Principles, Applications, and Biosafety of Plant Genome Editing Using CRISPR-Cas9.

The terms genome engineering, genome editing, and gene editing, refer to modifications (insertions, deletions, substitutions) in the genome of a living organism. The most widely used approach to genome editing nowadays is based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9). In prokaryotes, CRISPR-Cas9 is an adaptive immune system that naturally protects cells from DNA virus infections. CRISPR-Cas9 has been modified to create a versatile genome editing technology that has a wide diversity of applications in medicine, agriculture, and basic studies of gene functions. CRISPR-Cas9 has been used in a growing number of monocot and dicot plant species to enhance yield, quality, and nutritional value, to introduce or enhance tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, among other applications. Although biosafety concerns remain, genome editing is a promising technology with potential to contribute to food production for the benefit of the growing human population. Here, we review the principles, current advances and applications of CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing in crop improvement. We also address biosafety concerns and show that humans have been exposed to Cas9 protein homologues long before the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in genome editing.

Motivações para escolha do parto domiciliar planejado / Motivos para elegir el parto a domicilio previsto / Motivations for choosing planned home birth

Objetivo: compreender as motivações das mulheres na escolha do parto domiciliar planejado e as percepções dessa vivência. Método: estudo descritivo, exploratório e qualitativo, desenvolvido com 14 mulheres que vivenciaram um parto domiciliar planejado entre janeiro de 2019 e dezembro de 2020. As entrevistas foram realizadas entre março e maio de 2021, transcritas na íntegra e submetidas à análise de conteúdo. Resultados: a análise possibilitou compreender que as motivações para escolha do parto domiciliar planejado estiveram relacionadas ao sentimento de medo das práticas obstétricas hospitalares. A segurança no ambiente domiciliar, a garantia da autonomia e a possibilidade da presença dos filhos foram tanto motivações como percepções positivas dessa vivência. A resistência por parte da sociedade foi frequentemente vivenciada. Conclusão: o modelo obstétrico vigente precisa ser repensado e readequado, com vistas à oferta assistência ao parto segura e respeitosa, seja em âmbito domiciliar ou hospitalar.

Objetivo: comprender las motivaciones de las mujeres en la elección del parto domiciliario planeado y las percepciones de esa vivencia. Método: estudio descriptivo, exploratorio y cualitativo, desarrollado con 14 mujeres que experimentaron un parto domiciliario planeado entre enero de 2019 y diciembre de 2020. Las entrevistas se realizaron entre marzo y mayo de 2021, transcritas en su totalidad y sometidas al análisis de contenido. Resultados: el análisis permitió comprender que las motivaciones para la elección del parto domiciliar planeado estuvieron relacionadas con el sentimiento de miedo de las prácticas obstétricas hospitalarias. La seguridad en el ambiente domiciliario, la garantía de la autonomía y la posibilidad de la presencia de los hijos fueron tanto motivaciones como percepciones positivas de esa vivencia. La resistencia por parte de la sociedad fue frecuentemente experimentada. Conclusión: el modelo obstétrico vigente necesita ser repensado y readequado, con vistas a la oferta asistencia al parto segura y respetuosa, sea en ámbito domiciliar u hospitalario.

Objective to understand the motivations of women in choosing the planned home birth and the perceptions of this experience. Method: descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study, developed with 14 women who experienced a planned home birth between January 2019 and December 2020. The interviews were conducted between March and May 2021, transcribed in full and submitted to content analysis. Results: the allowed understanding that the motivations for choosing planned home birth were related to the feeling of fear of hospital obstetric practices. Safety in the home environment, the guarantee of autonomy and the possibility of the presence of children were both motivations and positive perceptions of this experience. Resistance on the part of society was often experienced. Conclusion: the current obstetric model needs to be rethought and readjusted, in order to provide safe and respectful birth, whether at home or in the hospital.

Avaliação do impacto do tempo de espera para admissão em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva no desfecho clínico do paciente crítico / Assessment of the impact of waiting time until admission in the Intensive Care Unit on the clinical outcome of critical patients

RESUMO: Este estudo tem por base a premissa de que com um maior número de leitos de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) disponíveis o tempo de espera para admissão em UTI é menor, o que resulta no melhor desfecho clínico, justifi-cando, portanto, a importância do presente estudo. Objetivo: Avaliar se o tempo de espera no Departamento de Emergência até a admissão em UTI tem influência no desfecho clínico do paciente crítico. Metodologia: Estudo ob-servacional, retrospectivo, do tipo antes e depois, realizado em um hospital público do município de Joinville/SC no ano de 2019. Foram incluídos os dados referentes aos pacientes adultos admitidos na UTI com até 72 horas de es-pera no Departamento de Emergência desde a chegada ao hospital. Comparou-se o último trimestre de 2017 (fase 1), período durante o qual havia 14 leitos de UTI no hospital, e último trimestre de 2018 (fase 2), período durante o qual havia 30 leitos de UTI. Resultados: Analisaram-se 173 prontuários elegíveis de 2017 e 2018. Houve diferen-ça estatisticamente significativa no tempo decorrido na emergência até a admissão em UTI entre 2017 e 2018 (me-diana de 22 vs. 15; p=0,0002). A diferença estatística também foi relevante para a mortalidade em até 24 horas após a admissão em UTI, comparando-se os dois anos em questão (9,61% vs. 2,47%; p=0,04). Não houve diferen-ça estatística significante na mortalidade hospitalar entre 2017 e 2018 (34,6% vs. 35,5%; p=0,57). Também não houve diferença estatisticamente relevante entre os demais parâmetros analisados. Conclusão: Comparando-se 2017 a 2018, percebeu-se que o tempo de espera pelo leito de UTI diminuiu, bem como a mortalidade em até 24h da admissão intensiva. No entanto, isto não se refletiu na mortalidade hospitalar. (AU)

ABSTRACT: The premise that underpins this study is that the more Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds available, the shorter the waiting time for ICU admission, resulting in better clinical outcomes, which justifies the relevance of this study. Objective: Assess if the waiting time in the Emergency Room until ICU admission influences on the clinical outcome of critical patients. Methods: An observational longitudinal retrospective study performed in a public hospital in Joinville/SC in 2019. This study analyzed data from patients admitted to the ICU with up to 72h of waiting time in the Emergency Room. It compares Q4'2017 (phase 1), when there were 14 ICU beds in the hospital vs. Q4'2018 (phase 2), when there were 30 ICU beds. Results: 173 medical records were analyzed in 2017-2018. There was a statistically significant difference in the time for ICU admission between 2017 and 2018 (median 22h vs. 15h; p=0.0002). There was also a statistically significant difference for mortality rates up to 24h of admission (9.61% vs. 2.47%; p=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference for hospital mortality rates (34.6% vs. 35.5%; p=0.57). There was also no statistically significant difference between the other parameters analyzed. Conclusion:Comparing 2017 and 2018, waiting time for an ICU bed was shorter in 2018, and the mortality rates up to 24 hours of ICU admission were lower. However, waiting time in the Emergency Room until ICU admission did not show as-sociation with hospital mortality rates. (AU)

Estudo exploratório sobre a utilização da Colostroterapia em Unidade Neonatal de uma maternidade brasileira / Exploratory study on the use of Colostrum therapy in a brazilian maternity hospital's Neonatal Unit

Estudo exploratório para verificar a utilização da colostroterapia em recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso, em unidade neonatal de maternidade de médio porte, por meio da avaliação de prontuários. Dos 108 prontuários avaliados, 56,5% dos neonatos eram do sexo feminino, com média de peso e idade gestacional ao nascimento de 1091,9 g (DP=263,7g) e 29 semanas/2dias (DP=2semanas/6dias), respectivamente. A colostroterapia foi utilizada em 25,9% dos pacientes, sendo que em 96,4% dos casos a administração foi por via oral. O uso de terapia colostral foi associado significativamente a variáveis neonatais como idade gestacional, peso ao nascer e óbito neonatal (p = 0,001, p < 0,001, e p < 0,001). Não havendo protocolo estabelecido para guiar a prescrição da colostroterapia, esta ocorreu principalmente para prematuros de menor peso, mais imaturos ou mais doentes, com maior risco de morbidade e mortalidade.

Exploratory study of colostrum therapy use in very low birth weight newborns in a neonatal unit by the analysis of medical records. The 108 patients under study were predominantly female (56,5%), had a mean weight and gestational age at birth of 1091.9 g (SD=263.7g) and 29 weeks/2 days (SD=2 weeks/6 days), respectively. Colostrum therapy was used for 29.5% of the patients mostly by oral administration (96.4%). The use of colostrum therapy was significantly associated with low gestational age and weight at birth and with neonatal death (p = 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). As there was no established protocol to guide colostrum therapy prescription in the neonatal unit, the therapy was apparently chosen to be used for more immature or sicker babies, with a greater morbidity or mortality risk.

Argatroban as a substitute of heparin during cardiopulmonary bypass: a safe alternative?

OBJECTIVES: The patient with a diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis who requires urgent cardiac surgery represents a formidable challenge. Among the alternatives to heparin, argatroban has gained widespread use in non-cardiac surgery patients. The object of this communication is to report our recent experience with this agent during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and to review the cases previously published in order to better define indications, dosage, monitoring and limitations in cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: A case of mitral valve replacement where argatroban was used for anticoagulation during CPB is described. The literature on the subject is reviewed and the relationship between argatroban dosage and activated clotting time (ACT) is studied by regression analysis. RESULTS: Clotting of the oxygenator requiring prompt replacement occurred after release of cross-clamp. Upon termination of the drug, ACT remained elevated beyond the expected half-life. A significative (P<0.05) relationship was disclosed between increasing dosage and ACT, while the same relationship was absent on decreasing dosage. CONCLUSIONS: Because of unresolved issues like the possibility of clotting in the extracorporeal circuit and prolonged anticoagulation after discontinuing the drug, at present, the use of argatroban as a substitute of heparin during CPB should be restricted to those cases where the other thrombin inhibitors are contraindicated.

Endovascular graft deployment in the false lumen of type B dissection.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is particularly indicated in a patient with complicated type B dissection. The object of this communication is to report a case of deployment of the endograft in the false lumen, to propose a protocol in order to prevent it and discuss the possible surgical options when this complication has occurred. METHODS: A case of complicated acute type B dissection is described where the endovascular prosthesis was positioned in the false lumen. The literature on the subject is briefly reviewed for the insertion techniques and conversion to surgery. RESULTS: The occurrence was recognized and treated with replacement of the entire aorta from the sinotubular junction to a level of the eighth thoracic vertebra under deep circulatory arrest with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. CONCLUSIONS: TEVAR for complicated type B dissection should be carried out according to a precise and stepwise protocol in institutions familiar with all the different options of conversion to open repair.

Conhecimento sobre fatores de risco associados ao câncer do colo uterino em idosas de Umuarama-Pr / Knowledge on risk factors associates to uterine cervical cancer in elderly people in Umuarama-Pr

O câncer do colo uterino representa, no Brasil, a terceira causa de morte por câncer em mulheres. É uma doença passível de prevenção e está diretamente ligado ao grau de desenvolvimento econômico do país e à oferta de serviços de saúde. O estudo teve por objetivo analisar o conhecimento das mulheres, que freqüentam grupos de idosos no Município de Umuarama, com relação à importância de se realizar o exame preventivo de câncer do colo uterino. Utilizou-se a pesquisa de campo como abordagem metodológica. Foram pesquisadas 100 mulheres que freqüentam o Centro de Convivência de Idosos de Umuarama, através de formulário contendo nove perguntas sobre história familiar, atividade sexual, uso de métodos anticoncepcionais, realização do exame de Papanicolau. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente, a fim de avaliar o conhecimento em relação ao câncer de colo do útero. Das 100 mulheres 27% tinham entre 60 e 65 anos, 73% não possuem história familiar de câncer de colo uterino, 74% tiveram a primeira atividade sexual entre 15 e 20 anos, 54% relataram nunca apresentar história de DST, 27% tiveram de 3 a 4 filhos, 61% nunca fizeram uso de anticoncepcional, 51% realizaram o exame preventivo há menos de 2 anos. Conclui-se que, apesar de ser grande o número de mulheres que realizaram o exame preventivo, a maioria não tem conhecimento sobre câncer de colo uterino e a importância de sua prevenção.

Uterine cervical cancer is the third cause of death among women in Brazil. It is a disease which can be prevented, and it is directly associated with the deprivation of the economic development of the country and the lack of accessibility to health service facilities. This study analyzes the knowledge by women, who attend elderly people support groups in Umuarama, in relation to the importance of carrying out preventive tests for uterine cervical cancer. The methodological approach used was research. The research was carried out with 100 women, who attend the Umuarama Centro of Convivência de Idosos , through a 9-question questionnaire regarding their family history, sexual activity, use of contraceptive methods, and having had the Papanicolau test. The data were analyzed descriptively in order to evaluate the knowledge on uterine cervical cancer. 27% of the women were 60-65 years old. 73% did not have any history of the uterine cervical cancer in their family; 74% had their first sexual activity between 15 and 20 years old; 54% reported to have never experienced any STDs; 27% had 3 to 4 children, 61% have never used any contraceptives, and 51% underwent the preventive test less than two years ago. It is concluded that, in spite of the great number of women who underwent the preventive test, most of them do not have any knowledge on uterine cervical cancer and the importance of its prevention.