Non compos Mentis within the Judicial System: The importance of evolving the Insanity Defense in Criminal Sentencing

Some scholars argue that all criminals must be treated equally, even those who plead insane, as the outcome of the crime remains the same and equivalent punishment would be just. Such researchers believe that the judicial system should aim to promote and establish public safety by imprisoning mentally ill individuals instead of prioritizing compassion over accountability (Bagaric, 2016). However, others argue for the necessity of the insanity plea as a way of recognizing and fairly addressing those of non compos mentis. Scholars have even emphasized the need to reevaluate the law as concerns about legal implication, including the rigidity of the defense, have been propelled (Wajid & Nasir, 2023). Thus, the insanity defense and the treatment of the mentally ill remain among the most debated aspects of the judicial system. Hence propelling the research question: “To what extent should a state of non compos mentis, including having mental deficiencies, be a mitigating factor in criminal sentencing?”. This paper argues that non compos mentis individuals should be treated differently within criminal sentencing and the insanity defense should be reformed. By addressing the morally unjust nature of current laws, the failure to account for biological differences, the legal system’s prioritization of the rational, and the importance of rehabilitation, justice for the mentally ill can be achieved.

11/05/2026

Ellia Tchamitchian & Joud Safa

Cyber Defense in Hybrid Conflict: A Technical, Economic, and Political Dive

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of modern conflict into the paradigm of hybrid warfare, where traditional boundaries between war and peace have dissolved into a digital "grey zone". It establishes that cybersecurity has shifted from a technical IT concern to a top-tier existential strategic imperative for national defense and global stability. The study examines the mechanisms of this shift across three critical dimensions: technical execution, economic impact, and the resulting legal and political quagmires.

15/02/2026

How are we Fighting the Global Shortage of Organs for Donation?

Aya Kanaan

An organ transplantation involves transferring a healthy organ, such as a heart or liver, from a donor to a patient with a damaged or failing organ, allowing recipients to live longer and healthier lives. However, the demand for transplantable organs far exceeds supply, resulting in a severe global organ shortage that limits doctors’ ability to meet patients’ needs. This shortage is driven by multiple factors, including low rates of post-mortem organ donation due to lack of awareness or societal and cultural hesitation. To address this crisis, scientific advances in organ procurement, preservation, bioengineering, xenotransplantation, and increased public awareness are being explored. Although significant challenges remain, continued research and collaboration across disciplines offer hope for reducing organ scarcity and improving outcomes for patients in need of life-saving transplants.

First written on 11/07/2023
Revised and Published on 14/12/2025

Healing beyond prescription: Managing PCOS Through Sustainable lifestyle changes

Maria Kachi

The challenges posed by PCOS extend far beyond its pervasiveness. Misinformation, medical oversight, wrong diagnoses, and the lack of fixed solutions shroud this disorder. The symptoms are diverse, not limited solely to reproductive health, but extending to metabolic reactions, mental health, and future disease risks. In fact, women with PCOS tend to be at a greater risk of anxiety and body dysmorphia than those without the disorder (Cooney et al., 2017). This unpredictable nature of PCOS highlights the pressing need for a more holistic approach to PCOS management, one that acknowledges both the physical and psychological aspects of the disorder.

14/12/2025

Impact of Pop Culture on Public Perception towards Governance and Democracy

Marina Daniel

This study focuses on the role of pop culture in shaping public perception, attitudes, and choices. It specifically investigates two political movies: The Apprentice and the Bibi Files and how they have been widely confronted by elites to limit their influence and distribution, and the impact they have had on their viewers.

13/12/2025

how did the lebanese financial system crash? a central bank sponsored ponzi scheme

Fahd Chehabeddine

While the government was amassing an ever-increasing debt load, the central bank was combatting decreasing foreign currency flows due to a negative current account balance by raising the interest rate. It could not continue this remedy further as it would prematurely bankrupt the government. Instead, it pursued unconventional monetary policy means, which did bring more foreign currency that the banking sector had abroad into Lebanon and the central bank in the short run. However, the means in which the central bank attracted these inflows was unsustainable and resembled a traditional ponzi scheme where new inflows covered for losses that accumulated over time, eventually bankrupting the central bank.

06/11/2025

The HealthCare Review

"A Premedical Journey, One Step at a Time"

vol 2 2025-2026

Optimising Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Care from Clinical Admission to Discharge

Ahmad Miski, Jad Al Tayyan

Recent advances in immunology and biotechnology have improved scientists’ understanding of the immune system as a whole and allowed for the development of new and more precise immunotherapy strategies. These include immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses. These approaches have shown clinical success in treating cancers that were previously tough to treat. Yet, immunotherapy is not perfect and has its flaws such as immune-related side effects, high cost, and limited access.

This research paper aims to take a deeper look into the current applications of immunotherapy, their mechanisms of action, as well as the challenges immunotherapy is facing. It also aims to highlight strategies that may help improve its effectiveness and accessibility.

12/05/2026

Optimising Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Care from Clinical Admission to Discharge

Wael Abdul Khalek

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a baby’s withdrawal symptoms when exposed to opioids and other substances such as benzodiazepines, nicotine, alcohol, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The non-opioid substances also worsen the symptoms when paired with opioids during pregnancy. Affected infants exhibit symptoms such as hyperirritability, high pitched crying, jitteriness, tremor and disturbed sleep. Additionally, the baby may experience symptoms in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (as typically seen in heroin withdrawal) such as regurgitation, vomiting, poor feeding, and diarrhea (Anbalagan et al., 2024a). Countries like the United States (US) are experiencing an opioid crisis due to illicit drug use and prescription (Ayoo et al., 2020); and as a result, the number of NAS babies has surged over the years, causing many implications. First of all, a 17-day stay in the hospital due to NAS can cost around $66,700 (Writers, 2018), placing a major burden on parents. In addition, NAS has been correlated to different neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. It is imperative to emphasize that NAS is not exclusive to neonates birthed from mothers with opioid use disorder.

11/05/2026

The Biological Roots of Behavior:Neurological and Metabolic Basis of Self-Injury in Lesch–Nyhan Syndrome

Camille Youssef

Lesch–Nyhan syndrome (LNS) is a rare X-linked metabolic and neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperuricemia, neurological impairment, and severe self-injurious behavior. Caused by mutations in the HPRT1 gene, the condition disrupts purine metabolism and leads to profound alterations in dopaminergic signaling within the basal ganglia, a neural system essential for motor control and behavioral regulation. This paper examines the biological foundations of self-injurious and dysregulated behaviors in LNS, emphasizing how metabolic dysfunction and basal ganglia pathology contribute to compulsive self-harm, aggression, and impaired impulse control. By synthesizing findings from genetics, neurochemistry, and behavioral neuroscience, the paper highlights the limitations of approaches that rely exclusively on either biological or psychological frameworks. Furthermore, it underscores the clinical value of interdisciplinary understanding for managing complex behaviors, integrating medical treatment with behavioral strategies and caregiver support. Through this lens, Lesch–Nyhan syndrome serves as a compelling model for illustrating how deeply biological mechanisms can shape behavior and how holistic perspectives are essential for effective clinical care.

04/05/2026

From Risk to Disorder: How Biology and Early Experience Shape Psychopathology

Nour Saleh

Psychological disorders are a significant global health burden, affecting individuals across different ages, sexes, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses. Understanding the roots behind these disorders is essential for advancing both clinical and psychotherapeutic approaches. Etiological knowledge helps screen patients at a higher risk of developing mental disorders, encouraging early intervention and treatment, ultimately preventing patients’ distress and the worsening of the symptoms. Some researchers believe psychological disorders are shaped by one’s environment: abandonment, neglect, toxic households, or severe trauma. Others emphasize that genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalance, and brain atrophy or abnormalities are what contribute to mental disorders. Contemporary research suggests that it’s the dynamic interaction between both environmental and biological factors that underlies psychopathology.

22/04/2026

Targeting the Roots and the Returns: Understanding Breast Cancer Relapse Mechanisms to Enhance Dual-Action Therapies

Julia Hamadeh

Despite the recent recognition of these possible causes for relapse in fields of research for medical professionals, most breast cancer therapies remain designed to eliminate actively multiplying cancer cells. This gap in treatment strategy highlights the need of understanding the various mechanisms of recurrence, that will lead to the design of more effective cancer drugs, which are able to target both cancer destruction and prevention of future occurrences simultaneously. These dual-action therapies are being proposed and thoroughly tested through various trials mostly in the US and European countries, such as the CLEVER trial in the US that is working on new dual action chemotherapies.

The purpose of this research paper is to examine the biological mechanisms underlying breast cancer relapses and to assess emerging dual action therapies that aim to improve long term patient outcomes by working on tumor elimination and recurrence prevention. I will first present the concept of minimal residual disease (MRD), then I will focus on tumor dormancy and reactivation with a special focus on the immune system’s effect on tumor proliferation. I will also be examining the microenvironmental protection of residual cancer cells and epigenetic plasticity’s role in therapy resistance. I will finally examine the emerging dual action therapeutic strategies that come as a promising treatment compared to single target therapies.

22/04/2026

From Fat to Tumor: Epidemiological Evidence, Biological Mechanisms, and Prevention Strategies

Angy Choufany

Today, cancer stands among the leading causes of death globally, and growing evidence suggests that excess body fat plays a critical role in fueling the onset, progression, and recurrence of several malignancies, including breast, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, and endometrial cancers. Biological research has revealed a complex network of mechanisms that connect excess adipose tissue with tumor growth, ranging from chronic inflammation and hormonal disruptions to insulin resistance and altered cellular signaling pathways. These internal changes create an environment where cancer cells can thrive, invade, and metastasize more aggressively. As obesity rates continue to rise, especially among younger generations, understanding this connection is no longer optional; it is essential. If we aim to reduce the global cancer burden, prevention strategies must go beyond early detection and treatment. They must also address the lifestyle and environmental factors driving obesity in the first place. Only then will we be able to prevent thousands of cancer cases before they even begin.

22/04/2026

Combatting the Limitations of Chemotherapy: The Importance of Lipid and Gold Nanoparticles in Lung and Brain Cancer Therapies

Nancy Chaya & Yara Haidar

This research explores the following question: How can lipid (such as solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers) and gold nanoparticles (including nanospheres, nanocages, and nanorods) achieve targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy while minimizing damage to healthy cells? Through this, we hope to showcase the potential and importance of nanoparticles in cancer treatment while providing clear explanations about their mode of action and effectiveness. However, due to the large diversity of cancer types, we will mainly focus on the effects of these two nanoparticles on brain and lung tumors. These cancers are challenging to treat because they involve organs that are central to sustaining life, thus ensuring lower toxicity levels is critical. Moreover, the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the ability of chemotherapy to penetrate brain tissue and necessitates the use of targeted drug delivery systems.

22/04/2026

Immunotherapy and Thyroid Cancer

Aline Abilmona

One of the most common endocrine malignancies is thyroid cancer, which is the most frequent type with significantly high rates of incidence. There are many types of treatments that can target thyroid cancers, such as surgery, thyroid hormone suppression, or radioactive iodine therapy (Haugen et al., 2016). Some patients may become resistant to treatments, leading to the development of metastatic forms of the cancer. The spectrum of aggression of these cancers varies, whereby some forms show resistance against the therapeutic attempts.

Immunotherapy is a new therapeutic technique introduced in oncology. Such a technique is based on strengthening the immune system to recognize and fight the tumor cells.

This technique provides hope for cancer patients without destroying their healthy cells. Accordingly, this paper explores the impact of immunotherapy on the suppression of thyroid cancer, along with the mechanisms, clinical applications, and future attempts that could be integrated to enhance the effectiveness of the immunotherapeutic techniques applied.

19/04/2026

The Integration of AI in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery

Maria Baroud

Plastic and reconstructive surgery uniquely bridge the restoration of form and function, healing both the body and the psyche, and prioritizing holistic patient recovery. It also strongly impacts a patient’s self-image and confidence. For these reasons, there exists a very high demand for accuracy, safety, and predictability in both aesthetic procedures and reconstructive work for trauma or congenital defects. Thus, AI tools like facial mapping systems, machine outcome prediction softwares, and robot-assisted surgeries have been designed and engineered to satisfy these expectations, to achieve anticipated results and, most importantly, to minimize human error. While the use of AI tools in plastic and reconstructive surgery offers promising potential, the expanding use of these machines raises significant ethical and clinical concerns including patient privacy, data security, and technical errors. These issues do indeed challenge the ethical foundations of medical practice.

18/04/2026

Biochemically Changing a Donor’s Heart Valve

Wafa Sablouh

With new breakthroughs emerge new possibilities for treating complex illnesses, especially when biochemical advancements and medicine work hand in hand to find an optimal cure. In the span of the last decade, a new idea emerged combining the fields of biochemical science and medicine together. This idea involves biochemically replacing donor cells with the recipient’s cells, thus allowing growth of the transplanted organ, while simultaneously reducing the risk of immune rejection. Clinical evidence suggests this idea is possible; however, the work is still under development and needs time before it can be implemented properly. Although research on biochemical engineering, host replacement, and growth exist separately, few studies have merged these three concepts together and specifically, in a pediatric transplant setting. The aim of this review is to close this research disparity, look for common gaps, and target specifically a heart valve transplant setting.

16/04/2026

The Economic Crisis–Antimicrobial Resistance Feedback Loop: Microbial Evolution in Fragile Health Systems

Jana Jomaa

This paper aims to examine how Lebanon’s ongoing economic collapse has contributed to the spread of antimicrobial resistance through changes in antibiotic usage and availability. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, WHO reports, and regional public health data, this paper asks: What are the socioeconomic mechanisms linking financial instability to microbial resistance? By focusing on the economic crisis – AMR feedback loop, this paper offers a framework applicable to fragile healthcare systems. The findings aim to aid in health policy strategies in Lebanon and similar countries across the MENA region.

11/04/2026

Stress and Sleep Deprivation: A Closer Look at Their Interconnected Role in Hindering Cognitive Functions and Biological Mechanisms

Layla Tawbeh

This research aims to establish the line between what we consider regular sleeplessness and what we consider to be a medical concern, ultimately developing a proper understanding on when lack of sleep becomes sleep deprivation. Moreover, the research attempts to integrate a closer look on the state of academic stress. Establishing this paves the path towards understanding the correlational nature of this interconnected relationship and whether or not it is bidirectional. By doing so, the influence of both stress and sleep deprivation on cognitive functions becomes more evident. What this research uniquely provides is insight into university student demographics in Lebanon through a qualitative survey that will provide real-world applications to this paper, offering a better view on how urgent the situation is for our generation.

31/03/2026

vol 1 2024-2025

Human-Grown heart valves: A promising breakthrough to the treatment of valvular heart diseases

Anabelle Rizkallah

Current surgical treatments involve replacing the defective valve with a mechanical or biological valve, often requiring multiple subsequent surgeries in children, as these valves aren’t capable of growing on their own. Today, the field of medicine stands on the brink of a transformative breakthrough, as researchers are making heart valves from human stem cells. These human-grown heart valves could potentially spare children from additional surgeries, completely redefining the treatment of valvular disease.

07/07/2025

The Subconscious-Autonomic Nervous System Axis: A Novel Perspective on Neurodegenerative Disease Progression

Gaelle Hankash

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s have traditionally been studied through a biomedical lens, emphasizing genetic and molecular mechanisms. However, emerging interdisciplinary evidence demonstrates that subconscious processes, shaped by past experiences, play a crucial role in disease progression. This paper investigates the intricate, often overlooked interplay between the subconscious mind and neurodegeneration. We propose that subconscious biases and maladaptive patterns profoundly impact the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and its regulation of neuroinflammatory pathways.

19/07/2025

Biotechnologies: A Breakthrough for Medicine or the Beginning of Humanity’s Downfall?

Marco Lamah, Karl Mchayleh

As of 2025, biotechnologies have reached a new zenith by standing at the intersection of a myriad of scientific disciplines, including genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and regenerative medicine. Through this multidisciplinarity, this modus operandi is redefining the possibilities of healthcare, not only by advancing treatments for chronic diseases but also by addressing organ shortages and accelerating drug discovery. Nevertheless, this exponential pace of innovation is raising various ethical, social, and policy debates regarding the challenges of biotechnologies that presuppose careful consideration. This article delves into both the scientific foundations and the practical applications of emerging biotechnologies, drawing from primary research and real-world case studies. It will also analyze the pressing need for equitable access, responsible governance, and thoughtful policy development to ensure that biotechnological progress benefits society as a whole.

04/08/2025

Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks and Promoting Effective Management

Toros Torossian, Hala Ramadan

From a historical standpoint, the past two decades have witnessed the rise in GDM, affecting 14% of all pregnancies worldwide [4]. Notably, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has the highest prevalence, with 27.6% of pregnancies affected by GDM [4]. Despite this growing prevalence, many women remain unaware of the risks associated with GDM [5]. Unlike PGDM, which is diagnosed before pregnancy and requires prior management, GDM develops during pregnancy, with its incidence increasing throughout gestation, reaching 26% in the second trimester and 33% in the third trimester [6]. Given its rising prevalence and the lack of awareness surrounding it, this review will primarily focus on GDM.

05/08/2025

Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy: Understanding the Risks and Promoting Effective Management

Naji Mansour

Amongst a myriad of remarkable, modern medical advances, antibiotics stand out as a significant development. Thanks to antibiotics, thousands of lives have been preserved, transforming deadly infections into manageable medical situations. Through his 1928 breakthrough of penicillin, Alexander Fleming launched a medical revolution that allowed for life-saving operations, cancer treatments, and organ transplants to take place more regularly. The medical breakthroughs from antibiotics are encountering a critical threat because of antibiotic resistance.

17/08/2025

Chemotherapy: A medical advancement or a moral setback?

Elie Jesus Hobeika, Thalia Hassoun

Chemotherapy is a treatment used to target cancerous cells in the body by damaging cancer cell DNA, inhibiting mitosis, and disrupting cellular metabolism (NCI Drug Dictionary, n.d.). Although chemotherapy is a strong tool to shrink tumors and slow down the progression of cancer, it is not a precise treatment. Instead of solely targeting cancerous cells, it can also affect normal, fast-growing cells including bone marrow cells, gastrointestinal lining cells, and hair follicle cells.

01/09/2025

a silent epidemic: The Hidden triggers of childhood obesity

Chloé Batrouni, Maribelle Btaich

Long dismissed as a matter of poor diet and lack of exercise, childhood obesity has emerged as one of the most pressing and intricate health challenges of our era. Contrary to many societal expectations, infantile obesity is not solely caused by dietary inadequacy and physical inactivity. This paper aims to discover its hidden and lesser-known causes, including but not limited to biological, social, and psychological factors that intensify the risk of obesity. Genetic predispositions, epigenetics, microbiome imbalances, obesogens, chronic stress, and hyper-palatable food addiction are thoroughly explored in this paper, and more specifically their link to obesity.

01/09/2025

Ongoing Research Initiatives

Brain Economics: The Economic Value of a Flourishing mind

Mental health disorders are not abstract concepts but have tangible, measurable impacts on economic output through absenteeism (missing work) and presenteeism (being present but underperforming). Conditions such as chronic stress, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and sleep disorders impair concentration, decision-making, and effectiveness, costing economies billions annually. Addressing these psychiatric variables is an economic necessity, requiring mental health resources, promoting work-life balance, and reducing stigma

19/05/2025

Completed Research Initiatives

Unrecognized and Unprotected: Climate Refugees and International Legal Gaps

Michela Salama-Robino

Microplastics have been implicated in a range of adverse health effects on humans, including neurotoxicity, reproductive and development problems, and chronic diseases. Microplastics can accumulate in neural tissues, ultimately resulting in cognitive malfunctions and neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, microplastic exposure has been associated with disruptions in hormone regulation and adverse effects on fertility and fetal development (Liu et al., 2019). They can also lead to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. These health effects urge for the expansion of research on the topic.

13/08/2025

The Impacts of an Invisible Hazard: Microplastics in Beauty and Fashion (In collaboration with the FHS Student society of AUB)

Jana Abou Jaoude, Amira Hijazi, Mariam Hoyek, Perla Mahfouz, Rosa Kalout

Microplastics have been implicated in a range of adverse health effects on humans, including neurotoxicity, reproductive and development problems, and chronic diseases. Microplastics can accumulate in neural tissues, ultimately resulting in cognitive malfunctions and neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, microplastic exposure has been associated with disruptions in hormone regulation and adverse effects on fertility and fetal development (Liu et al., 2019). They can also lead to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. These health effects urge for the expansion of research on the topic.

26/01/2025

Behind Beirut's Thalassocracy: A study of the systematic corruption within the Beirut port

Elie Joe Akiki, Lynn Farghal

The Lebanese curriculum of Geography highlights the Beirut port as the strongest maritime administration in the east mediterranean coast. While this claim may have been true at some point in history, the new world order shifted the situation around, as the harbor found itself in ruins after facing the consequences of its deep-rooted corruption. The Lebanese golden age witnessed an inexplicable economic boom in its absolute free market, which historians later described as “Le miracle Libanais”. However, this economic boom was nothing but the short run benefits of institutionalized corruption within the state’s administration and beyond.

17/01/2025

INTEGRATION OF COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE WITH SOLAR PV SYSTEM AT M.K MEDICAL CENTER

Energy storage systems are increasingly recognized for their efficiency and practicality in supporting renewable energy integration. This project focuses on implementing a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) system at the Mohamad Khaled Medical Center in Beirut, Lebanon. The medical center currently relies on 367 solar PV panels for daytime electricity and a diesel generator for nighttime power.

10/12/2024

Globalization: Fostering or Impeding Religious freedoms?

Marina Daniel

Globalization has competed with the nation-state over a large degree of its sovereignty. This is specifically due to the rise of international non-governmental organizations and bodies that have been able to socialize states and adopt enforcement mechanisms in order to ensure compliance. In contrast with the several connotations and linkages commonly made with the rise of globalization, the human rights status was highly hindered, with an explicit infringement on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, which are precisely highlighted in the Human Rights Act of 1998.

12/01/2025