Synthetic evolution of herbicide resistance using a T7 RNAP-based random DNA base editor.

Synthetic directed evolution via localized sequence diversification and the simultaneous application of selection pressure is a promising method for producing new, beneficial alleles that affect traits of interest in diverse species; however, this technique has rarely been applied in plants. Here, we designed, built, and tested a chimeric fusion of T7 RNA Polymerase (RNAP) and deaminase to enable the localized sequence diversification of a target sequence of interest. We tested our T7 RNAP-DNA base editor in <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i> transient assays to target a transgene expressing <i>GFP</i> under the control of the T7 promoter and observed C-to-T conversions. We then targeted the T7 promoter-driven <i>acetolactate synthase</i> sequence that had been stably integrated in the rice genome and generated C-to-T and G-to-A transitions. We used herbicide treatment as selection pressure for the evolution of the <i>acetolactate synthase</i> sequence, resulting in the enrichment of herbicide-responsive residues. We then validated these herbicide-responsive regions in the transgenic rice plants. Thus, our system could be used for the continuous synthetic evolution of gene functions to produce variants with improved herbicide resistance.

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit in Panama during the first pandemic wave admissions in 2020.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS COV-2) caused a global pandemic of COVID-19. Most of people affected are admitted to hospital with various grades of ADRS. A small proportion of these patients requires intensive care unit management and treatment. However not all of them survive. This study aims to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients admitted to the intensive care units in Panama main hospital in the first six months of pandemic with available information. Special focus has been oriented to blood and respiratory biomarkers to correlate with survivors and non-survivors. Our results show that patients between 56-75 years old, with hypertension, obesity, and diabetes comorbid conditions are more likely to die in intensive care units. Regarding the PaFi ratio, we observed a greater proportion of non-survivor with values less than 200. The triglycerides, urea nitrogen, creatinine and procalcitonin levels resulted significantly higher in those non survivors. During clinical management, half of patient that were administered Tocilizumab did not survived. These results support the notion that age, comorbidities as well as therapeutic management of patient in intensive care units contribute to the final outcome. We recommend reinforcing patient care strategy, especially in those patients with clinical conditions that favor fatal outcomes.

Global ecological predictors of the soil priming effect.

Identifying the global drivers of soil priming is essential to understanding C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. We conducted a survey of soils across 86 globally-distributed locations, spanning a wide range of climates, biotic communities, and soil conditions, and evaluated the apparent soil priming effect using 13C-glucose labeling. Here we show that the magnitude of the positive apparent priming effect (increase in CO2 release through accelerated microbial biomass turnover) was negatively associated with SOC content and microbial respiration rates. Our statistical modeling suggests that apparent priming effects tend to be negative in more mesic sites associated with higher SOC contents. In contrast, a single-input of labile C causes positive apparent priming effects in more arid locations with low SOC contents. Our results provide solid evidence that SOC content plays a critical role in regulating apparent priming effects, with important implications for the improvement of C cycling models under global change scenarios.

Data on chemical composition of soil and water in the semiarid wetland of Las Tablas de Damiel National Park (Spain) during a drought period.

Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park (TDNP) is a Ramsar Mediterranean wetland area designated as Biosphere Reserve by Unesco. The whole system dried out during a long drought period in the past decade (2006-2009) and a smouldering peat fire took place in 2009. The physical and chemical properties of sediments were significantly disturbed by the fire. To date, the ecological system has not fully recovered from the impact. We present a raw data collection of the chemical composition of soil, groundwater and surface water sampled over four consecutive years in 2006-2010. The data include major and minor anions and cations, nutrients and heavy metals. Sampling points were located inside and outside TDNP both upstream as well as downstream. The information provided can be used to analyse the medium and long term impact of drought and smouldering fire to the TDNP environment. It is also a baseline for hydro-ecological modelling of the impact of climate change in arid and semiarid wetlands to develop adaptive management strategies.

Erector spinae plane block in abdominal surgery: Case series.

The aim of this study is to report 11 cases of erector spinae plane (ESP) block used for unilateral or bilateral abdominal surgery, adding to the overall limited experience with abdominal ESP block. The procedures were carried out at a teaching hospital in 11 patients (eight males, three females, ages 36-80 years) requiring abdominal surgery, including laparoscopic surgery. Each patient required surgery under different physical circumstances and likely different conceptions of what constituted pain. Two of the eleven patients were administered the ESP block and did not require general anaesthesia. Most of the patients with the ESP block maintained a numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain of 0-2/10 postoperatively. An occasional patient required paracetamol analgesia. There were no cases of opiate rescue. Obesity in a 46-year-old woman was believed to cause unclear ultrasonographic visualisation, interfering with entry of the ESP catheter. She, however, had no post-operative pain. She was given the usual intravenous metamizole 2 g for 10 h and required only analgesics at 16 h. ESP block, which produces analgesia by blocking trunk nerves, is an appropriate approach to patients requiring abdominal surgery, whether laparoscopic or open.

Bloqueo del plano del músculo erector de la columna en 4 casos de cirugía torácica videoasistida / The erector spinae plane block in 4 cases of video-assisted thoracic surgery

La anestesia multimodal, combinando catéter epidural y anestesia general, es una técnica habitual en cirugía torácica, sin embargo, la colocación del catéter epidural no siempre es posible. Recientemente se ha descrito el bloqueo del plano del músculo erector de la columna, que proporciona analgesia similar a la del bloqueo epidural, aunque unilateral, y que se ha utilizado en diversos procedimientos a nivel torácico. En la actualidad no hay estudios que comparen la eficacia o la seguridad de este bloqueo con los habitualmente empleados en cirugía torácica. Sin embargo, su perfil de seguridad y contraindicaciones parecen diferentes a las del catéter epidural, ya que su colocación es ecodirigida, la introducción de la aguja se realiza mediante control en plano y la diana ecográfica, la apófisis transversa, es fácilmente identificable y está relativamente alejada de estructuras neurales o vasculares mayores y de la pleura. A diferencia de otros bloqueos realizados por referencias anatómicas, el bloqueo del plano del erector de la columna puede realizarse con diferentes posiciones del paciente. Describimos nuestra experiencia con el bloqueo del plano del músculo erector de la columna como parte de un abordaje anestésico multimodal en cirugía torácica

Multimodal anaesthesia, combining epidural catheter and general anaesthesia, is a common technique in thoracic surgery, however, epidural catheter placement is not always possible. Recently, erector spinae plane block has been described, which provides analgesia like that of the epidural block, although unilateral, and which has been used in various procedures at thoracic level. At present, there are no studies comparing the efficacy or safety of this block with those commonly used in thoracic surgery. However, its safety profile and contraindications seem different from those of the epidural catheter, since its placement is done under ultrasound view, the needle introduction is done in plane and the ultrasound target, the transverse process, is easily identifiable and is relatively remote from major neural or vascular structures and the pleura. Unlike other blockages made by anatomical references, erector spinae plane block can be done with the patient in different positions. We describe our experience with erector spinae plane block as part of a multimodal anaesthetic approach in thoracic surgery

The erector spinae plane block in 4 cases of video-assisted thoracic surgery. / Bloqueo del plano del músculo erector de la columna en 4 casos de cirugía torácica videoasistida.

Multimodal anaesthesia, combining epidural catheter and general anaesthesia, is a common technique in thoracic surgery, however, epidural catheter placement is not always possible. Recently, erector spinae plane block has been described, which provides analgesia like that of the epidural block, although unilateral, and which has been used in various procedures at thoracic level. At present, there are no studies comparing the efficacy or safety of this block with those commonly used in thoracic surgery. However, its safety profile and contraindications seem different from those of the epidural catheter, since its placement is done under ultrasound view, the needle introduction is done in plane and the ultrasound target, the transverse process, is easily identifiable and is relatively remote from major neural or vascular structures and the pleura. Unlike other blockages made by anatomical references, erector spinae plane block can be done with the patient in different positions. We describe our experience with erector spinae plane block as part of a multimodal anaesthetic approach in thoracic surgery.

Characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is characterised by generalized pain. A search of the available literature found no previous reports describing the specific characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVES: To describe characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case-control study including 50 patients with fibromyalgia and 50 gender and age-matched controls. After obtaining written informed consent for the study, demographic data were collected and pain in the leg, ankle and foot area was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). A general physical examination to test mobility and rigidity of the foot joints was also performed. Patients were also asked about their shoe utilisation habits. RESULTS: The results confirm that patients with fibromyalgia experience significantly more pain in the whole leg, ankle and foot areas than the control subjects. For this reason they use significantly more pain-killing drugs than the control subjects. However, this increase in pain is not associated with stiffness or mobility abnormalities in this series. In addition, patients with fibromyalgia show no increase in the rate of hyperkeratosis or other foot lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with fibromyalgia do not seem to show a higher rate of foot lesions or a peculiar pattern of foot involvement compared to age and gender-matched controls.

Occurrence of pharmaceutical, recreational and psychotropic drug residues in surface water on the northern Antarctic Peninsula region.

Human presence in the Antarctic is increasing due to research activities and the rise in tourism. These activities contribute a number of potentially hazardous substances. The aim of this study is to conduct the first characterisation of the pharmaceuticals and recreational drugs present in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region, and to assess the potential environmental risk they pose to the environment. The study consisted of a single sampling of ten water samples from different sources, including streams, ponds, glacier drains, and a wastewater discharge into the sea. Twenty-five selected pharmaceuticals and 21 recreational drugs were analysed. The highest concentrations were found for the analgesics acetaminophen (48.74 µg L-1), diclofenac (15.09 µg L-1) and ibuprofen (10.05 µg L-1), and for the stimulant caffeine (71.33 µg L-1). All these substances were detected in waters that were discharged directly into the ocean without any prior purification processes. The hazard quotient (HQ) values for ibuprofen, diclofenac and acetaminophen were far in excess of 10 at several sampling points. The concentrations of each substance measured and used as measured environmental concentration values for the HQ calculations are based on a one-time sampling. The Toxic Unit values indicate that analgesics and anti-inflammatories are the therapeutic group responsible for the highest toxic burden. This study is the first to analyse a wide range of substances and to determine the presence of pharmaceuticals and psychotropic drugs in the Antarctic Peninsula region. We believe it can serve as a starting point to focus attention on the need for continued environmental monitoring of these substances in the water cycle, especially in protected regions such as the Antarctic. This will determine whether pharmaceuticals and recreational drugs are hazardous to the environment and, if so, can be used as the basis for risk-assessment studies to prioritise the exposure to risk.

Elbow functional compensation using a lightweight magnetorheological clutch.

There are many applications for which a patient needs functional compensation due to motor disorders in daily activities. Classic research has focused on robotics solutions in terms of actuators or motors, but the point of this paper is to analyze new solutions combining both biological and artificial structures, in order to improve standard developments. Nowadays wearable Robots are taking an important role in rehabilitation purposes, due to this issue lots of new designs are emerging, but most of them are not still prepared to be used in terms of autonomy, weight, etc. Under the Hybrid Neuroprosthetic and Neurorobotic devices for Functional Compensation and Rehabilitation (HYPER) project, new actuator technologies have been developed in order to improve the adaptability and portability of rehabilitation devices. The designed device is based on a lightweight magnetorheological (MR) clutch which is able to transmit torque from a motor to the injured joint. Though it is intended to work in human upper limb (elbow mainly), other future designs will also be studied for other human joints. Simulation results using Simulink®, MSC Adams®and MSMS®are reported to illustrate the viability of the proposed device.

Informe sobre las competencias derivadas de la Ley de Sanidad Animal en el ámbito de la defensa / Report on the animal health in the area of the Ministery of Defensa

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Projeto de intervenção para prevenção de fatores de risco de gravidez na adolescência - ESF Escola Passos/Minas Gerais

A Estratégia da Saúde da Família Escola está situada no Município de Passos, Minas Gerais que se encontra a 355 da capital mineira. A ESF Escola está dividida em seis micro áreas que atendem 941 famílias cadastradas, totalizando 2199 moradores. O fato preocupante é o número grande de gestantes adolescentes. A literatura mostra que a função reprodutiva da mulher a expõe a tensão e risco durante grande parte da sua vida. Desde os primeiros indícios da puberdade, quando ainda criança, as meninas começam a despertar para a sexualidade e, muitas vezes, sem orientação por parte da família ou dos educadores. Às vezes, se iniciando prematuramente na vida sexual, algumas se tornam "mães crianças", de forma consciente ou inconsciente. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi propor um plano de intervenção com vistas à prevenção de fatores de risco de gravidez na adolescência. Para fundamentar este plano, fez-se pesquisa na Biblioteca Virtual em saúde, nas bases de dados da LILACS e da SCIELO, com os descritores: Adolescência, gravidez, causas e riscos. O plano se baseou no Planejamento Estratégico Situacional. Espera-se que sua implementação auxilie os profissionais de saúde no atendimento efetivo às adolescentes grávidas.