Ihab Ali Naser

Background and Aims: Relaunching Health Science Education (HSE) in the Gaza Strip posed a significant challenge following the large‐scale attacks since October 2023. We aim to explore the institutional experiences in relaunching HSE during wartime, with emphasis on the solutions implemented and policy recommendations that emerged. Methods: This perspective draws on institutional records, published damage and casualty reports, and the authors' direct observations as faculty and administrators, covering developments from October 2023 to January 2026, to analyze the process through which HSE was relaunched in the Gaza Strip. Results: The two major universities offering HSE in Gaza sustained varying degrees of damage, leading to distinct response strategies. Al‐Azhar University in Gaza prioritized restoring independent digital infrastructure and establishing international clinical placements. The Islamic University of Gaza emphasized community‐based recovery, symbolizing resilience and continuity. Both institutions implemented academic flexibility and strategic partnerships and adopted the philosophy of resilience. Conclusion: Despite the progress achieved in relaunching HSE via online learning and resuming clinical training, further policy measures are required to strengthen HSE in the Gaza Strip.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a competitive inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), has been implicated in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the prognostic significance of baseline ADMA in the context of central obesity among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to investigate whether central obesity (CO) is associated with elevated ADMA levels among patients with AMI in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at four governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip. One hundred and twenty patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AMI aged 30-65 years were recruited via convenience sampling between January 2023 and October 2023. Anthropometric parameters, including Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC), biochemical measurements such as ADMA, homocysteine (Hcy), and lipid profile, and lifestyle factors were assessed. Group differences were evaluated using independent-samples t-tests. Pearson correlations and Multiple linear regression were employed to explore inter-variable relationships. Of 120 AMI patients, 102 (85.0%) were male, and 18 (15.0%) were female (mean age 53.49 ± 7.35 years). Central obesity (WC >102 cm in men; >88 cm in women) was present in 53.3% of participants. Statistically significant differences between the centrally obese and non-obese groups were observed for total cholesterol (P = 0.030), triglycerides (P = 0.048), and HDL-c (P = 0.043). ADMA and Hcy levels were significantly higher in the centrally obese group than in the non-obese group (differences: 35.1 ng/mL and 7.7 µmol/L, respectively; P = 0.040 and P = 0.009). Multiple Linear Regression identified WC as the only significant independent predictor of ADMA (β = 1.22, 95% CI 0.003- 2.445, P = 0.049). WC was significantly associated with elevated ADMA levels in patients with AMI. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be regarded as preliminary, and further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm whether central obesity contributes to elevated ADMA and cardiovascular risk.

The ICAMS-II and ECNAD conference was held on 15–16 March 2023 at the Al Riyadh Auditorium for Celebrations and Activities at Al-Azhar University–Gaza (AUG), Gaza Strip, Palestine

Stunting is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries because of its association with increased risk of mortality during childhood. To investigate whether zinc deficiency and insulin-like growth factor I are associated with the prevalence of stunting among school-aged children, a cross-sectional study was conducted in which 141 pupils from the first grade were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling technique. The blood sample was drawn from the pupils to analyze zinc, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), hemoglobin (HG), albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured whereas height for age Z-score was computed to assess stunting. The study revealed that the prevalence of stunting among the study population is 34% out of which 27.7% and 6.4% exhibit mild and moderate stunting, respectively. The prevalence of zinc deficiency is almost 5% among the pupils. There is a positive association between serum zinc and IGF-1 (p = 0.013), and the results of the Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) illustrate that as the serum zinc level increases by one unit, the IGF-1 level increases by 0.61 cm. In addition, the final model of the MLR analysis shows a negative correlation between being female and height. By investigating the direction of the association between age and IGF-1 and height, it was clear that a positive correlation exists (b = 0.20, 0.03), respectively. This study shows a higher rate of stunting among first-grade children in the Gaza Strip and might be attributed to many factors such as gender, age, household size, and IGF-1.

Cancer is a challenge for the majority of the population’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL), compromising their physical health and emotional well-being. This study aimed to assess the QoL, differentiate QoL among different groups, and explore its association with other factors in adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. All adult newly diagnosed cancer patients from the Oncology Department at the European Gaza Hospital (EGH) were eligible for participation in an ongoing prospective short cohort study. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30 was used to assess QoL in cancer patients after the completion of the chemotherapy regimen. A simple, self-administered assessment tool, Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) which is increasingly used in clinical praxis with significantly positive results has been used. The mean age of patients was 48.58 years. The global health status and functional scales, in most domains, were low, while the symptoms scales were moderate-to-high for most items, showing worse QoL. Fatigue and pain were the most disturbing symptoms. Global health and social functioning were better in over-weight and obese patients (p < 0.05). Malnourished patients and patients at risk of malnutrition showed a worse level of global health status in comparison to well-nourished patients (p = 0.049). Cancer stage significantly affects QoL (p < 0.05). The correlation of functional scales with global health status was found higher; the Spearman correlation r > 0.30 and showed a significant positive relationship (p < 0.05). Patients with a high PNQ score (more severe chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms) reported a worse global quality of life and worse physical, work, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning compared with those with a low PNQ score. Cancer patients had a worse QoL regarding overall global health status as well as functional and symptom scales. CIPN is associated with HRQoL in cancer patients. Future studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms underlying CIPN so targeted interventions can be developed to reduce the impact of CIPN on patients’ lives.

Childbearing women on combined oral contraceptive agents (COCAs) have been linked with the development of various diseases and possible deficiencies in serum micronutrients. This study aimed at investigating the vitamins and trace mineral changes associated with the use of COCAs among child-bearing healthy women in the Gaza Strip. A comparative cross-sectional study was designed. After informed consent was obtained, questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood samples were collected from a total of 90 women of childbearing age (45 used different contraceptive methods, and 45 used COCAs). The mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells that obtained from the COCAs users group were significantly lower than those in the non-users group (p < 0.001, p = 0.073, and p = 0.047, respectively). There was a significant association between the use of COCAs and cholesterol level (p = 0.044). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in the levels of homocysteine and vitamin B6 between the groups (p = 0.008 and p = 0.010, respectively). The present study indicated the possibility of micronutrient deficiencies in women on combined oral contraceptive agents.

Among the world, the most frequently discovered and fatal cancer in women is breast cancer (BC). From the perspective of public health, estimating the BC risk linked to dairy intake may aid in comp...

Objective To determine the risk factors associated with inflammation in hypertensive patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Methods A total of 164 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes patients aged 38-60 years were selected from 7 primary healthcare centers in Gaza city, Palestine. Interview questionnaire were employed to collect data related to age, gender, smoking habits, and physical activity pattern. Laboratory biochemical tests included fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), interleukin 6 (IL-6), high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), and adiponectin were estimated in all patients. Results The study involved 118 (72%) women and 46 (28%) men; the mean of age was 53.7 +/- 0.46 years. A tertile of inflammation feature with hs-CRP was developed. The highest tertile of hs-CRP was significantly associated with women, higher obesity indices, metabolic dysregulation involving lipid profile markers, FBG and blood pressure, IL-6, and lower adiponectin. After adjusting for age, gender, smoking habits, and physical activity; the risk factor of high level of hs-CRP were the increased body mass index [OR: 1.17, p = .018], IL-6 [OR: 2.22, p = .025] and FBG [OR: 1.01, p = .007], as well as reduced adiponectin [OR: 0.81, p = .002]. Conclusion The inflammation state was affected by obesity and had been related to altered adipokines levels of IL-6 and adiponectin, as well as affected by the glycemic control, as evidenced by higher serum level of FBG.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between iron body status and postpartum depression (PPD) among mothers during the postpartum period.Design: This is a case–control study.Setting: Governmental primary health care centres in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.Participants: This study involved 300 mothers a month after delivery, with one 150 mothers that were recruited in the cases group who were diagnosed with PPD based on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) ≥ 10. The control group included 150 mothers did not have PPD (EPDS < 10). Body iron status is represented by the index of sTfR/log ferritin.Results: Among PPD mothers, 43·3 % had low ferritin level v. 15·3 % for controls (P < 0·001) and cases v. controls difference in mean Hb level was −0·61 (95 % CI −0·86, −0·35). The results of the multiple logistic regression reported that there is a statistically significant association between PPD and the body iron status existed, as mothers who suffered from iron deficiency (ID) were three times more likely to have PPD (OR^adj 3·25; P = 0·015). Furthermore, the results of the final regression model showed that the other factors that can lead to PPD are absence of psychological guidance services (OR^adj 8·54; P = 0·001), suffering from undesired feeling in the last pregnancy (OR^adj 1·77; P = 0·034), in addition to having one of the mental health disorders in the last pregnancy (P = 0·001).Conclusion: Body iron status might be a risk factor for postpartum depression and other possibilities of reverse causality may worsen the condition.