Thus far, all solved structures of pilin-proteins comprising sortase-assembled pili are from pathogenic genera and species. Here, we present the first crystal structure of a pilin subunit (SpaA) from a non-pathogen host (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG). SpaA consists of two tandem CnaB-type domains, each with an isopeptide bond and E-box motif. Intriguingly, while the isopeptide bond in the N-termi...

BACKGROUND Adjuvant therapy to ORT with probiotic bacteria for infants with acute watery diarrhea has been under active investigation. Most studies have been done in the developed world showing benefit only for viral mild gastroenteritis. We evaluated the effect of a milk formula containing one billion (109) cfu/ml of Lactobacillus casei strain GG (LGG) upon duration and severity of diarrhea in...

BACKGROUND Brain tumor patients often associated with losses of the small-world configuration and neurocognitive functions before operations. However, few studies were performed on the impairments of frontal lobe low-grade gliomas (LGG) after tumor resection using small-world network features. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To detect differences in the whole brain topology among LGG patients ...

Recently, Stitt et al. (1995) reported that protein S (PS), but not Gas6, is a potent ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase known as Rse, Tyro 3, Brt, Sky, and Tif (hereafter referred to as Rse/Tyro 3). PS is an abundant serum protein previously characterized as an essential anticoagu-lant. Gas6, which was identified as a gene whose expression is increased by growth arrest, shares 43% amino a...

Extensive genomic and gene expression studies have been performed in gliomas, but the epigenetic alterations that characterize different subtypes of gliomas remain largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the methylation patterns of 807 genes (1536 CpGs) in a series of 33 low-grade gliomas (LGGs), 36 glioblastomas (GBMs), 8 paired initial and recurrent gliomas, and 9 controls. This analysis was perfo...

BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is widely accepted as first-line therapy for pediatric low-grade gliomas (LGG). Treatment modalities for further progression are not clearly established. The aim of the study was to determine the feasibility and long-term outcome of repeated chemotherapy for children with recurrent LGG. METHODS The study group consisted of patients who received a second line of chemoth...

BACKGROUND Diffuse gliomas, grades II and III, hereafter called lower-grade gliomas (LGG), have variable, difficult to predict clinical courses, resulting in multiple studies to identify prognostic biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to assess expression or methylation of the homeobox family gene SHOX2 as independent markers for LGG survival. METHODS We downloaded publically available g...

Bajaj JS et al. (1) recently published a study in APT about gut microbiota modulation and consequences in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients with MHE patients were randomised 1:1 into LGG or placebo for 8 weeks. The aim was to determine gut microbiota composition and concomitant changes in function (metabolome) in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Serum, urine an...