Structure and dynamics of polymyxin-resistance-associated response regulator PmrA in complex with promoter DNA.

PmrA, an OmpR/PhoB family response regulator, manages genes for antibiotic resistance. Phosphorylation of OmpR/PhoB response regulator induces the formation of a symmetric dimer in the N-terminal receiver domain (REC), promoting two C-terminal DNA-binding domains (DBDs) to recognize promoter DNA to elicit adaptive responses. Recently, determination of the KdpE-DNA complex structure revealed an REC-DBD interface in the upstream protomer that may be necessary for transcription activation.

Backbone resonance assignments of the 54 kDa dimeric C-terminal domain of murine STING in complex with DMXAA.

The mammalian ER protein STING (stimulators of interferon genes) is an important innate immunity protein for linking detection of novel secondary messengers c-di-GMP, c-di-AMP, cGAMP or cytosolic dsDNA to the activation of TANK kinase 1 and its downstream interferon regulator factor 3. Recently quite a few of crystal structures representing different states of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of human and murine STING (hSTING and mSTING) in complex with c-di-GMP, cGAMP or DMXAA have been reported. However, the C-terminal 42 residues of STING-CTD, which may be important in mediating the downstream reactions, is invisible or absent in all reported X-ray structures.

Solution structure and tandem DNA recognition of the C-terminal effector domain of PmrA from Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Klebsiella pneumoniae PmrA is a polymyxin-resistance-associated response regulator. The C-terminal effector/DNA-binding domain of PmrA (PmrAC) recognizes tandem imperfect repeat sequences on the promoters of genes to induce antimicrobial peptide resistance after phosphorylation and dimerization of its N-terminal receiver domain (PmrAN). However, structural information concerning how phosphorylation of the response regulator enhances DNA recognition remains elusive.

Solution structure of the C-terminal NP-repeat domain of Tic40, a co-chaperone during protein import into chloroplasts.

Chloroplasts protein precursors translated in the cytosol traverse the membranes to reach their intended destination with the help of translocon complexes called translocon at the outer envelope of chloroplasts and translocon at the inner envelope of chloroplasts (TIC), respectively. Two components of the TIC translocon, Tic110 and Tic40, which combine with Hsp93 (ClpC), are involved in protein translocation across the inner membrane into the stroma. The C-terminal NP-repeat domain of Tic40 (Tic40-NP) is homologous to the DP-repeat domain of co-chaperones Hsp70-interacting and Hsp70/Hsp90-organizing proteins.

Association between cerebral microbleeds and prior primary intracerebral hemorrhage in ischemic stroke patients.

Objective: To investigate association between cerebral microbleeds (CMB) and prior intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) on MRI and topographic correlation of the two types of lesions.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and sixty consecutive patients (67.0+/-11.

Hyperhomocysteinemia relates to the subtype of antiphospholipid antibodies in non-SLE patients.

Abnormal increases of antiphospholipid antibody and plasma homocysteine levels are recently emerging as nonlipidic risk factors for cerebral atherogenesis and thrombosis. Both antiphospholipid antibody and homocysteine share many similar bioeffects in hemostasis, but their interaction is still inconsistent. In this study, we examined the relation between the plasma homocysteine level and lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody, and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibody in patients with noncardiac cerebral ischemia.

Type II cryoglobulinemia and brain hemorrhage.

By virtue of an understanding of hemostasis and coagulopathy using modern techniques, the exact role of individual serum protein in vascular thrombosis or hemorrhage becomes more apparent. Cryoglobulin causes vasculitude and thrombosis in various vascular beds, but its role in brain hemorrhage is unknown. We encountered a cryoglobulinemic patient to have cryoglobulinemia, hypocomplementia, and cerebellar hemorrhage during a reactivation of cytomegalovirus infection.

Delayed catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome after massive cerebral infarction.

Introduction: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a life-threatening disorder urgent for aggressive treatment, and its characterized systemic thromboses and coagulopathy prompt for a rapid diagnosis.

Case Report: A woman fell into unconsciousness two weeks after a stable course of massive cerebral ischemia was identified due to CAPS with Sjogren syndrome. Her thrombocyte count and coagulation times were was normal at initial.

Time course of platelet activation and von Willebrand factor in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation after ischemic stroke.

Background: The present study investigated serial changes in platelet activation (expressed by CD62p) and von Willebrand factor (VWF), and the correlation between increased CD62p expression, VWF and brain infarct volume (BIV: measured by magnetic resonance imaging), and prognostic determinants in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients after acute ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods And Results: CD62p expression and plasma VWF concentrations were serially measured (<48 h, on days 7, 21 and 90) using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively after acute IS in 61 NVAF patients. CD62p expression and VWF concentrations were also examined in 50 NVAF-risk control and 30 healthy individuals.

Cholesterol granuloma of the maxillary sinus presenting as sinonasal polyp.

Cholesterol granuloma is usually found in chronic middle ear diseases. However, it rarely occurs in the sinonasal regions and only a few case reports can be found in the literature. The etiology of sinonasal cholesterol granuloma is not yet known, and the clinical manifestations are nonspecific.

An increase of blood squamous cell carcinoma antigen in Pseudomonas aeruginosa spondylitis.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is traditionally engaged for detecting and following up malignancy from a squamous cell origin. We encountered an unusual increase of blood SCCA but no other cancer markers in a patient associated with an infective lumbar spondylitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An overshooting of Th1 expression, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, bumped up by his uremia as a result of P.

The increase of blood anticardiolipin antibody depends on the underlying etiology in cerebral ischemia.

Although anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) has been suggested to be a potent risk factor for thrombosis and atherosclerosis in multiple arterial beds, conflicting results exist between aCL and cerebral ischemia in the general stroke population. To elucidate if this discrepancy relates to the heterogeneity of underlying etiologies, the blood beta(2)-glycoprotein I dependent-aCL in 432 Taiwanese adults was examined. The associated cerebral ischemia in these patients was classified into five subtypes according to the cause of cerebral ischemia.

Diabetic inferior division palsy of the oculomotor nerve.

In this case report we present a diabetic patient with isolated, pupil-sparing, incomplete inferior division third cranial nerve palsy. Laboratory tests for the evaluation of thyroid function, infection, myasthenia gravis and autoimmune diseases were normal. Cranial computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography also showed normal findings.

Tracheostomal fire during an elective tracheostomy.

Some surgeries, a tracheostomy and oral surgeries in particular, have a higher risk of fire. Often it can occur when leaking flammable gas contacts an ignition heat source. Fire during a tracheostomy can sometimes be seen to produce different degrees of insult to the patient.

The increase of blood anticardiolipin antibody depends on the underlying etiology in cerebral ischemia.

Although anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) has been suggested to be a potent risk factor for thrombosis and atherosclerosis in multiple arterial beds, conflicting results still exist between aCL and cerebral ischemia in the general stroke population. To elucidate if this discrepancy relates to the heterogeneity of underlying etiologies, blood beta(2)-glycoprotein I dependent-aCL was evaluated in 432 Taiwanese adults associated with cerebral ischemia who were classified into five subtypes according to their causes of cerebral ischemia. The results were compared with those in 100 healthy controls.

Intranasal tooth: report of three cases.

Intranasal teeth are uncommon, with only a few reported cases in the past few decades. The clinical manifestations of an intranasal tooth are quite variable. Unilateral nasal obstruction is a common complaint, but even though nasal symptoms are present, an intranasal tooth can be an incidental finding during routine examination in patients without nasal discomfort.

Serial changes in platelet activation in patients after ischemic stroke: role of pharmacodynamic modulation.

Background And Purpose: Enhanced platelet activity has previously been reported in the acute phase after ischemic stroke. We tested the hypothesis that activated platelets (expressed by CD62p) are substantially increased in the acute stage after a stroke and decrease thereafter, and that antiplatelet therapies can suppress CD62p expression.

Methods: We serially examined platelet CD62p expression using flow cytometry after acute ischemic stroke in 87 consecutive patients.

Paraganglioma presenting as chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma: pitfalls and strategies.

The coexistence of paraganglioma with cholesteatoma is a very rare clinical disorder. The clinical presentations are nonspecific. There may be radiological characteristics of either cholesteatoma or paraganglioma in the middle ear area, but the diagnosis of the coexistence of the 2 is usually made only postoperatively.