TYK2, IFITM3, IFNAR2 and OAS3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms among severe COVID-19 ICU patients in Morocco.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the potential correlation between specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (TYK2, IFITM3, IFNAR2, and OAS3 variants) and the severity of COVID-19 in Moroccan patients. METHODS: A genetic analysis was conducted on 109 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Morocco. Among these patients, 46% were hospitalized in the intensive care unit, while 59% were not hospitalized. Importantly, all patients lacked known risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity. Genotyping was performed to identify variations in TYK2 rs74956615, IFITM3 rs12252, IFNAR2 rs2236757, and OAS3 rs10735079. Statistical analysis was applied using codominant, dominant and recessive logistic regression models to assess correlations with COVID-19 severity. RESULTS: Our findings revealed no significant correlation between TYK2 rs74956615, IFITM3 rs12252, IFNAR2 rs2236757, and OAS3 rs10735079 with COVID-19 severity in Moroccan patients, as indicated in logistic regression models (p > .05). Interestingly, these results may offer insights into the mitigated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduced severity observed in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in Morocco. Age, however, exhibited a significant correlation with severity (p < .001), with a trend towards increased likelihood of ICU admission with advancing age. Additionally, In the severe group, a higher proportion of patients were females (54%), indicating a statistically significant correlation with disease severity (p = .04). Nevertheless, female ICU patients aged above 60 years accounted for 37%, compared to 17% for males. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the absence of a genetic association between the selected polymorphisms and COVID-19 severity in Moroccan patients. Advanced age emerges as the primary factor influencing the severity of COVID-19 patients without comorbidities. We recommend setting the threshold for advanced age at 60 years as a risk factor for severe forms of COVID-19.

[Striatopallidodentate calcinosis, hypoparathyroidism and neurological features: a case series study]. / Calcinose striatopallidodentelée, hypoparathyroïdie et atteinte neurologique: étude de série.

INTRODUCTION: The respective roles of hypocalcemia and intracerebral calcifications in the occurrence of various neurological manifestations in hypoparathyroidism is not entirely clear. Nevertheless, therapeutic and prognostic implications are important. OBJECTIVES: We analyze the neurological clinical aspects observed in hypoparathyroidism and correlate them to the biological calcium abnormality and radiological CT scan findings. We also compare these results with data reported in the idiopathic form of striatopallidodentate calcinosis. PATIENTS: The neurological clinical, CT scan findings and outcome have been retrospectively studied in patients recruited during 13 years (2000-2012) for neurological features associated with hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism. RESULTS: Twelve patients with primary hypoparathyroidism (n=5), secondary to thyroidectomy (n=4) and pseudohypoparathyroidism (n=3) were studied. The sex-ratio was 1 and mean age was 39 years. All patients had a tetany, 60% had epilepsy, associated in one patient with "benign" intracranial hypertension; 50% had behavioral changes. Response to calcium therapy was excellent for all these events. Moderate cognitive deficit was noted in three patients (25%), parkinsonism in two patients and hyperkinetic movement disorders in one other. These events were not responsive to calcium therapy and were more common in cases of extensive brain calcifications and in patients who had pseudohypoparathroidism. COMMENTS: This study suggests that, in patients with hypoparathyroidism, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders are induced by hypocalcemia and reversible after its correction. Cognitive and extrapyramidal impairment seem to be related to the progressive extension of intracerebral calcification, particularly in patients with a late diagnosis. In patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism, this finding is different because of the contribution of other factors, specific to this disease.

[Cardiac myxoma complicated with cerebral aneurysms and revealed by an ischemic stroke]. / Myxome cardiaque compliqué d'anévrismes cérébraux et révélé par un accident ischémique cérébral.

INTRODUCTION: Myxoma is a rare benign primary cardiac tumor. It may cause vascular complications. Neurological symptoms may precede or accompany the diagnosis of myxoma with systemic embolization occurring most often in the cerebral circulation. OBSERVATION: We report a case of cardiac myxoma complicated with cerebral aneurysms and revealed by an ischemic stroke in a 21-year-old patient. The cardiac myxoma was discovered during the transthoracic echocardiography performed as part of the etiological work-up. Because of the high risk of embolism, the mass was resected and mitral valve surgically repaired. The postoperative outcome was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Although myxoma is a benign tumor histologically, it can lead to serious complications such as systemic embolism and sudden death.

[Acute myocardial infarction in Morocco: FES-AMI registry data]. / L'infarctus du myocarde au Maroc: les données du registre FES-AMI.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction is the most dangerous complication of coronary atherothrombosis. There are several disparities in regard to its management around the world. The aim of this study is to analyze the specificities of management of acute myocardial infarction in Morocco. METHODS: FES-AMI (Fès Acute Myocardial Infarction) is a prospective monocentric registry conducted in cardiology department of Hassan II university hospital in Fès. In this registry, we enrolled patients with acute myocardial infarction who presented within 5 days after symptom onset. RESULTS: From January 2005 to August 2015, we enrolled 1835 patients. Seventy-five percent of patients were males and mean age was 60 years old. Fifty-one percent of patients were smokers, 27% were hypertensives and 14% were diabetics. Sixty-six percent of patients had more than 2 risk factors. Time from symptom onset to hospital admission was less than six hours for 40% of the patients. Thirty-six percent of patients were admitted more than twelve hours after the onset of chest pain. Only 37% of patients received reperfusion therapy, 31% with in-hospital thrombolysis and 6% with primary angioplasty. In-hospital mortality was 7.6%. CONCLUSION: The patients enrolled in our registry have late presentation of acute myocardial infarction and less rate of reperfusion therapy. Furthermore, the majority of our patients have multiple risk factors and this result underlines the failure of preventive interventions.

Role of pups' ultrasonic calls in a particular maternal behavior in Wistar rat: pups' anogenital licking.

Stimuli from pups maintain maternal behavior in the postpartum period. Olfactory cues are strongly involved in a particular component of maternal behavior: anogenital licking (MAGL). In addition to the olfactive stimulus, ultrasonic calls from pups are critical in ensuring pup survival. Pups emit vocalizations in distress situations. In a first experiment, pups' calls are recorded around MAGL sequences. In 2 out of 3 cases these calls appear to induce MAGL behavior from the dam with preputialectomised pups as well as with intact pups, but preputialectomised pups alone call again at the end of MAGL sequences. In a second experiment, ultrasonic calls from pups emitted just before AGL sequences were recorded and played back to dams in a glass-dish selection test. Whatever the pups' treatment (preputialectomised or sham), dams showed the specific ingestive behavior towards filter paper impregnated with dodecyl propionate (DP) when auditory cues (pups' ultrasonic calls) and olfactory cues (DP) were combined. The coordination of pups' ultrasonic calls and anogenital odor in MAGL behavior is discussed, ultrasonic calls might be an inducing factor and DP the regulating factor.

The mother rat's vomeronasal organ is involved in detection of dodecyl propionate, the pup's preputial gland pheromone.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the respective roles of main and accessory olfactory systems in a particular pattern of Wistar rat maternal behavior: specific licking of pup's anogenital areas, a behavioral pattern crucial to pup survival--nonlicked pups cannot defecate, and die. Dodecyl propionate (DP), a chemical agent from rat pup's preputial glands was found to direct and regulate pup's anogenital licking. Primiparous dams underwent one of the following treatments: surgical removal of the vomeronasal organ (hereafter VNX), irrigation of nasal cavities with 5% ZnSO4 solution (ZN), both these treatments (VNX + ZN), surgical control (SC), saline irrigation control (SA), both these treatments (SC + SA), and normal control (N). Fewer pups (only 75%) of VNX dams survived to 15 days of age compared to controls or to females rendered anosmic by zinc-sulfate irrigation of the nasal cavity (>95% survival). Furthermore, pup growth (mass increase over time) was impaired by VNX and/or ZN treatment. Greater than normal amounts of time were spent licking pups' anogenital area by VNX females, although these dams did not spend as much time as normal females in close contact with either pups heads or filter papers anointed with dodecyl propionate. The experiments reported herein suggest that the chemosensory receptors in the vomeronasal organ of dams mediate MAGL responses to pup pheromone, dodecyl propionate, a pheromone from pups' preputial glands secretion, sustaining pups' anogenital licking by dams.

[Postpartum cardiomyopathy revealed by acute lower limb ischemia]. / Cardiomyopathie du péripartum révélée par l'ischémie aiguë d'un membre inférieur.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is an uncommon disease defined as a dilated cardiomyopathy during puerperium, with left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 45%) without any other etiology. The etiology of this disease remains uncertain and it can be revealed in a variety of ways. Thrombo-embolic complications may be, although infrequently, the initial manifestation of peripartum cardiomyopathy, which is usually an intracardiac thrombosis. Lower extremity embolism is uncommon. The case reported is about a 39-year-old woman, multiparous, who presented, 40 days after delivery, a global heart failure with atrial fibrillation, revealed by left lower extremity thromboembolism. After echocardiographic and etiologic examinations, the diagnosis was established as peripartum cardiomyopathy. It evolved favourably after 2 months of medical treatment: the symptoms and cardiomegaly decreased, left ventricular systolic function was improved.

Dodecyl propionate, attractant from rat pup preputial gland: Characterization and identification.

A chemical agent contained in the rat pup preputial gland was found to regulate anogenital licking, a behavioral pattern crucial to pup survival. Combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis led to identification of four components in addition to high molecular alkanes (waxes). Independent synthesis added to behavioral observations were used to quantify the dam's response to these components. Among them, dodecyl propionate (DP), a pheromone-like compound, appears to be the only one efficient enough to induce, in the dam, behavior patterns similar to those observed with crude lipidic extract from the preputial gland secretion. Various esters previously were predicted in the adult rat preputial gland. DP is the first ester identified from mammalian infant tissue. These results, in combination with previous findings, allow discussion of the DP pheromonal role.