Carrier frequency and molecular basis of hemoglobinopathies among blood donors in eastern Morocco: Implications for blood donation and genetic diagnosis.

Background: Hemoglobinopathies represent the most commonly inherited autosomal recessive blood disorders in the world. The aim of this study was to determine the carrier frequency and molecular basis of hemoglobinopathies among blood donors in eastern Morocco. This is the first study of its kind for this country.

Triple-A Syndrome in Morocco: Founder Effect, Age Estimation of the c.1331+1G>A Variant, and Implications for Genetic Diagnosis.

Introduction: Triple-A syndrome (Triple-A) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by alacrimia, achalasia, and adrenal insufficiency. Several variants on the gene have been described, and some variants are clustered in particular geographical areas, such as the c.1331+1G>A variant which is very frequent in North Africa.

A novel variant in BMPR1B causes acromesomelic dysplasia Grebe type in a consanguineous Moroccan family: Expanding the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of acromesomelic dysplasias.

Acromesomelic dysplasia Grebe type (AMD Grebe type) is an autosomal recessive trait characterized by short stature, shortened limbs and malformations of the hands and feet. It is caused by variants in the growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) or, in rare cases, its receptor, the bone morphogenetic protein receptor-1B (BMPR1B). Here, we report a novel homozygous BMPR1B variant causing AMD Grebe type in a consanguineous Moroccan family with two affected sibs from BRO Biobank.

Genotype-phenotype correlations in RHOBTB2-associated neurodevelopmental disorders.

Purpose: Missense variants clustering in the BTB domain region of RHOBTB2 cause a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with early-onset seizures and severe intellectual disability.

Methods: By international collaboration, we assembled individuals with pathogenic RHOBTB2 variants and a variable spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. By western blotting, we investigated the consequences of missense variants in vitro.

Molecular heterogeneity of β-thalassemia variants in the Eastern region of Morocco.

Background: β-thalassemia syndromes are the most common hereditary blood disorders in the world and are recognized as a major health problem in Morocco. They are characterized by the reduction or the absence of β-globin chain synthesis. The severity of the disease depends on the nature of the variants affecting the β-globin gene (HBB), and each ethnic group has its own mutation spectrum.

Detection of a new deleterious gene variant in Moroccan family with inherited myoclonus-dystonia.

Myoclonus-dystonia (M-D) is a pleiotropic neuropsychiatric disorder with autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with variable severity and incomplete penetrance. Pathogenic variants in ξ-sarcoglycan gene SGCE are the most frequently known genetic cause of M-D with maternal imprinting, and in most cases, a symptomatic individual inherits the pathogenic variant from his or her father. This work reported a missense mutation c.

Novel Mutation in AIFM1 Gene Associated with X-Linked Deafness in a Moroccan Family.

Introduction: Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder where outer hair cell function within the cochlea is normal, but inner hair cell and/or the auditory nerve function is disrupted. It is a heterogeneous disorder, which can have either congenital or acquired causes.

Methods: We found a disease-segregating mutation in the X-linked AIFM1 gene through whole-exome sequencing, encoding the apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondrion-associated 1.

Patients' Knowledge and Attitude Toward Biobanks in Eastern Morocco.

To integrate biobanks into the Moroccan health system and to promote biobanks-based research projects, it is necessary to explore the knowledge of patients, their attitudes toward biobanks, and the reasons that motivate them to participate in biobanks. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients, and data were analyzed using One thousand one hundred thirty-three questionnaires were completed. The mean age of patients was 47.

[Lung cancer in Eastern Morocco: where do we stand?].

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men living Eastern Morocco. We here present the first report on the clinical, pathological and therapeutic features of lung cancer in Eastern Morocco.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 738 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the Hassan II, Oncology Center between October 2005 and December 2014.

Cancer incidence in eastern Morocco: cancer patterns and incidence trends, 2005-2012.

Background: Cancer is one of the major health problems worldwide. In this article, we present for the first time the cancer incidence trends, the distribution and the socioeconomic profile of incident cancer cases in Eastern Morocco over a period of eight years.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed with cancer at the Hassan II Regional Oncology Center (ROC) since it was created in October 2005 until December 2012.

Novel compound heterozygous MYO7A mutations in Moroccan families with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss.

The MYO7A gene encodes a protein belonging to the unconventional myosin super family. Mutations within MYO7A can lead to either non syndromic hearing loss or to the Usher syndrome type 1B (USH1B). Here, we report the results of genetic analyses performed on Moroccan families with autosomal recessive non syndromic hearing loss that identified two families with compound heterozygous MYO7A mutations.

Distribution and features of hematological malignancies in Eastern Morocco: a retrospective multicenter study over 5 years.

Background: Hematological malignancies (HM) are a public health problem. The pattern and distribution of diagnosed hematological cancers vary depending on age, sex, geography, and ethnicity suggesting the involvement of genetic and environmental factors for the development of these diseases. To our knowledge, there is no published report on HM in the case of Eastern Morocco.

Recessive TBC1D24 Mutations Are Frequent in Moroccan Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss Pedigrees.

Mutations in the TBC1D24 gene are responsible for four neurological presentations: infantile epileptic encephalopathy, infantile myoclonic epilepsy, DOORS (deafness, onychodystrophy, osteodystrophy, mental retardation and seizures) and NSHL (non-syndromic hearing loss). For the latter, two recessive (DFNB86) and one dominant (DFNA65) mutations have so far been identified in consanguineous Pakistani and European/Chinese families, respectively. Here we report the results of a genetic study performed on a large Moroccan cohort of deaf patients that identified three families with compound heterozygote mutations in TBC1D24.

Association analysis of IGF2BP2, KCNJ11, and CDKAL1 polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Moroccan population: a case-control study and meta-analysis.

Associations with type 2 diabetes mellitus have been identified for variants CDKAL1 rs7756992, KCNJ11 rs5219, and IGF2BP2 rs4402960 in different populations. In a case-control study of 250 unrelated Moroccan diabetic patients and 250 healthy controls, we used TaqMan allelic discrimination assays to genotype the three SNPs and meta-analysis to investigate the association between the polymorphisms and diabetes in Arab populations. The results showed a significant diabetes association only with the variant rs4402960 of the IGF2BP2 gene under additive 2 (GG vs.

Genetic and molecular analysis of the CLDN14 gene in Moroccan family with non-syndromic hearing loss.

Background: Hearing loss is the most prevalent human genetic sensorineural defect. Mutations in the CLDN14 gene, encoding the tight junction claudin 14 protein expressed in the inner ear, have been shown to cause non-syndromic recessive hearing loss DFNB29.

Aim: We describe a Moroccan SF7 family with non-syndromic hearing loss.

Mutation rate at 17 Y-STR loci in "Father/Son" pairs from moroccan population.

Precise knowledge of mutation rate at Y-STRs loci is essential for a correct evaluation of typing results in forensic casework and specially kinship genetic studies. In this study, we have examined 252 confirmed and unrelated father/son sample pairs from Moroccan population using the 17 Y-STR markers DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a, DYS385b, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, and Y-GATA-H4 of the AmpFlSTR Yfiler™ kit used in routine casework. We observed a total of 15 single repeat mutations between fathers and sons as mutational events.

Analysis of CLDN14 gene in deaf Moroccan patients with non-syndromic hearing loss.

Mutations in the CLDN14 gene, encoding the tight junction claudin 14 protein has been reported to date in an autosomal recessive form of isolated hearing loss DFNB29. In order to identify the contribution of CLDN14 to inherited deafness in Moroccan population, we performed a genetic analysis of this gene in 80 Moroccan familial cases. Our results show the presence of 7 mutations: 6 being conservative and one leading to a missense mutation (C11T) which was found at heterozygous and homozygous states, with a general frequency of 6.

A mutation in PNPT1, encoding mitochondrial-RNA-import protein PNPase, causes hereditary hearing loss.

A subset of nuclear-encoded RNAs has to be imported into mitochondria for the proper replication and transcription of the mitochondrial genome and, hence, for proper mitochondrial function. Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase or PNPT1) is one of the very few components known to be involved in this poorly characterized process in mammals. At the organismal level, however, the effect of PNPase dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial RNA import are unknown.

The c.242G>A mutation in LRTOMT gene is responsible for a high prevalence of deafness in the Moroccan population.

Congenital hearing impairment (HI) affects one in 1,000 newborns and has a genetic cause in 50 % of the cases. Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment is responsible for 70-80 % of all hereditary cases of HI. Recently, it has been demonstrated that, mutations of LRTOMT are associated with profound nonsyndromic hearing impairment at the DFNB63 locus.

Molecular analysis of the TMPRSS3 gene in Moroccan families with non-syndromic hearing loss.

Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment (ARNSHI) is the most common type of inherited hearing impairment, accounting for approximately 80% of inherited prelingual hearing impairment. Hearing loss is noted to be both phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous. Mutations in the TMPRSS3 gene, which encodes a transmembrane serine protease, are known to cause autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment DFNB8/10.

Maternal effect and familial aggregation in a type 2 diabetic Moroccan population.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of familial aggregation of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Morocco and to investigate transmission patterns of the disease and their relationships with patients' clinical profiles. Family history of diabetes and clinical data were collected from 232 unrelated type 2 diabetic Moroccan patients. Diabetes status was recorded for first degree (parents, siblings) and second degree relatives (aunts and uncles from both maternal and paternal sides).

Allele frequencies and population data for 17 Y-STR loci (The AmpFlSTR® Y-filer™) in Casablanca resident population.

Allele frequencies and population data for 17 Y-STR loci included in the AmpFlSTR® Y-filer™ PCR amplification kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA), that permit the simultaneous amplification of all the markers included in the actually used European "extended haplotype", DYS19, DYS189I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385I/II, DYS438, DYS439 and also DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and Y GATA H4, were obtained from a sample of 166 healthy unrelated males resident in Casablanca (from Morocco). A total of 166 haplotypes were identified, of which 142 were unique. The overall haplotype diversity for the 17 Y-STR loci reached 0.

Prevalence of the mitochondrial A 1555G mutation in Moroccan patients with non-syndromic hearing loss.

Unlabelled: Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), especially the A1555G transition in the 12S rRNA gene, are one of the causes of both aminoglycoside-induced and non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the A1555G mitochondrial mutation in Moroccan patients.

Methods: We performed molecular characterization by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing of one hundred and sixty four patients (84 unrelated familial and 80 sporadic cases) with a congenital sensorineural non-syndromic hearing loss and one hundred normal hearing controls for the occurrence of the A1555G mutation.