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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.

BackgroundVitiligo is an autoimmune polygenic disorder characterized by loss of pigmentation due to melanocyte destruction. The PTPN22 gene +1858 C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2476601) has been shown to be associated with various autoimmune disorders.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the PTPN22 gene +1858 C>T single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to generalized vitiligo in a Turkish population.MethodsOne hundred and seven patients with generalized vitiligo, and one hundred and twelve gender-, age-, and ethnic-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.ResultsThe PTPN22 +1858 C>T genotype and allele frequencies of the generalized vitiligo patients did not differ significantly from those of healthy controls.ConclusionWe found no association between the PTPN22 +1858 C>T gene polymorphism and vitiligo susceptibility in Turkish generalized-vitiligo patients.

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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.