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PubMed2000

Molecular characterization of beta-thalassemia in Syria.

This study concerns the determination of beta-thalassemia alleles and other hemoglobin variants in 82 patients from Syria. We have characterized 146 chromosomes and found 17 different beta-thalassemia mutations, and one beta-globin chain variant that gives rise to the abnormal Hb S. The eight most common beta-thalassemia mutations were the IVS-I-110 (G-->A), IVS-I-1 (G-->A), codon 5 (-CT), -30 (T-->A), codon 39 (C-->T), IVS-I-6 (T-->C), IVS-II-1 (G-->A), and codon 15 (TGG-->TAG). These mutations accounted for almost 75% of the total beta-thalassemia chromosomes. We identified 34 different genotypes with a high level of homozygosity. The various beta-thalassemia mutations were characterized using gene amplification with specific oligonucleotide primers, restriction enzyme analysis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. By combining these three approaches we were able to detect mutations in almost 90% of the chromosomes studied. Our findings provide a sound foundation on which to base a preventive program for thalassemia and we believe that the data that we present will facilitate the improvement of medical services such as carrier screening, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis. Furthermore a detailed knowledge of the molecular pathology of beta-thalassemia will strongly improve the prenatal diagnosis services in Syria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Serologic and virologic investigations on the presence of BLV infection in a dairy herd in Syria].

237 cattle of a dairy herd in Syria were tested for anti-BLV antibody by the ELISA. 194 animals were additionally examined by the agar gel immunodiffusions test (AGID) on BLV antibodies and 100 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BLV provirus. BLV specific antibodies were determined by means of AGID and ELISA at 62.9% and 69.2% of the examined animals, respectively. Using the PCR method the BLV provirus was detected in 89% of the investigated cattle. Only one ELISA seropositive animal was negative for BLV provirus. The results show the high BLV contamination of this herd and lead to the presumption of wide spread enzootic bovine leukosis in Syria. In the case of the diagnosis of BLV-infection, the PCR-technique compared to the serological tests proved to be much more sensitive. By the detection of BLV antibody, the ELISA showed a higher sensitivity than the AGID and in this way, is advisable as a method of choice for screening investigations. Restriction enzyme and sequence analysis of PCR-amplificates demonstrate that different BLV provirus variants (A, B and C) in the examined herd occur, where the variant C which a high similarity to an Australian BLV provirus isolates showed, occurred most frequently at 92.5%.

Animals↗
PubMed1956

Bilharziasis survey in south-western Asia; covering Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Sa'udi Arabia, and Syria: 1950-51.

This paper describes a limited survey of bilharziasis and its vectors carried out during 1950 and 1951 in some countries of south-western Asia. Lack of time and of full facilities prevented the survey from being as comprehensive and systematic as would have been wished, but enough data were obtained to provide a general estimate of the situation.Information already available from the literature was supplemented by collecting unpublished records, questioning the inhabitants, examining random samples of stools and urine, and investigating rivers, wells, and springs. Bilharziasis haematobia is already heavily endemic in the irrigated areas of Iraq and is also present, in comparatively smaller foci, in northern Syria, Israel, and Sa'udi Arabia. In the opinion of the senior author (M. A. A.), the envisaged extension of irrigation is likely to create a serious health problem in Mesopotamia and to introduce the disease into the Jordan region unless the spread of the molluscan vector, Bulinus sp., is checked. Intensification of infection and further spread are possible in Israel and in the Syrian Jezire, while the remainder of Syria and Lebanon are not considered to be endangered. Bilharziasis mansoni is widespread in the fertile areas of Sa'udi Arabia and also occurs in one minor focus in Israel. The industrialization of Sa'udi Arabia which is planned to exploit its oil resources, with its inevitable concentration of population, equally presents a danger in the intensification of bilharziasis. It is considered that, unless prompt measures are undertaken to break the link between the agricultural and industrial expansion and the spread of the disease, the debilitation of large groups of the population and the economic loss which may well result over most of the inhabited parts of the area discussed will be significant.

Arabia↗
PubMed2003

Translation and validation of an Arabic version of the UK oral health related quality of life measure (OHQoL-UK) in Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate and evaluate the performance of an oral health related quality of life measure--an Arabic version of OHQoL-UK in three middle eastern countries: Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Following forward and backwards translation of OHQoL-UK into Arabic and pilot testing the Arabic version among focus groups, a questionnaire containing the instrument was administered to 1,000 adults from the three Arab countries. In addition, the study participants were interviewed about their oral health status, experience of oral health problems in the past year, self-rating of oral health and also some socio-demographic information was collected. RESULTS: Among the three study populations, variations in OHQoL-UK scores were apparent in relation to socio-demographic factors (p<0.01), self-reported number of teeth possessed (p<0.001) and experience of oral health problems in the past year (p<0.01) which supports the construct validity of the instrument. Furthermore, variations in OHQoL-UK scores were apparent in relation to self-rating of oral health status (p<0.01) which supports the criterion validity of the measure. The internal reliability of the instrument was high in the three groups with Cronbach alpha values of above 0.90, indicating good internal consistency. CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of OHQoL-UK, an index of oral health related quality of life demonstrated satisfactory construct validity, criterion validity and internal reliability in Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This provides further evidence of the instrument's psychometric properties and its cross cultural use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Quinacrine sterilization (QS) in Syria: a preliminary report on 297 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and acceptability of quinacrine sterilization (QS) in Syria. METHODS: From July 2001 to December 2002, 297 women who requested permanent sterilization volunteered for QS either in my private practice or my local family planning center in Aleppo, Syria. The standard protocol was used: 252 mg of quinacrine in the form of 7 pellets are deposited at the uterine fundus with a modified CuT IUD inserter during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. This procedure is repeated 4 weeks later. DMPA was injected at the time of the first insertion for temporary contraception. Every sterilized woman has had a monthly checkup visit until the cut-off date for this report, including a beta HCG pregnancy test. All procedures were performed by the author. The cut-off date for this report was June 11, 2003. RESULTS: The single pregnancy was ectopic. Four women (1.3%) complained of severe pain. Moderate pain was experienced by 13.1% while the remaining women felt mild pain, all easily treated. The remaining side effects were minor and also easily treated. Oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea affected 29% of the women and lasted for several months. Immediate side effects are similar to reports from other researchers. CONCLUSIONS: Results thus far regarding efficacy are encouraging. QS has proven to be acceptable.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2006

[Remarks concerning risk of infections and health service infrastructure in countries of the Middle East with Syria, for example].

Assessment of epidemiological situation in the Middle East, in the Mediterranean Sea basin, based on the status of the Syrian health service and diseases occurring among society of this country within the space of the last tens of years is presented in this article. Knowledge of morbidity and morbidness of Syrians, representatives of Arab-Muslim community is relatively low. First of all, it is related to isolation of Syria in the international arena, poor status of education and health service, lack of current epidemiological data on health condition of the country population. Knowledge of issues mentioned above has essential importance for people working or serving in Syria (military and civilian UN personnel), as well as for tourists travelling in the Middle East.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1991

[Human cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania Major MON-26 in the region of Damascus (Syria)].

In response to an epidemic of oriental sore around Damascus, an ecological and epidemiological survey was carried out in the village of Dmeir, 40 km NE of Damascus. Parasites isolated from six cases from Dmeir, and two other cases from Syria were identified as Leishmania major, zymodeme MON-26. This zymodeme is known as the agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis from the Sub-Saharian Sahel to the Near and Middle East. This is the first report of L. major in Syria. In a group of 234 school children aged 5-11 years, the leishmanin skin test was positive in 37%, indicating a high transmission rate. The epidemic seems to be the result of agricultural and industrial development projects in the area: numbers of both the gerbil reservoir host and sandfly vector appear to be increased by the land improvement.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1972

Differences in the severity of physical signs in the right and left eyes of patients with trachoma in Syria and Burma.

A field record card to permit the recording of physical signs separately in the two eyes, in cases of trachoma was produced by WHO in 1967. The card was used to record clinical examinations in a controlled trial in Syria in 1967 and in the running assessment of a trachoma control programme in Burma in 1968-69.Differences in physical signs in the two eyes were observed in over 20% of cases in Syria and over 35% of cases in Burma. Even when limited to the same stage of infection, differences between the two eyes in the same individual are in the order of 10%. Limiting the examination to one eye underestimates prevalence and severity and overestimates changes in the disease pattern with time; a combined reading for both eyes should give a more accurate picture of infection. A computer could be used in special studies to free the observer from the need to make subjective judgements concerning the more severely affected eye.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Outcome of ruptured uterus at University Teaching Hospital Aleppo, Syria.

A 10-year review of ruptured gravid uterus at the University Teaching Hospital, Aleppo, Syria showed an incidence of one ruptured uterus in 565 deliveries. This is an average figure compared with published studies but is still high compared with developed countries. Sixty-four per cent of the cases of ruptured uterus had no antenatal care. It is no surprise therefore that maternal and fetal mortality was highest amongst the unbooked labouring women. In survivors the morbidity was also higher. Ruptured uterus is therefore a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in Syria. The overall hospital maternal and perinatal mortalities for the period under review were 4.3% and 2.6% respectively. The main risk factor identified is scarring from previous caesarean sections. Other risk factors are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

A multi-center study in order to further define the molecular basis of beta-thalassemia in Thailand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Syria, and India, and to develop a simple molecular diagnostic strategy by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction.

The spectrum of the beta-thalassemia mutations of Thailand, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Syria has been further characterized by a multi-center study of 1,235 transfusion-dependent patients, and the mutations discovered used to assess the fidelity of a simple diagnostic strategy. A total of 44 beta-thalassemia mutations were identified either by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization, amplification with allele-specific primers, or DNA sequencing of amplified product. The results confirm and extend earlier findings for Thailand, Pakistan, India, Mauritius and Syria. This is the first detailed report of the spectrum of mutations for Sri Lanka. Two novel mutations were identified, codon 55 (-A) and IVS-I-129 (A-->C), both found in Sri Lankan patients. Two beta-thalassemia mutations were found to coexist in one beta-globin gene: Sri Lankan patients homozygous for the beta0 codon 16 (-C) frameshift were also homozygous for the beta+ codon 10 (C-->A) mutation. Studies of Sri Lankan, Pakistani, and Indian carriers suggest the codon 10 (C-->A) mutation is just a rare polymorphism on an ancestral allele, on which the beta0 codon 16 (-C) mutation has arisen. Each country was found to have only a few common mutations accounting for 70% or more of the beta-thalassemia alleles. A panel of primers to diagnose the majority of the mutations by the amplification refractory mutation system was developed, enabling a simple molecular diagnostic strategy to be introduced for each country participating in the multi-center study.

Asia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radioisotope x-ray fluorescence analysis of ancient pottery from Tel Kouzama site in Damascus, Syria.

The radioisotope X-ray fluorescence method has been utilized in the analysis of thirty nine archaeological pottery fragment samples from Tel Kouzama site, Damascus city, Syria. The samples were irradiated by a 109Cd radioisotope source (-9 10(8) Bq) for 1000 s. 17 chemical elements were determined. These elemental concentrations have been processed using two multivariate statistical methods, cluster and factor analysis in order to determine similarities and correlation between the various samples. Factor analysis confirms that samples were correctly classified by cluster analysis. These two methods suggest that samples can be considered to be manufactured using four different sources of raw material.

Archaeology↗
PubMed1995

Chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes from two groups of workers occupationally exposed to pesticides in Syria.

The cytogenetic effects of pesticides used for hygienic purposes or pest control of crops were studied in two groups of highly chronic or acutely exposed workers (sprayers and dealers) in Damascus, Syria, using the peripheral human lymphocyte system and analyzing chromosomal aberrations. In general, the effects were small, but in the hygiene pesticide-sprayer group that was tested at the beginning, middle, and end of the spraying season, an increase in chromatid breaks was observed and at the end of spraying season it reached threefold the mean chromatid breaks of control group. The group composed of dealers and of people working in quality control of pesticides, which was studied once, showed a number of chromatid breaks similar to that of the sprayer group at the end of spraying season.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Estimation of stature from the skeletal reconstruction of an immature Neandertal from Dederiyeh cave, Syria.

Skeletal reconstruction of a child Neandertal unearthed at Dederiyeh Cave, Syria in 1993, is undertaken and the acquired stature discussed. Although the skeletal remains were well preserved, the reconstruction required several assumptions to be made because of the immature status of the specimen. The assumptions were mainly concerned with distances between bones in the inter-vertebral spaces and in the joints of the hip, knee, and ankle. These were estimated from X-ray films of modern children and data from previous studies. Stature was directly measured on the reconstruction, and found to be 79.2 cm. After corrections for soft tissue thickness and shrinkage of the casts, the stature became 81.7 cm. This estimate is consistent with estimates based on regression equations of long bone lengths, especially from those of the lower extremity. In comparison with longitudinal data for white American boys, the assessment of stature for Dederiyeh varied according to the estimated age. For a younger estimated age, the stature falls in the lower half of the white American range of variation, but with an older estimated age, it falls below the lower limit of the range of variation. Other immature Neandertals including two European specimens, Roc de Marsal and La Ferrassie 6, fall below the lower limit of the 5th to 95th percentile range based on the estimated statures from their long bone lengths. More comprehensive age assessment covering both fossil and modern humans is required before accurate conclusions in relation to Neandertal growth can be drawn.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Summer-arrested development of abomasal trichostrongylids in Awassi sheep in semi-arid areas of north-west Syria.

Inhibition in trichostrongylids was studied in Awassi sheep in North-west Syria, which has cold winters and hot summers. On six occasions during a 1-year period, five ewes with natural helminth infections were slaughtered after being held in pens for 3 weeks. The percentage of inhibited larvae was lowest in January (6%); it increased during the spring to 76.7% in April and to 84.6% in June and then decreased during the autumn (57.1% in September, 26.1% in December). Inhibition occurred mainly during the early fourth stage in mucosa but was also observed during the late fourth stage in digesta. Teladorsagia circumcincta was the main species involved, but it seemed that this phenomenon also occurred in Marshallagia marshalli.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1995

Factors affecting storability of apples in Syria.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of some environmental factors (production place and season), production factors (variety, fruit size, irrigation and yield), and storage conditions (refrigerated and non refrigerated rooms) on storability of cv.'Golden' Delicious and cv. 'Starking' apples (Malus domestica, Borkh) in Syria. The results showed a negative relationship between apples' storability and each of the following: temperature from April to September, irrigation before harvest, yield, and fruit size. Whereas altitude, and rainfall through winter had a positive effect on storability of apples.

Altitude↗
PubMed1976

Nutritive studies on some raw and prepared leguminous seeds commonly used in the Arab Republic of Syria.

1. The proximate analysis of raw Syrian lentils (Lens esculentus), variety red chick pea (Cicer arietinum) variety balady, has been made. The protein content of the two raw seeds were 23 and 22 g% for lentils and chick peas, respectively. Ethereal extract, fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus and iron content of the two raw seeds have been also assayed. 2. The levels of most of the amino acids were also estimated in the raw and cooked seeds. It was found that tryptophan- and sulphur-containing amino acids were the most limiting ones. Cooking the seeds by the same methods commonly used in Syria resulted in the loss of most of the amino acids, with the exception of lysine and tryptophan which were slightly increased. 3. Trypsin inhibitors and saponins were detected in the raw seeds. Haemagglutinins were present in raw lentils only. Cooking the seeds destroyed the trypsin inhibitors and haemagglutinins and did not affect the saponins. 4. The net protein utilization of whole lentils and chick peas were 38 and 53, respectively. Decortication of lentils or cooking without decortication has no effect on the NPU values. Cooking the decorticated lentil seeds raised its NPU values from 38 to 56. Cooking chick peas resulted in a slight increase in their NPU. Supplementation of the raw and treated seeds with methionine and tryptophan raised its NPU values markedly.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1992

Urinary tuberculosis: experience of a teaching hospital in Syria.

This study was designed to show our experience of urinary tuberculosis in one of the large teaching hospitals in Syria. It was a prospective study involving 48 patients (29 males and 19 females) with confirmed tuberculous lesions in the urinary tract. The study period was between 1982-1987. The presenting symptoms were protean, and there were often delays between onset of symptoms and eventual diagnosis. The highest age incidence was in the second and fourth decades. Beside the suggestive clinical manifestations, final diagnosis was reached by various means. Repeated examinations of EMU smears were positive in about 20% of cases. Urine culture was positive in 33.3%, while varied percentage of cases showed some radiological changes suggestive of tuberculosis. Other investigations included cystoscopy and biopsy of suspected lesions. Treatment was conservative by chemotherapy in 45% of cases, with complete recovery in about 33%, while acceptable results were shown in congruent to 19%, and failure of treatment or recurrence of active disease in 48% of cases. Some forms of surgical intervention were carried out in 55% of patients. Cure was seen in 50% of them, while 25% had acceptable results and failure was shown in the remaining 25%. It is concluded that urinary tuberculosis remains an important infectious disease problem in our country. The high rate of failure of both medical or surgical treatment is mainly due to late diagnosis.

Adolescent↗