Implementation of problem-based learning in Asia: similarities between Far East and Middle East medical schools.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Culture↗
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Results for “Middle East”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Cancer patterns in the Middle East--special report from the Middle East Cancer Society.
To update its cancer statistics, the newly established Middle East Cancer Society examined the cancer frequency patterns in Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The results revealed differing overall patterns. For men the highest frequencies were found for lymphoma, bladder cancer and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx in Egypt, and for lung cancer, leukaemia and lymphoma in Gaza. For women, breast cancer had the highest frequency in both areas, followed by cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx in Egypt, and leukaemia and lymphoma in Gaza. The distribution of cancer occurrence by organ system also varied. In the light of the different ethnicities, lifestyles, socioeconomic levels and carcinogenic exposure among the countries of the Middle East, this kind of comparison can provide the background for more sophisticated approaches for discerning risk factors in cancer. We believe that further cooperation among participating countries will overcome the present limitations in data collection, registration and access.
Adult↗
Strategy for the control of hepatitis B virus infection in the Middle East and North Africa. The Middle East Regional Study Group.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and HBV-associated diseases are prevalent in many parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Postnatal horizontal childhood transmission appears to be the predominant method by which high hepatitis B carrier rates are maintained. To control hepatitis B in this region, mass immunization should be initiated prior to one year of age. This effort would be most cost-beneficial when integrated into the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) and should be preceded by demonstration projects designed to gather practical data on the impact, methods and feasibility of such programmes which can subsequently be used to expand the immunization programme to other parts of the region.
Adolescent↗
Country watch: Middle East.
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the ecumenical organization for most Christian churches in the region, has had a program on drug abuse since 1982. The Council's Unit of Education and Renewal holds meetings and workshops at the parish level, many focusing on drugs. Out of this work, a focus on AIDS also developed. In October 1992, a MECC-sponsored consultation was held in Cyprus, largely to discuss the link between drugs and HIV/AIDS. The conclusion was that Arab society needed to tackle the problem of AIDS before it was too late, particularly by addressing the underlying moral issues and strengthening family discipline to safeguard youth. Recommendations were made for further research into drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, more sensitive legislation to deal with these problems, greater cooperation, and greater objectivity in evaluating existing programs. Since the consultation, efforts have continued to strengthen the capacity of local health authorities to cope. Societies in the Middle East do not usually discuss openly topics defined as delicate or shameful. So, to initiate open discourse about drugs and HIV is, in itself, a significant achievement. The lead taken by MECC has had a liberating effect on parishes, which also now initiate programs on these sensitive topics.
Asia↗
Neurosurgical training in the countries of the Middle East: a summary round table discussion held at the annual meeting of the Middle East Neurosurgical Society, April 1983, Athens, Greece.
At the combined Annual Meeting of the Hellenic Neurosurgical Society and the Middle East Neurosurgical Society in Athens on April 10-13, 1983, a round table discussion of neurosurgical training in the Middle East took place. The types of training programs available in the panel members' respective countries were discussed, and the quality, requirements, and standards of training were delineated. Neurosurgical manpower in the Middle East was reviewed. The panelists explored the need for unification of programs and standardization and review of training and called for a well-recognized certification in neurosurgery among the countries of the Middle East.
Education, Medical↗
Topical minoxidil therapy for androgenic alopecia in the Middle East. The Middle-Eastern Topical Minoxidil Study Group.
BACKGROUND: A 48-week open label trial was conducted in five Middle-Eastern countries (Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates) to determine the safety and efficacy of 2% minoxidil in the treatment of early androgenic alopecia and to compare the response with Western countries. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-five men aged between 19 and 47 years were enrolled. The duration of their baldness varied from 6 months to 10 years, and they all showed a type III vertex or type IV of the modified Hamilton scale. Baldness pattern, diameter of the balding area, hair counting within a 2.5 cm bald patch as well as investigator's and patient's evaluation were regularly noted. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in vital signs or laboratory parameters. Of the 161 patients considered evaluable at 48 weeks, 80% showed moderate to dense growth. The mean increase in nonvellus hair at 12 months was 234. CONCLUSIONS: The age of the patient and the type of baldness rather than its duration affected the final outcome.
Administration, Cutaneous↗
Ecology and distribution of Bulinus truncatus in the Middle East; with comments on the effect of some human activities in their relationship to the snail host on the incidence of bilharziasis haematobia in the Middle East and Africa.
The author gives a comprehensive account of the present status of knowledge regarding the ecology and distribution of Bulinus truncatus, the intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium in the Middle East and North Africa. He discusses in detail the types of habitat favoured by this snail, its life-cycle and seasonal variations in its populations, the effect of ecological factors on its distribution and occurrence, and the relationship between its control and its bionomics, stressing the many aspects of these subjects that require further investigation and suggesting lines for future research.In addition, the author outlines briefly the effect of some human activities (for example, extension of irrigation and agriculture), in their relationship to the snail host, on the incidence of bilharziasis haematobia in the Middle East and Africa. He concludes the paper with a summary of the three basic needs in respect of bilharziasis control: ecological research; prevention of pollution of waters with human excrement; and avoidance of human contact with infective water.
Africa↗
East Asian migration to the Middle East: causes, consequences and considerations.
"In 1983, possibly more than 1 million East Asians were working in the capital-rich, labor-short countries of the Middle East. This article reviews the causes and consequences of this new migration flow and notes emerging political, military, and economic linkages between East Asia and the Middle-East."
Africa↗
Global perspectives--the Middle East: Egypt.
The Middle East region is characterised by the grouping of 20 countries with similar cultural traditions and religious concepts. The majority of the population of this region follows the religion of Islam, which considers all animals as important as humans, and others follow Christianity and Judaism. The majority of people dealing with animals have their own religious concepts, but most countries have no clear enforced official animal welfare regulations. Animal welfare activities in the Middle East region, as in Egypt for example, are carried out by various individuals, non-governmental organisations and the official Veterinary Services. The slaughter of animals for human consumption is in accordance with Islamic rites, which is the least painful method for the animals. Extensive production systems are the predominant systems in the region, and it is not common for animals in the region to suffer stress during production processes or slaughter. Although some success has been achieved in the area of animal welfare, as seen in improvements in health care, the development of modern abattoirs with proper facilities, and the establishment of policies for combating stray dogs, there are still major constraints to the implementation of effective animal welfare measures, including those for wildlife. These constraints include the lack of finances and the absence of effective legislative measures to prevent the trapping and/or hunting of wild animals for pleasure or illegal trade.
Abattoirs↗
Regional status and approaches to control and eradication of foot and mouth disease in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Middle East is regarded as the region of the world most heavily affected by foot and mouth disease (FMD). The situation in the Middle East and North Africa constitutes a threat to other regions of the world, especially Europe. Risk management differs between North Africa and the Middle East due to different epidemiological situations. In the Middle East, the national cattle population is the principal target of preventive vaccination. Vaccination is used as a tool for preventing economic losses due to the disease, rather than as a means to prevent the spread of the infection. In North Africa, as FMD occurs almost cyclically, management is more focused on emergency preparedness and limitation of the spread of the disease upon diagnosis, as well as on effective control measures based on quarantine and mass vaccination. To reduce future outbreaks of FMD in the countries of the two regions, a common strategic programme should be adopted, based on effective regional co-operation at many levels. This should be complemented by efforts to restructure and consolidate the national Veterinary Services.
Africa, Northern↗
Pediatric neurosurgery in the Middle East: present and future.
The Middle East is the term used for more than ten countries with populations characterized by different ethnic roots and religions and with diverse political and economic power. It is probably the most unstable part of the whole world, having spent centuries struggling for a settled situation. Reflecting this political turmoil, the health problems and priorities in these countries are very different than in western countries. Medical associations, including neurosurgical associations, in most of these countries have very little communication with international societies compared with such associations in other parts of the world. Although one or two neurosurgeons in almost every country in the region enjoy some prominence in the international neurosurgical arena, almost no society-based relationships have been established among Middle East countries. Pediatric neurosurgery has been regarded as a subspecialty in the Middle East countries for the last two decades. Although it is not well organized except in Turkey and Israel, most of the countries in this region now have neurosurgeons who give special attention to pediatric neurosurgery within their general neurosurgical practice. Practicing neurosurgeons are few and and far between; there are certainly not enough of them to allow specialization in specific fields of neurosurgery in most countries in the Middle East. Moreover, owing to political and economic problems, most countries in the region are behind the standard neurosurgical agenda. Nonetheless, the flow rate of papers submitted to Child's Nervous System from several countries in the region has been slowly but progressively increasing. Hopefully, political stabilization in the near future will activate progress in pediatric neurosurgery along with neurosurgery in this region.
Child↗
Organ donation--world experience; the Middle East.
Many countries in the Middle East began renal transplantation in the late 1970s and the 1980s. In many countries transplantation has evolved through distinct stages of development, and at present living-related donors continue to be the main source of kidneys. Islamic opinion has been strongly in favour of transplantation of organs from both living and cadaveric donors. Brain death as a criterion of death was accepted by Islamic Jurists in 1986, and in Saudi Arabia about 35% of all transplants are from cadaveric donors. Some patients continue to go to neighbouring countries to buy kidneys for transplantation; there is evidence that this practice has resulted in unacceptable morbidity and mortality, and is currently associated with a risk of at least 1:18 of acquiring HIV infection. Extrarenal solid organ transplantation is very new, with heart transplants being performed in Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Liver transplants have been initiated in Turkey and Kuwait. The favourable religious rulings and the resources available should enable transplantation to develop rapidly in the next few years in the Middle East and West Asia.
Brain Death↗
Allergic rhinitis in the Middle East.
BACKGROUND: Current military operations in the Middle East involve active duty, National Guard, and reserve troops from all services. Despite common misconceptions, the desert environment in this region has significant aeroallergen seasons that may exacerbate allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: To review perennial and seasonal aeroallergen trends in the Middle East. RESULTS: Most countries have significant grass and weed pollen seasons during April to May and September to October, respectively. Indigenous trees such as date palm, acacia, and mesquite have specific pollen seasons from March to May. Mold allergens are perennial with seasonal peaks, whereas house dust mite is common in humid coastal regions. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal and perennial allergens observed in the United States are also found in the Middle East. Furthermore, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in these countries suggests that local aeroallergens exacerbate symptoms. Health care providers should counsel deploying soldiers with allergic rhinitis regarding relevant allergen trends, ensuring that these individuals have appropriate medications.
Counseling↗
Ethno-ophthalmology in the Egyptian delta: an historical systems approach to ethnomedicine in the Middle East.
Ethnomedical studies of the Middle East may be enriched by a long-term historical perspective, which takes into consideration the complex syncretism, through time, of both literate and nonliterate medical systems in this region, as well as the tumultuous history of conquest and colonialism in the Middle East. In this paper, the authors place the seemingly idiosyncratic, local, 'ethno-ophthalmological' practices of one northern Egyptian community, which is afflicted by the binding eye disease, trachoma, into a broader historico-political context, through examination of the four major literate medical systems of Egypt and the imperialistic forces responsible for their entrenchment.
Bloodletting↗
Nutrition-related health patterns in the Middle East.
Nutritionally-related health patterns in the Middle East have changed significantly during the last two decades. The main forces that have contributed to these changes are the rapid changes in the demographic characteristics of the region, speedy urbanization, and social development in the absence of steady and significant economic growth. Within these changes, the Middle East has the highest dietary energy surplus of the developing countries. The population in the region has a low poverty prevalence, at 4%. The region's child malnutrition rate is 19%, suggesting that nutrition insecurity remains a problem due mainly to poor health care and not due to inadequate dietary energy supply or poverty. The one extreme country, Afghanistan, has an extremely high dietary energy deficit of 490 kilocalories and a 40% malnutrition rate. Iran and Egypt have relatively high child malnutrition rates of 39 and 16% respectively, but belong to the dietary energy surplus group. Morocco and the United Emirates have the lowest child malnutrition rates of 6 and 8% respectively. In the Middle East, as in other parts of the world, large shifts have occurred in dietary and physical activity patterns. These changes are reflected in nutritional and health outcomes. Rising obesity rates and high levels of chronic and degenerative diseases are observed. These pressing factors that include the nature and changes in the food consumption pattern, globalization of food supply, and the inequity in health care will be discussed.
Demography↗
Spread of a multiresistant clone of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 66/122 in South-East Asia and the Middle East.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Present situation of echinococcosis in the Middle East and Arabic North Africa.
Echinococcosis is one of the major zoonotic parasitic diseases in the Middle East and Arabic North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. Both cystic and alveolar echinococcosis has been reported from these areas. However, cystic echinococcosis is more prevalent and has been reported from all countries in the Middle East and Arabic North Africa. Alveolar echinococcosis is less prevalent and has been reported only from Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Tunisia. Present situation of echinococcosis in dogs and other definitive hosts, animal intermediate hosts and humans in the Middle East and Arabic North Africa has been reviewed. Echinococcus granulosus is highly prevalent in Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. In the Levant countries, the cystic echinococcosis is also highly endemic. In Oman, it is endemic with low prevalence and a very low level in Cyprus. Various surveys have indicated that hydatid cysts are commonly found in sheep, cattle, goats and camels throughout the Middle East and Arabic North Africa. Sheep are the most infected animals of these regions. Most of studies on human have been focused on surgical reports although several population studies have been performed using serological and imaging techniques. Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is prevalent in the Middle East and Arabic North Africa. It is hyper endemic in Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria, and endemic in Egypt. Studies on the strain specificities of E. granulosus in the Middle East revealed sheep strain (G1) present in sheep, goats, cattle, camels and humans, and the camel strain (G6) in camels, sheep, cattle as well as humans. Dog/sheep strain seems to be more prevalent in the foregoing regions in documented reports from Iran and Jordan. However, a strain of E. granulosus, which resembles the horse strain (G4) strain, has been reported from Jordan. Strain specifications of E. granulosus in Arabic North Africa showed that sheep/dog strain (G1) have been reported from Tunisia and Libya both from humans and animals. However, in Egypt the human cases reported are of camel/dog strain.
Africa, Northern↗
Health hazards to the small ruminant population of the Middle East posed by the trade of sheep and goat meat.
Meat consumers in the Middle East traditionally prefer meat from freshly slaughtered animals to that from chilled or frozen carcasses. Consequently, meat trade in the Middle East is based mainly upon the importation of large quantities of live animals rather than of sheep and goat carcasses. Furthermore, as it seems that pathogens remain viable for longer periods of time in live animals than in meat, the probability of pathogens spreading in the Middle East as a result of contaminated small ruminant carcasses is lower than the probability of pathogens being imported through live animals. With suitable environmental conditions, however, there are two livestock diseases which may spread through meat, namely: foot and mouth disease (FMD) and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Foot and mouth disease virus which might have survived in the bones and offal of animals slaughtered in FMD-infected areas may be transmitted to animals in other regions. This occurs if carcass waste matter is not properly disposed of and is a particular problem where scavenging animals may carry away the infective material. Due to the low standards in garbage and sewage collection methods in many regions of the Middle East, such an eventuality should never be overlooked. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies may be introduced into sensitive animal populations if the waste matter of slaughtered sheep and goats is processed into animal feed. This would occur if animal products which have not undergone treatment to inactivate the scrapie agent are used in the rendering process. The risk of introducing TSEs into livestock populations of the Middle East in this way is very low, since the rendering technology and the use of animal waste matter as feed are not part of the local traditional husbandry practices.
Animal Husbandry↗