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The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of the introduction in 2010 of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) on the reduction in mortality from respiratory causes in children under 5 years in Morocco. Child mortality rates from respiratory cause were analysed using an interrupted time series analysis. Mortality rates from congenital and chromosomal causes were also analysed for comparative purposes. In the post-vaccination period, child mortality rates from respiratory causes decreased by 28% (Mortality rate ratio (MRR) = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.58–0.83) and by 30% in children under 1 year (MRR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50–0.98). In children aged between 1 and 5 years, the decrease in the child mortality rate was not statistically significant (MRR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.91–1.08). Mortality rates from congenital and chromosomal causes in the post-vaccination period were stable in children under 5 years (MRR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.97–1.48), in children under 1 year (MRR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.94–1.40) and in children aged between 1 and 5 years (MRR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.97–1.48). The decrease in child mortality from respiratory causes in the post-vaccination period provides strong evidence of the effectiveness of PCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MENA region has experienced extraordinary events in recent years, resulting in an influx of refugees and displaced people who are vulnerable to mental disorders. Several previous studies have examined their prevalence, but none have focused on this region. This systematic review provided an estimate of the prevalence of mental illness and associated risk factors in the MENA region, and overcame the methodological limitations of individual studies. Thorough searches of the relevant databases were carried out to locate relevant published articles. Furthermore, cross-sectional studies were conducted to assess mental disorders in refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, or internally displaced people residing in the MENA region. Only studies meeting the aforementioned criteria were considered. For this purpose, RStudio software version 2023.12.0 + 369 with netmeta package was used for measurement and data analysis. JBI used to assess study quality. The results, including 32 cross-sectional studies with a total of 21659 participants were obtained and discussed. The overall prevalence was 42% (95% CI; 30%, 54%) for depression, 43% (95% CI; 31%, 57%) for anxiety, 22% (95% CI; 11%, 39%) for stress, and 45% (95% CI; 36%, 53%) for PTSD. As a result, it was noted that being female was associated with depression, and being female and unemployed was associated with PTSD, however being married was protective against this later. Compared to the rest of the globe, MENA has a greater rate of mental illness among refugees. Nevertheless, much effort should be devoted on listing causes associated, as well as their management and prevention. • MENA has a higher prevalence of mental illness among migrant , stigma and conflict raise mental health risks. • The overall prevalence was 42% for depression, 43% for anxiety, 22% for stress, and 45% for PTSD. • Being female was connected with dissatisfaction, and unemployment with PTSD, while marriage protected against this later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The Luminex® technology has become an integral component of clinical decision-making and diagnosis of transplanted organ rejection. Despite the superior sensibility of this technology, it is not completely problem free. We have observed in these bead-based assays that sera of some patients give a high negative control bead (NC) value which makes assessing HLA antibodies difficult. Treatment of sera by the Adsorb Out™ reagent may reduce the high background. In this study, we want to evaluate the effect of the Adsorb Out™ on the NC's MFI value by comparing treated and untreated patients' sera. Methods HLA antibody screening was performed on 3011 sera. These sera came from patients awaiting and undergoing renal transplant from different Moroccan hospitals. The sera were analyzed using the standard protocol for Luminex® antibody screening. Sera with high NC's value has been pre-incubated by the Adsorb Out™, and analyzed on Luminex®. Results 3% of studied samples have high NC's value. The Adsorb Out™ decreases the NC's value and brings it back to a normal range in 62.2% treated sera. It has no effect in 12.3%. The Adsorb Out™ effect depends only of NC's value, independently to age, storage date, sex and immunization. Conclusion The Adsorb Out™ reagent has an important effect in decreasing NC value of sera. However, it has no effect in some patient's sera. In these cases we could try another treatment, as EDTA, DTT. The non-specific binding may be caused by multiple patient-specific factors, it would be important to search correlation between them and NC's values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background 5% of multiple sclerosis have their onset in childhood. Objectives We aim to show the clinical features and follow-up of Moroccan pediatric MS patients. Methods 25 pediatric MS records were analyzed between 2005 and 2013 at the Neurology B department of Rabat Ibn sina University Hospital and Medical School Group of Neurogenetic Disorder of Rabat Mohammed V University Souissi. Results The median duration of follow up was 4 years [1.56]. The median age at disease onset was 14 years. Clinical symptoms were described. At the last evaluation, the median EDSS score was 3.0 [0–7.5]. The median time between disease onset and diagnosis was 2 years [1–9] and the median time from MS onset to second neurological episode was 1 year [0.9–3] with an average of 2 relapses in the first 2 years. The median time to reach EDSS 3.0 was 4.5 years [2–17] and the median time to go from EDSS 3.0 to 6.0 was 4 years [2.5–6]. The majority of cases at the last follow-up were; relapsing–remitting (17 patients: 68%), although 8 patients (32%) developed secondary progressive MS after median disease duration of 5 years [4–19]. None of the patients had a primary progressive MS. Conclusion Time EDSS 3.0 and to secondary progression was shorter in our cohort than previously reported in other series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]