Identification of burglars using foil impressioning based on tool marks and DNA evidence.

In burglary cases, the skeleton keys used by burglars often leave tool marks that can not be identified. Hence, forensic trace experts can only provide investigating authorities with useful information by categorizing the lock opening method of pin tumbler lock cylinders and defining the class characteristics of the tool used. It is important to note that as per the standard processes, expensive and more time consuming DNA-tests may not be applied to this evidence type.

Two ways of epigenetic silencing of TFPI2 in cervical cancer.

Objective: Comparison of human mRNA microarray results from tumor-associated and normal cervical fibroblasts revealed significant TFPI2 downregulation in tumor-associated fibroblasts isolated from cervical cancer, indicating that TFPI2 downregulation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In the present work, we investigated the mechanism of TFPI2 downregulation in tumor-associated fibroblasts and tumor cells.

Methods: In vitro models of monocultures and co-cultures were established with tumor cells and fibroblasts to explore the changes of TFPI-2 expression and epigenetic modifications of the TFPI2 gene.

Aberrant Expression of Syndecan-1 in Cervical Cancers.

Syndecan-1, is a transmembrane heparan/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan necessary for cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Its decreased level on the cell surface correlates with poor prognosis in several tumor types. Aberrant stromal localization of syndecan-1 is also considered an unfavorable prognostic factor in various human malignancies.

MgrB variants in colistin-susceptible and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258.

Resistance determinants of a colistin susceptible and five colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 from a Hungarian outbreak were investigated. A novel MgrB variant in colistin susceptible strain was found. Elevated phoP and arn gene expressions and wild-type PmrB in all colistin resistant K.

Response of Hepatic Stellate Cells to TGFB1 Differs from the Response of Myofibroblasts. Decorin Protects against the Action of Growth Factor.

Regardless to the exact nature of damage, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and other non-parenchymal liver cells transform to activated myofibroblasts, synthesizing the accumulating extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a crucial role in this process. Later it was discovered that decorin, member of the small leucin rich proteoglycan family is able to inhibit this action of TGF-β1. The aim of our present study was to clarify whether HSCs and activated myofibroblasts of portal region exert identical or different response to TGF-β1 exposure, and the inhibitory action of decorin against the growth factor is a generalized phenomenon on myofibroblast of different origin? To this end we measured mRNA expression and production of major collagen components (collagen type I, III and IV) of the liver after stimulation and co-stimulation with TGF-β1 and decorin in primary cell cultures of HSCs and myofibroblasts (MFs).