Anti-Lipase Potential of the Organic and Aqueous Extracts of Ten Traditional Edible and Medicinal Plants in Palestine; a Comparison Study with Orlistat

Background: Herbs have played a fundamental and essential role in the humans life since ancient times, especially those which are used as food and/or folk medicinedue to both their nutritive and curative properties.This study aimed to investigate new antilipase agents from tentraditional Palestinian edible and medicinal plants through inhibition of the absorption of dietary lipids. Methods: The anti-lipase activity for ten plants was evaluated and compared with the reference compound Orlistat by using the porcine pancreatic lipase inhibitory test which was conducted by using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Results: The aqueous extracts of Vitis vinifera and Rhus coriaria had the highest antilipase effects with IC50 values 14.13 and 19.95 mcg/mL, respectively. Meanwhile, the organic extract of Origanum dayi had an IC50 value 18.62 mcg/mL. V. vinifera showed the highest porcine pancreatic lipase inhibitory effects when compared with Orlistat, which has an IC50 value 12.38 mcg/mL. Conclusions: According to the obtained results, V. vinifera, R. coriaria, and O. dayi can be considered a natural inhibitors of the pancreatic lipase enzyme as well as new players in obesity treatment. In fact, these plants can be freely and safely consumed in a daily diet or can be prepared as nutraceutical formulations to treat or prevent of obesity

Sterile vs Nonsterile Gloves for the Repair of Wounds and Lacerations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Clinical practice guidelines recommend using sterile gloves as a standard practice during surgical procedures to prevent postoperative wound infections or surgical site infections (SSIs).1 However, there is no clear evidence to suggest that nonsterile gloves are less effective in reducing the risk of wound infection. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of using nonsterile vs sterile gloves for repairing lacerations and wounds on SSI rates

Myths and common misbeliefs about cervical cancer causation among Palestinian women: a national cross-sectional study

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank all participants who took part into the study.Abstract Background Cervical cancer (CC) myths and beliefs can negatively impact women's preventive behaviors, including vaccination against human papillomavirus and having regular screening tests. This study aimed to examine awareness of Palestinian women about myths related to CC causation and investigated factors associated with good awareness. Methods A national cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit adult Palestinian women from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 Palestinian governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was used to collect data. Awareness level was determined based on the number of CC myths around CC causation recognized to be incorrect: poor (0–4), fair (5–9), and good (10–13). Results A total of 7058 questionnaires were included. Myths unrelated to food were more commonly recognized as incorrect compared to those related to food. The most recognized food-unrelated myth was ‘having a physical trauma’ (n = 3714, 52.6%), whereas the least recognized was ‘using mobile phones’ (n = 2238, 31.7%). The most recognized food-related myth was ‘drinking from plastic bottles’ (n = 2708, 38.4%), whereas the least recognized was ‘eating food containing additives’ (n = 1118, 15.8%). Only 575 participants (8.1%) displayed good awareness and promptly recognized at least 10 out of 13 myths around CC causation as incorrect. Factors associated with lower likelihood of displaying good awareness of myths around CC causation included living in the West Bank and Jerusalem, being married, widowed or divorced, knowing someone with cancer, and visiting hospitals or primary healthcare centers. Conclusions A very small proportion of Palestinian women recognized 10 or more myths around CC causes as incorrect. Initiatives addressing CC myths are needed in the Palestinian community. </jats:sec