Anthropometric Profile, Overweight/Obesity Prevalence, and Socioeconomic Impact in Moroccan Children Aged 6-12 Years Old with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

BACKGROUND: In addition to the inherent challenges of their condition, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are also susceptible to the global obesity epidemic. However, concerning the prevalence of obesity within the Moroccan ASD pediatric population, data remain scarce. METHODS: A total of 258 children (boys = 195) aged 6 to 12 years old (mean = 9.4 ± 1.4) diagnosed with ASD participated in this study. Besides the body mass and height, four significant anthropometric markers for assessing obesity were examined: body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Each anthropometric marker was categorized into one of three cardiometabolic risk levels based on the Z-scores and their corresponding percentiles. The distribution was as follows: low risk (≤84th percentile), high risk (85th-94th percentile), and very high risk (≥95th percentile). Subsequently, a multiple regression analysis was employed to develop an algorithm that generates a composite risk score. This score incorporates all the anthropometric variables simultaneously, while also weighting their individual contributions to the cardiometabolic risk. RESULTS: Children with ASD exhibit an anthropometric profile that markedly increases their susceptibility to cardiometabolic issues. While roughly 11% of the general Moroccan child population is overweight or obese, this figure soars to nearly 60% among children with ASD when considering the central adiposity markers. Furthermore, children from middle-class socioeconomic backgrounds display a more than threefold greater risk of developing overweight or obesity compared to their counterparts from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: This study has, for the first time, provided an up-to-date overview of the cardiometabolic risk in Moroccan children with ASD using traditional anthropometric measurements. The primary risk factor is clearly linked to central (abdominal) adiposity, which is recognized as the most deleterious. This study highlights the need to include general and central obesity markers. This study underscores the importance of incorporating both general and central adiposity markers for a more comprehensive assessment, and it emphasizes the need for closer monitoring within this high-risk population.

Specific absorbed fractions of electrons and photons for Digimouse voxelized phantom using GATE/GEANT4 Monte-Carlo simulation.

Knowledge of SAF at different energies is crucial for internal dosimetry. For this purpose, a set of calculated SAF values for a mouse voxelized phantom's selected organs are presented below. Values of SAF were calculated for mono-energetic photons and electrons with energy varying from 10 keV to 4 MeV using the Monte Carlo simulation via GATE/GEANT4 code (GEANT4 Application for Emission Tomography). The heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen were considered as the source organs from which the particles were released. Then, the estimated results were compared to those calculated in a previous study using EGS4 code. It is indicated that the obtained results are in good agreement with the reference values for all energies of photons and electrons, with discrepancies less than 9% and 5% for self-irradiation and cross-irradiation, respectively.

InterDosi Monte Carlo study of radiation exposure of a reference crab phantom due to radioactive wastewater deposited in marine environment following the Fukushima nuclear accident.

S-values are typically used to quantify internal doses of biota internally due to the incorporation of radionuclides. In this study, the InterDosi 1.0 Monte Carlo code was used to estimate S-values in five main organs of a crab phantom as well as in surrounding seawater for eleven radionuclides, namely 3H, 14C, 134Cs, 137Cs, 60Co, 125Sb, 90Sr, 129I, 99Tc, 106Ru, and 238Pu. After the Fukushima accident, these radionuclides have been detected in wastewater by the Japan Nuclear Regulatory Authority. In this work, S-values were calculated for all crab organs and the surrounding seawater. These values can be used in conjunction with any measured activities in water, to determine internal doses absorbed by crab organs. Furthermore, it is shown that for a self-absorption condition the studied radionuclides can be classified into five main categories, with 238Pu showing the highest S-values for any organ. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the obtained S-values decrease with increasing organ mass. In contrast, for a cross-absorption condition, the studied organs can be classified into seven main categories. In addition, by taking seawater as a source of irradiation, 238Pu had the highest cross-absorption S-values in two organs of particular biological relevance, the heart and gonads, when compared to the remaining radionuclides. It is concluded that due to the pre-calculated S-value database of a reference crab, it will become easier to use this organism as a bio indicator to study any radiation-induced effects on the marine environment.

GAMOS/GEANT4 simulation and comparison study of X-ray narrow-spectrum series at the national Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory of Morocco.

This study aimed to simulate the X-ray Irradiator narrow-spectrum series and compare the results with experimental and recommended values in ISO standards. X-Ray beam qualities of N-40 to N-300 were established experimentally at the national Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) of Morocco in purpose of calibrating radiation protection- level. The variations between the first half-value layer (1st HVL) and the second (2nd HVL) for experimental were within 5%. Also, homogeneity coefficients h were mostly between 0.75 and 1 according to ISO. GAMOS Monte Carlo code was used to simulate the radiation quality of narrow-spectrum series between N-40 to N-150. All 1st HVL, 2nd HVL, and h simulation values were compare with experimental and ISO values. In MC codes and GAMOS, there is no direct way to generate the X-ray spectrum if we do not have details of the X-ray tube geometry, dimensions and materials. Therefore, Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine report number 78 was used to generate the X-ray spectrums in purpose to test this method accuracy. The simulation results for the 1st HVL and 2nd HVL showed a good agreement with experimental data and with ISO 4037-1:1996 given values. Also, the comparison results showed that most of the homogeneity coefficients are within the ISO standard range.

Impact of Covid-19 lockdown on PM10, SO2 and NO2 concentrations in Salé City (Morocco).

Covid-19 was first reported in Morocco on March 2, 2020. Since then, to prevent its propagation, the Moroccan government declared a state of health emergency. A set of rapid and strict countermeasures have taken, including locking down cities, limiting population's mobility and prohibiting almost all avoidable activities. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate the changes in levels of some air pollutants (mainly PM10, NO2 and SO2) in Salé city (North-Western Morocco) during the lockdown measures. In this context, a continuous measurement of PM10, SO2 and NO2 was carried before and during the Covid-19 lockdown period. As a consequence of the security measures and control actions undertaken, the emissions from vehicle exhaust and industrial production were significantly reduced, which contribute to the decrease in the concentrations of the studied pollutants. The obtained results showed that the difference between the concentrations recorded before and during the lockdown period were respectively 75%, 49% and 96% for PM10, SO2 and NO2. PM10 levels were much less reduced than NO2. The three-dimensional air mass backward trajectories, using the HYSPLIT model, demonstrated the benefits of PM10 local emission reductions related to the lockdown were overwhelmed by the contribution of long-range transported aerosols outside areas. In addition, noteworthy differences in the air mass back trajectories and the meteorology between these two periods were evidenced.