Xanthomes historiques révélant une hypercholestérolémie familiale de type IIa

Un garçon de 12ans, issu d'un mariage consanguin au premier degré. Il rapporte l'apparition à l'âge de 5 ans de formations souscutanées, indolores, au niveau des coudes, des genoux, des fesses et des pieds qui augmentaient progressivement de taille. L'examen cutané a objectivé de multiples xanthomes, tubéreux et tendineux, fermes et indolores siégeant en regard des coudes (A), des genoux (B), des fesses (C), des tendons d'Achille (D) et des articulations inter-phalangiennes des pieds (E). La plainte essentielle du patient était esthétique. L'examen ophtalmologique n'a pas trouvé d'arc cornéen ou de gérontoxon. Le bilan lipidiquea confirmé le diagnostic d'une hypercholestérolémie majeure type IIb avec un taux de cholestérol total à 7,10 g/l, un taux de LDL à 6,50 g/l, un taux de HDL à 0,42 g/l et un taux de triglycérides à 1,13 g/l. Le bilan de retentissement cardiaque n'a pas trouvé de dépôts valvulaire à l'échographie cardiaque, ni des signes de souffrance coronaire à l'preuve d'effort. L'exploration des troncs supra-aortiques, des membres inférieurs et des artères rénales ne montre pas d'anomalies. Le patient a bénéficié en plus d'une diététique à visée hypolipémiante, d'un traitement à base d'atorvastatine associé à l'ézétimibe et l'aspirine à la dose de 75mg/j. Nous avons noté une nette amélioration du bilan lipidique : Cholestérol total à 3,40 g/l et LDL à 2,92 g/l. Le patient a bénéficié aussi d'une cure chirurgicale des xanthomes les plus disgracieux et gênants.Aucun retentissement cardiovasculaire n'a été noté durant l'évolution et le taux de LDL fluctuait aux alentours de 3 g/l sur une période 4 ans.Pan African Medical Journal 2015; 2

Screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibition, lipid peroxidation inhibition and antioxidant activity of medicinal plants from Morocco

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), hydrolyzes acetylcholine to choline and acetate, thereby terminating this neurotransmitter effect at cholinergic synapses. Therefore, AChE inhibition is used for counterbalance the cholinergic deficit in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. In the present work, in order to find new plant acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, the hydroalcoholic extracts from seventeen medicinal plant species were screened for their acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, as well as total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoids contents (TFC) and antioxidant activity using ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay, and their ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. The results revealed that Rumex acetosa, Taraxacum officinale and Hypericum perforatum extracts possessing the highest TPC and TFC, were the most effective in terms of ORAC antioxidant activity, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition, in addition to their ability to inhibit liposomes peroxidation, suggesting that those plant species may provide a substantial source of secondary metabolites, which act as natural antioxidants and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and may be beneficial in the treatment of AD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization of Euphorbia resinifera and Euphorbia officinarum extracts with antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities

Background: Euphorbia is one of the plants most used by herbalists and therapists in Morocco. Objectives: The aerial part of two plant samples (Euphorbia resinifera and Euphorbia officinarum) collected in Morocco was examined for the solvent effect, extraction time, and plant concentration in order to determine the best extraction conditions. Materials and Methods: To achieve this goal, a response surface methodology (RSM) using a full three-level factorial design was used to optimize the conditions for the extraction of antioxidants and a-glucosidase inhibitors. Temperature, time, and plant-to-solvent ratio (PSR) and their linear and quadratic interactions on TPC (total phenol concentration), TFC (total flavonoid concentration), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) trapping activity, and a-glucosidase inhibiting activities were studied. Results: According to desirability functions, the optimum operating conditions to achieve a higher extraction yield of phenols and higher antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity were found by using extraction during 60 min at 30 degrees C using a PSR of 20 mg/mL, whereas a longer extraction time (270 min) was needed for E. resinifera and a higher extraction temperature (50 degrees C), with a lower PSR (10 mg/mL) for E. officinarum. Conclusion: In order to find the best conditions to extract secondary metabolites with biological activity and application in phytotherapy, the appropriate solvent generally used by populations, water in this case, should be used, but the best extraction conditions have to be found in order to enhance the pharmacological actions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Abcès hypophysaire chez un hémodialysé chronique traité médicalement : à propos d’une observation

L’abcès hypophysaire est une pathologie rare et fatale en absence de traitement adéquat .Il est à évoquer devant un tableau clinique  d’hypertension intracrânienne, une dysrégulation hormonale hypophysaire et un contexte infectieux. Une conduite thérapeutique basée sur une  antibiothérapie pourrait être tenté si diagnostic précoce. Nous rapportons un cas d’abcès hypophysaire survenant chez un hémodialysé chronique pris en charge par une antibiothérapie seule dont l’évolution était favorable avec un recul de 2 ans

Diabetes mellitus and COVID-19: factors associated with bad prognosis

Diabetes is a risk factor for bad prognosis of COVID-19. Many mechanisms can explain the bad prognosis of COVID-19 in diabetics, but they remain hypothetical. The high prevalence of diabetes on the African continent, particularly in North Africa (12.2%), constitutes a threat of increased morbidity and mortality linked to COVID-19. We must pay particular attention to this fragile population, with more time and resources, especially for the elderly, obese or those with chronic complications of diabetes who have a high risk of developing severe forms

Unassisted and carbon dioxide-assisted hydro- and Steam-distillation: modelling kinetics, energy consumption And chemical and biological activities of volatile oils

The demand for more suitable eco-friendly extraction processes has grown over the last few decades and driven research to develop efficient extraction processes with low energy consumption and low costs, but always assuring the quality of the volatile oils (VOs). The present study estimated the kinetic extraction and energy consumption of simultaneous hydro- and steam-distillation (SHSD), and SHSD assisted by carbon dioxide (SHSDACD), using an adopted modelling approach. The two isolation methods influenced the VOs yield, chemical composition and biological activities, namely, antioxidant, anti-glucosidase, anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-inflammatory properties. SHSDACD provided higher VOs yields than the SHSD at a shorter extraction time: 2.8% at 30 min vs. 2.0% at 120 min, respectively, for Rosmarinus officinalis, 1.5% at 28 min vs. 1.2% at 100 min, respectively, for Lavandula angustifolia, and 1.7% at 20 min vs. 1.6% at 60 min, respectively, for Origanum compactum. The first order and sigmoid model fitted to SHSD and SHSDACD, respectively, with R2 value at 96% and with mean square error (MSE) < 5%, where the k distillation rate constant of SHSDACD was fivefold higher and the energy consumption 10 times lower than the SHSD. The rosemary SHSD and SHSDACD VOs chemical composition were similar and dominated by 1,8-cineole (50% and 48%, respectively), and camphor (15% and 12%, respectively). However, the lavender and oregano SHSDACD VOs were richer in linalyl acetate and carvacrol, respectively, than the SHSD VOs. The SHSDACD VOs generally showed better capacity for scavenging the nitric oxide and superoxide anions free radicals as well as for inhibiting α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and lipoxygenase.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Autoantibodies in Moroccan patients with type 1 diabetes: Which one to choose?

Background. Immunological investigations are intend-ed for diagnosing T1D in atypical clinical presentation, also exploring the predisposition to T1D in a context of multiple autoimmune disorders or among the siblings of a patient with type 1 diabetes. While the diagnosing or the screening of T1D using five antibodies presents high expenses especially in emerging countries, it is for interest to determine their prevalence in order to choose the most frequent and most relevant. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of antibodies in Moroccan population. Methods. We investigated 62 T1D patients, the prevalence of autoantibodies was 74% for glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 autoantibody (GADA), 46% for insulinoma-associated protein 2 autoantibody (IA2A), and 3% for islet cell antibodies (ICA). GADA and/or IA2A were reported in all patients (100%). The GADA frequency was neither associated with the duration of diabetes nor the age of patients. Results. Finally, GADAs are by far the best markers for T1D, IA2As complements GADAs and increases the diagnostic sensitivity for detection of pancreatic autoimmunity and ICA should be abandoned because of its low prevalence

Management of Cardiovascular Risk among Moroccan Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and investigate cardiovascular risk management among type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients in the city of Meknes. Materials and methods: In a non-interventional cross-sectional study, we enrolled adult outpatients (≥ 18 years old) with T2D from the endocrinology anddiabetology consultation of the Military Hospital of Meknes from June 2021 to January 2022. Informed consent was signed by all participants in the study. Assessment of cardiovascular risk was based on European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice of 2021. Clinical, biological and therapeutic data were compared between patients with and without cardiovascular disease. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 statistical software. Results: One hundred eighty T2D patients were enrolled. The mean age was 59.42 ± 8.72 years. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was 13.3%. The prescription of statin (p &lt; 0.001), antihypertensive treatment (p &lt; 0.001) and platelet aggregation inhibitors (p &lt; 0.001) was significantly higher in patients with cardiovascular disease. Overall, 5.6% patients were prescribed a blood glucose-lowering agent with demonstrated cardiovascular benefit. This prescription was higher in patients with cardiovascular disease (5 (20.8%) vs. 5 (3.2%); p = 0.004). It was found that7.2% patients had an optimal cardiovascular risk factor management. Conclusions: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease among T2D patients is high in the city of Meknes. Despite an optimal prescription of cardiovascular medications,comprehensive control of cardiovascular risk factors is not achieved in most patients. The use of blood glucose-lowering agents with demonstrated cardiovascular benefit was low but significantly higher among patients with cardiovascular disease

Chemical Characterization and Biological Properties Assessment of Euphorbia resinifera and Euphorbia officinarum Moroccan Propolis

Although the plants of the genus Euphorbia are largely exploited by therapists in Morocco, the composition and antibacterial activities of propolis from these plants are still unknown. To address this gap, this study aimed to characterize the pollen type, the volatile compounds, and the phenolic and mineral profiles of three Euphorbia propolis samples collected in Morocco and evaluate their antimicrobial activities. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the propolis samples was determined by the microdilution method, and the anti-adherence activity was evaluated by the crystal violet assay. The examination of anti-quorum-sensing proprieties was performed using the biosensor Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. Pollen analysis revealed that Euphorbia resinifera pollen dominated in the P1 sample (58%), while E. officinarum pollen dominated in the P2 and P3 samples (44%). The volatile compounds were primarily composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons, constituting 35% in P1 and 31% in P2, with α-pinene being the major component in both cases, at 16% in P1 and 15% in P2. Calcium (Ca) was the predominant mineral element in both E. resinifera (P1) and E. officinarum (P2 and P3) propolis samples. Higher levels of phenols, flavonoids and dihydroflavonoids were detected in the E. officinarum P2 sample. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value ranged from 50 to 450 µL/mL against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Euphorbia propolis displayed the ability to inhibit quorum sensing in the biosensor C. violaceum CV026 and disrupted bacterial biofilm formation, including that of resistant bacterial pathogens. In summary, the current study evidences the potential use of E. officinarum propolis (P2 and P3) to combat important features of resistant pathogenic bacteria, such as quorum sensing and biofilm formation.The authors are grateful to the financial support to FCT/MCTES through national funds, under CESAM UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020+LA/P/ 0094/2020, FEDER, PT2020 PACompete 2020. The authors are also grateful for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020); and MED UIDB/05183/2020; UIDP/04326/2020 and LA/0101/2020. The authors acknowledge Município de Loulé for the support provided during the study. The authors are also thankful for the imaging analysis using the equipment available at the Light Microscopy Unit of ABC-UAlg that was partially supported by National Portuguese funding PPBI-POCI-01-0145- FEDER-22122info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparative study of the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of two types of Moroccan Euphorbia entire honey and their phenolic extracts

Honey is a natural food product very famous for its health benefits for being an important source of antioxidant and phenolic compounds. Euphorbia honeys obtained from different regions of Morocco were evaluated for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase, tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase activities. Their antioxidant properties were evaluated using the: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capacity, nitric oxide scavenging activity (NO) and scavenging ability of superoxide anion radical. Then, the phenolic extracts of the same entire honey samples were evaluated by liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS) and tested for the biological activities previously evaluated on the entire honeys, in order to conduct a comparative study between both (honey and phenolic extracts). The chromatographic profiles for the studied Euphorbia honey extracts were different. Phenolic compounds gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid were detected in all samples, whereas kampferol was only present in two samples. Physicochemical parameters and total phenolic content were also determined. Entire honey that recorded the highest rate of phenols was sample M6 (E. resinifera) = 69.25 mg GAE/100 g. On the other hand, the phenolic extracts had better antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities than the entire honeys, regardless the monofloral honey type. In conclusion, the studied Euphorbia honeys may have a great potential as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tyrosinase sources for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio