The Impact of Spirituality and Social Support on Health-Related Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients, Marrakech, Morocco.

Breast cancer is a major global problem affecting women, leading to changes in their physical and mental health and affecting their quality of life. Social and spiritual support can provide strength and resilience to improve their well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted among breast cancer patients in Marrakech, Morocco.

Epidemiological trends of HSV-1 and HSV-2 Central Nervous System Infections: A Retrospective Analysis from 2018 to 2023 from Saudi Arabia.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 are significant etiologies to central nervous system (CNS) infections, leading to potential severe neurological consequences. Despite their global impact, our region's data on the epidemiology of HSV CNS infections remains limited. This study assessed the epidemiology and diagnostic trends of HSV-1 and HSV-2 CNS infections in a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Saudi Arabia from 2018 to 2023.

Extent of natural soil cadmium, its bioavailability, and pollution treat analysis in the agroforestry systems of the Gedeo Zone of southern Ethiopia.

The research objectives were to determine extent of soil cadmium (Cd) in the major soil types of the Gedeo Zone of Ethiopia thereby assessing the pollution risk on the environmental health. Four profile pits representing Luvisols, Nitisols, Cambisols, and Leptosols, were excavated and soil samples were collected. Total and available Cd, Cu, Zn, and Mn, including other major soil physicochemical properties, were analyzed in the lab.

Fundal Placenta Accreta: A Rare Presentation and Comprehensive Review.

Fundal placenta accreta is a rare and challenging condition characterized by abnormal placental adherence to the myometrium, typically in the upper uterine segment. This case report describes a 35-year-old woman with a history of two previous cesarean sections, who presented at 19 weeks gestation with antepartum hemorrhage and was diagnosed with fundal placenta accreta. Diagnostic imaging, including ultrasound and MRI, revealed a centroplacental hematoma and signs of myometrial invasion, which were confirmed histopathologically after emergency extraction and postpartum management.

Advancing AI-driven thematic analysis in qualitative research: a comparative study of nine generative models on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis data.

Background: As part of qualitative research, the thematic analysis is time-consuming and technical. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (A.I.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Cardiac Findings in Young Persons Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

We studied cardiac complications in young persons with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In a prospective cohort of 127 Military Health System beneficiaries 0-22 years old, 3.1% had cardiac abnormalities, all resolved within 6 months.

Chronic coronary syndrome in Africa: current management and service challenges, and opportunities for optimizing patient care.

African populations have traditionally been considered at relatively low risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), but this is rapidly changing in association with ageing populations, uncontrolled urbanization and lack of control of classical CV risk factors. In sub-Saharan Africa, CVD deaths have increased by more than 50% in the past three decades. For CCS care, limited availability of clinical expertise, diagnostic facilities, and access to optimal medical therapy (OMT), lack or inadequate reimbursement of healthcare costs, and scarcity of universal health coverage (UHC) are major challenges.

Unilateral Madarosis Revealing Blepharitis Caused by Microsporum audouinii: A Case Report.

Madarosis, defined as partial or total loss of eyelashes, is an unusual symptom that can reveal a variety of underlying conditions. We report a rare case of unilateral madarosis associated with blepharitis caused by Microsporum audouinii, a dermatophyte responsible for ringworms. An eight-year-old boy presented with ocular pruritus with erythematous squamous lesions of the right eyelid evolving for four days.

Squamous cell carcinoma of a colon transplant 29 years after restorative esophagoplasty for caustic ingestion.

Introduction: We aim to report a case of squamous cell carcinoma 29 years following restorative colonic transplant in esophagoplasty for caustic ingestion and to emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up.

Presentation Of Case: We report a case of a 59-yo patient with malignant degeneration of colon transplant squamous cell 29 years following restorative esophagoplasty for caustic ingestion. He reported symptoms of progressively worsening dysphagia, odynophagia, and left cervical mass with fistula.

Nematicidal and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: a sustainable strategy for controlling Tylenchulus semipenetrans and enhancing citrus growth.

Tylenchulus semipenetrans is a soil-borne pathogen that causes substantial damage and economic losses to citrus crops worldwide. Due to the high toxicity of chemical nematicides to humans and the environment, biocontrol bacteria have emerged as a promising alternative for managing citrus nematodes. This study aimed to screen bacterial strains for their efficacy to control T.

The vaccination acceptance, confidence, and conviction on influenza in the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa among healthcare providers (VACCIMENA-HCP) project 2023: Determinants of vaccination behavior.

Objectives: Annual vaccination is the most effective way to prevent and control the health and economic burden of seasonal influenza. Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a crucial role in vaccine acceptance and patient advocacy. This study aimed to explore the barriers and drivers of HCPs' vaccine acceptance and advocacy for the vaccination of their patients in countries in the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa.

Clinical Characteristics of Toxicities of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Their Impact on Efficacy in Solid Cancers: An Analysis of Real-World Data in Moroccan Patients.

Purpose: Patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may induce immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity induced by ICIs and explore the correlation between efficacy and toxicity in a Moroccan population.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients with solid tumors who received pembrolizumab or atezolizumab at the from July 2018 to December 2023.

Primary Ovarian Leiomyosarcoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Leiomyosarcoma, a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor originating from smooth muscle, comprises a small proportion of all ovarian malignancies and presents as an aggressive ovarian tumor. This case report presents a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman diagnosed with ovarian leiomyosarcoma (OLMS). The patient presented with chronic pelvic pain, abdominal distension, and metrorrhagia.

Clinical Impact of Neutrophil Variation on COVID-19 Complications.

: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a threat to global public health. The early identification of critical cases is crucial to providing timely treatment to patients. Here, we investigated whether the neutrophil levels could predict COVID-19 complications.

Clinical Features of Dermatomyositis Associated with Myositis-Specific Antibodies in Moroccan Patients.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy characterized by muscle weakness and typical cutaneous rash. Dermatomyositis-specific antibodies, such as anti-TIF1γ, anti-SAE, anti-Mi2, anti-MDA5, and anti-NXP2, have been associated with specific clinical phenotypes. Our study aimed to describe the clinical profile of Moroccan patients with DM and clinical associations with myositis-specific antibodies.

Fulminant Form of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Complicated by Hematoma of the Corpus Callosum Occurring in the Context of Head Trauma: A Case Report.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, demyelinating, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy, often triggered by an infection. It is the most common cause of acute flaccid areflexic paralysis in children. Although generally associated with infections, this article presents a rare case with a rapid onset, where GBS was revealed following a context of head trauma.

Targeting using natural African compounds as promising agents for managing diabetic complications.

Background: Diabetes remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality due to various complications induced by hyperglycemia. Inhibiting Aldose Reductase (AR), an enzyme that converts glucose to sorbitol, has been studied to prevent long-term diabetic consequences. Unfortunately, drugs targeting AR have demonstrated toxicity, adverse reactions, and a lack of specificity.

Can we improve the diagnosis of invasion in encapsulated follicular-patterned thyroid tumors? Data from a massive international e-learning initiative.

With the reclassification of non-invasive follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma as "tumors" (NIFTP), the challenge of diagnosing carcinoma lies in recognizing invasion: blood vessel invasion (BVI) or capsular invasion (CI). We aimed to assess reproducibility in diagnosing BVI and CI in follicular-patterned tumors using a web-platform, under conditions as close as possible to routine surgical pathology practice. Six-hundred-fourteen pathologists reviewed 69 thyroid lesions diagnostically challenging for BVI or CI, made available in three rounds: before, immediately after, and three months after a training lecture given by an expert pathologist.

Next generation sequencing and genomic mapping: towards precision molecular diagnosis of lung cancer in Morocco.

Introduction: lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with a significant incidence in Morocco. The complex epidemiology of this disease in the country necessitates an in-depth analysis of genetic profiles to improve diagnosis and treatment. This study utilizes next-generation sequencing (NGS) to map genetic alterations in Moroccan patients with lung cancer, a field where molecular data is largely lacking.

Diagnostic Power of the CD4+/CD8+ Ratio and the Expression of Activation and Memory Markers in Differentiating Sarcoidosis from Tuberculosis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Other Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a complex inflammatory disease of unknown etiology affecting mostly the lungs and poses a significant diagnostic challenge, particularly in regions where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic. The diagnostic complexity intensifies due to shared clinical and radiological features between sarcoidosis and TB, as well as similarities with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in cases that progress to pulmonary fibrosis. Accurately distinguishing between these diseases is critical for timely and effective patient management.

Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito.

Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. Here we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, form , also known as the London Underground Mosquito. Population genomic analysis of ~350 contemporary and historical samples counter the popular hypothesis that originated belowground in London less than 200 years ago.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swab samples from COVID-19 patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a PCR-based study.

This study involved laboratory experiments using conventional PCR to detect the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase protein (RdRp) and Envelope (E) genes in Forty-Seven nasopharyngeal swab samples from COVID-19 patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gel electrophoresis results showed amplification of the RdRp gene in 85.1% of the samples and the E gene in 89.

Salmonella Meningitis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report.

Salmonella meningitis is an uncommon infection in adults. We report the case of a 44-year-old woman with a history of lupus on immunosuppressive treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone who presented with confusional syndrome preceded by headache and fever. A lumbar puncture revealed bacterial meningitis with Salmonella species.

Whole genome sequencing of hepatitis B virus using tiled amplicon (HEPTILE) and probe based enrichment on Illumina and Nanopore platforms.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) whole genome sequencing (WGS) is currently limited as the DNA viral loads (VL) of many clinical samples are below the threshold required to generate full genomes using current sequencing methods. We developed two pan-genotypic viral enrichment methods, using probe-based capture and tiled amplicon PCR (HEP-TILE) for HBV WGS. We demonstrate using mock samples that both enrichment methods are pan-genotypic (genotypes A-J).

T-type calcium channels regulate medulloblastoma and can be targeted for therapy.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the role and therapeutic targeting of T-type calcium channels in medulloblastoma, a common and deadly pediatric brain tumor that arises in the cerebellum.

Methods: T-type calcium channel expression was assessed in publicly available bulk and single cell RNA-seq datasets. The effects of T-type calcium channel blocker mibefradil on cell growth, death and invasion were assessed with cell counting, alamar blue, trypan blue and transwell assays.