Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Benslimane.
Mechanical straightening of a tortuous vessel during angioplasty has been well described. It can be mistaken for thrombus, dissection or spasm. This report presents a case in which straightening of vessel due to stiff guide wire results in accordion effect and flow limitation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In order to investigate for the first time in Morocco the effect of fasting in Ramadan, the ninth lunar month of the muslim year, on lipoprotein metabolism, we determined the levels of serum apolipoproteins; apolipoprotein AI (apo AI), apo B, apo AIV and those of lipoprotein particles; apo AI-containing lipoprotein particles (Lp AI) and also apo AI and apo AII containing lipoprotein particles (Lp AI:AII) in a group of 32 healthy, volunteer adult males. Determination of all these parameters was carried out on each week of the month of Ramadan and the results are compared with the pre-fasting and the post-fasting values. Ramadan fasting reduces significantly serum apo B (P < 0.05), while serum apo AI is significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with the pre-fasting period. The increase of apo AI occurred on day 29 of Ramadan by 11.8%. Serum apo AIV was unchanged during the fasting period indicating that food intake during Ramadan is not based on lipid diet. The observed diet pattern during Ramadan showed an increase of total energy intake based on carbohydrates (+1.4% of total energy), proteins (+0.4% of total energy) but not on fat (-0.7% of total energy), compared with a usual diet used in the rest of the year. The fat diet is high in monounsaturated (P < 0.05) and polyunsaturated fatty acid in contrast to saturated fatty acid which decreased (P < 0.05) during Ramadan. On the other hand, analysis of serum Lp AI and Lp AI:AII showed that the levels of Lp AI:AII were unchanged but those of Lp AI were significantly increased (P < 0.01) at the end of Ramadan. These findings show that feeding behaviour that occurs during Ramadan beneficially affects serum apolipoprotein metabolism and may contribute to prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
A seroprevalence study of canine leishmaniasis was carried out in five provinces in northern Morocco: Taounate, Al Hoceima, Zouagha Moulay Yacoub, Chefchaouen and Ouezzane. 55 localities have been concerned and a total of 1,013 dogs were screened, which represents almost 100% of the canine census. Of the screened dogs: 87 showed antibody titer > or = 100 when tested by IFAT (seroprevalence of 8.6%) and were distributed in 83 asymptomatics (without clinical symptoms) and four symptomatics (with one or several symptoms of leishmaniasis) with important variations according to the locality. Relative frequency of asymptomatic dogs was observed (8.2%), and the seroprevalence increased in middle altitude (500 m < altitude < 1,000 m) and high altitude (> or = 1,000 m). Parasites isolated from dogs were identified as L. infantum MON-1 by isoenzyme profile and Rsal digestion.
A case of tamponnade due to intrapericardial rupture of a recurrent bronchogenic cyst, presenting as pericarditis, is described. This case is unique because it demonstrates the possibility of rupture of a bronchogenic cyst into the pericardium and by the unusual mode of presentation. It also shows that bronchogenic cysts may recur many years after incomplete ablation. Bronchogenic cysts are benign dysembrioplasic formations characterised by their respiratory epithelial lining. The usual presentation in the adult is by haemorrhage or infection, but our case shows that recurrent pericarditis without an obvious cause may be due to bronchogenic cyst, which should be systematically excluded. The diagnosis suspected after medical imaging (chest X-ray, scanner, magnetic resonance imaging) is confirmed by histology. Total surgical ablation is the treatment of choice and may be curative.
The authors report two cases of single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus. Both patients had angina with reversible myocardial ischaemia on exercise Thallium scintigraphy. Coronary angiography showed single coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus in both cases with severe stenosis of the right coronary artery in the first and occlusion of the right coronary artery in the second patient. Both underwent surgical revascularisation with a good result. Single coronary artery is a rare congenital abnormality (approximately 0.36 per 1,000) diagnosed at autopsy until 1963, and thereafter at coronary angiography. A review of the literature shows that an equal number of single coronary arteries arise from the right as from the left coronary sinus: there does not seem to be an increased risk of complication when a branch runs between the aorta and pulmonary artery. On the other hand, single coronary arteries arising from the right coronary sinus seem to be more commonly associated with atherosclerosis than a network with two coronary arteries, but when the lesions are proximal, the risk is high. Revascularisation is indicated only when myocardial ischaemia has been documented.
To determine the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes circulating in Morocco, virus isolates from 105 chronically infected and 19 hemodialysis patients were examined using the line probe assay. Genotypes 1 and 2 only were found among Moroccan patients. Subtypes 1b (47.6%) and 2a/2c (37.1%) were the most common, whereas subtype 1a (2.8%) was less common. Among the hemodialysis patients, only genotype 1 was found with a prevalence of 68.4% for subtype 1b and 15.8% for the subtype 1a. It was also shown that the HCV genotypes distribution varies with age in both studied populations. Subtype 1b was most prevalent among older patients, whereas subtype 2a/2c was mainly found among younger ones. Although Morocco belongs to the African continent, the circulating HCV strains are similar to those observed in some American and European countries.
We demonstrated for the first time in a Moroccan population that fasting during Ramadan, the ninth lunar month of the Muslims' year, affected lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in a group of 32 healthy adult male volunteers. This investigation was conducted to study the changes in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, and body weight during Ramadan. The results showed a significant decrease (7.9%, p < 0.001) in serum total cholesterol concentration during Ramadan as compared with the prefasting period. Also, we obtained a significant decrease of serum triglyceride concentration (30%, p < 0.001) during Ramadan fasting as compared to the period before Ramadan. The reduction of both serum triglycerides and total cholesterol was maintained 1 month after Ramadan. By the end of Ramadan, serum HDL cholesterol had markedly increased (14.3%, p < 0.001) and remained elevated 1 month after Ramadan in contrast to LDL cholesterol which showed a significant decrease (11.7%, p < 0.0001) also maintained 1 month after Ramadan. Mean body weight declined by 2.6% (p < 0.01) on day 29 of Ramadan, whereas during Ramadan, the diet pattern used by our subjects showed an increase of total energy intake due to carbohydrates (+ 1.4% of total energy), proteins (+ 0.4% of total energy) but not fat (-0.7% of total energy) compared to a usual diet used throughout the rest of the year. Moreover, the fat diet is high in monounsaturated (p < 0.05) and polyunsaturated fatty acid in contrast to saturated fatty acid which significantly (p < 0.05) decreased during Ramadan. These findings suggest that feeding behavior that occurs during Ramadan beneficially affects plasma lipids and lipoproteins.
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is recognised as the most common asymptomatic sexually transmitted disease, and this may lead to severe complication including infertility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the part that this pathology takes in the female hypofertility, using serologic, cell culture, and histopathologic tests. Some of the women had undergone biopsies during coelioscopic exam, the others during salpingectomy. Cervical specimens were carried from other women. They had as clinical signs: primary or secondary infertility, ectopic pregnancy, syndrome of synechie, hydrosalpinx, or pelvic pains. 128 of these women had undergone serologic exam, 57 a cell culture, and 47 an histopathologic test. The results showed that 26% had anti Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies and 46% from them with tubal problems confirmed, had anti Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies as well, only 7% had cell culture positive from cervix specimens, none from the biopsies, and 73% of them had inflammatory responses. All women with inflammatory responses had a serologic and/or cell culture positive tests. Our results allow us to conclude that this infection takes a good part in female hypofertility, there is a correlation between a previous Chlamydia trachomatis infection and a tubal histopathology. In front of the difficulties of isolation by cell culture the detection of the microorganism by molecular biology assays may resolve a lot of problems.
The insertion sequence IS 6110 was used to differentiate clinical Moroccan isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using two non radioactive probes. Among 16 strains isolated from patients clinically related, 10 had similar IS 6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns, confirming that they were derived from a common source. Two strains were isolated from the same patient (sputum, lymph node) showed identical profiles hybridized with IS 6110 element. Four sequential strains isolated from the same patients before treatment and after one year had identical IS 6110 RFLP patterns suggesting relapse and not reinfection. Twenty-one strains with identical drug susceptibility showed different IS 6110 RFLP profiles confirming no correlation between antibiotic resistance profiles and IS 6110 RFLP patterns. Since RFLP analysis by using IS 6110 element is a useful tool for the epidemiological survey, of tuberculosis.
SETTING: In 1990, a 6-month short-course regimen (2 SHRZ/4 RH) was introduced for the treatment of tuberculosis in Morocco. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of the national tuberculosis control programme, a prospective study of primary drug resistance was conducted from April 1992 to July 1994 in Casablanca. DESIGN: A total of 402 strains isolated from 402 patients living in Casablanca with no previous history of tuberculosis was included in the study. RESULTS: The overall rate of primary drug resistance to at least one drug was 23.9%; it was 19.7% to streptomycin, 11.4% to isoniazid, and 8.2% to both streptomycin and isoniazid. The rates of resistance to rifampicin and ethambutol were both less than 1%. The survey was divided into two periods of 14 months each. The rates of primary drug resistance increased from 21.1% to 27.6% during these two periods (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.43; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.88 to 2.32); this increase occurred only for streptomycin (15.9% to 24.7%, OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.93). CONCLUSION: The rate of primary drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Casablanca has risen in recent years to an ominous level. Urgent measures are needed in order to interrupt this trend.
We have evaluated the frequency of M. tuberculosis strains which lack IS 6110 among 102 sputa isolated from Moroccan patients. A pair of primers was designed to amplify a 201bp DNA fragment of IS 6110. The amplified DNA was detected by ethidium bromide stained agarose gel electrophoresis and confirmed by southern blot hybridization with a 32P-labelled probe (PMTO2). To detect the presence of amplification inhibitors, an internal control DNA was added in each negative PCR result. Among 102 samples, 6 sputa were negative by PCR-IS 6110 but culture positive. The test of detection of M. tuberculosis for 2/6 sputa by PCR Amplicor amplifying 584 pb of rRNA 16s sequence was positive. RFLP analysis of these 2 strains revealed no bands hybridizing IS 6110 but PCR-Mt 308 was positive. These results confirmed that these M. tuberculosis strains are lacking IS 6110.
Apolipoproteins and lipoprotein particles from human interstitial fluid and plasma were analyzed. The interstitial fluid was enriched in apolipoproteins AI, AII, and AIV compared with apo B, apo CIII, and apo E, LpAI was found to contain apo AIV which was absent from LpAI: AII. Moreover, the bulk of lecithin-cholesterol acyl-transferase was present in LpAI. The concentration range of these particles was in agreement with those required in vitro for cholesterol efflux. Thus the interstitial fluid contains particles in which two agonists but no antagonists of cholesterol efflux are associated with lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity. This supports apolipoprotein AI- and/or AIV-containing particles playing a critical role in the first step of reverse cholesterol transport.
Lymphocytes from HIV patients, unlike those from normal HIV-negative subjects, underwent apoptosis upon in vitro culture. We found that the percentage of lymphocytes undergoing apoptosis was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in patients with low CD4 cell counts (< 200 CD4 cells/microliter) (60%) than in patients at earlier stage (> 500 CD4 cells/microliter) (35%). Serum IgE levels increased in two of six patients at last stage and in two of five patients at earlier stage. Spontaneous production of both IL-2 and IL-10, by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after 48 h in culture, was greater in HIV-infected subjects and increased with disease progression. IFN-gamma production was greater in HIV-infected subjects but there was no evident change with disease progression. IL-4 production was barely detectable or not detected in both HIV-infected and HIV-negative individuals. These results indicate that spontaneous apoptosis is associated with advanced disease. However, there was no evidence of in vivo switch from the Th1 to Th2 phenotype in HIV-infected patients.
We present a cytogenetic survey of chromosome aberrations for 53 Moroccan patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Our 53 patients were 2 to 70 years old with 31 men and 22 women. The cytogenetic study was performed with the following three methods: first, relative proportion of normal (N) or abnormal (A) metaphases; second, presence of specific or random abnormalities; and third, karyotype complexity. Among 36 patients (67%) with a chromosomal abnormality, 18 (34%) showed a specific aberration. We have found t(9;22) in three patients (5%), chromosome 5 or 7 abnormality in six (11%), del(11)(q23) in three (6%), +21 in four (8%), and +8 in two (4%). Specific translocations associated with FAB type were found: t(8;21) with AML2 in 12 patients (23%) and t(9;11) with AML5 in one (2%). Rare abnormalities were also found: one patient with t(7;21) associated with AML2 and another patient with r(1) ring associated with AML1. We concluded that our study in a Moroccan population confirmed the relation between some specific abnormalities and the FAB classification. We have found a higher incidence for t(8;21) than usually described. Finally, we have identified chromosomal abnormalities t(7;21)(q22;p11) and r(1), rarely described before.
PURPOSE: Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from ocular specimens of subjects living in trachomatous area in south Morocco. METHODS: One hundred and twenty ocular specimen of 60 subjects living in two provinces of a trachoma-endemic area (Errachidia and Ouarzazate) were tested by cells culture. The age range was 2 months to 85 years and the sex ratio was 1.06. RESULTS: The prevalence of positive cases was about 25% with a female predominance of 34% versus 16% for males. In our sample, 70% showed an active clinical trachoma. The most affected age ranges were children between 0 and 10 years old, with a very high frequency of isolation in children younger than 5 years. The intense inflammatory stage alone or associated with follicular stage was the most adequate for isolating Chlamydia trachomatis. CONCLUSION: Reducing or even eradicating trachoma can be realised only through a continuous treatment strategy associated with a sanitary education aiming at the development of hygienic conditions especially among children living in trachomatous communities.
Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the lower genital is recognised as the most common sexually transmitted disease, is role in male infertility is controversial, the objective of this study was to evaluate the part that this pathogen agent takes in male infertility among maroccan population, to compare serological tests, sperm abnormalities, antisperm-antibodies and DNA research in semen. Microimmunofluorescence (MIF) was done for 139 patients, 124 were checked for sperm abnormalities, 87 for antisperm-antibodies and 92 for DNA research in sperm. The results showed that MIF is positive in 24,5%, 11% of the subjects in antisperm antibodies, 8% of them simultaneously in anti-Chlamydia and antisperm antibodies and 5 of them had sperm abnormalities. Azoospermy was more observed in positives subjects in Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies. C. trachomatis DNA was found in 7,6% and there was no association between the detection of C. trachomatis in semen specimens and the presence of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis, antibodies in serum. We conclude that, because of the complexity of the Chlamydia's physiopathology, association between several tests is necessary in male infertility workup.
The prevalence of antibodies reactive with Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia typhi, Coxiella burnetii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis was investigated using indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) test on human sera obtained from 300 blood donors in Casablanca and 126 sera obtained from clinical laboratories in Fez. In sera from Casablanca, antibodies reactive at titers > or = 1:32 were found against R. conorii (7%), and R. typhi (1.7%), but not against E. chaffeensis. In the sera from Fez, antibodies were also detected against R. conorii (5.6%), R. typhi (4%), but not against E. chaffeensis. By Western immunoblotting, seroprevalence for R. conorii was in Casablanca and 4.8% in Fez. Antibodies reactive at titers > or = 1:50 against C. burnetii (phase II) were present in sera from Casablanca (1%) and Fez (18.3%).