Methods: We assessed 23 patients with a mean age of 57.3±15 years. According to the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale; eight patients had grade 0, nine had grade I, and six had grade II. All patients underwent plain radiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine. The foramen magnum was involved in 10 patients, C1–2 in seven, C2–3 in four, and C3–4 in two. All patients were operated via the far-lateral approach. Results: Gross total resection was achieved in 21 patients. Sixteen lesions were psammomatous, five were fibroblastic, and two were meningothelial meningiomas. The mean operative duration was 135±40 minutes, while the mean operative blood loss was 450±210 mL, and the mean hospital stay was 4.3±2.2 days. At the final follow-up that was conducted at 27.6±21 months and as per the JOA score; 16 patients were classified into grade 0 and 7 into grade II. The condition of none of our patients deteriorated postoperatively. There was no significant correlation of the clinical outcome with tumor level, pathological subtype of the tumor, symptom duration, age, and sex. There was no significant correlation of tumor resection completeness with tumor level, tumor pathological subtype, or tumor topography (ventral or ventrolateral). Conclusions The far-lateral approach is a safe and effective access for ventral and ventrolateral cervical meningiomas. It allows direct access to tumor with no spinal cord or nerve roots traction, and thus may yield a fairly better outcome than the standard posterior approach.

Purpose: Campylobacter species are currently the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. In Lebanon, Campylobacter infection occurrence is underdiagnosed owing to the lack of specific culture and rapid test kits, particularly among children. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, laboratory findings, and clinical characteristics of Campylobacter infection in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in South Lebanon. Methods: We conducted a 6-month retrospective cohort study between January and June 2018, including 291 children aged between 1 month and 12 years, who were admitted to a tertiary healthcare center in South Lebanon. The medical files of the patients were reviewed to retrieve the required clinical information, including clinical and laboratory data. Results: The prevalence of campylobacteriosis agents in pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis is 12.02%. Patients infected with Campylobacter had more severe acute gastroenteritis than Campylobacter-negative patients and often presented with high-grade fever, diarrhea episodes more than six times per day, diarrhea lasting for more than five days, and dehydration. Indeed, children with high-grade fever (≥38.5°C) were five times more likely to test positive for Campylobacter than those with low-grade fever. In addition, the results showed a higher Vesikari score for the majority of Campylobacter-positive patients with severe acute gastroenteritis compared to a moderate profile for Campylobacter-negative patients. Conclusion The present study findings highlight that Campylobacter infection is frequent among children with acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, the detection of Campylobacter should be carried out for the diagnosis of human gastroenteritis in Lebanon, along with the detection of routine enteropathogens.

Purpose: Campylobacter species are currently the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. In Lebanon, Campylobacter infection occurrence is underdiagnosed owing to the lack of specific culture and rapid test kits, particularly among children. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, laboratory findings, and clinical characteristics of Campylobacter infection in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis in South Lebanon. Methods: We conducted a 6-month retrospective cohort study between January and June 2018, including 291 children aged between 1 month and 12 years, who were admitted to a tertiary healthcare center in South Lebanon. The medical files of the patients were reviewed to retrieve the required clinical information, including clinical and laboratory data. Results: The prevalence of campylobacteriosis agents in pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis is 12.02%. Patients infected with Campylobacter had more severe acute gastroenteritis than Campylobacter-negative patients and often presented with high-grade fever, diarrhea episodes more than six times per day, diarrhea lasting for more than five days, and dehydration. Indeed, children with high-grade fever (≥38.5°C) were five times more likely to test positive for Campylobacter than those with low-grade fever. In addition, the results showed a higher Vesikari score for the majority of Campylobacter-positive patients with severe acute gastroenteritis compared to a moderate profile for Campylobacter-negative patients. Conclusion The present study findings highlight that Campylobacter infection is frequent among children with acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, the detection of Campylobacter should be carried out for the diagnosis of human gastroenteritis in Lebanon, along with the detection of routine enteropathogens.

The goal of this study was to assess the effect of the intermittent combination of an antiresorptive agent (calcitonin) and an anabolic agent (vitamin D3) on treating the detrimental effects of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) on mandibular bone formation and growth. Forty 3-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: the control group (normal rats), the control C1D group (normal rats injected with calcitonin and vitamin D3), the diabetic C1D group (diabetic rats injected with calcitonin and vitamin D3) and the diabetic group (uncontrolled diabetic rats). An experimental DM condition was induced in the male Wistar rats in the diabetic and diabetic C1D groups using a single dose of 60 mg?kg–1 body weight of streptozotocin. Calcitonin and vitamin D3 were simultaneously injected in the rats of the control C1D and diabetic C1D groups. All rats were killed after 4 weeks, and the right mandibles were evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histomorphometric analysis. Diabetic rats showed a significant deterioration in bone quality and bone formation (diabetic group). By contrast, with the injection of calcitonin and vitamin D3, both bone parameters and bone formation significantly improved (diabetic C1D group) (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that these two hormones might potentially improve various bone properties.

PURPOSE: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity and remains a major cause of hospitalization. Following the Syrian refugee crisis and insufficient clean water in the region, this study reviews the etiological and epidemiological data in Lebanon. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed demographic, clinical and routine laboratory data of 198 children from the age of 1 month to 10 years old who were admitted with the diagnosis of AGE to a private tertiary care hospital located in the district of Nabatieh in south Lebanon. RESULTS: Males had a higher incidence of AGE (57.1%). Pathogens were detected in 57.6% (n=114) of admitted patients, among them single pathogens were found in 51.0% (n=101) of cases that consisted of: Entamoeba histolytica 26.3% (n=52), rotavirus 18.7% (n=37), adenovirus 6.1% (n=12) and mixed co-pathogens found in 6.6% (n=13). Breast-fed children were significantly less prone to rotavirus (p=0.041). Moreover, children who had received the rotavirus vaccine were significantly less prone to rotavirus (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the high prevalence of E. histolytica infection as the major cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in hospitalized children, during the summer period likely reflecting the insanitary water supplies and lack of hygiene. Moreover the 42.4% of unidentified causative pathogens should prompt us to widen our diagnostic laboratory arsenal by adopting new diagnostic technologies.
Adenoviridae ; Amebiasis ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized* ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Gastroenteritis* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Lebanon* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Refugees ; Rotavirus ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Water ; Water Supply

Background: and Purpose Randomized trials proved the benefits of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for select patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) within 24 hours of last-known-well (LKW). Recent data suggest that LVO patients may benefit from MT beyond 24 hours. This study reports the safety and outcomes of MT beyond 24 hours of LKW compared to standard medical therapy (SMT). Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of LVO patients presented to 11 comprehensive stroke centers in the United States beyond 24 hours from LKW between January 2015 and December 2021. We assessed 90-day outcomes using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: Of 334 patients presented with LVO beyond 24 hours, 64% received MT and 36% received SMT only. Patients who received MT were older (67±15 vs. 64±15 years, P=0.047) and had a higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS; 16±7 vs.10±9, P<0.001). Successful recanalization (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b-3) was achieved in 83%, and 5.6% had symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage compared to 2.5% in the SMT group (P=0.19). MT was associated with mRS 0–2 at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.73, P=0.026), less mortality (34% vs. 63%, P<0.001), and better discharge NIHSS (P<0.001) compared to SMT in patients with baseline NIHSS ≥6. This treatment benefit remained after matching both groups. Age (aOR 0.94, P<0.001), baseline NIHSS (aOR 0.91, P=0.017), Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (ASPECTS) score ≥8 (aOR 3.06, P=0.041), and collaterals scores (aOR 1.41, P=0.027) were associated with 90-day functional independence. Conclusion In patients with salvageable brain tissue, MT for LVO beyond 24 hours appears to improve outcomes compared to SMT, especially in patients with severe strokes. Patients’ age, ASPECTS, collaterals, and baseline NIHSS score should be considered before discounting MT merely based on LKW.

A series of new 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (5a-j and 6a-j) have been designed and synthesized in four-steps. Sixteen compounds among the twenty compounds are reported for the first time. The compounds were characterized and confirmed by the FTIR, 1D- and 2D-NMR and HRMS analyses, and were tested against Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. Compound 5d was the most active against M. smegmatis with MIC value of 25 µM, and exhibited cidal activity with MBC of 68 µM, respectively. The time-kill assay showed the good killing rate at 77% with the combination of isoniazid (INH). In addition, checkboard assay confirmed the interaction of compound 5d was categorised as additive. Docking simulation has been performed to position 5d into the pantothenate synthetase active site with binding free energy value –8.6 kcal mol-1. It also occupied the same active site as that of standard native ligand with similar interactions, which clearly indicate their potential as pantothenate synthetase inhibitor.