Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Mediterranean Countries”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Diabetes in pregnancy: state of the art in the Mediterranean countries, Portugal.

In Portugal since 1980 the health care for diabetes in pregnancy has begun to be specialised and centralised, and the care is provided by multidisciplinary teams. At present there are eight diabetic teams in the main cities in the North, Centre and South of the country: three in Oporto, two in Coimbra, two in Lisbon and one in Almada. In our Center of the University Hospital, Coimbra, from 1980 to 1992 neonatal mortality dropped from 110/1000 to near 0/1000, macrosomia from 55% to 20%, neonatal hypoglycemia from 28% to 5.6%, RDS from 26% to 2.5%, congenital malformation from 9% to 2%. A "consensus on diabetes and pregnancy" to implement and give uniformity to health care was recently done (1996): a) criteria for pregnancy planning and management for pregestional diabetes (type 1 and 2) have been given; b) protocol of screening, diagnosis and management for gestational diabetes have been suggested; c) finally a recent (1995) epidemiologic report of a multicentric Portuguese survey has been reported.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oestrus ovis in sheep: relative third-instar populations, risks of infection and parasitic control.

Oestrus ovis (L.) (Diptera: Oestridae), the nasal bot fly, has a relatively short free-living life cycle outside of the host, and therefore it is necessary to know when the parasitic period occurs in order to prevent the clinical signs and economic losses caused by this parasite. The length of this parasitic portion of the life cycle is quite variable: a few weeks to several months depending on the season and climatic conditions. Surveys of Oestrus ovis larval populations in sheep show different results on the number of generations according to the local climate. Mean monthly larval profiles of L1 and L3 burdens of sheep from West African Sahelian countries, Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Tunisia and Sicily) and Southwest France were compared. Valuable information on the suspected extension of the fly season is obtained showing the period of infection in each area. This knowledge will be a valuable tool to help in choosing the right treatment at the right period.

Africa, Northern↗
PubMed2004

Food consumption patterns in a mediterranean region: does the mediterranean diet still exist?

AIMS: To assess the food consumption patterns in the adult population of a Mediterranean region: the Balearic Islands (BI). METHODS: A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in the BI between 1999 and 2000. A random sample (n = 1,200) of the adult population (16-65 years) was interviewed. Dietary habits were assessed by means of 24-hour recall during 2 non-consecutive days, the first in the warm season and the second in the cold season, and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were also obtained. RESULTS: Current food patterns in the BI are characterized by a prominent consumption of dairy products, vegetables, fruit, bread, soft drinks and meat. According to the dietary guidelines for the Spanish population, only appropriate consumption of olive oil and other fats, dairy products, nuts, and soft drinks have been achieved. Intakes of fruit, vegetables, fish, eggs, pulses, cereals and potatoes are below desirable levels. On the other side, intakes of sugary products, sweets and cakes are higher than desirable. Alcohol intake, in the context of the Mediterranean diet, can be considered as acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary patterns observed among the BI population are in harmony with the actual dietary trends in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. Mediterranean dietary habits still exist, but a progressive departure from the traditional Mediterranean diet is being observed mainly in younger generations. It would be desirable to increase the consumption of fish, vegetables, fruit, cereals and pulses and decrease the intake of food sources containing saturated fat.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Lung cancer mortality in European regions (1955-1997).

BACKGROUND: The different spread of tobacco smoking across European countries has caused a substantial variability in lung cancer mortality. The objective of this investigation was to analyse the trends in lung cancer mortality rates in three broad European regions (Northern and Western countries, Eastern countries, and Mediterranean countries) during the second half of the 20th century. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Mortality data were obtained from the World Health Organisation database. Lung cancer mortality rates were age-standardised by the direct method to the world standard population. Trends from 1955 to 1997 were assessed by means of joinpoint regression analysis. RESULTS: In men, rates in Eastern Europe increased to reach in the 1990s the highest values ever registered, while downward trends were observed in Northern and Western Europe since 1979, and in Mediterranean countries since the 1990s. In women, upward trends were observed in the three regions considered for the whole period. CONCLUSIONS: Different smoking prevalences over time explain the shift of almost one decade in the trends in Mediterranean men as compared with Northern and other Western European men. The persisting upward trends in women in the three regions are of concern.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed2006

Consumption of gluten-free products: should the threshold value for trace amounts of gluten be at 20, 100 or 200 p.p.m.?

OBJECTIVE: The threshold of gluten contamination in gluten-free products of both dietary and normal consumption is under debate. The objective of this study was to gather information on consumption of gluten-free products intended for dietary use of people under a gluten-free diet. This information is essential to ascertain the exposure of coeliac patients to gluten through their diet and deduce the maximum gluten content that these products should contain to guarantee a safe diet. METHODS: A diet diary of consumption of gluten-free products intended for dietary use was distributed to the coeliac societies of two typical Mediterranean countries (Italy and Spain) and two Northern countries (Norway and Germany). The diet diary included a self-weigh table of the selected food items and a 10-day consumption table. Results were reported in percentiles as distributions were clearly right skewed. RESULTS: The respondents included in the study accounted for 1359 in Italy, 273 in Spain, 226 in Norway and 56 in Germany. Gluten-free products intended for dietary use contributed significantly to the diet of coeliac patients in Italy, Germany and Norway and to a lesser degree in Spain. The most consumed gluten-free product in all countries was bread, and it was double consumed in the Northern countries (P<0.001). Mediterranean countries showed consumption of a wider variety of gluten-free foods and pasta was eaten to a large degree in Italy. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between Northern and Mediterranean countries were not in the total amount of gluten-free products but in the type of products consumed. The observed daily consumption of gluten-free products results in the exposure to rather large amounts of gluten, thus the limit of 200 p.p.m. should be revised. A limit of 20 p.p.m. for products naturally gluten-free and of 100 p.p.m. for products rendered gluten-free is proposed to guarantee a safe diet and to enable coeliac patients to make an informed choice. These limits should be revised as new data become available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Epidemiology of the most frequent diseases in the European a-symptomatic post-menopausal women. Is there any difference between Ireland and the rest of Europe?

Osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and genitourinary diseases are some of the most frequently diagnosed diseases in a-symptomatic post-menopausal women. There is a marked European geographic distribution of osteoporosis. Rates are higher in Scandinavia than in the Southern European countries. The possible reasons for this higher incidence of osteoporotic fractures in the Northern European countries is associated with the climate, which limits physical activity and exposure to sunlight and increases the risk of falls. During the next two decades, the number of hip fractures for European women over 65 years is expected to nearly double. Despite these figures, osteoporosis prevention has not yet been adopted in many European countries. There is a devastating impact and a huge financial burden on the European economy and health care system. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in Europe. The regions of highest incidence are Western and Northern Europe, while Southern and Eastern Europe have lower incidence rates. The causes of differences in breast cancer incidences between Northern and Southern Europe are not known, but the average 5-year survival of women with breast cancer has increased in Europe in the last three decades. Studies have revealed marked differences in cardiovascular diseases across Europe, showing cardiovascular death rates as highest among the Eastern and Central European countries and lowest in the Mediterranean countries. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in European women. However, in North European countries, there are more ischaemic heart diseases in women than in Mediterranean countries. In Mediterranean countries, on the other hand, there are more strokes than in Northern Europe. These strokes events occur 10 years later than the ischaemic heart attacks.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Definitions of healthy eating in Spain as compared to other European Member States.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess what healthy eating means for the European population and whether this concept differs between Spain and other European Countries. DESIGN: A Pan-European survey was developed between October 1995 and February 1996 by the Institute of European Food Studies (Dublin). Each subject was asked to describe in his or her own words what he/she understood by 'healthy eating'. Comparisons were made among four groups of European countries (Northern, Central, Spain, and other Mediterranean countries). SETTING: The survey included participants from the 15 member states of the European Union, selecting quota-controlled samples to make them nationally representative. SUBJECTS: The questionnaire was completed by 14,331 persons, approximately 1000 from each country. RESULTS: The responses were grouped into 89 broad categories of similar answers concerning nutritional value and afterwards these responses were collapsed to simplify the presentation. The definition of healthy eating such as 'more fiber' and 'less fat' was more prevalent in other States, members of the European Union than in Mediterranean Countries, although the definition of 'balanced diet' was more frequently mentioned in Spain than in the rest of the European Union. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the concept of 'balance and variety' is more prevalent in Spaniards than in other traditional Mediterranean countries. Differences in the definitions of healthy eating among European countries could be explained, at least partially by differences in consumption patterns and in the nutrition education.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Distribution and determinants of sedentary lifestyles in the European Union.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown the health burden of a sedentary lifestyle. The main goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles in the 15 Member States of the European Union (EU) and to identify the main correlates of a sedentary lifestyle. METHODS: Nationally representative samples (n approximately 1000 subjects in each country; >15 years) completed a questionnaire concerning attitudes to physical activity, body weight, and health; in total 15 239 subjects. Sedentary people were defined in two ways: (1) those expending less than 10% of their leisure time expenditure in activities involving >/=4 metabolic equivalents (MET). (2) Those who did not practice any leisure-time physical activity and who also were above the median in the number of hours spent sitting down during leisure time. Logistic regression models were fitted to analyse the association between sedentary lifestyles and gender, age, body mass index (BMI), educational level, weight change in the last 6 months, and marital and smoking status. RESULTS: Percentages of sedentary lifestyles across European countries ranged between 43.3% (Sweden) and 87.8% (Portugal) according to the first definition. According to both definitions, a lower prevalence of sedentary lifestyle was found in Northern countries (especially Scandinavian countries) as compared with Mediterranean countries, whereas the prevalence was higher among older, obese, less educated, widowed/divorced individuals, and current smokers. Similar relative differences between countries and socio-demographic groups were found independently of the method used to define a sedentary lifestyle. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of sedentary lifestyle in the EU is high, especially among inhabitants of some Mediterranean countries, obese subjects, less-educated people, and current smokers. This high prevalence involves important public health burdens and preventive strategies are urgently needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Changes in the alcohol consumption pattern among schoolchildren in Barcelona.

Alcohol consumption is a major health problem in most developed countries. In Mediterranean countries, experimentation with alcoholic beverages typically occurs during the early adolescent years within the family context. In this study we analysed alcohol consumption and its determinants in a survey of a sample of schoolchildren in 1994. The results were compared to those obtained in a previous study in 1987. In 1994 a random, stratified sample of all 8th grade classrooms of a city, public, private or subsidised school was, obtained. Some 759 13 and 14 year old pupils responded to a self-administered questionnaire on health-related habits. Overall, there was a high awareness of alcohol in the environment, as 20.7% of the pupils reported their father was a regular or occasional drinker and 41.6% declared some of their friends were drinking. Compared with the results of the 1987 survey, there was a marked decline in the proportion of schoolchildren reporting alcohol consumption by their father or their siblings. Regarding the pupils' consumption, 66.7% of them had tried drinking alcohol in 1994, 54.7% declared they were allowed to drink in family celebrations, and 17.2% had experienced being drunk. Most of these indicators showed a significant decrease compared with the 1987 data, with the exception of drunken episodes where there appears to be no changes. The results suggest that there are some changes in the Spanish context, where regular drinking among adolescents may be declining.

Adolescent↗