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 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

New insights into the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in Mediterranean countries.

In Mediterranean countries, the incidence (per 100,000 per year) of Type 1 diabetes in children aged under 15 years shows wide variation from country to country, ranging from 2.45 in Macedonia to 34.4 in Sardinia. By interacting with environmental factors such as diet, toxins or viral infections, the HLA plus non-HLA genes of susceptibility or resistance to Type 1 diabetes so far identified are the strongest determinants of the disease as far as incidence, age at onset and sex ratio are concerned. The distribution of these genes in the Mediterranean region is still not completely known. Sardinians are the most suitable population for studying such phenomena for three main reasons: their genetic features have been repeatedly analysed in depth; their incidence rate of Type 1 diabetes is by far the highest in the Mediterranean area; and considerable colonies of Sardinian emigrants settled in neighbouring low-incidence Italian regions. Studies on Spaniards and Jews have also contributed to a better understanding of the respective roles of genetic and environmental factors. From a body of research on the Mediterranean populations, it can be concluded that great genetic heterogeneity accounts for the wide variation in incidence of Type 1 diabetes, while rather ubiquitious environmental factors trigger the disease in genetically predisposed individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The nutrition transition in Spain: a European Mediterranean country.

BACKGROUND: Mediterranean diets are felt to be healthful diets linked with reduced mortality from diet-related noncommunicable diseases. OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in diet, activity, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases for Spain and compare these with other European countries, particularly those from the Mediterranean area. DESIGN: A combination of large-scale primary and secondary nationally representative data analysis are used. DATA: Nationally representative data on household food consumption, physical activity, adult obesity, and cause of death are combined with regionally representative adolescent obesity data, obtained in the last four decades. Comparative diet and obesity data come from nationally representative comparable data, obtained during the same period. RESULTS: The Spanish diet has shifted toward a very high level of fat intake, high fruit and dairy intake and moderate vegetable intake. Dairy and fruit intakes were the highest in Europe, as was the proportion of energy from fat, when we compared with the available data. Adult overweight and obesity trends show a marked increase in the past decade to levels as high as Italy and far above France. Overweight for children aged 6-7 is above that of even the USA, while adolescent overweight levels are among the highest in the world. Cardiovascular disease mortality is low, as with Italy and France, and the cancer mortality rate is lower than Italy and France. CONCLUSIONS: We have observed that, in Spain, relatively high obesity prevalences and dairy intake levels are related to much lower levels of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality than are found in other European countries. This unique Spanish dietary and obesity pattern should be further explored in order to clarify the causal links. SUPPORT: The National Institutes of Health (NIH; R01-HD30880 and R01-HD38700).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Comparative evaluation of orally active antibiotics against community-acquired pathogens: a multi-center study in five Mediterranean countries.

In 5 Mediterranean countries 7902 pathogens, all isolated in 1992 and 1993 from community-acquired infections, were studied for susceptibility to the following orally active antibiotics: penicillin G, ampicillin, ampicillin + sulbactam, amoxycillin + clavulanic acid (both 2:1 ratio), cefalexin, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefetamet, doxycycline and erythromycin. Ten centers in Italy, 4 centers in Greece, 3 centers in Spain, and 1 center in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia contributed to this study; all centers used performed standardized microtiter panels (Sceptor, BBL, Heidelberg, FRG). The most frequently isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (n = 1267), Proteus mirabilis (n = 843), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 771), enteric Salmonella spp. (n = 629), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 486), Citrobacter freundii (n = 383), Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 346), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 298), Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 294), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 246), Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 243), and Shigella spp. (n = 185). Statistical analysis was performed for each of the above countries and for all pooled data available. The penicillin antibiotics were the most active compounds against the gram-positive cocci, exceeding the MIC90 values 2- to 8-fold over all cephalosporins. Regarding the gram-negatives (above all Klebsiella spp.) cefetamet was by far the most active compound (MIC90 = 1 mg/l). Regarding the percentage of resistant isolates, there were no striking discrepancies between the centers and countries involved in this study. There was, however, complete cross-resistance in penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates (MIC90 = 2 mg/l). By far the majority of the penicillin-resistant pneumococci showed additional resistance to doxycycline and erythromycin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Changes in food supply in Mediterranean countries from 1961 to 2001.

OBJECTIVE: To describe geographical differences and time trends in the supply of the most important food components of the traditional Mediterranean diet. DESIGN: Food supply data collected from national food balance sheets for the period 1961-2001. SETTING: Selected Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. RESULTS: Differences of almost 30-fold and five-fold were found in the supply of olive oil and fruits and vegetables, respectively, among the Mediterranean countries studied during the 1960s. A favourable increasing trend for the supply of fruit and vegetables was observed in most Mediterranean countries. However, an increase in the supply of meats and dairy products and a decrease in the supply of cereals and wine were observed in European Mediterranean countries from 1961 until 2001. Only in African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries were cereals the base of food supply. During the 1990s, Greece's food supply pattern was closest to the traditional Mediterranean diet, while Italy and Spain maintained a high availability of fruits, vegetables and olive oil, but were losing the other typical components. Among African and Asiatic Mediterranean countries, only Turkey presented a traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern except with respect to olive oil, the supply of which was very low. France showed a Western dietary pattern, with a high supply of animal products and a low supply of olive oil. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplies in the Mediterranean area were quite heterogeneous in the 1960s and have experienced a process of Westernization, especially in European Mediterranean countries.

Diet↗
PubMed1989

[Chronic backache in migrant workers from Mediterranean countries in comparison to central European patients: demographic and psychosocial aspects].

The standardized interviews of 26 chronic back pain patients from central Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Poland) were compared with those of 28 patients from Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia, Turkey), all of whom had been referred for participation in an integrated treatment program for chronic back pain. The two samples differed significantly in most of the psychosocial aspects studied. Patients from Mediterranean countries had a significantly lower level of education and were mostly employed as unskilled workers, while patients from central Europe were mostly housewives or skilled workers with higher levels of education. In the Mediterranean sample the back pain had generally developed much faster into a disabling disease with the attendant consequences (sick leave, loss of job, litigation). More than one third of the Mediterranean patients lived with a partner who was also sick and unable to work. These patients also adopted a more passive stance towards their illness by rarely using self-help, and showed poor readiness to participate in the self-monitoring orientated treatment program proposed to them. They were less aware of the influence of their own behaviour on pain and of any relation between the illness and their present or previous life situation. They complained less of a broken home in their childhood or earlier medical problems, but more frequently reported suffering from poverty in their childhood. The uneven composition of the two samples reflects the special social situation of foreign workers from Mediterranean countries in central Europe. Unskilled workers are significantly overrepresented in the latter segment of the adult working population of the study area (city of Basel, Switzerland). This overrepresentation is similar to that in our patient sample. The special situation of foreign workers from Mediterranean countries seems to account for their high incidence of chronic intractable back pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The Bari Center: an audiology and otology pilot center for Mediterranean countries.

The Audiology and Otology Center for Mediterranean Countries began activities in 1990. Until today, the Bari Center has sponsored meetings, coordinated research projects and, above all, it has been host to 5 young colleagues coming from the Mediterranean Area, to take part in 2 or 3 month clinical stages: two from Egypt, one from Syria and one from Lybia. The Center is now verifying the possibilities of setting up an Audiology and Otology Center in Tirana (Albania).

Audiology↗
PubMed1986

Genetic relationships among the inhabitants of nine Mediterranean countries.

Gene frequency data on 16 protein and blood group loci for the inhabitants of 9 Mediterranean countries were collected from the literature. The frequency of most of these genes was associated with longitude. The genetic distances between the same populations were also determined. The smallest genetic distances were found among the north Mediterranean countries, whereas the highest values were observed between the Algerians and the inhabitants of the other countries.

Asia, Western↗
PubMed2003

Commodities consumed in Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean countries compared with Australia in 1960s and 1990s.

Consumption figures for 15 major commodities (cereals, wheat, rice, maize, potato, pulses, olive oil, other vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, wine, meats, animal fats, milk + products, and fish + seafood) were collected from FAO Food Balance Sheets during the 1960s (1961-1969) and late 1990s (1995-1999). For some nutritionists the "model Mediterranean diet" is the Italian or Greek diet of the 1960s, for others the concept of Mediterranean countries is more general. Analysis shows: (1) In the 1960s, Australia consumed more meat, milk, animal fat than Italy or Greece and less cereals, wheat, pulses, olive oil, vegetables, fruits and wine. (2) In the 1960s, Australia's olive oil, vegetables, fruits and wine consumption were within the range for all 18 Mediterranean countries (i.e. Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco). (3) In the 1990s, food consumptions have evolved; Australia's wine and milk consumption is now similar to Italy and Greece; consumption of wheat, olive oil, vegetables, fruits and fish are lower; consumption of potato, pulses, other vegetable oils and meat are higher than Italy or Greece. (4) Australia's consumption of the 15 commodities is within the range of all Mediterranean countries in the late 1990s, except wheat consumption was lower.

Australia↗
PubMed2004

Mediterranean countries impact on the implementation of Council Directive 91/414/EEC.

For the implementation of the Framework Council Directive 91/414/EEC, participation of all member states (MS) is required. In the first round of the review program of plant protection products, Mediterranean countries have successfully performed their proportional work share for the central registration of the active substances and the national registration of the respective plant protection products. However, some issues of risk assessment, related to appropriate estimation of exposure, still require further refinement and adaptation to the Mediterranean conditions. Issues related to the estimation of agricultural worker exposure to plant protection products due to different agronomic practices and conditions, identified shortcomings in the consumer risk assessment related to different habits of the Mediterranean population and different needs of Mediterranean agriculture will be discussed. Finally, the possible effects of the Directive 91/414/EEC upon the plant protection of Mediterranean countries, due to the withdrawal from the market of a wide range of plant protection products is also a parameter that has to be considered.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiology of hepatitis A in Mediterranean countries.

Infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) is still endemic in some Mediterranean areas. In most Northern Mediterranean countries, the incidence of acute icteric hepatitis in adults is increasing. This is due to the shifting of HAV infection to adulthood as a result of the decline of its overall prevalence due to improvements in socioeconomic, sanitary and hygienic conditions. The majority of adults remain susceptible and develop overt disease when infected, since the severity of disease is highly associated with age. Epidemics are now rare, but are more extensive when they do occur. They may sometimes be caused by accidental contamination of the water supply, but are usually due to contamination of food by diseased food-handlers or result from contaminated frozen foods. Outbreaks still may occur in day-care centres and in schools. Thus travelling to endemic areas is becoming the main source of HAV infection. Intrafamilial person-to-person spread also is an important source of infection. Transmission from children to parents and other adults may occur due to lack of immunity in the adult population. Selective immunization would further reduce the incidence of the disease. However, only inclusion of the vaccine in the routine programme of childhood immunization would guarantee the disappearance of hepatitis A.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Leishmaniasis in Mediterranean countries.

The epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis is described in the Mediterranean countries where a recrudescence and a geographical spread of these zoonoses are noted. Recent findings concerning isoenzyme identification of the causative agents are given and the problems encountered in the development of vaccines to protect humans and dogs are discussed.

Africa, Northern↗
PubMed2006

Peach fuzz contains large amounts of lipid transfer protein: is this the cause of the high prevalence of sensitization to LTP in Mediterranean countries?

BACKGROUND: Allergy to lipid transfer protein (LTP) is quite common in the Mediterranean countries but virtually absent in Northern Europe. The reasons for this latitude-dependent distribution are unclear. One hypothesis is that peach, the primary sensitizer to LTP, may lose in part its allergenicity as a consequence of treatments (handling, brushing, washing, and packaging) preceding marketing in Northern European. Peach surface fuzz might represent a potential vehicle of LTP. OBJECTIVE: To detect LTP in peach fuzz, and compare IgE reactivity to peach fuzz and peel of sera from LTP-allergic patients. METHODS: IgE reactivity to peach peel and peach fuzz extract was measured by ELISA using sera from 2 LTP-allergic PATIENTS. Purified peach LTP was used in inhibition studies. RESULTS: Both sera strongly reacted both to peach peel and fuzz but reactivity to fuzz was stronger than to peel. Pre-absorption of one serum with peach LTP caused an 87% reduction of IgE reactivity to peach fuzz extract. CONCLUSION: Peach fuzz contains large amounts of LTP and might be a potential vehicle of this allergen causing sensitization in genetically predisposed subjects. Fuzz loss during pre-marketing handling of peaches might be at the basis of the geographic differences that characterize allergy to LTP.

Antigens, Plant↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of the eating and cooking habits of northern Europe and the Mediterranean countries in the past, present and future.

It was already possible to demonstrate in the 50s that the Mediterranean countries have significantly less coronary heart disease than northern Europe and the USA and that this correlated closely with the diets of people in the Mediterranean region. Consequently, the traditional Mediterranean corresponds to the ideas of dietetics about a preventive diet with its high percentage of fruit, vegetables, cereal products legumes, olive oil and its slight share of animal products. However, an increase of the share of animal products can be detected in the diet of the Mediterranean populations with increasing wealth to the detriment of basic foodstuffs on a vegetable basis and their positive effects. This is reducing the preventive effect of the diet. The dietary situation is also becoming worse in northern Europe, which was already found to be unfavorable in the 60s. The reasons for this development can be found in the substantial socioeconomic changes throughout all of Europe over the past 40 years. A return or reversal to the Mediterranean way of eating would be desirable due to its positive effects. But the strong trend to convenience products and eating out is in opposition to this.

Cooking↗
PubMed1998

Spectrum of mutations in the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase gene of tyrosinemia type 1 patients in northwestern Europe and Mediterranean countries.

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is a rare metabolic disease caused by a deficient activity of the enzyme fumarylacetoacetase (FAH). To investigate the molecular heterogeneity of tyrosinemia, the geographic distribution and the genotype-phenotype relationship, we have analyzed the FAH genotype of 25 HT1 patients. Mutation screening was performed by PCR amplification of exons 1-14 of the FAH gene, followed by SSCP analysis and direct sequencing of the amplified exons. Fourteen different mutations were found, of which seven were novel, viz. three missense mutations (G158D, P261L, F405H), a deletion of three nucleotides causing a deletion of serine (DEL366S) and three splice site mutations: IVS2+1(g-t), IVS6-1(g-c), IVS8-1(g-c). The splice site mutations IVS6-1(g-t) and IVS12+5(g-a) were frequently found in countries around the Mediterranean and northwestern Europe, respectively. No clear correlation between the genotype and the three major HT1 subtypes could be established.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗