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Lebanon has faced a series of crises, starting with the economic collapse in 2019, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut blast on August 4, 2020. These events have left the population vulnerable to psychological distress. Our study aims to assess the psychological impact of the Beirut explosion on Lebanese healthcare providers. We conducted an electronic database search, resulting in the inclusion of 21 relevant manuscripts. Various psychological issues were reported among healthcare workers (HCWs), with burnout prevalence rates of 37.2% for disengagement and 51.5% for exhaustion. Additionally, feelings of heaviness, fear, exhaustion, and anxiety were common. Approximately 60% of HCWs experienced moderate to severe stress, and half reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression. Furthermore, 44% were at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms. Lebanese HCWs have faced significant psychological trauma in recent years, underscoring the need for mental health awareness campaigns and targeted training for HCWs., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Helou et al.)

Introduction: Fixed orthodontic treatment, typically initiated during adolescence (a crucial period of growth) raises interest in evaluating dietary modifications resulting from their implementation, providing essential information for formulating appropriate dietary advice. This systematic literature review aims to assess dietary changes in adolescents following orthodontic treatment., Material and Methods: An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed database with no time restrictions, following PRISMA guidelines. A combination of MeSH and non-MeSH terms, with no deadline, was applied, followed by a rigorous assessment of selected articles. The latest search was conducted on September the 20 th, 2023., Results: Among the initially identified 224 articles, only nine studies met the inclusion criteria. All, except one study, reported significant dietary modifications after treatment initiation., Conclusion: The installation of fixed orthodontic treatment in adolescents alters dietary habits, favoring soft foods. Anticipating the consequences on growth and diet habits is crucial, recommending tailored dietary advice before appliance placement. The registration number for this review on PROSPERO is CRD42023454959.

Background: Subaortic stenosis (SAS) is characterized by a fibromuscular membrane located just below the aortic valve, causing fixed outflow tract obstruction. There is a paucity of studies evaluating this condition. This cohort study reviewed the contemporary characteristics and outcomes of SAS in adult patients in a single large referral center., Methods and Results: We retrospectively studied adult patients with SAS evaluated at our center during 2011 to 2022. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalizations during follow-up, with secondary end points including recurrence of SAS and repeat surgery after initial SAS surgery. Among 484 patients with SAS, key characteristics included mean age 55±18 years, 67.5% female, left ventricular outflow tract peak velocity 352±140 cm/s and gradient 57±40 mm Hg, left ventricular ejection fraction 60%±14%, 54.8% had prior SAS surgery, and 45.1% had surgery during follow-up. Over a median follow-up of 5.5 (1.5-12.3) years, 11.5% (n=56) died, 6.8% (n=33) had heart failure hospitalizations, 8.0% (n=39) experienced SAS recurrence, and 14 (5.9%) underwent repeat SAS surgery. Multivariable analyses identified older age per 10-years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37 [95% CI, 1.12-1.68]) and baseline New York Heart Association class (HR, 2.48 [95% CI, 1.54-3.99]) to be statistically significantly associated with the primary end point; higher body mass index, New York Heart Association class, and peak left ventricular outflow tract gradient were also statistically significantly associated with SAS recurrence and redo surgery., Conclusions: Almost half of patients with SAS had surgery in the past or during follow-up, and a significant minority had mortality or morbidity events during follow-up. Identified prognosticators warrant further research to guide management.

On September 17, 2024, at 15:30 local time, thousands of pagers used by members of a specific party group detonated across Lebanon. As a result of the explosions, 2800 were wounded and 12 lost their lives. Almost two-thirds of the injuries were in the face, eyes, or hands. The Lebanese American University Medical Center received 38 injured and admitted 36 patients, 13 of them to the Intensive care unit. A total of 33 patients needed surgeries. All medical and nursing staff were deployed. The health care workers faced major challenges that night: the severity of the injuries and the unprecedented types of injuries with the same pattern, and the urgent need for ophthalmology and orthopedics within the hospital and across the country. Learning from the Pager Explosion, each hospital should perform assessments of their disaster response plan, develop trainings, and conduct regular exercises in preparation for future disasters.

Background: The early detection of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is essential, with Tc-99m pyrophosphate scintigraphy (PYP scan) being a key diagnostic tool. Although a previously validated score has shown promise in predicting PYP scan positivity among patients with HFpEF, further evaluation in diverse cohorts is necessary. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of the ATTR-CM score in predicting PYP scan positivity within our patient population. Methods: We analyzed patients referred for PYP with SPECT at the Cleveland Clinic from January 2012 to January 2020, all of whom had undergone echocardiography within the previous year. The ATTR-CM score was determined using the following criteria: Age (60-69, +2; 70-79, +3; ≥80, +4), sex (male, +2), hypertension (present, -1), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <60%, +1), posterior wall thickness (≥12 mm, +1), and relative wall thickness (>0.57, +2). A score of ≥6 indicated high risk. Results: Among the 540 patients (32% female, 33% black), 27% had an LVEF <40%. The score demonstrated good discrimination by AUC, with consistent performance across different racial groups, sexes, and LVEF categories. For scores ≥6, sensitivity was lower in women and black patients; however, lowering the cutoff to 5 markedly improved sensitivity. Conclusions: The ATTR-CM score displayed consistently good performance by AUC across our cohort, including patients with HFrEF. Nevertheless, its sensitivity was reduced in black patients and women. Efforts to scale ATTR-CM diagnosis tools should be mindful of demographic differences in risk prediction models.

Purpose: This study aims to assess whether orthodontic bonding systems prevent orthodontic-induced white spot lesions (OIWSLs), exploring efficacy and identifying associated factors through a comprehensive systematic review of existing evidence., Materials and Methods: The study complied to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two evaluators screened records, and data were extracted on orthodontic bonding systems, outcomes, and participant characteristics from PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EM Premium. The search equation focused on white spot lesions and orthodontic bonding. Only in-vivo studies and clinical trials on humans were included, while in-vitro studies were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's RoB2 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies, evaluating key domains related to bias., Results: The systematic review, including 12 articles with 550 participants and 2,000 teeth, revealed that bonding with nanoparticles of nCaF2-primer and amorphous calcium phosphate-containing adhesives effectively reduced WSLs. In contrast, one-step adhesive without primer (GC Ortho Connect™) was associated with higher and more severe WSLs. Fluoride-releasing primers (Opal Seal™ and Clearfil™) did not exhibit an advantage in demineralization reduction. The inclusion of TiO2 nanoparticles in two studies yielded conflicting results on antibacterial effects., Discussion: Various nanoparticles incorporated into adhesives or primers exhibit promise in preventing white spot lesions in fixed orthodontic treatment. However, the used evaluation methods, such as clinical examinations or advanced imaging, significantly impact result interpretation. The effectiveness of orthodontic adhesives in preventing WSLs should balance between biocompatibility, bond strength and demineralization control tailored to patient-specific needs.

Background: There are significant sex and age differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling that may lead to disparity in outcomes when used to inform the timing of aortic regurgitation (AR) intervention., Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether left atrial (LA) parameters might represent better criteria than LV parameters to inform the timing of AR intervention., Methods: Using data on patients with moderate to severe or severe AR with serial echocardiography (2010-2016), the longitudinal trends in left atrial volume index (LAVI) and left atrial reservoir strain (LAr) were evaluated by sex and age. The incremental utility of these parameters in predicting adverse events over LV parameters was also determined., Results: In 525 patients (25.7% women) with 1,687 echocardiograms over a median follow-up period of 2.0 years (Q1-Q3: 1.0-3.6 years), there was significant increase in LAVI (1.0 mL/m 2 per year [95% CI: 0.76-1.2 mL/m 2 per year]) and decrease in LAr (-1.3% per year [95% CI: -1.6% to -0.92%]), without a significant interaction by sex or age category (P for interaction ≥ 0.17). In addition, both LAVI and LAr were significant predictors of adverse events independent of LV parameters. The optimal discriminatory thresholds were 37 mL/m 2 for LAVI and 35% for LAr. These thresholds were similar across categories of sex and age. Within the relatively short-term follow-up, surgery was associated with survival benefit among patients with LAVI ≥37 mL/m 2 (HR: 0.33 [95% CI: 0.15-0.72]; P = 0.006) but was not statistically significant among patients with LAVI <37 mL/m 2 (HR: 0.46 [95% CI: 0.18-1.17]; P = 0.09). Similarly, surgery was associated with survival for the subgroup with LAr ≤35% but not among those with LAr >35%., Conclusions: Unlike LV remodeling, LA remodeling demonstrates a similar rate of progression between categories of sex and age among patients with AR. In addition, LA parameters provide incremental prognostic value over LV parameters., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Myxomas are the most common primary benign heart tumors, typically found in the left atrium, with only 2-4% occurring in the right ventricle. Clinical presentations vary widely, including congestive heart failure and systemic embolic phenomena. This case report describes a rare right ventricular myxoma causing both inflow and outflow obstruction, presenting as progressive exertional dyspnea., Case Presentation: A 23-year-old male presented with two weeks of worsening exertional dyspnea. He was stable but tachypneic with a systolic murmur over the tricuspid area. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-Reactive protein (CRP) were noted, while other lab tests were normal. Imaging, including echocardiography and chest tomography scan (CT) revealed a 4 × 3.8 × 4.6 cm mass in the right ventricle extending to the pulmonary trunk. Surgical resection via right ventriculotomy was performed, and histopathology confirmed myxoma. The patient recovered uneventfully., Conclusion: Right ventricular myxomas, though rare, can cause significant obstruction and present with diverse symptoms. Timely diagnosis using imaging techniques like echocardiography is crucial. Surgical resection remains the definitive treatment, offering excellent outcomes and low recurrence rates. Early intervention is vital to prevent serious complications and ensure favorable patient prognosis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers, comprising malignancies of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver, biliary tract, and gallbladder, are the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States and are associated with significant comorbidities. Recent studies show a disproportionate rise in pancreatic and stomach cancer among young adults. This study aims to use a nationwide, population-based cohort to (i) evaluate the trend of all UGI cancer as an aggregate and (ii) examine the role of demographics, histology, and tumor stage in UGI cancer incidence among young adults., Methods: Individuals diagnosed with UGI cancer in the United States from 2001 to 2019 were identified and obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-National Program of Cancer Registries database. The primary outcomes were incidence rates of UGI cancer (calculated per 100,000, age-adjusted to the year 2000 US population), stratified by sex and age (< 55 years for young adults and ≥ 55 years for older adults). Trends, annual percentage change, and average annual percentage change were calculated using the parametric method. Sensitivity analysis was performed according to primary site and histology; further analysis examining race and cancer stage was performed in the young adult subgroup., Results: A total of 2,333,161 patients with UGI cancer were identified. Most cases were male, and 14.3% were < 55 years of age. Incidence of UGI cancer increased most in women younger than 55 years, driven primarily by pancreatic and stomach cancers, as well as neuroendocrine tumor and gastrointestinal stromal tumor histology. African American race and localized tumors and malignancy with distant spread are also contributing to the disparate increase among young women. UGI mortality rates have not changed significantly in young adults., Discussion: The overall incidence rate of upper gastrointestinal cancer is increasing significantly in young women compared with men. Increased endoscopic procedures and disparate exposure to risk factors are likely contributing to these trends., (Copyright © 2024 by The American College of Gastroenterology.)

Quantitative cell function measurements are essential for many clinical decisions but are primarily tied to centralized laboratories. Limited access to these laboratories in low-resource settings or for immobile patients highlights the urgent need for Point-of-Care testing (POCT) infrastructure. Magnetic flow cytometers (MFC) offer a solution, albeit phenotyping is limited, and sample processing steps like cell lysis or washing increase MFC's workflow complexity. Here, we investigate conditions for novel phenotyping and direct cell concentration quantification in a streamlined workflow suitable for POCT in high hematocrit environments. We characterize magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) by their size, magnetic moment, and opportunities for high signal-to-noise ratios. With adapted theoretical models, we provide the framework for quantifying bound MNPs per cell. This reveals labeling quality and gives insight into system requirements for reliable cell detection and rational cell phenotyping. We investigate temporal labeling dynamics, which show suboptimal MNP binding kinetics in whole blood (WB), leading to long incubation periods and only 50% recovery concentrations. With our streamlined workflow favoring small (<50 nm) MNPs, we quantify CD14 + monocytes in WB and achieve coefficients of variation of <11%. By simultaneously assessing quantitative epitope expression, we extend MFC's capabilities to clinical subtyping for POCT., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Michael Helou reports a relationship with EarlyBio GmbH that includes: employment and equity or stocks. Oliver Hayden reports a relationship with EarlyBio GmbH that includes: equity or stocks. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)