The burden of acute malnutrition among children under five in conflict-afflicted Gaza strip: prevalence and associated factors.

Background: This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) among children in this region during a period of conflict.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1,200 children under 5 years old, selected through stratified random sampling from three governorates in the Gaza Strip. Data were collected using structured interviews and physical examinations, including Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurements to determine nutritional status based on established cut-off points.

Quercetin diminishes the apoptotic pathway of magnetite nanoparticles in rats' ovary: Antioxidant status and hormonal profiles.

Magnetite nanoparticles have attracted the attention of researchers for biomedical uses, but their impacts on the reproductive system did not report. Here, we have studied the possible attenuation efficiency of quercetin against magnetite nanoparticles-induced apoptosis in ovarian. Forty female rats were divided equally into control, quercetin (100 mg/kg), magnetite nanoparticles (50 mg/kg), and magnetite nanoparticles+quercetin, where all rats received their doses for four weeks.

Occupational stress and associated sources and risk factors among nurses in Gaza strip, Palestine: A cross-sectional survey.

Aim: To determine the occurrence of occupational stress among Palestinian nurses, and their associated sources and risk factors.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive design.

Methods: A total of 250 registered nurses from eight governmental hospitals, using a convenience sampling method.

Effect of ISBAR Clinical Handover Application on Nurses' Perception of Communication and Attitudes toward Patient Safety at Emirates Maternity Hospital in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Background: Good communication is necessary for safety and quality of health. This study aims to determine the effect of ISBAR communication on nurses' perception of communication and attitudes toward patient safety in the Emirates Maternity Hospital in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Method: A single-group hospital-based intervention study (pre and posttest) was conducted.

Nurses' perceptions of patient safety competency: A cross-sectional study of relationships with occurrence and reporting of adverse events.

Although, strengthening patient safety competencies in nursing has been emphasized for enhancing quality care and patient safety. However, little is known about the association of nurses' perceptions of patient safety competency with adverse nurse outcomes in Iranian hospitals. This study aimed to measure nurses' levels of patient safety competency in the hospitals of Iran and examines the relationship between patient safety competency with the occurrence and reporting of adverse events (AEs).

The effect of a simulation-based training program in basic life support on the knowledge of Palestinian nurses: a quasi-experimental study in governmental hospitals.

Background: Basic Life Support (BLS) plays an important role in increasing the survival rate of hospitalized heart attack patients. There are no previous studies on the effect of BLS training among Palestinian nurses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of simulation-based BLS training program on nurses' knowledge Palestinian nurses at governmental hospitals.

Cognitive status and sleep quality can explain the fear of falling and fall history in people with Parkinson's disease.

Fear of falling (FOF) is highly prevalent in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) and contributes to high fall risk. Studies reporting on the relationship between falls, FOF, and non-motor factors such as cognitive function and sleep quality in Parkinson's disease are limited. This study aimed to investigate (1) the relationship of cognitive function and sleep quality with FOF, and history of falls in PwPD; (2) differences in cognitive function and sleep quality between Parkinson's disease fallers and non-fallers; and (3) a cut-off score for cognitive function and sleep quality to discriminate Parkinson's disease fallers from non-fallers.

Useful energy, economic and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions assessment of solar water heater and solar air heater for heating purposes in Gaza, Palestine.

This study investigated the crisis of energy from which Gaza has been suffering over the past years. It ventured to highlight the growing needs for energy and the urging need to use renewable and sustainable sources of energy such as solar thermal energy. Much specifically, it gave much importance to the solar water heater (SWH) as well as the solar air heater (SAH).

Biomass use and its health effects among the vulnerable and marginalized refugee families in the Gaza Strip.

Introduction: Biomass fuel remains the most common type of fuel used in many developing countries, leading to indoor air pollution and serious health impacts.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compile evidence on the impact household fuel combustion has on child and adult health, with an emphasis on solid fuel use in Gaza.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 110 structured self-administered questionnaires were distributed in April 2019 among families living in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp.

Unmet needs and health-related quality of life of breast cancer survivors: survey from Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Background: Cancer, especially breast cancer, remains a public health problem because of its negative consequences, which require long-term programs to alleviate its devastating effects. This study aimed to examine unmet supportive care needs and health-related quality of life of females with breast cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a mixed-method design was employed.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice towards Occupational Health and Safety among Nursing Students in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Background: Health and safety in the workplace are critical components in healthcare institutions. Unsafe working conditions are among the causes of poor quality of care and burnout. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of occupational health and safety among nursing students at Al-Israa University.

A Comprehensive Review of Bat Inspired Algorithm: Variants, Applications, and Hybridization.

Bat algorithm (BA) is one of the promising metaheuristic algorithms. It proved its efficiency in dealing with various optimization problems in diverse fields, such as power and energy systems, economic load dispatch problems, engineering design, image processing and medical applications. Thus, this review introduces a comprehensive and exhaustive review of the BA, as well as evaluates its main characteristics by comparing it with other optimization algorithms.

Artificial Neural Network Approach to Guarantee the Positioning Accuracy of Moving Robots by Using the Integration of IMU/UWB with Motion Capture System Data Fusion.

This study presents an effective artificial neural network (ANN) approach to combine measurements from inertial measurement units (IMUs) and time-of-flight (TOF) measurements from an ultra-wideband (UWB) system with OptiTrack Motion Capture System (OptiT-MCS) data to guarantee the positioning accuracy of motion tracking in indoor environments. The proposed fusion approach unifies the following advantages of both technologies: high data rates from the MCS, and global translational precision from the inertial measurement unit (IMU)/UWB localization system. Consequently, it leads to accurate position estimates when compared with data from the IMU/UWB system relative to the OptiT-MCS reference system.

Overcoming Reproductive and Psychological Concerns of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

After developing breast cancer, women experience changes in their sexuality, femininity, and fertility. These changes lead to poor mental health and increased psychological stress. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Good Enough Sex (GES)-based, couple-centered group counseling on reproductive and sexual concerns of breast cancer survivors.

Association of Perceived Stress and Physical Activity Level with Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The association between life-event stressors and low physical activity linked to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) is poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the perceived stress status and physical activity level associated with the severity of CAD.

Methods: The study was conducted among 423 patients with newly discovered CAD (both sexes, aged 35-65 years) confirmed by coronary angiography results.

Stakeholders' Perception of the Palestinian Health Workforce Accreditation and Regulation System: A Focus on Conceptualization, Influencing Factors and Barriers, and the Way Forward.

The Health Workforce Accreditation and Regulation (HWAR) is a key function of the health system and is the subject of increasing global attention. This study provides an assessment of the factors affecting the Palestinian HWAR system, identifies existing gaps and offers actionable improvement solutions. Data were collected during October and November 2019 in twenty-two semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with experts, academics, leaders, and policymakers purposely selected from government, academia, and non-governmental organizations.

COVID-19 Routes of Transmission, Protection Aids, and Immunity Enhancement: Community-Based Online Knowledge Survey Among Palestinians.

Aim: Coronavirus disease in 2019 has been defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge toward the coronavirus disease 2019 among the Palestinian population.

Method: A cross-sectional online survey among 554 Palestinians was designed.

Machine learning in medical applications: A review of state-of-the-art methods.

Applications of machine learning (ML) methods have been used extensively to solve various complex challenges in recent years in various application areas, such as medical, financial, environmental, marketing, security, and industrial applications. ML methods are characterized by their ability to examine many data and discover exciting relationships, provide interpretation, and identify patterns. ML can help enhance the reliability, performance, predictability, and accuracy of diagnostic systems for many diseases.

Nontraditional risk factors of coronary artery disease among Palestinians: A case-control study.

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of the most common causes of death in Palestine. This study aimed to assess the nontraditional risk factors among CAD patients underwent invasive coronary angiography in Gaza-Palestine.

Methods: Unmatched one-to-one case-control study was conducted among 200 participants.

Depression Among Infertile Men in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: The Neglected Aspect of Fertility Care.

Background: Infertility is a worldwide public health problem and affects psychological aspects of males' and females' life. However, the problem has not been well investigated in Palestine. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine prevalence and predictors of depression among infertile men in the Gaza strip.

Nursing Faculty Experience With Online Distance Education During COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Study.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic influenced education and forced universities to shift from face-to-face teaching to remote online teaching. This sudden shift in educational pedagogy provoked several challenges to educators.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the first experience of nursing faculty members with online distant education (ODE) within the context of COVID-19 national curfew.

Effect of magnetic field on the growth of the cultured Entamoeba histolytica isolated from patients in Palestine.

Static magnetic field (SMF) is generated in vicinity of moving charge or current passing through conductor. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of SMF on the growth of the cultured Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) trophozoites.

Undiagnosed Depression among Hypertensive Individuals in Gaza: A Cross-sectional Survey from Palestine.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and to determine the associated factors of undiagnosed depression amongst hypertensive patients (HTNP) at primary health care centers (PHCC) in Gaza.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted including 538 HTNP as a recruitment phase of a clustered randomized controlled trial. Data were collected through face-to-face structured interview, and depression status was assessed by Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Effectiveness of motivational interviewing on medication adherence among Palestinian hypertensive patients: a clustered randomized controlled trial.

Background: This trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MINT) among medication non-adherent hypertensive patients attending primary healthcare centres in Gaza Strip.

Methods And Results: A clustered randomized controlled trial was run among 355 hypertensive participants; who were identified as non-adherent by a self-reported adherent scale and were recruited from 10 centres by two stages cluster random sampling approach (five centres were randomly allocated to each group). Standard of hypertension care was provided to 173 participants, parallel to 182 one who received their standard of care including non-blinded MINT sessions for 3 months.

Protective effect of caffeine and/or taurine on the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced rat model of Parkinson's disease: Behavioral and neurochemical evidence.

Background: Caffeine and taurine, which possess neuro-modulatory activity happen to be consumed together as part of the constituents of energy drinks, could have beneficial effects and prevent neuronal deterioration in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate behavioral and neurochemical effects of these two agents in an animal model of PD at two time points to evaluate possible neuro-protective or neuro-modulatory effects.

Methods: Stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in rat striatum was used to model PD-like behavior in animals.