Vascular endothelial growth factor I/D variant and postmenopausal osteoporosis risk in the Turkish population.

Introduction: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a common metabolic bone disorder manifested by low bone mineral density and increased fracture risks in postmenopausal women. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play an important role in bone formation. In this study, we investigated the potential association between the VEGF insertion/deletion (I/D) variant (rs35569394) and PMOP in a cohort of postmenopausal Turkish women.

Evaluation of a circadian rhythm gene (PER3) VNTR variant in Turkish athletes.

Objective: Circadian rhythmicity has been shown to contribute to the regulation of key physiological and cognitive processes related to performance. The period homolog 3 () is expressed in a circadian pattern in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the variable tandem repeat (VNTR) variant of the gene in athletic performance in the Turkish population.

Effect of IL-6 -174G/C and -572G/C variants on susceptibility to osteoarthritis in Turkish population.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disorder characterized by degenerative articular cartilage in which inflammatory mechanisms play a major role in the pathogenesis. Interleukin-6 (IL6), a multifunctional cytokine, can trigger osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Our purpose in this study was to evaluate the association of -174 G/C (rs1800795) and -572 G/C (rs1800796) variants with the susceptibility to OA.

and variants may influence intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common and complex condition. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the key regulators of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in various physiological events.

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor -173GC Variant Might Increase the Risk of Behçet's Disease.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate any possible association between the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) -173GC variant and Behçet's disease (BD) in a group of Turkish patients.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 111 patients with BD and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes.

PPAR-α and PPARGC1A gene variants have strong effects on aerobic performance of Turkish elite endurance athletes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PPAR-α intron 7G>C and PPARGC1A gene Gly482Ser polymorphisms on aerobic performance of elite level endurance athletes. This study was carried out on 170 individuals (60 elite level endurance athletes and 110 sedentary controls). Aerobic performance of athletes and sedentary control groups were defined by maximal oxygen uptake capacity.

Significant association of interleukin-4 gene intron 3 VNTR polymorphism with susceptibility to knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a strong chondroprotective cytokine and polymorphisms within this gene may be a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). We aimed to investigate genotype and allele frequencies of IL-4 gene intron 3 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in patients with knee OA in a Turkish population.

Methods: The study included 202 patients with knee OA and 180 healthy controls.