Comparative analysis of function and interaction of transcription factors in nematodes: Extensive conservation of orthology coupled to rapid sequence evolution

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Much of the morphological diversity in eukaryotes results from differential regulation of gene expression in which transcription factors (TFs) play a central role. The nematode <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>is an established model organism for the study of the roles of TFs in controlling the spatiotemporal pattern of gene expression. Using the fully sequenced genomes of three <it>Caenorhabditid </it>nematode species as well as genome information from additional more distantly related organisms (fruit fly, mouse, and human) we sought to identify orthologous TFs and characterized their patterns of evolution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 988 TF genes in <it>C. elegans</it>, and inferred corresponding sets in <it>C. briggsae </it>and <it>C. remanei</it>, containing 995 and 1093 TF genes, respectively. Analysis of the three gene sets revealed 652 3-way reciprocal 'best hit' orthologs (nematode TF set), approximately half of which are zinc finger (ZF-C2H2 and ZF-C4/NHR types) and HOX family members. Examination of the TF genes in <it>C. elegans </it>and <it>C. briggsae </it>identified the presence of significant tandem clustering on chromosome V, the majority of which belong to ZF-C4/NHR family. We also found evidence for lineage-specific duplications and rapid evolution of many of the TF genes in the two species. A search of the TFs conserved among nematodes in <it>Drosophila melanogaster</it>, <it>Mus musculus </it>and <it>Homo sapiens </it>revealed 150 reciprocal orthologs, many of which are associated with important biological processes and human diseases. Finally, a comparison of the sequence, gene interactions and function indicates that nematode TFs conserved across phyla exhibit significantly more interactions and are enriched in genes with annotated mutant phenotypes compared to those that lack orthologs in other species.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study represents the first comprehensive genome-wide analysis of TFs across three nematode species and other organisms. The findings indicate substantial conservation of transcription factors even across distant evolutionary lineages and form the basis for future experiments to examine TF gene function in nematodes and other divergent phyla.</p

Comparison of preemptive effect of intravenous ketorolac versus meperidine on postoperative shivering and pain in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study

Background: Pain and shivering are two unpleasant problems in postoperative period. Various techniques are used to alleviate the postoperative shivering and pain. We compared the preemptive prescription of a single dose of intravenous meperidine and ketorolac on postoperative pain and shivering in patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. Methods: One hundred and fifty patients who were scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to one of three study groups to receive intravenous ketorolac (group K), meperidine (group M) or normal saline (group P). Time to first analgesic request, analgesic requirement in the first 24 hours after surgery, body tympanic temperature, hemodynamic variables and incidence of shivering were assessed as outcome variables. Results: There was no significant difference between meperidine and ketorolac groups in terms of prevalence of shivering, although both groups were different from the placebo group (p<0.04). The mean time to first analgesic request was longer in group k (3.8±1.4) and groups M (3.3±1.2) than in group P (2.1±0.8) hours (p<0.001). Conclusions: The preemptive prescription of a single dose of intravenous meperidine and ketorolac can provide a satisfying analgesia immediately after surgery and decrease shivering prevalence without any serious side effects

Evaluation of the analgesic effect of ketamine as an additive to intrathecal bupivacaine in patients undergoing cesarean section

Objective: Nowadays, conventional analgesic agents, which are widely used for pain relief after cesarean section, provide suboptimal analgesia with occasional serious side effects. We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal ketamine added to bupivacaine after cesarean section. Methods: Sixty patients scheduled for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to one of the two groups to receive either bupivacaine 10 mg combined with 0.1 mg/kg ketamine, or bupivacaine 10 mg combined with 0.5 mL distilled water intrathecally. The time to the first analgesic request, analgesic requirement in the first 24 hours after surgery, onset times of sensory and motor blockades, the durations of sensory and motor blockades, and the incidences of adverse effects such as hypotension, ephedrine requirement, bradycardia, and hypoxemia, were recorded. Results: Patients who received ketamine had a significantly prolonged duration of anesthesia compared with those who did not in the control group [95% confidence intervals (CI) 195e217; p ¼ 0.001]. The mean time to the first analgesic request was also significantly longer in ketamine group (95% CI 252.5e275; p < 0.001). The total analgesic consumption in the 24 hours following surgery significantly lessened in the ketamine group compared with that of the control group (95% CI 2e2.5; p < 0.001). The two groups did not differ significantly in intraoperative and postoperative side effects. Conclusion: Intrathecal ketamine 0.1 mg/kg co-administered with spinal bupivacaine elongated the time to the first analgesic request and lessened the total analgesic consumption in the first 24 postoperative hours in comparison with bupivacaine alone in the control group following elective cesarean delivery. Copyright � 2014, Taiwan Society of Anesthesiologists. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved

Performing percutaneous dilational tracheostomy without using fiberoptic bronchoscope

Background: Percutaneous tracheostomy is an elective method that is increasingly being taken up in the intensive care unit alongside the patient's bed. In many centers, bronchoscopy is used, but the necessity of using bronchoscopy in percutaneous tracheostomy has not yet been determined. Discontinuing use of bronchoscopy can potentially reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of percutaneous tracheostomy. Therefore, in this study, we performed a percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy without using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Materials and Methods: This study was performed as a descriptive epidemiological survey among 70 patients in Shahid Rajaei Hospital of Qazvin in 2015 and 2016. The results were assessed in the patients. Results: In this study, pneumothorax, trauma, major and minor bleeding, cuff leak and change to surgical procedures as well as accidental extubation were not seen. However, subcutaneous emphysema, mal-position and hypoxia each were seen in one patient (1.4%). Conclusion: Totally the results demonstrated that percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy without fiberoptic bronchoscopic guidance is useful and saf