Beirut Arab University Research Articles

Morphometric study of the lumbosacral spine and some of its related angles in Lebanese adult females.

The present study was undertaken to examine the morphometric characteristics of lumbar vertebrae, lumbar intervertebral discs and some important related angles in Lebanese adult females. The subjects of this study were thirty Lebanese adult females aged between 18-22 years. The subjects were selected among students of the faculty of health sciences, Beirut Arab University. Two plain radiographic views for the lumbosacral spine were taken for each subject, an anteroposterior view and a lateral view. Measurements were made directly on the X-ray films using Vernier calliper and were recorded to the nearest tenth of a millimetre. The following measurements were taken for each lumbar vertebra: the anterior height of the body, the posterior height of the body, the horizontal diameter of the pedicle, the vertical diameter of the pedicle, the interpedicular distance, the width (transverse diameter) of the body. Also the anterior height, the posterior height and the anteroposterior diameter (disc depth) of the intervertebral disc were measured. In addition, the following angles were measured: the angle of lumbar lordosis, the lumbosacral angle and the angle of sacral inclination. The mean and standard deviation were calculated and recorded. The results offer a base line reference for normal Lebanese adult females and a guidance to clinicians for the evaluation and management of subjects complaining of low back pain, in order to propose specific preventive or rehabilitation protocols to prevent low back pain as a function of spinal alignment. Moreover, these normal figures could also be of forensic importance because of the observed racial, ethnic and regional variations.

Morphometric Study of The Lumbosacral Spine and Some of Its Related Angles in Lebanese Adult Females

The present study was undertaken to examine medicolegal importance of morphometric characteristics of lumbar vertebrae, lumbar intervertebral discs and some important related angles in adult Lebanese females. The subjects of this study included thirty Lebanese adult females aged between 18-22 years. The subjects were selected among students of the faculty of health sciences, Beirut Arab University. Two plain radiographic views for the lumbosacral spine were taken for each subject (An anteroposterior view and a lateral view). Measurements were made direct from the X-ray films using Vernier calliper and were recorded to the nearest tenth of a millimetre. The following measurements were taken for each Lumbar vertebra: The anterior height of the body, posterior height of the body, horizontal diameter of the pedicle, vertical diameter of the pedicle, interpedicular distance and the width (transverse diameter) of the body. Regarding intervertebral discs, the anterior height, posterior height and anteroposterior diameter of the disc (disc depth) were measured. In addition, the following angles were measured: the angle of lumbar lordosis, lumbosacral angle and angle of sacral inclination. The mean and standard deviation of the above mentioned parameters were calculated and recorded. It is concluded that measurements obtained in this study form a base line figures in normal Lebanese adult females in terms of morphometric measurements in healthy subjects as well as giving guidance to clinicians as being applicable for evaluation and management of subjects complaining of low back pain; not only do these age related normative values help in identifying the underlying cause, but they also direct physicians towards the proper line of treatment. Whether specific preventive modalities or rehabilitation protocols could be instituted to prevent low back pain in subjects with particular spinal alignment remains unclear and should be investigated in future studies. Moreover, these normal figures could also be of forensic importance because of the racial, ethnic and regional variations which have been observed in comparison with previous studies.

Libraries in Major Universities in Lebanon

This paper puts the contemporary situation of some Lebanese university libraries in a broader context. It introduces the country and outlines its higher education system, library science education, professional association and publishing activity. It reviews the varying situations in the libraries of three universities – the American University of Beirut, the Beirut Arab University and the Lebanese University – and contrasts them with other university libraries in the Arab world. It adds to the body of published knowledge about the current situation with respect to management, staffing, buildings, automation, information retrieval, bibliographic records, online and CD databases, and document delivery. The limited published information was supplemented by interviews with a number of staff to elicit their views on the current situation and a survey of students' experiences of using the libraries. With the exception of the American University of Beirut, the libraries' facilities and services are not comparable to best practice in other Arab countries or the western world. This work highlighted some of the difficulties encountered by the libraries and their users, perhaps not entirely the result of the civil war, but indicates that plans are in place to take the libraries to the next step of development.