Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Neurocomputing And Interfacing Digital Tasting System: Research, Design, And Evaluation, Amira J. Zaylaa, Ahmad El Hajj

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The continuous evolution in computing and interfacing has been extended to develop multi-sensory experiences in many domains such as neurological, auditory, vision, and haptic domains. So far, only a few remarkable system approaches have been approved to be serving the taste sensation digitally. Although taste sensation is linked to the brain, there is a lack of optimal neurocomputing digital taste sensation systems. Our study provides a new neurocomputing method to digitally stimulate the sense of taste by electrical stimulation on the human tongue. We aim to link chemical stimulation and electrical stimulation in order to design an electronic interface for …

Knowledge And Misconceptions Among Lebanese Community On Immunizations, Hala Ahmadieh, Tala Safa, Ihab Nahle, Yahya Obeid, Dalal Hariri, Etaf Rawass, Tala Kanaan, Ahmad Sabalbal

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Two centuries ago, immunization practices have become the greatest land mark in medical history as they significantly contributed to a decline in several major infectious diseases worldwide thus decreasing both the mortality and morbidity. Moreover, they have been able to eradicate small pox and eliminate poliomyelitis in most regions of the world. However, in recent years the general opinion towards vaccination began shifting due to the emergence of certain opposing views to it, questioning the vaccine's safety and efficacy. This study aims to shed light on the vaccination status in Lebanon by assessing the knowledge, attitude, awareness, and misconceptions among …

Assessment Of The Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Towards Expired Drug Disposal Among The Community In Beirut City, Lebanon, Nada Khansa, Azza A. K. Gazy, Abdalla El-Lakany, Souraya Domiati

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

The global increase in pharmaceutical spending has led to enhanced international awareness of the unused and expired drug issues due to improper drug disposal's harmful economic, environmental, and health effects. Consequently, the study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward expired drug disposal among the community in Beirut City, Lebanon. A cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study was conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. The fact that improper disposal of expired medicine affects the environment and health was acknowledged by 70.7% of the 450 participants. Even though 72.2% of the participants knew that the best method for …

Validation Of The Arabic Version Of The Food Safety And Hygiene Questionnaire Among Nutrition Student, Nada El Darra, Dina Cheaib, Leila Itani

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

There is shortage of data on food safety knowledge and practices among Lebanese food handlers due to the lack of a reliable tool. The aim of the current study is to determine the reliability as well as the validity of an adopted Arabic version of the Osaili et al (2013) food safety questionnaire. Translation and back translation and testing equivalence were done using standard accepted procedures. A total of 110 undergraduate Nutrition and Dietetics students completed the questionnaire consisting of five subscales that covers major food safety concepts including personal hygiene, safe storage, cross contamination prevention, knowledge of health problems …

Community Pharmacists' Commitment To Preventive Measures During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Light Of The Economic Crisis In Beirut, Lebanon: A Simulated Client Study, Deema Rahme, Rania Itani, Samar Karout, Hani M. J. Khojah, Abdalla El-Lakany

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

The burden on community pharmacists has dramatically increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, where the increased number of clients demands adhering to optimal infection protective measures. We aimed to investigate the level of adopted COVID-19 preventative measures by Lebanese community pharmacies and the influencing factors. One hundred community pharmacies in Beirut, were randomly selected and inspected by a simulated client. Signs of face-mask use, declaration of COVID-19 infection, and social distancing were observed in 62%, 48%, and 35% of pharmacies, respectively. Body temperature screening was absent. Only 20% of the pharmacies had limitations for the number of clients, and only 31% …

Review On Chemical Constituents And Biological Activities Of Genus Rumex, Rima Mohammad Kheir Boukhary, Zeina Omeiche, Mohamad Ali Hijazi, Priscilla Jawhari, Lyn Jawish, Hussein Ajjour, Maha Aboul Ela, Abdalla El-Lakany

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Genus Rumex belongs to the family Polygonaceae that is distributed worldwide and used in the treatment of different illnesses. Different parts of this plant are employed in the treatment of a number of ailments such as diarrhea, jaundice, hypertension, dermatopathy and inflammation. It was reported that they possess anti-oxidative, antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-cancer activities due to the presence of several phenolic constituents, anthraquinones and flavonoids such as rutin, luteolin and apigenin. Flavonoids play an important role against cardiovascular diseases by reducing oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. This article covers most of constituents of plants of genus Rumex reported from 2001 up …

The Effect Of Moderate Versus Deep Sedation On The Satisfaction And Length Of Stay Of Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy In A Lebanese Specialized Endoscopy Center, Ramadan Nhayle, Ahmad Tassi, Hussein Issa, Mohammad Itani, Mirna Fawaz

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Colonoscopy is one of the most common screening procedure to detect colorectal cancer. Sedation during colonoscopy decreases anxiety, discomfort, minimizes risks, and promotes the overall satisfaction of the patient. It’s a challenge for nurses to adopt a sedation regimen taking into consideration traditional and modern techniques and methods. Purpose: To compare moderate and deep sedation effects on satisfaction, length of stay, and overall experience of patients undergoing colonoscopy. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was conducted among 149 patients who responded to the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale after been consented pre-procedure. Results: Statistically significant differences were demonstrated for almost most items …

The Relationship Between Caffeine Addiction And Stress Among Lebanese Medical Students In Lebanon, Ali Samaha, Maya Gebbawi, Najwa Yahfoufi, Ali Ghaddar, Abbas Samaha

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Stress and behavioral addiction are becoming major health problems growing in strength and prevalence. They are often associated with a large array of debilitating diseases and conditions including psychosocial impairments. Medical students remain a vulnerable territory for developing stress and addiction mainly relating to caffeine consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional design was utilized in this study. Results: The study revealed that academic and learning issues are the most stressful and alarming levels of caffeine dependence. Conclusions: This showed a high impact of academic issues on medical students stress and performance, which mandates thorough actions to be considered by both medical institutions …

Medicinal Plants’ Stress Factors: Effects On Metabolites And Novel Perspectives For Tolerance, Mayssaloune Ali Kanso, Mohamad Ali Hijazi, Maha Aboul Ela Prof., Abdalla El-Lakany

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Medicinal plants are rich in secondary metabolites representing different chemical classes and synthesized by various biochemical pathways. However, these compounds are susceptible to potential herbal predators and to environmental influences. Several factors induce different biotic and abiotic stresses (drought, cold, salinity, heat) that lead to fluctuations in the biogenesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites by which plants react to overcome the threatening stress conditions. This contribution aims to give an overview of the various medicinal plant defense mechanisms against imminent threats and their impact on secondary metabolites profiles in the most effective medicinal plant species such as the levels of …

Health Care System In Lebanon: A Review Addressing Health Inequalities And Ethical Dilemmas Of Frontline Workers During Covid-19 Pandemic, Georges Hatem, Mathijs Goossens

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Lebanon is facing many problems that can cause several long-term threats to the overall public health such as an increasing poverty rate, and an economic crisis induced by the devaluation of the Lebanese currency. The healthcare system is affected in terms of quality and availability of services in addition due to the pandemic, a lot of public health campaigns were paused. Consequently, Lebanon is losing its frontline healthcare workers coupled with the fact that the government budget for healthcare has dwindled. This report addresses the evolution of some health indicators in Lebanon throughout the years and presents the rights and …

Factors Associated With Sleep Quality And Duration Among Beirut Arab University Students, Sakina El- Kadi, Rosy Nahed Mitri

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Sleep is part of the everyday physiological rhythm that is vital for enhancing wellness and appropriate body functions. University students are vulnerable to sleep disturbance due to many factors that affect their sleep–wake behavior. No study has so far evaluated the association between sleep quality and duration and the health and nutritional status of Lebanese college students. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the sleep quality and duration of Beirut Arab University (BAU) students in North Lebanon and to examine associations with their nutritional status, sociodemographic, eating behaviors, lifestyles and health characteristics. To do so, a cross-sectional study …

The Effect Of Salvia Fruticosa Water Extract In Acetic-Acid-Induced Colitis In Mice, Rim Mrad, Suzana Salhab, Miriam Al-Battal, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic condition of the intestine characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response. Current biologic treatments developed to treat IBD are expensive and associated with significant side effects; thus, alternative approaches are required. Recently, herbal concoctions have emerged as promising intervention. This study investigates the protective effects of Salvia fruticosa (SF) against acetic acid-induced colitis in mice, a model of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mice were divided into four groups (n=3). IBD was induced with acetic acid (6%). SF was administered by gavage at 1.5ug/kg mimicking folk medicine. …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Of Nurses Regarding Antibiotic Stewardship In North Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mariam El Baida, Sara Mina

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

ABSTRACT: Background: Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global issue. Several associations are supporting the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs in all hospitals. This program is multidisciplinary in its nature however, nurses are often not included in the antibiotic stewardship team. The role of nurses in antibiotic stewardship needs further development, and additional information is needed regarding gaps in nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic stewardship. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing staff regarding antibiotic stewardship in North Lebanon and identify the barriers that prevent their participation. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was …

Interleukin-16 Rs4778889 Polymorphism And Its Interaction With Interleukin-10 Rs1800896 Polymorphism Increase The Risk For Knee Osteoarthritis In The Lebanese Population, Zeina El-Ali, Fouad Ziade, Hassan Zmerly, Nisrine Bissar

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

To investigate the effect Interleukin-16 (IL-16) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphisms, and their interaction, on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) risk in the Lebanese population. Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping assay was performed to determine IL-16 rs4778889, rs11556218, and rs4072111 and IL-10 rs1800896 polymorphisms in 118 patients diagnosed with KOA ( ≥ 2 points on Kellgren-Lawrence (K&L) radiological classification scale) and 70 controls matched for age and gender (K&L score ≤ 1). After adjusting for age, gender, presence of metabolic disorders, smoking and drinking status, our findings suggest that rs4778889 TT genotype increases the risk for KOA compared to the combined CC …

Covid-19 In Lebanon: Demographics And Distribution, Mahdi Fadlallah, Fadi Hobeiche, Marie Therese Jamal, Elie Salem-Sokhn

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

COVID-19 pandemic has emerged over more than 200 countries leading to more than 117 million infection cases and more than 2.6 million deaths. Lebanon is one of the countries affected by this disease especially in the second half of 2020 reaching its peak early this year. In this study, we studied the impact of multiple factors on this surge and analyzed the positive tests among different age groups over a period of one year (from March 2020 to February 2021). Data was collected from one medical center in Beirut where more than 20,000 PCR tests were done using RT-PCR method …

Food Safety Practices Among Food Carts In -North Lebanon, Hanin Hassan, Nada El Darra, Alissar Al Khatib

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Street food carts serve different types of popular and traditional foods; it is a common economic sector worldwide. In North Lebanon, food carts are mobile or centered in specific places serving common and well known RTE meals. In addition, the increasing incidence of foodborne illnesses associated with street foods sheds light on the importance of inspecting the practices of street vendors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the food safety in 30 food carts using an observational checklist and to perform microbiological analysis for the detection of foodborne pathogens namely; yeast, mold, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Enterohemorrhagic E.coli, …

Assessment Of The Lebanese Community Pharmacist Knowledge, Practice And Barriers Regarding The Prevention Of Osteoporosis, Noura Issa Khram, Maha Aboul Ela, Mohamad Ali Hijazi, Lama Soubra

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Osteoporosis is a silent skeletal disease that is often recognized when fractures occur as a result of minimal trauma. Limited studies have assessed the degree of pharmacists’ involvement in osteoporosis prevention, risk-assessment/screening and physician referrals. To assess the Lebanese community pharmacists’ knowledge, practice and barriers regarding osteoporosis prevention. Secondary aim is to assess the pharmacists’ ability to identify high-risk patients who should be referred for bone mineral density (BMD) testing. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Beirut, Lebanon between September and October 2020 using self-administered questionnaire. Pharmacists completed a multi-component questionnaire that consisted of socio-demographic characteristics, practices, knowledge and …

A Comparison Between The Effect Of Different Pressures Of Air Particle Abrasion Before And After Sintering With And Without Zirconia Liner On Bond Strength Of Resin To Zirconia Surface, Lina Mohamad Saadeh, Ehab A. Farghaly, Mohammad M. Rayyan, Essam Osman

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

This study aimed to compare the effect of different pressures of air particle abrasion 2 and 4 bars before and after sintering with and without zirconia liner on SBS of resin to zirconia Surface. Materials and Methods: 54 zirconia cuboids 8×8×3 mm were milled and divided into 6 equal groups (N=9) according to surface treatment; sintered with ceramic liner application and 2 bars pressure (SL2) and with 4 bars pressure (SL4), sintered with no ceramic liner and 2 bars pressure (SN2) and 4 bars pressure (SN4), unsintered with no ceramic liner and 2 bars pressure (UN2) and 4 bars pressure …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Continuing Professional Development In The Pharmaceutical Workplace: A Cross-Sectional Study In Lebanon, Georges Hatem, Mathijs Goossens, Diana Ghanem, Roula Bou Assi

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Continuous Professional Development in the pharmaceutical workplace and the direct impact on the pharmacists’ personal and professional progression and to assess their perceptions toward various CPD methods and their incorporation into this recent learning pathway. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Lebanon within three months from July 2017 till September 2017 using a survey as a tool. Overall 142 participants were conveniently selected frequency matching national government estimates of pharmacists’ work location and gender . Results: Among the respondents, 38.7% reported that they have learnt through CD/DVD, …

Evaluation Of Root-End Resection With Conventional And Ultrasonic Methods: A Single-Blind, Randomized In-Vitro Study, Mohammad Al Shammaa, Roula S. Abiad, Nayer Abo Elsaad

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

The root-end resection is considered critical endodontic surgical procedure. Three millimeters of the root tip is resected and root-end cavity with parallel walls and comparable depth is cut to receive a root-end filling. The literature discussed dentinal cracks after root canal instrumentation and/or root dentine cutting. The aim of the present study was to assess cracks at root ends after resection with conventional versus ultrasonic techniques. Material and Methodology: Thirty-two extracted human lower premolar teeth with single root were used. Their root canals were prepared and received gutta-percha. Sixteen roots Group 1 were resected using tungsten carbide fissure burs, while …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding The Use Of Antibiotics: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Rural Area Of Lebanon, Carine Mounzer, Safaa Baydoun, Ranya Amer, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Despite the presence of a national policy restricting the easy access to antibiotics, irrational use of antibiotics continues to be widespread both in human use and livestock production in Lebanon. This study targets the general population in the rural region of Bekaa to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards antibiotic use. A cross sectional questionnaire was completed by 1151 participants, through face-to-face interviews. Study population was randomly selected. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were applied in data analysis. 69.2% of participants had a very poor knowledge about antibiotics. More than 70% believed that viral infections may be treated …

The Impact Of Emerging Technology On Nurses Caring Behavior During Blood Pressure Monitoring For Adult Patients At General Hospitals, Kuwait., Eman Al Awade, Hanan Alnuqaidan, Marthal Johnson, Hoda Diab

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Introduction: The nursing profession has advanced immensely from the onset. Remarkable changes in medical technology facilitated patients’ survival and treatments which were unimaginable during the period of Florence Nightingale. Although, technology empowered the nurses to provide quality care to patients, some of these technologies can break the bond of therapeutic nurse - patient relationship and make it mechanical, instead. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate nurses caring behavior during blood pressure monitoring with manual and electronic devices. Objective: Compare the nurses caring behavior while monitoring blood pressure by electronic and manual devices. Methods: a descriptive comparative design …

Prevalence Of Esbl-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Among Lebanese Patients With Urinary Tract Infections, Rasha Abdallah, Bassel Abdallah

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Being the most common infections worldwide, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) represent a major public health problem. Gram negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing UTIs where Extended spectrum β–lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Enterobacteriaceae, mainly the multi-drug resistant species, such as E. coli sequence type 131 and klebsiella.pneumoniae, account for serious health problems and high economic burden. In Lebanon, data about prevalence of antibiotic resistant pathogens during UTIs are still scarce. In this study we examined the prevalence of ESBL-producing pathogens among Lebanese patients mainly located at Bekaa governorate. This retrospective study included 7241 urine tests that were collected from all the …

Maintaining Root Canal Curvatures After Preparation With Different Nickel-Titanium Rotary Systems (A Comparative In Vitro Study), Wael Betbout, Mohammad Al Shammaa, Roula S. Abiad

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

The ongoing advancement of materials and methods for root canal instrumentation is resulting in improved techniques with minimal variations to the canal morphology. One standard for assessment of the shaping quality of curved root canals is preparation-induced straightening of the canal. The aim of the study: To compare the effects of 2 Nickel-Titanium rotary systems, 2Shape (Micro-Mega, Besançon, France) and ProTaper Next (Dentsply,Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), on maintaining the distobuccal canals curvature of extracted human maxillary molar teeth using periapical radiographs. Materials and methods: In this study a total of 26 distobuccal roots of upper maxillary molars were used and divided …

Impact Of Covid-19 Confinement On Physical Activity And Dietary Habits In Physical Therapy Students And Professionals In Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Study, Rami A. Abbas, Sarah Al Omari, Ayman El Khatib

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

COVID-19 pandemic caused radical changes to the daily living activities of Lebanese population since it led the government to adopt restrictive measures and force obligatory confinement. This study aimed to identify the dietary, using Prevention with Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED), and physical activity, using International Physical Activity Questionnaire- short form (IPAQ-SF), among physical therapy students and professionals residing in Lebanon before and during the COVID-19 confinement period. A cross-sectional descriptive study based on self-administered questionnaires was carried out from late January to the beginning of February, which coincides with the third home confinement period. Surveys were disseminated through multiple social media …

The Role Of Smart Architectural Elements In Reducing The Pandemic Effect In Residential Compounds, Christina Najem, Marwan Halabi, Hiba Mohsen, Maged Youssef

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Pandemic is an episode of an illness that happens over a wide geographic zone, (for example, different nations or countries) and regularly influences a huge extent of the population, which is in our case a virus called COVID-19. The problem or the gap lies in the houses and type of residents we have now, that aren’t adaptable and flexible enough to survive a pandemic while focusing on social distancing, safe living, and many other decisions, all the while keeping the human interaction alive. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to propose guidelines on how new smart architectural elements …

Criminal Liability Of Covid-19 Carriers (Lebanon), Tarteel Turki Darwish

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Since the spread of COVID-19, all governments tried to cape with this international pandemic which was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March, 11 as a pandemic. Lebanese ministry of health, recommended in a statement issued on 21.03.2020 the date of the beginning of COVID-19 spread, that all of individuals with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 be quarantined at home and those who don’t follow the preventive precautions will be legally punished. On 04.03.2020 the Lebanese ministry of health issued an announcement no. 42 about “defining COVID-19 cases which are classified as transmitted and infectious diseases cases which …

Hand Sanitizers Use During Covid-19 Pandemic: Knowledge, Preference, And Adherence Of A Sample Of The Lebanese Population., May Saab, Souraya Domiati

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Purpose: Preventive measure has been a gold stone in reducing the spread of Coronavirus disease of 2019. These measures include quarantine, social distancing, face mask use, and most importantly hand hygiene. Consequently, alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been used abundantly. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, preference, and practice toward hand sanitizers of the Lebanese community, during the pandemic period.

Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out from mid of May to mid of June 2020. Adult Lebanese residents from the 5 main Lebanese districts were invited to participate in the study. The questionnaire included demographic data, 5 …

Exploring Customer Relationship Management In Two Private Hospitals In Kuwait, Yassmin Diab

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

The private hospital industry in Kuwait is an important contributor in the economy of the country. There has been a major increase in the number of private hospitals and clinics in the past four years, and more hospitals are launching new services in the private healthcare sector. In order to succeed in this sector, it is important for an organization to focus on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for thriving in the competitive market. A customer relationship management strategy is believed to give a competitive edge to hospitals, as customers nowadays make their decisions based on the type and strength of …

Effect Of Sorafenib On Human Colon Cancer Cells, Marwa Al Hassan, Farah Reda, Ali Baltaji, Julnar Usta, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

ABSTRACT: Sorafenib, a kinase inhibitor, is among the approved drugs for the treatment of radioactive iodine resistant thyroid carcinoma, primary kidney and liver cancers. Reported targets of Sorafenib include VEGFR, Raf family, and PDGFR belonging to the general class of tyrosine kinases. Blocking growth signals in kidney and breast cancers underlie one of the mechanisms of Sorafenib antitumor effects’ leading to cell death. We hereby examine the effect of Sorafenib on human colon carcinoma cell-line HCT116. We also investigate the possible role of p53 in mediating this effect using mutant HCT116 p53-/- cells. Cultured wild and mutant cells are treated …