Forearm rotation improves after corrective osteotomy in patients with symptomatic distal radius malunion

Objectives: Distal radius malunion can result in pain and functional complaints. One of the functional problems that can affect daily life is impaired forearm rotation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of corrective osteotomy for distal radius malunion on forearm rotation at 12 months after surgery. We secondarily studied the effect on grip strength, radiological measurements, and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs). Patients and methods: This cohort study analysed prospectively collected data of adult patients with symptomatic distal radius malunion. All patients underwent corrective osteotomy for malunion and were followed for 1 year. We measured forearm rotation (pronation and supination) and grip strength and analysed radiographs. PROMs consisted of the Patient-Rated Hand/Wrist Evaluation (PRWHE) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale for pain, and satisfaction with hand function. Results:Preoperative total forearm rotation was 112° (SD: 34°), of which supination of 49° (SD: 25°) was more impaired than pronation of 63° (SD: 17°). Twelve months after surgery, an unpaired Student's t-test showed a significant improvement of total forearm rotation to 142° (SD: 17°) (p &lt; 0.05). Pronation improved to 72° (SD: 10°), and supination to 69° (SD: 13°) (p &lt; 0.05). Grip strength, PROMs, as well as inclination and volar tilt on radiographs improved significantly during the first year after surgery (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with reduced forearm rotation due to distal radius malunion, corrective osteotomy is an effective treatment that significantly improves forearm rotation. In addition, this intervention improves grip strength, the PRWHE-score, pain, and satisfaction with hand function.</p

Characterization of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) NAC transcription factors suggests conserved functions compared to both monocots and dicots

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The NAC transcription factor family is involved in the regulation of traits in both monocots and dicots of high agronomic importance. Understanding the precise functions of the NAC genes can be of utmost importance for the improvement of cereal crop plants through plant breeding. For the cereal crop plant barley (<it>Hordeum vulgare </it>L.) only a few <it>NAC </it>genes have so far been investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Through searches in publicly available barley sequence databases we have obtained a list of 48 barley <it>NAC </it>genes (<it>HvNACs</it>) with 43 of them representing full-length coding sequences. Phylogenetic comparisons to Brachypodium, rice, and Arabidopsis NAC proteins indicate that the barley NAC family includes members from all of the eight NAC subfamilies, although by comparison to these species a number of <it>HvNACs </it>still remains to be identified. Using qRT-PCR we investigated the expression profiles of 46 <it>HvNACs </it>across eight barley tissues (young flag leaf, senescing flag leaf, young ear, old ear, milk grain, late dough grain, roots, and developing stem) and two hormone treatments (abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Comparisons of expression profiles of selected barley <it>NAC </it>genes with the published functions of closely related <it>NAC </it>genes from other plant species, including both monocots and dicots, suggest conserved functions in the areas of secondary cell wall biosynthesis, leaf senescence, root development, seed development, and hormone regulated stress responses.</p

Molecular analysis of the anthocyanin2 gene of petunia and its role in the evolution of flower color.

The shape and color of flowers are important for plant reproduction because they attract pollinators such as insects and birds. Therefore, it is thought that alterations in these traits may result in the attraction of different pollinators, genetic isolation, and ultimately, (sympatric) speciation. Petunia integrifolia and P. axillaris bear flowers with different shapes and colors that appear to be visited by different insects. The anthocyanin2 (an2) locus, a regulator of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, is the main determinant of color differences. Here, we report an analysis of molecular events at the an2 locus that occur during Petunia spp evolution. We isolated an2 by transposon tagging and found that it encodes a MYB domain protein, indicating that it is a transcription factor. Analysis of P. axillaris subspecies with white flowers showed that they contain an2(-) alleles with two alternative frameshifts at one site, apparently caused by the insertion and subsequent excision of a transposon. A third an2(-) allele has a nonsense mutation elsewhere, indicating that it arose independently. The distribution of polymorphisms in an2(-) alleles suggests that the loss of an2 function and the consequent changes in floral color were not the primary cause for genetic separation of P. integrifolia and P. axillaris. Rather, they were events that occurred late in the speciation process, possibly to reinforce genetic isolation and complete speciation

Forearm rotation improves after corrective osteotomy in patients with symptomatic distal radius malunion

Objectives: Distal radius malunion can result in pain and functional complaints. One of the functional problems that can affect daily life is impaired forearm rotation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of corrective osteotomy for distal radius malunion on forearm rotation at 12 months after surgery. We secondarily studied the effect on grip strength, radiological measurements, and patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs). Patients and methods: This cohort study analysed prospectively collected data of adult patients with symptomatic distal radius malunion. All patients underwent corrective osteotomy for malunion and were followed for 1 year. We measured forearm rotation (pronation and supination) and grip strength and analysed radiographs. PROMs consisted of the Patient-Rated Hand/Wrist Evaluation (PRWHE) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale for pain, and satisfaction with hand function. Results:Preoperative total forearm rotation was 112° (SD: 34°), of which supination of 49° (SD: 25°) was more impaired than pronation of 63° (SD: 17°). Twelve months after surgery, an unpaired Student's t-test showed a significant improvement of total forearm rotation to 142° (SD: 17°) (p &lt; 0.05). Pronation improved to 72° (SD: 10°), and supination to 69° (SD: 13°) (p &lt; 0.05). Grip strength, PROMs, as well as inclination and volar tilt on radiographs improved significantly during the first year after surgery (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with reduced forearm rotation due to distal radius malunion, corrective osteotomy is an effective treatment that significantly improves forearm rotation. In addition, this intervention improves grip strength, the PRWHE-score, pain, and satisfaction with hand function.</p