COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among university students in Lebanon.

Little is known about the decision-making process of college students in Lebanon regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. The aim of this study was to identify factors predicting behavioural intentions of students enrolled at the American University of Beirut to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 3805 students were randomly selected. Participants were divided into three groups: vaccine accepting (willing to take or already took the vaccine), vaccine hesitant (hesitant to take the vaccine) and vaccine resistant (decided not to take the vaccine). Overall, participants were vaccine accepting (87%), with 10% and 3% being hesitant and resistant, respectively. Vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with nationality, residency status and university rank. Participants who believed the vaccine was safe and in agreement with their personal views were less likely to be hesitant. Participants who did not receive the flu vaccine were more hesitant than those who did. Moreover, a significant association between hesitancy and agreement with conspiracies was observed. A high level of knowledge about COVID-19 disease and vaccine resulted in lower odds of vaccine resistance among students. The factors identified explaining each of the three vaccine intention groups can be used as core content for health communication and social marketing campaigns to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccination.

Hepatitis A virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: a new challenge.

During the past three decades, a gradual shift in the age of infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) from early childhood to adulthood has been observed. There is a general lack of updated data on HAV burden of disease, incidence and age-specific seroprevalence in countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The aim of this article is to review the published data on anti-HAV seroprevalence, an important tool to monitor infections rates, in countries of the MENA region and associated risk factors including water and socioeconomic data when available. Data on anti-HAV seroprevalence were found for 12 of 25 MENA countries. We show that MENA countries, similar to other areas in the world, have a clear shift in HAV incidence with a decline among young age groups and an increase among adults and older individuals. This would likely be associated with increased morbidity and increased risks of outbreaks among younger age groups. Consequently, the continuous surveillance of hepatitis A cases and the inclusion of hepatitis A vaccine in the expanded immunization programmes are needed in countries of the MENA.

Neuropsychological deficits in past suicide attempters with varying levels of depression severity.

BACKGROUND: Our previous work identified deficits in interference processing and learning/memory in past suicide attempters who were currently depressed and medication-free. In this study, we extend this work to an independent sample studied at various stages of illness and treatment (mild symptoms, on average) to determine if these deficits in past suicide attempters are evident during a less severe clinical state. METHOD: A total of 80 individuals with a past history of major depression and suicide attempt were compared with 81 individuals with a history of major depression and no lifetime suicide attempts on a battery of neurocognitive measures assessing attention, memory, abstract/contingent learning, working memory, language fluency and impulse control. RESULTS: Past attempters performed more poorly in attention, memory and working memory domains, but also in an estimate of pre-morbid intelligence. After correction for this estimate, tests that had previously distinguished past attempters - a computerized Stroop task and the Buschke Selective Reminding Test - remained significantly worse in attempters. In a secondary analysis, similar differences were found among those with the lowest levels of depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score <10), suggesting that these deficits may be trait markers independent of current symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in interference processing and learning/memory constitute an enduring defect in information processing that may contribute to poor adaptation, other higher-order cognitive impairments and risk for suicidal behavior.

Hepatitis C virus infection in the Middle East and North Africa "MENA" region: injecting drug users (IDUs) is an under-investigated population.

PURPOSE: Investigation of the injecting drug users (IDUs) population is becoming extremely critical and timely in light of the recent evidence that IDUs now act as the core of hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemics in developed countries. The purpose of this article, therefore, is not only to review the epidemiology of HCV in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, but also to see whether IDUs were adequately studied and whether harm reduction strategies to be applied for their protection have been set. METHODS: A literature review was carried out of articles published within the last decade on HCV infection. RESULTS: The gathered data showed that the population of IDUs is severely under-investigated throughout the whole region, possibly due to religious and cultural impediments. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce the risk of HCV infection in IDUs, a set of recommendations are advanced emphasizing the urgent need for bio-behavioral studies in this population in order to help identify the source and mode of transmission and the genotypes of HCV involved. These results may allow the development of effective and, yet, socially acceptable intervention strategies. We believe that the role which IDUs play in sustaining HCV infection is also an under-investigated topic in many developing countries. Similar reviews and, hence, interventions should be initiated in these regions.

Brainstem volumetric alterations in children with autism.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have examined brainstem volume in autism, results have been mixed and no investigation has specifically measured gray- and white-matter structures. The aim of this investigation was to assess gray- and white-matter volumes in children with autism. METHOD: Subjects included 22 right-handed, non-mentally retarded boys with autism and 22 gender- and age-matched controls. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained using a 1.5-T scanner and volumetric measurements were performed using the BRAINS2 software package. Gray- and white-matter volumes were measured using a semi-automated segmentation process. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age and total brain volume (TBV) between the two groups but full-scale IQ was higher in controls. A decrease in brainstem gray-matter volume was observed in the autism group before and after controlling for TBV. No significant differences were observed in white-matter volume. A significant relationship was observed between brainstem gray-matter volume and oral sensory sensitivity as measured by the Sensory Profile Questionnaire (SPQ). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study are suggestive of brainstem abnormalities in autism involving gray-matter structures with evidence supporting the existence of a relationship between these alterations and sensory deficits. These results are consistent with previous investigations and support the existence of disturbances in brainstem circuitry thought to be implicated in the sensory dysfunction observed in autism.

Characteristics of The Narrow Spectrum Beams Used in the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission.

The Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission has different calibration methods for various types of dosimeters used in industrial, military and medical fields. The calibration is performed using different beams of X-rays (low and medium energy) and Gamma radiation delivered by a Cesium 137 source. The Secondary Standard Dosimetry laboratory in charge of calibration services uses different protocols for the determination of high and low air kerma rate and for narrow and wide series. In order to perform this calibration work, it is very important to identify all the beam characteristics for the different types of sources and qualities of radiation. The following work describes the methods used for the determination of different beam characteristics and calibration coefficients with their uncertainties in order to enhance the radiation protection of workers and patient applications in the fields of medical diagnosis and industrial X-ray. All the characteristics of the X-ray beams are determined for the narrow spectrum series in the 40 and 200 keV range where the inherent filtration, the current intensity, the high voltage, the beam profile and the total uncertainty are the specific characteristics of these X-ray beams. An X-ray software was developed in order to visualize the reference values according to the characteristics of each beam.

Comorbidity of axis I disorders in patients with traumatic grief.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic grief has been found to be a distinct disorder from both depression and anxiety; however, there is no information in the literature regarding comorbidity of traumatic grief with other psychiatric disorders. METHOD: Twenty-three bereaved subjects who presented for treatment of traumatic grief symptomatology were included in this study. The Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) was used to confirm the presence of traumatic grief and assess its severity. In addition, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV was performed. RESULTS: Most subjects met criteria for a current or lifetime Axis I diagnosis. Fifty-two percent (N = 12) met criteria for current major depressive disorder, and 30% (N = 7), for current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ICG scores and functional impairment were higher among patients with more than one concurrent Axis I diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Comorbid major depressive disorder and PTSD may be prevalent in patients presenting for treatment of traumatic grief.

[Depression and pregnancy]. / Depression et grossesse.

One hundred fifty females admitted consecutively during the months of May and April 1987 during the "Lebanon Wars" to the delivery suite at Saint-Georges Hospital, Beirut, were interviewed using a structured questionnaire (DIS). This study was one of the pilot studies of our later initiated studies on depression in Lebanon. The study was conducted in two phases: [symbol: see text] the first on the second post-delivery day (1987) [symbol: see text] the second one year later. The prevalence of major depression in these females was found to be: 31.3% lifetime, 10% during pregnancy and 10.9% during one year follow-up. Lifetime depression increased with the number of children in the household. Depression during pregnancy was found to be inversely related to economic and educational levels.

Use and abuse of licit and illicit substances: prevalence and risk factors among students in Lebanon.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims at examining the patterns of 'substance' use in Lebanon among an 'at risk' population, the university students. METHOD: A stratified cluster sample of 1,851 students from two major universities was included in the study and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (version 3) was administered. RESULTS: The prevalence of nicotine users in the sample was 18.3% and of ever consuming alcohol 49.4%. 2.1% of the sample were alcohol abusers and 2.4% alcohol dependents according to DSM-III criteria. For the remaining substances, tranquilizers were found to have the highest rate of ever use (10.2%), whereas heroin had the lowest rate (0.4%); the rates of abuse and dependence in these categories (other than alcohol and nicotine) following DSM-III criteria ranged from 0.1 to 0.8%. CONCLUSION: University students in Lebanon in this study have relatively low rates of use and abuse of substances but this might be changing.

The War Events Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of exposure to war in large epidemiological studies necessitates the use of easily administered and reliable questionnaires that cover a range of war events. The War Event Questionnaire (WEQ) was designed by our group to address these issues and has proved to be quite easy to administer. The aim of this study is to establish the inter-rater reliability of the WEQ. METHOD: Two trained interviewers alternated in administering parts I and II of the WEQ. RESULTS: The Kappa statistics used to calculate the degree of agreement between the two raters ranged from 0.281 to 0.774 for part I events and from 0.189 to 1.000 for part II events. CONCLUSION: The WEQ has proved to be a useful instrument that addresses both objective and the subjective war experiences; it is a fairly reliable instrument and has helped us avoid tautological assessment of the mental health effects of war.

Major depression and external stressors: the Lebanon Wars.

This article examines the effect of war events and pre-war depression on the prevalence of major depression during war. A total of 658 subjects aged 18-65 years were randomly selected from four Lebanese communities differentially exposed to the Lebanon Wars and were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (Arabic version). The individual levels of exposure to war events were assessed through a War Events Questionnaire. The lifetime prevalence of the DSM-III-R-defined major depression varied across the four communities from 16.3 to 41.9%; the final parameters predicting major depression since the onset of the wars were: depression before the wars and exposure to the wars. Both, individual levels of exposure to war and a history of pre-war depression, predict the development of depression during war.