Association of clinicopathological features with E-cadherin (CDH1) gene-160 C>A promoter polymorphism in Turkish colorectal cancer patients.

Background And Aim Of Study: The role of E-cadherin (CDH1) gene-160 C>A (rs16260) promoter polymorphism in colorectal cancer (CRC) still remains inconclusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations between the CDH1-160 C>A polymorphism with the susceptibility and clinicopathological development of CRC in the Turkish patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report examining the role of CDH1 polymorphism in Turkish CRC patients.

Effect of magnetic field on in vitro seedling growth and shoot regeneration from cotyledon node explants of Lathyrus chrysanthus boiss.

The stimulatory effects on germination of seeds and growth of plants of static magnetic field (MF) pre-treatments depending on MF intensity, exposure time periods, signal form, flux density, and source frequencies on plants are reported. Seed germination frequency is low due to dormancy in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. from Fabaceae family, consisting of 187 taxa.

Assessment of markers expressed in human hair follicles according to different skin regions.

Background: Body region-dependent hair follicle (HF) characteristics are concerned with follicular size and distribution, and have been demonstrated to have characteristics for each region of the body.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression patterns of the markers called cytokeratin 15 (K15), cytokeratin 6 (K6) and monoclonal antibody Ki-67, and also apoptosis in HFs, which can be observed in different parts of the human body.

Material And Methods: In this study, healthy human HFs were taken by biopsy from 5 various donor sites of the human body: the scalp, the leg, the abdomen, the back and waist.

Protective effects of curcumin and beta-carotene on cisplatin-induced cardiotoxicity: An experimental rat model.

Objective: Cisplatin (CDDP) has been known to be an effective antineoplastic drug; however, it has a cardiotoxic effect. Curcumin (CMN) and beta-carotene (BC) have been suggested to protect biological systems against CDDP-induced damage. The current study was conducted to evaluate the possible protective roles of CMN and BC on CDDP-induced cardiotoxicity in rat cardiac tissues.

Evaluation of Estrogen, Progesterone, and GCDFP-15 Expression in Uterine Leiomyomas.

Approximately, one fourth of women have leiomyomas. Leiomyomas are benign tumors that originated from smooth muscle cells. Estrogen is claimed to relate as a cause but exact mechanism has not fully understood.

High ionic strength depresses muscle contractility by decreasing both force per cross-bridge and the number of strongly attached cross-bridges.

An increase in ionic strength (IS) lowers Ca(2+) activated tension in muscle fibres, however, its molecular mechanism is not well understood. In this study, we used single rabbit psoas fibres to perform sinusoidal analyses. During Ca(2+) activation, the effects of ligands (ATP, Pi, and ADP) at IS ranging 150-300 mM were studied on three rate constants to characterize elementary steps of the cross-bridge cycle.

Is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio indicative of inflammatory state in patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome?

Objective: Obesity causes subclinical inflammation. Leukocyte count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are used to indicate inflammation in clinical practice. Also, inflammatory markers are evaluated as important indicators of cardiovascular risk in patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Does the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism indicate cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients?

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the relationship among biochemical and cardiac risk parameters with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: One hundred seven T2DM subjects with severe CVD diagnosed by angiography were included consecutively in this cross-sectional study.

Association of anxiety, sleepiness, and sexual dysfunction with restless legs syndrome in hemodialysis patients.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by unpleasant sensations, pain in the legs along with irresistible urges to move the legs when at rest. It is often accompanied by sleep disturbance. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of anxiety and sleepiness with sexual function in hemodialysis patients with and without RLS.

Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms (894G/T, -786T/C, G10T) and clinical findings in patients with migraine.

Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks, unilateral head pain, and related symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate three endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms in 176 patients with migraine and 123 healthy individuals. Clinical and biochemical parameters were investigated.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms (promoter -786T/C, exon 894 G/T and intron G10T) in unexplained female infertility.

Background/aims: Recent investigations in both males and females show that there may also be some genetic risk factors associated with infertility, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) has important functions in implantation. We aimed to investigate the association of three different polymorphisms of eNOS (promoter -786T/C, exon 894 G/T and intron G10T) with unexplained female infertility.

Materials And Methods: Two groups of patients were included in the study: (1) women with unexplained infertility and (2) healthy, fertile women with normal menstrual cycles.

Omentin serum levels and omentin gene Val109Asp polymorphism in patients with psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of uncertain pathogenesis. Omentin is a new adipokine with anti-inflammatory properties; however, the relationship between psoriasis and omentin has not been fully established yet.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between psoriasis and omentin serum levels and Val109Asp polymorphism in exon 4 of the omentin gene.

Investigation of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism, biochemical and clinical parameters in Turkish migraine patients: association with allodynia and fatigue.

We investigated whether there is any relationship between biochemical and clinical parameters of migraine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism, associated with the migraine subtypes, symptoms, and gender. A total of 150 migraine patients with and without aura (MA and MO) and 107 non-sufferers were included in the study. Biochemical and clinical parameters were measured and genetic analysis was performed.

First observation of Hb Tunis [beta124(H2)Pro>Ser] in Turkey.

Hb Tunis [beta124(H2)Pro>Ser] was reported from Tunisia in 1988. This hemoglobin variant was detected by isoelectric focusing moving just ahead of Hb A. It cannot be identified by standard hemoglobin electrophoresis due to its similar mobility to Hb A.

Beta globin gene cluster haplotypes of the beta thalassemia mutations observed in Denizli province of Turkey.

Objective: Our aim is to identify the beta globin gene cluster haplotypes for the beta thalassemia mutations in Turkey at regional basis. Beta thalassemia mutations included in this study were IVS-I-110 (G>A), FSC 8/9 (+G), IVS-II-1 (G>A), IVS-I-5 (G>C), IVS-I-1 (G>A), IVS-I-6 (T>C) and FSC 8 (-AA).

Methods: We studied 22 unrelated patients with β-thalassemia major and 72 unrelated healthy subjects from our Department's DNA bank.

Hb D-Los Angeles [beta121(GH4)Glu>Gln] and Hb Beograd [beta121(GH4)Glu>Val]: Implications for their laboratory diagnosis and genetic origins.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the laboratory diagnosis and genetic origins of the hemoglobin (Hb) variants, Hb D-Los Angeles and Hb Beograd observed frequently in our region.

Material And Methods: Hb variants were investigated in one Hb D-Los Angeles and two Hb Beograd families. These families were unrelated with each other.

First observation of Hb D-Ouled Rabah [beta19(B1)Asn>Lys] in the Turkish population.

Hb D-Ouled Rabah [beta19(B1)Asn>Lys] is a rare hemoglobin (Hb) beta chain variant reported from Tuareg tribes in Algeria and once from China. It was suggested that Hb D-Ouled Rabah might be specific of Berber-speaking populations. Our report describes the first observation of this hemoglobin variant in the Turkish population.

Genetic origin of Hb D-Los Angeles [beta121(GH4)Glu-->Gln, GAA-->CAA] according to the beta-globin gene cluster haplotypes.

Hb D-Los Angeles (also known as D-Punjab, D-North Carolina, D-Portugal, D-Chicago and Oak Ridge) is an abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) with an amino acid substitution of glutamine for glutamic acid at codon 121 of the beta-globin gene. The origin and spread of Hb D-Los Angeles is not known. This is due to lack of information and remains to be elucidated.

Molecular identification of a rare hemoglobin variant, Hb J-Iran [beta77(EF1)His->Asp], in Denizli province of Turkey.

Hb J-Iran [beta77(EF1)His-Asp], a rare hemoglobin variant that does not present health problems, was reported for the first time in the Turkish population in 1986. Our case is the fourth case reported in Turkey and the first case from the Denizli province.

High incidence of Hb D-Los Angeles [beta121(GH4)Glu-->Gln] in Denizli Province, Aegean region of Turkey.

Denizli Province is located in the inner part of the Aegean region of Turkey and is one of the target areas for premarital screening. Here we report the abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs) observed during a premarital screening program in our region. According to our results, Hb D-Los Angeles [beta1211(GH4)Glu-->Gln (GAA-->CAA] (also known as D-Punjab, D-North Carolina, D-Portugal, Oak Ridge and D-Chicago), is the most frequent abnormal Hb in this region.