Risk factors affecting patients survival with colorectal cancer in Morocco: survival analysis using an interpretable machine learning approach.

The aim of our study was to assess the overall survival rates for colorectal cancer at 3 years and to identify associated strong prognostic factors among patients in Morocco through an interpretable machine learning approach. This approach is based on a fully non-parametric survival random forest (RSF), incorporating variable importance and partial dependence effects. The data was povided from a retrospective study of 343 patients diagnosed and followed at Hassan II University Hospital.

Risk factors affecting patients survival with colorectal cancer in Morocco : Survival Analysis using an Interpretable Machine Learning Approach.

The aim of our study was to assess the overall survival rates for colorectal patients in Morocco and to identify strong prognostic factors using a novel approach combining survival random forest and the Cox model. Covariate selection was performed using the variable importance based on permutation and partial dependence plots were displayed to explore in depth the relationship between the estimated partial effect of a given predictor and survival rates. The predictive performance was measured by two metrics, the Concordance Index (C-index) and the Brier Score (BS).

Ethical issues related to the hydroxychloroquine treatment prescription for Covid-19.

The 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has led to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To date, no drugs have demonstrated safety and efficacy in randomized controlled trials for patients with COVID-19. Although the association between Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin efficacy lack of solid evidence-base, several governments have adopted it for all virology confirmed Covid-19 cases even for those who are asymptomatic.

Cost-effectiveness of diagnostic-therapeutic strategies for paediatric visceral leishmaniasis in Morocco.

Introduction: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected parasitic disease with a high fatality rate if left untreated. Endemic in Morocco, as well as in other countries in the Mediterranean basin, VL mainly affects children living in rural areas. In Morocco, the direct observation of parasites in bone marrow (BM) aspirates is used to diagnose VL and meglumine antimoniate (SB) is the first line of treatment.

Quality of life in Arab women with breast cancer: a review of the literature.

Background: Quality of life has become an important concept in cancer care. Among the quality of lifestudies in cancer patients, breast cancer has received most attention. This review reports on quality of life in Arab patients with breast cancer.

Perception and satisfaction of cervical cancer screening by Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) at Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Morocco: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aims to explore the perception and satisfaction of cervical cancer screening by Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) in Meknes-Tafilalet Region among target women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using face-to-face interviews with women, routinely attending health centers, who met the inclusion criteria. Descriptive analysis was undertaken to report data.

Molecular Typing of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex by 24-Locus Based MIRU-VNTR Typing in Conjunction with Spoligotyping to Assess Genetic Diversity of Strains Circulating in Morocco.

Background: Standard 24-locus Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing allows to get an improved resolution power for tracing TB transmission and predicting different strain (sub) lineages in a community.

Methodology: During 2010-2012, a total of 168 Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) isolates were collected by cluster sampling from 10 different Moroccan cities, and centralized by the National Reference Laboratory of Tuberculosis over the study period. All isolates were genotyped using spoligotyping, and a subset of 75 was genotyped using 24-locus based MIRU-VNTR typing, followed by first line drug susceptibility testing.

Public awareness of cancer risk factors in the Moroccan population: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: In Morocco, knowledge of cancer risk factors, a crucial element in the process of behavioral change, has never been evaluated. This study aims to provide information on the level of awareness of cancer risk factors among the Moroccan general population.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out in May 2008, using a stratified sampling method in a representative sample of the Moroccan adult population.