Genetic Variation in the Renin-Angiotensin System and Diabetic Nephropathy in the Tunisian Population.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of ACE, angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin II receptor type I (AGTR1) polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Tunisians.

Methods: The study population comprised 236 type 2 diabetic patients: with nephropathy (DN = 47) and without nephropathy (DM = 189). Genotyping of ACE-I/D-rs1799752, ACE-rs4343G>A, AGT-rs5050A>C, AGT-rs 4762C>T, AGT-rs699A>G, and AGTR1-rs5186A>C was performed by PCR-RFLP.

Screening for Nephropathy in Diabetes Mellitus: Is Micral-Test Valid among All Diabetics?

Background. Using Micral-test (MT) for screening microalbuminuria (MA) among type 2 diabetics (T2D) is helpful. We aimed at determining prevalence of MA and at describing the MT validity.

[Protective effect of breast feeding in childhood obesity].

The Aim: To evaluate the frequency of obesity in children scolarised in Zaghouan, and to show the protective effect of breast feeding.

Methods: A retrospective study, included 162 children (aged 2 to 6 years), from 3 kindergartens situated in Zaghouan, during 2006. A questionnaire was drawn up, filled out by parents, concerning the breast feeding, the duration, the family antecedents of obesity, and the nutritional practices.