The current article aimed to determine the 12-month prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence in a nationally representative sample of Lebanese adults. One thousand participants collaborated in face-to-face interviews in 2011. Prevalence of 12-month alcohol dependence was 5%, with a higher risk for those who were men, unmarried, the youngest adults (aged between 18 and 34 years old), students, participants with a liberal occupation, participants with a low income, participants with a positive family history of alcohol misuse, and smokers. Prevalence of 12-month alcohol abuse was 6.2%, with a higher risk for those who were men, students, employees, and Druze and Christians compared to Muslims. Current alcohol abuse and dependence were found to be very highly prevalent in Lebanon.
Abnormal esophageal motility has been reported in alcoholics. This includes abnormally high esophageal contraction amplitudes (ECA) and elevated lower esophageal sphincter pressures (LESP). However, an animal model is lacking for evaluating the underlying mechanisms. To develop such a model of ethanol-induced esophageal motor dysfunction, esophageal manometry was done in control, chronically intoxicated, and withdrawing cats. Ethanol was administered for at least 30 days via gastrostomy tube and blood alcohol levels, typically 300 mg/dl, were adjusted to maintain inebriation. LESP and upper (striated muscle) and lower (smooth muscle) ECA were elevated in male withdrawing cats. In intoxicated cats only upper ECA was elevated. Surprisingly, LESP and ECA were not significantly affected in females. Duration of ECA was prolonged in both male and female intoxicated cats. These findings indicate that: (1) similar to withdrawing men, ECA and LESP are elevated in withdrawing male cats; (2) ethanol-treated cats are an appropriate model for studying the mechanism of ethanol effects on esophageal motor function; (3) gender has a significant role in influencing the effects of alcohol.
Background:Many difficulties are encountered in family medicine practice and were subject to multinational studies. To date, no study was conducted in Lebanon to assess the challenges that family physicians face. This study aims to evaluate the family medicine practice in Lebanon stressing on the difficulties encountered by Lebanese family physicians.Materials and Methods:A questionnaire was sent to all 96 family medicine physicians practicing in Lebanon. Participants answered questions about characteristics of family medicine practice, evaluation of the quality of work, identification of obstacles, and their effect on the medical practice.Results:The response rate was 59%, and the average number of years of practice was 10.7 years. Physicians complain mainly of heavy load at work, too many bureaucratic tasks, demanding patients, and being undervalued by the specialists. Most physicians are able to adapt between their professional and private life.Conclusion:Despite all the obstacles encountered, Lebanese family physicians have a moderate satisfaction toward their practice. They remain positive and enthusiastic about their profession. Until the ministry of public health revises its current health system, the primary care profession in Lebanon will remain fragile as a profession.
Purpose The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) and PET-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with scalp and intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) in predicting surgical outcomes in patients with refractory seizures. Methods Patients who underwent PET-CT and MRI fusion, scalp and intracranial EEG, and subsequent surgical intervention were retrospectively included. PET-CT were fused with MRI and interpreted by an experienced blinded reader. An area of hypometabolism on PET was identified as the location of the epileptic focus. The site of seizure focus was correlated with scalp and intracranial EEG findings. Surgical outcomes were evaluated. Thirty-six patients were included; all had presurgical PET-CT, scalp EEG, and PET-MRI fusion, and 28 of these patients had intracranial EEGs. Results PET-CT showed concordance of epileptic foci with scalp EEG in 7/36 patients (19%) and with intracranial EEG in 9/28 patients (32%). PET-MRI was concordant with scalp EEG in 6/36 patients (17%) and with intracranial EEG in 8/28 patients (29%). All patients with concordance of epileptic foci between PET-CT and PET-MRI and scalp EEG had improvement or resolution of seizures postintervention, and 89% of patients had concordance between intracranial EEG and PET studies. However, 45% of patients with discordant PET-CT and scalp EEG, 37% with discordance PET-CT and intracranial EEG, 43% with discordant PET-MRI and scalp EEG, and 35% of patients with discordant PET-MRI and intracranial EEG did not improve postsurgically. Conclusion Concordance of epileptic foci localization between PET imaging and EEG yields favorable postoperative outcome in nearly all patients, whereas discordance has an equal probability of favorable vs unfavorable outcomes.
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