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Background and Objective: Congenital dislocation of the hip is a malformation of the lower limbs that could be complicated by a disabling physical handicap with long-term psychological and social repercussions if detected late. This study aims to describe the screening for congenital hip dislocation and to investigate the association between the occurrence of this anomaly and possible risk factors in Morocco. Methods: The study was based on the exploitation of the records of children treated at the trauma and orthopedics department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech, Morocco. It concerned 160 cases with a 5-year follow-up from January 2016 to March 2021. Results: The results of the study showed that 56.7% of the affected children had a bilateral dislocation and 25.8% of the cases had a left-sided dislocation. The malformation occurred more frequently in females 69.2%. A familial disposition to the malformation was found in about 22% of the cases. The diagnosis was late (at walking age) in 61% of children following the onset of lameness with or without pain in 91% of children. In 41.87% of the hips, the reduction was surgical, with 28% failure dominated by acetabular dysplasia in 11%. Conclusion: The risk factors for congenital hip dislocation identified in our setting were dominated by sex, primiparity, consanguineous marriage, and the presence of a family history of dislocation. Communication of risk factors specific to our setting to healthcare personnel will allow them to guide the diagnosis and increase vigilance in the at-risk population for management that prevents the development of complications.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by a variety of routes, including the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat. It infects roughly one-third of the world's population and is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite. The goal of this research is to detect the existence and genotypes of T. gondii in beef and mutton, two of the most widely consumed red meats in Gaza, Palestine, using both ELISA and PCR techniques. For this purpose, 60 red meat samples were collected from butcheries in Gaza city, during the period from January to March 2021. These samples were divided evenly between beef and mutton. This study found that beef is devoid of T. gondii, whether tested using ELISA or PCR. On the contrary, both approaches detected T. gondii in mutton; however, the percentage of positive samples reported differed. For example, whereas T. gondii was detected in 14 (46.66 %) of 30 samples using ELISA, only 5 (16.66 %) of positive samples were detected using PCR. The genotyping results of the current investigation showed that the three DNA isolates were T. gondii type II. A Chisquare test was also implemented to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii and the type of red meat samples (mutton and beef) examined using PCR and ELISA. Similarly, in the detection of T. gondii, a comparison of the PCR approach and ELISA was conducted, and all of these relationships were shown to be statistically significant, with p values < 0.05. Meanwhile, this investigation found that beef samples were devoid of T. gondii infection. Regardless of whether it was examined with an ELISA or a PCR, this study revealed the occurrence of T. gondii in mutton. The current study also concluded that eating raw or undercooked mutton is a potential risk factor for the transmission of T. gondii infection to humans. Besides, the occurrence of T. gondii type II in the three genotyped ADNA isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical infection caused by Leishmania parasite that affect human and animal. In Morocco, the cutaneous leishmaniasis has spread substantially to the new areas. The surveillance limited to active foci may underestimate the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). This study aims to investigate the local transmission of CL in rural districts of Youssoufia province, central Morocco, as a potential focus of CL. Methods: For this purpose, parasitological, molecular and entomological investigations were carried out in this area. Data collection concerns potential vectors and human cases. Thus, 402 patients were examined for suspected leishmaniasis lesions in three localities of the province of Youssoufia. In these same localities, 983 sand flies were collected by CDC light traps and sticky paper during one‐night per month during 6 months. These sand flies were all identified morphologically using the Moroccan identification key. Results: The results showed that among the 25 skin lesions detected in a population of 402 individuals, 18 were confirmed by kDNA nested PCR as CL positive patients, of which only 25% were positive by direct examination. Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major were identified as causative agents of CL in the study area. Direct parasitological examination showed a low sensitivity (27.78%), especially for L. major, although its specificity was evaluated at 100%. Regarding entomological results, both genera of the Moroccan sand fly were collected in the study area: Genus/Phlebotomus (75.28%) and Sergentomyia (24.72%). Phlebotomus (P) papatasi, the proven vector of L. major, was the most abundant species (33.98%), followed by Paralongicollum sergenti (22.58%), the confirmed vector of L. tropica; while Sergentomyia (S) minuta, P. longicuspis, S. fallax and P. kazeruni were collected with, respectively, 17.60%, 16.99%, 7.12% and 1.73%. Conclusion: This study constitutes the first report of CL in the study areas, as well as the coexistence of L. tropica and L. major in these rural localities. Local transmission of CL is highly probable, as indicated by the prevalence of the two proven vectors of L. major and L. tropica. To control the spread of this disease, our results suggest the use of highly sensitive molecular methods to detect CL cases in potential leishmaniasis foci, which will improve surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of substance use disorders and explored associations between parental substance use disorder history and mental health disorders among psychiatric hospital inpatients in central Morocco. A total of 723 participants were included in the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and medical records, covering psychiatric diagnoses, sociodemographic characteristics, substance use disorders among patients and their parents, as well as the patient's psychiatric history and length of hospital stay. Participants were divided into two groups: those with parental history of substance use disorders (PSUD) and those without. Patients' mean ages were 34.40 years (± 11) and 35.5 years (± 12), respectively. The prevalence of substance use was notably high among participants, with cannabis use being the most prevalent (90.6%). Educational level was associated with PSUD, with participants having no formal education showing a higher likelihood of having parents with SUD (unadjusted odds ratio, UOR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.1 to 4.03). Polysubstance use was also associated with the PSUD group (UOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.73 to 3.40). Regarding psychiatric disorders, one in five patients in the PSUD group had schizophrenia (21.35%), followed by acute psychotic episodes (20.5%), depression (20.29%), and anorexia (8.24%). The study revealed a high overall prevalence of substance use among participants with mental health disorder, highlighting the significance of parental SUD history as a predictor for patients' mental health disorders. This suggests the need for special attention and preventive measures. [Psychiatr Ann. 2024;54(2):e56–e66.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trihexyphenidyl (THP)—a synthetic anticholinergic medication used to manage parkinsonism and extrapyramidal symptoms—has gained significant clinical recognition. However, there is a critical gap in understanding its withdrawal effects. This study investigates the intricate interplay between gut microbiota and oxidative stress during THP withdrawal. Furthermore, it explores the therapeutic potential of Anacyclus pyrethrum (AEAP) for alleviating the associated adverse effects. This comprehensive research combines behavioral tests, biochemical analysis, gut microbiome assessment utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and oxidative stress measures. The results reveal that the chronic administration of THP leads to severe withdrawal syndrome, marked by heightened anxiety, depressive-like behaviors, increased cortisol levels, elevated oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis. However, the administration of AEAP alongside THP shows a significant capacity to mitigate these deleterious effects. Co-treatment and post-treatment with AEAP increased bacterial density and diversity, promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria associated with improved gut health. Furthermore, AEAP administration reduced cortisol levels and exhibited potent antioxidant properties, effectively countering the THP-induced oxidative damage. This study highlights the withdrawal effects of THP and underscores the therapeutic potential of AEAP for managing these symptoms. The findings reveal its promising effects in alleviating behavioral and biochemical impairments, reducing oxidative stress, and restoring gut microbiota, which could significantly impact the clinical management of THP withdrawal and potentially extend to other substance withdrawal scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary metabolites derived from plants have demonstrated significant biological activity and hold both edible and medicinal significance. These compounds play a crucial role in the development of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the context of inflammatory disorders and chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characterization, antioxidant potential, and antibacterial properties of the aqueous extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum (AEAP). To achieve this, we employed various analytical techniques including HPLC–ESI–MS/MS, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity of the AEAP was assessed using DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and reducing power assays, while antibacterial activity was evaluated against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) using the broth microdilution assay. Our findings demonstrated significant antioxidant activity of the AEAP, as well as broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. HPLC analysis identified important bioactive compounds, notably pellitorine and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, known for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Overall, the AEAP demonstrated potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities, suggesting its potential as a valuable natural source of bioactive compounds with various therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]