Genetic Analysis of MEFV Gene Pyrin Domain in Patients With Behçet's Disease

Objectives. Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis with recurrent oral and genital ulcers and uveitis. MEFV gene, which is the main factor in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), is also reported to be a susceptibility gene for BD. The pyrin domain of MEFV gene is a member of death-domain superfamily and has been proposed to regulate inflammatory signaling in myeloid cells. This study was designed to determine if mutations in pyrin domain of MEFV gene are involved in BD. Methods. We analyzed the pyrin domain of MEFV gene in 54 Turkish patients with BD by PCR-analysis and direct sequencing. Results. Neither deletion or insertion mutations nor point mutations in pyrin domain were found in any patient. Conclusion. Although pyrin gene mutations have been reported in patients with BD, pyrin domain is not mutated. However, alterations in other regions of MEFV gene and interaction between pyrin domains are needed to be further investigated

Menopause status and attitudes in a Turkish midlife female population: an epidemiological study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is a well accepted status that socio-cultural characteristics may affect the onset of menopause and its characteristics. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence rates of menopausal symptoms and these symptoms related factors, and to assess the women's attitudes towards some climacteric issues.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This survey was conducted between Jan., 1^st2008 and March, 31^st2008 to research the menopause status of the female population in a city of western Turkey. The study group consisted of 1551 women selected with a multistage area sampling method: a random sample of individuals aged 40-65 years. The questionnaire included questions pertaining to women's sociodemographic characteristics, women's menopausal status, some statements about the climacteric, use of hormones at menopause or before menopause, and some climacteric myths. The data was analyzed by Chi-square (x²) analysis and percent (%) ratios with a significant value of <it>P </it>< 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of the women was 49.1 years. Over 90% of the women were of the negative opinion that the climacteric is "the end of youth", "the end of fecundity", and "the end of unclean days". Most women said that cessation of menstrual periods was the most positive thing because they do not have to wait for monthly bleedings, use sanitary equipment, or take birth control methods. There were significant connections between age groups and nearly all the items, with the exception of the items "the end of life" and "the end of fecundity". Among the women, hot flushes were the most common complaint occurring in 96.5% of women: being severe in 32.9%, moderate in 43.1% and mild in 20.4%. This was followed by low backache or muscle pain 95.0% (25.9% severe, 46.0% moderate and mild 23.1%), headache 91.7% (21.9% severe, 34.9% moderate and 34.9% mild) and feeling tired 91.0% (15.3% severe, 38.6% moderate and 37.1% mild).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Most of the women in this study had mixed ideas of opinions concerning the climacteric, and the majority was also suffering from climacteric complaints. This data could assist healthcare providers in the provision of culturally competent health care to midlife Turkish women.</p

Relationship between major depressive disorder and ACE gene I/D polymorphism in a Turkish population

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex disease and a significant health problem that is prevalent across the world. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has an important role in renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and converts inactive angiotensin I to a potent vasopressor and aldosterone-stimulating peptide angiotensin II. Levels of ACE in plasma vary according to the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of ACE gene. Objective The aim of the current study was to examine the influence ACE gene I/D variations on the risk of MDD. Methods In the present case-control study, we analyzed ACE I/D polymorphism in 346 MDD patients and 210 healthy subjects using polymerase chain reaction technique. Results Comparing the two groups, no significant difference was observed with regard to either genotype distributions or allele frequencies of the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene. Discussion Our findings suggest that the ACE I/D polymorphism is not associated with MDD in Turkish case-control study. Further studies are still needed

The Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Lightweight Concrete under the Effect of High Temperature

This study aimed to produce lightweight concrete by using 50% pumice as coarse aggregate and 0.1% and 0.3% glass fiber. It is aimed to investigate the changes that will occur in the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength properties of the samples when this lightweight concrete produced is exposed to temperatures of 150 °C, 300 °C, 450 °C and 600 °C. The study was carried out in six stages. In the first stage, reference samples were produced. In the second stage, 0.1% and 0.3% glass fiber reinforced lightweight concrete samples were produced. In the third stage, unit weight, porosity, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength tests were applied to the produced samples. In the fourth step, the samples were gradually exposed to different temperatures (150 °C, 300 °C, 450 °C and 600 °C). In the fifth stage, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength tests were applied to the samples exposed to high temperature. In the sixth and final stage, SEM images of 0.1% glass fiber reinforced lightweight concrete samples were analysed. As a result, it was observed that the unit weight value decreased and the porosity values increased with glass fiber reinforcement. There was also an increase in compressive and splitting tensile strengths. In addition, it was observed that the samples exposed to 150 oC temperature had the highest compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. In the analysis of SEM images, with the increase in temperature, it was determined that the samples in microstructure changed into macrostructure as well as the cracks occurred in the sample structure. The importance of this study stem from increasing tensile strength of lightweight concrete with glass fiber reinforcement so as to prevent loss of life and property in an earthquake.This study is important because it increases the tensile strength of lightweight concrete with low tensile strength with glass fiber reinforcement. This will result in less loss of life and property in an earthquake. Keywords: Glass fiber, pumice, lightweight concrete, high temperature DOI: 10.7176/CER/14-4-07 Publication date:June 30th 202

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in Beh double dagger et's disease with or without ocular involvement

WOS: 000267826500008PubMed: 19255721The association of known ACE gene and eNOS gene polymorphisms with BD in a group of Turkish patients with or without ocular involvement has been investigated. The ACE and eNOS gene polymorphisms were investigated in 73 BD patients and 90 controls. The distrubition of "DD", "ID" and "II" genotypes of the ACE gene were 32 (43.8%), 29 (39.8%) and 12 (16.4%) for BD patients and 32 (35.5%), 35 (38.9%) and 23 (25.6%) for healthy controls. There was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.140, OR 1.44, CI 0.90-2.30). When Beh double dagger et patients with ocular involvement were compared to the control group, statistical significance was found (p = 0.049, OR 2.18, CI 1.00-4.81). The "bb", "ba", and "aa" genotype frequencies of the eNOS gene were 48 (65.8%), 23 (31.5%), and 2 (2.7%) for patients with BD and 75 (83.3%), 15 (16.7%), and 0 (0%) for healthy controls, respectively. The significant difference found in allelic frequencies between the two groups (p = 0.011, OR 2.32, CI 1.11-4.87). When Beh double dagger et patients with ocular involvement were compared, sharper statistical significance was found (p = 0.001,OR 4.61,CI 1.85-11.52). The ACE gene polymorphism does not play a role in the pathogenesis of BD. The findings of the eNOS gene polymorphisms confirmed the significant association with BD and even more in patients with ocular involvement

Association of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen-4 Gene Polymorphisms with Psoriasis Vulgaris: A Case-Control Study in Turkish Population

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and autoimmune skin disease in which dysregulation of immune cells, particularly T cells, is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) expressed only on activated T cells is an immunoregulatory molecule and plays a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. We aimed to determine whether CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with development and/or clinical features of psoriasis vulgaris (Pv). Genotyping of SNPs (-318C>T, +49A>G, and CT60A>G) in CTLA-4 gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 103 Pv patients and 102 controls. No statistically significant associations were detected in any of the investigated genetic models for the -318C>T polymorphism. The genotype distributions of +49A>G and CT60A>G were associated with Pv development. In haplotype analysis, while frequency of CAA haplotype was significantly higher in the control group, frequencies of CGG and CAG haplotype were significantly higher among the patients. However, all of CTLA-4 polymorphisms and haplotypes do not have an effect on severity and onset age of Pv. In conclusion, the +49A>G and CT60A>G polymorphisms may be risk factors for Pv development. Furthermore, CGG and CAG haplotypes may contribute to Pv development, while CAA haplotype may be protective against Pv

On the Periods of Biperiodic Fibonacci and Biperiodic Lucas Numbers

This paper is concerned with periods of Biperiodic Fibonacci and Biperiodic Lucas sequences taken as modulo prime and prime power. By using Fermat's little theorem, quadratic reciprocity, many results are obtained

Potential Effects of Liquidambar orientalis Mill. Against HT-29 and HCT-116 Cell Lines

Medicinal plants are natural sources which contain a wide range of substances. They are often used to treat various diseases due to their antimicrobial, antimutagenic and antioxidant effects. Also they are best source of many drugs. Liquidambar orientalis Mill. (L. orientalis), a medical plant is an endemic tree species in the Mediterranean region. L. orientalis also called as sweet gum, is used for such as some skin, respiratory and gastric ulser disease. We prepared 3 extracts each of fruid, leaf and storax by use different polarity solutions. For all extracts are studied cytotoxicity assay by XTT methods in colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29, HCT-116). The most cytotoxic extract is chosen to quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. To gene expression, total RNA isolated from both cell lines and NF-kB Signaling Pathway PCR Array (88 gene and 8 housekeeping gene) was studied. Leaf methanol extracts estimated IC50 values of respectively 28.30 uM, 40.42 uM in HT-29, HCT-116 cell lines after treatment with different doses of extract for 48h. According to our results some significant inflammation and immune response genes expression seem to be change (such as IL1B, TNFRSF10A). L. orientalis extract may strong potent cytotoxic and anti-inflammatuar agent for colorectal cancer

Rheum ribes Extract Increase the Expression Level of miR-200 Family in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Natural products obtained from plants have been used in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer since ancient times. Herbal medicine are the mixtures of therapeutic or preventive components, and so might have more activity than single purified chemicals alone. Rheum ribes species that one of the herbs commonly used in pharmacological researches. R. ribes has been determined that Rheum ribes plant species contain strong active compounds. The samples of the stem and root of Rheum ribes were dried and powdered, and then extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol solvents respectively. The cytotoxic effects of Rheum ribes extracts on HCT-116 and HT-29 cells were assessed using the XTT test. In order to determine the IC50 dose, plant extracts were applied to the cells at time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h) and dose-dependent at 50–1000 μM. To examine the effects on miR-200 family of the methanol extract, expression profile of the target miRNAs (miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-141) are determined by qPCR. According to the results, while the expression level of miR-200a and miR-141 increased in both cell lines, miR-200c increased only in dose group HCT116 cells compared with control cells. It is thought that R. Ribes extract may be significant agent for treatment of colorectal cancer