Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)-mediated malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in the world, and the search for suitable antimalarial drugs remains an extraordinary challenge for scientists working in this area. Novel unconventional approaches could reveal new potential targets that may be useful for the treatment of malaria. We used a bioinformatics approach to analyze the entire genome of the Pf3D7 strain. Because the carbon (C-) content is a pivotal parameter that determines the hydrophobicity of a protein, which in turn controls protein folding and function, we analyzed the entire Pf3D7 proteome based on the gene's thymine (T)-controlled amino acid expression. Our data disclose a total of 14 proteins encoded by chromosome-4 and chromosome-9 that have an outstanding T-encoded and C-controlled hydrophobic character. The identification of these proteins could open new pivotal drug-targeting avenues.

Although GlaxoSmithKline is on the way to launch the new vaccine candidate 'RTS, S', the search for suitable antimalarial drugs still remains an exceeding challenge because Plasmodium falciparum-mediated malaria is one of the most lethal diseases in the world. Novel innovative ideas are required to identify new potential molecular targets to be able to fight this lethal parasite efficiently. We used an unconventional bioinformatics approach to analyze the entire genome and proteome of the Pf3D7 strain. Because the oxygen (O-) content is a decisive parameter that determines the function of a protein, we analyzed the entire Pf3D7 proteome based on O-containing amino acid expression. Our data disclose a total of four proteins encoded by chromosome (Chr)-4 and Chr-9 that have an outstanding O-controlled character. The identification of the biological significance of these proteins could eventually lead to new vital drug targets.

No abstract

Floating Knee is the term applied to the flail knee joint segment resulting from a fracture of the shaft or adjacent metaphysis of the ipsilateral femur and tibia The fractures range from simple diaphyseal to complex articular types. The word floating knee was introduced for the first time by Mc Bryde in 1965. The incidence of these injuries is increasing. They are associated with potentially life threatening injuries of the head, chest, and abdomen. Not less frequently these injuries cause infection, excessive blood loss, fat embolism, mal union, delayed or non-union, knee stiffness, prolonged hospitalization, and inability to bear weight. Malunion is one complication which drastically affects the functional outcome. Hence we tried to find the factors that may result in malunion more often than not which will help to prepare us in a more suitable manner in treating these injuries We analysed 30 cases of floating knee which were surgically treated regarding the pattern of injuries, type of injuries, closed/open, fixation methods, associated injuries, union rates, malunion and functional outcome. All cases were followed up to a minimum of 1 year. We found that malunion in a floating knee injury which was surgically treated drastically affected functional outcome. The mechanism of injury, type of fracture, open/closed injury, level of fracture whether diaphyseal or juxta articular or intraarticular, type of initial fixation all had a significant correlation with occurrence of malunion.