Principles and medical applications of gene editing by CRISPR / Cas

CRISPR/Cas technology is a simple, fast and extremely efficient method for gene editing. In order to describe the principles and medical application of this technology, a bibliographic review was carried out in Pubmed, SciELO, academic Google and the Cochrane Library, with the descriptors “gene editing”, “genome editing”, “CRISPR-Cas systems”, and “CRISPR-associated protein 9”. The CRISPR/Cas9 system comprises a Cas endonuclease and two types of RNA. Cas cuts the invading phage DNA into segments, which are integrated into the CRISPR sequence as spacers. Subsequently, the CRISPR sequence is transcribed to generate crRNA and tracrRNA, which form a double-stranded RNA structure that recruits Cas for cleavage. The introduction of the system into the cell interior occurs with plasmids, RNA or ribonucleoproteins. A nuclear localization sequence allows CRISPR / Cas9 to enter the nucleus. CRISPR/Cas9 technology is an efficient tool for precise gene editing with great impact on scientific research

Risk factors associated with arterial hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Holguín, Cuba

Introduction: The presence of arterial hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is a health problem that has not been studied in Holguín. Objective: To determine the cardiovascular risk factors associated with hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The universe was composed of 193 patients with lupus who were treated in the Rheumatology Consultation of the Clinical-Surgical Hospital of Holguín from March 3, 2014 to January 1, 2015. The sample was made up of 81 patients who were randomly selected according to a 95 % confidence interval, a population size of 193, an estimated proportion of arterial hypertension of 0,20, a precision of a 7 %, and a design effect of 1.  The recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology were followed for the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus, and national guidelines were used for the diagnosis of hypertension.  Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory variables were determined. Odds Ratio (OR), and 95 % confidence intervals (IC95%) for risk determined factors were. Results: The risk factors associated with hypertension in patients with lupus erythematosus are: age (OR=1,04; IC95%:1,01-1,08), age of the lupus onset (OR=1,04; IC95%:1,01-1,08), diabetes mellitus (OR=8,50; IC95%:1,63-44,33), metabolic syndrome (OR=5,09; IC95%:1,87-13,84), hyperuricemia (OR=4,08; IC95%:1,07-15,44), and microalbuminuria (OR=19,81; IC95%:4,24-92,39). Conclusions: The patients with systemic lupus erythematosus presented cardiovascular risk factors associated with arterial hypertension, which are identifiable in the primary health care with variables of relatively easy realization. Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, risk factors, adults.</p

Risk factors associated with arterial hypertension in patients with Systemic lupus erythematous. Holguín, Cuba

Introduction: The presence of hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematous is a health problem that has not been studied in Holguín. Objective:To determine the cardiovascular risk factors associated with hypertension in patients with systemic lupus erythematous. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The universe was composed of 193 patients with lupus who were treated in the Rheumatology consultation of the Clinical-Surgical Hospital of Holguín from March 3, 2014 to January 1, 2015.  The sample was made up of 81 patients who were randomly selected according to a 95 % confidence interval, a population size of 193, an estimated proportion of arterial hypertension of 0,20, a precision of a 7 %, and a design effect of 1.  The recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology were followed for the diagnosis of lupus erythematous, and national guidelines were used for the diagnosis of hypertension.  Clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory variables were determined.  Odds Ratio (OR), and 95 % (IC95%) confidence intervals for risk factors were determined. Results: The risk factors associated with hypertension in patients with lupus erythematous are: age (OR=1,04; IC95%:1,01-1,08), age of the lupus onset (OR=1,04; IC95%:1,01-1,08), diabetes mellitus (OR=8,50; IC95%:1,63-44,33), metabolic syndrome (OR=5,09; IC95%:1,87-13,84), hyperuricemia (OR=4,08; IC95%:1,07-15,44), and microalbuminuria (OR=19,81; IC95%:4,24-92,39). Conclusions:The patients with systemic lupus erythematous presented cardiovascular risk factors associated with hypertension, which are identifiable in the primary health care with variables of relatively easy realization. Keywords:systemic lupus erythematous, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, risk factors, adults.</p

Prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular risk factors in students from the University of Medical Sciences. Holguin, 2014-2015

Foundation: Detecting high plasma triglyceride concentrations in children, teenagers and young people is of great importance to prevent future cardiovascular events.Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and cardivascular risk factors associated to medical students.Methods: cross study, with a period of random sampling of 776 students registered during the academic course 2014-2015, in first year medical studies at the University of Medical Sciences Holguin, Cuba. In the sample of 242 students it was analyzed the presence of hypertriglyceridemia related to the variables: age, sex, arterial pressure, anthropometric measurements, laboratory measurements and associated risk factors. The Odd Ratios and the confidence intervals for risk factors were determined. The logistic regression analysis was done with EPIDAT 4,1 with a level of significance of 5 %.Results: The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 30.58%, without differences between sexes. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, weight excess, abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, high density lipoproteines- low cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome were  15,70 %, 4,13 %, 19,83 %, 22,31 %, 10,74 %, 3,31 %, 23,14 %, 8,26 % y 8,26 %, respectively. The associated significant risk factors metabolic syndrome, supraileac fold, high density lipoproteins- low cholesterol and glucemia.Conclusion: The prevalence rate of hypertriglyceridemia and associated risk factors were relatively high in university students apparently healthy.</p