Analysis of floristic composition and species diversity of vascular plants native to the State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip)

This study aims at providing an updated checklist of the native vascular flora of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip (State of Palestine, SP), serving as a taxonomic and nomenclatural basis for botanical research and encouraging new floristic surveys and biosystematic studies. The study provides an up-to-date checklist of native vascular taxa of the SP and their distribution within the plant districts in the country. This is the very first annotated checklist for the native vascular plants of the SP which incorporates recent name changes, new distribution records, habitat, herbarium specimens catalouge, Red List criteria, wild edible plants, endemism and use in Traditional Palestinian Herbal Medicine. The quantitative analysis of the flora has shown that the SP hosts 1826 taxa, distributed in 686 genera and 108 families; five taxa are gymnosperms, nine taxa are Pteridophytes and 1812 taxa are angiosperms. The most represented families are Leguminosae (222 taxa, 12.2%), Asteraceae (197, 10.2%) and Poaceae (196, 10.7%), while the most represented genera are Trifolium (38, Leguminosae), Silene (32, Caryophyllaceae), Astragalus (27, Leguminosae), Medicago (26, Leguminosae), Allium (25, Amaryllidaceae) and Euphorbia (25, Euphorbiaceae). Annuals (52.4%), Hemicryptophytes (20.2%) and Chamaephytes (12.2%) are the most represented life-forms amongst the SP flora. The richest plant districts in the SP vascular plant taxa are Gaza Strip (GS) (1216 taxa), Jerusalem and Hebron Mountains (JHM) (1235) and Nablus Mountains (NM) (1126). Agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) permitted the division of SP into two main regions, based on the existence of vascular plant taxa: Region 1 (western plant districts with 1128-1237 taxa) with higher water availability and temperate Mediterranean climate which permit the establishment of more than 65% of the total SP flora in these districts and Region 2 (eastern plant districts with 571-698 taxa), characterised by desert and semi-desert conditions, as well as the presence of alluvial and co-alluvial soils, which allow the survival of lower numbers of plant taxa. One hundred and sixty-five taxa of the SP flora are endemic and near-endemic. However, in comparison with some countries of the Mediterranean Basin, this number is below the average endemism concentration, along with other southern arid countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt. In total, there are 102 threatened plant taxa, belonging to 39 families and 83 genera representing 5.6% of the total plants in the SP. IUCN and the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP) unified classification of direct threats for SP Red-Listed plants has shown a high extinction risk to the Palestinian threatened wild flora, with 76.5% of the threatened species being either critically endangered (CR) or endangered (EN); only 23.5% were vulnerable (VU). However, several taxa are threatened by numerous factors including small population size, human activities, for example, conversion of traditional to intensive agriculture accompanied by deep ploughing and the application of pesticides, urban development and construction, global climatic change, drying of marshes and wetlands, quarrying, fires and pollution. This checklist can help focus conservation efforts and provide a framework for research, protection and policy applications for the SP flora, especially for the endemic and threatened plants

Analysis of floristic composition and species diversity of vascular plants native to the State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza Strip)

This study aims at providing an updated checklist of the native vascular flora of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip (State of Palestine, SP), serving as a taxonomic and nomenclatural basis for botanical research and encouraging new floristic surveys and biosystematic studies. The study provides an up-to-date checklist of native vascular taxa of the SP and their distribution within the plant districts in the country. This is the very first annotated checklist for the native vascular plants of the SP which incorporates recent name changes, new distribution records, habitat, herbarium specimens catalouge, Red List criteria, wild edible plants, endemism and use in Traditional Palestinian Herbal Medicine. The quantitative analysis of the flora has shown that the SP hosts 1826 taxa, distributed in 686 genera and 108 families; five taxa are gymnosperms, nine taxa are Pteridophytes and 1812 taxa are angiosperms. The most represented families are Leguminosae (222 taxa, 12.2%), Asteraceae (197, 10.2%) and Poaceae (196, 10.7%), while the most represented genera are Trifolium (38, Leguminosae), Silene (32, Caryophyllaceae), Astragalus (27, Leguminosae), Medicago (26, Leguminosae), Allium (25, Amaryllidaceae) and Euphorbia (25, Euphorbiaceae). Annuals (52.4%), Hemicryptophytes (20.2%) and Chamaephytes (12.2%) are the most represented life-forms amongst the SP flora. The richest plant districts in the SP vascular plant taxa are Gaza Strip (GS) (1216 taxa), Jerusalem and Hebron Mountains (JHM) (1235) and Nablus Mountains (NM) (1126). Agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) permitted the division of SP into two main regions, based on the existence of vascular plant taxa: Region 1 (western plant districts with 1128-1237 taxa) with higher water availability and temperate Mediterranean climate which permit the establishment of more than 65% of the total SP flora in these districts and Region 2 (eastern plant districts with 571-698 taxa), characterised by desert and semi-desert conditions, as well as the presence of alluvial and co-alluvial soils, which allow the survival of lower numbers of plant taxa. One hundred and sixty-five taxa of the SP flora are endemic and near-endemic. However, in comparison with some countries of the Mediterranean Basin, this number is below the average endemism concentration, along with other southern arid countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt. In total, there are 102 threatened plant taxa, belonging to 39 families and 83 genera representing 5.6% of the total plants in the SP. IUCN and the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP) unified classification of direct threats for SP Red-Listed plants has shown a high extinction risk to the Palestinian threatened wild flora, with 76.5% of the threatened species being either critically endangered (CR) or endangered (EN); only 23.5% were vulnerable (VU). However, several taxa are threatened by numerous factors including small population size, human activities, for example, conversion of traditional to intensive agriculture accompanied by deep ploughing and the application of pesticides, urban development and construction, global climatic change, drying of marshes and wetlands, quarrying, fires and pollution. This checklist can help focus conservation efforts and provide a framework for research, protection and policy applications for the SP flora, especially for the endemic and threatened plants

A Change Management Approach to Promoting and Endorsing Ergonomics within a Dental Setting

Musculoskeletal pain and disorders (MSDs) constitute a well-recognised occupational hazard to the dental community. Fortunately, they are preventable. Dental office ergonomics plays a key role in addressing these musculoskeletal challenges. An ergonomic improvement project based on Kotter’s eight-step change model management theory was implemented within a dental practice. The project provided valuable evidence-based ergonomic interventions to prevent or reduce MSDs. The task force motivated staff to engage in strategies and interventions to enact an ergonomic vision. This case study represents an action plan to guide this ergonomic change. The key results of this project were an evidence-based ergonomics health promotional brochure, reduced sick leave attributable to MSDs, and workplace ergonomic checkpoints. The ergonomic change model represents an ongoing process where innovative trends and evaluative methods can be supported. Research limitations and practical implications were acknowledged

Microbes on the Mobile Phones of Healthcare Workers in Palestine: Identification, Characterization, and Comparison

Background. Healthcare workers (HCWs) may be using their mobile phones (MPs) to carry microbes that cause hospital-acquired and community infections in general. With antibiotic resistance problem emergence, these infections can be challenging to eradicate. Hence, this study aimed to determine the microbial contamination of HCW MPs and identify and classify bacterial isolates in Palestine. Methods. This was a 7-month comparative cross-sectional analysis of 200 HCW MPs from 2 hospitals and 100 MPs from university students (non-HCWs). Data collection was done using a self-administrated questionnaire, and a swab sample from both HCW and non-HCW MPs was obtained and transferred to An-Najah National University (NNU) microbiology lab for bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility. Data were analyzed using Social Sciences Statistical Package (SPSS) version 22.0. Result. Among HCWs, the microbial contamination was 87.5%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS; 67.3%), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA; 17.5%), Gram-positive bacilli (4.1%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; 1.6%), and Gram-negative species (1.6%) were the most predominant bacterial isolates. More than half of staphylococci isolates were resistant to penicillin and erythromycin. Male gender, using a mobile phone in the bathroom, and entry to the operating theatre were associated with mobile phone contamination and increased resistance against specific antibiotics. Among non-HCWs, the contamination was 86%. The most predominant bacterial isolates were CoNS, MSSA, and Gram-positive bacilli, with a contamination of 66.8%, 28.5%, and 2.6%, respectively. No MRSA or Gram-negative species were detected in this group. Antibiotic resistance percentage of staphylococci was nearly half of that yielded in the HCW group against each antibiotic. Conclusion. Significant numbers of bacteria have been isolated from HCW MPs. Working in a hospital environment frequently raises the probability of presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on a MP. Therefore, infection control teams should discuss methods to prevent the transmission of drug-resistant pathogens from HCW MPs

Glaucoma Awareness and Knowledge Among Ethiopians in a Tertiary Eye Care Center

Abstract Introduction Glaucoma outcomes are closely associated with patients’ awareness of the disease. However, little is known about glaucoma awareness and knowledge in Addis Ababa, a densely populated and ethnolinguistically diverse capital city in Ethiopia, the second largest country in Africa. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey in the ophthalmology waiting room at St. Paul’s Hospital, a tertiary care center in Addis Ababa. Respondents included patients, patient family members, and non-clinical staff. Participants were asked if they had read or heard about glaucoma to gauge basic awareness of the disease; those with awareness were asked to take a quiz to measure their objective glaucoma knowledge. We performed multivariable regression to identify factors associated with glaucoma awareness, quiz performance, and self-rated ability to use eye drops. Results Of 298 respondents, 145 (48.7%) were female, and the average age was 44.9 ± 17.2 years. A majority (167; 56.0%) had primary school or less than primary school education. Only 131 (44.0%) had basic glaucoma awareness. Of these, 95 (72.5%) knew that glaucoma causes permanent vision loss, 103 (78.6%) knew glaucoma is often asymptomatic in early stages, 62 (47.3%) identified elevated intraocular pressure as a glaucoma risk factor, and 124 (94.7%) knew glaucoma was treatable. A majority of this subset (126; 96.2%) said they would be willing to use medicated eye drops, and 130 (99.2%) indicated a willingness to undergo surgery if recommended. Education level was independently associated with glaucoma awareness (p < 0.001) and glaucoma quiz performance (p = 0.03). Conclusion In a population sample from an ophthalmology waiting room in Addis Ababa, glaucoma awareness was poor and most strongly associated with education level. Educational interventions at public health and provider-patient levels are warranted. Our results suggest high receptiveness to both medical and surgical treatment.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/173963/1/40123_2020_Article_314.pd

Surgical repair of primary non-complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in the modern era of small-gauge vitrectomy

Objective To report anatomic and visual outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), as well as scleral buckling (SB) and PPV/SB as surgical treatments for the management of primary, non-complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Methods and analysis Data from 751 eyes that underwent PPV, SB or combined PPV/SB as a surgical treatment for primary non-complex RRD with at least 3 months of follow-up were analysed to determine rates of single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) and final anatomic success (FAS). Patients or the public were not involved in the design, conduct or reporting of this research.Results PPV accounted for 89.0% (n=668), PPV/SB for 6.8% (n=51) and SB for 4.2% (n=32) cases. Overall SSAS (91.2% PPV, 84.3% PPV/SB, 93.8% SB; p=0.267) and FAS (96.7% PPV, 94.1% PPV/SB and 100.0% SB; p=0.221) were reported for the three surgical groups. SSAS and FAS were similar for lens status, macular detachment status and the presence or absence of inferior retinal breaks for each of the PPV, PPV/SB and SB groups.Conclusions In this large, single institution, retrospective case series, we report surgical outcomes for patients with primary non-complex RRD managed with PPV, SB or PPV/SB in the modern era of small-gauge vitrectomy. We demonstrate that primary PPV without adjunct SB provides excellent anatomic and visual outcomes irrespective of lens status, macular involvement or pathology location

Mutations in EFL1 , an SBDS partner, are associated with infantile pancytopenia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and skeletal anomalies in a Shwachman-Diamond like syndrome

For the final step of the maturation of the ribosome, the nascent 40S and 60S subunits are exported from the nucleus to the cell cytoplasm. To prevent premature association of these ribosomal subunits, eukaryotic initiation factor 6 (eIF6) binds the 60S subunit within the nucleus. Its release in the cytoplasm requires the interaction of EFL1 and SDBS proteins. In Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), a defective SDBS protein prevents eIF6 eviction, inhibiting its recycle to the nucleus and subsequent formation of the active 80S ribosome.This study aims to identify the molecular basis of an SDS-like disease, manifested by pancytopenia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and skeletal abnormalities in six patients from three unrelated families.Four patients were homozygous for p.R1095Q variant and two patients were homozygous for p.M882K variant in EFL1. Residue R1095 and M882 are conserved across species. Neither the GTPase activity of the mutant proteins nor its activation by the SDBD protein or the 60S ribosomal subunit were affected. Complementation of efl1Δ yeast cells with the EFL1 mutants rescued the slow growth phenotype. Nonetheless, Tif6-GFP was relocalised to the cytoplasm in mutant yeast cells in contrast to its nuclear localisation in WT cells.Mutations in EFL1 clinically manifest as SDS-like phenotype. Similar to the molecular pathology of SDS, mutant EFL1 proteins do not promote the release of cytoplasmic Tif6 from the 60S subunit, likely preventing the formation of mature ribosome

Chronic granulomatous disease: Clinical, functional, molecular, and genetic studies. The Israeli experience with 84 patients

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an innate immunodeficiency with a genetic defect of the nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced, oxidase components. This leads to decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which renders patients susceptible to life-threatening infections. Over the course of 30 years, we diagnosed CGD in 84 patients from 61 families using functional, molecular, and genetic studies. The incidence of CGD in Israel is 1.05 per 100,000 live-births in the Jewish population and 1.49 in the Israeli Arab population. We diagnosed 52 patients (62%) with autosomal recessive inheritance (AR-CGD) and 32 (38%) with X-linked recessive inheritance (XLR-CGD). Consanguinity was detected in 64% of AR-CGD families (14% in Jews and 50% in Israeli Arabs). We found 36 different mutations (23 in XLR-CGD and 13 in AR-CGD patients), 15 of which were new. The clinical spectrum of CGD varied from mild to severe disease in both XLR and AR forms, although the AR subtype is generally milder. Further, residual ROS production correlated with milder clinical expression, better prognosis and improved overall survival. Patients with recurrent pyogenic infections developed fibrosis and hyperinflammatory states with granuloma formation. The management of CGD has progressed substantially in recent years, evolving from a fatal disease of early childhood to one of long-term survival. Our present cohort displays an encouraging 81% overall long term survival. Early hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is advisable before tissue damage is irreversible. Successful transplantation was performed in 18/21 patients. Therapeutic gene modification could become an alternative cure for CGD. Am. J. Hematol. 92:28-36, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, In

Mycobacterium simiae Infection in Two Unrelated Patients with Different Forms of Inherited IFN-γR2 Deficiency

International audienceInterferon-γ receptor 2 (IFN-γR2) deficiency is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by predisposition to infections with weakly virulent mycobacteria, such as environmental mycobacteria and BCG vaccines. We describe here two children with IFN-γR2 deficiency, from unrelated, consanguineous kindreds of Arab and Israeli descent. The first patient was a boy who died at the age of 4.5 years, from recurrent, disseminated disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae. His IFN-γR2 defect was autosomal recessive and complete. The second patient was a girl with multiple disseminated mycobacterial infections, including infection with M. simiae. She died at the age of 5 years, a short time after the transplantation of umbilical cord blood cells from an unrelated donor. Her IFN-γR2 defect was autosomal recessive and partial. Autosomal recessive IFN-γR2 deficiency is life-threatening, even in its partial form, and genetic diagnosis and familial counseling are therefore particularly important for this condition. These two cases are the first of IFN-γR2 deficiency associated with M. simiae infection to be described