The prevalence of psychological morbidity among Palestinian children in the West Bank was significantly higher (factor of 2; chi2 = 23.26, df 1, P < 0.001), relative to the level of psychological morbidity determined independently for children in Gaza during 2000. We predict that these rates will have increased substantially owing to the escalated violence that began in this region 2 months after we conducted our study. We further predict that children in Israeli settlements in the West Bank will also exhibit elevated levels of psychological morbidity, relative to their counterparts in Israel.

Adults of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and C. chinensis (L.) were exposed to broad been seeds treated with four different concentrations of jojoba oil (70 % EC) 875, 1750, 3500, 7000 ppm and untreated control to evaluate the effectiveness of jojoba oil as a protectant. A negative correlations were observed between the jojoba oil concentration and all evaluated biological parameters, fecundity, egg viability, developmental period of the immature stages, adult emergence, broad bean seeds viability and seeds weight loss percentage for both tested insects C. maculatus and C. chinensis. The obtained results cleared that C. chinensis was more susceptible to jojoba oil than C. maculatus and there is a significant difference between the two tested insects in all tested biological aspects regardless to the concentration (for the fecundity 168.33 and 190 eggs/female, hatchability percentage 60.33 and 69.5 %, developmental period 26.3 and 28.3 days, and 36.33 and 45.33 F1 emerged adults and weight loss percentage 6.02 and 7.56%, respectively. The highest concentration 7000 ppm gave a complete protection of seeds with zero weight loss percent for both tested insects. The mean percentage of weight loss in untreated seeds was 40.61, 49.20%, for C. maculatus and C. chinensis respectively, while, weight loss% reduced to more than the half averaged 7.56 and 6.02% for treated seeds. The residual effect of jojoba oil treatments was clearly effective in the first month of storage period which gave a 100% protection of treated bean seeds with 0.0 F1 emerged adults in both tested insects (100% mortality of developmental stages). After six months of storage period, residual effect of jojoba oil reduced by the storage period prolongation, While, jojoba oil still could protect the broad bean seeds against C. maculatus and C. chinensis attacks although the efficacy of jojoba oil decreased with aging 79.92 and 61.86% reduction of F1 adult emergence compared to untreated control. Slight harmful effect of jojoba oil application on the viability of broad bean seeds, so reduction of germination was most appeared at, the highest concentration7000 ppm particularly at the end of storage period averaged 28.22%.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system which are defined by articular cartilage degradation and impairment of joint. When criteria and radiography are insufficient to diagnose early-stages of RA and OA to control disease course, biomarkers become necessary to early diagnosis these diseases.Objective: We searched the levels of (MMP3) and (HP) in the blood of early RA and OA patients in order to see if they can be utilized to distinguish the two diseases at an early stage.Patients and Methods: We recruited 1) forty patients who were diagnosed with early knee osteoarthritis using EULAR and Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic grading criteria, 2) forty patients with early RA (disease duration less than three years), and 3) forty control group consisted of normal volunteers who were age and sex matched. All subjects underwent a thorough medical history, clinical musculoskeletal examination, and laboratory tests, including the determination of blood MMP3 and HP. We did also a simple x-ray of their hands and knee joints.Results: Comparing groups, we found a highly significant increase in serum MMP3 in OA patients than RA patients and control groups. MMP3 was also significantly higher in RA patients than in the control group. While, OA patients had significantly higher HP than RA patients and control groups, whereas RA patients and control groups had no significant difference in HP.Conclusion: Hydroxyproline rather than MMP3 may be employed as a potential biomarker for early differentiation between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system which are defined by articular cartilage degradation and impairment of joints. When criteria and radiography are insufficient to diagnose the early stages of RA and OA to control disease course, biomarkers become necessary to early diagnose these diseases. Objective: We searched the levels of (MMP3) and (HP) in the blood of early RA and OA patients in order to see if they can be utilized to distinguish the two diseases at an early stage. Patients and Methods: We recruited 1) forty patients who were diagnosed with early knee osteoarthritis using EULAR and Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic grading criteria, 2) forty patients with early RA (disease duration less than three years), and 3) forty control groups consisted of normal volunteers who were age and sex-matched. All subjects underwent a thorough medical history, clinical musculoskeletal examination, and laboratory tests, including the determination of blood MMP3 and HP. We did also a simple x-ray of their hands and knee joints. Results: Comparing groups, we found a highly significant increase in serum MMP3 in OA patients than RA patients and control groups. MMP3 was also significantly higher in RA patients than in the control group. While, OA patients had significantly higher HP than RA patients and control groups, whereas RA patients and control groups had no significant difference in HP. Conclusion: Hydroxyproline rather than MMP3 may be employed as a potential biomarker for early differentiation between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.