Skin adverse events in recently approved targeted therapies in solid malignancies.

Targeted anticancer therapies are an important weapon in the fight against cancer. Targeted therapies interfere with specific molecules necessary for tumor growth and cancer progression. They are divided mainly to either monoclonal antibodies or small molecules inhibitors. Their primary objective is to target directly and precisely the cancer cells leading to a minimal side-effects profile. The dermatologic adverse reactions of these targeted therapies is different from those seen with classical cytotoxic chemotherapy. Rashes, xerosis, hand-foot-skin reaction and mucositis are the most frequent side effects. In this paper, we aim to present a comprehensive review of the dermatologic side effects of targeted therapies including, specific side effects related to recently, approved targeted therapies.

Duchenne Smile is Associated with Quality of Life and Survival in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objectives: Hemodialysis is the most used renal replacement modality for end-stage renal disease patients. Dialysis patients are usually assessed for quality of life (QoL) but smiling was never studied. Duchenne smile is a genuine expression of joy, associated with better survival in some groups of the general population. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the smile of dialysis patients can predict their QoL and mortality. Methods: All hemodialysis patients in Saint-George Hospital were included in this prospective study. Patients were interviewed using the Health-Related QoL questionnaire and followed for 10 days for smile screening. Those who smiled more than 34% of time were considered as smiling, then followed for death over 2 years. Results: Overall, 71 patients were studied. Duchenne smile was associated with death at 1 and 2 years (HR = 0.194 [95% CI 0.039-0.958], p = .044) but not with sex or diabetes. Smiling showed a statistically significant correlation with older age, fewer hospitalizations, vitality, physical component score, several QoL scores and general health. Conclusions: A simple observation of patients' Duchenne smile by nephrologists in hemodialysis units can give an idea about their QoL and 2-year survival.

Correlates of bullying and its relationship with psychiatric disorders in Lebanese adolescents.

Understanding the contextual determinants of bullying behavior is pivotal for effective interventions. This paper describes the prevalence of bullying, its socio-demographic correlates and factors influencing its relationship with psychiatric disorders among a population-based sample of adolescents from Beirut recruited through a two-stage cluster sampling design. Recruited participants (n = 510) and their parents completed a battery of questionnaires and interviews including the Development and Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA) and the Peer-Relations Questionnaire (PRQ). We found that around 30% of the adolescent participants were involved in bullying. Younger age, lower family income, lower parental education, receiving private tutoring, having an anxiety disorder and having a disruptive behavior disorder were correlated with being bullied by peers while lower family income, repeating a school-grade, and having a disruptive behavior disorder were associated with bullying others. Several factors including gender, age group, family income, and attending private versus public schools moderated the relationship between bullying behavior and having psychiatric disorders. Our findings thus highlight the complexity of the association between psychiatric disorders and bullying in settings like Lebanon.