[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

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in diabetic patients

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection primarily causes liver disease but also various extrahepatic manifestations. The association of chronic HCV infection and diabetes mellitus has been recently reported. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of HCV infection in diabetes patients. This study included 100 diabetic patients and 300 group control patients consulting in various diagnostic centers. Serum samples were tested for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody [HCV Ab], total HBc antibody and for hepatitis B antigen [HBs Ag]. Anti HCV were detected in 6 diabetic patients and 2 controls [6% vs 0.67%, p=0.001]. And 5/6 HCV Ab positives patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. HBs Ag and anti HBc were detected respectively in 1% and 49% in diabetic patients. Our study shows an increasing seroprevalence of HCV Ab in diabetic patients that allows us to define them as a group at risk for viral hepatitis C

[Primary immunodeficiency in children in Casablanca: a 73 cases report]

Primary immunodeficiencies [PID] seem to have two particularities in the Maghreb countries: a higher frequency than in the occidental countries and a higher proportion of deficiency of HLA class II antigens. Patients and method: a four-year study reports 73 PID cases between 1997 March and 2001 February in the Clinical Immunology Unit of the Casablanca Children Hospital. These 73 cases were diagnosed, according to the WHO criteria, among 358 children with recurrent and/or severe infections. They had an immunological assessment: tuberculin IDR, blood cells, serum immunoglobulin A G and M, lymphocytes classes. we found 18 combined immunodeficiency including 5 deficiencies of HLA class II antigens, 18 antibody defects, 17 complex immunodeficiencies including 11 ataxia-telangiectasia syndromes, 13 PID associated to an other disorder including 4 hyper IgM syndrome, 6 phagocyte disorders and one complement defect. Because of their high cost, the intravenous immunoglobulins were used in only 29 children and the bone marrow transplantation is not available in our country. Twenty six children died in this study. Comments: as in Tunisia, our study confirms the high frequency of combined and complex PID in comparison to the occidental studies, and we have to develop the PID diagnostic and treatment resources in our country

[Viral contamination in hemophilia]

Viral contamination with blood products is a major problem in patients with hemophilia. The aim of this study is to look for viral infection ie hepatitis and immunodeficiency syndrome virus in patients with hemophilia in our institution. Hence, 40 patients have been studied. Viral hepatitis is found in 43% of cases, witch is in accordance with the results found by the majority of authors. On the other hand, since our patients have seldom been treated with factor VIII concentrate, no impaired immunodeficiency syndrome have been found

Prevalence of streptococcal pharyngitis in Marrakech

Pharyngitis is the most frequent clinical manifestation of streptococcal infections. Its clinical diagnosis is not evident. Biological examinations are of little help to the clinical diagnosis confirmation, whereas throat culture confirm the diagnosis in most cases. Throat culture have been used to study the prevalence of beta hemolytic streptococci wihin 800 pharyngitis. The beta hemolytic streptococci have been found within 197 patients, [24.7%]. The streptococci of group A. have been found within 82 cases [10.3%]. The streptococci of groups B, C, G and F have been isolated within 115 patients [14.4%]. This study has shown that the majority of pharyngitis have not a streptococcal etiology

Hepatitis B vaccination. Evaluation of efficacy in a high risk hospital personnel population

B. Viral hepatitis endemo-epidemiological potencial in hospital practice remains a preoccupyng problem. The study of serological status in an order of an active protection has been realised in a group of 100 of the medical staff in university hospital of Casablanca. 49 of the subjects had at least one of the markers of B. hepatitis among them one is chronical carrier of H.B.S. antigen. 51 seronegative and volonteers subjects [51%] have received 3 injections of the vaccine Hevac B [R] of Pasteur Institute, at one month interval. The evolution controls of Anti H.B.S. antibodies have been realised a month later after each injection. At the end of this vaccination 86.2% of the subjects have acquired a protection with rates of anti H.B.S. superior to the minimal protective rate. 5 bad responders have received a forth injection of the vaccine. The control of the antibodies H.B.S. was realised one year after, in 30 subjects [58.8%], 29 have kept Anti H.B.S. antibodies, among them 25 at protective rates

Prevalence of HTLV

The high prevalence of LAV/HTLV[m] virus etiological agent of A.I.D.S. and its transmission by blood and blood products have incit us to study the prevalence of HTLV[m] antibodies in 1.000 Moroccan blood donors. One case was positive in HTLV[m] antibodies. This weakness prevalence has to be confirmed by a large study in different regions in the Kingdom

[Anti human T cell leukemia lymphoma virus [HTLV1] prevalence in a Moroccan population]

Epidemiological studies suggest African origin of retrouviruses of HTLV group [human T cell leukemia lymphoma virus] which are incriminated in the etiology of adult leukemia and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]. We have studied 610 sera of healthy subjects from different parts of Morocco. The prevalence of antibodies against HTLV[1] in this sample is weak [0,5%] similar of that shown in USA and Europe

Monoclonal antibodies: principles, applications and future prospects

Monoclonal antibodies are produced by hydridomas of B lymphocytes and myelomatous cells. The number of monoclonal antibodies produced is still increasing. These antibodies are characterised by their absolute homogenicity and their high specificity. The aim of this study is to review the potential applications of these antibodies in the therapeutic and diagnostic fields