ABSTRACT
Bladder cancer (BC) has shown a significant global health concern with distinct pathological, genetic, and epigenetic characteristics. Its prevalence is influenced by various risk factors, including age, gender, and genetic predisposition. This study investigates the association between BC and the Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) gene polymorphism rs369274325 in the Turkish population. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples and genotyping of rs369274325 polymorphism in SIRT 1 was investigated in 200 individuals (in 100 Turkish bladder cancer patients and 100 healthy individuals as the control group.) by real-time PCR. Demographic information, smoking and alcohol consumption status was analyzed by statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson's Chi-square test. Smoking and alcohol consumption were significantly higher in BC patients compared to controls (p < 0.00018 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The genotypic distribution of SIRT1 rs369274325 did not show a significant difference between BC patients and controls (p = 0.5550). BC, influenced by genetic and environmental factors, has been linked to various gene mutations. SIRT1, involved in diverse physiological processes, is proposed to play a role in BC. However, our study did not find a significant association between SIRT1 rs369274325 polymorphism and BC in the Turkish population.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Some studies have discovered a connection between prostate cancer and COVID-19. In this study, we evaluated the link between prostate cancer and COVID-19, contributing to elucidate the connection between TMPRSS2 and ACE2. We discovered 209 number of variants in TMPRSS2 gene, and 110 variants represent EA populations and 99 of them represent AA populations. Moreover, we found 23 suspected missense and 3 unknown variants. Then, linked genes to TMPRSS2 and ACE2 were found in our study. We investigated the expression level of TMPRSS2 and the results showed that it was very high in the prostate, colon, lung, kidney, and saliva-secreting gland. Also, the important role of the AR gene was revealed in addition to other oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes for prostate cancer by KEGG Pathway analysis. In conclusion, these results can highlight several molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2, and also TMPRSS2, ACE2, and AR connection explains the high expression level of AR gene found in the male lung.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Varicocele is abnormal dilation of testis veins. The precise mechanism of varicocele is not fully understood despite some hypothesis were suggested in the literature. Disequilibrium between constrictor and dilatator mechanism of the veins have been shown to cause varicocele. High-grade varicoceles have been also linked to endothelial dysfunction and increased vasoconstriction. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that epicardial fat thickness (EFT), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and aortic stiffness (AS) could be associated with varicocele. In the present study, we aimed to compare vascular parameters such as FMD, EFT and AS in healthy subjects and high-grade varicocele patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 35 men with high-grade varicocele and 32 age- and sex-matched control subjects younger than 45 years old. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital between May to October 2018. RESULTS: EFT, aortic diastolic diameters (AoDD) and EFT/BMI ratio were significantly higher in control group than in patients with high-grade (p=0.012, p=0.044, p=0.026, respectively). EFT and EFT /BMI ratio were significantly and inversely correlated with presence of varicocele (r=-0.422, p=0.009; r=-0.38, p=0.026, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that high-grade varicocele may be associated with decreased echocardiographic EFT but not with aortic stiffness and FMD.
