In homicides with entomological evidence, it may be important to prove the presumed association of fly larvae to a corpse, especially if it is in doubt whether all maggots used for entomological expertise developed and fed on it. The present study demonstrates for the first time the possibility of analyzing human microsatellite DNA present in the digestive tract of necrophagous larvae that fed ...

The plasma membrane nanoscale distribution of H-ras is regulated by guanine nucleotide binding. To explore the structural basis of H-ras membrane organization, we combined molecular dynamic simulations and medium-throughput FRET measurements on live cells. We extracted a set of FRET values, termed a FRET vector, to describe the lateral segregation and orientation of H-ras with respect to a larg...

ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) are sheddases possessing extracellular metalloproteinase/disintegrin/cysteine-rich (MDC) domains. ADAMs uniquely display both proteolytic and adhesive activities on the cell surface, however, most of their physiological targets and adhesion mechanisms remain unclear. Here for the first time, we reveal the ADAMs' MDC architecture and a potential target...

Microinjection of the excitatory amino acid L-glutamate into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) elicits decreases in arterial pressure and heart rate. In the present study, we sought to determine the regional hemodynamic effects that were correlated with changes in arterial pressure and heart rate produced by stimulation of the NTS. In anesthetized rats, blood flow in the renal (RBF), superior...

Because of increased mortality and reduced treatment response rates in subjects coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), understanding the selection pressures underlying the evolution of HCV is important for the development of strategies to control both viruses. We therefore investigated diversity of HCV in 11 HIV-HCV-coinfected subjects initiating highly ...

Leg ulcer is a disabling complication in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) but the exact pathophysiological mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the hematological and hemorheological alterations associated with recurrent leg ulcers. Sixty-two SCA patients who never experienced leg ulcers (ULC-) and 13 SCA patients with a positive history of recurrent leg ulcers (UL...

We examined the control of breathing, cardiorespiratory effects, and the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in humans exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH), and under two control conditions [hypobaric normoxia (HN) and normobaric normoxia (NN)]. Exposures were 6 h in duration, and separated by 2 wk between hypoxic exposures and 1 wk between normoxic exposures. Be...

The effect of an aqueous Mentha cordifolia (MC) extract on the haemodynamic status, vascular remodeling, function, and oxidative status in NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given L-NAME [50 mg/(kg body weight (BW) d)] in their drinking water for 5 weeks and were treated by intragastric administration with the MC extrac...

Dopamine (DA) is a putative neurotransmitter in the carotid body engaged in the generation of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR). However, the action of endogenous DA is unsettled. This study seeks to determine the ventilatory effects of increased availability of endogenous DA caused by inhibition of DA enzymatic breakdown. The peripheral inhibitor of MAO - debrisoquine, or COMT - entacapon...