Increased concentration of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) in peripheral blood in Graves' disease.

Background: T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) are circular DNA molecules generated during T-cell maturation in the thymus. Recent studies suggested that a decreased TREC concentration in peripheral blood may be a general feature of autoimmunity. Our purpose was to assess the TREC concentration in Graves' disease (GD).

Vitreous humour as a potential DNA source for postmortem human identification.

Purpose: The aim of this study was the assessment of vitreous humor as a potential DNA for forensic human postmortem identification.

Material And Methods: Vitreous humor samples were collected using two alternative approaches from 25 corpses of either sex during autopsies. DNA was extracted by standard organic method.

Lethality of visible light for Escherichia coli hemH1 mutants influence of defects in DNA repair.

The hemH gene encodes ferrochelatase, the final enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. Defects of this enzyme lead to accumulation of protoporphyrin IX and an increase in reactive oxygen species, causing susceptibility to blue and white light in bacteria and protoporphyria in humans. Here we show that the photosensitivity of hemH1 strains is much increased when the bacteria are devoid of ability to repair abasic sites.