A Novel NRAS Variant Near the Splice Junction in Moroccan Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Molecular Dynamics Study.

The RAS genes are importantly implicated in oncogenesis and are frequently mutated in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This study is the first to our knowledge, to determine the mutational status of NRAS and KRAS genes in Moroccan pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were performed for 45 ALL samples to explore the coding exons.

The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for mental health and quality of life among individuals diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: It has long been documented that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has positive impacts on improving mental health (MH) and quality of life (QoL) in the general population, but investigations on its effect on cancer survivors remain limited, especially for QoL outcomes. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to investigate the effects of CBT as compared to control on cancer patients' MH and QoL outcomes. Control is defined in this study as standard therapy, waitlist control, and active/alternative therapy.

Pathway Mutations as Predictive Biomarkers in Middle Eastern Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: This review article aims to investigate the prevalence and spectrum of rat sarcoma (RAS) and V-Raf Murine Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog B (BRAF) mutations, and their connection with geographical location, clinicopathological features, and other relevant factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in the Middle East.

Methods: A systematic literature review, employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, was conducted to investigate the association between the frequency of relevant mutations and the descriptive clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients. Multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, were searched to analyze the relevant literature.

Alteration of glucose metabolism and expression of glucose transporters in ovarian cancer.

Aerobic glycolysis also known as the Warburg effect, remains a hallmark of various cancers, including ovarian cancer. Cancer cells undergo metabolic changes to sustain their tumorigenic properties and adapt to environmental conditions, such as hypoxia and nutrient starvation. Altered metabolic pathways not only facilitate ovarian cancer cells' survival and proliferation but also endow them to metastasize, develop resistance to chemotherapy, maintain cancer stem cell phenotype, and escape anti-tumor immune responses.

Cytogenetic abnormalities and TP53 and RAS gene profiles of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Morocco.

Background: Recurrent genetic abnormalities affecting pivotal signaling pathways are the hallmark of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The identification of these aberrations remains clinically important. Therefore, we sought to determine the cytogenetic profile and the mutational status of TP53 and RAS genes among Moroccan childhood cases of ALL.

BRCA1 Promoter Hypermethylation in Malignant Breast Tumors and in the Histologically Normal Adjacent Tissues to the Tumors: Exploring Its Potential as a Biomarker and Its Clinical Significance in a Translational Approach.

The hypermethylation status of the promoter region of the breast cancer 1 (, a well-known tumor suppressor gene, has been extensively investigated in the last two decades as a potential biomarker for breast cancer. In this retrospective study, we investigated the prevalence of promoter methylation in 84 human breast tissues, and we correlated this epigenetic silencing with the clinical and histopathological parameters of breast cancer. We used methylation-specific PCR (MSP) to analyze BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation in 48 malignant breast tumors (MBTs), 15 normal adjacent tissues (NATs), and 21 benign breast lesions (BBLs).

A Comparative Analysis of NOX4 Protein Expression in Malignant and Non-Malignant Thyroid Tumors.

The comparative analysis of the expression of the reactive oxygen species-generating NADPH oxidase NOX4 from TCGA data shows that the NOX4 transcript is upregulated in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC)-BRAF tumors compared to PTC-BRAF tumors. However, a comparative analysis of NOX4 at the protein level in malignant and non-malignant tumors is missing. We explored NOX4 protein expression by immunohistochemistry staining in malignant tumors (28 classical forms of PTC (C-PTC), 17 follicular variants of PTC (F-PTC), and three anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs)) and in non-malignant tumors (six lymphocytic thyroiditis, four Graves' disease, ten goiters, and 20 hyperplasias).

Comparative Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Kernels, Leaves, Husk, and Bark of L., Using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS Analysis and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Leaves, husk, kernels, and bark methanolic extracts of Juglans regia L. were tested for their in vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. For these purposes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase were used as the main enzymes to evaluate antidiabetic activities.

Clinical Significance of Somatic Mutations in RAS/RAF/MAPK Signaling Pathway in Moroccan and North African Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Background: Mutations in RAS (KRAS, NRAS) and BRAF genes are the main biomarker predicting response to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in targeted therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the frequencies of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations and their possible associations with clinico-pathological features in CRC patients from Morocco.

Methods: DNA was extracted from 80 FFPE samples using the QIAamp DNA FFPE-kit.

Association study of polymorphisms in women with obesity and their impact on protein domains: a case-control study and in silico analyses.

Leptin receptor (LEPR) is a member of the class I cytokine receptor family that receives and transmits leptin signals. It is primarily involved in the regulation of energy expenditure and food intake. This study aimed to evaluate the association of gene polymorphisms, Lys109Arg, Gln223Arg and Lys656Asn, with obesity in Moroccan women and to explore the structural and functional consequences of these SNPs.

Association of TP53 gene polymorphisms with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Moroccan children.

Background: TP53 gene plays a pivotal role in maintaining genetic stability and prevention of malignancies. Alterations of this gene are implicated in more than half of human cancers. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to explore TP53 polymorphisms in Moroccan childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

B/T mixed phenotype acute leukemia with high hyperdiploidy and lineage switch to B-cell acute leukemia.

Acute leukemias are often of myeloid or lymphoid origin. However, some acute leukemias revealed an undefined differentiation into a single lineage. Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) is an uncommon diagnosis were blasts can share B/T/myeloid phenotype.

A prognostic approach on a case of pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with monosomy-7.

In this work, we present the first case of a Ph-positive ALL Moroccan girl with (9;22)(q34;q11) and monosomy-7. She was diagnosed with Ph-positive ALL based on bone marrow examination, immunophenotyping, and cytogenetic analysis. She relapsed after treatment with the persistence of the Ph chromosome and the appearance of a monosomy-7.

Identification of p.Met215Ile mutation of the gene in a Moroccan woman with obesity.

Screening the gene showed one rare mutation p.Met215Ile in a Moroccan patient with morbid obesity, which leads to a change in the protein structure. The analysis of variants may be useful for future therapeutic approaches.

BRAF hot spot mutation in thyroid carcinomas: first Moroccan experience from a single-institution retrospective study.

Background: The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate. BRAF mutation is described to be associated with a worse prognostic of thyroid carcinomas, as well as extrathyroidal invasion and increased mortality.

Objective: To our knowledge, there are no reported studies neither from Morocco nor from other Maghreb countries regarding the prevalence of BRAF mutation in thyroid carcinomas.

Degradation of p53 by HPV16-E6 variants isolated from cervical cancer specimens of Moroccan women.

Cervical cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in Moroccan women. The main etiological factor for developing cervical cancer is the persistent infection with HPV16. Genetic studies have reported the occurrence of amino acid variations within the E6 oncoprotein that promotes host cell transformation by targeting p53 for degradation.

Origanum compactum Benth., from traditional use to biotechnological applications.

Origanum compactum Benth., is a Moroccan medicinal plant known by its local name as Zaatar. In Morocco, it has various traditional applications such as the use to treat diabetes, metabolic disorders, digestive, and respiratory problems.

Essential oils of increase membrane permeability, disturb cell membrane integrity, and suppress quorum-sensing phenotype in bacteria.

The aim of this study was to investigate antibacterial activity of essential oils collected at three phenological stages on and . The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar-well diffusion assay. The MIC and MBC values were determined using the micro-dilution assay.

Cell-mediated immune response associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in atherosclerotic patients.

Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular bacterium that activates cell mediated immune responses; several investigations have demonstrated its strong implication in atherosclerosis.

Objectives: The main objective of our study was to explore the cell-mediated immune response to C. pneumoniae infection in patients with atherosclerosis by evaluating CD14, CD8 and CD4 expression.

The rare translocation t(14;21)(q11;q22) detected in a Moroccan patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Cytogenetic studies of acute lymphoblastic leukemia have been at the forefront of research in the pathogenesis of cancer. The presence of recurring chromosomal abnormalities (either numeral or structural rearrangements) provides immediate clues to the genetic events leading to leukemia and many abnormalities have important prognostic significance. The rare translocation t(14,21)(q11.

Cytotoxicological Investigation of the Essential Oil and the Extracts of and from Morocco.

The objective of this work was to investigate the cytotoxicological effect of the extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, and -butanol) of and in addition to the essential oil of . These plants are widely used in the Moroccan traditional folk medicine. The cytotoxic effect was explored against two cancer cell lines, Vero and RD, using the colorimetric MTT assay.

Concise synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of novel 3-(1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazolyl)uridine nucleosides.

We report herein a simple and efficient synthesis of a new series of antibacterial uridine nucleosides. The strategy involved a sequential silylation/N-glycosylation/N-propargylation procedure of uracil 1 for preparing the dipolarophile 5 in good yield. A series of novel uridine-[1,2,3]triazole nucleosides 6a-j were efficiently synthesized via the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) from dipolarophile 5 with different selected azides.

Evaluation of glutathione S-transferase pi 1 expression and gene promoter methylation in Moroccan patients with urothelial bladder cancer.

Background: Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is a cytosolic detoxifying enzyme that protects cells against deleterious effects of oxidative stress. Deregulated expression of GSTP1 protein and aberrant promoter methylation of GSTP1 gene were reported in various human tumors and were shown to be involved in the molecular pathway for cancer development.

Aims And Methods: In this study, we aimed to determine the expression status of GSTP1 in relation to its gene promoter methylation in Moroccan population of 30 bladder cancer (BC) patients and in two noncancerous bladder tissues used as controls.

Cytogenetic Profile of Moroccan Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Analysis of 155 Cases With a Review of the Literature.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children, with a peak incidence at 2 to 3 years of age and accounting for almost 30% of all cancers in this age group. It is well established that the identification of cytogenetic abnormalities is highly relevant for the prognosis of and therapeutic decisions in ALL. The purpose of the present study was to define the frequency of recurrent chromosomal abnormalities of ALL in Moroccan patients referred exclusively to the BIOLAB Laboratory of the Children's Hospital of Rabat during a 4-year period and compare our findings to the reported data.

Relationship between the dimerization of thyroglobulin and its ability to form triiodothyronine.

Thyroglobulin (TG) is the most abundant thyroid gland protein, a dimeric iodoglycoprotein (660 kDa). TG serves as the protein precursor in the synthesis of thyroid hormones tetraiodothyronine (T) and triiodothyronine (T). The primary site for T synthesis in TG involves an iodotyrosine acceptor at the antepenultimate Tyr residue (at the extreme carboxyl terminus of the protein).