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The EELI Study is a longitudinal birth cohort launched in 2021 in Lebanon to examine the long-term impact of environmental exposures on the health of prospective Lebanese mothers and infants and disease outcomes. This article delineates the adopted study design and protocols, current progress, and contextual considerations for the planning and launching of a birth cohort in a resource-limited setting. A sample of n = 135 pregnant women expecting to give birth at the Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital has been recruited since the study launch. Over 500 variables have been recorded for each participant, and over 1000 biological specimens have been processed and stored in a biobank for further analysis. The EELI study establishes methodological and logistic basis to explore the concept of the exposome and its implementation and to establish a toolkit of the SOPs and questionnaires that can be employed by the other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of the Robson classification as an internal clinical audit and feedback of the high rate of cesarean delivery at Hotel Dieu de France, a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: A pre‐post study was conducted, with a retrospective approach in 2018 and 2019, identified as the pre‐period (before the implementation of the Robson classification), and with a prospective approach in 2020 and 2021, labeled the post‐period. Results: The total number of deliveries during the study period was 2560; 1305 patients were included in the pre‐period and 1255 patients delivered in the post‐period. No significant differences between the two groups were found. No significant difference was found in the overall rate of cesarean delivery between the first and second periods (57.86% vs 56.72%; P = 0.2). However, a significant decrease in the absolute contribution of groups 3 and 4 (multiparous women without a previous uterine scar with a single cephalic pregnancy, ≥37 weeks of gestation, with spontaneous labor or induced labor) in the overall rate of cesarean delivery was remarked (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The Robson classification seems to be appropriate to monitor and audit the rate of cesarean delivery, but not sufficient to decrease the rate and change the practice. Synopsis: The adoption of the Robson classification as an internal audit and feedback does not reduce the rate of cesarean delivery but may be helpful in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of contraception users among Lebanese youth, and the extent of knowledge and perception on birth control; and to raise awareness and sensitise young adults to sexual health, which remains taboo in Lebanon. The 30-item questionnaire was broadcasted to students in private and public universities in Lebanon, through social media and it collected information on contraception use and student knowledge. Over 30% of responders were medical students, and 41% have ever used contraceptives (mostly women); among which, 52.1% for contraception versus 47.9% for medical reasons. According to responders, the pill ranked high in terms of effectiveness (72.4% of responders perceive the pill as effective), followed by the male condom (69.1%) and the hormonal intrauterine device (29.6%). Some would not use contraception in the future, for religious reasons (30.8%) or for fear of complications (46.2%); indeed, around a third of contraceptive users (all female) have experienced adverse effects. Finally, students expressed concern about long-term complications of contraceptive use (pulmonary embolism/phlebitis, breast/endometrial/ovarian cancer, stroke, depression and myocardial infarction). Though less frequent than in the Western world, contraception use in Lebanon is non-negligible and gaps in university students' knowledge on contraception were identified; which should prompt sexual education and family planning initiatives in Lebanon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute obstructive pyelonephritis due to urolithiasis represents a medico-surgical emergency that can lead to life-threatening complications. There are still no established factors that reliably predict progression toward acute pyelonephritis in patients presenting with a simple renal colic. Objective: To investigate clinical and paraclinical factors that are associated with the onset of acute obstructive pyelonephritis. Methods: Patients presenting to the emergency department for renal colic with obstructive urolithiasis on imaging were enrolled in the study. Demographic data, vital signs, medical comorbidities, blood test results, urinalysis, and radiological findings were recorded. Obstructive pyelonephritis was defined by the presence of two or more of the following criteria: fever, flank pain or costovertebral angle tenderness, and a positive urine culture. Results: Seventeen patients out of 120 presenting with renal colic, were diagnosed with acute obstructive pyelonephritis (14%). Parameters that were associated with the onset of obstructive pyelonephritis were: diabetes (p = 0.03), elevated CRP (p = 0.01), stone size (>5 mm) (p = 0.03), dilatation of renal pelvis (p = 0.01), peri-renal fat stranding (p = 0.02), and positive nitrites on urinalysis (p < 0.01). Hyperleukocytosis, acute kidney injury, multiple stones, pyuria (>10/mm3), hypertension, and were not associated with the onset of obstructive pyelonephritis. Conclusion: This study showed that known diabetic status, elevated CRP, positive urine nitrites, stone size (>5 mm), pyelic dilatation, and peri-renal fat stranding were associated with the onset of pyelonephritis in patients presenting to the emergency department with obstructive urolithiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the cesarean section rate using the Robson Classification for the first time in Lebanon, at Hôtel‐Dieu de France University Hospital, a tertiary referral center in Beirut. Methods: Routine medical record data that included all live births from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2020 was investigated. The overall cesarean section rate was recorded, and the size, cesarean section rate, and absolute and relative contributions were calculated within each group. Results: The overall cesarean section rate was 56.8%. The highest relative contribution to this rate came from Robson groups 5, 2 and 10, respectively. A decrease in cesarean section rate was noted in 2020 among women admitted for induction of labor (groups 2 and 4) following the implementation of new department policies and the restrictions caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Conclusion: More than 50% of the deliveries in our department were by cesarean sections (CS). Strategies to reduce this rate should include stricter departmental policies for avoidance of unindicated primary CS and raising practitioners' and patients' awareness about trial of labor after cesarean section. The application of the Robson Classification for the first time in Lebanon is helpful in analyzing and decreasing the high cesarean section rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of available prospective and retrospective studies comparing the minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robot-assisted) simple prostatectomy (MISP) and laser enucleation of the prostate for treating male lower urinary tract symptoms in high-volume prostates, as laser enucleation of the prostate is the new trend for treating high-volume prostates (>80 mL) but many urologists now prefer MISP. A systematic search was done using the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Cochrane databases in June 2019, with research terms including: 'laser', 'laparoscopy', 'enucleation', 'BPH', 'simple prostatectomy', 'Millins', and 'adenomectomy'. The meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Of 38 screened articles, six were analysed and a total of 975 men were included. The average operative time, length of stay and catheterisation time were significantly shorter in the laser enucleation group (P = 0.006, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The amount of prostatic tissue removed during surgery was comparable between both the laser enucleation and MISP groups (P = 0.39). The International Prostate Symptom Score, prostate-specific antigen level, maximum urinary flow rate and post-void residual urine volume were also comparable at 3 months. Finally, similar transfusion rates and Clavien–Dindo complication rates were observed (P = 0.08 and P = 0.41, respectively). This systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis provide a further demonstration of the safety and effectiveness of both laser enucleation and MISP. While laser enucleation had a shorter catheterisation time and hospital stay than MISP, the latter still had unique and specific indications. Abbreviations: ELEP: eraser laser enucleation of the prostate; HoLEP: holmium laser enucleation of the prostate; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; PVR: post-void residual urine volume; Qmax: maximum urinary flow rate; (L)(MI)(RA)SP: (laparoscopic) (minimally-invasive) (robot-assisted) simple prostatectomy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on the relative impact of body mass index in women in childbearing age and gestational weight gain on neonatal outcomes are scarce in the Middle East. Objectives: The primary objective of this research was to assess the impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on neonatal outcomes. The effect of maternal age and folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy was also examined. Subjects and methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional observational study of 1000 full term deliveries of women enrolled thru the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network, in Lebanon. Maternal characteristics such as age, BMI and GWG and neonatal outcomes such as weight, height, head circumference and Apgar score were the primary studied variables in this study. Total maternal weight gain were compared to the guidelines depicted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Results: The negative outcomes of newborns such as lean body weight and macrosomia were significantly present in women who gained respectively below or above the IOM’s cut-off points. Pregestational body mass index influenced significantly the infants’ birth weight, in both the underweight and obese categories. Birth height, head circumference and Apgar score were not influenced by pregestational body mass index or gestational weight gain. No significant associations were found between maternal age and pregestational body mass index and gestational weight gain. Conclusion: Studies evaluating the impact of weight before and during pregnancy on neonatal outcomes and anthropometrics measurements are lacking in the Middle East. Our results highlight the importance of nutritional counseling in order to shed the extra weights before conceiving and monitor weight gain to avoid the negative impact on feto-maternal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]