Caracterización de la COVID-19 en Artemisa

Introduction: Covid-19 have been affecting the worldwide population for a number of months, Cuba nation and Artemisa province have not been exempt from this situation. Objective: to characterize Covid-19 confirmed-positive cases in Artemisa province.Methods: an observational, descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective research was conducted in patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Artemisa province up to July 18th, 2020. Data were collected from the Department of Statistics in Artemisa province, and from the daily reports published by the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba in its official website. Descriptive statistics was applied to analyze the data by means of absolute and relative percentage frequencies.Results: in Artemisa province 2435 tests of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) where analyzed and of them 38 cases were confirmed positive. The rate of incidence respect this disease reached 7,4 per 100 thousand inhabitants. Nine of the eleven municipalities comprising Artemisa province presented confirmed- positive cases, Bauta added 31,6 % of the provincial accumulation. The 76,3 % of confirmed-positive cases were contact of other infected people. The 97,4 % of the infected the patients recovered and one patient died. The 55,26 % of confirmed- positive patients were male. Conclusions: the novel coronavirus represents a great challenge for Artemisa province. When the research concluded it was verified that the clinical characteristics of these 38 Covid-19 patients, behaved similar to the rest of the infected patients in Cuba: the disease prevailed in male sex. Introducción: desde hace varios meses la COVID-19 afecta a la población mundial, situación de la cual tanto Cuba, como la provincia Artemisa no han quedado exentas.  Objetivo: caracterizar los casos positivos a la COVID-19 en la provincia Artemisa.Métodos: se realizó una investigación observacional, descriptiva, longitudinal y retrospectiva en los pacientes diagnosticados con la COVID-19 en la provincia Artemisa hasta el 18 de junio de 2020.  Los datos fueron obtenidos mediante el departamento de estadística de la provincia, los partes diarios publicados por el Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba y su sitio web oficial. Se empleó la estadística descriptiva para el análisis de los datos, mediante frecuencias absolutas y relativa porcentual.Resultados: se realizaron en la provincia Artemisa 2 435 pruebas de Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa y 38 casos resultaron positivas. La tasa de incidencia de la enfermedad fue de 7,4 por cada 100 mil habitantes. Nueve de los once municipios artemiseños presentaron casos; Bauta aportó el 31,6 % del acumulado provincial. El 76,3 % de los casos confirmados fueron contactos de casos confirmados. El 97,4 % de los infectados se recuperaron y un paciente falleció. El 55,26 % de los pacientes confirmados fueron del sexo masculino.Conclusiones: el nuevo coronavirus representa un ingente desafío para la provincia Artemisa. Se constató, al finalizar la investigación, que en los 38 pacientes positivos a la COVID−19, las características clínicas eran análogas a los infectados del resto de Cuba: mayor predominio de la enfermedad en el sexo masculino

Caracterización de la COVID-19 en Artemisa

Introduction: Covid-19 have been affecting the worldwide population for a number of months, Cuba nation and Artemisa province have not been exempt from this situation. Objective: to characterize Covid-19 confirmed-positive cases in Artemisa province.Methods: an observational, descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective research was conducted in patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in Artemisa province up to July 18th, 2020. Data were collected from the Department of Statistics in Artemisa province, and from the daily reports published by the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba in its official website. Descriptive statistics was applied to analyze the data by means of absolute and relative percentage frequencies.Results: in Artemisa province 2435 tests of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) where analyzed and of them 38 cases were confirmed positive. The rate of incidence respect this disease reached 7,4 per 100 thousand inhabitants. Nine of the eleven municipalities comprising Artemisa province presented confirmed- positive cases, Bauta added 31,6 % of the provincial accumulation. The 76,3 % of confirmed-positive cases were contact of other infected people. The 97,4 % of the infected the patients recovered and one patient died. The 55,26 % of confirmed- positive patients were male. Conclusions: the novel coronavirus represents a great challenge for Artemisa province. When the research concluded it was verified that the clinical characteristics of these 38 Covid-19 patients, behaved similar to the rest of the infected patients in Cuba: the disease prevailed in male sex. Introducción: desde hace varios meses la COVID-19 afecta a la población mundial, situación de la cual tanto Cuba, como la provincia Artemisa no han quedado exentas.  Objetivo: caracterizar los casos positivos a la COVID-19 en la provincia Artemisa.Métodos: se realizó una investigación observacional, descriptiva, longitudinal y retrospectiva en los pacientes diagnosticados con la COVID-19 en la provincia Artemisa hasta el 18 de junio de 2020.  Los datos fueron obtenidos mediante el departamento de estadística de la provincia, los partes diarios publicados por el Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba y su sitio web oficial. Se empleó la estadística descriptiva para el análisis de los datos, mediante frecuencias absolutas y relativa porcentual.Resultados: se realizaron en la provincia Artemisa 2 435 pruebas de Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa y 38 casos resultaron positivas. La tasa de incidencia de la enfermedad fue de 7,4 por cada 100 mil habitantes. Nueve de los once municipios artemiseños presentaron casos; Bauta aportó el 31,6 % del acumulado provincial. El 76,3 % de los casos confirmados fueron contactos de casos confirmados. El 97,4 % de los infectados se recuperaron y un paciente falleció. El 55,26 % de los pacientes confirmados fueron del sexo masculino.Conclusiones: el nuevo coronavirus representa un ingente desafío para la provincia Artemisa. Se constató, al finalizar la investigación, que en los 38 pacientes positivos a la COVID−19, las características clínicas eran análogas a los infectados del resto de Cuba: mayor predominio de la enfermedad en el sexo masculino

SCHMIDT, Maria Auxiliadora; BARCA, Isabel; MARTINS, Estevão de Rezende (Org.). Jörn Rüsen e o Ensino de História. Curitiba: Editora da UFPR, 2011.

Resenha da Obra: SCHMIDT, Maria Auxiliadora; BARCA, Isabel; MARTINS, Estevão de Rezende (Org.). Jörn Rüsen e o Ensino de História. Curitiba: Editora da UFPR, 2011

Developing a programmed restriction endonuclease for highly specific DNA cleavage

Specific cleavage of large DNA molecules at few sites, necessary for the analysis of genomic DNA or for targeting individual genes in complex genomes, requires endonucleases of extremely high specificity. Restriction endonucleases (REase) that recognize DNA sequences of 4–8 bp are not sufficiently specific for this purpose. In principle, the specificity of REases can be extended by fusion to sequence recognition modules, e.g. specific DNA-binding domains or triple-helix forming oligonucleotides (TFO). We have chosen to extend the specificity of REases using TFOs, given the combinatorial flexibility this fusion offers in addressing a short, yet precisely recognized restriction site next to a defined triple-helix forming site (TFS). We demonstrate here that the single chain variant of PvuII (scPvuII) covalently coupled via the bifunctional cross-linker N-(γ-maleimidobutryloxy) succinimide ester to a TFO (5′-NH(2)-[CH(2)](6 or 12)-MPMPMPMPMPPPPPPT-3′, with M being 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine and P being 5-[1-propynyl]-2′-deoxyuridine), cleaves DNA specifically at the recognition site of PvuII (CAGCTG) if located in a distance of approximately one helical turn to a TFS (underlined) complementary to the TFO (‘addressed’ site: 5′-TTTTTTTCTCTCTCTCN(∼10)CAGCTG-3′), leaving ‘unaddressed’ PvuII sites intact. The preference for cleavage of an ‘addressed’ compared to an ‘unaddressed’ site is >1000-fold, if the cleavage reaction is initiated by addition of Mg(2+) ions after preincubation of scPvuII-TFO and substrate in the absence of Mg(2+) ions to allow triple-helix formation before DNA cleavage. Single base pair substitutions in the TFS prevent addressed DNA cleavage by scPvuII-TFO

CD8+DR+ T-Cells and C3 Complement Serum Concentration as Potential Biomarkers in Thrombotic Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Purpose. To assess complement factors and T lymphocyte activation subset abnormalities in patients with thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) as potential biomarkers for development of clinical complications. Methods. We assessed C3, C4, factor B concentrations (nephelometry), complement haemolytic functional activity (CH100, radial immune diffusion), and the activation status of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells (three-colour flow cytometry) in patients with thrombotic APS. Antiphospholipid (aPL) positive patients without APS-related clinical criteria, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and healthy individuals were evaluated as controls. A clinical followup was performed to assess the potential relationship between the immunological parameters and development of APS-related complications. Results. Lower concentrations of C3 and higher levels of CD8+DR+ cells were risk factors for development of APS-related complications during followup, including rethrombosis and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Patients with diagnosed thrombotic APS had significantly lower levels of C3, C4, and CH100 as well as higher percentages of activated CD4+DR+ and of CD8+DR+ T-cells than healthy controls but similar to that observed in autoimmune disease controls. Conclusion. Lower C3 and C4 complement levels and higher percentages of CD8+DR+ T-cells were observed in thrombotic APS patients. The potential role of these abnormalities as biomarkers of clinical outcome warrants further evaluation in a multicenter study

A Festa do Arraiá do Descoberto: Uma identidade cultural em transformação

Este artigo apresentar um dos mais expressivos festejos juninos do Estado de Goiás, a Festa do Arraiá do Descoberto, uma tradição na cidade de Porangatu. Por todo o país as festas interioranas modificaram-se, perdendo elementos originais e agregando outros. Em Porangatu não ocorreu de forma diferente. Assim sendo, iremos abordar neste trabalho elementos da origem do festejo, as transformações ocorridas e as representações do mesmo na atualidade, de modo a entender o significado dessas mudanças por meio da visão dos que fizeram e dos que fazem parte da festa. O objetivo é demonstrar a memória dos pioneiros e atuais participantes, considerando suas opiniões a respeito das transformações ocorridas, uma vez que a festa surgiu da iniciativa comunitária e da devoção religiosa, porém hoje se encontra nas mãos da administração publica municipal. Para se obter os dados foi aplicado instrumental de cognição para extrair as narrativas dos pioneiros, moradores locais, participantes e comerciantes envolvidos com o evento. O estudo se faz importante por demonstrar à população porangatuense fatos de sua história cultural, a partir da memória dos pioneiros a respeito da origem do festejo, bem como por apontar as principais transformações e seus reflexos na atualidade. Os teóricos que contribuíram para essa investigação foram: Morigi (2005), Hall (2014), Gomes e Sousa (2012), Castro (2012) e Lima (1997)

El impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la salud mental de los trabajadores de la salud en Chile: datos iniciales de The Health Care Workers Study

Background: Healthcare workers’ mental health was affected by SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Aim: To evaluate healthcare workers’ mental health and its associated factors during the pandemic in Chile. Material and Methods: An online self-reported questionnaire was designed including the Goldberg Health Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, (PHQ-9), and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale among other questions. It was sent to 28,038 healthcare workers. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 1,934 participants, with a median age of 38 years (74% women). Seventy five percent were professionals, and 48% worked at a hospital. Fifty nine percent of respondents had a risk of having a mental health disorder, and 73% had depressive symptoms. Significant associations were found with sex, workplace, and some of the relevant experiences during the pandemic. Fifty one percent reported the need for mental health support, and 38% of them received it. Conclusions: There is a high percentage of health workers with symptoms of psychological distress, depression, and suicidal ideas. The gender approach is essential to understand the important differences found. Many health workers who required mental health care did not seek or received it

A combinatorial approach to create artificial homing endonucleases cleaving chosen sequences

Meganucleases, or homing endonucleases (HEs) are sequence-specific endonucleases with large (>14 bp) cleavage sites that can be used to induce efficient homologous gene targeting in cultured cells and plants. These findings have opened novel perspectives for genome engineering in a wide range of fields, including gene therapy. However, the number of identified HEs does not match the diversity of genomic sequences, and the probability of finding a homing site in a chosen gene is extremely low. Therefore, the design of artificial endonucleases with chosen specificities is under intense investigation. In this report, we describe the first artificial HEs whose specificity has been entirely redesigned to cleave a naturally occurring sequence. First, hundreds of novel endonucleases with locally altered substrate specificity were derived from I-CreI, a Chlamydomonas reinhardti protein belonging to the LAGLIDADG family of HEs. Second, distinct DNA-binding subdomains were identified within the protein. Third, we used these findings to assemble four sets of mutations into heterodimeric endonucleases cleaving a model target or a sequence from the human RAG1 gene. These results demonstrate that the plasticity of LAGLIDADG endonucleases allows extensive engineering, and provide a general method to create novel endonucleases with tailored specificities

Context dependence between subdomains in the DNA binding interface of the I-CreI homing endonuclease

Homing endonucleases (HE) have emerged as precise tools for achieving gene targeting events. Redesigned HEs with tailored specificities can be used to cleave new sequences, thereby considerably expanding the number of targetable genes and loci. With HEs, as well as with other protein scaffolds, context dependence of DNA/protein interaction patterns remains one of the major limitations for rational engineering of new DNA binders. Previous studies have shown strong crosstalk between different residues and regions of the DNA binding interface. To investigate this phenomenon, we systematically combined mutations from three groups of amino acids in the DNA binding regions of the I-CreI HE. Our results confirm that important crosstalk occurs throughout this interface in I-CreI. Detailed analysis of success rates identified a nearest-neighbour effect, with a more pronounced level of dependence between adjacent regions. Taken together, these data suggest that combinatorial engineering does not necessarily require the identification of separable functional or structural regions, and that groups of amino acids provide acceptable building blocks that can be assembled, overcoming the context dependency of the DNA binding interface. Furthermore, the present work describes a sequential method to engineer tailored HEs, wherein three contiguous regions are individually mutated and assembled to create HEs with engineered specificity