There are dementia patients in Gaza too.

This editorial highlights the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli military assault in Gaza on dementia patients, whose fragile care systems have collapsed, leaving them vulnerable and without essential medical support. Through harrowing stories of displacement, medication shortages, and tragic deaths, the piece underscores the profound moral failure in protecting Gaza's most vulnerable, calling for urgent global action to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure dignity and healthcare for all affected individuals.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Novel and Traditional Risk Factors in Middle Eastern Young Women. The ANCORS-YW Study.

Background: There is paucity of data on the prevalence of novel and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in young women with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the Middle East. We sought to evaluate clinical profiles and prevalence of novel and traditional risk factors in Middle Eastern young women with ASCVD compared with age-matched controls.

Methods: Women 18-50 years of age who have ASCVD were enrolled and each was aged-matched with two women with no ASCVD.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dry Eye Disease in the South of Palestine.

Background: The prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) is rising globally and needs to be urgently addressed by medical professionals because it lowers patients' quality of life. There are as yet no available data in the literature about the prevalence of and risk factors for DED in the Gaza Strip, a gap that the present study seeks to address.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between March and August 2022 in Gaza governorates using a proportional stratified sampling technique.

Pre- and post-COVID-19 antimicrobial resistance profile of bacterial pathogens, a comparative study in a tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural evolutionary process in bacteria that is accelerated by selection pressure from the frequent and irrational use of antimicrobial drugs. This study aimed to determine the variations in AMR patterns of priority bacterial pathogens at a tertiary care hospital in the Gaza Strip during pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study to determine the AMR patterns of bacterial pathogens at a tertiary hospital in the Gaza Strip in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period.

Infection control knowledge and practices among radiographers at government hospitals in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Infections acquired in hospitals are a major concern for patients, professionals and policymakers. They have an impact on the morbidity and mortality rates, length of stay, and microbial resistance. Radiology departments are at high risk for nosocomial infections, and radiographers must adhere to infection control protocols to avoid contracting illnesses and the spread of pathogens.

Assessment of preparedness for response to COVID-19 by two hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

Background: Hospital preparedness enables the healthcare delivery system to save lives during emergencies that surpass the day-to-day capacity of existing response systems. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected all aspects of life worldwide, and in the Gaza Strip particularly.

Aims: We assessed the preparedness of 2 hospitals in the Gaza Strip for response to COVID-19.

The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire in a sample of the Gazan population: a study from Palestine.

Purpose: To develop an Arabic version of OSDI for the Gazan population.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a convenience sample technique. The translation procedure included five stages: forward translation, revision of translation, backward translation, refinement of translation, and a final test of the pre-final version.

Self-reported antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures from 57 intensive care units: An international ID-IRI survey.

We explored the self-reported antibiotic stewardship (AS), and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in intensive care units (ICUs) of different income settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data about IPC and AS measures in participating ICUs. The study participants were Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative (IDI-IR) members, committed as per their institutional agreement form.

Evaluating Pain Management Practices for Cancer Patients among Health Professionals: A Global Survey.

Cancer incidence in the world is predicted to increase in the next decade. While progress has been in diagnosis and treatment, much still remains to be done to improve cancer pain therapy, mainly in underserved communities in low-income countries. To determine knowledge, beliefs, and barriers regarding pain management in both high- and low-income countries (according to the WHO classification); and to learn about ways to improve the current state of affairs.

Barriers toward the practice of healthy behaviors among patients with non-communicable diseases in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Objectives: Non-communicable diseases are non-infectious health conditions caused by genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. Currently, non-communicable diseases account for almost two-thirds of deaths globally. This study aimed to explore the patients' adherence level to the key recommendations, and the main barriers toward the practice of healthy behaviors among non-communicable diseases patients.

The fear of COVID-19 outbreak among health care professionals in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Introduction: The emergence of the COVID-19 and its consequences has led to fears, worries, and anxiety among individuals, particularly among healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to assess the fear of COVID-19 among different healthcare professionals in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Methods: A cross-sectional, snowball sampling technique and an online questionnaire were employed among healthcare professionals.

Barriers of Adherence among Palestinian Healthcare Professionals towards the Protocol of Health Education and Counselling on Healthy Behaviours for Non-Communicable Diseases.

Background: Despite the huge numbers of the universally produced and employed protocols, the adherence with them is still low to moderate in the healthcare settings. This study was employed to assess the attitudes of Palestinian healthcare professionals in Gaza Strip to health education and counseling on healthy behaviours protocol (WHO-PEN Protocol 2), for patients with non-communicable diseases in the Ministry of Health primary healthcare centers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a census sample of all governmental family physicians and nurses (n=175).

Public Sector Capacity to Prevent and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in Twelve Low- and Middle-Income Countries Based on WHO-PEN Standards: A Systematic Review.

This review was conducted to assess the capacity of the public sector to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) based on WHO-PEN standards. A PRISMA systematic search appraisal of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase was conducted during May-2020 for original articles conducted in LMIC and reported the capacity of the public sector to prevent and control NCDs. The country readiness score was calculated as the mean score of items for each domain.

Splenic Vein as an Autologous Graft in Traumatic SMV Injuries: A Missed Valuable Alternative.

Unlabelled: Traumatic superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vein (SMV) injuries are rare but often lethal. The ideal management options of traumatic SMV injury are still controversial. Management options include venous repair and ligation.

Capacity of Palestinian primary health care system to prevent and control of non-communicable diseases in Gaza Strip, Palestine: A capacity assessment analysis based on adapted WHO-PEN tool.

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing in low-income countries including Palestine. This study was conducted to assess the capacity of Palestinian primary health care system to prevent and control of NCDs. This cross-sectional study in which, the World Health Organization package of essential NCDs interventions (WHO-PEN) tool, was used to assess the capacity of primary health care centers (PHCs) to prevent and control of NCDs.

Determinants of surgeons' adherence to preventive intraoperative measures of surgical site infection in Gaza Strip hospitals: a multi-centre cross-sectional study.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections and is associated with serious impact on the rates of morbidity, mortality as well as healthcare costs. This study examined factors influencing the application of several intraoperative preventive measures of SSI by surgeons and surgical residents in the Gaza Strip.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to February 2017 at the operation rooms of the three major hospitals located in the Gaza-Strip, Palestine.

Dietary Pattern and Their Association With Level of Asthma Control Among Patients With Asthma at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Background: This study was conducted to identify major dietary patterns and their association with level of asthma control among patients with asthma in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of Palestinian patients with asthma (both sex, aged 19-64 years) receiving care in chest department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex. Asthma control level was obtained using asthma control test.

Bithalamic Infarction (Artery of Percheron Occlusion) after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Bithalamic infarction resulting from occlusion of the artery of Percheron after cervical spine surgery is a rare pathological entity. Diagnosis and early detection are challenging. Prompt management may help to improve the outcome.

Overexpression of TBX3 transcription factor as a potential diagnostic marker for breast cancer.

The T-box 3 (TBX3) transcription factor has been shown to serve multiple roles in normal development. Recent findings have revealed that TBX3 is overexpressed in different types of carcinomas, including breast, cervical, ovarian, melanoma, pancreatic, lung, liver, bladder, head and neck. Therefore, the present study investigated the significance of TBX3 as a diagnostic marker of breast cancer.

Hematological and biochemical evaluation of β-thalassemia major (βTM) patients in Gaza Strip: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: In Gaza Strip, Palestine, β-thalassemia is a major public health problem where more than 300 β-thalassemia major (βTM) patients are currently being managed at governmental hospitals. We set up to evaluate the hematological and biochemical aspects of our βTM patients at the Gaza European hospital and their correlation with iron overload.

Methods: Our study included 65 transfusion-dependent βTM, as well as 37 apparently healthy subjects as control group.