Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in late postpartum eclampsia.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a neurological complication associated with several medical conditions and it has been described in clinical findings of seizures, headache, vomiting, altered mental status, and visual changes and focal neurologic deficit, in conjunction with radiological findings of primarily posterior cerebral white matter edema of both cerebral hemispheres. PRES can develop in a wide array situations including pregnancy and postpartum in patients with or without symptoms and signs of eclampsia. A prompt diagnosis of PRES by magnetic resonance imaging and an immediate antihypertensive and anticonvulsant therapy can help to prevent serious complications. The clinical case presented deals with a 35 year-old pregnant woman whose history of eclampsia was observed after a cesarean section.

[The phrenic nerve stimulator, a valid ventilatory support in the management of quadriplegic patients receiving home health care services. A case report]. / Lo stimolatore frenico, valido supporto ventilatorio per l'assistenza domiciliare dei pazienti tetraplegici. Caso clinico.

The authors describe the case of a quadriplegic child with post-traumatic respiratory insufficiency and total dependency on mechanical ventilation. The child was a long-term inpatient at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Palermo. Considering the patient's long life expectancy, psychological distress and determination of the patient and family members to have the patient at home again, the plan for dehospitalization included the use of a phrenic stimulator as a supplement to conventional mechanical ventilation that would simplify home health care and improve the patient's quality of life. Electromyography, fluoroscopy and gas analysis were conducted to evaluate whether the patient was physically fit to receive a stimulator. The device was then implanted at the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Unit in Sondalo. The stimulator is compact in design, operates silently, and affords more natural ventilation without interfering with breathing rhythm, and maintains muscle trophism. In combination with mechanical ventilation, the pacing device is an ideal system for home respiratory assistance. Additional benefits include increased patient mobility outside the home and improved quality of life. The system provides good respiration, as shown by EtCO2 and SpO2 measurements and long-term monitoring performed at our unit.

The copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene (sod-1) from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been determined. The protein coding region is interrupted by three intron sequences covering 608 bp in total and encodes a protein of 158 amino acids (M(r) = 16,307).