Study of Clinical Characteristics of Intellectual Disability in Morocco.

Objective: Intellectual disability (ID) is considered one of the most common human disorders characterized by significant deficits in cognition and functional and adaptive skills. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic and clinical features of a group of Moroccan individuals with ID living in the Tangier-Tetouan region.

Design: This was a retro-prospective and descriptive exploratory monocentric study realized between November 2020 and August 2023.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis -associated obesity and its involvement in cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. A systematic review.

Introduction: Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease caused by various factors. Recently, the role of the gut microbiota in the development of obesity and its complications has attracted increasing interest.

Purpose: This article focuses on the mechanisms by which gut microbiota dysbiosis induces insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases linked to obesity, highlighting the mechanisms explaining the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis-associated inflammation in the onset of these pathologies.

BRCA1/2 variants and copy number alterations status in non familial triple negative breast cancer and high grade serous ovarian cancer.

Background: While the role of BRCA1/2 genes in familial breast and ovarian cancer is well established, their implication in the sporadic form of both cancers is still controversial. With the development of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, the exact relationship between BRCA1/2 genes and sporadic triple negative breast cancer/high grade serous carcinoma (TNBC/HGSC) needs to be further investigated. Therefore, we conducted a study in which we analyze BRCA1/2 point mutations and copy number alterations in Moroccan patients suffering from TNBC/HGSC.

Epidemiological Profile and Clinicopathological, Therapeutic, and Prognostic Characteristics of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Northern Morocco.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a multifactorial disease mainly affecting the Asian and North African populations including Morocco. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological profile of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Northern Morocco as well as its clinicopathological, therapeutic, and prognostic characteristics.

Methods: 129 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma followed at the regional center of oncology of Tangier in the period between April 2017 and July 2019, and diagnosed elsewhere from March 2000 to February 2019, were included in this study.

Intellectual Disability in Morocco: A Pilot Study.

Intellectual disability (ID) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by a congenital limitation in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. Our present work aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics in a series of Moroccan individuals with ID living in Fez city and its regions. It was a prospective and descriptive exploratory monocentric study carried out between October 2014 and July 2019.

Screening of the duplication 24 pb of ARX gene in Moroccan patients with X-linked Intellectual Disability.

Objective: Intellectual Disability (ID) represents a neuropsychiatric disorder, which its etiopathogenesis remains insufficiently understood. Mutations in the Aristaless Related Homeobox gene (ARX) have been identified to cause syndromic and nonsyndromic (NS-ID). The most recurrent mutation of this gene is a duplication of 24pb, c.

Contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations to early onset breast cancer: a series from north of Morocco.

Background: To date, the contribution of BRCA1/2 mutations in Moroccan early onset breast cancer patients remains unknown. Here we assess these genetic alterations for the first time in a cohort from North of Morocco.

Methods: Thirty-three patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of ≤40 years were recruited irrespective of breast and/or ovarian cancer family history.

I Polymorphism in Sickle Cell Disease in North Morocco.

Sickle cell disease is one of the most common severe monogenic disorders in the world. The -158 I polymorphism (C>T) of the γ-globin gene promoter is known to be associated with increased expression of the γ-globin gene, thus, higher production of Hb F and lesser clinical severity. This study aims to determine the frequency of the I polymorphism and its association with Hb F levels as a modulating factor of sickle cell disease severity in north Moroccan patients.

Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity: What is the role of inflammatory responses? A systematic review.

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease responsible for a high morbidity and mortality rate, with an increasing worldwide prevalence. Obesity is associated with immune responses characterized by chronic systemic inflammation. This article focuses on the mechanisms that explain the proposed link between obesity-associated diseases and inflammation.

Proteomics characterization of CENP-B epitope in Moroccan scleroderma patients with anti-centromere autoantibodies.

Background: Anti-centromere auto-antibodies (ACA) have been described as a marker in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) disease. CENP-B is the major centromere auto-antigen recognized by SSc patients with positive ACA. Our aim was to characterize the major epitope involved in the anti-CENP-B immune response of Moroccan SSc patients.

Hemoglobinopathies in the North of Morocco: Consanguinity Pilot Study.

Consanguinity is a social behavior characterized by the arrangement of marriages between relatives. It coincides generally with the geographic distribution of recessive genetic diseases as it increases the likelihood of homozygosis and, consequently, the incidence of their pathologies in the population. In this pilot study, we assess the effect of inbreeding on the burden of hemoglobinopathies in Northern Morocco.

The complications of overweight and obesity according to obesity indicators (body mass index and waist circumference values) in a population of Tangier (northern Morocco): A cross-sectional study.

Aim: The aim of this work was to study overweight and obesity and their associated complications according to obesity indicators in a population of Tangier.

Methods: A total of 480 overweight and obese patients were included in this study, referred to hospital Duc Tovar of Tangier during a period of 12 months. The collection of data has been done through a questionnaire which included anthropometric, clinical and biochemical characteristics of each patient.

Alpha-Thalassemia in North Morocco: Prevalence and Molecular Spectrum.

Unlike the other hemoglobinopathies, few researches have been published concerning -thalassemia in Morocco. The epidemiological features and the mutation spectrum of this disease are still unknown. This regional newborn screening is the first to study -thalassemia in the north of Morocco.

Immunological and Clinical Characteristics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Series from Morocco.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with a high female predominance. To date, studies about SLE in Morocco are few. This retrospective study describes the clinical and immunological features in a series of 50 SLE Moroccan patients in University Hospital Center of Rabat, Morocco, between December 2011 and December 2013.

Salivary Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis Disease.

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is frequently detected at an advanced stage due to diagnosis difficulties. Salivary biomarkers, if existing, could be used for predictive diagnosis of this disease. Human saliva contains a large number of proteins that can be used for diagnosis and are of great potential in clinical research.

Secondary breast cancer after Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report and literature review.

The occurrence of secondary breast cancers in women previously exposed to chest irradiation for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is considered as a major issue for the quality of life of these long-term survivors as well as a challenge for clinical management. This study reports a case of a woman treated for HL at the age of 24 years, who developed breast cancer after an interval of 20 years. This case highlights once again the importance of awareness among HL survivors about their increased breast cancer risk and re-launches the debate about the efficacy of adoption of breast screening guidelines.

Clinicopathologic and prognostic features of breast cancer in young women: a series from North of Morocco.

Background: Literature data reported a higher frequency of breast cancer in young women (BCYW) in developing countries. BCYW is associated with delayed diagnosis, aggressive biology and poor prognosis. However, our knowledge of biological profile, treatment received and outcome of young patients is still limited in Morocco.

Triple negative breast cancer in North of Morocco: clinicopathologic and prognostic features.

Background: Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is defined by a lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor gene expression and by the absence of overexpression on HER2. It is associated to a poor prognosis. We propose to analyze the clinicopathologic and prognostic characteristics of this breast cancer subtype in a Mediterranean population originated or resident in the North of Morocco.

Dietary effects of harmine, a β-carboline alkaloid, on development, energy reserves and α-amylase activity of Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

The physiological and developmental effects of harmine, a β-carboline alkaloid, on the insect pest Plodia interpunctella have been analyzed. When added at the larval diet, harmine induced a strong reduction of larvae weight, cannibalism between larvae, in addition to significant mortality. On the other hand, it caused a remarkable development disruption, manifested by both delay and reduction of pupation and adult emergence.