Influence of Drugs and Toxins on Decomposition Dynamics: Forensic Implications.

Drug and toxin-related deaths are common worldwide, making it essential to detect the postmortem concentration of various toxic substances at different stages of decomposition in a corpse. Indeed, determining the postmortem interval (PMI) and cause of death in an advanced stage of decomposed corpses has been a significant challenge in forensic investigations. Notably, the presence of drugs or toxins can have a significant impact on the microbial profile, potentially altering the succession of microbial communities and subsequent production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, in turn, affect insect colonization patterns.

Role of STAT3 in cancer cell epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (Review).

Since its discovery, the role of the transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), in both normal physiology and the pathology of numerous diseases, including cancer, has been extensively studied. STAT3 is aberrantly activated in different types of cancer, fulfilling a critical role in cancer progression. The biological process, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT), is indispensable for embryonic morphogenesis.

Forensic characterisation and polymorphism analysis of 16 X-chromosomal STRs in the Jining Han population in Eastern China.

Background: X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STRs) are a useful supplementary approach to analysing autosomal markers in forensics and kinship studies; such markers are not well-characterised in many populations.

Aim: To investigate population genetic polymorphism and forensic characterisation of 16 X-STRs in the Jining Han population, and analyse genetic relationships with other Chinese populations.

Subjects And Methods: Allele frequencies for 16 X-STR loci were obtained from a sample set of 527 unrelated individuals from the Jining Han population.

Genetic polymorphism and forensic efficiency of 21 autosomal STR loci from Shandong Han population in Northern China.

Background: Highly polymorphic autosomal STR loci are useful for understanding population structure better and for forensic application, however the non-CODIS STR loci in the Han population of Shandong, located in Northern China, are not well-characterised.

Aim: To investigate population genetic polymorphism and forensic efficiency of 21 autosomal STR loci from the Shandong Han population in Northern China and reveal the genetic relationships with other populations both at home and abroad.

Subjects And Methods: In this study, population genetic data of 21 autosomal STR loci included in the Goldeneye DNA ID 22NC Kit that includes four CODIS loci and 17 non-CODIS loci were determined for 523 unrelated Han individuals in Shandong.

Verification of a loss of heterozygosity at the D8S1179 locus in a paternity case by the MiSeq FGx system.

Capillary electrophoresis is widely used to study short tandem repeats (STRs) in forensic genetics. However, next-generation sequencing platforms have become a new strategy for forensic DNA typing. In this study, we report a false four-step STR mutation between an alleged father (AF) and child in a paternity case.

Analysis of five rare alleles at the STR loci D1S1656, D12S391, D13S317, Penta D, and D2S441.

Short tandem repeat (STR) automatic typing technology is extensively used in forensic laboratories with commercial kits, in rare cases genotyping misinterpretations or mislabeling may occur due to unexpected rare alleles. This study refers to the investigation of several rare alleles observed from routine cases. Besides cross-kit verification with Goldeneye 25A (Beijing PeopleSpot Inc, China) and Huaxia platinum (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) kits, the next-generation sequencing technology by MiSeq FGx System (Illumina, USA) was applied to further validation.

A nonautophagic role of ATG5 in regulating cell growth by targeting c-Myc for proteasome-mediated degradation.

Autophagy is a conserved biological process that maintains cell homeostasis by targeting macromolecules for lysosome-mediated degradation. The levels of autophagy are relatively lower under normal conditions than under stress conditions (e.g.

The nucleolus functions as the compartment for histone H2B protein degradation.

Histones are main components of chromatin, and the protein levels of histones significantly affect chromatin assembly. However, how histone protein levels are regulated, especially whether and how histones are degraded, is largely unclear. Here, we found that histone H2B is mainly degraded through the proteasome-mediated pathway, and the lysine-120 site of H2B is essential for its K48-linked polyubiquitination and degradation.

Pharmaceutical inhibition of AXL suppresses tumor growth and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common type of cancer in a number of regions of the world, including East Asia, South Africa and Iran. It is often associated with poor prognosis rates. Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor UFO (AXL) is overexpressed in a subset of ESCC tumors, therefore the present study aimed to determine the effect of R428, a selective inhibitor of AXL, on ESCC tumor cells.

Evaluation of allelic alterations in short tandem repeats in papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Malignant tissue samples may be the only source of biological material for forensic investigations, including individual identification or paternity testing; however, such samples may lead to uncertainties due to frequent genomic aberrations associated with tumors, including alterations of the short tandem repeat (STR) loci used for forensic casework.

Methods: Short tandem repeat loci routinely used in forensic analysis (n = 23) were analyzed in 68 surgically removed papillary thyroid cancer specimens. Tumor cells and normal stromal cells were separated by laser capture microdissection.

Population genetic data from 23 autosomal STR loci of Huaxia Platinum system in the Jining Han population.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms at 23 short tandem repeat (STR) loci were investigated in 1,215 Jining Han individuals from Jining city, Shandong province, eastern China.

Methods: We used population genetic data of 23 autosomal STR loci included in the Huaxia Platinum system to evaluate 1,215 unrelated Chinese Han individuals in the Jining Han population. Allele frequencies and forensic parameters of the STR loci were determined and genetic relationships among the Jining Han and other Chinese populations were evaluated.

Epigenetic regulation of ferroptosis by H2B monoubiquitination and p53.

Monoubiquitination of histone H2B on lysine 120 (H2Bub1) is an epigenetic mark generally associated with transcriptional activation, yet the global functions of H2Bub1 remain poorly understood. Ferroptosis is a form of non-apoptotic cell death characterized by the iron-dependent overproduction of lipid hydroperoxides, which can be inhibited by the antioxidant activity of the solute carrier family member 11 (SLC7A11/xCT), a component of the cystine/glutamate antiporter. Whether nuclear events participate in the regulation of ferroptosis is largely unknown.

Genetic diversity and haplotype structure of 27 Y-STR loci in a Yanbian Korean population from Jilin Province, Northeast China.

In this study, 27 Y-STRs were analyzed in 347 male individuals from the Yanbian Korean population. Haplotype diversity (HD) and discrimination capacity (DC) values were calculated. Pairwise R values were evaluated in AMOVA analysis and visualized through multidimensional scaling (MDS).

Mechanical stretch and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha affect the vascular endothelial growth factor and the connective tissue growth factor in cultured ACL fibroblasts.

Purposes: The adult human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has poor functional healing response. Hypoxia plays an important role in regulating the microenvironment of the joint cavity after ACL injury, however, its role in mechanical injury is yet to be examined fully in ACL fibroblasts. In this study, we used CoCl to induce Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in our experimental model to study its affect on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in ACL fibroblasts after mechanical stretch.

[Application of a new design of cryo-jaw and its biomechanical evaluation in rat achilles tendon in vitro].

This study was aimed to design a new, accurate and easy-to-use water bath cryo-jaw, and try to solve the problems met in small animals achilles tendon mechanical testing. The muscle-tendon-bony units were fixed in the clamps. SD rats achilles tendon were randomly divided into group A and B.

Magnetic bead-based separation of sperm from buccal epithelial cells using a monoclonal antibody against MOSPD3.

Forensic DNA analysis of sexual assault evidence requires unambiguous differentiation of DNA profiles in mixed samples. To investigate the feasibility of magnetic bead-based separation of sperm from cell mixtures using a monoclonal antibody against MOSPD3 (motile sperm domain-containing protein 3), 30 cell samples were prepared by mixing 10(4) female buccal epithelial cells with sperm cells of varying densities (10(3), 10(4), or 10(5) cells/mL). Western blot and immunofluorescence assays showed that MOSPD3 was detectable on the membrane of sperm cells, but not in buccal epithelial cells.

Human iPSC-derived neural crest stem cells promote tendon repair in a rat patellar tendon window defect model.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great potential for cell therapy and tissue engineering. Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) are multipotent that are capable of differentiating into mesenchymal lineages. In this study, we investigated whether iPSC-derived NCSCs (iPSC-NCSCs) have potential for tendon repair.

Differential response to CoCl2-stimulated hypoxia on HIF-1α, VEGF, and MMP-2 expression in ligament cells.

The adult human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has a poor functional healing response, whereas the medial collateral ligament (MCL) does not. The difference in intrinsic properties of these ligament cells can be due to their different response to their located microenvironment. Hypoxia is a key environmental regulator after ligament injury.

Combined effects of TNF-α, IL-1β, and HIF-1α on MMP-2 production in ACL fibroblasts under mechanical stretch: an in vitro study.

The dynamics between inflammatory factors, mechanical stress, and healing factors, in an intra-articular joint, are very complex after injury. Injury to intra-articular tissue [anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), synovium] results in hypoxia, accumulation of various pro-inflammatory factors, cytokines, and metalloproteases. Although the presence of increased amounts of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMP) in the joint fluid after knee injury is considered the key factor for ACL poor healing ability; however, the exact role of collective participants of the joint fluid on MMP-2 activity and production has not been fully studied yet.

The profile of MMP and TIMP in injured rat ACL.

Human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has poor healing ability after injury. The devastating effects of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) excess expression are regarded as the main reason. Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may be independent of MMPs inhibition.

Differential MMP-2 activity induced by mechanical compression and inflammatory factors in human synoviocytes.

The anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, cartilage and meniscus in human knee joint have poor healing ability. Accumulation of MMPs in the joint fluids due to knee injury has been considered as the main reason. Our previous experiments showed that synovium may be the major regulator of MMPs in joint cavity after injury.

TGF-β1 promoted MMP-2 mediated wound healing of anterior cruciate ligament fibroblasts through NF-κB.

The adult human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has poor functional healing response. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 enhances the wound repair by stimulating matrix proteins deposition as well as the proliferation and migration of cells. However, the function of the TGF-β1-induced matrix metalloproteinases' (MMPs) activities in the wound healing process is poorly understood.

Coordinated expression of MMPs and TIMPs in rat knee intra-articular tissues after ACL injury.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has poor healing ability and an injured ACL would induce the degeneration of other intra-articular connective tissues. However, the coordinated expression and activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) in intra-articular tissues induced by ACL rupture were poorly understood. With a rat ACL rotating injury model, we found that after ACL injury, the mRNA levels of MMP-13, TIMP-1, and CD147 were significantly elevated in ACL, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), synovium, meniscus, and cartilage.