Maternal VAD during pregnancy may decrease renal size in the infant at birth. The functional implications of this effect warrant further study.

Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease, including diabetic nephropathy (DN). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms that affect eNOS activity are associated with endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of three polymorphisms of the eNOS gene (894G>T, -786T>C, and 27-bp-VNTR) with the risk of DN among type 2 diabetic patients. A total of 400 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. The DN group comprised 200 patients; the group of diabetics without nephropathy comprised another 200 patients. Genetic analysis for eNOS gene polymorphisms was done in all subjects. Measurement of nitric oxide levels was estimated. The C allele for -786T>C and the T allele for 894G>T were significantly more frequent in diabetics with nephropathy than in diabetics without nephropathy (p<0.001; odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI] for the C allele=1.64 [1.24-2.17] and p<0.001; OR and 95% CI=1.7 [1.27-2.26] for the T allele). The haplotypes CTa (with all the mutant alleles) and CTb were significantly more common in patients with DN (p=0.01 and 0.003, respectively). These results suggested that the eNOS polymorphisms might represent genetic determinants for developing DN in type 2 diabetic Egyptians.

Ácido úrico sérico e sua associação com hipertensão, nefropatia precoce e doença renal crônica em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 Introdução: A detecção precoce da nefropatia diabética (ND) é importante. O áci-do úrico sérico (AUS) tem um papel ainda desconhecido no desenvolvimento de ND. Objetivo: Estudar a relação entre AUS e hipertensão, nefropatia precoce e progressão da doença renal crônica (DRC) no diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). Métodos: O estudo contou com 986 participantes, de acordo com a presença e a duração do diabetes, os pacientes foram classificados em três grupos. O Grupo I incluiu 250 participantes saudá-veis. O Grupo II incluiu 352 pacientes com início de diabetes < 5 anos. O Grupo III incluiu 384 pacientes com o aparecimento de diabetes > 5 anos. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a exame clínico completo, medidas antropométricas, exames laboratoriais -incluindo hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1C), bem como a razão entre triglicé-rides e lipoproteína de alta densidade (TG/ HDL-C), AUS, razão creatinina/albumina (RCA) urinária, e taxa estimada de filtração glomerular (eTFG). Resultados: A razão AUS, PA, HbA1c, TG/HDL-C e RCA foi significativamente maior no grupo III do que no grupo I, II e em II do que I. A eTFG foi significativamente menor no grupo III do que nos grupos I, II e no II do que no I (p < 0,001). Idade, IMC, PA, HbA1c, razão TG/ HDL-C, RCA, foram positivamente correlacionados com AUS, enquanto que a TFG esteve negativamente correlacionada. O AUS a níveis > 6,1 mg/dl, > 6,2 mg/dl e > 6,5 mg/dl apresentou maior sensibilidade e especificidade para identificar hipertensão, nefropatia precoce e declínio da eTFG, respectivamente. Conclusão: Mesmo elevados níveis de AUS, foi associado ao risco de hipertensão, nefropatia precoce e declínio da eTFG. Além disso, o nível de AUS pode identificar o iní-cio da hipertensão, nefropatia precoce e progressão da DRC em DM2. ResumoPalavras-chave: ácido úrico; diabetes mellitus tipo 2; hipertensão; nefropatias diabéticas. Introduction:Early detection diabetic nephropathy (DN) is important. Whether serum uric acid (SUA) has a role in the development of DN is not known. Objective: To study the relationship between SUA and hypertension, early nephropathy and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The total number of the study was 986 participants, according to presence and duration of diabetes were classified into three groups. Group I; including 250 healthy participants. Group II; including 352 with onset of diabetes < 5 years. Group III; including 384, with the onset of diabetes > 5 years. All participants were submitted to complete clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, laboratory investigations, including glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), as well triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein ratios (TG/HDL-C), SUA, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Results: SUA, BP, HbA1c, TG/HDL-C ratio, and ACR levels were significantly higher in group III tha...

Abstract. A multi-stage stratified sample of 12,515 individuals from 1,941 households in 42 villages in the Ismailia governorate of Egypt were surveyed for schistosomal infection. A subset of 2,390 subjects were surveyed for morbidity by physical and ultrasonographic examination. The prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection in rural Ismailia was 42.9% and the geometric mean egg count (GMEC) was 93.3 eggs/gram of stool, with considerable variability between communities. Prevalence and intensity peaked in the 20-30-year-old age group and was higher in males than in females. Prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium was very low: 1.8% and 3.5 ova/10 ml of urine GMEC, respectively. Canal water exposure risk factors for S. mansoni infection were males bathing (odds ratio [OR] ϭ 2.2), females washing clothes (OR ϭ 1.9), and children playing or swimming (OR ϭ 2.3). Presence of inhouse piped water supply and latrine lowered infection rates (P Ͻ 0.001 and P ϭ 0.002, respectively). Histories of S. mansoni infection (OR ϭ 1.6) or treatment (OR ϭ 1.5) and blood in feces (OR ϭ 3.5) were associated with infection. Hepatomegaly (16.0%) was more frequently detected than splenomegaly (3.6%) by physical examination, with both being more frequent in older age groups. Splenomegaly, but not hepatomegaly, was associated with presence of S. mansoni ova in stools (OR ϭ 1.4) and the community burden of infection (P ϭ 0.02). Ultrasonographically detected hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and periportal fibrosis (PPF) were detected in 43.0%, 17.4%, and 39.7% of the subjects, respectively. The higher grades of PPF were rare. Ultrasonographically detected splenomegaly, not hepatomegaly, was associated with S. mansoni infection, community burden of infection, and PPF. Risk factors for PPF were the same as for S. mansoni infection. There was a marginal association of PPF with infection and none (P ϭ 0.33) with the intensity of infection in individuals or in the community. We conclude that in rural Ismailia, S. haematobium infection is rare but the prevalence and intensity of infection with S. mansoni is high. The risk of infection is associated with environmentally detected factors and behaviors. Hepatosplenic morbidity attributable to S. mansoni infection is low, presumably because of the favorable effect of wide application of praziquantel therapy.

ultrasonography had a limited value in estimating schistosomal liver morbidity in our population-based study where early grades of liver morbidly were prevalent. The criteria of diagnosing grade I portal fibrosis need to be revised as well as the staging system proposed by the Cairo Meeting on ultrasonography in schistosomiasis.