36 research outputs found
Molecular cloning and in silico analysis of three somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase mRNA from date palm
We report here the isolation and characterizations of three somatic
embryogenesis receptor kinase (PhSERK) genes from palm date by a rapid
amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approach. PhSERKs belong to a small family
of receptor kinase genes, share a conserved structure and extensive sequence
homology with previously reported plant SERK genes. Sequence analysis of
these genes revealed the sequence size of 11051 pb (PhSERK1), 7981 pb
(PhSERK2) and 10510 pb (PhSERK3). The open reading frames of PhSERK1,
PhSERK2 and PhSERK3 are 1914 pb, 1797 pb and 1719 pb respectively. PhSERKs
belongs to the LRR-type cell surface RLKs, which possess a number of
characteristic domains. These include an extracellular domain (EX)
containing a variable number of LRR units, signal pepetide (SP) immediately
followed by a single transmembrane domain (TM) and an intracellular kinase
domain. The phylogenetic tree shows that the protein PhSERK1, PhSERK2 and
PhSERK3 clustered within monocots SERKs proteins groups. We also predicted
the secondary and tertiary with ligand binding sites structure of the
protein PhSERKs
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Sfax, Tunisia
Background Africa, like the rest of the world, has been impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, only a few studies covering this subject in Africa have been published. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of critically ill adult COVID-19 patients—all of whom had a confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection—admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia). Results A total of 96 patients were admitted into our ICU for respiratory distress due to COVID-19 infection. Mean age was 62.4±12.8 years and median age was 64 years. Mean arterial oxygen tension (PaO2)/fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio was 105±60 and ≤300 in all cases but one. Oxygen support was required for all patients (100%) and invasive mechanical ventilation for 38 (40%). Prone positioning was applied in 67 patients (70%). Within the study period, 47 of the 96 patients died (49%). Multivariate analysis showed that the factors associated with poor outcome were the development of acute renal failure (odds ratio [OR], 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75–25.9), the use of mechanical ventilation (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.54–22.0), and serum cholinesterase (SChE) activity lower than 5,000 UI/L (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.34–19). Conclusions In this retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU in Sfax, Tunisia, for acute respiratory failure following COVID-19 infection, the mortality rate was high. The development of acute renal failure, the use of mechanical ventilation, and SChE activity lower than 5,000 UI/L were associated with a poor outcome
Conservative management for acute renal rupture in blunt trauma
Renal injuries are commonly reported in blunt abdominal trauma and are usually associated to other abdominal injuries. Renal rupture may be misdiagnosed and its management, especially in severe lesions, is still controversial. We describe the case of renal rupture diagnosed in the Emergency Department and conservatively managed. The outcome was good thanks to the early diagnosis and the management of the renal trauma. Conservative management in renal rupture is possible in stable patients provided that the imaging is early done
Molecular characterization and evolution studies of a SERK like gene transcriptionally induced during somatic embryogenesis in Phoenix Dactylifera L v Deglet Nour
A somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase like (SERKL) cDNA, designated
PhSERKL, was isolated from date palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L) using RACE PCR.
PhSERKL protein shared all the characteristic domains of the SERK family,
including five leucine-rich repeats, one proline-rich region motif, a
transmembrane domain, and kinase domains. Phylogenetic analyses using PHYLIP
and Notung 2.7 programs suggest that the SERK proteins of some plant species
resulted from relatively ancient duplication events. We predict an ancestor
protein of monocots and dicots SERK using FASTML program. Somatic embryogenic
cultures of date palm were established following transfer of callus cultures
to medium containing 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The role of PhSERKL
gene during establishment of somatic embryogenesis in culture was
investigated using quantitative real-time PCR. PhSERKL gene was highly
expressed during embryogenic competence acquisition and globular embryo
formation in culture. Overall, levels of expression of PhSERKL gene were
lower in nonembryogenic tissues and organs than in embryogenic callus