PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Kadri

Publications and source records attributed to N Kadri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fetal calf serum-primed dendritic cells induce a strong anti-fetal calf serum immune response and diabetes protection in the non-obese diabetic mouse.

In recent years, several investigators have shown that transfer of dendritic cells (DC) prevents diabetes development in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Accumulating evidences showing that DC cultured in medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS) can induce a dominant unspecific immune response in tumor models after i.v. injection prompted us to investigate if the protecting effect of DC on diabetes development in NOD mice might be supported by the induction of an anti-FCS immune response in recipient mice. Five-week-old NOD mice were injected i.v. with FCS-cultured bone marrow-derived DC or PBS as control. Levels of anti-FCS and anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) antibodies were measured in the serum of recipient mice. Anti-FCS cellular immune responses were also analysed after a single DC injection using in vitro proliferation of splenocytes either in RPMI supplemented with FCS, AIMV-BSA or RPMI containing autologous mouse serum or BSA as a read out. DC injection prevented diabetes development in NOD mice and high titers of anti-FCS and anti-BSA antibodies were detected in serum of all DC-injected mice. Besides, splenocytes isolated from DC-injected mice proliferated vigorously in the presence of bovine proteins in contrast to splenocytes isolated from control mice but removing bovine proteins abrogated the high level of proliferation of those splenocytes suggesting that lymphocytes have been primed against bovine proteins in vivo after DC injection. All together, our data show that DC transfer induced cellular and humoral anti-FCS immune responses in recipient NOD mice suggesting that the protective effect of DC relies on their unspecific immunostimulatory effects.

Animals↗

Mental health of Moroccan women, a sexual perspective.

Sexuality is a complex process coordinated with neurological, vascular, and endocrine systems. It incorporates family, societal, and religious beliefs and interpersonal relationships. Sexuality in the Muslim world is further complexed by tradition and discrimination of women. Studies conducted in Ibn Rushd University Psychiatric Center, Casablanca, Morocco, explored various aspects of sexuality in a traditional Muslim society: sexual behaviour (representative sample of Casablanca population n=728), sexual dysfunction (n=644), prevalence of abuse during childhood, effect of breast removal on sexuality (prospective study on 100 patients), effect of menopause on sexuality (comparative study between Moroccan and Tunisian samples, n=200), pregnancy and sexuality (follow up study in primary health care, n=100), and Ramadan and sexuality among healthy fasting people.

Adult↗

Prevalence and psychosocial correlates of depressed mood during pregnancy and after childbirth in a Moroccan sample.

The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of depression among 100 women followed from the first trimester of pregnancy to 9 months after delivery. Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Paykel Life Events Inventory were used. Seventeen per cent of the subjects experienced depression during postpartum, 19.2% started their episode during pregnancy. Psychosocial variables were positively correlated to depression during pregnancy.

Adult↗

Moroccan colloquial Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI): qualitative and quantitative validation.

The validation of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) into Moroccan Colloquial Arabic language demonstrated good psychometric properties. The concordance between translated MINI's and expert diagnoses was good with kappa values greater than 0.80. The reliability inter-rater and test-retest were excellent with kappa values above 0.80 and 0.90, respectively.

Arabs↗

Moroccan women with a history of child sexual abuse and its long-term repercussions: a population-based epidemiological study.

Childhood sexual abuse is defined as sexual contact imposed on a child whose development is still, from the emotional, cognitive and maturity point of view, lacking. The objective of this epidemiological study, conducted among a representative sample of the female population aged 20 and over in Casablanca, Morocco, is to determine the prevalence of the childhood sexual abuse and its long-term repercussions. The main results were that 9.2% (n=65) reported childhood sexual abuse. The mean age of this subgroup was 31.34+/-9.43 years (20-63); 66.1% were housewives; 40% were single and 10.8% were divorced. The prevalence of genital abuse with penetration was 33.8% (22 cases). The abuser was known in 56.2% and was a family member in 20.4% of the cases. Of the 728 women interviewed, 27 (43.5%) abused women and 83 (29.5%) non-abused women during childhood reported depressive symptoms with a positive association (p=0.03). There was also an association between the most severe types of abuse and vaginismus. Generally speaking, all those who were abused during their childhood suffered sexual disturbances during their adult life.

Adult↗

Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its correlates: a population-based study in Morocco.

To obtain data on the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and its correlates, along with help-seeking behaviour, 655 randomly selected men at least 25 y old, residing in Casablanca, Morocco, were recruited. They responded to a questionnaire administered by five trained sociologist interviewers. Information on demographics, concomitant diseases, drugs, and sexual activity was collected. ED was prevalent in 54%, increased noticeably with age, and was highly prevalent between both the illiterate and those employed. Risk factors were diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and smoking. Limited sexual satisfaction, low frequency of intercourse, and a disturbed psychological state with depressed mood had negative effects on erectile function. Given its prevalence in our country, ED should be considered an important medical problem with a multifactorial aetiology, making the cooperation of a multidisciplinary management team highly recommended.

Adult↗

Sexual dysfunction in women: population based epidemiological study.

Sexual dysfunction is defined as a disturbance of the processes that characterise the sexual response cycle or as pain associated with sexual intercourse. The objective of this epidemiological study, conducted in a representative sample of the population of women aged 20 and older in Casablanca, Morocco, is to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women. Criteria of sexual dysfunction followed classification by DSM-IV. The mean age of the sample (n = 728) was 36.76 +/- 12.67 years; 29% had no education, 78% pursued no professional activity; and 58% were married. The main results were that 26.6% had sexual dysfunction always or often during the 6 months before the study. The most common finding was hypoactive sexual desire disorder, and age, financial dependency, number of children, and sexual harassment were positively associated. The prevalence of remaining disorders resembled that found in the literature. Even though these women were aware about their disorder and its negative impact on their lives, only 17% of them asked for help.

Adult↗

Quality of life in treated and never-treated schizophrenic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) among treated and never-treated schizophrenic patients. METHOD: QOL ratings were obtained for (a) 112 Moroccan participants with schizophrenia who had never received neuroleptic medications, (b) matched samples of chronically-medicated schizophrenic patients in Morocco and the United States and (c) matched community controls in both countries. RESULTS: QOL ratings were generally higher for US groups, although Moroccan controls obtained higher ratings than US controls for some domains. QOL ratings were higher for controls compared to patients within each country, although US patients' scores were similar to controls on some dimensions. We found no differences between treated and untreated Moroccan patients for any QOL domain, although relationships among predictors were different. CONCLUSION: Within the context of Moroccan culture, benefits of medications alone are not evident in QOL scores. QOL appears to be a complex construct influenced by different factors within each of the groups studied.

Adolescent↗

[Depression, suicidal ideation and schizophrenia].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, with a special emphasis on suicidal thoughts and behaviors. 183 schizophrenic patients, according to ICD-10 criteria, were included. The interview was done by a psychiatrist using a questionnaire (socio-demographic data, premorbid functioning, schizophrenic and depressive antecedents and current depressive and suicidal thoughts and behaviors). The mean age was 34.3 +/- 8 years; 90% of the sample were males; 12.6% were married and 17% had children. RESULTS: The mean age at onset of the illness was 24 +/- 5.9 years and its mean duration was 4.8 +/- 1.3 years. The paranoid type was found in 78% of cases, and the schizo-affective one in 7.8%. During the assessment, 44.3% of the patients had depressive symptoms, 2.7% of them had suicidal ideas and 5% had a specific plan to implement them; 40% of the patients with suicidal ideas had a depression or had a painful consciousness of their illness. These results confirm the ones of other studies in the field: depression is frequent among patients with schizophrenia. An emphasis should be put on the necessity of treating both conditions when they co-exist in the same patient.

Adult↗

Nosocomial febrile illness in the elderly: frequency, causes, and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Although nosocomial febrile illness (NFI) is common in hospitalized patients, it has been less extensively studied in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency, causes, and risk factors of NFI in elderly inpatients. METHODS: This prospective study involved 608 patients (> or = 65 years of age) admitted in an acute geriatric unit. Investigators followed this cohort until 1 of the following events occurred: development of NFI, discharge from the geriatric unit, or death. The cause of NFI was classified into 3 groups: infectious, noninfectious, and no apparent diagnosis. We systematically studied 17 comorbid conditions, 6 drugs, and 7 invasive procedures. For comparison, the patients were stratified into 2 groups: patients with NFI and patients without NFI. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients (10.9%) with NFI were identified. They were compared with the remaining 542 patients without NFI. In 49 patients (74%) with NFI, the cause was infectious; in 9 (13.5%), it was noninfectious; and in 8 (12.5%), there was no apparent cause. After multivariate analysis, only fecal incontinence (odds ratio [OR], 5.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13-14.5), congestive heart failure (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.53-5.76), and pressure ulcers (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.19-7.17) were independent risk factors for NFI. The number of invasive procedures preceding the febrile episode was a significant predictor of infection (OR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.14-9.21). CONCLUSIONS: Nosocomial febrile illness is a common event in elderly hospitalized patients. In 74% of the patients with NFI, an infection is found. Measures to decrease infectious NFI in the elderly require a reduction in the number of invasive procedures.

Aged↗

Movements in never-medicated schizophrenics: a preliminary study.

Descriptions of schizophrenia dating to the beginning of this century include mention of abnormal movements which are similar to tardive dyskinesia (TD), currently thought to be sequelae of neuroleptic medication. In order to examine the extent to which such movements might appear in the normal course of schizophrenia, we examined a sample of 22 never-medicated DSM-III-R schizophrenics who presented for treatment at a psychiatric center in Casablanca, Morocco. Duration of illness in this sample ranged from 1 to 10 years. Patients were assessed for choreoathetoid movements using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS). Videotaped and live examinations were rated by the investigators. Three patients (14%) met research diagnostic criteria for probable SD. Mild movements in one body part (AIMS = 2) were seen in an additional five (23%) patients. The movements were characteristic of TD, although their somatic distribution differed from previous studies. Total AIMS score increased with age and duration of illness (r = 0.64, P < 0.01). These findings suggest that choreoathetoid movements may appear spontaneously in patients with schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

Drug-drug interactions related to hospital admissions in older adults: a prospective study of 1000 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency, nature, and side effects of drug-drug interactions (DDI) in a group of geriatric inpatients. DESIGN: Study of drugs administered at home in the 2 weeks preceding hospitalization. SETTING: Evaluation of patients admitted to a geriatric unit from the emergency unit. PATIENTS: One thousand inpatients more than 70 years of age (83.0 +/- 7.1 years), admitted consecutively to a hospital for acute illness. MEASUREMENTS: All possible two by two combinations of drugs administered at home were considered to determine whether these associations could lead to a DDI and whether side effects resulted from these interactions. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-eight patients were exposed to 1087 DDI. The most frequently involved drugs were cardiovascular and psychotropic medications. There were 189 side effects observed in 130 patients. The most frequent side effects were neuropsychological impairment, arterial hypotension, and acute renal failure. The number of side effects did not differ between the 66 contraindicated drug associations and the 1021 associations that only required precautionary use. CONCLUSIONS: DDI frequently lead to side effects in older adults. Classifications of DDI must be adapted to increased DDI sensitivity in this population. Nevertheless the frequency of side effects might be reduced by limiting the prescription of the most frequent and dangerous DDI.

Aged↗

Differences in the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism in older and younger patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if aging modifies the clinical presentation of hyperthyroidism and the signs of thyrotoxicosis in older people. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A French university hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighty-four new patients with overt hyperthyroidism confirmed chemically between January 1992 and January 1993. Controls were 68 older euthyroid patients matched to the older hyperthyroid patients. MEASUREMENTS: Comparison of 19 classical signs of hyperthyroidism between 34 older patients (> or = 70 years; mean age 80.2) and 50 younger patients (< or = 50 years; mean age 37.4). Older patients were also compared with controls (mean age 81.3). RESULTS: Three signs were found in more than 50% of older patients: tachycardia, fatigue, and weight loss. Seven signs were found significantly less frequently in older patients (P < .001): hyperactive reflexes, increased sweating, heat intolerance, tremor, nervousness, polydipsia, and increased appetite. Only anorexia (32% vs 4%) and atrial fibrillation (35% vs 2%) were more found frequently in older people (P < .001). A goiter was present in 94% of the younger and in 50% of the older patients (P < .001). The mean number of clinical signs found in the older subjects was significantly smaller than the number found in younger patients (6 vs 10.8; P < .001). Comparison with older controls showed three signs that were highly associated with thyrotoxicosis in older people: apathy (Odd ratio (OR): 14.8), tachycardia (OR: 11.2), and weight loss (OR: 8.7). CONCLUSION: This study confirms the paucity of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism in older adults. These results suggest the necessity of routine screening for thyroid disease in this age group.

Adult↗

[Small bowel metastasis disclosing malignant melanoma].

In a 72 year-old woman with microcytic anemia, small bowel study showed tumoral lesions. Malignant melanoma was histologically proved. Clinical and radiological aspects of metastatic malignant melanoma of the small bowel are discussed and hypothesis advanced to explain absence of an identifiable primary lesion.

Aged↗

Accuracy of percussion of the left cardiac border.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of percussion of the left cardiac border. Sixty-six adult patients were studied. The left cardiac border as determined by percussion and marked with a calibrated lead marker was compared with that obtained by a chest X-ray. The error in locating the left cardiac border by percussion ranged from underestimating by 5.0 cm to overestimating by 5.5 cm. The mean absolute error was 1.6 cm (SD = 1.6 cm). In 74% (49/66) and 85% (56/66) of the patients the percussed border was within 1.0 and 2.0 cm, respectively, of that established by X-ray. In 24 of the 66 cases, a second examiner also independently percussed the left cardiac border. The differences between the location determined by the two observers ranged from 0 to 4 cm with a mean difference of 1.2 cm (SD = 1.0 cm). CONCLUSION: Percussion can accurately locate the left cardiac border in the adult patient and is a reproducible technique.

Adult↗

Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators and survival of patients with left ventricular dysfunction and malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess survival after insertion of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators in high-risk patients who have malignant ventricular arrhythmias and left ventricular dysfunction. DESIGN: Actual survival time compared with arrhythmia-free time in a single group of patients. SETTING: Inpatient services of a tertiary referral center and outpatient follow-up. PATIENTS: Seventy consecutive patients with clinical sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation whose arrhythmia could not be controlled by medication as determined by programmed electrical stimulation, and who had an automatic cardioverter defibrillator implanted. INTERVENTION: All patients received an implantable defibrillator. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two-year survival was 93.4% (95% CI, 87 to 99.8) and projected survival based on recurrence of malignant arrhythmias was 60.3% (CI, 47.3 to 73.3; P less than 0.001). In the 25 patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 30%, actual survival was 86.7% (CI, 72.3 to 91.1) and projected survival was 56.9% (CI, 35.9 to 77.9; P = 0.025). Projected survival percentages are similar to survival figures reported in the literature for such high-risk patients. There was only one sudden death; the remaining deaths were not arrhythmic in nature. Of the 65 patients who were alive at the end of follow-up, 13 were in New York Heart Association Class I; 44, Class II; 5, Class III; and 3, Class IV. CONCLUSIONS: The automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator is probably highly effective in preventing arrhythmic mortality even in high-risk patients. Such treatment does not appear to significantly impair a patient's functional status.

Actuarial Analysis↗