A meta-analysis of the association of ApaI, BsmI, FokI, and TaqI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome in the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office population.

Background: The results of case-control studies on the association between vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphisms and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are inconclusive. Objective: We aimed to more precisely evaluate the correlation between the ApaI, BsmI, FokI, and TaqI VDR gene polymorphisms and PCOS susceptibility. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Science Citation Index, and Google Scholar databases were searched to retrieve related reports released up to the end of 2020. To evaluate the association strength of the VDR gene polymorphisms with PCOS risk, pooled odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval were determined. Results: In total, 1,119 subjects (560 PCOS cases and 559 controls) from 7 studies were included which met the inclusion criteria. A statistically significant association between the TaqI polymorphism and PCOS susceptibility was found in the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office population (T vs. t: OR = 0.715; TT vs. tt: OR = 0.435, p < 0.001; TT vs. Tt+tt: OR = 0.696, p = 0.01; tt vs. TT+Tt: OR = 1.791, p < 0.001). It was found that the ApaI variant was a risk factor in the dominant inheritance model (AA vs. Aa+aa: OR = 1.466, p = 0.01) and the FokI polymorphism was a protective factor in the recessive inheritance model (ff vs. FF+Ff: OR = 0.669, p = 0.04). The VDR BsmI polymorphism did not show association with PCOS susceptibility. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis revealed that the VDR ApaI in the dominant model, VDR FokI in the recessive model, and VDR TaqI polymorphisms in all genetic models are associated with vulnerability to PCOS. However, further studies with a larger sample size are required.

MicroRNAs-Based Imaging Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy.

Cancer is one of the most serious global health concerns in different populations. Several studies indicated that there are many potentially promising cellular and molecular targets for cancer therapy within cancer cells and their microenvironment. Among different cellular and molecular targets involved in cancer pathogenesis, microRNAs (miRNAs) are well known as key targets for cancer therapy. miRNAs are one of main classes of non-coding RNAs. These molecules play important roles in different critical processes of cancer pathogenesis. Hence, this makes miRNAs as a suitable tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy. There are different approaches for monitoring miRNAs in cancer patients. Some conventional approaches including next-generation sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), northern blotting, and microarrays could be used for assessment of miRNAs expression. Some studies revealed that the utilization of these approaches associated with various limitations. Recently, it has been revealed that molecular imaging techniques are powerful tools for monitoring of different cellular and molecular targets involved in various diseases such as cancer. These techniques help investigators to investigate and monitor miRNAs functions through assessing different targets by fluorescent proteins, bioluminescent enzymes, molecular beacons, as well as various nanoparticles. Therefore, utilization of molecular imaging techniques could assist investigators to better monitor and more effectively treat patients during different phases of malignancy. Here, we give a review on the current state of miRNAs-based imaging techniques in cancer diagnosis and therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4121-4128, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.