[Using two different drug regimens to compare and evaluate the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] after abdominal hysterectomy using general anesthesia]

Postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] is a major unpleasant symptom in the postoperative period that has many causes, including the choice of anaesthetic drugs and induction. The prevention of PONV is considered as equally important as the prevention of postoperative pain. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate and compare the prevalence of PONV after abdominal hysterectomy using general anesthesia. To this end, the roles of two different drugs regimens, Propofol and Tiopental Sodium, were studied. This single-blinded clinical research study was carried out in Ariya Hospital during the years of 1387 and 1388 [H.S.]. For this study, 104 ASA class I or II women, aged 30-60 years, were scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy by the same surgeon. The operation lasted about 25 to 30 minutes. The samples of the study were randomized into one of two groups: Group P [n=52] who received the induction of 2 mg/kg Propofol with the maintenance of 5 mg/kg/hr of Propofol. On the other hand, group T [n=52] were given the induction of 5 mg/kg Tiopental Sodium with the maintenance of 0.5 MAC Halothane. All the patients received 4 micro g/kg Fentanyl, 0.6 mg/kg Atracurium and the ventilation was controlled at O2/N2O 50/50. The number of patients suffering from nausea and/or vomiting at the recovery room was recorded within 6 and 24 hours after the operation. The data were then statistically analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. After the operations, the number of patients experiencing nausea at the recovery room was%5.8 [n=3] for group P and%59.6 [n=31] for group T [P=0.001].%5.8 [n=3] of the patients in group P were vomiting while 28.8% [n=15] in group T [P=0.003] had that experience. The number of patients experiencing nausea within 6 hours after the operation was%55.8 [n=29] for group P and%67.3 [n=35] for group T [P=0.314]. In terms of vomiting in 6 hours of postoperation,%21.2 [n=11] of the patients in group P and%38.5 [n=20] in group T were having the experience [P=0.085]. Also, the results indicate that the number of patients experiencing nausea within 24 hours of postoperation was%3.8 [n=2] for group P and%32.7 [n=17] for group T [P=0.001]. However,%1.9 [n=1] of the patients in group P and%5.8 [n=3] in group T [P=0.618] were suffering from vomiting at the recovery room were significantly lower in group P than in group T, but the difference in 6 hours after operation was insignificant. Also, the prevalence of nausea in 24 hours after operation was significantly lower in group P than in group T, but the difference in terms of vomiting within the same period was insignificant. For women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, the choice of induction and maintenance of general anesthesia with Propofol provides a better prophylaxis against PONV than the induction with Thiopental Sodium with the maintenance of Halothane

[Differential expression of two different variants of survivin during mouse brain development]

Introduction: Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis [IAP] containing one baculoviral IAP repeat [BIR] domain, has been reported to be able to regulate both cellular proliferation and apoptotic cell death. In the present study, we evaluated the differential expression of different variants of survivin during prenatal and postnatal development of brain in mice

Material and Methods A total of 27 NMRI mice were categorized into 9 age groups and brain specimens were obtained accordingly [n=3 per each group]: 11 and 17 days embryos and newborn from which the remaining brains were collected by intervals of 5 days up to 1 month of age. Total RNA was extracted from each brain and Reverse Transcription was performed by oligo dT and M-MLV enzyme. cDNAs were amplified with primers specific for survivin and beta2 microglobulin [as an internal control] via polymerase chain reaction technique

Results: We demonstrated that survivin is expressed during both fetal and postnatal development of brain in mice. RT-PCR performed on survivin showed two different variants of survivin with different intensities. The expression of the bigger variant [survivin140] during both prenatal development and at birth was significantly higher than its postnatal one

Conclusion: Our data suggests that the expression of survivin140 in brain is developmentally regulated; such a regulation may play a role in homeostasis of brain, and in refinement of synapses