Inflammation and regulatory T cell genes are differentially expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Parkinson's disease patients.

Our aim was to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and healthy controls by microarray technology and analysis of related molecular pathways by functional annotation. Thirty PD patients and 30 controls were enrolled. Agilent Human 8X60 K Oligo Microarray was used for gene level expression identification.

LGALS3 and AXIN1 gene variants playing role in the Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway are associated with mucinous component and tumor size in colorectal cancer.

The Wnt pathway alterations have been identified in colorectal and many other cancer types. It has been reported that galectin-3 (which is encoded by the LGALS3 gene) alters the signaling mechanism in the Wnt/ β-catenin pathway by binding to β-catenin in colon and other cancers. AXIN1 is mainly responsible for the assembly of the β-catenin destruction complex in the Wnt pathway.

Does DRD2 polymorphism influence the clinical characteristics of prolactinoma?

Objectives: Genetic alterations explaining the clinical variability of prolactinomas still could not be clarified and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) polymorphism is a putative candidate for the variable response to dopaminergic treatment. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism on initial and follow-up characteristics of prolactinoma.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-two patients with prolactinoma and 98 age and gender matched control subjects were recruited to the case-control study.

Polymorphisms of MMP9 and TIMP2 in Patients with Varicose Veins.

Background: Genetic predisposition is a suggested risk factor in the etiology of varicose veins. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family degrades extracellular matrix (ECM) and may lead to disturbances in vein wall structure. The activity of MMPs in the ECM are controlled by specific tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP).

Lack of influence of the ACE1 gene I/D polymorphism on the formation and growth of benign uterine leiomyoma in Turkish patients.

Uterine leiomyomas (ULM), are benign tumors of the smooth muscle cells of the myometrium. They represent a common health problem and are estimated to be present in 30-70% of clinically reproductive women. Abnormal angiogenesis and vascular-related growth factors have been suggested to be associated with ULM growth.

Association between laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis induce ligand (TRAIL), TRAIL receptor and sTRAIL levels.

The laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors occurring in the head and neck. Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis induce ligand (TRAIL) and TRAIL-receptors (DR4, DR5, DcR1, DcR2) are known as important members of TRAIL-mediated biochemical signaling pathway. Associations between polymorphisms in these genes and clinicopathological characteristics of human laryngeal carcinoma are not well defined.

Determination of gene expression and serum levels of MnSOD and GPX1 in colorectal cancer.

Background/aim: Oxidative stress plays a role on the development of colorectal cancer. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) are crucial in regulating oxidative balance and its stabilization. Possible mechanisms of action of these enzymes in various types of cancers require further investigation.

TRAIL mediated signaling in pancreatic cancer.

Research over the years has progressively shown substantial broadening of the tumor necrosis factor alpha- related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated signaling landscape. Increasingly it is being realized that pancreatic cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease. Suppression of tumor suppressors, overexpression of oncogenes, epigenetic silencing, and loss of apoptosis are some of the extensively studied underlying mechanisms.

Investigation of ICAM-1 and β3 integrin gene variations in patients with brain tumors.

Background: Primary brain tumors constitute a small percent of all malignant cancers, but their etiology remains poorly understood. β3 integrin (ITGB3) has been recognized to play influential roles in angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a surface glycoprotein important for tumor invasion and angiogenesis.

Increased gastric cancer risk with PTEN IVS4 polymorphism in a Turkish population.

We aimed to investigate the association of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) IVS4 polymorphism with a gastric cancer (GC) risk in the Turkish population. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 93 patients with GC, and 113 healthy controls. The PTEN IVS4 (rs no: 3830675) polymorphism was determined by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

HER2 Ile655Val and PTEN IVS4 polymorphisms in patients with breast cancer.

Although HER2/PTEN pathway is commonly disrupted in cancer, association of HER2 and PTEN polymorphisms with breast cancer (BC) remains controversial. We investigated the HER2 Ile655 Val and PTEN IVS4 polymorphisms in patients with BC in Turkish population. HER2 Ile655Val (rs 1136201) and PTEN IVS4 (rs 3830675) polymorphisms were determined using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in blood samples of 118 BC patients and 118 age-matched healthy controls.

Association between PTEN IVS4 polymorphism and development of colorectal cancer in a Turkish population.

Background: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is one of the most frequently mutated suppressor genes in human cancers. However, there are no data about the role of PTEN IVS4 polymorphism in development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The authors aimed to determine the role of PTEN IVS4 variants in the etiology of CRC.

Assessment of endothelial function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the endothelial functions in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this observational case-control study, a total of 51 patients with NAFLD in study group and a total of 21 with age- and sex-equivalent individuals in control group were enrolled. In both patients and control groups, levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), systemic endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation) (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) were measured.

MCP-1 and CCR2 gene variants and the risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Aim: In this study, we investigated whether monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) gene polymorphisms account for an increased risk of osteoporosis or osteopenia.

Methods: Three hundred three postmenopausal women, 80 osteoporotic, 123 osteopenic, and 100 unrelated age-matched healthy controls, were included in the study. Genotyping of MCP-1 A2518G and CCR2 V64I gene polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP.

Plasma fibrinogen-like protein 2 levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/aims: Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (fgl2), has recently been identified as a new member of the fibrinogen-like family of proteins. In this study we assayed plasma levels of fgl2 in patients with biopsy proven non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and examined their association with clinical, biochemical and histological phenotypes.

Methodology: Levels of plasma fgl2 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and compared between the study groups.

The effect of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 gene polymorphisms in bladder cancer development in a Turkish population.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association of the CYP1A1 Ile462Val and GSTM1 null polymorphisms with the risk of developing bladder cancer in a Turkish population.

Patients And Methods: The study constituted 176 patients with bladder cancer and 97 healthy individuals. Evaluation of CYP1A1 Ile462Val gene polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

MMP2 gene polymorphisms and MMP2 mRNA levels in patients with superficial varices of lower extremities.

Background: Although superficial varices of lower extremities with high morbidity are common, their etiology has not been elucidated yet. Previously, it was thought that venous hypertension was responsible for such cases by causing valvular insufficiency, but recent findings indicate that the changes in the venous wall structure might be main initiating factors. Matrix metalloproteinase enzyme-2 (MMP2) is one of the enzymes known to have functions in remodelling of the extracellular matrix mainly in vascular structures.

Cyclooxygenase-2 gene and epithelial ovarian carcinoma risk.

In this study, we aimed to investigate a possible association of the COX-2 polymorphisms (-765G→C and -1195A→G) and with the risk of developing epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). COX-2 gene polymorphisms was investigated in 111 healthy women and 57 patients with EOC. Individuals who had -765 CG, -1195 AA genotype, and -765 C allele had increased risk for ovarian carcinoma (P < 0.