Determination of ApaI and TaqI Polymorphisms of VDR Gene in a Group of Turkish Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer death among human around the world. The vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) is a member of the nuclear receptor super family, which is expressed in the tissue of gastrointestinal tract, known to modulate the rate of cell proliferation. We aimed to investigate the genotype and allele frequencies and association of the VDR gene: c.1025-49G>T (ApaIG>T) and c.1056T>C (TaqIT>C) polymorphisms with CRC in Turkish patients. Fifty-six patients with CRC and 169 healthy individuals were enrolled to study, and their DNA was isolated. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to detect the frequency of c.1025-49G>T and c.1056T>C polymorphisms. The prevalence of the c.1025-49G>T and c.1056T>C alleles and the genotype frequencies in patients with CRC was similar to that in the normal population. The investigated polymorphisms in the VDR gene do not represent I significant risk factor for CRC in our populatio

Investigation of CTLA-4 and CD28 Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Using PCR-RFLP in a Turkish Population

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether specific polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 and CD28 gene are associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Blood samples were collected from 241 individuals (72 patients with T2DM and 169 healthy individuals) and DNA was isolated. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect the frequencies of CTLA-4 NM_005214.3:c.49A > G and c.-319C > T, and CD28 NM_006139.1:c.534+17T > C polymorphisms in T2DM patients in the Sanliurfa Population. Results: The data suggested that body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were significantly higher in T2DM patients than in the control individuals (p G, c.-319C > T genotype and allele of CTLA-4 gene and c.534+17T > C of the CD28 gene in T2DM patients compared to healthy individuals (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The CTLA-4 gene c.49A >G and c.-319C >T and CD28 gene c.534+17T > C polymorphisms did not represent an important risk factor for this disease in a group of the Turkish population. Keywords: CD28, CTLA-4, T2DM, polymorphism "Investigación de Polimorfismos en los Genes CTLA-4 y CD28 en Pacientes con Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 Usando PCR-RFLP en una Población Turca" RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es investigar si los polimorfismos específicos en los genes CTLA-4 y CD28 se hallan asociados con la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2). Métodos: Se recogieron muestras de sangre de 241 individuos (72 pacientes con DMT2 y 169 individuos sanos) y se aisló el ADN. Se usó un método de polimorfismo de la longitud de los fragmentos de restricción-reacción en cadena por la polimerasa (PCR-RFLP), con el fin de detectar las frecuencias de CTLA-4 NM_005214.3:c.49A > G y c. 319C > T, y los polimorfismos CD28 NM_006139.1:c.534 + 17T > C en pacientes con DMT2 en la población de Sanliurfa. Resultados: Los datos sugirieron que el índice de masa corporal (IMC), el colesterol total (CT), el triglicérido (TG), el colesterol de lipoproteína de baja densidad (CLBD) y la hemoglobina A1c (HbA1c) eran significativamente más altas en los pacientes con DMT2 que en los individuos del grupo control (p G, c. -319C > el genotipo de T y el alelo del gene CTLA-4 y c.534+17T > C del gene de CD28 en pacientes con DMT2 comparados a los individuos sanos (p > 0.05). Conclusión: Los polimorfismos del gene CTLA-4 c.49A > G y el gene de c. -319C > T, y los polimorfismos del gene CD28 c.534 + 17T > C no representaron un factor de riesgo importante para esta enfermedad en un grupo de la población turca. Palabras claves: CD28, CTLA-4, DMT2, polimorfism

Investigation of CTLA-4 and CD28 Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Using PCR-RFLP in a Turkish Population

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate whether specific polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 and CD28 gene are associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Blood samples were collected from 241 individuals (72 patients with T2DM and 169 healthy individuals) and DNA was isolated. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect the frequencies of CTLA-4 NM_005214.3:c.49A > G and c.-319C > T, and CD28 NM_006139.1:c.534+ 17T > C polymorphisms in T2DM patients in the Sanliurfa Population. Results: The data suggested that body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were significantly higher in T2DM patients than in the control individuals (p G, c.-319C > T genotype and allele of CTLA-4 gene and c.534+ 17T > C of the CD28 gene in T2DM patients compared to healthy individuals (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The CTLA-4 gene c.49A > G and c.-319C > T and CD28 gene c.534+ 17T > C polymorphisms did not represent an important risk factor for this disease in a group of the Turkish populatio

Sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) in Sanliurfa, Turkey: Relationship of Phlebotomus sergenti with the epidemic of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

PubMed ID: 11931243Sand fly (Diptera: Phlebotominae) fauna were surveyed in various districts of Sanliurfa in southeast Turkey for 3 yr immediately after an epidemic of cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania tropica). Sticky papers and CDC light traps collected a total of 10,937 sand flies, of which 10,919 (4,158 females and 6,761 males) were identified as Phlebotomus and 18 (11 females and seven males) as Sergentomyia (S. theodori Parrot; S. adleri Theodor). Eight Phlebotomus spp. were identified: P. sergenti Parrot (72.3%), P. papatasi (Scopoli) (27.2%), P. brevis Theodor & Mesghali (0.20%), P. neglectus Leger & Pesson (0.13%), P. perfiliewi Parrot (0.05%), P. mascitti Grassi, P. halepensis Theodor, and P. alexandri Sinton (0.01%). Phlebotomus mascitti and P. neglectus, along with both Sergentomyia sp., have not been previously described from the study area. Similar results were obtained when both trapping methods were applied in the same houses, indicating that local P. sergenti and P. papatasi populations were equally attracted to the light. P. sergenti was consistently abundant, agreeing with the general view that this species is the vector of leishmaniasis in the region. There was no apparent decrease in the relative abundance of this vector versus the other species, suggesting that factor(s) other than a change in the dynamics of sand fly populations precipitated the decline of the human leishmaniasis epidemic in Sanliurfa

Patterns of active and passive smoking, and associated factors, in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) region in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is an important health threat in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the frequency of and main factors associated with smoking in persons of 15 years and over, and the frequency of passive smoking in homes in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) Region in Turkey. METHODS: A cross sectional design was employed. The sample was chosen by the State Institute of Statistics using a stratified cluster probability sampling method. 1126 houses representing the SEAP Region were visited. Questionnaires about tobacco smoking and related factors were applied to 2166 women and 1906 men (of 15 years old and above) in their homes. Face-to-face interview methods were employed. Participants were classified as current, ex, and non-smokers. The presence of a regular daily smoker in a house was used as an indication of passive smoking. The chi-square and logistic regression analysis methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking, in those of 15 years and over, was 11.8% in women and 49.7% in men. The prevalence of current smokers was higher in urban (34.5%) than in rural (22.8%) regions. The mean of total cigarette consumption was 6.5 packs/year in women and 17.9 packs/year in men. There was at least one current smoker in 70.1% of the houses. CONCLUSION: Smoking is a serious problem in the South-eastern Anatolian Region. Male gender, middle age, a high level of education and urban residency were most strongly associated with smoking

Vaccination coverage in the South-East Anatolian Project (SEAP) region and factors influencing low coverage

Objectives: To determine the vaccination coverage of children living in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) region; whether the vaccination coverage was similar to formal reports, other studies and other countries; and which factors influence vaccination, in order to indicate how vaccination coverage can be improved. Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in nine provinces of the SEAP region in order to determine public health problems and their causes. Methods: A population-based sample of 1150 houses was selected from rural and urban areas of the SEAP region and visited by the researchers. Questionnaires were applied in 2001 and 2002. Results: In the SEAP region, only 30% of children had received a complete set of vaccines. The vaccination coverage was 76.7% for Bacille Calmette-Guérin; 62.0% for the third doses of diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, pertussis and polio vaccine; 62.7% for measles; 44% for the third dose of hepatitis B vaccine in children aged 12-23 months; and 13.3% for the second dose of tetanus toxoid in women who gave birth in the last 5 years. In logistic regression analysis, residence type, number of siblings, birth interval, follow-up visits of midwives, and maternal level of education were found to influence whether children were completely vaccinated. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that vaccination coverage is not acceptable in the SEAP region. Efforts must focus on family planning services, education of women, follow-up visits and strengthening health facilities, especially in rural regions, to improve vaccination. © 2005 The Royal Institute of Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved