Investigation of miR221 and miR222 as Biomarkers in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a class of small non-coding RNAs of 18-25 nucleotides, which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by disrupting or blocking translation of messenger RNA targets. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Early and accurate diagnosis of the disease affects the probability of success of treatment.

Lack of association between increased mitochondrial DNA deletion and ATP levels of sputum cells from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients versus healthy smokers.

In this study we looked at smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in order to evaluate the incidence of 4977 base pair (bp) mtDNA (mtDNA) deletion and mtDNA copy number in sputum cells and in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) in relation to mitochondrial function and oxidative stress status. Twenty-five COPD patients who were current smokers, 22 smokers and 23 healthy nonsmokers (for only PBLs studies) participated in this study. The 4977-bp deletion was detected in all examined samples within 40 cyles of PCR amplification, using a quantitative real time PCR.

Increased serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: To analyze the relationship between the serum lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) levels and clinical and histopathological features of biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

Methods: Fifty-three consecutive, biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (31 males and 22 females, mean age 42.5 ± 9.

The assessment of the relationship between variations in the apelin gene and coronary artery disease in Turkish population.

Objective: Apelin is a novel endogenous peptide with inotropic and vasodilatory properties and is the ligand for the angiotensin receptor-like 1 (APJ) receptor. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the apelin gene with susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Turkish population.

Methods: The present observational case-control study consisted of 244 subjects (134 angiographically proven CAD patients and 110 healthy controls) aged 30-65 years.

Investigation of the association of hRRM1 and p53R2 gene polymorphisms in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Head and neck squamous epithelial cell cancer (HNSCC), the world's fifth most common type of cancers, is associated with short life expectancy and high death rates if not detected in early stages. The aim of this study was to investigate hRRM1 and p53R2 gene polymorphisms by using real-time PCR technique in patients with head and neck cancer. In total, 87 patients with head and neck malignancies and 87 control group who have not any malignancies were included in the study between January 2011 and February 2012 in Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine Department of ORL.

GSTT1 is deregulated in left colon tumors.

Our aim was to determine GSTT1 expression levels in left colon tumors and paired normal tissue in order to identify specific alterations in GSTT1 mRNA levels. Alterations in GSTT1 expression in twenty-four left- sided colon tumors and paired cancer free tissue were determined by qRT-PCR. Significant fold changes were determined with t-test.

Investigation of NF-κB1 and NF-κBIA gene polymorphism in non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a complex, multifactorial disease which is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. NF-κB is a transcription factor which is known to affect the expression of more than 150 genes related to inflammation, lymphocyte activation, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as contributing to cell apoptosis and survival. However, NF-κBIA (IκBα) is the inhibitor of the transcription factor.

The significance of HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1 and HSP90B1 gene polymorphisms in a Turkish population with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background/aim: Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones which modify the structures and interactions of other proteins. The aim of our study was to investigate HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1 and HSP90B1 gene polymorphisms in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Ninety-seven patients with NSCLC and 97 healthy controls were included in the study.

Investigation of biomarker in laryngeal carcinomas.

Background: The aim of the study is to determine whether there is a role of podoplanin and glutathione S-transferases T1 (GST-T1) expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: In this study, 33 patients were enrolled and gene expression analysis was performed by qRT-PCR. The podoplanin and GST-T1 expression patterns were analyzed to determine their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters of laryngeal cancer.

Identification of a differential expression signature associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: Metastasis is the most significant prognostic factor for laryngeal carcinoma which necessitates the identification of molecular alterations associated with metastasis. The identification of such molecular alterations will not only prove useful in treatment but also provide insight into mechanisms of cancer metastasis. The studies conducted so far have not specifically focused on metastasis or invasion pathways.

Association between survivin gene promoter -31G/C and -644C/T polymorphisms and non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. Survivin is one of the first reported inhibitors of apoptosis proteins, which is an important family of proteins that regulate apoptosis. The survivin gene is located on human chromosome 17q25, which is composed of 142 amino acids.

Serum osteopontin levels as a predictor of portal inflammation in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Osteopontin is a secreted phosphorylated glycoprotein that is expressed by a variety of cell types and that mediates numerous and diverse biological functions. Osteopontin knockout mice are protected from obesity-induced hepatic steatosis. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether serum osteopontin concentrations are associated with liver histology in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Concentrations of connective tissue growth factor in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: association with liver fibrosis.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the histological fibrosis stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and serum connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to determine the usefulness of this relationship in clinical practice.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 51 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 28 healthy controls, and serum levels of CTGF were assayed by ELISA.

Results: Levels of CTGF were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD compared with controls (P=0.

Analysis of serum micro-RNAs as potential biomarker in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a complex disease with genetic and environmental compound is one of the leading causes of death in worldwide. This disease is characterized by lower airway inflammation, and increases risk of lung cancer in smokers. Micro-RNA (miRNA) molecules are key regulators in gene expression that have been widely associated with a several diseases.

Is MMP-7 gene polymorphism a possible risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Turkish patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to fixed narrowing of small airways and alveolar wall destruction (emphysema). This study was performed to test the association between MMP-7 (rs155668818) and MMP-12 (rs56184183) polymorphisms in the MMP-7 gene and COPD risk and its severity in the Turkish population. MMP-7 and MMP-12 polymorphisms were genotyped in 85 patients with COPD and 73 healthy control subjects using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Investigation of a possible relationship between EPHX1 gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer in Turkish society.

Metabolism of chemical carcinogens, including their activation and detoxification, plays a key role in carcinogenesis. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) has an important role in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and detoxification of procarcinogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between colorectal cancer (CRC) development and EPHX1 gene polymorphisms.

Association of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 level with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, worldwide. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) was recently characterized as a novel inflammatory biomarker that is correlated with several components constituting the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: In this study, we determined the serum levels of Lp-PLA2 in patients with definite nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, n=25), borderline NASH (n=22), simple fatty liver (n=10), and healthy controls without evidence of liver disease (n=38).

Ophthalmic and central retinal artery flow velocities in patients with Behçet's disease.

Vascular involvement is a well known manifestation of Behçet's disease (BD) and may effect systemic and regional circulation in patients with BD. We evaluated ophthalmic and central retinal artery flow velocities in these patients. Mean ophthalmic and central retinal artery flow velocities were lower in patients with BD than in healthy controls, but the cause and significance of these findings remain to be defined.