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Watershed tree plantations in Morocco are expanding under the National Watershed Management Plan and thus their value for native fauna and agroforestry system dynamics requires investigation. Using generalized linear mixed models, we assessed the relative value of artificial habitats—olive and eucalypt plantations—over four seasonal periods, by comparing their avifauna richness to those of natural habitats—Thuya forests. Bird species richness depended on both habitat type and season. Our results showed that natural Thuya forests supported higher bird diversity than both olive and eucalypt plantations. Moreover, bird diversity was higher in eucalyptus plantations compared to olive plantations during the winter period, while the opposite trend was observed in autumn. A principal component analysis also revealed a significant positive effect of shrub layer complexity (PC1) in all seasons, habitat artificiality (PC3) in spring, breeding season, and autumn, and tree size (PC2) during winter and autumn. Overall, our findings stress that, in our study area, artificial plantations do not have the same ecological value as the original habitat. We therefore advise restoring native forests rather than reforesting eucalypt species. Research programs should continue in order to assess the impact of conservation actions on biodiversity and determine how this agroforestry system would change under the increasingly detrimental effects of drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia in children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) is a challenge in low-income countries. To evaluate treatment outcomes of children (≤ 15 years) and AYA (15–30 years) diagnosed with novo AML and treated in a single center according to the AML-MA 2011 protocol. From January 2011 to December 2015, eligible patients (age ≤ 30 years) with novo AML had been enrolled on a uniform treatment protocol. The diagnosis was confirmed according to the FAB classification using the WHO 2008 criteria. Patients with WBC ≥ 50 G/L had pretreated 4 days of hydroxyurea followed by two inductions and two consolidations. Supportive care consisted of transfusion of labile blood products, antibiotics and antifungals, and patient and family education by the hygiene team. 155 patients were recruited, 41 were < 15 years old (22 boys, median age 7.8 years). Of the 114 AYA enrolled, (48 women, median age 23 years). Complete remission after two inductions was 28/41 (68.3%) of the children, including 100% of the children in the favorable group and 71/114 (62.3%) of the AYA, 22 of whom (68.7%) were in the favorable group. The number of deaths among children was 6 (14.6%). The evaluation of the AML-MA-2011 National Protocol in the age groups of children and AYA reveals that the objective of treatment is almost achieved in terms of complete remission in the two age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of fluoxetine and its primary metabolite, norfluoxetine, in plasma. It was based on a column-switching approach with a precolumn packed with large size particles coupled with a liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation–mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). After a simple centrifugation, plasma samples were directly injected onto the precolumn. The endogenous material was excluded thanks to a high flow rate while analytes were retained by hydrophobic interactions. Afterwards, the target compounds were eluted in back flush mode to an octadecyl analytical column and detected by ESI-MS. The overall analysis time per sample, from plasma sample preparation to data acquisition, was achieved in less than 4 min. Method performances were evaluated. The method showed good linearity in the range of 25–1000 ng mL-1 with a determination coefficient higher than 0.99. Limits of quantification were estimated at 25 ng mL-1 for fluoxetine and norfluoxetine. Moreover, method precision was better than 6% in the studied concentration range. These results demonstrated that the method could be used to quantify target compounds. Finally, the developed assay proved to be suitable for the simultaneous analysis of fluoxetine and its metabolite in real plasma samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid analytical method has been developed for the mutual resolution of three steroidal compounds, withaferin A, iochromolide, and withacnistin. Liquid chromatography was performed on a Chromolith analytical column (4.6 mm i.d.×50 mm), made from a cylindrical silica rod, operated at a flow rate of 4 mL min−1 with a simple linear gradient prepared from 0.1% aqueous formic acid and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. Under optimum conditions simultaneous separation of the compounds was achieved in less than 7 min, one eighth the time required for conventional LC separation. The overall analysis time was reduced without sacrificing chromatographic performance—essential for the resolution of positional isomers such as iochromolide and withacnistin. The column was coupled to a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer and the method was characterized by good performance in terms of repeatability, selectivity, linearity, and sensitivity. Detection limits in the single-ion-monitoring mode were 0.15 μg mL−1 or below. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the determination of withanolides in extracts from lochroma gesnerioides obtained by three different processes—traditional Soxhlet extraction and two faster methods, microwave-assisted extraction and pressurized solvent extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to UV detection was used for the simultaneous analysis of naturally occurring polyhydroxylated alkaloids. This separation was based on an in-situ complexation with borate ions. The effect of parameters such as borate concentration, capillary temperature and analyte molecular structure on migration times and selectivity were discussed. The best separation was obtained with a fused silica capillary (48.5 cm total length ×50 μm I.D., with a bubble factor of 3), 80 mM sodium tetraborate aqueous solution at pH 9.2 and temperature of 20°C. The method was validated and showed good data in terms of migration time and peak area reproducibility, selectivity, linearity and accuracy. The validated method was applied to determine miglitol in commercially available pharmaceutical tablets. To further improve method sensitivity, a sweeping technique involving borate ions was evaluated. This technique was found very sensitive to the analyte complexation with borate, borate concentration, and temperature as well as sample matrix. In the case of miglitol, a 35-fold improvement in peak height was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) has been used to achieve rapid separations of basic drugs. A high electric field was obtained by using short capillaries. Baseline separations of basic drugs, including amphetamines, tropane alkaloids and local anesthetics, were achieved in 1 min by selection of the appropriate organic solvent and electrolyte composition. Thus, high-throughput analyses can be performed. Peak efficiency up to 9154 theoretical plates s−1 was achieved in a separation performed at 923V cm−1. No discernible loss in resolution was observed when a conventional capillary (64.5cm) was replaced by a short (32.5 cm) capillary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A capillary zone electrophoretic method is described for the determination of a caseinoglycomacropeptide. The optimized conditions employed a poly(vinyl alcohol)-coated capillary and 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 to enable baseline separation of several glycoforms. The method was validated and performance was good in terms of precision (both peak area and migration time), selectivity, linearity, and accuracy. The method was used to determine caseinoglycomacropeptide (2% w/w) in a cosmetic lotion. The validated method was finally used to monitor the stability of this caseinoglycomacropeptide in the cosmetic lotion over a period of four months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis has been investigated for the separation of structurally similar tropane alkaloids. The effects of the organic solvent and of electrolyte composition on separation selectivity, migration times, and efficiency are described. The addition of trifluoroacetic acid to the separation buffer was found beneficial for manipulation of the order of migration of the two positional isomers littorine and hyoscyamine. Replicate injections under nonaqueous conditions gave migration time and peak area data of excellent precision. The application of the optimized conditions to the analysis of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in genetically transformed root cultures of Datura candida x D. aurea is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was applied to the simultaneous analysis of six tropane alkaloids, including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Successful results were obtained using a 30 mM boratephosphate buffer at basic pH (8.5) in the presence of 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate. The operating conditions, such as buffer concentration and pH, micelle concentration and organic modifier type and percentage were also discussed on the basis of the results given with a tropane alkaloid mixture. Addition of organic modifiers showed an improvement in separation efficiency and resolution. Moreover, hyoscyamine and littorine, two positional isomers, were only resolved by the addition of organic solvents such as methanol or acetonitrile. The optimized conditions were finally applied to the analysis of tropane alkaloids found in genetically transformed root cultures of Datura candida x D. aurea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the effectiveness of nature conservation measures is a crucial step to ensure that the actions undertaken have achieved the expected results. Depending on the results of such evaluations, managers may need to reframe or even change their approaches. In this analysis, the effectiveness of establishing strictly protected areas was assessed in three important Moroccan Atlantic sites, namely Ad-Dakhla bay, Khnifiss lagoon, and Souss estuary. In particular, we investigated whether protection of these sites was followed by significant changes in the direction and/or strength of change in waterbird species richness and density over time. Our results showed that during the pre-protection period, waterbird species richness has been declining over time, while total waterbird density and the diversity of wading and open-water birds had been maintained at low levels. However, shortly after site protection, a rapid increase in these measures was observed, while there was no significant change in waterfowl species richness and density. Overall, these results suggest that the protection of these wetlands has been a watershed in the recent history of their birds, reversing the trends of a continuing decline towards rapid regeneration. This is one obvious signs of the success of the programme undertaken by the Moroccan authorities to conserve the biodiversity of these wetlands. Further investigations of the effects of protection at all wetlands throughout Morocco are needed to more profoundly understand the role of such conservation measures on shaping wintering waterbird communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) is an inborn error of metabolism with multiple monogenic causes and a poorly understood pathogenesis, leading to the absence of effective causal treatments. Here we employ multi-layered omics profiling combined with biochemical and clinical features of individuals with MMA to reveal a molecular diagnosis for 177 out of 210 (84%) cases, the majority (148) of whom display pathogenic variants in methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT). Stratification of these data layers by disease severity shows dysregulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and its replenishment (anaplerosis) by glutamine. The relevance of these disturbances is evidenced by multi-organ metabolomics of a hemizygous Mmut mouse model as well as through identification of physical interactions between MMUT and glutamine anaplerotic enzymes. Using stable-isotope tracing, we find that treatment with dimethyl-oxoglutarate restores deficient tricarboxylic acid cycling. Our work highlights glutamine anaplerosis as a potential therapeutic intervention point in MMA., (© 2023. The Author(s).)