Apple cider vinegar for weight management in Lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background and aims: Obesity and overweight have become significant health concerns worldwide, leading to an increased interest in finding natural remedies for weight reduction. One such remedy that has gained popularity is apple cider vinegar (ACV). Objective: To investigate the effects of ACV consumption on weight, blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels in a sample of the Lebanese population. Materials and methods: 120 overweight and obese individuals were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving 5, 10 or 15 mL of ACV or a control group receiving a placebo (group 4) over a 12-week period. Measurements of anthropometric parameters, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were taken at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. Results: Our findings showed that daily consumption of the three doses of ACV for a duration of between 4 and 12 weeks is associated with significant reductions in anthropometric variables (weight, body mass index, waist/hip circumferences and body fat ratio), blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. No significant risk factors were observed during the 12 weeks of ACV intake. Conclusion: Consumption of ACV in people with overweight and obesity led to an improvement in the anthropometric and metabolic parameters. ACV could be a promising antiobesity supplement that does not produce any side effects.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of factors related to first line drugs refractoriness in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).

INTRODUCTION: Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) is a prevalent form of epileptic disorder, specifically categorized within the realm of Genetic Generalized Epilepsy (GGE). Its hallmark features encompass unprovoked bilateral myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures that manifest during adolescence. While most JME patients respond favorably to anti-seizure medication (ASM), a subset experiences refractory JME, a condition where seizures persist despite rigorous ASM treatment, often termed "Drug-Resistant Epilepsy" (DRE). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the prevalence of refractory JME, and further to identify socio-demographic, electrophysiological and clinical risk factors associated with its occurrence. Pinpointing these factors is crucial as it offers the potential to predict ASM responsiveness, enabling early interventions and tailored care strategies for patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Cochrane Handbook and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The study evaluated outcomes post ASM treatment in JME cohorts by searching papers published up to September 2023 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Predefined inclusion criteria were met by 25 eligible studies, forming the basis for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 22 potential risk factors for refractory JME were documented. Notably, robust risk factors for treatment resistance included Psychiatric Disorder (Odds Ratio (OR), 3.42 [2.54, 4.61] (95% Confidence Inverval (Cl)), Febrile Seizures (OR, 1.83 [1.14, 2.96] (95% Cl)), Alcohol Consumption (OR, 16.86 [1.94, 146.88] (95%Cl)), Aura (OR, 2.15 [1.04, 4.47] (95%Cl)), childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) evolving into JME (OR, 4.54 [1.61, 12.78] (95%CI)), occurrence of three seizure types (OR, 2.96 [1.96, 4.46] (95%CI)), and Focal EEG abnormalities (OR, 1.85 [1.13, 3.01] (95%Cl)). In addition, there were some non-significant risk factors for DRE because of noticeable heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: In aggregate, over 36% of JME patients demonstrated drug resistance, with seven significant risk factors closely linked to this refractoriness. The interplay between these factors and whether they denote treatment non-response or heightened disease burden remains an open question and more studies would be required to fully examine their influence.

Factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 infection severity among a sample of Lebanese adults: Data from a cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Identification of factors responsible for severe illness related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could help in the early management of patients with high risk, especially in developing countries with poor medical care systems. To date, no data have been published concerning the factors associated with COVID-19 severity in Lebanon. In this study, we aimed at investigating the relation between sociodemographic variables, health status, and the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in a sample of Lebanese adults. Methods: In our cross-sectional study, 1052 patients (563 male and 489 female, with the median age of 42.83 ± 17.88 years), tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between January and March 2021, were recruited from a hospital in Byblos, Lebanon. Basic demographic data, medical history, clinical data, and selfreported symptoms related to COVID-19 were collected. Clinical classification of COVID-19 severity was carried out according to the WHO interim guidance on May 27, 2020. Multi and bivariate regression analysis were performed. Results: When comparing patients with moderate symptoms versus mild, the results showed that older age (aOR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03-1.06) and having dyslipidemia (aOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.01-3.49) were significantly associated with higher odds of having moderate symptoms. When comparing patients with severe symptoms versus mild, older age (aOR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.06-1.10), higher body mass index (aOR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04-1.15) and having respiratory diseases (aOR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.03-6.36) were significantly associated with higher odds of having severe symptoms, whereas female gender (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.98) was significantly associated with lower odds of having severe symptoms compared to males. Finally, when comparing patients with severe symptoms versus moderate, older age (aOR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05) was found to be significantly associated with higher odds of having severe symptoms. Conclusion: Identification of risk factors may contribute to a better understanding of the COVID-19 pathogenesis and provide clinical reference for early prognosis and management of patients.

Design of group IIA secreted/synovial phospholipase A(2) inhibitors: an oxadiazolone derivative suppresses chondrocyte prostaglandin E(2) secretion.

Group IIA secreted/synovial phospholipase A(2) (GIIAPLA(2)) is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of eicosanoids such as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), the main eicosanoid contributing to pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. We designed, by molecular modeling, 7 novel analogs of 3-{4-[5(indol-1-yl)pentoxy]benzyl}-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-one, denoted C1, an inhibitor of the GIIAPLA(2) enzyme. We report the results of molecular dynamics studies of the complexes between these derivatives and GIIAPLA(2), along with their chemical synthesis and results from PLA(2) inhibition tests. Modeling predicted some derivatives to display greater GIIAPLA(2) affinities than did C1, and such predictions were confirmed by in vitro PLA(2) enzymatic tests. Compound C8, endowed with the most favorable energy balance, was shown experimentally to be the strongest GIIAPLA(2) inhibitor. Moreover, it displayed an anti-inflammatory activity on rabbit articular chondrocytes, as shown by its capacity to inhibit IL-1beta-stimulated PGE(2) secretion in these cells. Interestingly, it did not modify the COX-1 to COX-2 ratio. C8 is therefore a potential candidate for anti-inflammatory therapy in joints.