The prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth in children in the world with a sample size of 80,405 was 46.2% (95% CI: 41.6–50.8%), and the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth in children in the world with a sample size of 1,454,871 was 53.8% (95% CI: 50–57.5%). Regarding the heterogeneity on the basis of meta-regression analysis, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children in different continents of the world. With increasing the sample size and the year of study, dental caries in primary teeth increased and in permanent teeth decreased. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of primary and permanent dental caries in children in the world was found to be high. Therefore, appropriate strategies should be implemented to improve the aforementioned situation and to troubleshoot and monitor at all levels by providing feedback to hospitals

Exploring maladaptive early schemas in adults with bipolar disorder

Introduction Bipolar disorder is a severe and chronic mental pathology, with an estimated prevalence of 1% in the general population. It is a complex pathology, encompassing a wide variety of severe and contradictory symptoms, with harmful repercussions on the patient’s personal, emotional, social, professional and conjugal life, precipitating relapse. By improving our knowledge of bipolar disorder, we can support and accompany patients, helping them to understand their illness, to be able to manage it, to resolve the problems that may arise from it, and to prevent relapses and the occurrence of further episodes. Objectives The aim of our work is to explore maladaptive early patterns in people with bipolar disorder in the intercritical period in relation to their symptomatology and functional disability, given that consideration of maladaptive early patterns (IAPs) could lead to better identification, understanding and management of bipolar disorder. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. The sample in our study consisted of 40 bipolar adults and 40 control adults, recruited from the various inpatient and outpatient departments of our hospital. They were all university graduates, aged between 20 and 60, followed for at least 06 months and stabilized on treatment. After collecting the various socio-demographic and clinical data, we used the Young schema questionnaire-short form (YSQ-S1). Results Our study sample seemed to be characterized by certain specificities: high “self-sacrifice”, “high demands” and “exaggerated personal rights”. Feelings of dependence and incompetence were also high among our patients, especially those with type I bipolar disorder, leading to a marked decline in self-esteem and autonomy. Conclusions The data we have retained from this work show us the importance of drug, psychotherapeutic and family management in achieving thymic stability and psychological and relational well-being. Disclosure of Interest None Declare

Childhood trauma in bipolar disorder: experience of Arrazi hospital

Introduction Bipolar disorder is a chronic, recurrent, and disabling condition that typically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. It is characterized by alternating phases of depression, mania, or hypomania. Childhood traumas are more frequently found in adults with bipolar disorder, suggesting their contribution to its development. They are also associated with more severe and complex clinical forms and a less favorable prognosis. Objectives Our objective is to assess the prevalence of childhood trauma rates in adults with bipolar disorder and to study the impact of childhood traumas on the clinical course of bipolar disorder, in comparison with a group of patients with bipolar disorder who did not experience trauma during their childhood. Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic criteria and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF) to evaluate the connection between physical and psychological traumas during childhood and bipolar disorder. The study also examines the types of these traumas and their impact on the course of bipolar disorder in these categories. Results Data were collected from 54 patients with bipolar disorder at Ar-Razi Psychiatric University Hospital. Among this sample, 60% were female and 40% were male. The age of the participants in our study ranged from 18 to 54 years. According to the Childhood Trauma Scale, approximately one-third of patients with bipolar disorder had experienced childhood trauma. Moreover, most participants who had survived childhood trauma experienced more relapses than patients who had not experienced traumatic incidents during their childhood. Conclusions Childhood traumas and bipolar disorder appear to have a significant causal association, both in the development of the disease and its course. The results of our study support evidence published in articles to better clarify the nature of this association. However, our study has several limitations, including a limited sample size and difficulties in long-term follow-up during the disease. Therefore, further studies exploring this subject are desirable for better management of this condition. Disclosure of Interest None Declare

Ultrastructural study of experimental duodenal ulcer in a new animal model

Various animal models have often been utilized as the basis of studies of the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease, however the ultrastructural changes in the evolution of duodenal ulcers produced in experimental animals have not been well elucidated. Utilizing a surgical method developed for the study of gastric ulcers we have established an experimental duodenal ulcer production technique in the rat which is highly reproducible and readily standardized. In the following time sequence study of experimental duodenal ulcers we present the ultrastructural features of ulcer induction and evolution.Duodenal ulcers were produced in 150-200 gram male Sprague Dawley rats by application of 50% acetic acid for 30 seconds through a 3 mm polyethylene tube to the serosa 1.0-1.5 cm distal to the pyloric sphincter. Routine transmission and scanning electron microscopy were performed on duodenal specimens at specific time points subsequent to surgical ulcer generation. Thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and examined with a Phillip's EM 300 transmission electron microscope. For SEM, specimens were post-fixed in 2% osmium for two days, coated with gold/palladium and examined with JEOL JSM-6100 scanning electron microscope (JEOL, Inc., Peabody, MA).</jats:p

Crystal structure of<i>catena</i>-poly[[(dimethyl sulfoxide-κ<i>O</i>)(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato-κ³<i>O</i>,<i>N</i>,<i>O</i>′)nickel(II)]-μ-pyrazine-κ²<i>N</i>:<i>N</i>′]

The title coordination polymer, [Ni(C7H3NO4)(C4H4N2)(C2H6OS)]n, consists of [010] chains composed of NiIIions linked by bis-monodentate-bridging pyrazine molecules. Each of the two crystallographically distinct NiIIions is located on a mirror plane and is additionally coordinated by a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) ligand through the oxygen atom and by a tridentate 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid dianion through one of each of the carboxylate oxygen atoms and the pyridine nitrogen atom, leading to a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The title structure exhibits an interesting complementarity between coordinative bonding and π–π stacking where the Ni—Ni distance of 7.0296 (4) Å across bridging pyrazine ligands allows the pyridine moieties on two adjacent chains to interdigitate at halfway of the Ni—Ni distance, resulting in π–π stacking between pyridine moieties with a centroid-to-plane distance of 3.5148 (2) Å. The double-chain thus formed also exhibits C—H...π interactions between pyridine C—H groups on one chain and pyrazine molecules on the other chain. As a result, the interior of the double-chain structure is dominated by π–π stacking and C—H... π interactions, while the space between the double-chains is occupied by a C—H...O hydrogen-bonding network involving DMSO ligands and carboxylate groups located on the exterior of the double-chains. This separation of dissimilar interactions in the interior and exterior of the double-chains further stabilizes the crystal structure.</jats:p

Adenocarcinoma of the Bladder: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Primary bladder adecarcinoma (PBA) is a rare entity representing 0.5 to 2% of all bladder malignancies. The clinical symptomatology: is not specific, the treatment is essentially surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are discussed. For some authors, concomitant chemoradiotherapy seems to be promising for infiltrating tumors of the bladder. The evolution is often rapidly progressive and fatal. We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder who consulted the department of Oncology-Radiotherapy UHC Mohammed VI Marrakech because of the rarity of these tumors and a review of the literature.</jats:p

Esthesioneuroblastoma an Exceptional Malignant Tumor: A Case Report

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor developed at the expense of the olfactory neuroepithelium. It is one of tumors of the nasal cavities and has the particularity of being of slow evolution with frequent recurrences after more than 10 years. We report a case of A 24 year old patient who presented an esthesioneuroblastoma revealed by a recurrent unilateral right epistaxis, he was evaluated with a Craniocervical MRI. A biopsy was performed and the anatomopathological examination revealed an Esthesioneuroblastoma. The patient was operated in neurosurgery and he received Chemotherapy followed by concomitant radiotherapy chemotherapy. Pathological and radiological evaluation, treatement of this neoplasm are discussed.</jats:p

An 8-Year Survival of a Probable Pleural Mesothelium: A Case Report

Malignant mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer that develops from the mesothelium, the protective membrane lining the inside of the body’s serous cavities. It is an aggressive tumor, which, although rare, remains a real societal problem. We report a case of 71-year-old patient former mine worker with a history of chronic smoking estimated at 45 packs/year, who presented a Malignant pleural mesothelioma revealed by an exertional dyspnoea. He was evaluated with a chest scan, a CT-guided biopsy was performed with the pathological examination revealed a malignant tumoral proliferation whose morphological appearance may be consistent with an epithelial-type mesothelium. The patient received 6 cures of chemotherapy. Pathological and radiological evaluation, treatement of this neoplasm are discussed.</jats:p