An apical membrane complex for triggering rhoptry exocytosis and invasion in Toxoplasma.

Apicomplexan parasites possess secretory organelles called rhoptries that undergo regulated exocytosis upon contact with the host. This process is essential for the parasitic lifestyle of these pathogens and relies on an exocytic machinery sharing structural features and molecular components with free-living ciliates. However, how the parasites coordinate exocytosis with host interaction is unknown.

Investigation by Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism of the Secondary Structure Evolution of Pepsin under Oxidative Environment.

Food processing affects the structure and chemical state of proteins. In particular, protein oxidation occurs and may impair protein properties. These chemical reactions initiated during processing can develop during digestion.

Improvement of the Prognosis Assessment of Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation by the Use of a Five-Grade Classification of Severity.

It is well known that some patients present with "more than severe" tricuspid regurgitation (TR). We aimed to assess the prognosis of these very severe TR patients. We defined very severe TR using 3 simple echocardiographic parameters: a coaptation gap≥10mm, a laminar TR flow and a systolic reversal of the hepatic vein flow.

Characteristics and prognosis of patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation.

Background: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) usually remains asymptomatic for a long period, and the diagnosis is often delayed until an advanced stage of right heart failure (RHF). Only a minority of patients are referred for surgery.

Aim: To describe the characteristics and prognosis of patients with significant TR, according to aetiology.

In utero exposure to nicotine abolishes the postnatal response of the cardiac sodium current to isoproterenol in newborn rabbit atrium.

Background: In utero exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and cardiac arrhythmias in newborns. The arrhythmogenic mechanisms seem linked to alterations of the cardiac sodium current (I). We previously reported that in utero exposure to nicotine delays the postnatal development of the heart sinoatrial node in rabbits and altered expression of the sodium channels Na1.