CHRNA5 and CHRNA3 polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility in Palestinian population.

Objective: The genetic polymorphism (rs16969968 in CHRNA5, and rs1051730 in CHRNA3 genes) were recently shown to be associated with risk of LC. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether they predispose Palestinian individuals to lung cancer, and how is this related to smoking.

Results: Frequency of the rs16969968-A allele was significantly higher in the case group (36.

Evaluation of - and -based pharmacogenetic algorithm for warfarin dose in Gaza-Palestine.

Aim: To evaluate applicability of , and based algorithm to predict warfarin stable dose (WSD) in a group of Palestinian patients.

Patients & Methods: Warfarin doses were retrospectively calculated for 101 Palestinian patients under warfarin therapy using three models. Performance of the three models was assessed in 47 patients found to take WSD.

In vitro inhibition of human leukemia THP-1 cells by Origanum syriacum L. and Thymus vulgaris L. extracts.

Background: Natural products including, traditional medicinal plants have emerged as a tempting alternative to conventional chemotherapeutic protocols of leukemia because of their minimum side effects and less documented drug resistance.

Methods: Ethanol extracts were prepared from Thymus vulgaris L. and Origanum syriacum L.

Thiopurine methyltransferase genotyping in Palestinian childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

Background: The genetic polymorphism of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is well characterized in most populations. Four common polymorphic alleles are associated with impaired activity of the enzyme. These are TPMT*2 (238G>C), TPMT*3B (c.

Relationship between ApoE gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease in Gaza Strip.

Background: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays a role in the regulation of lipid metabolism in humans. ApoE, a 229-amino-acid polypeptide, is classified into three major isoforms (E2, E3, and E4) according to the differences in amino acids at positions 112 and 158. In the normal population, ApoE3 isoform is the most prevalent, and ApoE2 or E4 is frequently associated with hyperlipoproteinemia.

Calpain-10 gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the Gaza Strip.

Objective: To examine the role of calpain-10 SNP-44, -43, -63 and del/ins-19 in genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associations with triglycerides and total cholesterol in a group of subjects residing in the Gaza Strip.

Subjects And Methods: Ninety-six individuals were examined: 48 T2DM patients and 48 controls. The groups were genotyped for calpain-10 SNP-44, -43, -63, and del/ins-19.

Viral, bacterial and parasitic etiology of pediatric diarrhea in Gaza, Palestine.

Objectives: To determine the etiology of acute diarrhea in Palestinian children under 5 years of age and to improve knowledge of the etiology of gastrointestinal pathogens using traditional and molecular diagnostic techniques.

Materials And Methods: Various common enteropathogens (viral, bacterial and parasites) associated with diarrhea were investigated by conventional and molecular techniques (PCR) in 150 children less than 5 years of age admitted to the Central Pediatric Hospital, Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Results: The occurrence of enteropathogens identified was as follows: rotavirus 42/150 (28%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 23/150 (15%), Shigella spp.

Detection and identification of bacterial enteropathogens by polymerase chain reaction and conventional techniques in childhood acute gastroenteritis in Gaza, Palestine.

Background: Acute gastroenteritis and diarrhea are common and costly problems that cause significant morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. In Palestine, diarrhea is one of the major causes of outpatient visits and hospitalizations.

Methods: To improve knowledge on the etiology of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in our patient population, stool specimens from 150 children under 5 years of age suffering from acute gastroenteritis were investigated for various common bacterial enteropathogens by conventional and molecular techniques.

Entamoeba histolytica or Entamoeba dispar among children in Gaza, Gaza Strip?

Most physicians in Gaza prescribe medicaments for patient's suffering from Entamoeba histolytica/dispar without parasitologic diagnosis. Additionally, stool analysis performed by the routine methods usually reports the species as E. histolytica without con-firmation.