PERCEPTION OF NARRATIVE MEDICINE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN LEBANON

The physician-patient relationship has evolved over the years. A good relationship necessitates mutual commitment from both parties, and narrative medicine can be considered as a tool that can aid in improving this relationship, as it helps to improve listening to patients’ stories and turning the patients’ subjective words into objective information, which help physicians to understand the nature of patients’ illnesses, improve the quality of patient care and leads to a better therapeutic effect. A descriptive cross-sectional study was planned. Data collection was done via convenience sampling. Beirut Arab University medical students were asked to fill a paper-based questionnaire between ­­­­­August 2019 and February 2020. The study collected demographic information about the participants including the age, the gender, current academic year, and the cumulative grade point average, and assessed their knowledge about narrative medicine and its importance to be implemented in the medical school curriculum. Data were collected, entered, and analyzed on SPSS software version 23.1. 361 medical students participated. Around 60% thought that narrative medicine helps to promote reflection and empathy, and 80% thought that narrative medicine is essential for enhancing the quality of patient care and that listening to patients’ stories would enhance physician-patient communication. Females tended to have a better understanding of narrative medicine’s importance. The majority agreed that narrative medicine should be an integral part of the medical school curriculum. Medical students were found to be lacking adequate knowledge about narrative medicine. However, the majority agreed on the need for implementation of humanity courses in the current curriculum

Levels of certain tumor markers as differential factors between bilharzial and non-biharzial bladder cancer among Egyptian patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background/Objective</p> <p>Bladder cancer is the commonest type of malignant tumors as a result of schistosomaisis which is a major healthy problem in many subtropical developing countries. The aim of this study is to comparatively elucidate the underlying biochemical tumor markers in schistosomal bladder cancer versus non-schistosomal bladder cancer when compared to normal healthy ones.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This work was performed on tissue specimens from total 25 patients and serum samples from total 30 patients versus ten healthy individuals served as control. The investigated parameters in serum are: xanthine oxidase (XO), fructosamine, lactate dehydrogense (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins, essential and non- essential amino acids profile, hydroxyproline, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-<it>α</it>). In addition, the current investigation also extended to study some markers in tumor bladder tissues including, pyruvate kinase enzyme (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results showed that biharzial bladder cancer patients recored more significant elevation in serum XO, fructosamine, LDH, AST, ALT, hydroxyproline, IgE and TNF-<it>α </it>than in bladder cancer patients when compared to control ones. While, in tissues there were significant increase in PK, LDH, AST & ALT activities of schistosomal bladder cancer than in bladder cancer as compared to control healthy patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It could be concluded that, bilharzial and non-bilharzial bladder cancer showed distinct biochemical profile of tumor development and progression which can be taken into consideration in diagnosis of bladder cancer.</p

Impact of oral omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in early sepsis on clinical outcome and immunomodulation

AbstractIntroductionSepsis is a systemic inflammatory response that is usually aggravated by inappropriate immune responses, which can be inhibited by omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.ObjectivesTo determine the efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acid plus antioxidants in early sepsis.Methods75 patients with sepsis were divided equally into: (group A) who received high dose omega-3 fatty acids plus fixed dose antioxidants for consecutive 7 days besides conventional sepsis treatment, (group B) who received the same treatment as group A but a lower dose of omega-3 fatty acids and the control group who received only conventional sepsis treatment. All groups were followed up by: Inflammatory markers, SOFA score monitoring, need for organ supportive measures, length of ICU stay, 28 day mortality, final outcome and complications.ResultsCompared to the control group, the high dose omega-3 fatty acid exhibited significantly lower levels of CRP, IL6 and PCT at day 7 (P = 0.047, 0.05, 0.041 respectively). Compared to the control group, group A patients showed significantly lesser need and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.044, 0.038 respectively), significantly reduced development of severe sepsis indicated by mean and highest SOFA score; (P = 0.040 and 0.046 respectively), with insignificant difference in the need for vasopressors and hemodialysis (P = 0.12, 0.6 respectively). Comparing low dose omega-3 fatty acids plus antioxidants group to control group using same parameters, no significant results were found.ConclusionThe use of a short term high dose omega-3 therapy is safe and associated with promising effects on inflammatory cascade and may play a role in treatment of these patients

Cut-Off Values of Anthropometric Indices for the Prediction of Hypertension in a Sample of Egyptian Adults

Background: Obesity, particularly abdominal adiposity, is closely associated with premature atherosclerosis and many metabolic modifications including insulin resistance dyslipidemia hypertension and diabetes. Cut-off values for abdominal obesity predicting future cardiovascular disease are known to be population specific.Objective: To identify cut-off points of some anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR) that associated with hypertension in a sample of Egyptian adults.Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis. The blood pressure of 5550 Egyptian adults was measured (2670 females – 2880 males).The subjects represented different geographic localities and different social classes. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist circumferences, and hip circumferences were also measured by practitioners.Results: The cut-off values to detect hypertension in females were 30.08 for BMI, 87.75 for WC , 0.81 for WHR and 0.65 for WHtR, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 69.1; 60.7- 80.9; 48.6 -65.3; 53.4 and 61.4; 58.9, respectively. The cut-off values to detect hypertension in males were 27.98 for BMI, 95.75 for WC, 0.92 for WHR, and 0.57 for WHtR and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 62.8; 59.9 -71.9; 51.9 -64.6; 55.8 and 59.7; 55.8, respectively.Conclusion: The BMI, Waist circumference, WHR and WHtR values can predict the presence of hypertension risk in adult Egyptians

Exploring the effects of health behaviors and mental health on students' academic achievement: a cross-sectional study on lebanese university students

Background High academic achievement, an important determinant of future success, is known to be influenced by many factors including dietary behavior, lifestyle and mental health, among others. The objectives of the current study were to explore university students’ nutritive habits, daily lifestyle, and mental status, and to scrutinize the associations between these factors and students’ academic achievement. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of a private Lebanese university, using an electronic survey. Diet, eating habits, physical activity, sleep, and smoking were evaluated, and mental health was assessed using a validated Arabic version of the combined Depression, Anxiety, Stress Score (DASS-8). Academic achievement was measured using the Subjective Academic Achievement Scale (SAAS). Results A total of 1677 students participated in the questionnaire. The results of a linear regression taking the SAAS score as the dependent variable, showed that students who have a non-scientific versus scientific major (Beta = 0.53), and having breakfast ≥ 4 days per week compared to less than 2 days (Beta = 0.28) were significantly associated with higher SAAS scores. More psychological distress (Beta = − 0.06) and a higher number of days of eating out (Beta = − 0.07) were significantly associated with lower SAAS scores. Conclusions This is the first investigation on a Lebanese university students’ academic success in relation to lifestyle and mental profiles. Better academic achievement was demonstrated by students having healthier dietary and lifestyle habits, as well as less distressing mental status. Such results, in light of the compounded and unprecedented crises with which Lebanon has been assailed, suggest the need to focus on promoting healthy habits among students in higher education as a possible driver of better academic success.None.Scopu

LOCUS OF CONTROL THEORY IN TREATING TOURIST BEHAVIOR: THE THEORY ROOTS AND RESEARCH DIRECTION IN DESTINATION BRANDING FIELD

We aim to shed light on this issue by reviewing the roots and development of the locus of control theory. Moreover, we will introduce how we can use this development, in theory, to provide a new research direction in the tourism service field. A theory-based review was conducted to investigate the locus of control theory roots and its potential implications in the tourism industry using the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) list to explore the current literature. We followed the PRISMA methodology to collect the data from the Scopus database as well as Google Scholar and ResearchGate. The study found that the locus of control theory has its roots in social psychology and has been developed over the years to explain individual differences in behavior and decision-making. In the tourism service field, we found that understanding the locus of control can help service providers tailor their services to meet the needs and expectations of different types of tourists. This will contribute to attribution literature in psychological aspects and tourism literature with a deep understanding of how tourists behave and interpret differently

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

A Focused Insight into Thyme: Biological, Chemical, and Therapeutic Properties of an Indigenous Mediterranean Herb

A perennial wild shrub from the Lamiaceae family and native to the Mediterranean region, thyme is considered an important wild edible plant studied for centuries for its unique importance in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry. Thyme is loaded with phytonutrients, minerals and vitamins. It is pungent in taste, yet rich in moisture, proteins, crude fiber, minerals and vitamins. Its chemical composition may vary with geographical location but is mainly composed of flavonoids and antioxidants. Previous studies have illustrated the therapeutic effects of thyme and its essential oils, especially thymol and carvacrol, against various diseases. This is attributed to its multi-pharmacological properties that include, but are not limited to, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic actions. Moreover, thyme has long been known for its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic activities, in addition to remarkable disruption of microbial biofilms. In the COVID-19 era, some thyme constituents were investigated for their potential in viral binding. As such, thyme presents a wide range of functional possibilities in food, drugs, and other fields and prominent interest as a nutraceutical. The aims of the current review are to present botanical and nutritive values of this herb, elaborate its major constituents, and review available literature on its dietetic and biological activities

Procrastination in daily academic tasks and its relationship to self-esteem among university students

Procrastination in daily academic tasks is a popular and complex phenomenon that can be influenced by several factors including self-esteem. The current study seeks to explore the relationship between procrastination in daily academic tasks and self-esteem among university students in Jordan. Additionally, the study aims at examining whether the participants’ gender, academic level and academic specialization have significant effects on procrastination in daily academic tasks and self-esteem. Data were collected form 240 university students in Jordan (123 male &amp; 117 female) by administering an online survey. The study adopted a descriptive correlational approach by employing academic procrastination and self-esteem scales. Results of the study reported a low negative relationship between procrastination in daily academic tasks and self-esteem of participants. The participants reported a moderate level of procrastination in daily academic tasks and self-esteem. The level of procrastination was slightly higher than self-esteem level. Moreover, there was a significant difference in levels of procrastination and self-esteem which were attributed to gender which was in favour of male students. Finally, there were no significant differences between procrastination and self-esteem according to academic level or academic specialization variables

Antioxidant, and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activities Associated with Chrysanthemum coronarium Essential Oil

The essential oil of the Jordanian Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (garland) was isolated by hydrodistillation from dried flowerheads material. The oil was essayed for its in vitro scavenging activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results demonstrate that the oil exhibits moderate radical scavenging activity relative to the strong antioxidant ascorbic acid. In addition, cholinesterase inhibitory activity of C. coronarium essential oil was evaluated for the first time. Applying Ellman&apos;s colorimetric method, interesting cholinesterase inhibitory activity, which is not dose dependent, was evident for the oil. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities of the oil against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were evaluated. While it fails to inhibit Gram-negative bacteria growth, the antibacterial effects demonstrated by the oil were more pronounced against the Gram-positive strains. Moreover, the examined oil was assessed for its in vitro antiproliferative properties where it demonstrated variable activities towards different human cancer cell lines, of which the colon cancer was the most sensitive to the oil treatment