Background: Asthenopia or eye strain is one of the major medical problems that students face during their academic years. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of asthenopia among a sample of university students attending various majors and to identify the risk factors for its development. Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted on students attending various faculties at the American University of Beirut during the spring semester of 2019. Students were asked to fill a self-administered anonymous questionnaire that inquired about demographics, use of digital devices, symptoms of asthenopia, possible risk factors and protective measures. A bivariate analysis was performed to correlate asthenopia with the different variables. A multivariate analysis was then conducted to determine the extent of contribution of the different variables to asthenopia after controlling for confounding variables. Results: The prevalence of asthenopia was found to be 67.8% with blurred vision being the most reported symptom (27.0%). A bivariate analysis was used to assess the association between asthenopia and the following variables: demographics, digital device use, reasons for using digital devices, and preventive methods. Age, being a continuous variable, was analyzed using an independent t- test. For the variables that were found to be have a p-value < 0.2, a multiple logistic regression was performed. Old age was found to be a protective factor for asthenopia, with 0.693 times reduction in asthenopia for every increase in year of age. Using the device for communication for less than four hours ( p =0.012), using the device for less than four hours per day ( p =0.000) and pattern of using the device for less than three years ( p =0.023) were significant in being negatively associated with asthenopia. As for preventative measures that protect users from digital eyestrain, we found that using eye drops ( p =0.004; OR=0.375) and taking regular breaks ( p =0.000; OR= 0.399) were protective factors whereas using adjustable screens was a risk factor ( p =0.000; OR=3.083). Conclusion: Asthenopia was found to be of non-negligible prevalence among this sample of university students. The results of this study highlight the importance of establishing awareness campaigns and encourage the introduction of targeted screenings for asthenopia among college students.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a prevalent organism infecting almost half the global population. It is a significant concern, given its associated risk of gastric cancer, which is the third leading cause of cancer death globally. Infection can be asymptomatic or present with dyspeptic symptoms. It may also present with alarm symptoms in the case of progression to cancer. Diagnosis can be achieved non-invasively (breath tests, stool studies, or serology) or invasively (rapid urease test, biopsy, or culture). Treatment involves acid suppression and regimens containing several antibiotics and is guided by resistance rates. Eradication is essential, as it lowers the risk of complications and progression to cancer. Follow-up after eradication is similarly important, as the risk of cancer progression remains. There have been many recent advances in both diagnosis and treatment of Hp. In particular, biosensors may be effective diagnostic tools, and nanotechnology, vaccines, and potassium-competitive acid blockers may prove effective in enhancing eradication rates.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy can predispose patients to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and autoimmune disease (AD) are-ups, but the characteristics of irAEs among patients with pre-existing ADs are largely unknown. We conducted this study to determine the clinical courses, irAEs, AD ares, treatment, and outcomes of patients with AD on ICIs. MethodsThis was a retrospective study of adult cancer patients at a large cancer center who were diagnosed with ADs before undergoing ICI therapy. Patients' clinical courses, complications, treatments, and outcomes related to both ADs ares and irAEs were collected and analyzed. ResultsThe study included 197 patients. Most (55.4%) were women. Melanoma comprised the highest proportion (28.4%) of malignancies, and most (83.8%) patients received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Fifty (25.3%) patients developed a new irAE after starting ICI therapy, while 29 (14.7%) patients had an AD are-up. Patients with in ammatory bowel disease had the highest incidence of AD are-ups (31.7%), while patients with Hashimoto hypothyroidism had the highest incidence of new irAEs (39.2%). Patients with in ammatory bowel disease had more severe adverse events. In our cohort, patients with a new diagnosis of irAE were treated with immunosuppressive therapy. AD ares were managed similarly. With regard to irAE manifestations, the most common presentations were colitis (24 [12.1%] patients), hepatic transaminase elevations (8 [4%] patients), and pneumonitis (7 [3.5%] patients). ConclusionOur ndings suggest that patients with gastrointestinal and rheumatologic ADs had a higher incidence of AD are-ups, while patients with Hashimoto hypothyroidism and neurologic ADs had a higher incidence of new irAEs. Patients with prior ADs experiencing are-ups or new irAEs after ICI therapy tend to require aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. Thorough evaluation of baseline disease status, appropriate medical management before ICI therapy, and early recognition of in ammatory exacerbation may help ensure long-term success in treating and improving outcomes in these patients. This retrospective chart review was a descriptive, single-center study that included patients aged 18 years or older who had cancer and who received ICI therapy at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 10/01/2014 to 04/30/2021. All patients included in the study had a con rmed AD diagnosis before the start of ICI therapy (Fig. 1). We identi ed patients aged 18 years or older who (1) were treated with ICI for various types of cancer and (2) had a diagnosis of autoimmune disease prior to the rst base on the past medical history on the study entry note before starting ICI. Patients excluded (1) were patients aged less than 18 years old and (2) did not have a past medical history of AD (Fig. 1). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board with a waiver of patients' informed consent. Clinical dataFrom the patients' electronic medical records, we extracted demographic and cancer-related information, such as patie...

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