Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity in a sedentary population from Egypt.

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity of 58 individuals from Upper Egypt, more than half (34 individuals) from Gurna, whose population has an ancient cultural history, were studied by sequencing the control-region and screening diagnostic RFLP markers. This sedentary population presented similarities to the Ethiopian population by the L1 and L2 macrohaplogroup frequency (20.6%), by the West Eurasian component (defined by haplogroups H to K and T to X) and particularly by a high frequency (17.6%) of haplogroup M1. We statistically and phylogenetically analysed and compared the Gurna population with other Egyptian, Near East and sub-Saharan Africa populations; AMOVA and Minimum Spanning Network analysis showed that the Gurna population was not isolated from neighbouring populations. Our results suggest that the Gurna population has conserved the trace of an ancestral genetic structure from an ancestral East African population, characterized by a high M1 haplogroup frequency. The current structure of the Egyptian population may be the result of further influence of neighbouring populations on this ancestral population.

Live-donor renal transplantation at the Urology & Nephrology Center of Mansoura: 1976-1998.

Based on more than 1,200 living donor transplants performed at the Urology & Nephrology Center at Mansoura University between 1976-1998, we report: 1. The overall graft survival rate was 75.8% and 51.9% at 5 and 10 years, respectively, with a projected half-life of 10.7 years. 2. Three factors acted as independent variables that significantly influenced graft survival: the number of HLA mismatches, the number of acute rejection episodes and the presence of posttransplant hypertension. a. Grafts with 2 or fewer HLA-A, -B and -DR mismatches had a significantly better survival rate. b. The incidence and the number of early acute rejection episodes had a significant negative impact on graft survival. c. A significant reduction in graft survival was associated with hypertension uncontrolled by or newly developed after transplantation. 3. Bilharziasis had no impact on the outcome. 4. Despite improvements in tissue matching and immunosuppression, an important proportion of grafts is still lost following living-donor kidney transplantation. 5. Efforts must be directed to identify better regimens, which can provide adequate immunosuppression and minimal nephrotoxicity.