Identification and Classification of Conserved RNA Secondary Structures in the Human Genome

The discoveries of microRNAs and riboswitches, among others, have shown functional RNAs to be biologically more important and genomically more prevalent than previously anticipated. We have developed a general comparative genomics method based on phylogenetic stochastic context-free grammars for identifying functional RNAs encoded in the human genome and used it to survey an eight-way genome-wide alignment of the human, chimpanzee, mouse, rat, dog, chicken, zebra-fish, and puffer-fish genomes for deeply conserved functional RNAs. At a loose threshold for acceptance, this search resulted in a set of 48,479 candidate RNA structures. This screen finds a large number of known functional RNAs, including 195 miRNAs, 62 histone 3′UTR stem loops, and various types of known genetic recoding elements. Among the highest-scoring new predictions are 169 new miRNA candidates, as well as new candidate selenocysteine insertion sites, RNA editing hairpins, RNAs involved in transcript auto regulation, and many folds that form singletons or small functional RNA families of completely unknown function. While the rate of false positives in the overall set is difficult to estimate and is likely to be substantial, the results nevertheless provide evidence for many new human functional RNAs and present specific predictions to facilitate their further characterization

Complex tibial plateau fracture repair with hybrid external fixator: report of 15 cases

"nBackground: Proper knee function is essential for daily activity. Since almost all complex tibial plateau fractures involve soft tissue compromise, there is some controversy as to the best treatment method. Currently, progress toward indirect reduction and external fixation, such as the hybrid external fixator, with minimal complications is underway. Herein we evaluate the outcomes of complex tibial plateau function repaired with hybrid external fixation at one of the most important trauma centers in Iran.  "nMethods: This case-series study involved the postoperative follow up (>6 months) of 20 patients with complex tibial plateau fracture repaired using hybrid external fixator at Sina Hospital from 2002-2004. We evaluated surgery complications and outcomes including soft tissue and skin necrosis, knee range of motion, degenerative joint disease, infection, neurovascular injury, union time, and knee score at final visit, among others. "nResults: Of the original 20 cases enrolled in this study, five dropped out. All subjects were men, with a mean age 38.6 (18-74) years. The most common injury mechanism was motor vehicle accident; mean time from trauma to surgery was 4.7 (1-15) days. Mean follow up duration was 11.6 (6-26) months. At the end of the study, 80% had good knee range of motion (>90 flexion), with knee scores of 80 or more for 60% of the subjects. Although all patients had had soft tissue injury, there was no postoperative soft tissue compromise. Two patients (11%) had postoperative infection, but ultimately recovered. Less time between trauma and surgery, less periarticular soft tissue injury, less operative manipulation of soft tissues, better articular congruency, and more stable and anatomical knee alignment are associated with better outcome and prognosis. "nConclusions: This procedure reduces operative complications, especially infection and soft tissue necrosis, and requires less rest, all of which results in a stable, aligned and functional knee joint. Furthermore, adding minimal open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) may promote even better results

Miniplating of metacarpal fractures: an outcome study

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1":*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Trauma to the hand is very common and consequently, metacarpal fractures are not rare entities. Some of these fractures need surgery. Considering the diversity of surgical methods available for these kinds of fractures and also the importance of achieving full function and speedy return to work for patients that are mainly young workers or athletes, this study was undertaken to investigate the outcome of treating these fractures by mini-plates."n"nMethods : Eighteen patients with open or comminuted fractures of metacarpal bones who were admitted to the emergency department of Sina Hospital between the years 2007 and 2010 underwent fixation surgery using mini-plates. Fourteen patients with 17 metacarpal fractures completed the study."n"nResults : Thirteen out of 14 patients had complete fracture union. The patient with non-union underwent revision surgery and bone graft. Four individuals developed an extensor lag of 15 degrees without functional impairment. Two patients had joint stiffness that was relieved after a period of physiotherapy and one developed wound dehiscence and discharge that improved with debridement and use of antibiotics without plate removal. Six patients had complaints regarding their hardware prominence and were satisfied after its removal. Overall, there was a 79% satisfaction rate upon the treatment."n"nConclusion: Despite the afore-mentioned complications, use of mini-plates seems to be a suitable treatment option for patients with comminuted metacarpal fractures. However, more studies with larger sample sizes are suggested to reach a firm conclusion."n"nKeywords: Fracture, metacarpal, mini-plates, complication

Risk of infection after open leg fractures: a survey in 66 patients

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Open fractures are associated with an increased risk of infection and healing complications. Management of open fractures is based on the following principles: assessment of the patient, classification of the injury, antibiotic therapy, debridement and wound management, Fracture stabilization, early bonegrafting, and supplemental procedures to achieve healing."n"nMethods: In a case- control retrospective study we evaluated 33 patients with open tibial fracture (type two gustillo) who were admitted in sina General hospital in Tehran, Iran during years 1999-2009 and were treated uniformly with external fixation as primary treatment in our center as case group and the other 33 patients with the same method and another 33 patients who had not been infected as control group. We compared the folders of case and control groups retrospectively. "n"nResults: There was no statisticant difference between two groups in mean age, gender, the mechanism of trauma and body mass index (p>0.05), while statistically significant difference between them in smoking habitus, blood transfusion, first debridment time, diabet mellitus, femoral shaft fracture (p<0.05). "n"nConclusions: Accompanying femoral fracture is the sign of high energy trauma and it is logical that it is an important risk factor for infection. In our study the time of the first debridment stablished as a significant factor influencing the infection rate in tibial open fracture. In some studies smoking had been recognized as a significant factor influencing in tibial bone open fracture our study reveals the same

Clinical Outcome Assessment of Medial Femoral Tunnel Placement in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Introduction: Purpose of this study was to evaluate outcome of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery with a medial tibia tunnel entrance in patients with rupture of the ligament. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in patients admitted to Sina Hospital in Tehran from April 2009 to April 2011. ACL reconstruction was done by arthroscopic surgery and the patients were assessed six months after surgery. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) as a standard questionnaire and arthrometer (model KT-1000) were used to measure patients' activity level and functional testing of the device, respectively. Final knee score was given to the patient based on the lowest score in each section which was presented in four groups: A, B, C and D. Results: one hundred seven patients with mean age of 29.61 ± 5.15 years (21-38 years) enrolled in this study among which 84 (78.5%) were males. Most common causes of knee trauma were sport (54.20%), road traffic accidents (19.62%), daily activities (16.82%) and work activity (9.3%). The mean femoral channel length was 44.75 ± 3.41mm. The mean of ROM of Knee after surgery was 143.21 ± 5.37 (133-150). The functional test was performed using an arthrometer and differences between two knees displacement were calculated six months after surgery which revealed that the difference between males and females was significant (p=0.03). Conclusion: The results showed the transtibial graft position is closer to the anatomical position in medial femoral tunnel placement