Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) Improved Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Characteristics and Microbiota and Did Not Affect Organ Fibrosis Induced by a Fructose-Enriched Diet in Wistar Male Rats.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is reported to play a role in improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and intestinal microbiota (IM). To study spirulina's effects in the improvement of NAFLD characteristics, IM, and pancreatic-renal lesions induced by a fructose-enriched diet, 40 Wistar healthy male rats, weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into four groups of 10, and each rat per group was assigned a diet of equal quantities (20 g/day) for 18 weeks. The first control group (CT) was fed a standardized diet, the second group received a 40% fructose-enriched diet (HFr), and the third (HFr-S5) and fourth groups (HFr-S10) were assigned the same diet composition as the second group but enriched with 5% and 10% spirulina, respectively. At week 18, the HFr-S10 group maintained its level of serum triglycerides and had the lowest liver fat between the groups. At the phylae and family level, and for the same period, the HFr-S10 group had the lowest increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and the Ruminococcaceae and the highest fecal alpha diversity compared to all other groups (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that at a 10% concentration, spirulina could be used in nutritional intervention to improve IM, fatty liver, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters associated with NAFLD.

Acceptance and attitude of Lebanese lawyers and medical students toward surrogate pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the acceptance of specific populations of decision makers in Lebanon regarding surrogacy. This study aimed to explore the acceptance and attitude of Lebanese Lawyers and Medical Students regarding surrogacy. METHODS: In total 248 medical students and 204 lawyers completed a questionnaire to assess socio-demographic data, attitude toward surrogacy, and three different clinical scenarios to assess patterns of thinking. Finally, we validated a scale to assess the acceptance of surrogacy in these two populations. RESULTS: Concerning medical students, 54.8% reported they were supportive of surrogacy, 35.1% were neutral and 10.1% were against. For lawyers, 52.9% were supportive, 25% were neutral and 22.1% were against. Lawyers were more likely to be against surrogacy (p = 0.001). After conducting a multivariate analysis on the whole studied population to find predictors of acceptance of surrogacy, the best predictors were being single (OR 0.415; 95% CI 0.228, 0.753; p < 0.01), a supportive reported attitude regarding surrogacy (OR 5.464; 95% CI 3.65, 8.13; p < 0.001) and believing that surrogacy is a solution worth discussing in Lebanon (OR 4.186; 95% CI 1.709, 10.256; p < 0.01). Concerning the clinical scenarios, they showed that lawyers were more likely to oppose abortion regardless of the reason (p < 0.01). Also, in a case of gestational surrogacy, lawyers were more likely to give the right to the gestational carrier to keep the baby compared to medical students (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study shows that only a minority of medical students and lawyers in Lebanon oppose surrogate pregnancy which warrants exploration of the perspective of other populations of decision makers in Lebanon to better guide legislations.

Relation of Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Profile to Hepatic Fibrosis in a Sample of Lebanese Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver injury worldwide. NAFLD can evolve into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with or without fibrosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the nutritional profile and dietary patterns of NAFLD Lebanese patients and to report the type of diet-related to the presence of hepatic fibrosis. We hypothesized that the traditional pattern was related to a low risk of fibrosis. This cross-sectional study included 320 eligible Lebanese NAFLD patients. Three dietary patterns were identified: the Traditional diet, the High Fruit diet, and the Westernized diet. Multivariate analysis showed a significant relationship between high adherence to the traditional diet and absence of hepatic fibrosis with a decreased risk of 82%, p = 0.031 after adjusting for its covariables. Fruits were absent from this dietary pattern. Although our results pointed to a possible relationship between fibrosis in NAFLD patients and fruit intake, experimental studies are needed to show whether this is a causal relationship. However, the results obtained in this study may contribute to the planning of dietary interventions and recommendations and enable a better follow-up for NAFLD patients with fibrosis.

Diagnosis and management of symptomatic profound biotinidase deficiency in a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

Neonatal screening for biotinidase deficiency is still lacking in several countries worldwide, although this neurocutaneous disorder is treatable and preventable. Therefore, unscreened patients are diagnosed when symptomatic; treatment with Biotin is known to reverse cutaneous symptoms and improve neurological outcome. We describe a series of five symptomatic patients diagnosed with profound biotinidase deficiency and followed at a tertiary care center in Lebanon, for a variable period from 16 months to 11 years. Adjustment of Biotin therapy is correlated to clinical response and biochemical profile including 3-hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine on dried blood spots and urine organic acids. A previously unreported mutation is also reported in a patient who displayed an unusual outcome with reversible hearing loss on Biotin therapy. Clinical responsiveness to Biotin may be related to the underlying genetic mutation, although no clear genotype-phenotype correlation in biotinidase deficiency is proven. Furthermore, in the absence of systematic newborn screening for this disorder in several countries, identification of a reliable blood biomarker of Biotin responsiveness is warranted for better management of late diagnosed symptomatic patients.