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Curcumin plays a leading role as an epigenetic regulator in cancer. miR-15a-5p is a crucial non-coding RNA for breast cancer (BRCA) and various cancers due to its tumor suppressor role. In our study, we aimed to examine the curcumin/miR-15a-5p/target gene interaction in BRCA cells.

Introduction: This study investigates the relationship between serum TWEAK levels and the degree of vascular involvement in patients with stable angina pectoris, offering insights beyond conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Materials and Methods: This study involved 88 patients (33 women, 55 men) diagnosed with stable angina pectoris. Patients were classified based on angiographic findings. Comprehensive demographic and medical history data were collected, and morning blood samples were analyzed, focusing on TWEAK and IL-6 levels. To assess the severity of coronary artery lesions, a modified version of the Gensini scoring system was employed. Results: Analyses revealed no significant correlation between TWEAK levels and the severity of coronary artery disease. Although some variations in biochemical markers were observed based on gender and diabetic status, these differences did not exhibit a statistically significant relationship with the degree of vascular involvement. Conclusion: The findings indicate that serum TWEAK levels do not have a significant association with the severity of vascular involvement in patients with stable angina pectoris. These results highlight the limited efficacy of TWEAK as a sole biomarker in assessing the severity of coronary artery disease, emphasizing the complexity of its role.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematological cancer. Hence, it is important to conduct further studies investigating the molecular mechanisms in detail that contributes to myeloma genesis. In addition to genetic changes, epigenetic factors such as miRNAs may influence the expression of myeloma-related genes.

Abdisamad Mohamed Adan, Sevgi Özturk, Abdulkamil Abdullahi Adani, Mohamed Osman Omar Jeele Department of Internal Medicine, Mogadishu-Somali Turkish Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, SomaliaCorrespondence: Mohamed Osman Omar Jeele, Department of Internal Medicine, Mogadishu-Somali Turkish Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, Tel +252 615775226, Email drjeele@gmail.comAbstract: Rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening condition which is characterized by muscle injury and leakage of muscle contents into the systemic circulation. It has been known that hypothyroidism is associated with some degree of myalgia and muscle stiffness, but it can also be a cause of life-threatening rhabdomyolysis with end-organ damage. A combination of acute renal impairment due to rhabdomyolysis in patients with hypothyroidism, especially those who have no precipitating factors, is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of a 27-year-old male patient with severe hypothyroidism who presented to the emergency department with acute renal impairment due to rhabdomyolysis induced by severe hypothyroidism. The patient was admitted for 5 days and after levothyroxine 100 μg, intravenous fluid rehydration, input and output follow-up and close monitoring, the patient improved and was discharged in good condition.Keywords: rhabdomyolysis, hypothyroidism, acute renal injury, Somalia

Abstract: Aim: To investigate the proliferation and differentiation potential of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in a three‐dimensional culture model (TDM) by incorporation of VEGF and BMP‐2. Methodology: TDM was established using fibrin gel (fg) as a soft tissue matrix and demineralized dentine disc (dd) as a hard tissue matrix. DPSCs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were encapsulated in fibrin gel (fg‐VEGF) and then inserted into bone morphogenetic protein (BMP‐2)‐coated demineralized dentine discs (dd‐BMP‐2). DPSCs were incubated for 28 days in various fg/dd combinations in the absence or presence of VEGF and BMP‐2. Proliferation and morphology of DPSCs in fibrin gel were analysed using MTT and Live&Dead assays. Release profiles of VEGF and BMP‐2 from fibrin gel and dentine discs were quantified using ELISA, and the expressions of angiogenic and odontogenic differentiation markers were determined with RT‐qPCR analysis. Data were analysed statistically using Wilcoxon signed rank tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests with Mann–Whitney U tests and Bonferroni adjustment. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: DPSCs were able to proliferate and showed interconnected cellular elongations in fibrin gel depending on fibrinogen concentration whilst monolayer control group showed typical fibroblast‐like cell morphology. Encapsulating of VEGF in fibrin gel and BMP‐2 in gelatin that was used to coat dentine discs allowed the controlled releases of growth factors, which induced angiogenic and odontogenic gene expressions by DPSCs. Higher expressions of PECAM as an angiogenic factor, and BSP, DMP‐1, OCN and CBFA as odontogenic factors, were observed in TDM as compared to the other fg/dd combinations and the monolayer control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: TDM consisting of fibrin gel and dentine matrix allowed cell–cell interactions. TDM was highly effective in delivering both VEGF and BMP‐2 that enhanced the angiogenic and odontogenic potential of DPSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been reported particularly in the north-eastern part of Anatolia in Turkey. However, in recent years, many cases have been reported from western cities. Although Aydin is considered as a non-endemic area, 50 cases have been reported between 2006 and 2014. In a previous study, IgG seropositivity was found to be 19.6% in the endemic regions of Aydin. The aim of this study is to determine the seropositivity rates and contributing factors in non-endemic regions of Aydin as well as revealing the position of Aydin on the CCHF map of Turkey. Methods: Two hundred and ninety-three volunteers were enrolled in this study. Volunteers were asked seventeen questions related to demographic and factual features by face-to-face interviews. The VectoCrimea-CHF-IgG (Vector-Best, Novosibirsk, Russia) ELISA diagnostic kit was used to detect the virus-specific antibodies in serum samples of the volunteers. Results: IgG seropositivity in the study group was found to be 19.7% (n=58). Twenty-seven (27%) of 100 female participants and 31 (16.1%) of 193 male participants were seropositive for CCHF virus (p<0.05). Seropositivity was significantly higher in female sex (p=0.02). The most effective variable on IgG positivity in χ² automatic interaction detection analysis was found to be the region. The highest seropositivity was found in Aydin city centre with 29.5% among all study areas (p=0.006). Conclusions: In our study, we found that seropositivity of nonendemic regions (19.7%) was similar to the endemic regions (19.6%) in Aydin. In high risk areas of our country, IgG seroprevalence is reported as 12.8%. So, we think that Aydin should be considered as an endemic city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the equity phenomenon, which can be defined as an equal treatment for equal need irrespective of socio-economic status, in the utilization of health care services in Turkey (for out-patient and in-patient treatment services, separately) in the context of the behavioral model. We have used the “Health Surveys” obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute for 2010, 2012 and 2014. The equity phenomenon and the determinants of the health care utilization are investigated by using the probit model. The findings indicate that the need variable has the largest marginal effect in magnitude for all types of health care. This implies that the health system structure in Turkey is based on need and, therefore, equity exists in the utilization of health care services. We have also found that health insurance has the second largest marginal effect after the need variable. This means that policy makers should focus on enabling factors, especially the coverage of health insurance and the level of income to increase health care utilization of the disadvantaged segments of the population.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a neoplasm characterized by excessive accumulation of B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. We assessed the expressions of 22 genes in the p53 pathway in 30 CLL patients and 15 healthy subjects by a RT2 Profiler PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Array technique and their relation to cytogenetic aberrations detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Our Student’s t-test results indicated that ATM, ATR, BAX, CASP9, CDK4, CDKN2A, CHEK1, CHEK2, E2F3, MCL1, MDM2, MDM4, PCNA, RB1, P53 and BCL2 genes were statistically significant (p