Ümit Çınkır's research while affiliated with Mersin University and other places

Background/Aims: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) whose prevalance differs in different populations is a multifactorial disease. T2D is describes a group of clinical syndromes resulting from glucose metabolism disorders triggered by genetic or environmental factors. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) gene participates in insulin signaling pathway and is involved in insulin secretion. SNPs in one of these genes, IGF2BP2 gene (rs1470579 and rs4402960), have been reported to partially increase the risk of type II diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate in a Turkish population identified associations of IGF2BP2 variants rs4402960 and rs1470579 with T2D. Methods: We genotyped two SNPs of IGF2BP2 gene, rs1470579 and rs4402960 in 100 healthy individuals and 100 patients. DNA isolation was performed on peripheral blood samples from patients and healthy groups. The molecular analysis of rs1470579 and rs4402960 polymorphisms of IGF2BP2 gene of each individual was performed by using Real-Time PCR (Applied Biosystems) method. Relationships of genotypes and alleles frequency of IGF2BP2 polymorphisms and T2D were examined by "Chi-square" or "Likelihood ratio" tests. Results: As a result of the genotype and allele distributions; there was association between type II diabetes patients and control group for IGF2BP2 rs1470579 (A/C) gene polymorphism (p=0.0123). The frequency of AC genotype in patients is more than the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference genotype distribution between the type 2 diabetes patients and control group for IGF2BP2 rs4402960 (G/T) gene polymorphisms. There was no association between the patients and the control group for TT and GG+GT genotype distribution (p=0.8847). Conclusions: The results showed that the IGF2BP2 gene rs1470579 and rs4402960 polymorphisms were associated with T2D in a Turkish population (OR = 2.002, 95% CI 1.170–3.426, p < 0.05; OR = 1.879, 95% CI 1.110–3.182, p< 0.05). This is the first study between IGF2BP2 gene polymorphisms and type II diabetes in Turkish population. Keywords: IGF2BP2, T2D, Polymorphism

Background: Metformin, a widely used biguanide class of anti-diabetic drug, has potential to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). It has been reported that metformin has an activity on regulation of miRNAs by targeting several downstream genes in metabolic pathways. However, molecular mechanism underlying the process is still not fully known. In this study, it was aimed to identify differential expression profiles of plasma derived miRNAs following 3 months metformin treatment in patients with T2D. Methods: The plasma samples of 47 patients with T2D (received no anti-diabetic treatments) and plasma samples of same 47 patients received 3 months metformin treatment was recruited to the study. Total RNAs were isolated from plasma and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Profiles of differential expressions of miRNAs in plasma were assessed by using of micro-fluidic based multiplex quantitative real time -PCR (BioMarkTM 96.96 Dynamic Array). Results: Our results showed that expression profiles of 13 candidate miRNAs; hsa-let-7e-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR- 21-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-26b-5p, hsa-miR-126-5p, hsa-miR-129-5p, hsa-miR-130b-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsamiR- 148a-3p, hsa-miR-152-3p, hsa-miR-194-5p, hsa-miR- 99a-5p were found significantly downregulated following metformin treatments in patients with T2D (p<0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, our finding could provide development of better and more effective miRNAs based therapeutic strategies against T2D.

Background: Metformin, a widely used biguanide class of anti-diabetic drug, has potential to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). It has been reported that metformin has an activity on regulation of miRNAs by targeting several downstream genes in metabolic pathways. However, molecular mechanism underlying the process is still not fully known. In this study, it was aimed to identify differential expression profiles of plasma derived miRNAs following 3 months metformin treatment in patients with T2D. Methods: The plasma samples of 47 patients with T2D (received no anti-diabetic treatments) and plasma samples of same 47 patients received 3 months metformin treatment was recruited to the study. Total RNAs were isolated from plasma and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Profiles of differential expressions of miRNAs in plasma were assessed by using of micro-fluidic based multiplex quantitative real time -PCR (BioMarkTM 96.96 Dynamic Array). Results: Our results showed that expression profiles of 13 candidate miRNAs; hsa-let-7e-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR- 21-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-26b-5p, hsa-miR-126-5p, hsa-miR-129-5p, hsa-miR-130b-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsamiR- 148a-3p, hsa-miR-152-3p, hsa-miR-194-5p, hsa-miR- 99a-5p were found significantly downregulated following metformin treatments in patients with T2D (p<0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, our finding could provide development of better and more effective miRNAs based therapeutic strategies against T2D.

Purpose: Recent study showed that patients with acromegaly have typical skin findings including increased sebum secretion, decreased transepidermal water loss, more alkaline, and colder skin surface correlated with serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. Different anatomic localizations and texture of the skin differ in bacterial concentrations.Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and axillar flora in patients with acromegaly was compared with normal population with regard to duration of acromegaly as well as the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. Methods: This patient-control prospective study was conducted in university hospitals in Mersin, Turkey. The study consisted of 30 active acromegalic patients and 60 healthy adults who had no previously diagnosed chronic illness as a control group. A total of 90 volunteers were enrolled in this study; nasal and axillar cultures were obtained. Axillar and nasal specimens from anterior nares of the individuals were taken using sterile swabs. Results: Nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus was 13.3% in acromegalic patients, but 43.4% in control group. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.004). Patients and control group compared according to axillar cultures, the authors determined proteus colonization 16.7% in patients with acromegaly but no proteus colonization in control group. This result was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Proteus colonization was negatively correlated only with disease duration in acromegalic patients (P = 0.017). Conclusion: The authors demonstrated that compared with healthy subjects, acromegalic patients had low percentage of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and more gram-negative basili in the axillar flora. These nasal and axillar flora changes should be considered for prophylactic antibiotics use before surgery and ampiric antibiotics use after surgery.