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Mountainous ecosystems provide social, economic, and environmental services at different scales. Nonetheless, currently, they have been exposed to environmental degradation risks. This study was conducted to investigate woody plant species diversity and threats to the study forest. Systematic sampling was employed to collect vegetation data from fifty 400 m2 sample plots along five transect lines. Vegetation and the environmental variables were recorded from each plot. Eighty randomly sampled households were selected for socioeconomic data. Descriptive statistics and ranking exercises were employed. The vegetation classification was performed using the R program version 2.15.2. The species diversity, richness, and evenness were computed. The result showed that five plant communities were recognized. A total of 99 woody plants belonging to 87 genera and 50 families were identified, of which 13 % were endemic. The total basal area of the study forest was 3.40 m2ha-1, and the forest was characterized by a bell-shaped population structure identified by poor regeneration and recruitment. With increasing altitude, there was a significant decrease in human impacts, grazing, and the number of plant species. About 90 % of the informants disclosed deforestation as the major threat to forest cover change, whereas 84 % of them recommended forest restoration as a tangible measure. There was a high deforestation rate of the selected woody species (e.g., Arundinaria alpina) and high expansion of agriculture at the fringes of the forest. This requires promoting forest land rehabilitation activities, nature tourism, establishing partnerships with communities on the forest management, consolidating village-level institutions and developing livelihood alternatives for communities at the local governments and the community level to restore the degraded forest.

Cholera is a life-threatening gastrointestinal infection caused by a toxigenic bacterium, Vibrio cholerae. After a lull of almost 30 years, a first case of cholera was detected in Lebanon in October 2022. The outbreak lasted three months, with 8007 suspected cases (671 laboratory-confirmed) and 23 deaths. In this study, we use phenotypic methods and microbial genomics to study 34 clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae isolates collected throughout this outbreak. All isolates are identified as V. cholerae O1, serotype Ogawa strains from wave 3 of the seventh pandemic El Tor (7PET) lineage. Phylogenomic analysis unexpectedly reveals the presence of two different strains of the seventh pandemic El Tor (7PET) lineage. The dominant strain has a narrow antibiotic resistance profile and is phylogenetically related to South Asian V. cholerae isolates and derived African isolates from the AFR15 sublineage. The second strain is geographically restricted and extensively drug-resistant. It belongs to the AFR13 sublineage and clusters with V. cholerae isolates collected in Yemen. In conclusion, the 2022-2023 Lebanese cholera outbreak is caused by the simultaneous introduction of two different 7PET strains. Genomic surveillance with cross-border collaboration is therefore crucial for the identification of new introductions and routes of circulation of cholera, improving our understanding of cholera epidemiology., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

How reparative processes are coordinated following injury is incompletely understood. In recent studies, we showed that autocrine C3a and C5a receptor (C3ar1 and C5ar1) G protein-coupled receptor signaling plays an obligate role in vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 growth signaling in vascular endothelial cells. We documented the same interconnection for platelet-derived growth factor receptor growth signaling in smooth muscle cells, epidermal growth factor receptor growth signaling in epidermal cells, and fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling in fibroblasts, indicative of a generalized cell growth regulatory mechanism. In this study, we examined one physiological consequence of this signaling circuit. We found that disabling CD55 (also known as decay accelerating factor), which lifts restraint on autocrine C3ar1/C5ar1 signaling, concomitantly augments the growth of each cell type. The mechanism is heightened C3ar1/C5ar1 signaling resulting from the loss of CD55's restraint jointly potentiating growth factor production by each cell type. Examination of the effect of lifted CD55 restraint in four types of injury (burn, corneal denudation, ear lobe puncture, and reengraftment of autologous skin) showed that disabled CD55 function robustly accelerated healing in all cases, whereas disabled C3ar1/C5ar1 signaling universally retarded it. In wild-type mice with burns or injured corneas, applying a mouse anti-mouse CD55 blocking Ab (against CD55's active site) to wounds accelerated the healing rate by 40-70%. To our knowledge, these results provide new insights into mechanisms that underlie wound repair and open up a new tool for accelerating healing., (Copyright © 2024 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

This paper investigates the trends, drivers, and consequences of LULC changes in Legabora watershed, Ethiopia, by utilizing remote sensing and geographic systems. Landsat Maltispectiral scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager (OLI) images of years 1976, 1991, 2001, and 2022, respectively, were used to study the dynamics of LULC. Essential image pre-processing steps were carefully carried out to correct distortions caused by sensor limitations. Eight main LULC categories were identified based on supervised image categorization methods and the maximum likelihood classification algorithm.The findings of change detection and cross-tabulation matrix demonstrate that there has been a significant increase in the area of cropland 345.1 ha/year, settlement 5.9 ha/year, forest 38.2 ha/year, and degraded lands 2.56 ha/year, respectively, over the period between 1976 and 2022. In contrast, considerable decreases were observed in grasslands (-248 ha/year) and shrublands (-144 ha/year), whereas other LULC categories augmented. The results revealed that the overall accuracy rates stood at 88.3 %, 88.4 %, and 85.6 % for 1976, 1991, and 2022, respectively. The overall kappa coefficient demonstrated values of 0.86 %, 0.86 %, and 0.83 % for the same period. Surveyed respondents perceived population growth, settlement, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development as the most noticeable drivers of these LULC changes. In contrast, deforestation, land degradation, lack of livestock fodder, and biodiversity loss were identified as the main consequences of LULC changes. The factors and implications addressed in this study may be helpful tool for the formulation and implementation of evidence-based land use policies and strategies within in the study area and elsewhere., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Competing Interests: The authors (Addisu Wolde, Melesse Maryo and Mesele Negash) declare no conflict of interest.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) refer to infections in any part of the respiratory tract, which are common, with most of the world's population contracting at least one infection annually. These infections are becoming important causes of death and morbidity due to the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance that has resulted in reduced efficacy of existing drugs. Different local societies residing in Ethiopia have been reported to use traditional medicinal plants to treat RTIs. Nevertheless, up-to-date summarized data on the diversity of plants used in the traditional medicine system to treat RTIs in Ethiopia are lacking. The purpose of this review was to assess plant species used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory tract infections in Ethiopia. It attempts to compile available data required for undertaking further scientific investigations. The data were collected by searching for published scientific articles and other grey literature. Following this, medicinal plant (MP) diversity, growth forms, plant parts used, modes of remedy preparation and application, sources and distributions, and frequently treated respiratory disorders were examined. An Excel spreadsheet and SigmaPlot software were used to summarize and present the data. Two hundred twenty-nine (229) plant species that have been used to treat respiratory disorders in Ethiopia were documented. Lamiaceae was the most cited family (27 species), followed by Asteraceae (23 species), and Fabaceae (18 species), whereas cough was primarily cited as being treated by MPs and scored the highest frequency of citation (FOC = 243), followed by the common cold (FOC = 151) and asthma (FOC = 63). The top-cited plant species used in the treatment of RTIs were Eucalyptus globulus (6.8%), Allium sativum (5.5%), Zingiber officinale (4.2%), Ruta chalepensis (3.8%), and Ocimum lamiifolium (2.8%). Herbs were the dominant plant growth form (46%) used to treat respiratory diseases, and the most commonly used MP parts were leaves (37%). The leading traditional method used for preparation was decoction (25.5%), and the remedies were usually administered orally (64.6%). The MP origin reported was mainly from the wild (59%). High diversity of medicinal plants was reported as being used to treat various RTIs in Ethiopia. Information obtained from this review could be used as a reference for the selection of plants for further pharmacological, phytochemical, and toxicological investigations for their possible therapeutic applications and the development of new plant-based drugs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Alemtshay Teka and Melesse Maryo.)

Crop diversification on the farm is a useful approach, especially in developing countries, where agriculture is the primary source of income. Crop diversity management on the farm is critical for reducing poverty, increasing farm revenue, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability by maintaining biodiversity, soil, and water resources. Despite their relevance, several variables are currently affecting farmers' crop production decisions. The purpose of this research was to see how socioeconomic factors influence crop diversification. We chose randomly 84 sample household heads from four kebeles to collect socioeconomic and on-farm data. The Shannon-Wiener index (SWI) and crop species richness were used to assess crop diversity. A multiple stepwise linear regression model was used to evaluate the data. Crop diversity was positively and significantly related to household farm size, animal size and composition, annual income, and the location's altitudinal gradient. A lack of road infrastructure and market connections constrained farmers' crop diversification options. It's vital to connect distant areas with road networks and market ties to promote farm-level crop diversification., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

There have been incredible changes that have taken place in the land use pattern globally over the last 50 years, which resulted from environmental degradation and climate change impacts. Quantitative analysis of the LULC dynamics helps in land-use management and ecosystem degradation at large. The study was conducted in the Doyogena district, southern Ethiopia to identify LULC change dynamics, and analyze the driving forces using combined approaches: remote sensing, field observations, in-depth household interviews, key informants, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A supervised maximum likelihood image cataloging method was employed in conjunction with feature extraction of satellite images to categorize and map LULC classes of the study area. Satellite image handing out, classification technique, and remotely sensed data were processed using ArcGIS map 10.6, and ERDAS Imagine 2014. Common LULC categories were identified, and a change analysis was conducted. Accordingly, seven LULC categories were determined. The result showed a considerable decline in forestland from 1756.7 ha (38.8%) in 1973 to 71.6 ha (1.6%) in 2020. Similarly, wetlands have declined successively from 16.8 in 2000-2010 to 6.3 in 1986-2020 ha/year over the last three and half decades respectively. On the other hand, cropland has increased from 34.1% in 1986-2000 to 46.3% between 1986-2020, which is linked to population growth, settlement, and expansion of farmlands. The study watershed has experienced a considerable change in LULC change over the last >3 decades. Hence, local and national regimes should implement sustainable land planning, management strategies including integrated land- use planning, and policy reform into development projects and programs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study examines the perception of the pastoral community on climate change and performance, resilience and adaptive capacity of livestock under climatic stress in southeastern Ethiopia. The study used a mixed research approach whereby quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from multiple sources to address the impacts of climate variability on livestock production and livelihood of pastoral-agro-pastoral communities of Guji zone. Data about pastoralist perception on climate change were collected from 198 randomly selected households using a semi-structured questionnaire. Furthermore, climate data were obtained from the national meteorological agency, and climatic water balance was assessed. The household survey result indicated increasing patterns of temperature (82.8%)and drought intensity (84.8%). Majority of respondents perceived decreasing trends of rainfall and feed availability. Similarly, the trend analysis of rainfall showed declining trends of annual (-4.7 mm/year), autumn (-4.5 mm) and winter (-0.54 mm). Rainfall Anomaly Index identifies 13 drought years over the past 32 years, of which 53.85% occurred between 2007- 2017. Significantly higher (p<0.01) cattle and small ruminants than camel per household died during the disastrous drought occurred in 2008/9 and 2015/16. Nonetheless, the result indicated significantly higher (p<0.01) amounts of milk yield (3.32 litre/day) of dairying camel during dry periods than cattle and small ruminants. Camel and goats are perceived as drought-resistant livestock species and cattle keepers shifting to have more camel and goat in response to prevailing drought in the study area. Poor attention is given to identify climate-smart/resilient livestock species and strains. Therefore, extensive investigations are required to select and identify purpose-specific camel and goat strains for drought-prone areas., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest to declare, (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background Antibiotic resistance has reached an alarming rate globally especially in middle-income countries such as Lebanon. The development of antibiotic resistance is strongly linked to the increased population's injudicious consumption of antibiotics. Objective This study aims to explore the trends of antibiotics consumption in the Lebanese community, between 2004 and 2016, to inform rational use of antibiotics. Setting The study was performed using the Intercontinental Marketing Statistics (IMS) Health Lebanon database Method This is an observational longitudinal study conducted through a review of the IMS database. The annual antibiotics consumption was determined by the Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day (DID). The trends of antibiotics consumption were then categorized by antibiotic class and spectrum of activity. Main outcome measure The total consumption of antibiotics in Lebanon and the classes of antibiotics used by the community. Results Total community consumption of antibiotics, measured by DDD/1000 inhabitants/day (DID), significantly increased from 18.71 in 2004 to 31.26 in 2016. Penicillin combinations, quinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, tetracyclines, and carbapenems showed significant uptrends, in contrast to first-generation cephalosporins, sulfonamides and diaminopyrimidines, and beta-lactamase resistant penicillins. Broad-spectrum antibiotics showed a marked increase in their consumption from 11.50 DID in 2004 to 22.51 DID in 2016 whereas intermediate-spectrum antibiotics had only a slight increase in their consumption from 7.18 DID in 2004 to 8.51 DID in 2016, and narrow-spectrum antibiotics had a severe decline in their consumption from 0.006 DID in 2004 to 0.0003 DID in 2016. Conclusion There is an alarming increase in antibiotics consumption in Lebanon, particularly broad-spectrum antibiotics. This should be complemented with evidence on the determinants of antibiotic consumption such as prescriber and patient-related factors and drug promotional activities to minimize antibiotics overuse., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Evaluations of available camel feed nutritive value are relevant to generate evidence on further camel feed improvements and find out the components to be supplemented., Objective: This study aim to evaluate seasonal variations on chemical composition of selected camel feed in semi-arid regions of south-east Ethiopia., Methods: Samples of edible portions from 15 browse species were collected during the dry and wet seasons, and their chemical compositions were analysed., Results: The crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and relative feed value (RFV) of evaluated browse species were higher (p < .01) in wet season than the dry season except for Acacia asak, Ipomoea donaldsonii and Acacia mellifera. Nonetheless, the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents were higher (p < .01) in the dry season except for A. asak and I. donaldsonii. Moreover, A. asak, I. donaldsonii and A. mellifera were the browse species with higher (p < .01) RFV, IVDMD and CP but lower NDF and ADF during the dry season than the wet season, and these species are qualified as good-quality forage. Thus. Barleria spinisepala were better to use in both seasons, but browse species like I. donaldsonii and A. asak in dry season were ranked as best quality roughage., Conclusion: At richest level on vital components (CP and fibres), these species can serve as well ruminant diets, like for camel. Further investigations based on animal trials are needed in order to confirm the classification standards of feed quality used in this study., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: This study summarizes all literature investigating platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands and feet., Materials & Methods: This is a PRISMA compliant systematic review of 7 databases and includes a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial (RCT) data on pain and function., Results: Nine articles were included in the review. Meta-analysis of 4 RCTs shows PRP significantly improves pain and function versus control. More results are significant at longer duration follow-up., Conclusions: PRP improves pain and function of osteoarthritis. Heterogeneity and risk-of-bias limit current data, requiring more RCTs to determine any regenerative potential of PRP., Prospero Systematic Review Registration Number: 136582., Competing Interests: None., (© 2020 Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Approximately 10% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) become permanently, legally blind. The average cost of lifetime support and unpaid taxes for each blind person amounts to approximately $900,000. This study evaluates the feasibility and potential role of bedside optical coherence tomography (OCT) in Terson’s syndrome (TS) in patients with acute SAH (aSAH) and its potential role in blindness prevention., Methods: The authors conducted an open-label pilot study, in which 31 patients with an angiographic diagnosis of aSAH were first screened for TS with dilated funduscopy and then with OCT in the acute phase and at 6-week followup visits. Outpatient mood assessments (Patient Health Questionnaire–depression module, Hamilton Depression Scale), and quality of life general (NIH Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) and visual scales (25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire) were measured at 1 and 6 weeks after discharge. Exclusion criteria included current or previous history of severe cataracts, severe diabetic retinopathy, severe macular degeneration, or glaucoma., Results: OCT identified 7 patients with TS, i.e., a 22.6% incidence in our aSAH sample: 7 in the acute phase, including a large retinal detachment that was initially missed by funduscopy and diagnosed by OCT in follow-up clinic. Dilated retinal funduscopy significantly failed to detect TS in 4 (57.1%) of these 7 cases. Intraventricular hemorrhage was significantly more common in TS cases (85.7% vs 25%). None of the participants experienced any complications from OCT examinations. Neither decreased quality of life visual scale scores nor a depressed mood correlated with objective OCT pathological findings at the 6-week follow-up after discharge. There were no significant mood differences between TS cases and controls., Conclusions: OCT is the gold standard in retinal disease diagnosis. This pilot study shows that bedside OCT examination is feasible in aSAH. In this series, OCT was a safe procedure that enhanced TS detection by decreasing false-negative/inconclusive funduscopic examinations. It allows early diagnosis of macular holes and severe retinal detachments, which require acute surgical therapy to prevent legal blindness. In addition, OCT aids in ruling out potential false-positive visual deficits in individuals with a depressed mood at follow-up.

Background: Intracisternal papaverine (iPPV) is a vasodilator used for prophylaxis of intraoperative vasospasm during aneurysmal clipping. Postoperative side effects of iPPV include transient cranial nerve palsies, most commonly mydriasis owing to oculomotor nerve involvement, with rapid resolution., Methods: We critically reviewed current literature on the adverse effects of iPPV in aneurysmal surgery with a focus on oculomotor nerve involvement. We also present the index case of prolonged bilateral mydriasis secondary to iPPV irrigation toxicity and its putative underlying mechanism., Results: Papaverine toxicity occurs in the setting of its antimuscarinic action and blood-cerebrospinal fluid and blood-brain barrier compromise owing to acute subarachnoid hemorrhage and direct effect of papaverine. Our patient also experienced severe vasospasm and a minor stroke, both contributing to further blood-brain barrier disruption, and relatively acidic pH of the subarachnoid hemorrhage milieu., Conclusions: We propose that these factors perpetuate phase dynamics of papaverine crystals and facilitate a sustained slow release of papaverine within the cisternal system. Were it indicated, 0.3% iPPV would reasonably diminish the risk for neurotoxicity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)