Molecular screening of a large cohort of Moroccan patients with congenital hypopituitarism.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Congenital hypopituitarism is a rare disease which, for most patients, has no identified molecular cause. We aimed to document the molecular basis of growth retardation in a Moroccan cohort. DESIGN/PATIENTS: 80 index cases [54 with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), 26 with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD)] were screened for molecular defects in GH1 (including LCR-GH1), GHRHR, GHSR, GHRH, PROP1, POU1F1, HESX1, LHX3, LHX4 and SOX3. RESULTS: Five different deleterious mutations were identified in 14 patients from eight families. In the IGHD group, three genes were found to be involved: GH1, GHRHR and GHSR. In the CPHD group, PROP1 was the only mutated gene. In addition, two heterozygous variations whose deleterious effect remains to be demonstrated were identified (in GH1 and LHX4), and two polymorphisms (missense variations) were detected (in LHX3 and in GHSR). The prevalence of mutations in this Moroccan GHD cohort was 10% (8/80), 11·1% (6/54) in the IGHD group and 7·7% (2/26) in the CPHD group. CONCLUSION: This is the first molecular screening of congenital GHD in a Moroccan population and, like other studies, mutations were preferentially identified in familial cases (75%); mutations in genes such as POU1F1, HESX1, SOX3, LHX3 and LHX4 are extremely rare. The p.R73C PROP1 mutation was the most frequent mutation in CPHD; this should be the first one to screen in this population. Our results should contribute to a better diagnosis and management of this heterogeneous disease condition.

Argan oil prevents prothrombotic complications by lowering lipid levels and platelet aggregation, enhancing oxidative status in dyslipidemic patients from the area of Rabat (Morocco).

BACKGROUND: It is now established that patients with hyperlipidemia have a high risk of atherosclerosis and thrombotic complications, which are two important events responsible for the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease. In the context of managing dyslipidemia by means of dietary advice based on the consumption of argan oil, we wanted to investigate the effect of virgin argan oil on plasma lipids, and for the first time, on the platelet hyperactivation and oxidative status associated with dyslipidemia. This study concerns patients recruited in the area of Rabat in Morocco. METHODS: 39 dyslipidemic (79% women) patients were recruited for our study in the area of Rabat in Morocco. They were randomly assigned to the two following groups: the argan group, in which the subjects consumed 25 mL/day of argan oil at breakfast for 3 weeks, and the control group in which argan oil was replaced by butter. RESULTS: After a 3-week consumption period, blood total cholesterol was significantly lower in the argan oil group, as was LDL cholesterol (23.8% and 25.6% lower, respectively). However, the HDL cholesterol level had increased by 26% at the end of the intervention period compared to baseline. Interestingly, in the argan oil group thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was lower, and oxidative status was enhanced as a result of lower platelet MDA and higher GPx activity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results, even if it is not representative of the Moroccan population, show that argan oil can prevent the prothrombotic complications associated with dyslipidemia, which are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

An RCT Investigating Patient-Driven Versus Physician-Driven Titration of BIAsp 30 in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Uncontrolled Using NPH Insulin.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to confirm the efficacy of patient-driven titration of BIAsp 30 in terms of glycemic control, by comparing it to physician-driven titration of BIAsp 30, in patients with type 2 diabetes in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. METHODS: A 20-week, open-label, randomized, two-armed, parallel-group, multicenter study in Egypt, Indonesia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. Patients (n = 155) with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled using neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin were randomized to either patient-driven or physician-driven BIAsp 30 titration. RESULTS: The noninferiority of patient-driven compared to physician-driven titration with respect to the reduction in HbA1c was confirmed. The estimated mean change in HbA1c from baseline to week 20 was -1.27% in the patient-driven arm and -1.04% in the physician-driven arm, with an estimated treatment difference of -0.23% (95% confidence interval: -0.54; 0.08). After 20 weeks of treatment, the proportions of patients achieving the target of HbA1c <7.5% were similar between titration arms; the proportions of patients achieving the target of ≤6.5% were also similar. Both titration algorithms were well tolerated, and hypoglycemic episode rates were similar in both arms. CONCLUSION: Patient-driven titration of BIAsp 30 can be as effective and safe as physician-driven titration in non-Western populations. Overall, the switch from NPH insulin to BIAsp 30 was well tolerated in both titration arms and led to improved glycemic control. A limitation of the study was the relatively small number of patients recruited in each country. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01589653. FUNDING: Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark.

Associations between clinical characteristics and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in Moroccan population with Type-2 diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the severe complications of Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and a major cause of end-stage renal disease in these patients. Results from published studies on the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/ deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism and patients with DN are still conflicting. We compared the clinical characteristics and the genotype frequencies of ACE polymorphism in 130 T2DM Moroccan patients with DN and 85 T2DM Moroccan patients without DN (controls) using specific primers in a polymerase chain reaction. The degenerative complications of diabetes were significantly higher in the group with nephropathy. The distribution of the I/D genotypes was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The D allele was the most frequent allele in the Moroccan population in both groups studied (P = 0.68), however, there was no significant difference between the genotypes in T2DM patients with or without DN (P = 0.78). The ACE gene I/D polymorphism was not associated with an increased risk of DN in the Moroccan population.

Disorder of Sexual Development and Congenital Heart Defect in 47XYY: Clinical Disorder or Coincidence?

Background. 47XYY syndrome is a rare sex chromosome variation characterized by an additional Y chromosome. Most patients with 47XYY karyotype have normal phenotype. This disorder seems associated with a higher risk of developing behavioral and cognitive problems, tall stature, and infertility in adulthood. Sexual development disorder is a rare finding. We report a first case with an abnormal left coronary artery originating from the pulmonary artery in a 47XYY patient. Case. A one-month-old child was referred for ectopic testis and micropenis. Physical examination revealed facial dysmorphia, micropenis, and curvature of the penis with nonpalpable testis. Laboratory tests showed decreased total testosterone and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels. Blood karyotyping revealed a 47XYY chromosomal formula. At the age of 3 months, the patient developed dyspnea and tachycardia. Echocardiography revealed an anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery with left ventricular dysfunction requiring surgical revascularization by direct reimplantation of the left coronary artery system. Our second case was a 3-year-old child referred for hypospadias with nonpalpable left testicle. Physical examination showed hypertelorism. Blood karyotyping revealed a 47XYY chromosomal formula. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first case of 47XYY syndrome associated with this congenital heart malformation and a sexual development disorder.

[Familial hypertriglyceridemia: biochemical, clinical and molecular study in a Moroccan family]. / Hypertriglycéridémie familiale : étude biochimique, clinique et moléculaire dans une famille marocaine.

Familial hypertriglyceridemia is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism. Mutation within the LPL gene constitutes the first cause of monogenic etiology. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the key enzyme in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins catabolism. Familial LPL deficiency is expressed by eruptive xanthomatosis and acute pancreatitis. We report a Moroccan case with a monstrous hypertriglyceridemia caused by LPL gene mutation. We discuss pathophysiology aspects according to available investigations data and the relevance of familial screening. The proband is a 19-year-old woman originating from the village of Taourirt (South of Morocco). She was admitted in emergency for diabetic ketoacidosis. Clinical investigations and routine laboratory tests were performed upon admission. Then lipoprotein electrophoresis and sequencing of the LPL gene were practiced. A monstrous hypertriglyceridemia up to 199 mmol/L was found. Lipoprotein electrophoresis has objectified profound disturbances on chylomicrons, VLDL and IDL. The sequencing detected a missense mutation p.S286R at homozygous state in a consanguinity context. Discovery of this LPL gene mutation is the first indigenous and documented case, never related in any other ethnic group. It constitutes a novel proof of a founder effect in the south Moroccan population. Prevalence studies with familial screening should be done for preventative action which is the only acceptable way to limit the cardiovascular and pancreatitis risks in this population where inbreeding is a general rule.

Clinical experience with insulin detemir type 2 diabetes mellitus, biphasic insulin aspart and insulin aspart in people with type 2 diabetes: Results from the Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer Region cohort of the A1chieve study.

BACKGROUND: The A1chieve, a multicentric (28 countries), 24-week, non-interventional study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of insulin detemir, biphasic insulin aspart and insulin aspart in people with T2DM (n = 66 726) in routine clinical care across four continents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected at baseline, at 12 weeks and at 24 weeks. This short communication presents the results for patients enrolled from Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer region, Morocco. RESULTS: A total of 424 patients were enrolled in the study. Four different insulin analogue regimens were used in the study. Study patients had started on or were switched to biphasic insulin aspart (n = 177), insulin detemir (n = 150), insulin aspart (n = 11), basal insulin plus insulin aspart (n = 45) and other insulin combinations (n = 41). At baseline glycaemic control was poor for both insulin naïve (mean HbA1c: 10.1%) and insulin user (mean HbA1c: 9.4%) groups. After 24 weeks of treatment, all the study groups showed improvement in HbA1c (insulin naïve: -2.5%, insulin users: -1.8%). Major hypoglycaemia was observed in the insulin user group after 24 weeks (0.1 events/patient-year). SADRs were reported in 0.5% of insulin users. CONCLUSION: Starting or switching to insulin analogues was associated with improvement in glycaemic control with a low rate of hypoglycaemia.

Safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in Moroccan patients with type 2 diabetes: a sub-analysis of the A1chieve study.

AIM: To determine the safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in the Moroccan cohort of the prospective, multinational, non-interventional, 24-week A1chieve study. METHODS: Moroccan patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) starting biphasic insulin aspart 30, insulin detemir, and insulin aspart alone or in combination were included. The primary outcome was the evaluation of serious adverse drug reactions including major hypoglycaemic events. Secondary outcomes were changes in hypoglycaemic events, glycaemic parameters (HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose [FPG], postprandial plasma glucose [PPPG]), systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight and lipid profile. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the EQ-5D questionnaire. RESULTS: In this analysis, 1641 patients (923 insulin-naive, 718 insulin-experienced) having a mean age 57.1 years, mean BMI 26.8 kg/m(2) and mean diabetes duration 10.3 years, were included. Baseline HbA1c in the entire cohort was poor (9.7%, 83 mmol/mol). Insulin analogues statistically significantly improved glucose control (HbA1c, FPG and PPPG, p < 0.001) at Week 24. The rate of hypoglycaemia decreased from 9.31 to 4.71 events/patient-year (change in proportion of patients affected, p = 0.0002). A statistically significant improvement in lipid parameters (except HDL cholesterol) was observed while body weight changed minimally. Additionally, QoL was positively impacted (mean change in visual analogue scores from EQ-5D was 15.8 points, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Insulin analogue therapy resulted in improved glycaemic control and a significant overall decrease in hypoglycaemia in Moroccan T2D patients.