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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection occurs among half of the general population worldwide, with high geographic variability. Even though H. pylori is the leading cause of several gastric diseases, ranging from gastritis and peptic ulcers to gastric malignancies, such as gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, most of the infections remain asymptomatic. Early detection and eradication of H. pylori can definitely prevent severe long-term gastric diseases associated with H. pylori. In Lebanon, the prevalence of H. pylori is not well documented, especially in healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to assess H. pylori infections and the associated risk factors in Tripoli, North Lebanon. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 healthy Lebanese volunteers, including both children and adults. The H. pylori stool antigens were detected using the Premier Platinum HpSA test. The socio-demographic data, lifestyle characteristics, and gastrointestinal characteristics of all participants were analyzed. Out of the 300 tested volunteer subjects, 31% were found to be positive for H. pylori. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis for factors associated with H. pylori infection revealed a significant association between H. pylori infection and gastrointestinal disturbances, the crowding index, and occupation. A significant statistical correlation was found between sheesha smoking (p = 0.001) and H. pylori infection. These findings highlight the need for the development of preventive approaches and strategic indications for the appropriate treatment of H. pylori infections in Tripoli, North Lebanon.

Sheesha smoking habit is found to be most prevalent in the 16-25 years age group with 70% sheesha smokers being male and 30% females. Alarming consequence is that either the customers or the people who serve it put addictive substances into it. The present study aims to assess the growing habits of sheesha smoking in Pakistani female students. Questionnaire was distributed among the girl students. Female students from different colleges/universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were included in the study. Statistics show that students offer each other the option to smoke sheesha, i.e., 51.6%. In this study's setting, 61.1% started sheesha smoking during their college life, and is considered fashionable by 68.1% and 54.9% are not aware of its harmful effects. Not much difference was seen between the parents about the awareness of their children sheesha smoking habit, i.e., 48.9% and 50.5%. 35.2% thought of it as losing weight tool and 22% to relieve depression. A large majority agreed that government should check this habit (78%). Government should get more actively involved against sheesha bars and to check for the banned substances. Study needs to be expanded to smaller cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the influence of cigarette or sheesha smoking on first-trimester markers of Down syndrome. Design A prospective observational study. Setting Primary care centres and antenatal clinics of Maternity and Children Hospital, King Abdulaziz University Hospital and New Jeddah Clinic Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Population Women with a singleton pregnancy who were either nonsmokers ( n= 1736) or cigarette smokers ( n= 420) or sheesha smokers ( n= 181). Methods Fetal nuchal translucency thickness (fetal NT), maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (free β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were measured at 11 weeks 0 days to 13 weeks 6 days of gestation in all women. Women were grouped according to smoking status, confirmed by maternal serum cotinine measurements, and analyte levels between groups were compared. Main outcome measures Fetal NT, maternal serum free β-hCG, PAPP-A and cotinine measurements. Results Compared with nonsmoking women, fetal NT was significantly increased and free β-hCG and PAPP-A levels were significantly decreased in both cigarette and sheesha smokers. There were significant relationships between all three markers and the number of sheeshas consumed per day. Conclusions Cigarette and sheesha smoking significantly affect first-trimester markers of Down syndrome (fetal NT, free β-hCG and PAPP-A). Correction for this effect in women who smoke might improve the effectiveness of first-trimester screening for Down syndrome in these women. The underlying mechanism(s) relating smoking to the changes in first-trimester markers require further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been classified as a Class I carcinogen by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) and has been identified as the most common etiologic agent of infection-associated cancers. Early detection and eradication of H. pylori can definitely lead to long-term healing of all H. pylori-related diseases. In Lebanon, the prevalence of H. pylori is not well documented, especially in healthy subjects. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 healthy Lebanese volunteers, including both children and adults. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between H. pylori infection and sheesha smoking. These findings highlight the need for the development of preventive approaches and strategic indications for the appropriate management of H. pylori infections in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection occurs among half of the general population worldwide, with high geographic variability. Even though H. pylori is the leading cause of several gastric diseases, ranging from gastritis and peptic ulcers to gastric malignancies, such as gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, most of the infections remain asymptomatic. Early detection and eradication of H. pylori can definitely prevent severe long-term gastric diseases associated with H. pylori. In Lebanon, the prevalence of H. pylori is not well documented, especially in healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to assess H. pylori infections and the associated risk factors in Tripoli, North Lebanon. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 healthy Lebanese volunteers, including both children and adults. The H. pylori stool antigens were detected using the Premier Platinum HpSA test. The socio-demographic data, lifestyle characteristics, and gastrointestinal characteristics of all participants were analyzed. Out of the 300 tested volunteer subjects, 31% were found to be positive for H. pylori. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis for factors associated with H. pylori infection revealed a significant association between H. pylori infection and gastrointestinal disturbances, the crowding index, and occupation. A significant statistical correlation was found between sheesha smoking (p = 0.001) and H. pylori infection. These findings highlight the need for the development of preventive approaches and strategic indications for the appropriate treatment of H. pylori infections in Tripoli, North Lebanon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]