BACKGROUND Recently, many studies focused on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2 and suggested that those patients might benefit from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). However, evidence on its effectiveness to improve T2DM patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2 is still lacking. The aim of this study is to explore whether T2DM patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2 get sim...

The MutT enzyme (129 residues) catalyzes the hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (NTP) by substitution at the rarely attacked beta-P, to yield NMP and pyrophosphate. It requires two divalent cations, forming an active E-M2+-NTP-M2+ complex. The solution structure of the free enzyme consists of a five-stranded mixed beta-sheet connected by loop I-alpha-helix I-loop II, by two tight turns, and...

A common strategy shared by all known gammaherpesviruses is their ability to establish a latent infection in lymphocytes--predominantly in B cells. In immunocompromised patients, such as transplant recipients or AIDS patients, gammaherpesvirus infections can lead to the development of lymphoproliferative disease and lymphoid malignancies. The human gamma-herpesviruses, EBV and KSHV, encode prot...

BACKGROUND The macrophage, one of the several key immune cell types, is believed to be involved in tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism of macrophages promoting tumor progression is largely unknown. METHODS The differentially secreted proteins of M1 and M2 macrophages were analyzed by mass spectrometry. We performed GST pull-down assay for the identification of cell-membrane receptors that i...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease mediated by T-helper (Th)2 cells. Montelukast (trade name Singulair) is a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist used for asthma treatment. Mirroring Th1-Th2 polarization, two distinct states of macrophages have been recognized: the classically activated (M1) macrophages and the alternatively activated (M2) macrophages. M2 po...

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with major impact on public health and public health costs. Colonoscopy is purportedly the best screening tool for CRC. However, the acceptance by the general population is very poor. Therefore evaluation of additional screening tools is of great interest. PATIENTS AND METHODS The use of M2-PK measurement in the feces has been reported in 6 stud...