Measles outbreak in Styria, Austria, March-May 2009.
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In the last week of March 2009, five measles cases among students of an anthroposophic school were reported to the public health authorities in the Austrian province of Styria where only five cases had been reported in the whole of 2008. A descriptive epidemiological investigation of the measles outbreak was performed. Between 2 March and 10 May 2009, 37 cases of measles were identified in Styria: 33 confirmed outbreak cases and four probable outbreak cases. The measles outbreak spread from the general population (12 cases) to an anthroposophic community (25 cases). Cases outside of the anthroposophic community were mostly over 10 years of age (10/12). Thirty-five cases were unvaccinated, and two of the 37 had received one dose of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. Following a measles outbreak in Salzburg in 2008 with 394 cases, this outbreak reemphasises the continued need for additional vaccination campaigns in population groups over the age of 10 years. (+info)
Cardiovascular risk factors in Assyrians/Syrians and native Swedes with type 2 diabetes: a population-based epidemiological study.
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Waterpipe tobacco smoking: an emerging health crisis in the United States.
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and potential health risks of waterpipe tobacco smoking. METHODS: A literature review was performed to compile information relating to waterpipe tobacco smoking. RESULTS: Waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasing in prevalence worldwide; in the United States, 10-20% of some young adult populations are current waterpipe users. Depending on the toxicant measured, a single waterpipe session produces the equivalent of at least 1 and as many as 50 cigarettes. Misconceptions about waterpipe smoke content may lead users to underestimate health risks. CONCLUSION: Inclusion of waterpipe tobacco smoking in tobacco control activities may help reduce its spread. (+info)
Gender, depression and physical impairment: an epidemiologic perspective from Aleppo, Syria.
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The role of theophylline in prevention of radiocontrast media-induced nephropathy.
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Contrast media induced nephropathy (CIN) results in significant morbidity and mortality. We therefore investigated whether theophylline (adenosine antagonist) reduces the incidence of contrast media induced nephropathy. Two hundred and eighty patients were randomly assigned to prophylactic administration of hydration with sodium bicarbonate plus theophylline (either orally or intravenously) (n=128) or hydration with sodium bicarbonate only (n=152). Blood Urea, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (MDRD) were measured before and after administration of contrast media. Both groups were similar in clinical characteristics and amount of contrast used. Theophylline prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of CIN (1.6% vs 7.9%; P= 0.015). Compared to low-risk patients, Theophylline prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of CIN in moderate and high-risk patients (0% vs 8.8%; P= 0.022 and 9.1% vs 42.1%; P= 0.014 respectively). In conclusion, prophylactic administration of theophylline reduces the incidence of CIN in moderate and high-risk patients for CIN. (+info)
Policies for care during the third stage of labour: a survey of maternity units in Syria.
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Decline and decadence in Iraq and Syria after the age of Avicenna? 'Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi (1162-1231) between myth and history.
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'Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi's (d. 1231) work Book of the Two Pieces of Advice (Kitab al Nasihatayn) challenges the idea that Islamic medicine declined after the twelfth century AD. Moreover, it offers some interesting insights into the social history of medicine. 'Abd al-Latif advocated using the framework of Greek medical epistemology to criticize the rationalist physicians of his day; he argued that female and itinerant practitioners, relying on experience, were superior to some rationalists. He lambasted contemporaneous medical education because it put too much faith in a restricted number of textbooks such as the Canon by Ibn Sina (Avicenna, d. 1037) or imperfect abridgments. (+info)