Correlation between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in women and in vitro fertilization outcomes: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Vitamin D has recently raised a great deal of controversy, not because of its traditional role of absorbing calcium and maintaining bone health, but because of its unconventional role as an endocrine factor and the extent of its impact when linked to its specific receptors (VDR) found in different tissues. Research has raced trying to find its different roles in those tissues and its association with different clinical or medical conditions, and among these cases, its role in reproductive functions and fertility in women, these studies conflicted between supporting and denying the role of vitamin D in reproductive function and rejecting this hypothesis according to the results of their study.

Materials And Methods: The in vitro fertilization process allowed us to study the possible hypotheses, as this technique provides an opportunity to study the relationship between vitamin D levels with the in vitro fertilization outcomes, thus providing us with an idea of the relationship of vitamin D with fertility in women.

Plasma amyloid β levels in Alzheimer's disease and cognitively normal controls in Syrian population.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is believed to be occurred by the production of neurotic plaques of the beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and deposition of them. Therefore, biomarkers of abnormal Aβ processing may represent before the AD clinical biomarkers, which could be benefit for a successful disease management that may prevent the AD development. The aim of this study is to investigate of plasma Aβ40,42 levels in Alzheimer's patients in Syria and thus determine whether they may have a potential role as biomarker for identifying and predicting AD.

Genotype/Phenotype Correlation of β-Thalassemia in Syrian Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is an inherited blood disorder caused by reduced or absent synthesis of β-globin chains leading to imbalance of globin chain synthesis. β-Thalassemia (β-thal), refers to the complete absence of β-globin chain production on the affected allele. β-Thalassemia (β-thal) refers to alleles with some residual production of β-globin chain.

Description of a rare β-globin gene mutation, IVS-II-848 (C>A) (: c.316-3C>A) in association with IVS-I-1 (G>A) (: c.92 + 1G>A), observed in a Syrian family: a case report.

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is a hereditary and heterogeneous group of disorders caused by mutations on the β-globin gene that result in the reduced or non production of β-globin chains. We report a rare β-globin mutation, IVS-II-848 (C>A) (: c.316-3C>A), which was found in a female Syrian patient.

Compliance with Deferoxamine Therapy and Thyroid Dysfunction of Patients with β-Thalassemia Major in Syria.

Hypothyroidism is one of the common endocrine complications described in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Studies have reported its incidence and severity depending on the region, quality of management and treatment protocols. The reported thyroid dysfunction includes overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism and rarely, central hypothyroidism.

Association of KCNJ11 rs5219 gene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a population of Syria: a case-control study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is believed to be a polygenic disorder that develops as a result of a complex interaction between multiple genes and environmental factors. KCNJ11 gene encodes a Kir6.2 protein which forms the inner section of the potassium channels in pancreatic beta cells.

CK2 phosphorylation of Pdx-1 regulates its transcription factor activity.

The duodenal homeobox-1 protein Pdx-1 is one of the regulators for the transcription of the insulin gene. Pdx-1 is a phosphoprotein, and there is increasing evidence for the regulation of some of its functions by phosphorylation. Here, we asked whether protein kinase CK2 might phosphorylate Pdx-1 and how this phosphorylation could be implicated in the functional regulation of Pdx-1.

Estrogen receptor-dependent genomic expression profiles in breast cancer cells in response to fatty acids.

Context: The estrogen receptor (ER) status in breast cancer plays a major role in the progression and metastatic potential of breast cancer in women. Breast cancer cells lacking the ER are usually more advanced and more difficult to treat than ER+ breast cancer cells. ER- women have more advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis than ER+ women.

Pancreatic duodenal homeobox factor-1 and diabetes mellitus type 2 (review).

The homeobox domain transcription factor PDX-1 is essential for pancreatic development and for the maintenance of beta-cell function. The participation of pancreatic duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX-1) in the transcription of several genes which are essential for glucose sensing and insulin synthesis underlines its key role in beta-cells of the pancreas. PDX-1 binds to the promoter of insulin, glucose transporter 2, and glucokinase and regulates their expression.

Serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins in Syrian patients with beta-thalassemia major.

Objective: Evaluation serum lipids, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B and total antioxidant status (TAS) in syrian patients with beta-thalassemia major.

Methods: This study was carried out at Damascus University (Biochemical Laboratories of Medicine and Pharmacy Colleges), Syria between May 2002 and April 2003. This study included 30 patients with beta-thalassemia major, aged between 1.