Feridun Akkafa

Investigation of CTLA‐4 and CD28 gene polymorphisms in a group of Turkish patients with colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. The immune system is an important defence mechanism against cancer and is often dysfunctional in patients with malignancies. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) and CD28 genes encode receptors that provide negative and positive signals, respectively. Polymorphisms in these genes can affect their functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of cancer with the frequencies and roles of CTLA‐4/+49A > G (exon 1) and –318C > T (promoter), and CD28/IVS3 + 17T > C (intron 3 position + 17). These polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) in 218 Turkish subjects (56 patients with CRC and 162 healthy controls). No statistically significant differences in the genotype distributions of CTLA‐4/+49GG (1.8% vs. 6.8%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.250, P = 0.305) and CTLA‐4/−318TT (0% vs. 0.6%, OR = 1.006, P = 1.000), and CD28/IVS3 + 17CC (8.9% vs. 3.7%, OR = 0.2411, P = 0.155) between patients with CRC and healthy controls, were observed. We also found that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of CTLA‐4/+49G (18.8% vs. 20.1%, OR = 0.920, P = 0.891) and CTLA‐4/−318T (7.1% vs. 4.3%, OR = 1.653, P = 0.314), and CD28/IVS3 + 17C alleles (25.9% vs. 19.1%, OR = 1.353, P = 0.139) between two study groups. Present results suggested that CTLA‐4 and CD28 gene polymorphisms did not play an important role in Turkish patients with CRC.

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

BackgroundSmoking 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.MethodsA cross sectional design was employed. The sample waschosen 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 andlogistic regressionanalysis methods were used for the statistical analysis.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionSmoking 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.

Identification of Leishmania parasites in clinical samples obtained from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients using PCR-RFLP technique in endemic region, Sanliurfa province, in Turkey

Antroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is an endemic disease and one of the major health problems in Sanliurfa province located in the southeastern region of Turkey. Leishmania tropica is confirmed as the causative agent of ACL in this region. In Sanliurfa city alone, the recorded total cases of ACL were 6,817 between 2001 and 2006. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for identification and differentiation of the Leishmania parasite in comparison to direct microscopic examination of clinical samples. The lesion exudates were collected from 51 ACL suspected patients and used for smear-slide preparations and DNA isolation. The isolated DNA was amplified by PCR, including primers selected on repetitive DNA for identification of a Leishmania subgenus, and the amplified DNA was restricted by HaeIII restriction endonuclease. The PCR-RFLP results showed that only L. tropica exists in this province. It is also determined that the positivity rate with PCR was higher (96%) than by microscopic examination (64%) in the diagnosis of ACL. Our results indicate that the PCR-RFLP method is more sensitive and specific for the detection and differentiation of agents of ACL in this area.

Monitoring of failure of chloroquine treatment for Plasmodium vivax using polymerase chain reaction in Sanliurfa province, Turkey

Malaria is a complex disease that varies widely in epidemiology and clinical manifestation in the southeastern part of Turkey. In many regions of the world, chloroquine (CQ) has been the standard treatment for Plasmodium vivax. However, the resistance of the Plasmodium species to antimalarial drugs has become an increasing problem and a concern worldwide. Our target was to determine the Plasmodium species in the southeast region of Turkey and the therapeutic efficacy of CQ used in the treatment of malaria. Blood samples were collected from 180 patients infected with malaria before and after CQ treatment and were subjected to DNA isolation. The isolated DNA was amplified by a seminested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (SnM-PCR) including primers selected on Plasmodium small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) genes for identification of the malaria species. The SnM-PCR results showed that only P. vivax exists in this province. It was also determined that there is a therapeutic failure to CQ in 9.5% of patients. These were the second report on identification of P. vivax and the third report on determination of the therapeutic failure in patients who used CQ to cure human malaria in the southeastern region of Turkey. Our results demonstrate that the SnM-PCR is a sensitive, specific, and a rapid tool for the differentiation of malaria species.

Decreased HDAC1 Gene Expression in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract One of the commonest neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is characterized by progressive decline in memory and cognitive functions with inexorable neurodegeneration in brain. Histone-tail acetylation have been known to be associated with some crucial neurologic functions, thus, the enzymes regulating this events such as HDAC1 are associated with such neurodegenerative diseases like AD. The research objective was to document the levels of HDAC1 expression in peripheral lymphocytes harvested from patients clinically diagnosed with AD. Fifty patients diagnosed with AD, and 49 age-and sex-matched controls were recruited to the study. Total RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized, and HDAC1 expressions were tested using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). HDAC1 expression was found significantly attenuated in patients with AD compared with the controls (p>0.001). The research data suggested that lower expression levels of HDAC1 may have an impact in the etiology or disease course of AD.

miRNA-mediated apoptosis activation through TMEM 48 inhibition in A549 cell line

Lung has critic function in gas exchange, supplying oxygen to all cells. Rapid metastasis and the high rate of mortality characterises lung cancer. There are two types of this disease, small cell and non-small cell, which differs from each other according to histopathologic features. To date, many therapeutic approaches have been developed to destroy this deadly type of cancer, which one of them is mRNA targeted therapies through miRNA. miRNAs are 19-25 base paired molecules be able to suppress and destruct mRNA and found to be involved in development and progression of lung cancer. Transmembrane Protein 48 (TMEM48) is localised on nuclear pore complex and plays critic roles in nuclear traffic. Known that TMEM48 gene overexpressed in non-small lung cancer cells. Growing TMEM48 suppressed therapeutic studies indicated that decreased TMEM48 level might reveal a therapeutic effect for non-small cell lung cancers. TMEM48 studies based on the same strategy of gene-silencing, however, to our knowledge, any report has been published evaluates TMEM48s regulation by miRNAs. We aimed to clarify if miR-421 might be therapeutic player for non-small cancer cell lines (A549), hereby we suppressed TMEM48 by miR-421 and performed advanced molecular tests. Consequently, we recorded that while miR-421 is significantly suppressing TMEM48 expression; it increased apoptotic and tumor suppressor players CASPASE 3, PTEN and TP53 in A549 line, which is consistent with Annexin V - PI results: 30,6% of A549 observed to be apoptotic - 68,5% of A549 was in GO/G1. Our study indicated that miR-421 can suppress TMEM48 so that leads the cells to apoptosis. But it is not entirely clear how miR-421 triggers apoptosis and whether it interacts with the other cellular death pathways in A549.

Attitudes towards family planning in the Southeast Anatolian Project (SEAP) region of Turkey

Objective To determine attitudes towards family size and last pregnancies in order to improve family planning services in the Southeast Anatolian Project (SEAP) region. Methods A questionnaire survey in the nine SEAP regional provinces was carried out under the auspices of the ‘SEAP Public Health Project’ from 2001 to 2002. The participants comprised 1756 women and 661 men from 1126 households. Results For men and women aged 15 years and over the median ideal number of children was three. The rate of unintended last pregnancies (43.1%) in the present study was very high compared to the national average of 18.8%. Some 30.1% of the last pregnancies were unwanted by either partner. Conclusions The number of pregnancies and children in this region is approximately twice as high as the ideal number. Families in the region are having more children than they want. Basic education must be given to women, particularly non-Turkish speakers, to improve their knowledge and use of family planning. Family planning education for men in rural areas also needs special attention.