Morphological, molecular identification and evaluation of antioxidant activity of seahorses from the Moroccan coasts.

Seahorses, part of the small marine teleost fish family , are increasingly under threat due to habitat degradation and overfishing. Notably used in traditional Chinese medicine, these fish have demonstrated significant pharmacological and cosmetic properties. In Morocco, however, seahorses are minimally exploited.

Effect of Climate on Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity of Moroccan Marine Microbiota.

The Moroccan coast is characterized by a diversity of climate, reflecting a great richness and diversity of fauna and flora. By this, marine microbiota plays a fundamental role in many biogeochemical processes, environmental modifications, and responses to temperature changes. To date, no exploration by high-throughput techniques has been carried out on the characterization of the Moroccan marine microbiota.

In Silico Prediction of the Bioactive Profile and Metabolites of in Diseases Related to the Excessive Production of Interleukin-6.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are caused by an abnormal reaction of the immune system, which becomes hyperactive because the mechanisms responsible for regulating it get out of control. For an effective immune response, many proinflammatory cytokines are secreted, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6) keystone cytokine inflammation. Many synthetic and natural compounds targeting IL-6 have been studied.

Prediction of Anti-COVID 19 Therapeutic Power of Medicinal Moroccan Plants Using Molecular Docking.

The emerging pathogen SARS-CoV2 causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health challenge. To the present day, COVID-19 had affected more than 40 million people worldwide. The exploration and the development of new bioactive compounds with cost-effective and specific anti-COVID 19 therapeutic power is the prime focus of the current medical research.

Integrative Analysis of the Genes Induced by the Intestine Microbiota of Infant Born to Term and Breastfed.

Nowadays, the integration of biological data is a major challenge for bioinformatics. Many studies have examined gene expression in the epithelial tissue in the intestines of infants born to term and breastfed, generating a large amount of data. The integration of these data is important to understand the biological processes involved during bacterial colonization of the newborns intestine, particularly through breast milk.

Prevalence of angiotensin-converting enzyme, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, Factor V Leiden, prothrombin and apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms in Morocco.

Background: Evidence of the influence of genetic risk factors on cardiovascular diseases is more or less established. These genetic factors are involved in several pathways affecting blood pressure regulation, blood coagulation, homocysteine and lipid metabolisms.

Aim: We evaluated frequencies of five genetic polymorphisms to assess their informativeness as markers for prospective clinical studies.

The management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Morocco.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as a result of mutations that impair their removal from plasma.The clinical consequence is a high risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Because of the extreme risk of mortality and morbidity, diagnosis, recruitment and management of FH patients must be one of the priorities of public health.

Elevated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of matrix remodeling in never-treated patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common inherited disorder of lipoprotein metabolism, whose origin involves mutations in the gene coding for the low-density lipoprotein receptor protein. Although FH is monogenic, wide variation occurs in the onset and severity of atherosclerosis in these patients.

Methods: Since data on levels of inflammatory proteins and/or active factors in FH patients who have never received lipid-lowering treatment are lacking, serum levels of MMP-3, active MMP-9 and TIMP-1 as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-18) were determined in never-treated homozygous FH Moroccan patients (n=4) and compared to those of heterozygous FH subjects (n=7) and of healthy control subjects (n=5).

Consumption of argan oil may have an antiatherogenic effect by improving paraoxonase activities and antioxidant status: Intervention study in healthy men.

Background And Aim: Due to its high antioxidant and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid content virgin argan oil (VAO) could play a beneficial role in cardiovascular prevention. We were therefore interested in determining whether the consumption of VAO could improve plasma paraoxonase (PON1) activities and antioxidant status in healthy men.

Methods And Results: Sixty young men were included in this interventional study.

Evidence of hypolipemiant and antioxidant properties of argan oil derived from the argan tree (Argania spinosa).

Background: Virgin argan oil is of interest in cardiovascular risk prevention due to its fat composition and antioxidant compounds.

Aims: We investigated with Moroccan subjects the effect of regular virgin argan oil consumption on lipid profile and antioxidant status and the in vitro effect of argan oil minor compounds (tocopherols, sterols and polyphenols) on LDL peroxidation.

Design: Healthy subjects (20 men, 76 women) were studied.

Familial hypercholesterolemia in Morocco: first report of mutations in the LDL receptor gene.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder mainly caused by defects in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene, although it can also be due to alterations in the gene encoding apolipoprotein B (familial defective apoB or FDB) or in other unidentified genes. In Morocco, the molecular basis of FH is unknown. To obtain information on this issue, 27 patients with FH from eight unrelated families were analyzed by screening the LDLR (PCR-SSCP and Southern blot) and apoB genes (PCR and restriction enzyme digestion analysis).