The Drosha-DGCR8 complex in primary microRNA processing.

RNase III proteins play key roles in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. The nuclear RNase III Drosha cleaves primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) to release hairpin-shaped pre-miRNAs that are subsequently cut by the cytoplasmic RNase III Dicer to generate mature miRNAs. While Dicer (class III) and other simple RNase III proteins (class I) have been studied intensively, the class II enzyme Drosha remains to be characterized.

Effect of protein : energy ratio in milk replacers on growth performance of goat kids.

Two separate experiments were carried out to establish the effects of the protein:energy ratio in milk replacers on growth performance, plasma lipid concentrations and fatty acid composition in adipose tissue of male goat kids. In the first experiment there were 211 3-day- old goat kids and in the second experiment there were 121 kids aged 3-7 days. The animals were fed ad libitum for a period of 4 weeks on milk replacers containing either 11.

MicroRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a large family of noncoding RNAs that function as guide molecules in diverse gene silencing pathways. Current efforts are focused on the regulatory function of miRNAs, while little is known about how these unusual genes themselves are regulated. Here we present the first direct evidence that miRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (pol II).

Computed tomographic scanning reduces cost and time of complete spine evaluation.

Background: We hypothesize that data collected from computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained for workup of chest or abdominal injuries provide data that are sufficient to screen for spinal fractures and will decrease the cost and time of spine evaluation after trauma.

Methods: We reviewed plain radiographs from 55 selected trauma patients who also underwent CT scanning of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. We also timed the radiologic workup of 50 consecutive trauma patients to determine the time required to complete radiographic spine evaluation.

Antibodies to HSP-70 in normal donors and autoimmune hearing loss patients.

Objective: To evaluate serum antibody to heat shock protein (HSP) 70 as a marker for autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss (AISNHL).

Design: Sera from 20 patients with rapidly progressive sensorineural HL and 20 control volunteers without HL were tested for antibody reactivity against multiple HSP 70 substrates. Substrates included recombinant human HSP (rHuHSP) 72, purified bovine brain heat shock cognate (HSC) 73 and HSP 72, as well as heat-shocked and non-heat-shocked protein extracts from bovine kidney (MDBK) cells.