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The article discusses some basic aspects of the integrated production and protection of horticultural crops, basically vegetables (e.g. tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, beans, etc.) and fruit trees (bananas), as well as flowers grown under cover in the Mediterranean region, namely Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Cyprus, and Turkey.
Plant pathogenic mycoplasmas were discovered by electron microscopy, in 1967, long after the discovery and culture in 1898 of the first pathogenic mycoplasma of animal origin, Mycoplasma mycoides. Mycoplasmas are Eubacteria of the class Mollicutes, a group of organisms phylogenetically related to Gram-positive bacteria. Their more characteristic features reside in the small size of their genomes, the low guanine (G) plus cytosine (C) content of their genomic DNA and the lack of a cell wall. Plant pathogenic mycoplasmas are responsible for several hundred diseases and belong to two groups: the phytoplasmas and the spiroplasmas. The phytoplasmas (previously called MLOs, for mycoplasma like organisms) were discovered first; they are pleiomorphic, and have so far resisted in vitro cultivation. Phytoplasmas represent the largest group of plant pathogenic Mollicutes. Only three plant pathogenic spiroplasmas are known today. Spiroplasma citri, the agent of citrus stubborn was discovered and cultured in 1970 and shown to be helical and motile. S. kunkelii is the causal agent of corn stunt. S. phoeniceum, responsible for periwinkle yellows, was discovered in Syria. There are many other spiroplasmas associated with insects and ticks. Plant pathogenic mycoplasmas are restricted to the phloem sieve tubes in which circulates the photosynthetically-enriched sap, the food for many phloem-feeding insects (aphids, leafhoppers, psyllids, etc.). Interestingly, phytopathogenic mycoplasmas are very specifically transmitted by leafhoppers or psyllid species. In this paper, the most recent knowledge on phytopathogenic mycoplasmas in relation with their insect and plant habitats is presented as well as the experiments carried out to control plant mycoplasma diseases, by expression of mycoplasma-directed-antibodies in plants (plantibodies).
Geographically Saudi Arabia and the Middle East include Asian Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran and the previous Southern Asiatic Soviet Republics. The snake fauna contains species in common with northern Africa, Europe and central Asia and towards the east there is infiltration of species characteristic of tropical Asia. A classification of the venomous snakes of this area together with their distribution in the different countries is presented. The epidemiology of snake bites, pathophysiology of toxicity and the clinical features of envenoming by the different species of snakes are discussed. Management of snake bite victims including first aid, treatment at the hospital, clues from signs and symptoms that can help in the identification of the causative snake and antivenom treatment is stressed. Traditional manipulations like local incision and suction, use of caustics, oxidizing agents and cryotherapy and the injudicious use of tourniquets are evaluated and criticized. Finally the preventive control of snake bites for travellers in areas infested with venomous snakes is presented and discussed.
A set of 25 samples of soil, sediments, carbonate and phosphate rocks from Syria were analysed for uranium, using three reactor based methods; instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), delayed neutron counting (DNC) and one cycle of irradiation utilizing the cyclic activation system (CAS). Although the three methods are capable of irradiation samples, the last method is the least established for U determination in rocks. The measurements obtained by the three methods are compared. The results show good agreement, with a distinct linear relationship and significant positive correlation coefficients. It was concluded that the CAS method could reliably be used to rapidly determine uranium in geological samples.
A collaborative survey was performed to compare prescribing strategies for the treatment of epilepsy in Mediterranean countries, based on analysis of 500 questionnaires compiled by physicians in 14 different countries. For partial seizures, carbamazepine was the drug of choice in most countries, whereas the second choice of drug differed widely. For primarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures, valproic acid was usually preferred, but other drugs used widely in some countries included phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine. Lamotrigine was the most popular second-line drug for primarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the European countries. In patients where the initial drug failed, switching to an alternative monotherapy was usually the preferred strategy, but advocates of early use of combination therapy exceeded 30% in the respondents of seven countries. Most respondents, in all countries except Turkey, did not prescribe drugs to prevent recurrence of febrile seizures; however, intermittent prophylaxis with a benzodiazepine was advocated by a considerable number of physicians, and continuous prophylaxis was prescribed by a significant minority of respondents in France, Syria and Tunisia. New drugs were rarely used as first-line treatment due to high cost and inadequate experience. Overall, this survey indicates that there is a wide variability in therapeutic practices between and within countries. This information may be useful for the implementation of national educational activities and for the design of pragmatic trials aimed at comparing different therapeutic strategies.
OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of a modified and translated version of the original Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: A cohort of 184 RA patients from different Arabic countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait and Morocco) were recruited and asked to participate in the study. Two questions had been changed to suit the Arabic culture and to tackle some aspects that are commoner to be performed in the Arabic culture. After modification, translation and retranslation of the questionnaire, it was administered to the selected patients and tested for internal consistency, reliability and construct validity by correlating the yield of the questionnaire with other disease activity parameters. The questionnaire was administered again after a 1-week interval for evaluation of the reliability of this test. The modified questions were tested for their loyalty to the principal component and comparing their correlation with that of the other unchanged items. RESULTS: Test-retest showed strong reliability with a high percentage of agreement and high values for Kappa. Internal consistency showed a high value for standardized alpha (Cronbach's): 0.979 that did not show any significant change if any of the 20 items had been eliminated. The modified questionnaire had shown a strong validity when correlating its results with other disease activity parameters. This correlation was the strongest with tender joint count (TJC), Ritchie articular index (RAI), morning stiffness (MS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) and the least (but still significant) with rheumatoid factor (RF). CONCLUSION: The Arabic HAQ is a reliable and valid instrument that can be self-administered to Arabic RA patients to evaluate their functional disability. Its measurement properties were comparable to versions in other languages.
Maté is a tea-like beverage consumed mainly in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil and to a lesser degree in other areas of the world such as Germany, Syria, Lebanon and Northern Israel. It is brewed from the dried leaves and stemlets of the perennial tree Ilex paraguarensis ("yerba mate") a species that belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family. Maté consumption has been associated with an increased rate of oral and oropharyngeal cancers. The purpose of this study is to review the literature and discuss the role of Maté consumption in the development of oral and oropharyngeal cancer and the potential carcinogenic mechanisms. A review of the relevant literature linking Maté consumption with oral and oropharyngeal cancer and the carcinogenicity of Maté was performed. The search was performed using Medline, library catalogues, OCLC first search and ISI web of science databases. Case control studies on Maté drinking populations and, in vivo and in vitro studies on the carcinogenicity of Maté were reviewed. The populations reviewed in many of these studies also used alcohol and tobacco products confounding the influence of Maté as an independent risk factor. There is evidence in the literature that Maté consumption is in itself carcinogenic and plays a role in the development of cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Although the exact mechanism of carcinogenesis is still unknown, available information suggests that Maté drinking should be considered one of the risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
The epidemiology of human brucellosis, the commonest zoonotic infection worldwide, has drastically changed over the past decade because of various sanitary, socioeconomic, and political reasons, together with the evolution of international travel. Several areas traditionally considered to be endemic--eg, France, Israel, and most of Latin America--have achieved control of the disease. On the other hand, new foci of human brucellosis have emerged, particularly in central Asia, while the situation in certain countries of the Near East (eg, Syria) is rapidly worsening. Furthermore, the disease is still present, in varying trends, both in European countries and in the USA. Awareness of this new global map of human brucellosis will allow for proper interventions from international public-health organisations.
An outbreak of bluetongue in sheep started in the Menderes valley, Aydin Province, Western Turkey, in October 1977. The severity of the disease indicated that it had not been there before but had been introduced into the area. Analysis showed that, while it was possible for the virus to have been brought into the area by movement of infected animals, there was also a period of south-easterly winds which could have carried infected midges from Cyprus, where bluetongue was present. During the night of 14-15 October 1977, south-easterly winds could have brought midges infected with bluetongue virus for the 15 h flight at a height possibly of 500 m and at temperatures of about 20 degrees C. A depression moving north-eastwards accompanied by rain may have affected the landing of midges in the Menderes valley on the morning of 15 October. An outbreak of arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly in newly born calves occurred in March-May 1980, also in the Menderes valley, Aydin Province. The severity of the outbreak indicated that Akabane virus had not been in the area before but had been introduced in September-November the previous year. While infected animals could have brought the virus into the area, analysis based on the probable time of infection of pregnant dams showed that easterly winds at the end of September or beginning of October 1979 could have brought insects infected with Akabane virus into the Menderes valley from eastern Turkey or northern Syria. These analyses illustrate the use of meteorological data to backtrack to possible sources and to identify the time of infection.
Partial nucleotide sequence at the 3' end of ID (VP1-encoding) gene of 90 foot-and-mouth disease virus type O isolates recovered from field outbreaks in India between 1993-9 were determined. The sequences were compared with each other and reference viruses. The published sequences of 15 type O isolates recovered from different parts of Asia and one isolate (O1BFS) from Europe and one from Egypt (O1/Sharquia/Egypt/72) were also included in the analysis for comparison. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis the viruses could be grouped into four distinct genotypes (genotypes I-IV). All 90 isolates from India were genotype-I, as were the reference isolates from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey. Genotype-I isolates were further subdivided into 16 sub-genotypes. The Indian isolates were found to be extremely heterogeneous in nature and clustered into 12 different genetic groups. In genotype-I, the nucleotide sequence difference seen between the isolates was 0-11.6%, while among the Indian isolates it is 0-8.8%. Viruses of similar genetic groups are circulating in India, Bangladesh and countries of the Middle East. Genotype-II and -III are represented by isolates from Lebanon (O1/South Lebanon) and Europe (O1-BFS), respectively. Genotype-IV is formed by isolates from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The present study reveals the occurrence of viruses belonging to multiple genetic groups over a short period of time and persistence of single genetic group in the same geographical area over several years. This is consistent with the endemic nature of the disease in the country.
Information about the distribution of bluetongue in Turkey during 1978-81 has been obtained by serological surveys in cattle, sheep and goats. The group-specific immunodiffusion test was used to identify the presence of bluetongue virus (BTV) in a given province and the type-specific microneutralization test to decide which virus types had been in circulation. By drawing sera from accurately aged donor animals in May and August 1980, it was possible to draw up a general outline of the distribution of BTV in Turkey between early 1978 and mid 1980. By combining the same technique with spring and autumn field visits it became possible to make detailed inferences about the distribution of BTV serotypes in 1980 and 1981. The results support the conclusion that BTV was widespread in central and western Turkey for a number of years and suggests that overwintering can be a regular occurrence in that country. When compared with contemporaneous results from Syria and Jordan, a unifying and well-defined bluetongue virus ecosystem becomes apparent.
Serological evidence was used to confirm an outbreak of Akabane disease in cattle in the Turkish Province of Aydin in 1980. Thereafter, serum collections from the Middle East were screened for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to Akabane virus. The results indicate that the virus was present in a number of provinces on the south Turkish coast in 1979 and 1980 but that it probably did not persist into 1981; the virus had also been present on Cyprus in 1980 and on at least one previous occasion. There was also evidence of limited virus transmission in the Orontes river valley in Syria in 1979 and less precise evidence to show that occasional infection occurred in the lower Jordan river valley. The failure of Akabane virus to persist in southern Turkey for more than two years indicates that this area is open to epidemic rather than endemic infection. The presence of neutralizing antibodies in the eastern Turkish Provinces of Gaziantep and Diyarbakir suggests that this might be the route whereby Akabane virus occasionally invades the Middle East region.
A survey was conducted in 1995 to assess the prevalence of TB infection using the PPD skin test infection among 3931 inmates in all 21 jails in Lebanon. Forty-five percent of participants had a positive PPD skin test. The likelihood of testing positive was higher among men versus women, and among those who had been incarcerated for more than 3 years versus less than that. Compared to prisoners whose usual residence was Central Lebanon, those from North Lebanon and those from outside Lebanon (mostly Syria and Egypt) had a higher risk for PPD positivity, those from Bekaa a lower risk, and those from South Lebanon about the same risk. Among those with positive PPD tests, 7% had abnormal chest X-rays suggestive of active infection. Results suggest that TB infection is an important health problem in correctional facilities in Lebanon and that special control programs should target North Lebanon. The importance of screening the incarcerated population with chest X-rays rather than PPD skin tests is discussed.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on storability of the two main apple varieties, Golden Delicious and Starking, in Syria. The experiments were performed in 1995 and 1996. Fruits were irradiated with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 KGy. Irradiated and unirradiated fruits were stored at 1 to 2 degrees C and under a relative humidity of 80 to 90%. Weight loss and spoilage due to physiological disorders and fungal diseases were evaluated throughout the different storage periods. Firmness, coloration and pH values were estimated immediately after irradiation. The results showed that, in both varieties, gamma irradiation increased the weight loss after 45 days of storage in apples gathered in 1995 but not in the 1996 season. After 180 days of storage, gamma irradiation had different effects on weight loss depending on the growing year and variety, and increased fungal spoilage. Application of gamma irradiation prevented the growth of Aspergillus niger and the formation of skin scald in 'Golden Delicious' fruits. Immediately after treatment, gamma irradiation increased the softening of fruits, changed their color from green to yellow and decreased the pH value of the juice.
Despite the importance of cytochrome P450 in the metabolism of many drugs, several aspects of molecular variation at one of the main loci coding for it, CYP2D6, have never been analysed so far. Here we show that it is possible to rapidly and efficiently genotype the main European allelic variants at this locus by a SNaPshot method identifying chromosomal rearrangements and nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Haplotypes could be reconstructed from data on 494 chromosomes in six populations of the Mediterranean region. High levels of linkage disequilibrium were found within the chromosome region screened, suggesting that CYP2D6 may be part of a genomic recombination block, and hence that, aside from unequal crossingover that led to large chromosomal rearrangements, its haplotype diversity essentially originated through the accumulation of mutations. With the only, albeit statistically insignificant, exception of Syria, haplotype frequencies do not differ among the populations studied, despite the presence among them of three well-known genetic outliers, which could be the result of common selective pressures playing a role in shaping CYP2D6 variation over the area of Europe that we surveyed.
Serum amyloid P protein (SAP) is a ubiquitous vertebrate protein distinguished by its conservative evolution and paucity of polymorphic forms. The SAP homologue in the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), called Female Protein [FP(SAP)] is unique because its synthesis is controlled by sex hormones. These observations were limited to the commercially available standard Syrian hamsters that are descendants of three littermates captured in Syria in 1930. The authors examined FP(SAP) expression in nine inbred lines of Syrian hamsters that were derived from 12 wild hamsters captured in 1971. In general, regulation of FP(SAP) was similar in the new wild hamster strains, although a novel electrophoretically slower FP(SAP) was found in three of the strains. The slow FP(SAP) was not distinguished by size, antigenicity, binding capacity, or regulation. The electrophoretic difference was still apparent after deglycosylation. Hybrid offspring coexpressed both fast and slow FP monomers and formed a unique hybrid pentamer that had a new mobility between the fast and slow parent FP(SAP). The origin of this unusual polymorphism could be related to the amyloidogenesis associated with expression of FP(SAP) in the standard Syrian hamster.
Seventy-five female Damascus goats aged between 1.5 and 5.5 years were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intravaginal sponges and prostaglandin analogue on oestrous synchronization and fecundity; to diagnose pregnancy and to monitor the resumption of the luteal activity. Females were divided randomly, during the breeding season, into three equal groups, S, P and C. Females in group S were fitted with sponges containing 45 mg of flugestone acetate (FGA) for 14 days and injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) at the sponge withdrawal. Females in group P were given two injections of prostaglandin F2alpha analogue at 11-day intervals, whereas females in group C (control) received no treatment. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in oestrous exhibition between females in group S as compared with those in groups P and C, with means being 30 +/- 10, 172 +/- 115 and 217 +/- 75 h for groups S, P and C, respectively. Kidding rates resulting from the first and all matings were 80 and 88, 52 and 88, and 68 and 80% for groups S, P and C, respectively. Fecundity rates were 215, 175 and 180% for groups S, P and C, respectively, with a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the S and both P and C groups. Using an ultrasound pregnancy detector performed on days 57 +/- 3 after mating, positive pregnancy diagnosis was 93.3% and 100% for non-pregnancy. Females in the control group showed functional corpus luteum starting in September. It is concluded that FGA sponges plus PMSG treatment could be successfully used to synchronize oestrus and improve fecundity; whereas prostaglandin treatment was not effective to synchronize oestrus. It is also concluded that pregnancy can be diagnosed accurately and successfully using an ultrasound pregnancy detector. In addition, ovarian activity in the Damascus goat in Syria resumes in September.
Interest in Mediterranean diet began 30 years ago, when Ancel Keys published the results of the famous Seven Countries Study, Since 1945, almost 1.3 million people have come to Australia from Mediterranean countries as new settlers. There are 18 countries with coasts on the Mediterranean sea: Spain, southern France, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. This study from which this report derives aims to investigate the influence of the food habits of immigrants from Mediterranean countries on Australian food intake. Here we look at the 'traditional' food habits of the above Mediterranean countries as told by 102 people we interviewed in Sydney, who came from 18 Mediterranean countries to Sydney. Most of the informants were women, their age ranged from 35 to 55 years. The interview was open-ended and held in the informant's home. It usually lasted around 1 1/2 hours. The interview had three parts. Personal information was obtained, questions relating to the food habits of these people back in their original Mediterranean countries and how their food intake and habits have changed in Australia were also asked. From the interviews, we have obtained a broad picture of 'traditional' food habits in different Mediterranean countries. The interview data was checked with books of recipes for the different countries. While there were similarities between the countries, there are also important differences in the food habits of the Mediterranean countries. Neighbouring countries' food habits are closer than those on opposite sides of the Mediterranean Sea. We suggest that these food habits can be put into four groups. The data here refer to food habits in Mediterranean countries 20 or 30 years ago, as they were recovering from the Second World War. There is no single ideal Mediterranean diet. Nutritionists who use the concept should qualify the individual country and the time in history of their model Mediterranean diet.