Perception and Attitude of Lebanese IBD Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The emergence of the COVID pandemic affected daily living and healthcare access of IBD patients, due to delays of elective procedures and in-hospital treatments. Our aim is to determine the repercussions of the pandemic on the daily habits of IBD patients and on their compliance to follow-up and treatment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A questionnaire was administered in between 2020 and 2022 to IBD patients in a tertiary center in Lebanon. The outcomes measured were patient perceptions regarding COVID and how it affected their treatment. Results: A total of 201 answers were included in the analysis with male predominance. Two-thirds had Crohn's disease. Near 80% were afraid of being infected by COVID-19 and 87.6% were afraid of physical contact. 91.5% reduced their daily habits and 96.0% have used personal protective equipment. 47.3% of the patients report that there are factors that reduced their worries, the most common factor being contacting their physician (61.0%). The main source of information was the treating physician (37.8%). A quarter of patients think that their condition predisposed to COVID-19 infection and about two-thirds believe that immunosuppressive therapy did so. The same amount reported concern regarding visiting the hospital. 27.4% preferred telemedicine and 44.8% preferred over-The-phone consultation to an in-person visit. Three-quarters were in favor of vaccination. 59.6% delayed their in-center treatment, which was associated with a reduction in daily life activities. 13.9% wanted to discontinue their treatment, which was associated with smoking, cardiovascular, and rheumatological comorbidities, but only 4% did so. Conclusion: The pandemic had significant repercussions on the everyday life of IBD patients, with some preferring to consult via telemedicine and others considering stopping their treatment.

A Case Report Presenting an Undifferentiated Pancreatic Carcinoma with Osteoclastic-Like Giant Cells with an Unusual Indolent Course.

BACKGROUND Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells represents less than 1% of pancreatic cancers. Histogenesis and prognosis are still debated. Three subtypes are defined by the World Health Organization: osteoclastic, pleomorphic, and mixed. The differential diagnosis of a pancreatic tumor with giant cells varies from a benign osteoclastoma to an undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclastic-like cells. The specimen should be carefully examined to rule out conventional pancreatic adenocarcinoma even in the presence of the giant cells. CASE REPORT A 77-year-old male was diagnosed with a pancreatic tail tumor with osteoclastic like cells revealed by a biopsy done by echo-endoscopy; the patient was lost to follow up for 24 months before he was admitted to our institute for severe abdominal pain. A computed tomography showed the same lesion without progression. He was operated on using laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. Pathology analysis revealed the presence of osteoclast-like giant cells without pleomorphic cells. Mutated KRAS on molecular study confirmed the diagnosis of undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. The patient was in good performance status and disease-free 19 months after surgery without any sign of progression. CONCLUSIONS Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like cells has a challenging pathology diagnosis. Molecular and immunostaining are essential to diagnosis. The absence of pleomorphic cells in the present case has classified it into the osteoclastic subtype. Further cases and studies are needed to confirm the heterogeneity of the malignant course between subtypes.

Adherence to systemic therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in Lebanon: a physicians' survey from three medical specialties.

BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are chronic conditions that may cause tissue damage and disability, reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Various treatments have been developed for IMIDs, including immune modulators and targeted biologic agents. However, adherence remains suboptimal. METHODS: An adherence survey was used to evaluate physicians' beliefs about adherence to medication in IMID and to evaluate if and how they manage adherence. The survey was distributed to 100 randomly selected physicians from three different specialties. Results were analyzed by four academic experts commissioned to develop an action plan to address practical and perceptual barriers to adherence, integrating it into treatment goals to maximize outcomes in IMID, thereby elevating local standards of care. RESULTS: Eighty-two physicians participated in this study and completed the questionnaire. Most defined adherence as compliance with prescribed treatment. Although the majority of surveyed physicians (74%) did not systematically measure adherence in their practice, 54% identified adherence as a treatment goal of equal or greater importance to therapeutic endpoints. Lack of time and specialized nursing support was reported as an important barrier to measuring adherence. The expert panel identified four key areas for action: 360° education (patient-nurse-physician), patient-physician communication, patient perception and concerns, and market access/cost. An action plan was developed centered on education and awareness, enhanced benefit-risk communication, development of adherence assessment tools and promotion of patient support programs. CONCLUSION: Nonadherence to medication is a commonly underestimated problem with important consequences. A customized target-based strategy to address the root causes of non-adherence is essential in the management of chronic immune-mediated diseases.