scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Influenza Epidemiology and Surveillance in the Eastern Mediterranean and North African Region

Author(s):  
Samira Soudani ◽  
Alireza Mafi ◽  
Zayid Al Mayahi ◽  
Sultan Al Balushi ◽  
Ghassan Dbaibo ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Ravaghi ◽  
Mahnaz Afshari ◽  
Parvaneh Isfahani ◽  
Victoria D. Bélorgeot

In the original publication of this article [1], one author’s name needs to be revised from Pavaneh Isfahani to Parvaneh Isfahani.



Author(s):  
Marium Aftab ◽  
Alsaleem Mohammed Abadi ◽  
Shamsun Nahar ◽  
Razia Aftab Ahmed ◽  
Syed Esam Mahmood ◽  
...  

Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are living within a milieu of stress, anxiety, and fear. Medical students are susceptible to these emotional injuries, but their psychological wellbeing and learning may further be assaulted by future uncertainties and altered teaching and training programs. Our objective was to find the extent of the psychological impact of the pandemic and the learning difficulties they are experiencing; Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 418 undergraduate and postgraduate medical students from all over the world. A questionnaire was uploaded in Google survey form. It included background characteristics, questions for psychiatric impact like PHQ-9, GAD-7, ZF-OCS, and questions for learning difficulties perceived in comparison to the pre-pandemic time. Results: Among participants, 34.9% of students were male and 65.1% female. Around 46.4% belonged to the WHO, Eastern Mediterranean region, 26.8% from South East Asia region, 17.5% from the region of America, 5.5% from the European region,2.2%from the Western Pacific region, and 1.7% from the African region. Symptoms due to psychiatric illness were noticed in 393 (93.1%); depression in 386 (92.3%), anxiety in 158 (37.8%), obsessive compulsion disorder in 225 (53.8%), and post-traumatic stress syndrome in 129 (39.9%). Female gender, geographical region, and history of previous psychiatric illness were significantly related to almost all the psychiatric illnesses. Regarding learning difficulty, 96% of students faced problems: trouble with memorizing in 54.0%, concentration problems in 67.0%, about 55.5% of students made more mistakes, while 44.5% noted an increase in reaction time for solving questions. In addition, 90% experienced greater difficulty in overall learning during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic time. Conclusion: Assault on psychological wellbeing, struggling to memorize, inattention and difficulty in concentration on studies, along with perceived overall trouble with learning, have emerged as collateral damage from the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to medical students.



Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1515
Author(s):  
Radhouene Doggui ◽  
Hanin Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Jalila El Ati ◽  
Rawhieh Barham ◽  
Lara Nasreddine ◽  
...  

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is experiencing a nutrition transition, characterized by the emergence of overnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. No previous study has comparatively examined nutrient intake in adults across countries in the EMR. This review examined the adequacy of nutrients in adults living in the EMR. Moreover, it analyzed the food balance sheets (FBS) for 1961–2018 to identify the trajectory of energy supply from macro-nutrients in the EMR. A systematic search was conducted from January 2012 to September 2020. Only observational studies were retained with a random sampling design. An assessment of the methodological quality was conducted. Levels of nutrient daily intake and their adequacy compared to the daily reference intake of the Institute of Medicine were reported across the region. No studies were identified for half of the region’s countries. Although nutrient energy intake was satisfactory overall, fat and carbohydrate intake were high. Intake of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium were below that recommended. The analysis of the FBS data allowed for the identification of four linear patterns of trajectories, with countries in the EMR best fitting the ‘high-energy-supply from carbohydrate’ group. This systematic review warrants multi-sectorial commitment to optimize nutrient intake.



Author(s):  
Solange Nyiraguhirwa ◽  
Zahra Grana ◽  
Fatima Henkrar ◽  
Hassan Ouabbou ◽  
Ibriz Mohammed ◽  
...  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Temitope Seun Oluwadare ◽  
Norbert Jakowski ◽  
Cesar E. Valladares ◽  
Andrew Oke-Ovie Akala ◽  
Oladipo E. Abe ◽  
...  

Abstract We present for the first time the climatology of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) by using Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver networks on geomagnetically quiet days (Kp ≤ 3) over the North African region during 2008-2016. The MSTIDs appear frequently as oscillating waves or wave-like structures in electron density induced by the passage of Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGW) propagating through the neutral atmosphere and consequently, causing fluctuation in the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC). The TEC perturbations (dTEC) data are derived from dual frequency GPS-measurements. We have statistically analyzed the MSTIDs characteristics, occurrence rate, seasonal behavior as well as the interannual dependence. The results show a local and seasonal dependence of nighttime and daytime MSTIDs. The propagation direction is predominantly towards the South (equatorward), MSTIDs event period is (12 ≤ period ≤ 53 mins), and dominant amplitude (0.08 ≤ amp ≤ ~1.5 TECU), with a propagation velocity higher at daytime than nighttime. The amplitudes of the MSTIDs increase with solar activity. The local MSTIDs Spatio-temporal heat reveals variability in disturbance occurrence time, but seems to be dominant within the hours of (Northwest: 1200–1600 LT) and (Northeast: 1000–1400 LT) in December solstice during daytime, and around (NW: 2100–0200 LT) and (NE: 1900–0200 LT) in June solstice, but get extended to March equinox during solar maximum (2014) during the nighttime. The time series of MSTIDs regional distribution map is also generated. Atmospheric gravity waves (AGW) seems to be responsible for the daytime MSTIDs occurrence.



2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Negarandeh ◽  
Shah Jahan Shayan ◽  
Rajab Nazari ◽  
BSc. Frank Kiwanuka ◽  
MSc. Sanaz Akhavan Rad

Abstract Background Recently, inappropriate use of antibiotics has been correlated with life-threatening side-effects such as adverse effects, increased cost of treatment, and the higher rate of microbial resistance. Besides, it leads to a waste of resources. Therefore, this review sought to determine the pooled prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics, self-medicated illness, reasons for self-medication, antibiotics used for self-medication, source of obtaining antibiotics, the inappropriate practice of antibiotics and suggested recommendations for talking self-medication with antibiotics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (EMRWHO). Methods Review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Database search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science using a combination of keywords which included; antimicrobial, antibacterial, antibiotic, self-medication, self-treatment, self-prescription, non-prescribed, irrational use, inappropriate use, misuse, abuse and Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO countries. The lists of references of the selected articles were also hand-searched to obtained additional relevant articles. Studies published in English from 2000 to 2018 were included in the review. Results We report on data from 60 articles and 49629 participants in this review. The overall prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in EMRWHO was 47.2% (95% CI 41.6% – 52.9%). Yemen has the highest pooled rate with a rate of 75.0% (95% CI 63.4% − 83.9%), whilst Lebanon has the lowest pooled rate with a prevalence of 28.7% (95% CI 18.4% − 41.8%). The most common illnesses implicated in antibiotic self-medication were upper-respiratory infections and the most common antibiotic was Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid. The commonest reasons for antibiotic self-medication include: saving time and money. Pharmacies pointed out as the most common source of obtaining antibiotics for self-medication. Conclusion Self-medication with antibiotics is significantly high in the member states of EMRWHO. Intervention such as an educational program for communities’ members to change their behaviors, policy on the mechanism of distribution of antibiotics is called for in this area.



2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Karađole ◽  
Igor Borzić

Repeated excavations of the area of the early Byzantine fort on Žirje, an island in the Šibenik archipelago, resulted in recovery of a substantial amount of movable finds, predominantly pottery. Most finds date to the period of Justinian's reconquista in the mid-6th century when the fort was used, but there are also some artifacts of earlier or later dating (Iron Age, Hellenistic and early Imperial periods; medieval and postmedieval periods) whose presence is explained by continuous strategic importance of the fort position. Late antique material has been analyzed comprehensively in terms of typology. Dating and provenance contexts of the finds have also been determined. Presence of pottery from the main production centers that supplied the eastern Adriatic at the time has been attested. This refers in particular to the north African and Aegean-eastern Mediterranean area providing fine tableware and kitchen pottery, lamps and various forms of amphorae. On the other hand, participation of local workshops in supply of the Byzantine soldiers stationed in Gradina probably relates to prevailing forms of kitchenware.



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