[Frequency, types and determinants of degenerative complications of type 2 diabetes in Morocco: "EpiDiaM" cohort inclusion data]

Degenerative complications as a result of diabetes impose a heavy disease burden and increase mortality. This study presents epidemiological and clinical profiles of diabetic patients in the EpiDiaM cohort study, which include 1196 diabetic cases recruited from the basic health care network in the city of Fez. The mean age of the participants was 57.5 [SD 10.4] years with 47.1% aged between 50 and 60 years. The majority [77.7%] were women. The mean duration of diabetes was 8 [SD 6.6] years. Hypertension was found in 49.3% of the cohort, 77.9% were overweight or obese and 63.8% had one or more complications. Among those with complications, retinopathy was the most common [69.4%], followed by heart conditions [50.8%], neuropathy [45.6%] and renal disease [4.8 %]. The high prevalence of complications emphasizes the need to address the avoidable risk factors and prevent complications

Epidemiological and pathological features of cancer in Fez Boulemane region, [Morocco]

In Fez-Boulemane, Morocco, there is no cancer registry so there is a lack of information about the incidence and characteristics of cancer in the region. In this retrospective study we examined the epidemiological and pathological features of 5532 cases of cancer collected from the Department of Pathology in Hassan II University Hospital of Fez from 2004 to 2010. The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years and 52% were male. Digestive cancers and skin cancers were the most common. Digestive cancers were predominantly colorectal and stomach. Cancers of the urinary bladder and colorectal cancers were the leading cancers in men accounting respectively for 9% and 8% of all male cancers. In women, cancers of the breast [62%] and uterine cervix [22.6%] predominated. As a first step in cancer control in our area, establishment of a regional cancer registry is recommended

Knowledge and attitude about antismoking legislation in Morocco according to smoking status

Despite tobacco control legislation enacted in Morocco in 1996, the Moroccan population appears to have little interest in or awareness of tobacco control measures. This household survey aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes about tobacco legislation among Moroccans, according to their smoking status. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a random sample of 9195 Moroccans. Only 33.3% knew about the antismoking legislation: 38.7% of smokers versus 323% of non-smokers. Among the 3050 people who knew about the law, 60.1% knew about the ban on smoking in public areas and 22.4% knew there was an obligatory health warning on tobacco packaging. The attitude questions showed that 27.2% agreed that the price of tobacco products should increase sharply and 45.0% that antismoking legislation should prohibit tobacco sales to children. These data demonstrate low levels of information among Moroccans concerning current tobacco control legislation

Burden of smoking in Moroccan rural areas

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of current smoking among rural Moroccans. The population study included 3438 individuals aged 15 years and above from both sexes. The crude prevalence of current smoking [currently smoked and had smoked > 100 cigarettes in lifetime] was 16.9% in the adolescent and adult rural population: 31.0% among men and 1.1% among women. The majority of smokers [74.4% of men and 68.8% of women] began smoking before age 20 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, marital status, occupation and region of residence were the strongest determinants of current smoking. These results showed a high prevalence of smoking among males in the rural population of Morocco

[Diabetes and erectile dysfunction in Morocco: epidemiological study among outpatients]

We studied the relationship between erectile dysfunction [ED] and diabetes among 189 men [> 40 years] attending primary health care centres in Morocco. Of the 89 diabetic men, 82% had ED while only 17% of the 100 non-diabetic men had ED. The frequency of ED among diabetic men increased with age, from 60% in those aged 40-49 years to 94.95% in those aged >/= 60 years [from 6.3% to 35.4% in men without diabetes for similar ages]. ED was reported by 93.3% of diabetic men who had had diabetes for > 15 years. The frequency of ED did not differ with type of diabetes but it was significantly commoner in diabetic men with a low level of education and with hypertension

Prevalence of the nosocomial infection and risk factors

The prevalence of the nosocomial infection was 6, 7%, in the first study done at the University hospital center. The results were considered as underestimated. This study was done to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with to create a new strategy against NI in this UHC. A cross sectional study was conducted. All the patients hospitalized the day of the study in this establishment were included and were examined to look for NI. The following risk factors were also looked for: the presence of a catheter, a urinary sound and surgical intervention. The statistical analysis was carried out using the software Epi info version 6. Chi-square test was used for comparing categorical data, and the Student's t-test for comparing the means. Significance was taken as P < 0.05. 276 patients were hospitalized the day of the study. Sex Ratio [Men/Women] was 0.92. The average age was 35.25 +/- 21 years with [0 - 84]. More than a third of the investigated patients [40.9%] had surgery and 36.2% of them had a vascular catheter, 13.8% had a urinary sound and 4.3% benefited from artificial ventilation. The prevalence of NI was 11.2% in all departments. 79, 3% of patients got NI on the same day of study and in the same hospitalised department The two main factors associated with the occurance of NI were surgicl operations [p = 0.04] and duration of hospitalisation [15 days or more] [p = 0, 002]. The results between the present and previous study [2004 and 2006 respectively] shows a significant increase of the NI prevalence [p = 0, 036]. The results of this study 2006 allowed estimating the NI prevalence evolution with a more relevant collection of data, consequently, a rational and adequate decision-taking

[Prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial infections in Hassan II University Hospital, Fes, Morocco]

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for nosocomial infection at Hassan II university hospital and the causative microorganisms among 282 inpatients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 16.4 [SD = 15] days. The prevalence of nosocomial infection was 6.7%. Infections at the site of the operation were the commonest. No catheter-related infection was noted. The main organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. The occurrence of a nosocomial infection was significantly associated with surgical operation [P = 0.005], presence of urinary catheter [P = 0.002] and length of hospital stay greater than 3 weeks [P = 0.04]

Clinical trial practices: methodological and ethical aspects

The objective of this article is to review the methodology of controlled clinical trial, the protocol construction stages and their various ethical aspects. Controlled clinical trial is an experiment plant in which two contemporary groups of patients are compared in a forward-looking way, the first one is treated by the reference treatment [controlled group] and the other one if treated by the new treatment [tested group]. The allocation of treatments must be unpredictable and the follow-up of the patients makes blind with regard to the received treatment. These principles constitute the methodological frame of the controlled clinical trial which can not be approached under its only methodological or statistical angle. But also through an ethical serious reflexion worldwide especially with the fast progress of biologic sciences and medical techniques. In Morocco, the rule of the medicines is governed mainly by the Ministry of Health which has to assure security and the sanitary safety of the citizens. It is responsible for all the politics of medicines in Morocco and all their aspects. The realization of the bio equivalence and bio availability trials are two criteria which are darkened from the at present current texts. The accompanying measures of the implementation of these trials for example: universal principles in person's protection, the Good Practices of Medicine's manufacture, the Good Clinical Practices, the Good Practices of Laboratory are not foreseen either by the current rule