Should calcaneal fractures be treated surgically? A meta-analysis

A MEDLINE search from 1980 through 1996 revealed 1845 articles dealing with calcaneal fractures. Six of these articles that compared operative versus nonoperative treatment for displaced calcaneal fractures met the minimum criteria for inclusion in a meta-analysis. A statistical summary of information across the six articles revealed a trend for surgically treated patients to be more likely to return to the same type of work as compared with nonoperatively treated individuals. There also was a trend for nonoperatively treated patients to have a higher risk of experiencing severe foot pain than did operatively treated patients. Unfortunately, none of the other outcomes could be summarized formally across studies using statistical techniques because of variability in reporting across studies. Although the tendency was always for operatively treated patients to have better outcomes (reaching statistical significance in some of the articles), the strength of evidence to recommend operative treatment for displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures remains weak. A large prospective randomized controlled trial should be able to answer this question.     

Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin and Other Pathogen Glycoprotein Interactions with NK Cell Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30

Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immunity repertoire, and function in the recognition and destruction of tumorigenic and pathogen-infected cells. Engagement of NK cell activating receptors can lead to functional activation of NK cells, resulting in lysis of target cells. NK cell activating receptors specific for non-major histocompatibility complex ligands are NKp46, NKp44, NKp30, NKG2D, and CD16 (also known as FcγRIII). The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30, have been implicated in functional activation of NK cells following influenza virus infection via binding with influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA). In this review we describe NK cell and influenza A virus biology, and the interactions of influenza A virus HA and other pathogen lectins with NK cell natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs). We review concepts which intersect viral immunology, traditional virology and glycobiology to provide insights into the interactions between influenza virus HA and the NCRs. Furthermore, we provide expert opinion on future directions that would provide insights into currently unanswered questions.     

Development of eight microsatellite loci from the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea) through GS-FLX pyrosequencing and cross-amplification with other species of the Litoria aurea species group

A next generation sequencing approach was used to develop eight new microsatellite loci for the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog (GGBF) Litoria aurea. Microsatellite loci were developed from six individuals and tested on another 20. Genetic variation and heterozygosity was high in most loci (mean number of alleles per locus?=?7.785; mean heterozygosity?=?0.785375). Samples from six other closely related species L. cyclorhyncha, L. dahlii (Queensland), L. dahlii (Northern Territory), L. moorei, L. raniformis, Cyclorana australis and C. maini were also genotyped. While these markers will be useful for studies involving L. aurea their use in other closely related species will be limited.