De Novo Transcriptome Assembly of Cedar (Cedrela odorata L.) and Differential Gene Expression Involved in Herbivore Resistance.

Timber trees are targets of herbivorous attacks. The identification of genes associated with pest resistance can be accomplished through differential expression analysis using transcriptomes. We reported the de novo assembly of cedar (Cedrela odorata L.) transcriptome and the differential expression of genes involved in herbivore resistance. The assembly and annotation of the transcriptome were obtained using RNAseq from healthy cedar plants and those infested with Chrysobothris yucatanensis. A total of 325.6 million reads were obtained, and 127,031 (97.47%) sequences were successfully assembled. A total of 220 herbivory-related genes were detected, of which 170 genes were annotated using GO terms, and 161 genes with 245 functions were identified-165, 75, and 5 were molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular components, respectively. To protect against herbivorous infestation, trees produce toxins and volatile compounds which are modulated by signaling pathways and gene expression related to molecular functions and biological processes. The limited number of genes identified as cellular components suggests that there are minimal alterations in cellular structure in response to borer attack. The chitin recognition protein, jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) motifs, and response regulator receiver domain were found to be overexpressed, whereas the terpene synthase, cytochrome P450, and protein kinase domain gene families were underexpressed. This is the first report of a cedar transcriptome focusing on genes that are overexpressed in healthy plants and underexpressed in infested plants. This method may be a viable option for identifying genes associated with herbivore resistance.

Expression of heat shock protein genes in Simmental cattle exposed to heat stress.

OBJECTIVE: In tropical, subtropical and arid zones, heat stress is the main cause of productivity reduction in cattle. When climate stressors occur, animals become thermal adapted through differential expression of some genes, including heat shock proteins (HSP) family. The aim of this study was to determine levels of expression of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 genes in Simmental cattle raised in tropical environments of Mexico. METHODS: In this study, expression of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 genes was analyzed in 116 Simmental cattle from three farms with tropical climate located in western Mexico. Animals were sampled twice a day, in the morning and noon. Gene expression was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction using probes marked with fluorescence. The MIXED procedure of SAS with repeated measures was used for all statistical analysis. RESULTS: HSP60 gene expression differences were found for sex (p = 0.0349). HSP70 gene differences were detected for sampling hour (p = 0.0042), farm (p<0.0001), sex (p = 0.0476), and the interaction sampling hour×farm (p = 0.0002). Gene expression differences for HSP90 were observed for farm (p<0.0001) and year (p = 0.0521). HSP70 gene showed to be a better marker of heat stress than HSP60 and HSP90 genes. CONCLUSION: Expression of HSP70 gene in Simmental herds of the tropical region of western México was different during early morning and noon, but the expression of the HSP60 and HSP90 genes was similar. Identification of resilient animals to heat stress will be useful in the genetic improvement of the Simmental breed.

Transcriptome Analysis of Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Fruit under Postharvest Storage Identifies Genes Families Involved in Ripening.

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is climacteric fruit with a short ripening period and postharvest shelf life, leading to a rapid softening. In this study, transcriptome analysis of soursop fruits was performed to identify key gene families involved in ripening under postharvest storage conditions (Day 0, Day 3 stored at 28 ± 2 °C, Day 6 at 28 ± 2 °C, Day 3 at 15 ± 2 °C, Day 6 at 15 ± 2 °C, Day 9 at 15 ± 2 °C). The transcriptome analysis showed 224,074 transcripts assembled clustering into 95, 832 unigenes, of which 21, 494 had ORF. RNA-seq analysis showed the highest number of differentially expressed genes on Day 9 at 15 ± 2 °C with 9291 genes (4772 up-regulated and 4519 down-regulated), recording the highest logarithmic fold change in pectin-related genes. Enrichment analysis presented significantly represented GO terms and KEGG pathways associated with molecular function, metabolic process, catalytic activity, biological process terms, as well as biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant hormone signal, starch, and sucrose metabolism, plant-pathogen interaction, plant-hormone signal transduction, and MAPK-signaling pathways, among others. Network analysis revealed that pectinesterase genes directly regulate the loss of firmness in fruits stored at 15 ± 2 °C.

Towards Better Perioperative Pain Management in Mexico: A Study in a Network of Hospitals Using Quality Improvement Methods from PAIN OUT.

OBJECTIVE: This was a pre-post study in a network of hospitals in Mexico-City, Mexico. Participants developed and implemented Quality Improvement (QI) interventions addressing perioperative pain management. METHODS: PAIN OUT, an international QI and research network, provided tools for web-based auditing and feedback of pain management and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the clinical routine. Ward- and patient-level factors were evaluated with multi-level models. Change in proportion of patients reporting worst pain ≥6/10 between project phases was the primary outcome. RESULTS: Participants created locally adapted resources for teaching and pain management, available to providers in the form of a website and a special issue of a national anesthesia journal. They offered teaching to anesthesiologists, surgeons, including residents, and nurses. Information was offered to patients and families. A total of 2658 patients were audited in 9 hospitals, between July 2016 and December 2018. Participants reported that the project made them aware of the importance of: training in pain management; auditing one's own patients to learn about PROs and that QI requires collaboration between multi-disciplinary teams. Participants reported being unaware that their patients experienced severe pain and lacked information about pain treatment options. Worst pain decreased significantly between the two project phases, as did PROs related to pain interfering with movement, taking a deep breath/coughing or sleep. The opportunity of patients receiving information about their pain treatment options increased from 44% to 77%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients benefited from improved care and pain-related PROs. Clinicians appreciated gaining increased expertise in perioperative pain management and methods of QI.

Analgesia perioperatoria en el paciente oncológico con uso crónico de opioides / Perioperative analgesia in cancer patients with chronic opioid use

Resumen: El cáncer es la principal causa de muerte a nivel mundial, en México constituye la tercera causa de muerte con el 12% de todas las defunciones, llegando a 222 muertes diarias. Según datos del Foro de Líderes contra el Cáncer 2017, se estima que para 2025 la incidencia en México aumente un 50% pasando de 147,000 a 220,000 casos nuevos al año. Datos arrojados en 52 artículos revisados mostraron que el dolor oncológico ha alcanzando cifras de 33% en pacientes curados, 59% en pacientes con tratamiento oncológico y 64% en pacientes con metástasis. Más de un tercio de los pacientes con dolor en esta revisión clasificaron su dolor de moderado a severo. El óptimo manejo del dolor agudo o crónico en el paciente oncológico requiere un abordaje integral basado en evidencia, tomar en cuenta el tratamiento previo con opioides, abordar los cuadros de dolor irruptivo y hacer una autoevaluación constante de estrategia y resultados.

Abstract: Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, in Mexico it is the third cause of death with 12% of all deaths, reaching 222 deaths per day. According to data from the 2017 Forum of Leaders against Cancer, it is estimated that by 2025 the incidence in Mexico will increase by 50%, going from 147,000 to 220,000 new cases per year. Data from 52 reviewed articles showed that oncological pain reached Figures of 33% in cured patients, 59% in patients with oncological treatment and 64% in patients with metastasis. More than a third of patients with pain in this review classified their pain as moderate to severe. The optimal management of acute or chronic pain in the oncological patient requires a comprehensive approach based on evidence, taking into account the previous treatment with opioids, addressing breakthrough pain charts and making a constant self-assessment of strategy and results.

Opioides y rotación equianalgésica en el perioperatorio / Opioids and equianalgesic rotation in the perioperative period

Resumen: Los avances recientes en el manejo de dolor en el perioperatorio incluyen una mejor comprensión de mecanismos de dolor, fisiología, farmacología y disponibilidad de nuevos medicamentos y dispositivos. Los opioides constituyen la piedra angular para el tratamiento del dolor agudo postoperatorio, especialmente para los procedimientos que causan dolor moderado a severo. No obstante, sus efectos adversos limitan en ocasiones las dosis, retrasan la recuperación postoperatoria y pueden poner en peligro la vida del paciente si no se controlan adecuadamente. Cuando se programa el evento quirúrgico, es necesario cambiar el opioide o la vía de administración, lo que se conoce como «rotación de opioide¼; la cual consiste en cambiar un fármaco opioide administrado por la misma vía al mismo fármaco por vía diferente o a otro opioide por otra vía de administración, esto con el objetivo de mejorar la analgesia, disminuir los efectos secundarios o por condiciones del paciente. El cálculo de las dosis equianalgésicas implica la utilización de Tablas construidas a partir de estudios en los que se comparan las potencias relativas de los distintos opioides (visita http://www.painoutmexico.com para obtener la versión completa del artículo).

Abstract: Recent advances in pain management in the perioperative period include a better understanding of pain mechanisms, physiology, pharmacology and availability of new drugs and devices. Opioids are the cornerstone for the treatment of postoperative acute pain, especially for procedures that cause moderate to severe pain. However, its adverse effects sometimes limit the doses, delay postoperative recovery and can endanger the life of the patients if are not adequately controlled. When a surgical event is scheduled it is necessary to change the opioid or the administration route, which is known as «opioid rotation¼, which consists in changing an opioid drug administered by the same route to the same drug by a different route or to another opioid by another administration route, with the objective of improving analgesia, reducing side effects or patient conditions. The calculation of equianalgesic doses involves the use of Tables constructed from studies in which the relative potencies of the different opioids are compared (visit http://www.painoutmexico.com to see the full article).