Differentiation between Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus from Pure Culture and Aflatoxin-Contaminated Grapes Using PCR-RFLP Analysis of aflR-aflJ Intergenic Spacer

Aflatoxins (AFs) represent the most important single mycotoxin-related food safety problem in developed and developing countries as they have adverse effects on human and animal health. They are produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Both species have different aflatoxinogenic profile. In order to distinguish between A. flavus and A. parasiticus, gene-specific primers were designed to target the intergenic spacer (IGS) for the AF biosynthesis genes, aflJ and aflR. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were subjected to restriction endonuclease analysis using BglII to look for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Our result showed that both species displayed different PCR-based RFLP (PCR-RFLP) profile. PCR products from A. flavus cleaved into 3 fragments of 362, 210, and 102 bp. However, there is only one restriction site for this enzyme in the sequence of A. parasiticus that produced only 2 fragments of 363 and 311 bp. The method was successfully applied to contaminated grapes samples. This approach of differentiating these 2 species would be simpler, less costly, and quicker than conventional sequencing of PCR products and/or morphological identification

Trade in early modern Iraq.

Donated by Klaus KreiserReprinted from in : New Perspectives on Turkey, Fall 1991, 5-6

State and Provincial Society in The Ottoman Empire : Mosul, 1540-1834

xviii, 253 hal., bibl.; 21c

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and mental health among university students in Lebanon

Introduction: University students are particularly susceptible to mental health issues. The association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and mental health in this population remains inconclusive. To address this gap, we studied the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and mental health aspects: depression, anxiety, and stress, among a sample of university students in Lebanon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using an online survey. The survey included the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety, the Perceived Stress Score (PSS) to assess stress levels, and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Socio-demographic and lifestyle-related questions were also assessed. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results: 200 students were included: 64 % being females, 58.5 % studying in private universities, and 69.5 % being seniors. The mean PHQ4-anxiety subscale was 3.61 (out of a total of 6) and 71.5 % of the sample met the criteria for anxiety diagnosis; the mean PHQ4-depression subscale was 4.04 (out of a total of 6) and 77 % of the sample met the criteria for depression diagnosis, and mean PSS was 21.18 (out of a total of 39). The mean MEDAS was 6.42 (out of a total of 14). There was a significant inverse association between MEDAS scores and anxiety (β=-0.110, 95 %CI: -0.196; -0.024) and between MEDAS and PSS (β=-0.327, 95 %CI: -0.546; -0.107). There was no association between MEDAS and depression. Conclusion: We found poor mental health and low adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among university students. Higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was associated with lower anxiety and stress levels. Randomized trials are needed to confirm our findings

Attitudes et perceptions des médecins d'un hôpital universitaire du Liban à l'égard de l'enseignement et de l'apprentissage des habiletés de communication

Contexte : Bien que les organismes d'accréditation internationaux exigent l'inclusion d'un enseignement des techniques de communication médecin-patient dans le curriculum des étudiants de médecine, ce type d'enseignement reste déficient dans la majorité des facultés de médecine au Liban. Buts : Évaluer les attitudes des médecins de la faculté de médecine de l'université Saint Joseph (USJ) exerçant à l'hôpital Hôtel Dieu de France (HDF), envers la communication médicale et estimer leurs perceptions de l'enseignement actuel de ces techniques. Matériels et sujets : Un questionnaire auto-administré respectant l'anonymat a été envoyé à tous les médecins de l'université Saint Joseph pratiquant à l'hôpital HDF (n = 154). Résultats : Cent trente et un (131) médecins ont répondu au questionnaire (85 % de réponse). Les médecins avaient des attitudes très positives envers les techniques de communication avec un score moyen des attitudes de 52,9 sur un total de 60 et une perception plutôt négative de l'enseignement actuel des techniques de communication aux étudiants de médecine avec un score moyen des perceptions de 14,8 sur un total de 35. Plus de la moitié des médecins ont estimé que la performance des étudiants dans les différents domaines de la communication médicale était faible. Conclusion : L'attitude positive que les médecins de la faculté de médecine de l'USJ ont exprimée et leur perception négative de l'enseignement actuel concernant la communication médicale invitent à envisager l'instauration d'un programme d'enseignement des techniques de communication s'appuyant sur l'adhésion des médecins à ce programme

The psychological impact of COVID-19 in a socio-politically unstable environment: protective effects of sleep and gratitude in Lebanese adults

Abstract Background The COVID-19 global pandemic initiated an unprecedented medico-psychological turmoil. Our study investigates the psychological impact of the viral spread and austere lockdown, and focuses mostly on potential protective factors in a politically and economically unstable society. Methods A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate rates of mental distress in a sample of 348 Lebanese adults. Participants filled questionnaires of perceived stress (PSS), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), PTSD (IES-22), as well as sleep (PSQi) and gratitude (GQ-6) immediately after 3 months of strict quarantine. Demographics included gender, age, employment and infection statuses. Correlations and regression models were used. Results Results indicated a very high prevalence of mental distress, in addition to major alterations in sleep quality and quantity. Younger age and unemployment correlated with more severe symptoms. Sleep was found to be a protective factor against all studied psychological distress, and gratitude further mitigated effects of depression. Conclusions Mental health significantly degrades post-COVID lockdown, even in the absence of direct viral threat. Yet simple behavioral and cognitive changes like sleep and attitude of gratitude could provide protective factors against these psychological distresses. Such changes should be further explored and advocated as cost-efficient self-care practices to buffer this devastating public health burden, especially in unstable socio-political environments