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Introduction: The assessment of asthmatics' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important outcome measure of the disease's effects from the patient's perspective. This study aims to assess the asthmatics' QOL and determine the factors affecting it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 adult people with asthma attending the Pneumology Department of Hassan II University Hospital in Fez from March to May 2022. Patients were questioned by a face-to-face questionnaire, an asthma control test, an observance questionnaire, a knowledge questionnaire, and a specific asthma QOL questionnaire. The influence of the variables was evaluated by bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean age was 48.4 ± 15.4. 71.8% were women, half were not attending school, and 77.7% lived in urban areas. 67.7% were nonsmokers, and 72.73% were passive workers. Only 42.27% complied well with treatment, and 41.82% have well-controlled asthma. The majority of people had insufficient knowledge. The QOL was considered good for 20% of the participants, poor for 11.8%, and average for 68.2% of the patients. The mean of the global QOL score was 5.1 ± 0.9. The most significant factors associated with a higher QOL were good asthma control (ß = 0.70; P ≤ 0.001), good knowledge score (ß = 0.125; P = 0.013), insurance coverage (ß = 0.144; P = 0.005), and work activity (ß = 0.133; P = 0.007). Conclusion: Our study found multiple factors affecting asthma patients' QOL, including asthma control, knowledge, and socioeconomic status. We can take some measures to improve the situation through patient education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of premature death worldwide, responsible for about 8 million deaths per year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, such as Morocco. Adolescents' tobacco use is a matter of concern, because early initiation increases the risk of becoming a lifelong user. There exists a notable gap in the synthesis of evidence concerning tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of the prevalence of tobacco products' use and associated factors among adolescents in Morocco. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect for relevant studies reporting prevalence rates of tobacco products' use among Moroccan adolescents, published until June 2024, using inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Additional searches were completed on other sources to reach unpublished reports. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies. Results: After the final screening, 22 papers met the inclusion criteria. Life-time prevalence of tobacco use ranged from 7.8% to 20.4% for cigarettes smoking, from 10.6% to 21.9% for waterpipe, from 7.9% to 9.1% for chewing tobacco and from 9.2% to 12.4% for snuff. The last 12-month prevalence of cigarette smoking was comprised between 6.9% and 10.8%. As for the prevalence of current use, ranges of (1.8%-16.4%) and (4.9%-8.4%) were noted for cigarettes and waterpipe, respectively. The most commonly highlighted risk factors for tobacco use included male sex, older age, having friends or family members who use tobacco and low perception of risk associated with tobacco use. Conclusion: Our findings reveal an alarming situation of tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial that all stakeholders engage in concerted efforts to develop and implement evidence-based preventive interventions among early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency is very rare. In this report we describe an interesting case of a 13-year-old boy who suffered chest trauma from a horse kick. Echocardiography demonstrated a remarkable tricuspid regurgitation with ventricular septal defect. Once assessing the diagnosis, an emergency open heart surgery was necessary to repair the injuries with good results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of premature death worldwide, responsible for about 8 million deaths per year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, such as Morocco. Adolescents' tobacco use is a matter of concern, because early initiation increases the risk of becoming a lifelong user. There exists a notable gap in the synthesis of evidence concerning tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of the prevalence of tobacco products' use and associated factors among adolescents in Morocco., Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect for relevant studies reporting prevalence rates of tobacco products' use among Moroccan adolescents, published until June 2024, using inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Additional searches were completed on other sources to reach unpublished reports. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies., Results: After the final screening, 22 papers met the inclusion criteria. Life-time prevalence of tobacco use ranged from 7.8% to 20.4% for cigarettes smoking, from 10.6% to 21.9% for waterpipe, from 7.9% to 9.1% for chewing tobacco and from 9.2% to 12.4% for snuff. The last 12-month prevalence of cigarette smoking was comprised between 6.9% and 10.8%. As for the prevalence of current use, ranges of (1.8%-16.4%) and (4.9%-8.4%) were noted for cigarettes and waterpipe, respectively. The most commonly highlighted risk factors for tobacco use included male sex, older age, having friends or family members who use tobacco and low perception of risk associated with tobacco use., Conclusion: Our findings reveal an alarming situation of tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial that all stakeholders engage in concerted efforts to develop and implement evidence-based preventive interventions among early adolescents., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This epidemic has caused serious socio-economic problems worldwide, with a very high mortality rate. Several articles have been published in the literature showing the consequences of this disease on the human body. Among the most serious complications are venous and arterial thrombosis, which are rarely observed together in the same patient. In this article, we report an exceptional case of a patient with COVID-19 with the combination of intracardiac thrombus (left atrium) and venous thrombosis (splenic vein and portal trunk)., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Hydatid cysts of the heart are very rare in child. In this report we describe an interesting and unique case of an 8-year-old boy with a large cardiac intracavitary hydatid cyst filling the left ventricle. Echocardiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and serologic test were necessary for the diagnosis. Once assessing the diagnosis, an emergency open heart surgery was necessary to prevent the complications. Surgery associated to medical treatment provides good results as demonstrated in this case report.