Background: Non-contact tissue injury in elite athletes is influenced by multiple factors, including genetic predisposition. Although previous research has identified several genetic markers associated with injury susceptibility, the role of the CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) gene, a key regulator of fatty acid transport into skeletal muscle and other vital tissues, remains unexplored in this context. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the CD36 gene (rs1761667) involves an A-to-G substitution (with three genotypes = AA and GG homozygotes and AG heterozygotes), and previous data have reported that individuals carrying the AA genotype of the CD36 gene show reduced expression of the CD36 protein and poorer lipid metabolism. Additionally, it has been recently found that the frequency of the AA genotype is significantly lower in elite cyclists compared to field hockey players. No previous study has examined the association between the CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism and athlete injury risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between the CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism and non-contact tissue injury susceptibility in elite Moroccan cyclists and field hockey players. Methods: Forty-three elite Moroccan male athletes, including 19 cyclists and 24 national team field hockey players, volunteered for this study. Non-contact tissue injuries during the 2022/2023 sports season have been recorded. Genotyping of the CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism was carried out using Sanger sequencing. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and compare the genotypes and characteristics of athletes with and without non-contact injuries. Results: During the 2022/2023 sports season, 21.05% of cyclists (4 out of 19) and 33.33% of field hockey players (8 out of 24) experienced non-contact tissue injuries. The genotypic frequency was similar in the injured and non-injured groups among cyclists (χ² and p not calculated because “AA = 0” in both groups), field hockey players (χ² = 3.30, p = 0.19), and all athletes (χ² = 1.73, p = 0.41). Additionally, the dominant model of the CD36 rs1761667 polymorphism (AA+AG vs. GG) did not reveal a significant risk of non-contact injuries among cyclists (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.13–19.09, p > 0.9999), field hockey players (OR: infinity, 95% CI: 0.23-infinity, p = 0.53), and all athletes (OR: 2.75, 95% CI: 0.32–34.12, p = 0.65). Furthermore, the recessive model (AA vs. AG+GG) did not demonstrate any effect on the risk of non-contact injuries in cyclists (OR and 95% CI not calculated, p > 0.9999), field hockey players (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.05–2.40, p = 0.38), and all athletes (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.10–2.60, p = 0.69). Conclusions: This study suggests that the association between specific genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) or alleles (A and G) of the CD36 gene and susceptibility to non-contact tissue injuries in Moroccan cycling and field hockey players is uncertain. Given the small sample size, further studies will be needed to explore and confirm these findings.

The RNAs present in spermatozoa play a crucial role in reproduction and embryonic development. They represent a promising diagnostic tool for assessing male infertility. However, their extraction is challenging due to their low concentration and highly condensed chromatin structure, as well as the presence of numerous cellular contaminants. These challenges vary across species and require the development of an optimized and reliable isolation method to obtain high-quality RNAs, which is essential for further molecular analyses regarding the roles played by these RNAs. This study evaluated two RNA extraction methods for spermatozoa in humans and other mammals (dogs, stallions, and bulls): a standard method using the NucleoSpin RNA^® II kit (Macherey-Nagel) and an optimized method that combined this kit with dithiothreitol and TRIzol™ pretreatment. In addition, the samples underwent pre-purification to eliminate somatic cells. The optimized method produced a significantly higher total RNA yield along with better purity, which was confirmed by the absence of the 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA peaks, indicating the absence of somatic cell contamination. Additionally, RT-PCR was performed to validate the presence of sperm-specific markers. The quality of the extracted RNAs was assessed by sequencing the mRNA encoding the human olfactory receptor OR1D2 and observing the resulting band on an agarose slab gel with a size corresponding to its entire open reading frame. By addressing long-standing challenges in sperm RNA isolation, our method provides an easy and standardized technique for research in reproductive biology and for advancing our understanding of paternal contributions to transgenerational inheritance.

The 1st edition of the International Conference on Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS’22) is a major gathering of researchers, engineers, and practitioners to connect and share knowledge on Chemical and Biological Sciences from both theoretical and practical perspectives. We particularly encourage contributions that describe real-world problems, interdisciplinary research, and experimental and/or theoretical studies that generate new insights to promote the advancement of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Submitted papers should be original and relevant to any of the areas listed below. All accepted papers will be presented at the conference by one of the authors and published in the proceedings of MAASI with an ISBN. The acceptance will be based on their quality, relevance, and originality. Presentation options include both oral and poster sessions. We have planned special sessions for case studies and commercial presentations, as well as tutorials concentrating on technical orscientific matters. Companies that would like to present their products or methodologies, as well as researchers who are interested in demonstrating a demo or presenting a tutorial are welcome to contact the conference secretariat. CONFERENCE AREAS The topic areas are further elaborated below, but the sub-topics are not exhaustive. Authors may address one or

Previous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin resistance (IR), a key determinant of metabolic dysfunction. While the beneficial effects of PA are well-documented in adults, evidence regarding the relationship between PA intensity and insulin resistance in adolescents, particularly in North African populations, remains scarce. This study aimed to compare the effects of a 12-week school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) intervention, versus usual physical education, on insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in overweight and obese non-diabetic Moroccan adolescents. The study included 90 non-diabetic overweight and obese Moroccan adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups (HIIT, MICT, and control) within a 12-week school-based intervention. Insulin resistance was assessed using the HOMA-IR index. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations between exercise modality and HOMA-IR, adjusting for age, sex, baseline body mass index (BMI), and baseline HOMA-IR. Compared with the control group, both HIIT and MICT were associated with significant reductions in HOMA-IR. In the fully adjusted models, HIIT showed a greater decrease of −0.90 (95% CI: −1.07 to −0.72) (all p < 0.001) and MICT showed a decrease of −0.77 (95% CI: −0.94 to −0.61). Stratified analyses by BMI categories showed consistent improvements in insulin resistance for both overweight and obese adolescents. These findings suggest that school-based structured exercise interventions, particularly HIIT and MICT, independent of dietary modification, may contribute to improvements in insulin sensitivity and help reduce early metabolic risk in overweight and obese non-diabetic Moroccan adolescents. However, these results should be interpreted with caution given that dietary intake and other lifestyle factors were not strictly controlled.

Male infertility, implicated in nearly 50% of couples’ infertility cases, represents a major medical and sociocultural challenge in Morocco. This narrative review synthesizes available epidemiological, etiological, and genetic data within national and international contexts. In Morocco, male infertility is characterized by the frequent involvement of modifiable factors, notably varicocele, smoking, and occupational exposures. From a genetic standpoint, chromosomal abnormalities, particularly Klinefelter syndrome, together with Y chromosome microdeletions, especially within the AZFc region, represent the main identified etiologies. Emerging technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, offer promising diagnostic perspectives, although their clinical application remains limited and mainly confined to research. Despite advances in medically assisted reproduction, the management of male infertility in Morocco continues to face psychosocial and economic barriers, as well as inequalities in access to care. These findings underscore the need to establish national registries, conduct multicenter studies, and facilitate the translation of innovations (particularly multi-omics approaches) into clinical practice to improve male infertility management in the Moroccan context.