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Background: Brain is the main organ that manages all other organs and has significant oxygen requirements, which makes it vulnerable to reactive oxygen species, thus causing different neurological disorders. The aim of this work is the evaluation of Lavandula officinalis essential oil neuroprotective effect against hydrogen peroxide (HP)-induced toxicity in mice. Materials and Methods: Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Essential oil analysis is performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Biological activity evaluation carried out the ferric reducing antioxidant power test, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation assay, the histopathological study of the brain, and determination of antioxidant enzyme activities. Results: Chemical characterization of essential oil using GC-MS identified 47 compounds, accounting for almost 80% of the total oil and indicates the occurrence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The identified major compounds are pentanone (16.55%), propanal (15.89%), methyl ethyl ketone (13.51%), naphthalene (10.81%), terpinen-4-ol (6.55%), cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (4.77%), and isoborneol (2.27%). This study allowed us to investigate the effects of HP on brain function in Mus musculus adult mice by assessing DNA degradation, cell morphology, oxidative balance and brain weight variation. Furthermore, we have highlighted the beneficial effects of L. officinalis essential oil, which could significantly counteract all these alterations by its active compounds, which are endowed with potent biological activities. Conclusion: We can conclude that HP-induced damage in histomorphological changes in mice brain, significant atrophy, as well as an important alteration of the genetic expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the nature and extent of non‐fatal injuries sustained by Palestinians during the first three months of the second intifada in late 2000 by looking at two sets of data. 10,279 cases were obtained from the records of the Red Crescent Organization, which provides first level emergency care via ambulance crews in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. For 6,071 cases in the West Bank, additional information was available from the Ministry of Health, which keeps records of first and second emergency level care provided at hospitals and health points. The Ministry of Health cases were classified by type of weapon, site of injury and level of treatment provided. Fifty‐eight per cent of injuries occurred in young men 18–34 years, but 25 per cent occurred in school children, ten per cent in people over 50 years and five per cent in females. Fifty‐nine per cent of the injuries were caused by bullets and 76 per cent of these affected the upper part of the body; 13.4 per cent of the injuries were severe, with major implication for disability and the need for long‐term care and support. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The phosphogypsum (PG) endogenous bacterial community and endophytic bacterial communities of four plants growing in phosphogypsum-contaminated sites, Suaeda fruticosa (SF), Suaeda mollis (SM), Mesembryanthmum nodiflorum (MN) and Arthrocnemum indicum (AI) were investigated by amplicon sequencing. Results highlight a more diverse community of phosphogypsum than plants associated endophytic communities. Additionally, the bacterial culturable communities of phosphogypsum and associated plant endophytes were isolated and their plant-growth promotion capabilities, bioremediation potential and stress tolerance studied. Most of plant endophytes were endowed with plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities and phosphogypsum communities and associated plants endophytes proved highly resistant to salt, metal and antibiotic stress. They also proved very active in bioremediation of phosphogypsum and other organic and inorganic environmental pollutants. Genome sequencing of five members of the phosphogypsum endogenous community showed that they belong to the recently described species Bacillus albus (BA). Genome mining of BA allowed the description of pollutant degradation and stress tolerance mechanisms. Prevalence of this tool box in the core, accessory and unique genome allowed to conclude that accessory and unique genomes are critical for the dynamics of strain acquisition of bioremediation abilities. Additionally, secondary metabolites (SM) active in bioremediation such as petrobactin have been characterized. Taken together, our results reveal hidden untapped valuable bacterial actors for waste remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]