• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.333-343
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To compare five indices of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) among adults living in the Mediterranean region. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 100 healthy Lebanese adults aged between 18 and 65 years. Face-to-face interviews to collect sociodemographic and medical information, to take anthropometric measurements, and to fill a validated, culturally adapted, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The score for each item was calculated following the recommendations for each corresponding index. The five MD indices were Mediterranean Diet Scale (MDScale), Mediterranean Food Pattern (MFP), MD Score (MDS), Short Mediterranean Diet Questionnaire (SMDQ), and the MedDiet score. RESULTS: Significant correlations were detected between items with P-values < 0.001. Minimal agreement was seen between MDScale and MedDiet score and maximal agreement between MDS and MedDiet score. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that MDS and MedDiet scores had significant correlations with fiber and olive oil intake, main components of the MD. MDScale showed a significant correlation with waist-to-hip ratio and with total energy intake but none of the five indices was correlated to body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSIONS: The indices that showed the highest correlation with variables related to the MD are the MDScale and the MedDiet score; therefore, they can be used to assess our future study populations. Based on the current results, more than half of the study population was non-adherent to the MD and adherence to this diet did not appear to protect against being overweight ($BMI{\geq}30$).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.1547-1551
• /
• 2012

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Its management has a significant economic impact on society. Despite a high incidence of cancer, so far, there is no national register for this disease in Morocco. The main goal of this report was to estimate the medical costs of lung cancer in our country. Methods: We first estimated the number of annual new cases according to stage of the disease on the basis of the Grand-Casablanca-Region Cancer Registry data. For each sub-group, the protocol of treatment was described taking into account the international guidelines, and an evaluation of individual costs during the first year following diagnosis was made. Extrapolation of the results to the whole country was used to calculate the total annual cost of treatments for lung cancer in Morocco. Results: Overall approximately 3,500 new cases of lung cancer occur each year in the country. Stages I and II account for only 4% of cases, while 96% are diagnosed at locally advanced or metastatic stages III and IV. The total medical cost of lung cancer in Morocco is estimated to be around USD 12 million. This cost represents approximately 1% of the global budget of the Health Department. According to AROME Guidelines, about 86% of the newly diagnosed lung cancer cases needed palliative treatment while 14% required curative intent therapy. The total cost of early and advanced stages lung cancer management during the first year were estimated to be 4,600 and 3,420 USD, respectively. Conclusion: This study provides health decision-makers with a first estimate of costs and the opportunity to achieve the optimal use of available data to estimate the needs of health facilities in Morocco. A substantial proportion of the burden of lung cancer could be prevented through the application of existing cancer control knowledge and by implementing tobacco control programs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.70 no.4
• /
• pp.338-341
• /
• 2011

Hydatid disease is caused by the larval stage of taenia $Echinococcus$, which endemic in the Mediterranean region. Recently, the prevalence of the disease has increased worldwide due to an increase in the frequency of travel and immigration. As the infested larvae migrate through the bloodstream, the final destination is most commonly the liver or lungs; direct pleural invasion is very rare. A 50-year-old diabetic Korean man presented with an incidentally noted 2 cm right pleural nodule. On follow up imaging after three months, its size had increased. To confirm the diagnosis of the lesion, surgical excision was performed. Histopathological examination showed the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. The patient had no history of overseas travel, but lives in an urban area where many foreign workers from endemic countries reside. This is the first reported case of primary pleural hydatid disease in a non-endemic country.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.527-533
• /
• 2016

Background: In Jordan, a developing country with a high tobacco burden and where roughly 40% of cancers are tobacco-related, limited knowledge exists on public awareness regarding tobacco. This is a hindrance for experts seeking to strengthen anti-tobacco health promotion and counter growing tobacco use. We sought to evaluate public awareness regarding tobacco; to gauge exposure to anti-tobacco public messages; and to draw attention to the lay public's informational needs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of lay public in the capital, Amman, capturing knowledge regarding tobacco harms and anti-tobacco laws, perceptions regarding tobacco use and control, and exposure to and recall of anti-tobacco messages, was conducted. Statistics on perceptions were generated and analyzed by smoking status and sociodemographic factors. Multivariate regression was performed to estimate independent associations of smoking and sociodemographic factors with knowledge. Results: Of 1,169 respondents, 17.8% could recall specific anti-tobacco messages. With regard to knowledge, despite high proportions of respondents exhibiting knowledge for individual statements regarding tobacco health harms, variables capturing breadth of knowledge showed that much lower proportions could correctly identify all the listed health harms of tobacco, and all listed Jordanian anti-tobacco regulations (47.5% and 36.2%, respectively). On multivariate analysis, breadth of knowledge varied by smoking status, age and educational level. Conclusions: There is need for more salient, evocative and multi-faceted anti-tobacco messages in Jordan, tailored to subgroups, given detected variability in knowledge across smoking status and sociodemographic characteristics.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.12
• /
• pp.1764-1771
• /
• 2010

Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae) is an herb primarily distributed throughout in the world. The species is regarded as ecologically important in the world. Safflower was used for medicines, as well as making red (carthamin) and yellow dyes. We have used the RAPD technique to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of C. tinctorius. We obtained 123 bands from all the 26 cultivars. The average number of bands was 9.5 per primer. The genetic diversity of safflower is found among cultivars and there is a high among-cultivar differentiation. The OPC18-01 band is the specific marker for Syria cultivar, whereas no products were detected in individuals from other country cultivars. We found seven phenetic bands for determining the specific marker of cultivars with SCAR markers. Though the number of individuals sampled for analysis was small and probably not fully representative of the total available diversity in C. tinctorius, this study demonstrates that the regions (Morocco, Syria, and Turkey) of the Mediterranean Sea were more variable than other regions with the exception of India. In this result, although only simple result of RAPD is difficult to assert the center of species diversity of C. tinctorius, the regions of the Mediterranean Sea may be the most probable candidate for the origin of safflower. India was also the candidate of the center or secondary center of species diversity of C. tinctorius. RAPD markers were effective in classifying cultivar levels of safflower.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.87-114
• /
• 2008

The cultured tuna production which has suddenly expanded at the short time and the demand for it attract attention. Farming mode, distribution transactions, change of the market (domestic and international) and the price trend are reviewed from the Japan's position which is the biggest consuming country. This paper tries to describe the current status of the food system related to the cultured tuna. Japanese government began the development of the tuna culture technology in 1970. It was by the Fisheries Agency's project. Kinki University which is the large scale private university in Japan participated in the project. After that, 32 years have passed. Kinki University established the full farming of the bluefin tuna in August, 2002. On the other hand, in 1974, one Japanese private enterprise began its tuna farming business in Canada. Kinki University gave this company technical cooperation. Also, in the early stages of the 90s, as for the policy of the overseas fishery cooperation foundation, it supported the tuna farming business in Australia. It is very clear to understand that the long-term technological-development has supported the take-off scene of the tuna culture business not only in foreign countries but also in Japan. The total shipment scale of the cultured tuna expanded very much within about 10 recent years. However, the decrease of the wild tuna catch, the reinforcement of the fisheries regulation and the tuna body to dwarf are remarkable now. Under the condition as the mentioned above, Japan's tuna consumption, especially, in the market at the fatty meat of tuna of the cultured tuna is building up firm status. At present, the Mediterranean Sea coastal countries, Australia, Mexico and Japan have the tuna farming sites. Australia farms the southern bluefin tuna. The others do the bluefin tuna. About for 3 years, Japan farms the juvenile of the tuna. The global production areas are as follows. 8 coastal countries of the Mediterranean Sea; 18,000 tons (61 % of the cultured tuna quantity in foreign countries), Mexico; 4,500 ton (15%), Australia; 7,000 tons (24%). In 2003, Japan has 32 managements and 39 offices for tuna farming. In Japan, Kyushu and Okinawa district, the share shows itself as 80 % of the domestic production quantity. Especially, the share of Amami-oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture exceeds 60 %. Therefore, this island has the maximum production scale of Japan. The amount of supply of BT and SBT was 56,000 tons in 2004. In Abroad, the tuna farming business forms a fixed connection between the importer and the wholesaler which have their office in Japan. In the field of the capital composition, the payment in advance, transaction and the way of settlement, each maintains their fixed relation. The market conditions of the cultured tuna are supported by "the decline of price level" and "the expansion of the general public consumption segment". These lead a team merchandising, and it is supported by the fixed business connection of each. This makes the profit of each business which are on the cultured tuna distribution. However, they have competition on the power balance among them.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.3159-3163
• /
• 2012

Background: For cervical cancer the epidemiological profile is poorly known in Morocco and no data is available concerning the direct medical costs. The purpose of this work is to estimate the direct cost of medical management of invasive cervical cancer during the first year after diagnosis in Morocco. Methods: The estimation of direct costs of medical management of invasive cervical cancer during the first year after diagnosis in Morocco is based on the estimation of individual cost in each stage which covers diagnosis, treatment and follow-up during first year. The cost was estimated per patient and whole cycle-set using the costs for each drug and procedure as indicated by the Moroccan National Agency for Health Insurance. Extrapolation of the results to the whole country was used to calculate the total annual cost of cervical cancer treatments in Morocco. Results: Overall approximately 1,978 new cases of cervical cancer occur each year in Morocco. The majority (82.96%) of these cases were diagnosed at a late stage (stageII or more). The cost of one case of cervical cancer depends on stage of diagnosis, the lowest cost is $382 for stageCis followed by the cost of stageIA1 for young women (< 40 years) which is $2,952. The highest cost is for stageIV, which is $7,827. The total cost of cervical cancer care for one year after diagnosis is estimated at $13,589,360. The share allocated to treatment is the most important part of the global care budget with an annual sum of $13,027,609 whereas other cost components are represented as follows: $435,694 for annual follow-up activity and $126,057 for diagnosis and preclinical staging. Conclusion: This study provides health decision-makers with a first estimate of costs and the opportunity to achieve the optimal use of available data to estimate the needs of health facilities in Morocco.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.629-636
• /
• 2014

To minimize secondary damages from marine environment pollution resulting from marine accidents, International Maritime Organization(IMO) adopted "Guidelines on Places of Refuge(POR) for ships in need of assistance" as Resolution A.949(23) in it is 23rd General Assembly in 2003 and recommends Parties to the Organization designate PoR. This resolution suggests that they establish a "Decision-Making process" so as to provide reasonable PoR when disabled ships request use of PoR. Korea has not been performed introduce a PoR system in the country. Therefore, there is no decision-making process to deal with ships which need PoR. When Korea implements the PoR system in the future, the nation should establish a Decision-Making process to provide reasonable PoR in case ships in need of assistance request for PoR. In order to present what should be considered in the process of establishing a Decision-Making process for PoR in Korea in the future, in this study presents matters which should be considered in the process of founding PoR Decision-Making processes. When Korea tries to conduct POR system so that other countries' PoR Decision-Making process and the relating process of IMO and REMPEC (Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea) were investigated and analyzed. In addition, in times of marine accident in Korea's sea areas, Korea's action manuals for marine accident which regulates management for an accident is analyzed and articles will be presented to be taken into account during establishing final PoR Decision-Making process.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2002

Human activities greatly affect the environment causing its degradation. Urban development and road networks construction cause main impacts on ecosystems and particularly on vegetation cover: road constructions induce complete degradation of the vegetation cover and often leaves a hare land, sometimes without even a soil cover. Reconstitution of vegetation cover is necessary to limit superficial erosion and land slipping on the road, towards a reintegration of the site in the neighbouring landscape. Many approaches have been studied over the last 30 years aiming at this reconstitution of vegetation cover. At frost, the main purpose of land reclamation was to create a new ecosystem. At this time, the environment created was rather a "garden" with a new soil adapted to the plantation of "decorative" species. Then, in early 90′s many studies on the restoration ecology concept rather focused on adapting the vegetation to the existing conditions on the site, as in a side road embankment for example. Nowadays, we notice a large tendency towards the use of such adapted native species instead of industrially produced seeds. In southern France, our team have led research on the potentials of those local species for their use in revegetation processes with hydro-seeding. We therefore developed an approach combining the use of different types of species: Industrially produced, native and wild cultivated species. This method integrates the benefits of using available low costing seeds that are already used on large scale projects with better adapted species, issued form the cultivation of native species and seed production for their use on smaller scale and more costly but more effective results. The use of wild cultivated species seeds was developed in order to limit the cost and reduce harsh natural seed withdrawal in the natural environment In the case of the use of native species. Besides, the use of such seeds allowed a larger geographical scale of use than with local native seeds. In addition, our team began two years ago a research project in Lebanon aiming at the Introduction and development of the revegetation techniques in Lebanon. In fact, this country bared since 20 years the consequences of urban pressure on its environment especially by the development of quarries and road networks. Therefore, pioneer work is necessary to aim at the adaptation of these techniques to the local environment.