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PubMedDate not supplied

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Lebanon.

A total of 3,501 male subjects from six Arab countries living in Kuwait were investigated for quantitative and phenotypic distribution of red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). The ethnic origins of those investigated were Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. The distribution of G6PD deficiency among the different ethnic groups varied widely, ranging from 1.00% for Egyptians to 11.55% for Iranians. The activity of the normal enzyme was remarkably similar, with values ranging from 6.1 +/- 0.8 to 6.5 +/- 1.1 IU/g Hb. A low frequency of the Gd(A) allele was found in two ethnic groups, Egyptians (0.019) and Iranians (0.014). Gd(A-) was present at the very low frequency of 0.006 in another two ethnic groups, Kuwaitis and Jordanians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Hepatitis A seroprevalence rate in Syria.

Hepatitis A is a benign infection, which in the developing world affects mainly children; the majority of adults are immune by the age of 30. In the last decade or so, a shift in the prevalence pattern of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection from a low- to a high-age group has appeared in the developed countries. This shift has been attributed to an improvement in the socio-economic and hygienic conditions. In the present study, 849 Syrians of all age groups and both sexes were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique for the seroprevalence of hepatitis A IgG antibody (anti-HAV IgG). It was observed that anti-HAV IgG was present in 89% Syrian population; with 50% in the 1-5 year age group and 95% in the 11-15 year age group. These results demonstrate that HAV infection in Syria is mostly acquired during childhood. As yet there is no serological evidence of a shift in HAV infection from a younger to a higher age group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The dynamics of cigarette smoking during military service in Syria.

SETTING: Understanding the dynamics of smoking in different populations is important to be able to tackle this problem rationally. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey in a military school near Aleppo. Three groups of recruits were studied (total number of participants 596). The mean age of new draftees (group I) was 19.8 +/- 0.02 years, that of draftees after 6 months of service (group II) was 19.7 +/- 0.02 years, and that of draftees after 2 years of service (group III) was 21 +/- 0.02 years. RESULTS: Current and daily smoking was observed among respectively 46.1% and 34.1% of participants. Daily smokers smoked 17.8 +/- 0.7 cigarettes per day. Within a 2-year interval, current smoking increased from 43.2% to 55.1% (P = 0.01), and daily consumption from 15 to 23.8 cigarettes/day (P < 0.001). Smoking among draftee groups I and II was compared with age-matched male university students (314 first year students aged 19.1 +/- 0.04 years and 262 third year students aged 21.3 +/- 0.05 years). Current smoking among recruits was higher at entry and after 2 years than that of age-matched civilians (P < 0.001), but the 2-year increase was not (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although military service in Syria is a scene of intensive smoking dynamics, it cannot be implicated in creating smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Socio-demographic determinants of smoking among low-income women in Aleppo, Syria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the spread and sociodemographic correlates of smoking among low-income women in Aleppo, Syria. METHODS: A sample of 412 women was recruited from eight randomly selected primary care centres (total number 22) in Aleppo. The response rate was 97.2%, the mean age of participants was 28 (+/- 8.4) years, and married women constituted 88.3% of those studied. A special questionnaire was prepared for study purposes, and interviews were conducted in an anonymous, one-to-one fashion. RESULTS: Current smoking and daily smoking were found among respectively 16.5% and 7.5% of those investigated. Smokers were older, economically better off and came from smaller households (P < 0.05 for all) than non-smokers. They also were more likely to be non-Arabs, Christians, and city residents than nonsmokers (P < 0.05 for all). Mental morbidity and physical abuse were both associated with smoking among those investigated (P < or = 0.05). Smokers among married women were more likely to marry later, to marry a nonrelative, to be older at the birth of their first child, and were less likely to live with members of their husband's family (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate predictors of smoking status among married women were race, residence, household, consanguinity, working, mental morbidity and physical abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the level of smoking among poor women in this society is still low compared to that of men, but it is higher than that of women in other social strata studied. Women's smoking is found to be associated with a less tradition-oriented social profile.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among health care workers in Damascus, Syria.

OBJECTIVE: Health care workers exposed to accidental inoculation with infected blood represent a high risk group of acquiring hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatitis C virus is considered the most common parenterally transmitted pathogen to which needle-stick recipients are exposed. Therefore, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among different health care workers was studied. METHODS: Antibodies of hepatitis C virus were studied by 3rd generation enzyme immunoassay. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to hepatitis B core were carried out using enzyme immunoassays. Liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) and total bilirubin were measured using reagents on chemistry autoanalyzer. The studied group (189 members, aged 28.1+/-6.2 years, 86 males and 103 females) consisted of laboratory workers (65), hemodialysis staff (34), dentistry workers (24), surgery workers (35), and a 5th group contained other medical care workers (31) in Damascus, Syria. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among health care workers was 3%. The positivity of anti-hepatitis C was 0% in the laboratory group, dentistry group, and surgery group. Whereas, it was 6% in the hemodialysis group, and 10% in the other medical workers group. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was 6% among health care workers in Damascus. Means of biochemical parameters were 23.2+/-15.9 U/L for alanine aminotransferase, 21.8+/-7.8 U/L for aspartate aminotransferase, and 0.58+/-0.35 mg/dl for total bilirubin. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among health care workers was higher than the prevalence among the general population (1%) which was determined during our study. However, the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus is lower than the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among health care workers. There was no significant difference between means of biochemical parameters in each health workers and the general population. Factors related to infrastructure and operational system might be responsible for such prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus among health care workers. An intensive periodic educational program for the medical and paramedical staff is important, in order to minimize the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus among this important high risk group.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among intravenous drug abusers and prostitutes in Damascus, Syria.

OBJECTIVE: In studies of risk factors among patients presenting with acute and chronic hepatitis C, a history of intravenous drug use is the most common finding, accounting for 40% or more of subjects. The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies among intravenous drug users is considered one of the highest numbers among high risk groups. Whether hepatitis C virus is transmitted efficiently or at all via sexual contact remains controversial. Therefore, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among a group of Syrian intravenous drug users, prostitutes, and blood donors was studied. METHODS: The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus in a population of 38 Syrian intravenous drug abusers, 102 Syrian prostitutes, and 2100 blood donors, was carried out in the laboratory of Al-Assad University Hospital, Damascus, Syria. Antibodies of hepatitis C virus were studied by 3rd generation enzyme immunoassay. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to hepatitis B core were carried out using enzyme immunoassays. Liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) and total bilirubin were measured using reagents on chemistry autoanalyzer (Hitachi 911). Intravenous drug users group (38) was aged 31 5.6 years, 33 males and 5 females. Prostitutes group (102) were aged 25.1 7 years. Blood donors group (2100) aged were 26.3 10.3 years, 1960 males and 140 females. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies was 60.5% among intravenous drug abusers, 1.96% among the prostitutes group, and 0.95% among blood donors group. Whereas, the positivity of hepatitis B surface antigen was 5.3% among the intravenous drug abusers, 10.8% among the prostitutes group, and 3.8% among blood donors group. Biochemical parameter results were compared to the results of these parameters that were determined in a group of healthy members (blood donors) during our study. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among intravenous drug abusers is considered the highest number among high risk groups, however, it is comparable to that reported in other countries. The impact of hepatitis C among drug users is profound, amplifying the spread of hepatits C virus infection and sustaining it in the general population. The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus among the prostitutes group was a little higher than that determined among the general population. The transmission of hepatitis C virus via a sexual route is still common and important. The control of the sexual behavior may have a role in minimizing the spread of this pathogen among the general population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Serological studies on prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Awassi sheep in Syria].

Survey was conducted in 9 Syrian provinces on clinically healthy Awassi sheep. Serum samples were collected from several districts (more than 47 localities--31 villages and 20 herds). Animals were 1-5 years old. 458 samples were collected in spring 1997 and 352 samples were collected from November 1998 through February 1999. The result indicated that seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii ranged between 0-100% in the herds and 13.8-74.5% between the provinces. And the mean of sero-prevalence was 44.56% in all provinces. The following prevalence were found in as indicated: Idleb 74.46%, Hama 72.16%, Deraa 63.35%, Al-Hssakeh 51.11%, Suweida 46.98%, Homs 40%, area of Damascus 23.48%, Aleppo 17.02% and Deir Ezzor 13.79%. The serological titer was 1:4 for 37.67% to 1:64 for 78.93% of the positive samples. Results showed that there are 29 (8%) of the positive samples with 1:1.000, and only 5 (1.38%) with 1:4.000. It is concluded that the Toxoplasma-infections may be one of the main causes of sheep abortions and as the source of human infection in Syria. Therefore, it is suggested that further epidemical studies are needed.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed2002

Ethical considerations in Syria regarding reproduction techniques.

Ethical Islamic considerations concerning current medical infertility treatment are outlined, that allow application of all techniques as far as they are compatible with legal marriage: Homogenic insemination is allowed. Heterogenic insemination is not, although it bears slightly better outcome, because of the imperative Islamic rule not to mingle genealogical lines. Neither is surrogate motherhood because of the legal position of the mother in Islamic shari'a and consequent inheritance rights on the one hand and sociological significance of motherhood on the other. The question arises, which is the mother, the biological or the social. In all cases, special attention should be paid to the professionals involved in the procedures. The danger of embryonic sex selection following preimplantation diagnostics is hinted at, precautions should be taken. These ethical considerations are substantial in Arab countries, including Syria.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1988

The impact of children on the components of parental savings: the case of rural Syria.

"This study is based on a survey conducted by the two authors in 1980 on family income and costs in the rural areas of [Syria. It] examines the indirect impact of children on family savings...with the hypothesis that the number of children has a positive effect on parents' income and a negative effect on their costs.... The conclusions point out that children play a major role in affecting the types of parents' income and expenditure and that increasing the number of children leads to increasing the time during which the parents undertake productive economic activities...."

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Lentiviral arthritis and encephalitis in goats in north-west Syria.

A survey for antibodies against caprine arthritis and encephalitis (CAE) virus was undertaken in north-west Syria. Out of 72 sera, using agar immuno-diffusion test, 12.5% showed a positive reaction. Despite the seropositiveness, no clinical evidence of the infection was found in the tested animals. The findings indicate that the infection is endemic in the area studied.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Study of phlebotomus sandflies in Syria].

An entomological survey was carried out during 1986 in ten provinces of Syria representative of the main natural areas of this country. 932 sandflies were caught with aspirators in domestic resting sites. Captures are analysed for each species.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence and characteristics of narghile smoking among university students in Syria.

SETTING: Narghile (waterpipe) smoking is increasing in all Arab societies, but little is known about its pattern of use. METHODS: In 2003, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among students at Aleppo University using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A representative sample of 587 students participated (278 males, 309 females; mean age 21.8 +/- 2.1 years; response rate 98.8%). RESULTS: Ever narghile smoking was seen among 62.6% of men and 29.8% of women, while current smoking was seen among 25.5% of men and 4.9% of women. Only 7.0% of the men used narghile daily. Age of initiation was 19.2 +/- 2.2 and 21.7 +/- 3.2 years for men and women, respectively (P < 0.001). The salient feature of narghile smoking was its social pattern, where most users initiated and currently smoked narghile with friends. Narghile and cigarette smoking were related among students, with narghile smoking most prevalent among daily cigarette smokers. Multivariate correlates of narghile smoking were being older, male, originating from the city, smoking cigarettes, having friends who smoke narghile, and coming from a household where a greater number of narghiles were smoked daily. CONCLUSIONS: Narghile smoking is prevalent among university students in Syria, where it is mainly practiced by men, intermittently, and in the context of social activities with friends.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Oral health in Syria.

The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the oral health situation in Syria in the last two decades and to propose recommendations for improvement of the current situation. The epidemiological data on caries of the last two decades did not indicate a decrease in the DMFT value of various age groups, nor was a decrease in the percentage of untreated caries apparent. The unequal distribution of oral health care continued to exist throughout the country, despite an enormous increase in the number of dentists from about 2,000 in 1985 to about 14,500 in 2002. The affluent part of the population is served with technically oriented expensive dental services. The public sector suffers from limited finance, the absence of appropriate technology in restorative dentistry and the lack of a community and preventive oriented approach. It is recommended to utilise dental hygienists in the public sector, since these auxiliaries if appropriately trained can offer the preventive and curative oral care wanted and demanded by the poor and that the government and the people can afford.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intermediary hosts of Dicrocoelium lanceolatum in Lebanon and Syria (author's transl)].

The authors describe the biological cycle of the Trematoda Dicrocoelium lanceolatum in Lebanon and in Syria: two principal first hosts are the Gastropoda: Theba syriaca and Xerophila vestalis; the second intermediate host is the ant Formica (S.) rufibarbis var. clarorufibarbis very common near fresh water in herbous lands, over 1,000 m of altitude. The last host is the Sheep, the Cow and probably the Goat. A humain case is commented.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Coronary risk factors of angiographically assessed patients from Syria.

BACKGROUND: Predictors of coronary artery disease in an Arab population had not been defined well. METHODS: We studied 192 male patients with suspected coronary artery disease, who underwent catheterization. We defined definite coronary artery disease as > 50% stenosis in any of three vessels. The effects of age, obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid fractions were assessed by means of univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Coronary artery disease was present in 153 men (80%) and absent from 39 men. Patients without coronary artery disease were slightly younger, thinner, smoked less, and had lower cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels than did those who had coronary artery disease. By stepwise regression analysis, the best discriminators were body mass index (P = 0.0004), age (P = 0.0005), smoking (P = 0.014) and the apolipoprotein B:A-I ratio (P = 0.041). The strongest Pearson correlation coefficients for coronary artery disease were the ratio of total: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (r = 0.26), the apolipoprotein B:A-I ratio (r = 0.26), and age (r = 0.25), all P < 0.0005. CONCLUSIONS: In this angiographically evaluated Syrian population, previously recognized, well-known risk factors appeared. Obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and elevated lipid levels are all amenable to correction. Syria should adopt the same secondary prevention strategies as those currently being practiced by non-Arab countries.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Identifying spectrometric signatures of phosphate deposits and enclosing sediments in Al-Awabed area, Northern Palmyrides, Central Syria, by the use of statistical factor analysis.

In previous published research, a factor analysis approach has been applied to airborne spectrometric data of Al-Awabed area, Northern Palmyrides, Syria. A model of four factors (F1, F2, F3 and F4) has proven to be sufficient to represent the acquired data, where 94% of the total data variance is explained. A powerful tool for direct differentiation of various rocks units is obtained through the mapping of these four factors, where a scored lithological map including 11 radiometric units is established. Ninety nine rock samples have been taken according to the four factors to be analyzed by the gamma-spectrometry technique in order to determine their content of eU, eTh and K%. The analysis of 65 samples according to F1 indicates that uranium concentration varies between 2.74 and 123.3 ppm with an average of 58.85 ppm and a standard deviation of 32.53 ppm. The analysis of 18 samples taken according to F2 indicates that K% concentration varies between 0.001 and 0.324 with an average of 0.145 and a standard deviation of 0.122. The analysis of 16 samples taken according to F3 indicates that K% concentration varies between 0.024 and 0.558 with an average of 0.227 and a standard deviation of 0.133. These gamma-results are expected and fit very well with the results obtained by the factor analysis approach. Therefore, the validity and efficacy of the factor analysis approach, to be widely used as a guide in exploration and smart sampling for mining programs, are well demonstrated. The established phosphate maps show a width extension and distribution, and clearly indicate the potential of the research area, and it merits to be followed by economic exploration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

The influence of consanguineous marriage on infant and child mortality among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of mortality differences associated with consanguineous marriage among Palestinians in the Middle East. METHODS: The data came from five surveys of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, conducted during the period 1995-2000. Infant and child mortality was estimated for the offspring of consanguineous and non-consanguineous parents using the synthetic cohort method. RESULTS: The data showed an increase in infant mortality of 15.0 additional deaths per 1,000 births among the offspring of first cousins, and a corresponding increase of 6.1 deaths per 1,000 for the progeny of parents from the same patrilineal clan. CONCLUSION: In populations where marriage within kin groups is common, both first cousin marriage and intra-group marriage carries an added risk of infant and child mortality.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Hepatitis C virus genotypes and hepatitis G virus in hemodialysis patients from Syria: identification of two novel hepatitis C virus subtypes.

High prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis G (HGV) viruses has been reported among hemodialysis patients with substantial heterogeneity of HCV genotypes throughout the world. We studied HCV prevalence, clinical significance, genotype distribution, and HGV coinfection in hemodialysis patients from Syria. Ninety (75%) of 120 screened patients were HCV antibody positive. Forty-nine (87.5%) of 56 HCV antibody-positive patients had HCV RNA detected by the polymerase chain reaction. The HCV genotyping was possible in 37 of 49 patients (76%). The HCV genotype distribution was genotype 1a, seven (19%); genotype 1b, 10 (27%); genotype 4a, 11 (30%); unmatched sequences, nine (24%). Phylogenetic analysis of unmatched sequences indicated that they represent two distinct and novel subtypes of HCV genotype 4. Hepatitis G virus RNA was detected in 29 (59%) of the HCV RNA-positive patients. No differences were identified between patients infected with HCV alone and those coinfected with HGV. These data demonstrate that HCV infection is common in this population with a genotype distribution predominantly made up of types 1 and 4. Coinfection with HGV had no effect on the outcome of HCV infection.

Adolescent↗