Lifestyle factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).

Lifestyle factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).</p

Normality test.

Besides, all models exhibited a significant p-value (p < 0.05) indicating a satisfactory goodness-of-fit.</p

Health related factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).

Health related factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).</p

Mental Health factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).

Mental Health factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).</p

Socio-demographic factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).

Socio-demographic factors and the association with quality of life (N = 329).</p

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PurposeThe high prevalence of COVID-19 has had an impact on the Quality of Life (QOL) of people across the world, particularly students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the social, lifestyle, and mental health aspects that are associated with QOL among university students in Lebanon.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was implemented using a convenience sampling approach. Data collection took place between November 2021 and February 2022, involving 329 undergraduate and graduate students from private and public universities. Quality of life was assessed using the Quality-of-Life Scale (QOLS). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, and linear regression-based methods were used to analyze the association between QOL and socio-demographic, health-related, lifestyle, and mental health factors. The significance level for statistical analysis was predetermined at α = 0.05.ResultsThe study participants’ average (SD) QOL score was 76.03 (15.6) with a Cronbach alpha of 0.911. QOL was positively associated with importance of religion in daily decisions (β = 6.40, p = 0.006), household income (β = 5.25, p = 0.017), general health ratings (β Excellent/poor = 23.52, p ConclusionIn conclusion, this study reveals the key factors that positively and negatively influence students’ quality of life (QOL). Factors such as religion, higher income, and a healthy diet improve QOL, while depression, stress, excessive internet use, and cigarette smoking negatively impact it. Universities should prioritize initiatives like physical activity promotion, affordable nutritious options, destigmatizing mental health, counseling services, and self-help interventions to support student well-being and enhance their QOL.</div

Ki-67 expression predicts biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in the setting of positive surgical margins

Abstract Background Positive surgical margin (PSM) is a predictor of biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP). Attempts to stratify PSM based on linear length, Gleason score, location and number have failed to add to predictive models using margin status alone. We evaluated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 expression in this setting. Methods Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 was done on prostatectomy specimens from 117 patients who had a PSM. Ki67 expression was measured at the margin and in the index lesion. Patients were dichotomized based on Ki-67 expression into three groups. Group 1 with no Ki-67 expression, Group 2 with Ki-67 ≤ 2%, and Group 3 with Ki-67 ≥ 3%. To eliminate the impact of the adjuvant treatment (AT) on the outcome, data were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards in which AT was Considered as a time-dependent covariate. Results The discordance rate of Ki-67 expression between matched index lesion and margin specimens was 44/117 (37.6%). There was a trend for higher risk of BCR (HR:2.06, (0.97–4.43), P = 0.06) in patients expressing high Ki67 at the surgical margin although this was not statistically significant. However High Ki-67 expression in the index lesion was an independent predictive factor for BCR in this subset of patients. (HR:4, (1.64–9.80), P = 0.002). Conclusion High Ki67 expression in the index prostate cancer lesion is an independent predictor of BCR in patients with positive surgical margin following radical prostatectomy. Our findings need to be validated in a larger cohort

Xq26.3 Duplication in a Boy With Motor Delay and Low Muscle Tone Refines the X-Linked Acrogigantism Genetic Locus

We describe a 4-year-old boy with developmental delay who was found to carry by clinical grade (CG) molecular cytogenetics (MCs) a chromosome Xq26 microduplication. The report prompted a referral of the patient for possible X-linked acrogigantism (X-LAG), a well-defined condition (MIM300942) due to chromosomal microduplication of a nearby region. The patient was evaluated clinically and investigated for endocrine abnormalities related to X-LAG and not only did he not have acrogigantism, but his growth parameters and other hormones were all normal. We then performed high definition MCs and the duplication copy number variant (CNV) was confirmed to precisely map outside the X-LAG critical region and definitely did not harbor the X-LAG candidate gene, GPR101. The patient's phenotype resembled that of other patients with Xq26 CNVs. The case is instructive for the need for high definition MCs when CG MCs' results are inconsistent with the patient's phenotype. It is also useful for further supporting the contention that GPR101 is the gene responsible for X-LAG