Isik Didem Karagoz

CDC25A gene 263C/T, -350C/T, and -51C/G polymorphisms in breast carcinoma

The family of cell division cycle 25 (CDC25) phosphatase is one of the important regulators of the cell cycle progression. In mammalian cells, three isoforms have been identified: CDC25A, CDC25B, and CDC25C. CDC25A is required to enter S time, and the overexpression of this phosphatase accelerates the entrance to S time. CDC25A overexpression could render tumor cells less sensitive to DNA replication checkpoints, thereby contributing to their genomic instability. We aimed to investigate, for the first time, the frequency of human CDC25A gene SNPs in metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer. Total number of 281 eligible patients with histologically confirmed incident of breast cancer and 137 cancer-free controls were included. The detection of CDC25A gene polymorphisms was achieved with real-time polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. We found that the 263C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with breast cancer and risk of metastasis. The -350C/T polymorphism in the promoter region of CDC25A gene was found to associate with neither breast cancer nor metastasis. The other promoter polymorphism -51C/G in the CDC25A gene associated with breast cancer but not associated with metastasis. These data suggest that 263C/T and -51C/G polymorphisms of CDC25A gene could be candidate markers for earlier diagnosis and targets for breast cancer therapy.

A significant by-product of the industrial processing of pistachios: shell skin – RP-HPLC analysis, and antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of the methanol extracts of Pistacia vera L. shell skins cultivated in Gaziantep, Turkey

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of the methanol extracts of immature and mature shell skins of Pistacia vera L. As well as biological activity tests, phytochemical compositions of the extracts were also investigated. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was determined in addition to the amounts of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, (+)-catechin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, (−)-epicatechin, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, hesperidin, quercetin, kaempferol, and apigenin. The immature shell skin was found to be rich in both phenolic and flavonoid compounds (52.29 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per g of extract and 16.78 mg of rutin equivalent (RE) per g of extract). In immature shell skins, the amounts of protocatechuic acid (4335 μg per g of extract), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (12 925 μg per g of extract), p-coumaric acid (120 μg per g of extract), quercetin (620 μg per g of extract), and apigenin (190 μg per g of extract) were higher than those of the mature one. In parallel to these findings, immature shell skins exhibited a higher antioxidant activity in all test systems than that of the mature one. The samples did not show any inhibitory activity on butyrylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase. Mature shell skins exhibited considerable inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (2.15 mg of galantamine equivalent (GALAE) per g of extract). The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the mature shell skin was also found as 3.14 mg kojic acid equivalent (KAE) per g of extract. The immature shell skin remained inactive on this enzyme. The samples also showed remarkable inhibitory activity of α-amylase.

Hepatoprotective effect of diffractaic acid on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

This study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of diffractaic acid isolated from a lichen species, Usnea longissima, at 3 doses, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage. For this purpose, 40 Wistar albino rats were divided in 5 groups, including 3 experimental and 2 control ones, and 0.2 mL/kg of CCl4 in olive oil (1:5 v/v) was injected daily for 6 weeks intraperitoneally. After the liver injury, diffractaic acid was applied at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 7 days. The group given physiologic saline (0.2 mL/kg) was used as a control group. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, creatinine, urea, direct and total bilirubin and C-reactive protein levels were also evaluated in the serum samples obtained from the rat groups. Liver tissues were removed and were examined histopathologically following staining with hematoxylin–eosin. The results showed that 50 mg/kg daily dose of diffractaic acid could be considered to have hepatoprotective effect by ameliorating the studied biochemical parameters and tissue histological structures. However, 100 and 200 mg/kg of diffractaic acid acted as hepatotoxin and did not show any hepatoprotective effect. Thus, diffractaic acid could be potentially used as a hepatoprotective agent at a low dose (50 mg/kg) against acute liver toxicity induced by CCl4.

Antitumoral effect of a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice

BACKGROUND The Rho proteins and Rho-kinase (ROCK) enzymes are responsible for signal transduction, and cause cell permeability, contractility, differentiation, migration, proliferation or apoptosis depending on cell types. All of these functions are vital for cancer initiation and progression. In this study, the preventive and protective effects of a selective ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice were investigated. METHODS Adult male albino mice were divided into five equal groups, and Y-27632 (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg) was given to groups as two steps; before (pre-carcinoma) and after inoculation of carcinoma cell suspensions (post-carcinoma). At the end of the experiments (at day 15), cardiac blood samples, the ascitic fluid, and intestinal specimens were collected for histopathology and biochemical investigation. RESULTS Significant decreases in the body weight and immunostaining scores in small and large intestine for ROCK2, preservation of serum glutathione (GSH) levels, and an increase in tumor level of nitric oxide were recorded in groups pretreated with Y-27632. However, treatment with Y-27632 after tumor inoculation did not affect body weight and ROCK2 immunostaining scores, increased serum MDA levels, and decreased GSH levels. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study on the effectiveness of Y-27632 in this experimental tumor model. Our findings provided direct evidence for ROCK involvement in tumor development. These data suggest that pretreatment with Y-27632 has a protective effect against tumor formation.

MDM2 Gen Polymorphisms at Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Purpose: Leukemia is a malignant disease which is caused by bone marrow lymphopoietic or hematopoietic stem cells. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a class of leukemia which indicates phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity. MDM2 (Murine double minute 2 ) gene is a proto-oncogenes and previously studies in different cancer types shows that polymorphisms in MDM2 gene has connection with these cancer types. Methods: In this study, it is aimed that to determine whether a relation between MDM2 gene 354 A/G and -410 T/G regions’s single nucleotide polymorphisms with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) formation.To determine the polymorphism that turns Adenine nucleotide to guanine in the part of 354 A/G of MDM2 gene and in order to turns thymine nucleotide to guanine in the part of -410 T/G, the healthy 20 people were included to the study as a control group and 80 AML diagnosed patient. The blood which was collected from the study and control group isolated the DNA. Both two parties polymorphisms were studies RT-PCR. Results: As a result of 354 A/G part polymorphism, it was determined that all individuals have a genotype of wild type (AA). When it was compared the MDM2 gene 354 A/G part polymorphic distribution, it was not observed any significant difference between the patient and control groups statistically (p<0.005). As a result of -410 T/G part polymorphism evaluation; the 19 of 80 patients (23.75) have wild type (TT), 25 of them (31.25%) have heterozygous (TG) genotype and 36 of them (45%) mutant (GG) genotype were determined. When it was compared to MDM2 gene -410 T/G part’s polymorphic distribution it was observed a significant difference between the patient and control groups statistically (p<0.05). Conclusion: The MDM2 354 A/G region is not associated with acute myeloid leukemia. But the MDM2 SNP-410 in the promoter region polymorphisms and to play a role in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia has been identified. Beside this these polymorphisms could be a marker for early diagnosis and molecular analysis.

Development of an optical biosensor based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering for DNA analysis

Rapid, accurate and sensitive DNA analysis is critically important for the diagnostic of genetic diseases. The most common method preferred in practice is fluorescence based microarrays to analyze the DNA. However, there exist some disadvantages related to the above-mentioned method such as the overlapping of the fluorescence emission wavelengths that can diminish in the performance of multiplexing, needed to obtain fluorescence spectra from each dye and photo degradation. In this study, a novel SERS based DNA analysis approach, which is Raman active dye-free and independent of SERS substrate properties, is developed. First, the single strand DNA probe is attached to the SERS substrate and half of the complimentary DNA is attached to gold nanoparticles, as well. We hypothesize that in the presence of target DNA, the complimentary DNA coupled colloids will bind to the SERS substrate surface via hybridization of single strand target DNA. To test this hypothesis, we used UV/Vis spectroscopy, atomic for microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). DNA analysis is demonstrated by a peak shift of the certain peak of the small molecules attached to the SERS substrate surface instead of SERS spectrum obtained in the presence of target DNA from the Raman reporter molecules. The degree of peak shifting will be used for the quantification of the target DNA in the sample. Plasmonic properties of SERS substrates and reproducibility issues will not be considerable due to the use of peak shifting instead of peak intensity for the qualitative analysis.

Personal hygiene habituation and related factors of high school students in Gaziantep -Turkey

Hand hygiene practice has become quite an important issue among hygiene practices. Improving personal hygiene practices leads to decrease in the occurrence of many infectious diseases. A total of 1370 students in 36 classes in 9 schools in Gaziantep were included in this study by “size proportional systematic sampling” and “basic randomized sampling ” techniques. A data collection form termed as determining personal hygiene habituation was applied to all students. Total hygiene score was calculated according to the results of the “data collection form”. Thereafter, Hand flora samples of 350 students among classes who participated in data collection form application were inoculated against blood agar, eosin methylene blue and saboraud dextrose agar by application on all left hand fingers. Identification of microorganism was performed by conventional method. Staphylococcus aureus was mostly isolated from hand culture of male students and Streptococcus sp . and Enterobacter sp. were mostly isolated from female students. Both personal hygiene practice among high school students and also toilet hygiene condition of schools were inappropriate. In this regard, education about hygiene should be given priority and the necessary structural arrangements should be made in schools. Key words: Hygiene, Gaziantep, hand flora. INTRODUCTION Inappropriate hygiene practice is one of the most important reasons for the transmission of infectious diseases (Onsuz and Hidiroglu, 2008). Hand hygiene practice is at the head of personal hygiene practices (Nenstiel et al., 1997). Improving personal hygiene habituations was reported to result in fewer infectious diseases. Increasing the consciousness about hygiene in society leads to decrease in the frequency of these diseases (Grene, 2001). In this regard, students are the primary target group. Personal hygiene has much more importance among students because they spend the greater part of their time in crowded living environment, school and in propinquity and direct contact with each other. Teaching personal hygiene education to students

COMPARISON OF THE PCR WITH THE CEFOXITIN DISC DIFFUSION TEST FOR DETECTION OF METHICILLIN RESISTANCE IN OXACILLIN RESISTANT COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI (CONS)

ABSTRACT Nosocomial infections are a prevalent problem all over the world. Bacteraemias are the commonest types of infections and have high mortality and morbidity rates. S. epidermidis and S. aureus are the most frequently associated infectious agents with bacteriemia-acquired in hospital. It is common that these pathogens are resistant to methicillin that limits treatment alternatives. Several methods are developed to detect methicillin resistance rapidly and accurately. This study was aimed to compare the oxacillin and cefoxitin disc diffusion test with PCR for detection of methicillin resistance. Thirty-two CNS strains isolated from blood culture samples that were collected from hospitalized patients in ICUs of our hospital between October-December 2007 and determined to be resistant by oxacillin disc diffusion test, were included. Three strains were sensitive to cefoxitin and the rest of them were resistant. A total of 59.3% of oxacillin resistant strains and 55.2% of cefoxitin resistant strains were mecA positive. The detection of methicillin resistance by disc diffusion test is often false in a high percentage and therefore, especially in ICUs where critical patients are hospitalized, the usage of molecular techniques is more suitable.