S. Hmida

Lack of association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (I/D) polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy in Tunisian type 2 diabetic patients

Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy and type 2 diabetes in the Tunisian population. Design. A case-control study was conducted among 141 unrelated type 2 diabetic patients with (90 patients) or without nephropathy (51 patients) and 103 non-diabetic controls with normal fasting blood glucose. Genotyping was performed using a nested polymerase chain reaction amplification in order to identify correctly heterozygous individuals. Results. The distribution of DD, ID and II genotypes did not significantly differ between type 2 diabetic patients with or without nephropathy (DD: 44%; ID: 46%; II: 10% vs. DD: 41%; ID: 47 %; II: 12%, respectively).There was also no significant statistical difference between the genotype distribution and allele frequencies of the (I/D) polymorphism in all type 2 diabetic subjects compared to non-diabetic controls with normal fasting blood glucose (DD: 43%; ID: 46%; II: 11% vs. DD: 37%; ID: 48% ;II: 15%, respectively). Conclusions. In the present preliminary study, the (I/D) polymorphis within the ACE gene is likely not associated with diabetic nephropathy nor with type 2 diabetes in the Tunisian studied population.

Possible transfer of vitiligo by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: A case report

Abstract:  Among the cases yet published of development of vitiligo after BMT, only two can claim as possible adoptive transfer of such disease. We report a case of a patient with sickle cell disease in whom vitiligo developed after allogeneic BMT from his HLA identical father affected by vitiligo. We reviewed and searched for some particularities in the reported cases of post‐BMT vitiligo.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acquired aplastic anemia using cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulin: a single center experience

Between February 1998 and October 2007, 97 (69 male, 28 female) patients with acquired aplastic anemia and a median age of 18 years (range, 2-39) received related allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ninety-five patients received bone marrow grafts and two patients G-CSF primed peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The donors were genotypically HLA-identical siblings in 94 cases, HLA-matched parents in 2 cases and a syngeneic twin in 1 case. Median time from diagnosis to transplantation was 2 months (range, 1-15). Conditioning regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide combined with antithymocyte globulin in all patients. For graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, all patients received methotrexate and cyclosporine. Eighty-six patients showed evidence of hematopoietic engraftment. Eight patients died before engraftment. Rejection rate was 14.8% with three primary graft failures and eight secondary graft rejections occurring between 2 and 27 months post transplantation. Of the 11 rejecting patients, 3 died from infection and 8 proceeded to a second transplantation. Among the eight patients re-transplanted, seven are alive with successful second engraftments and one died from acute grade III GVHD. Acute GVHD occurred in 15.5% and extensive chronic GVHD in only 5.3% of patients. The 4-year overall probability of survival was 76.8%. Infection was the cause of 81.1% of deaths. The major factor affecting survival was onset of infection before transplantation. Major ABO donor-recipient incompatibility, disease severity and acute GVHD had also negative impact on survival. These results could be improved by reducing the time to transplant and by a more efficient supportive care policy.Bone Marrow Transplantation advance online publication, 27 July 2009; doi:10.1038/bmt.2009.175.

Peripheral blood stem cell mobilization in multiple myeloma comparison of two consecutive regimens in a limited resources country

This study compared retrospectively the effectiveness, toxicity and hematopoietic recovery after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) of two consecutive peripheral blood stem cell mobilization regimens in newly diagnosed MM patients. Patients in group 1 (n=178) were treated with 4 g/m2 of cyclophosphamide (CY) plus G-CSF (5 μg/kg/day). Patients in group 2 (n=117) with 750 mg/m2 of VP16 plus G-CSF (10 μg/kg/day). Optimal mobilization, defined by a target number of 8 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg collected, was achieved in 62.4% and 89.7% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P<10−4). The median number of aphaeresis sessions was reduced from two in group 1 to one in group 2 (P<10−4). Grade4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and IV antibiotic use were significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (P<10−4). Red blood cell transfusion requirements were significantly greater in group 1 (P=0.007). The switch to VP16-G-CSF10 resulted in a significant reduction of the number of hospitalization days (P<10−4). Neutrophil and platelet recovery after ASCT occurred on days 11 and 12, respectively, in the two groups with no significant differences. VP16+G-CSF10 allowed liberation of resources in the clinical and aphaeresis departments and demonstrated a better effectiveness-safety profile than CY+G-CSF5.

Retraction Note to: Retraction to: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acquired aplastic anemia using cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulin: a single center experience

Following the publication of a Notice of Concern, this article has been retracted.