The use of serum zinc to prostate-specific antigen ratio as a biomarker in the prediction of prostate biopsy outcomes.

Aim: To generate a combination of serum zinc (Zn) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in an attempt to provide better prediction of prostate biopsy outcomes with Zn/PSA ratios.

Materials & Methods: Diagnostic performances of PSA and Zn/PSA were investigated using receiver operating characteristic and the area under the curve analysis and McNemar test in 480 men. Decision curve analysis was also used to determine the net clinical benefits of the two parameters.

Extracellular matrix protein 1 gene rs3737240 single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with ulcerative colitis in Turkish patients.

Background/aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease are chronic inflammatory diseases. Genetic, immunologic, and microbial factors play an important role in their pathogenesis. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1), a gene related to mucosal barrier function, has been shown to be associated with UC.

Circulating miR-221-3p as a novel marker for early prediction of acute myocardial infarction.

Recent studies have reported circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as novel biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and acute pulmonary embolism. The aims of this study were 1) to compare the plasma expression levels of miRNAs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and control subjects and in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI 2) to evaluate miRNAs potential to be used as novel diagnostic biomarkers for ACS. Twenty seven consecutive patients, admitted to emergency department of a training and research hospital between January-December 2013 with acute chest pain and/or dyspnea and diagnosed with ACS, and 16 non-ACS control subjects were included in this study.

Association of AKR1C3 Polymorphisms with Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: Polymorphisms in the genes coding for the carcinogen metabolizing enzymes may affect enzyme activities and alter the activation and detoxification rates of the carcinogens. AKR1C3 is one of the very polymorphic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes involved in the bioactivation process. Here we aimed to investigate the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in AKR1C3, rs12529 (c.