Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella spp. and E. coli in fresh and frozen red meat and meat organs collected from different supermarkets and butcher shops across Mount Lebanon and further evaluate their antimicrobial resistance. A total of 80 beef meat samples were collected from butchers and supermarkets in Mount Lebanon between February 2017 and December 2018. Bacterial isolation and biochemical identification were conducted using the API method. Using the ...

Insulin resistance plays a fundamental role in the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases including Type II diabetes, cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities. There is an increasing interest in assessing the association between insulin resistance and vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency predominates in the Middle East where more than half of the population is deficient. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the association between vitamin D status and insulin resistance among university employees. In September 2016, an email was sent to all the employees of Notre Dame University (NDU) ...

The tracers L 15N-proline and L(1-13C)-leucine were used to explore the synthesis of skin proteins in vivo in rabbits. They orally received a single dose containing an equimolecular mixture of L(1-13C)-leucine and L15N-proline. The changes in the amounts of these tracers in blood and skin were monitored for a total of 8h. The data showed the appearance of the two tracers in blood within 15min and their clearance in 8h. They were both rapidly (15min) incorporated into skin proteins, but more proline was incorporated than leucine. We therefore consider L 15N -proline to be a better tracer than ...

Among people who are living in community homes for the aged, a psychological strategy to cope with daily living is belief in a just world. In this study our aim was to determine the relationship between old people’s belief in a just world (BJW) and the activities of daily living (ADL). We selected a sample of 253 cognitively able people aged 60 years and over who were living in a nursing home. We collected data through surveys using a translated and validated Arabic Self-Belief in a Just World Scale and an ADL instrument. ...

Background The Activity of Daily Living (ADL) is an instrument that screens elderly respondents for physical functioning and assesses whether they are dependent or independent in their daily activities. This study demonstrates a translation procedure and obtains the reliability and validity of a translated, Arabic ADL. Methods The ADL was translated to Arabic through a forward translation method followed by a committee-consensual approach. The ADL and the Arabic Mini-Mental State Examination (AMMSE) were administered to an opportunistic sample of 354 Lebanese elderly living in nursing homes ...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to establish a set of measurable criteria for elderly nursing homes (ENHs) in Lebanon. Donabedian's model known by structure/process/outcome was used as the driving conceptual framework for the study. Design/methodology/approach – The study reports on a panel discussion where administrators, caregivers and specialists, separately established and exchanged key information on best practice approach. The work was carried out in the summer of 2008, using the consensus panel method. A group of expert opinions (Dalkey) made up of elderly home ...

Fluoride is one of the most abundant elements found in nature. Water is the major dietary source of fluoride. The only known association with low fluoride intake is the risk of dental caries. Initially, fluoride was considered beneficial when given systemically during tooth development, but later research has shown the importance and the advantages of its topical effects in the prevention or treatment of dental caries and tooth decay. Water fluoridation was once heralded as one of the best public health achievements in the twentieth century. Since this practice is not feasible or cost effective ...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess nutrient intakes in elderly living in Lebanese nursing homes (NHs). Design/methodology/approach: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 36 long-term care institutions from all over Lebanon. Out of 2,094 residents, 98 (69 women and 29 men) elderly met the inclusion criteria and successfully completed the interview question. Dietary food intake was assessed using the 24-h food recall. The analysis used a Chi-square test and independent samples t-test or Mann–Whitney test, as appropriate. Findings: A high percentage of elderly ...