The aim of this pilot study was to compare the effect of two different regimens of aspirin dosage on platelet of coronary artery disease (CAD) diabetic patients. Twenty-five CAD diabetic patients were included. Initially, all patients received aspirin 100 mg/day for 10 days. At day 10, aspirin antiplatelet effect was determined by measuring the collagen/epinephrine closure time (CT) 2 h after the last aspirin dosage and the next morning at 8 a.m.. The aspirin regimen was modified to 100 mg twice daily for patients showing a non-optimal platelet-inhibitory effect (CT < 298 s at 8 a.m.). Persistent high platelet reactivity (HPR) was defined by a CT < 160 s. During the 100 mg/day aspirin regimen, the prevalence of HPR at 8 a.m. was 48%, and only 7 patients (28%) had showed an optimal platelet-inhibitory effect. Bridging to the twice-daily regimen, the HPR was significantly reduced (p=0.025), and the optimal platelet-inhibitory effect was reached for 3 other patients. Our results showed that 100 mg aspirin twice-daily dosing rather than a once-daily dose significantly improves the aspirin effect on platelet of CAD diabetic patients. However, large prospective studies were needed to confirm whether this strategy will be clinically relevant and safe.

There is evidence that diet and variation in lipid metabolism can influence blood coagulation, but little is known about the effect of Ramadan fasting on plasmatic coagulation pattern. We investigated the effect of Ramadan fasting on thrombin generation (TG) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks, and we aimed to assess the effect of lipid profile on TG parameters. The study was conducted in 36 adults having at least 2 CVD risks and in 30 healthy controls. Coagulation pattern was assessed by both classical clotting times and TG test. A complete lipid profile was performed simultaneously. Patients were invited 2 times: 1 week before Ramadan and during the last week of the Ramadan. The TG parameters were not different in patients with CVD risks compared to healthy controls. Fasting had no effect on plasmatic coagulation parameters and on TG profile. Individual analysis of the mean rate index (MRI) of TG revealed 3 groups: group 1 with no modification of MRI, group 2 with a significant increase in MRI (81.64 nM/min vs 136.07 nM/min; P < .001), and group 3 with a significant decrease in MRI (125.27 nM/min vs 73.18 nM/min; P ¼ .001). Only in group 2, a significant increase was observed in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Changes in lipid profile during Ramadan fasting did not influence the global coagulation pattern in patients with CVD risks. Whereas, a significant increase in the propagation phase of TG was associated with a significant increase in cholesterol levels, which was not found with the other TG parameters.

Thiopurine-S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) are crucial enzymes involved in the metabolism of thiopurine drugs. Significant interethnic variation in the expression of TPMT and ITPA is caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes encoding these proteins. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of TPMT and ITPA polymorphisms in healthy Tunisian subjects and to establish the metabolizer status of thiopurine drugs in this population. A total of 309 healthy Tunisian subjects were recruited among blood donors of Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital of Monastir. A written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. Whole blood samples were collected from every subject in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tubes. TPMT (c.238 G > C, c.460 G > A and c.719A > G) and ITPA (c.94C > A and IVS2+21A > C) mutations were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The observed frequencies of TPMT*3A and TPMT*3C alleles were both 0.8%. The phenotype distribution of TPMT was bimodal: 96.8% of subjects were extensive metabolizers and 3.2% were intermediate metabolizers. Genotyping of ITPA revealed frequencies of 9% and 3% for IVS2+21A > C and c.94C > A mutations, respectively. Accordingly, a trimodal phenotype distribution was found: 75.4% of the subjects were extensive metabolizers, 23.4% were intermediate metabolizers, and 1.2% wereslow metabolizers. Combination of TPMT and ITPA genotyping has revealed that a quarter of the Tunisian Population carries polymorphisms that reduce the metabolic activities of these enzymes.

Introduction. Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a rare genetic disorder that is characterized by a pleiotropic malformation affecting the nail, the skeleton, and occasionally the central nervous system and the kidneys. Case Presentation. We report two paediatric cases, which are of two sisters, who aged, respectively, two and five years. They are admitted to explore short stature. The initial clinical examination and radiologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of Nail-patella syndrome. Conclusion. Skeletal, ophthalmologic, and renal involvements were mostly associated with NPS. The association with short stature was exceptional.