Assessment of insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene as a genetic risk marker for preeclampsia in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible associations of angiotensin converting enzyme insertion or deletion genotypes and alleles with the risk of preeclampsia in Arab women. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2017 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and Maternity & Children Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and comprised pregnant women withpreeclampsia as cases and normal pregnant women as controls. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction analysis and characterised through gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Of the 162 women, 68(42%) were cases and 94(58%) controls. The mean values of age, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly different among the cases than the controls (p<0.05), but mean gestational age did not significantly differ between the groups (p>0.05). The distribution of the polymorphic variants of the angiotensin converting enz yme gene insertion/deletion was not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05). Also, genotype distribution and allelic frequencies were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For insertion/deletion polymorphism, no significant differences were detected in the genotype and allele frequencies or any of the inheritance models between preeclampsia patients and controls.

General insight into cancer: An overview of colorectal cancer (Review).

Cancer is currently among the leading causes of mortality globally. Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks second among the most common types of cancer in terms of mortality worldwide. This type of cancer arises from mutations in the colonic and rectal epithelial tissues that target oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and genes related to DNA repair mechanisms. The aim of the present review was to provide an explanation of CRC classification, which is carried out according to the histological subtype, location and molecular pathways implicated in its development. The pathogenic mechanisms implicated in CRC may involve one of three different molecular pathways: Chromosomal instability, microsatellite instability and cytosine preceding guanine island methylator phenotype. In addition, a variety of mutated genes associated with CRC, which affect certain signaling pathways, including DNA mismatch repair, cell cycle checkpoints and apoptotic pathways, were discussed. Moreover, a brief description of the risk factors and the symptoms associated with CRC was also provided. Finally, the treatment approaches to CRC were outlined.