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L'histoire de la cortisone, une hormone au cœur des grandes découvertes scientifiques 1358

Dr Moussayer khadija, 2 y.
3 min read.
La corticothérapie est née à la fin des années 1940. Outre le traitement de la maladie d’Addison et leurs premières applications dans le domaine des maladies rhumatismales et inflammatoires, les corticoïdes permettaient de corriger un grand nombre de troubles métaboliques et fonctionnels. La corticothérapie a bouleversé le traitement des maladies allergiques ou de l’auto-immunité, les rejets de greffe, de nombreuses affections dermatologiques, respiratoires, digestives, oculaires, etc. Elle est utilisée aujourd’hui dans tous les domaines de la médecine. Rappelons ce qu’est exactement la cortisone. Les corticoïdes agissent en imitant une hormone naturelle, le cortisol, produite par les glandes surrénales situées au-dessus des reins. Signalons en passant que les surrénales produisent aussi une autre hormone, l’adrénaline et qu’elles agissent sous le contrôle de l’hypophyse, une glande du cerveau. Le cortisol participe à l’organisation et la régulation de notre rythme biologique d'une durée de 24 heures en déclenchant notamment les processus de succession des phases de sommeil et d’éveil. Le cortisol est également l’hormone du stress et du danger. Il est alors libéré massivement. Grâce à son action, la quantité de glucose dans le sang s’accroît et de nombreuses fonctions biologiques sont accélérées. Certaines fonctions non prioritaires, comme la digestion, sont par contre inhibées par lui. Les médicaments corticoïdes, eux, agissent au niveau du noyau des cellules. Ils favorisent la production de facteurs anti-inflammatoires et réduisent celle de substances (des enzymes) provoquant l’inflammation. Passons en revue les principales étapes de la mise au point de cette molécule miracle MISE EN EVIDENCE DU RÔLE DES GLANDES SURRENALES (1855 -1896) L’anglais Thomas Addison décrit une maladie due à une destruction des glandes surrénales pouvant conduire au décès. En hommage à ses travaux, celle-ci sera baptisée maladie d'Addison. En 1896, le canadien William Osler montre qu'on peut soigner des patients de cette atteinte grâce à des extraits frais de glandes surrénales d'animaux. DECOUVERTES DE MESSAGERS CHIMIQUES, LES HORMONES (1902) Deux chercheurs, Maddock Bayliss et Ernest Starling, prouvent que les surrénales ainsi que d’autres glandes (thyroïde, hypophyse…) transmettent des messagers chimiques faits pour stimuler certaines parties et fonctions du corps. Elles sont dénommées hormone (du grec hormôn, exciter). ISOLATION DE LA CORTISONE (1933) Plusieurs hormones produites par les glandes surrénales, dont le cortisol, sont isolées par des chimistes américains. Pour la première fois une patiente souffrant de polyarthrite rhumatoïde est traitée par cette hormone et l’amélioration est spectaculaire. Les travaux sont poursuivis et d’autres patients sont traités durant plusieurs mois par cortisol avec des résultats également remarquables. Bien que les patients ne guérissaient pas, leurs symptômes disparaissaient dans la majorité des cas. Cette substance sera appelée cortisone en 1939. Pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, les Américains et les Allemands essayent de mettre au point à partir de la cortisone une drogue rendant insensible à la fatigue (potentiellement très utile en particulier aux aviateurs), mais en vain. Le seul point positif de ces tentatives est une accélération de la recherche médicale sur la cortisone MISE AU POINT DE LA FABRICATION EN SERIE DE CORTISONE (1948-1949) Un processus de fabrication, à partir d’acides biliaires bovins, permet de produire la cortisone en quantité suffisante pour entreprendre des essais thérapeutiques. Un rhumatologue américain, Philip Hensch, fait alors une curieuse observation : les femmes atteintes d’une grave maladie inflammatoire, la polyarthrite rhumatoïde, voyaient leurs symptômes disparaitre mystérieusement lorsqu’elles étaient enceintes. Hensch pensa que la cortisone était synthétisée par l’organisme en plus grande quantité durant ces événements. Il décida de l’utiliser pour le traitement de l’arthrite rhumatoïde. Une première patiente gravement atteinte de polyarthrite rhumatoïde est traitée par cette molécule. Les résultats sont spectaculaires : les manifestations de la pathologie s’estompent, permettant alors à cette personne de reprendre une vie normale. Pour la première fois, un traitement vraiment efficace avait été développé contre cette redoutable maladie auto-immune. REMISE D’UN PRIX NOBEL POUR LES RECHERCHES SUR LA CORTISONE (1950) Les Américains Edward C. Kendall, Tadeus Reichstein et Philip S. Hench, à l’origine des découvertes de 1933 et 1948 reçoivent le Prix Nobel de médecine. L’ère thérapeutique de la cortisone commence avec sa production industrielle aux Etats-Unis. LE TRIOMPHE DE LA CORTICOTHERAPIE (1950 et après) Des patients très handicapés par leur polyarthrite rhumatoïde voient leur vie transformée par ce médicament. Ainsi, le célèbre peintre français Raoul Dufy, obligé d’arrêter son activité à cause de la maladie, est invité aux Etats-Unis pour bénéficier de ce traitement. Recouvrant ces facultés, il dédiera à ce médicament un tableau intitulé « la cortisone ». Malgré ses effets secondaires déjà constatés, la corticothérapie est ensuite rapidement élargie à d’autres pathologies, comme les cancers l’asthme la maladie de Crohn et bien d’autres maladies auto-immunes. En France, l'autorisation de mise sur le marché de la cortisone, sous la forme de la prednisone, date de 1955. Dr MOUSSAYER KHADIJA ,الدكتورة خديجة موسيار , Spécialiste en médecine interne et en Gériatrie en libéral à Casablanca. Présidente de l’Alliance Maladies Rares Maroc (AMRM) et de l’association marocaine des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques (AMMAIS), Vice-présidente du Groupe de l’Auto-Immunité Marocain (GEAIM) BIBLIOGRAPHIE - Osler W. On six cases of Addison’s disease with the report of a case greatly benefited by the use of the suprarenal cortical extract. Int Med Magazine. 1896 - Kendall EC et col. Isolation in crystalline form of the hormone essential to life from the suprarenal cortex: its chemical nature and physiologic properties. Proc Mayo Clin. 1934 - Hench PS et col. The effects of a hormone of the adrenal cortex, 17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone – Compound E – and of pitituary adrenocorticotrophic hormone on rheumatoid arthritis. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1949 - Quelle est l’histoire de la cortisone ? Cortisone-info, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris 6 juillet 2019 https://cortisone-info.com/generalites/histoire-de-la-corticotherapie/#:~:text=C'est%20aux%20%C3%89tats%20Unis,et%20l'am%C3%A9lioration%20est%20spectaculaire.
Dr Moussayer khadija

Dr Moussayer khadija

Dr MOUSSAYER KHADIJA الدكتورة خديجة موسيار Spécialiste en médecine interne et en Gériatrie en libéral à Casablanca. Présidente de l’Alliance Maladies Rares Maroc (AMRM) et de l’association marocaine des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques (AMMAIS), Vice-présidente du Groupe de l’Auto-Immunité Marocain (GEAIM)


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Morocco, History, and Geography: The Foundations of Political Reality and Territorial Integrity... 230

Aziz Daouda, 1 d.
Politics cannot be separated from history or geography. It consists of a set of actions and decisions aimed at organizing a society internally, as well as in its relations with the rest of the world. It is always situated within a context shaped by the two fundamental dimensions of history and geography, which are by no means mere backdrops but rather provide the framework within which political projects, conflicts, and developments unfold. Politics may be influenced by an ideology—born of a philosophy—or simply shaped by a given context, but such influence rarely lasts. History plays a fundamental role in understanding political phenomena. A country’s institutions, laws, and values are rooted in its collective memory, an inheritance made up of major events, breaks, or continuities with the past. Borders, for example, are often drawn following wars or treaties, the outcome of ancient or recent conflicts. They remain visible marks of past rivalries, defeats, victories, and compromises. Relations—whether of solidarity or rivalry—between nations, regions, or communities are explained in light of shared or divergent histories. The present Kingdom of Morocco cannot be understood without reference to its millennial origins, to the centuries-old Sharifian Empire, nor to the successive dynasties that shaped its relationship to religion, allegiance, and the centralization of power throughout different eras. Similarly, geography significantly influences the choices and constraints of public policies. The distribution of natural resources conditions economic development, territorial organization, and power relations. Relief, climate, and access to maritime routes determine possibilities for urbanization, agriculture, communication, and defense. Border situations impose specific diplomatic and security policies, while landlocked or insular areas require tailored strategies. Some authors even describe Morocco as an “island country” due to its geographical configuration. It is therefore inconceivable to conceive of effective or legitimate politics without taking history and geography into account. Every choice, reform, or political ambition must be based on a deep understanding of the territory and collective memory; ignoring one or the other exposes one to illusion, misunderstanding, or even failure. Regarding the Sahara, referred to as the “Western Sahara,” the geography of this region is undeniably contiguous to Morocco, physically, demographically, and historically: the Saharan populations have largely contributed to the country’s evolution. Its history was written through the successive allegiances of its tribes to the sultans of Morocco, and the Sharifian kingdom thus constitutes a nation-state established long before the contemporary era. Weakened by having missed the crucial turn of the industrial revolution, the Sharifian Empire was dissected from south to north, but also from the east. The so-called Western Sahara was annexed by Spain, which exercised colonial control there from 1884 to 1975. This situation facilitated France’s domination over territories grouped into French West Africa, part of which later became Mauritania. France also appropriated the eastern part of the Sharifian Empire, annexed de facto to its departments conquered from the Ottoman Empire and called French Algeria. The remainder was placed under French protectorate, while northern Morocco came under Spanish rule. Independence, achieved in 1956, and the gradual decolonization of Sidi Ifni and Tarfaya concerned other regions only later. On November 28, 1960, France authorized the proclamation of Mauritania’s independence—a region then claimed by Morocco, as were territories under Spanish control that Morocco considered its own. At that time, there was a Moroccan ministry called the “Ministry of Mauritanian and Saharan Affairs,” headed by Mohammed Fal Ould Oumeir, a representative of those territories. From 1963 onwards, the kingdom raised the issue of the Spanish Sahara before the Decolonization Commission. The situation became complicated when newly created Mauritania also claimed the territory, notably to pressure Morocco, which did not recognize Mauritanian independence until 1969—nine years after its proclamation. Morocco continued to claim the Spanish Sahara peacefully, preventing the Liberation Army from pursuing military actions in the region. In 1973, the creation of the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro) marked a new stage. This movement initially aimed to unite the Saharan territory with the “motherland.” But in a context of regional rivalries and ideological tensions, the Saharan question was instrumentalized by various actors. Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya played a decisive role in the rise of the separatist Polisario, supporting and arming the movement in a "revolutionary" and pan-Arabist logic, while seeking to destabilize the Moroccan monarchy. Later, Gaddafi himself admitted having made a “strategic mistake” in backing this group, which remains a destabilizing factor in the region today. In 1975, a peaceful turning point occurred: bolstered by the International Court of Justice’s opinion recognizing ties of allegiance between Saharan tribes and Moroccan sultans, the late King Hassan II launched the Green March to general surprise. This mobilization pushed Spain to withdraw from Laâyoune in favor of Morocco, which immediately reclaimed the territory. Mauritania, although having occupied adjacent zones, ultimately withdrew, leaving Morocco alone against the Polisario Front, actively supported by Algeria, which hosted, armed, financed, and elevated the movement into a “republic.” Houari Boumédiène’s Algeria exploited the situation to weaken its Moroccan neighbor, even calling the Saharan issue a “thorn in Morocco’s side,” a way of exacting revenge for the crushing defeat in 1963. This dispute has often overshadowed the deep history of ties between Morocco and these territories under Sharifian authority well before the colonial era. For Morocco, territorial integrity rests firmly on the constants of history and geography—major arguments. The rest is merely a temporary construction without foundation, destined to fade into oblivion in the near future. Moroccans know this very well… Perhaps not everyone else…

Ahmed Faras: The Eternal Legend of Moroccan Football 455

Aziz Daouda, 3 d.
3 min read.
I have been fortunate enough to know Ahmed Faras. It is unbearable for me to speak of him in the past tense, someone who has been part of my life for so long. It had been ages since he last touched a ball. Few are still alive who saw him play, those who, match after match, would await his dribble, his runs down the wing, his shot, his goal. Faras was an outstanding man, with an incredible shyness and reserve. Even when present somewhere, he was always on the sidelines: discreet, courteous, kind, with deep sensitivity, affection, and great touchiness. But Faras will always be part of the present. He is a true legend of Moroccan and African football; legends never die. Fedala saw him born in the cold of December 1947. Mohammedia would be his city and Chabab his eternal club. At the time, there was no such thing as a transfer market, no migrations, no football mercenary spirit. You were born in a club, learned to play there, and you stayed. His temperament was not that of a typical striker: there was no aggressiveness, no cunning. He compensated with his genius and never needed to dive or roll on the ground to sway a referee or create confusion. His genius spared him all that. He was an exceptional striker who marked the history of Moroccan and continental football. The turf at El Bachir football stadium helped him, at that time, it was the best in Morocco. Ahmed Faras was the product of a generation shaped by the structured environment of the youth sports schools run by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a system supposedly dismantled by so-called administrative and political reforms. Yet, it was there that Morocco's champions were formed, across all sports. His early path was marked by the guidance of renowned trainers such as Lakhmiri, who helped shape numerous Moroccan talents. This solid foundation allowed him to develop technical skills and a sense of teamwork very early on, which would become hallmarks of his play. Ahmed Faras spent his entire career at Chabab Mohammedia, from 1965 to 1982, never having a professional contract—such things didn’t exist in Morocco then. There’s no need to mention signing bonuses or performance awards, even with the national team. His loyalty to Chabab is remarkable. He would lead the club to a Moroccan championship and become its top scorer. He would bring along with him his playing friends—Acila, Glaoua, Haddadi, and many more. Faras was a pillar of the Moroccan national team. With 36 goals in 94 caps, what a historic scorer for the Atlas Lions! He captained the national team for eight years, playing in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. In 1975, Ahmed Faras entered the legend by becoming the first Moroccan to win the African Ballon d’Or, an award that underlined the quality and consistency of his play. This distinction placed him among the greatest players on the continent, competing with the top African stars of his era. There was talk of a transfer to Real Madrid...but at the time Moroccan league players were barred from moving abroad under penalty of losing their place in the national team. The idea was, thus, to strengthen the domestic league... The peak of his career was surely the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), won by Morocco in Ethiopia. Faras was the leader on the pitch, the tournament’s top scorer, and his influence was decisive for this historic triumph—the only major African title that Morocco has ever won. He scored crucial goals against Nigeria and Egypt in that tournament, perfectly embodying the role of playmaker and team leader on the field. To this day, he remains the only Moroccan captain ever to lift the coveted African trophy. I have been a few times to that ground in Addis Ababa where he lifted the trophy, and every time, his image dominates my thoughts. An indelible black-and-white, forever etched in the history of the Kingdom and in the memory of Moroccans who followed the match at the time through the voice of one Ahmed Elgharbi...no live broadcasts back then. He was a respected and heeded captain, guided by great coaches: Abdelkader Lakhmiri, Blagoe Vidinic, Abdellah Settati, Jabrane, and especially Gheorghe Mardarescu during that epic campaign in the land of Emperor Haile Selassie. His charisma and vision of the game were crucial in unifying the team and leading them to the summit of African football. Faras embodied the spirit of conquest and national pride throughout the tournament. The squad was selected and led by an outstanding manager as well Colonel Mehdi Belmejdoub. His name is forever bound to that legendary achievement, a symbol of the potential of Moroccan football when guided by exemplary leadership, committed and knowledgeable managers, and players who were true warriors for their jersey’s colors. Ahmed Faras was not just a talented player. After his retirement, he continued to share his passion, getting involved in youth training, passing on his knowledge and love for the game to the new generation. He has been a source of inspiration for so many generations of players. Knowing Lhaj Ahmed Faras meant knowing a symbol of loyalty, talent, and unique leadership in Moroccan sports. His name will forever remain inscribed in collective memory as that of a football giant, whose legacy goes beyond sport to inspire entire generations. Rest in peace, my friend. One day, a great football stadium in this country will bear your name, and it will be fitting, if the players follow your example, honor your career, and if the public rises to your greatness, paying tribute to your distinguished name. So Lhaj Ahmed Faras, if you ever meet Acila up there, ask him to give you another nice pass, and tell Glaoua to defend well... Know that your star shines and will always shine above us in the sky of the beautiful country you cherished so much. ---