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In Morocco, burnout remains a syndrome that is very little managed, but which nevertheless remains present and significantly affects the aids professions such as call center’s teleadvisors. The aim is to study burnout among call center staff in the Rabat, Sale and Kenitra Region using Maslash's three-dimensional model by detecting the socioeconomic factors that influence it. This study involved 121 individuals (59 men and 62 women) who responded to the MBI and to an informative questionary developed by us. The subjects have a minimum age of 22 years and a maximum age of 60 years and an average age of 31.74± 7.93.On the one hand, 13 subjects (10.74%) have a high risk of burnout, high scores of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and low personal achievement. The results of the gender impact were not significant. On the other hand, burnout is rarer in older age groups, which suggests that the experience of age would have a protective effect. Spirituality and sport could also have a protective effect. Burnout, very common in the aid professions, must be prevented in companies screened and taken care of by mental health professionals.

Introduction: The substance use disorders (SUD) are a major public health problem around the world. Different neuropsychological impairments can appear during this disorder, such as the alexithymia syndrome and suicidal ideations and behaviors, that both constitute risks that threat these patients. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of alexithymia among drug addicted patients and to determine the relation between alexithymia and suicidal ideation and factors associated with suicidal ideation among drug addicted patients. Methods: A sample of 152 drug addicted patients (77% Male and 23% F), whom respond to socio-demographic questionnaire are recruited to this study. Alexithymia is measured by Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), suicidal ideation and behaviours are measured by Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Results: Among substance-dependent patients 46.7% was considered as a group with alexithymia. Rates of being single and unemployed were higher in the alexithymic group, but current age, age at first substance use and educational status were lower. A significant correlation was found between TAS 20, its factors and C-SSRS. Almost more than two thirds of alexithymic drug addicted patients have suicidal ideation and behaviours. It was found also, that TAS 20 total scores predicted C-SSRS scores. Conclusions: SUD patients with intensive suicidal ideation and behaviours accompanied with alexithymia are characterized by the inability to communicate feelings. Therefore, suicidal ideation and behaviours may occur in those patients without expressed suicide message. Based upon the finding's, alexithymia may be a good predictor of suicidal ideation and behaviours for preventing suicidal attempts in patients with drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Schemas are the organized general representations of the experience intended to facilitate information processing. Any dysfunction in these schemas could affect the normal neurocognitive abilities, as memory. Aim To evaluate the forward and backward memory span abilities among Moroccan students and to study the impact of maladaptive schemas on the memory. Methods The present study is a cross-sectional study conducted among 212 students, aged 17 to 25 years, randomly selected from the IBN TOFAIL University (Kenitra, Morocco). Two neurocognitive tests are used; the first one is the short version of the Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire to evaluate the activated and deactivated schemas and the sub-test of Wechsler to evaluate the working memory among these subjects. Results The obtained results of forward memory span showed that 53% of students had a normal memory, 47% had an excellent memory and no one had pathological forward memory. However, 63% of students had a pathologic backward memory span, 28% had normal memory and 9% had an excellent backward memory. Also, significant negative correlations are registered between good forward memory span and activated schema of alienation ( r = −0.17; P < 0.05), self-sacrifice ( r = −0.17; P < 0.05), abandonment ( r = −0.16; P < 0.05). Moreover, significant negative correlations are registered between good backward memory span and activated schema of emotional deprivation ( r = −0.14; P < 0.05). Conclusion The students’ memory appeared in connection with activation of some maladaptive schema. Deeper investigations are needed to understand this relationship and also to study the other possible factors that could affect this important neurocognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanra cardunclus L. var. ferocissima is widely used in Morocco as a food and in traditional medicine. Therefore, this study aimed to determine, for the first time, the phytochemical content and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of this variety. Qualitative tests were used to screen for the phytochemical compounds present in the extract, and spectrophotometric methods were used for quantification. The sugar profiles were determined using HPLC. Antioxidant activity was determined in vitro using DPPH, FRAP, and total antioxidant activity assays, and anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using serum albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization assays. The extract contained a high amount of total polyphenols, hydrocinnamic acids, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, ortho-diphenols, terpenoids, and triterpenoids. In addition, five sugars were identified with high amounts of raffinose and sucrose. The extract exerted considerable antioxidant activity by scavenging radicals and reducing power. It exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting protein denaturation and heat-inducing hemolysis. From the correlation results, anthocyanin, polyphenol, and triterpenoid contents were strongly correlated with DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Orthodiphenols, flavonols, and chlorophyll α were strongly correlated with FRAP, whereas orthodiphenols, hydrocinnamic acids, and triterpenoids were strongly correlated with total antioxidant activity. In terms of anti-inflammatory activity, orthodiphenols, hydrocinnamic acids, and triterpenoids correlated strongly with inhibition of bovine serum albumin denaturation activity, whereas terpenoids, flavonols, and chlorophyll correlated strongly with red cell membrane-stabilizing activity. In conclusion, the Moroccan Cynara cardunclus var. ferocissima leaf methanolic extract constitutes a promising source of phytochemicals with considerable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity., Competing Interests: Declarations Human and Animal Participants This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects. Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Hyperlipidemia, a condition characterized by elevated levels of lipids in the blood, poses a significant risk factor for various health disorders, notably cardiovascular diseases. Phytochemical compounds are promising alternatives to the current lipid-lowering drugs, which cause many undesirable effects. Based on in vivo and clinical studies, combining phytochemicals with other phytochemicals, prebiotics, and probiotics and their encapsulation in nanoparticles is more safe and effective for managing hyperlipidemia than monotherapy. To this end, the results obtained and the mechanisms of action of these combinations were examined in detail in this review., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. All authors declare having no conflict of interest or personal relationships that could influence this work., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, at both the systemic and the central level, are critical early events in atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease (AD)., Purpose: To investigate the oxidative stress-, inflammation-, and Tau-phosphorylation-lowering effects of pomegranate polyphenols (PPs) (punicalagin, ellagic acid, peel, and aril extracts)., Methods: We used flow cytometry to quantify the protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10) in THP-1 macrophages, as well as M1/M2 cell-specific marker (CD86 and CD163) expression in human microglia HMC3 cells. The IL-10 protein expression was also quantified in U373-MG human astrocytes. The effect of PPs on human amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ 1-42 )-induced oxidative stress was assessed in the microglia by measuring ROS generation and lipid peroxidation, using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) tests, respectively. Neuronal viability and cell apoptotic response to Aβ 1-42 toxicity were assayed using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the annexin-V-FITC apoptosis detection kit, respectively. Finally, flow cytometry analysis was also performed to evaluate the ability of PPs to modulate Aβ 1-42 -induced Tau-181 phosphorylation (pTau-181)., Results: Our data indicate that PPs are significantly ( p < 0.05) effective in countering Aβ 1-42 -induced inflammation through increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) in U373-MG astrocytes and THP1 macrophages and decreasing proinflammatory marker (IL-1β) expression in THP1 macrophages. The PPs were also significantly ( p < 0.05) effective in inducing the phenotypic transition of THP-1 macrophages and microglial cells from M1 to M2 by decreasing CD86 and increasing CD163 surface receptor expression. Moreover, our treatments have a significant ( p < 0.05) beneficial impact on oxidative stress, illustrated in the reduction in TBARS and ROS generation. Our treatments have significant ( p < 0.05) cell viability improvement capacities and anti-apoptotic effects on human H4 neurons. Furthermore, our results suggest that Aβ 1-42 significantly ( p < 0.05) increases pTau-181. This effect is significantly ( p < 0.05) attenuated by arils, peels, and punicalagin and drastically reduced by the ellagic acid treatment., Conclusion: Overall, our results attribute to PPs anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-Tau-pathology potential. Future studies should aim to extend our knowledge of the potential role of PPs in Aβ 1-42 -induced neurodegeneration, particularly concerning its association with the tauopathy involved in AD.

Accumulating evidence proves that children with autism have gastrointestinal problems. However, a significant difference in gut microbiota (GM) exists between autistic and non-autistic children. These changes in the GM may stem from several factors. Recently, researchers focused on nutritional factors, especially vitamin deficiency. Thus, our systematic review investigates the connections among autism, GM alterations, and vitamin A deficiency (VAD), by analyzing studies sourced from PubMed and Embase databases spanning from 2010 to 2022. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we meticulously selected 19 pertinent studies that established links between autism and GM changes or between autism and VAD. Our findings uniformly point to significant alterations in the GM of individuals with autism, indicating these changes as promising biomarkers for the disorder. Despite the consistent association of GM alterations with autism, our analysis revealed no notable differences in GM composition between individuals with autism and those experiencing VAD. This suggests that VAD, especially when encountered early in life, might play a role in the onset of autism. Furthermore, our review underscores a distinct correlation between reduced levels of retinoic acid in children with autism, a disparity that could relate to the severity of autism symptoms. The implications of our findings are twofold: they not only reinforce the significance of GM alterations as potential diagnostic markers but also spotlight the critical need for further research into nutritional interventions. Specifically, vitamin A supplementation emerges as a promising avenue for alleviating autism symptoms, warranting deeper investigation into its therapeutic potential.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders defined by a lack of social behaviors, repetitive behaviors and nonverbal interactions, such as limited eye contact, facial expression, and body gesturing. It is not a single condition, but rather a multi-factorial disorder caused by hereditary and non-genetic risk factors, as well as their interaction. According to several studies, the gut microbiota may have a role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder. Various studies have found differences in the composition of the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota in children with ASD compared to unaffected siblings and/or healthy unrelated controls. The processes that relate the gut microbiota to brain dysfunctions (the gut-brain axis) in ASD are yet to be fully understood. However, the differences in the gastrointestinal composition might be due to vitamin A deficiency because vitamin A (VA) plays a role in the regulation of the intestinal microbiota. This narrative review discusses the impact of vitamin A deficiency on the gut microbiota composition and tries to understand how this may contribute for the development and severity of ASD.

Modern research achievements support the health-promoting effects of natural products and diets rich in polyphenols. Pomegranate (PG) ( Punica granatum L.) contains a considerable number of bioactive compounds that exert a broad spectrum of beneficial biological activities, including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and atheroprotective properties. In this context, the reviewed literature shows that PG intake might reduce insulin resistance, cytokine levels, redox gene expression, blood pressure elevation, vascular injuries, and lipoprotein oxidative modifications. The lipid parameter corrective capabilities of PG-ellagitannins have also been extensively reported to be significantly effective in reducing hyperlipidemia (TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and TAGs), while increasing plasma HDL-C concentrations and improving the TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. The health benefits of pomegranate consumption seem to be acheived through the amelioration of adipose tissue endocrine function, fatty acid utilization, GLUT receptor expression, paraoxonase activity enhancement, and the modulation of PPAR and NF-κB. While the results from animal experiments are promising, human findings published in this field are inconsistent and are still limited in several aspects. The present review aims to discuss and provide a critical analysis of PG's bioeffects on the components of metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia, as well as on certain cardiovascular-related diseases. Additionally, a brief overview of the pharmacokinetic properties, safety, and bioavailability of PG-ellagitannins is included.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a graphene derivative used for numerous applications in which biomedical uses are significant. However, for this application, the security of GO is doubtful. In this work, we synthesized this nanoparticle to assess its toxicity in male mice. In addition, we studied the effects of this nanomaterial on behavior by administering GO intraperitoneally to mice at different doses (2 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) for five days. Subsequently, we performed biochemical analyses of blood serum and measured peroxidase and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity. Then, we performed histological sections to evaluate the brain's and liver's pathological and morphological changes. The data showed that the open field tests did not alter the locomotor activity. Furthermore, the elevated cross-maze tests showed no anxiety effect in the GO doses in the animals. The biochemical analyses indicated that GO influenced the level of biochemical parameters. Although, the oxidative stress assay showed an increase in peroxidase and MDA activity after GO intoxication. However, histopathological analysis of liver sections showed that GO caused liver inflammation, whereas, at the brain level, GO did not affect neuronal cells. The results indicate that GO caused toxic effects and that its toxicity could be mediated by oxidative stress., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Natural antioxidants products are widely distributed in food and medicinal plants. These natural antioxidants, especially polyphenols, exhibit a wide range of biological activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherosclerosis activities. Pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) is a rich source of polyphenolic components. The purpose of this study was to characterize the phenolic composition and flavonoids and anthocyanin content of different parts (peel and aril) of the Sefri variety of pomegranate. Our results showed that Peel extract was richer in these compounds than that of the Arils, especially in Punicalagin (A and B). DPPH free radical scavenging, reducing power (FRAP), β-carotene bleaching, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays revealed a greater dose-dependent activity of pomegranate peel phenolic extract (PPPE) compared to pomegranate aril phenolic extract (PAPE). PPPE was also more potent than PAPE concerning its ability to inhibit conjugated diene formation and to reduce α-tocopherol disappearance induced by CuSO4-mediated LDL peroxidation. Interestingly, both extracts (PPPE and PAPE) significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stressed J82 human bladder cancer cells. These results reflect the protective effects that this Moroccan variety of pomegranate can provide against the development of metabolic disorder, cancer, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Given these properties, further studies should be undertaken to investigate possible applications of Sefri pomegranate extracts in the fields of food preservation and health supplements.

Introduction: Psychopharmacology today faces serious challenges, especially related inappropriate drug choices, abuse and resulting side effects. The aim of this pharmacy based study in the City of Tiflet was to profile the prescription and usage patterns of psychotropic drugs., Methods: This study was conducted in the pharmacies of the City of Tiflet (Morocco). Descriptive statistics of 5125 prescriptions collected from 21 pharmacies were analysed, and summarized as means, percentages and proportions where appropriate., Results: The patterns of psychotropic drugs use were similar, compared to Western Countries, especially for anxiolytics/hypnotics, neuroleptics and anti-depressants. A poor monitoring of the treatment, and the lack of control of its side effects were major concerns. General practitioners ranked first among doctors who prescribed psychotropic drugs (48.5%), followed by psychiatrists (41.7%), and the rest of the prescriptions come from other specialists (neurologists, cardiologists, gynaecologists…). Among psychotropic drugs, anxiolytics dominated prescriptions (52.0%), followed by neuroleptics (29.0%) and anti-depressants (19.0%). Men consumed more psychotropic drugs than women (51.8% against 48.2% respectively)., Conclusion: Anxiolytics/hypnotics constitute the main class of psychotropic drugs prescribed in the Tiflet City, followed by neuroleptics and anti-depressants. Nearly half of the population currently receive prescribed psychotropic drugs from general practitioners. Psychiatrists are less involved in the prescription and monitoring of these patients. This could predispose the population to addiction, drug misuse, intoxication, and at times, misdiagnosis of serious psychiatric illnesses. Our study highlights the urgency of reinforcing psychotropic prescription regulation and monitoring in Tiflet city., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

The importance of retinoic acid and retinoid X receptors (RARs and RXRs) in the metabolism and functioning of the nervous tissue is well documented, but few data are available about the differences on their distribution in males and females, as well as about the possible changes in a vitamin A deficient state (VAD). Therefore, the aim of this study has been to use immunohistochemistry to determine the cellular localization of RARs (α, β, γ) and RXR (α, β, γ) in brain areas in the normal and vitamin A deficient rat, in both males and females. RARα and β isotypes were detected in practically all the male brain areas whereas immunostaining was weak or absent in the female brain except RARα. RXRγ was absent in the female brain, while it was observed in some regions in the male. RXRβ and γ were the most abundant receptors in both sexes, but RXRα were hardly detected in female brain, but were detected more frequently in male. With a vitamin A-free diet, RARs expression was increased in males, but not in females. In the male brain of VAD rats, RXRα expression was increased in some zones and diminished in others. RXRβ and γ expression was decreased in the male brain, but increased or was not modified in those areas of the female brain in which it was observed. These findings indicate that the brain management of retinoic acid differs between males and females, also leading to differences in their response to VAD diet in terms of receptor expression., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, the pattern of vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) contents in discrete brain areas was investigated in Wistar rats (both sexes of 10-12 weeks old) fed on vitamin A deficient diet. The animals were placed on standard laboratory diet for the control animals and a vitamin A deficient diet for the experimental animals for 20 weeks. At the end of this period, brain retinol and retinyl esters contents from control and vitamin A deficient diet animals were measured by HPLC. Retinol was the predominant form of retinoids in male rat brains (77 to 92% of total retinol) and retinyl esters were the predominant form in female brain rats (4 to 44% of total retinol). The abundant ester in both sexes was the retinyl linoleate. Olfactory bulb and the midbrain contained the highest quantities of retinol and retinyl esters in both sexes. On the other hand, the vitamin A deficient diet significantly decreased the retinoid contents in male brain, in olfactory bulb (-30.7%), hindbrain (-46.2%) and increased it in forebrain (84.3%) and midbrain (2.2%). Total retinol was decreased in olfactory bulb (-38.7%), forebrain (-44.5%) and midbrain (-30.7%) and increased in hindbrain (23.4%) of vitamin A deficient female rats. In conclusion, retinol and retinyl esters were the brain compounds heterogeneously distributed throughout the brain areas in both the sexes and were significantly affected by vitamin A deficiency status as well.