These findings indicate that ACE and MTHFR genetic polymorphisms might be considered as genetic risk factors for diabetic nephropathy among patients with type 2 diabetes.

♦ BackgroundDespite the well-known advantages of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), it continues to be grossly underutilized in many developing countries. However, some developing countries, such as Mexico, use the modality very effectively. In view of this, we started the first CAPD program in Egypt.♦ MethodsSince its start in 1997, our program has treated 33 patients. Straight double-cuffed Tenckhoff catheters were surgically placed in all patients. Twin-bag systems were used. All patients underwent monthly clinical and biochemical assessment and measurement of Kt/V urea. Peritonitis and exit-site infection rates were monitored.♦ ResultsMost treated patients were adult and female. Mean age was 31.7 years and mean follow-up duration was 18 months. Peritonitis rate was 1 episode /21.3 months and was easily managed in most patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated organism (24%) but 49% of cases were culture negative. There were no exit-site infections. Mean weekly Kt/V urea was 1.78 ± 0.23.♦ ConclusionWe report the successful development of a small CAPD program in Egypt, made possible by well-established financial support, a motivated team of doctors and nurses, and good patient selection and training.

Post transplant hemolysis is infrequent after renal transplantation; however, it may occur with compatible, non-identical ABO blood group donors. Blood group of donor and recipient, time to onset of diuresis and primary immunosuppression (mainly CsA) were significant risk factors in hemolytic anemia in patients after ABO non-identical living donor kidney transplantation. The condition is usually mild and self limited, and change of immunosuppression (stop CsA) can treat the condition.

SummaryMicrovascular angina is a condition characterized by angina-like chest pain and normal coronary angiography. Endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation with elevated serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels play a role in its pathogenesis. This study aimed to explore the possible relation between CRP, brachial flowmediated dilatation (FMD), and microvascular angina.We included 21 patients with attacks of chest pain diagnosed as microvascular angina (study group) and 10 normal asymptomatic subjects (control group). Patients and controls were thoroughly examined clinically and by echocardiography, electrocardiography, and brachial FMD (using external brachial ultrasonography). Serum hsCRP and uric acid levels were assessed in all subjects. A significantly higher mean hsCRP level was found in the study group compared to controls (11.5 ± 3.8 versus 3.34 ± 1.5 mg/L; P < 0.001). FMD of the brachial artery showed significant impairment in patients with microvascular angina compared to controls (0.16 ± 0.06 versus 0.76 ± 0.09 mm; P < 0.001). There were significantly higher total cholesterol (196.1 ± 44.4 versus 159.8 ± 14.5 mg/dL; P = 0.018) and triglyceride levels (185.0 ± 103.2 versus 113.0 ± 17.6 mg/dL; P = 0.038) in the patients compared to controls; but there was a statistically insignificant difference in mean serum uric acid levels between these two groups. There were no significant correlations between the brachial FMD and any of the clinical variables studied (apart from ankle/brachial index).Microvascular angina may have an inflammatory element (reflected as a higher serum hsCRP level), together with a contribution by endothelial dysfunction (reflected as impaired brachial artery FMD); while serum uric acid is possibly not associated with microvascular angina. (Int Heart J 2009; 50: 407-419)

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