Angiotensin converting enzyme I/D polymorphism in Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The deletion [D] allele of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme [ACE] is associated with higher ACE activity, it has been studied in various populations in relation lo hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus [DM] with contradictory results. The objective of this study was to determine the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism, genotype distribution in Egyptian patients with type 2 DM and to evaluate the possible association of ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism with hypertension in diabetic patients. A total of 48 patients with type 2 DM, 23 of them had hypertension and 21 healthy subjects age and sex matched with the patients, as control group were included in this study. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The frequency of DD genotype was significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to controls [p=0.008]. The DD genotype [Vs DI and II genotypes] was associated with increased risk of diabetes [OR: 3.647, 95% CI: 1.235-10.773, p=0.016] and the D allele was more frequent in diabetic patients and was associated with increased risk of diabetes [OR: 3.939, 95% CI: 1.782-8.709, p<0.001]. No significant difference in genotype distribution or allele frequency was detected between diabetic patients with and without hypertension. We can conclude that a significant association between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and type 2 DM is present in Egyptian patients and the D allele is associated with increased risk for type 2 DM

cytogenetice and immunologic studies in recurrent fetal losses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytogenetic and immunologic role in human reproduction. The study included 158 women with history of repeated fetal losses, their ages ranged between 18-45 years [mean = 31 years] and the number of previous losses ranged between 2-8 [mean = 4]. The clinical evaluation, pedigree construction, pelvic ultrasound examination was done to all cases. Chromosomal studies were done to 66 couples with history of early fetal losses [during 1st trimester] using GTG-banding technique. A total number of 120 pregnant women with history of fetal losses and 30 normal pregnant women used as controls was subjected to a further immunologic investigation. Anticardiolipin antibodies were measured using ELISA and lupus anticoagulant [LA] by activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT]. The study concluded that both genetic and immunologic factors have been identified as causes of repeated fetal losses. However, chromosomal aberrations play an important role in the etiology of early fetal losses