Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and the risk of breast cancer in women from Southern Morocco: A case-control study

OBJECTIVES: Assessing Vitamin-D status and checking if low serum 25(OH)D is a factor in breast cancer (BC) for Southern Moroccan women. MATERIALS/METHODS: Study conducted in Morocco about women with BC (n = 90) and controls (n = 90). 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D Biological analyzes executed during the first consultation. Social data and anthropometric parameters were collected for all participants. RESULTS: These women constituted 67.78 % for the cases and 85.6% for the controls. The average age was 48.72±9.71 (cases) and 46.40±12.52 (controls). We found that 53.33% of cases and 40% of controls were postmenopausal and that hypovitaminosis-D affected 80 and 64.4% of cases and controls, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that hypovitaminosis-D was a significative risk factor for BC in Southern Moroccan women. The Odds Ratio was of 5 (p < 0.0001). The BC subtypes had Odds Ratios greater than 1. The highest value was obtained with Luminal B subtype (Odds ratio = 6.25; p = 0.0007). CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the evidence implicating hypovitaminosis-D among modifiable risk factors for BC. Further studies are needed to assess the extent of hypovitaminosis-D in Moroccan women with BC.

Effect of obesity on pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum among Moroccan women

Background: Overweight and obesity among Moroccan adults is continually growing affecting one in three adults from which 63.1% are women. Obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications. The conditions of delivery are also more difficult. Objective: we aimed to describe the complications of obesity occurring in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum among obese women in Morocco. Material and methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted, in 2017, in two Hospital maternities in Marrakech. A sample of 200 women, who had just given birth, and have a Body Mass Index more than 30 was recruited. Women sociodemographic conditions and data about complications occurring during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, were collected meaning a structured interview and from participants' birth records. We used The SPSS software to realize descriptive analysis of data. Results: we noticed more than 37% of severe obesity and morbid obesity among participants. Several complications were noticed. Gestational diabetes occurs first (23%), followed by preeclampsia (14%). More than 38% of women gave birth by cesarean section. Almost 33% of participants had postpartum complications, the most common being infection (13%) and hemorrhage (12%). Conclusion: the high incidence of complications in obese women during pregnancy, childbirth and post partum emphasizes the need of a women nutritional management in preconception and during pregnancy to minimize complications.

Post-Migration Fertility in Southern Europe: Romanian and Moroccan women in Italy and Spain

This paper seeks to analyse migrant women’s reproductive behaviour in two countries with the lowest fertility rates, namely, Italy and Spain. We assess differences in migrant fertility patterns according to country of origin by comparing the post-migration motherhood of Moroccan and Romanian women. We have used data from the “2007 National Immigrant Survey” (INE) and the ”2011-2012 Survey on Social Integration and Condition among Foreign Citizens” (ISTAT) to adopt an event-history approach to the factors that affect the birth of the first child after migration. Specifically, we focus on marital status upon arrival and on the number of previous children, controlling in turn for the women’s socioeconomic circumstances. The results show, firstly, that Moroccan women have a higher fertility rate than Romanians in both countries. Secondly, the risk of the first birth shortly after migration is higher among childless and married women, and this probability remain high even for women from Morocco with children. Thirdly a cross-country comparison reveals that the results related to childbearing patterns are similar.

Xeroderma pigmentosum and acute myeloid leukemia: a case report

Background Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare inherited disease characterized by extreme hypersensitivity to ultraviolet rays and predisposing to cutaneous malignancies that can appear in childhood. These manifestations are often associated with ocular lesions and sometimes with neurological disorders. The association of xeroderma pigmentosum with internal neoplasms such as acute myeloblastic leukemia is not reported with great frequency, which confirms the rarity of this occurrence. Case report A 26-year-old Moroccan women, xeroderma pigmentosum patient, was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia with a complex karyotype. Due to the adverse risk of the xeroderma pigmentosum association with acute myeloblastic leukemia and the profile of acute myeloblastic leukemia with complex karyotype and monosomy 7, which constitute factors of poor prognosis, as well as the absence of studies conceding the tolerance of the chemotherapy by patients suffering from xeroderma pigmentosum, our patient was put under low-dose cytarabine protocol with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Unfortunately, she died on the tenth day of chemotherapy by acute pulmonary edema of cardiogenic pace complicated by tamponade. Conclusion According to reports, it is the second case showing association of xeroderma pigmentosum with acute myeloblastic leukemia. The management of these patients remains a challenge. Studies focusing on xeroderma pigmentosum patients developing hematological malignancies are necessary to better understand the most appropriate strategies and precautions for this specific case.

Detection of Hypermethylation BRCA1/2 Gene Promotor in Breast Tumors Among Moroccan Women

Background: The promoter region is a key element of gene expression regulation. In mammals, most of the genes present, at the level of their promoter, a large number of islands CpG. Age is seen as another factor promoting breast cell cancer and the tumor stage. Aim: this study aimed to explore the hypermethylation of the BRCA1/2 promoter gene in breast cancer women and correlation with age and tumor stage.Materials and methods: fifty biopsies were derived from Moroccan women treated for breast carcinoma, the DNA extracted was treated by bisulphite and the targeted BRCA1/2 Amplicons were amplified by specific methylation primers (MSP). Results: the result shows that 62% of the samples were BRCA1 methylated in addition and negative result for BRCA2, these positive epigenetic factor were remarkable in women over 47 years and at the stage of malignant tumor.Conclusion: these results show that half of the methylated samples are positive and the majority are over 47 years old, and confirms the impact of age on methylation and might be other factor of breast cancer development.

Love, relationships and couple happiness: A cross-cultural comparison among Spanish couples and Moroccan couples in Southern Spain

Love and relationships are sociocultural constructions that, in recent times, have experienced great changes in terms of type of relationship, type of love and happiness of the couple. Few studies have analysed the love relationships immigrant population in Europe. This study aims to explore the differences and similarities in love styles between Spaniards and Moroccan immigrants, the country’s largest foreign population, and analyse the relationship between these styles and level of couple happiness. This cross-sectional study disseminated a survey to young adults between the ages of 18 and 40 in southern Spain. Of those who received the survey, 574 young adults responded, of which 182 were of Moroccan origin and 392 were Spanish. The results indicated that there are sociocultural and gender differences in the types of relationships young adults maintain and in the agents that facilitate romantic socialisation. The Spaniards describe less stable relationships, more influenced by several agents, while the Moroccans demonstrated more stability in relationships, more influenced by family and religion. In accordance with Sternberg love components, different types of love were recognised. Spanish women are the group most value love in their lives, rated higher in couple happiness, and gave special importance to intimacy (but not to commitment and passion). Moroccan women followed models of love closer to Sternberg's romantic love, giving importance to commitment, intimacy and passion. Spanish men were similar to Moroccan men regarding their type of love, although they were the only ones that included commitment as a predictor of happiness. This study reveals that the importance of an intersectional approach to analyse love and couples.

Young women in Morocco: Perceptions about participation in the public sphere and gender equality

From a qualitative research in the cities of Fez and Meknes, this article analyses young women’s participation in the public sphere in Morocco. Specifically, we have had as reference the changes that have occurred since the so-called Arab Spring of 2011 where youths and feminism played an obvious role. Findings show that nine years after the Arab Spring, there has been no substantial improvements in the lives of Moroccan women in terms of gender equality. However, it is striking that they are very much present in participating in the public sphere from ‘grassroots’ (civic society, trade unions, etc.) levels where they find resources and spaces to get-together, create opportunities and make further progress in the fight for their rights.

Resistensi Perempuan terhadap Konstruksi Gender dalam Film La Source des Femmes karya Radu Mihăileanu

Issues regarding gender issues are closely related to women and how their roles are constructed in social life, which creates various stereotypes that lead to gender inequality problems. In the film La Source des Femmes, gender construction is shown through narrative and cinematographic aspects. This article focuses on women's resistance to gender construction that have taken shape in the lives of remote rural women in Morocco. The analysis in this article uses a film study by Boggs and Petrie (2012) and Actor Scheme by Greimas (1967). James C. Scott's concept of resistance and Mansour Fakih's gender inequality were also used to deepen the analysis. This research is a qualitative research with descriptive method. The data in the study are in the form of words, clauses, phrases, or sentences that indicate the form of women's resistance. The findings of the analysis show that the resistance shown by rural Moroccan women aims to fight the injustice of their roles and obligations as women and housewives who have been oppressed and have directly harmed them. Through this research, it is also seen that the resistance carried out by village women has an impact on their growing awareness of self-subjectivity and redefining their role as a woman.