Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain RGM 3321, a Phyllosphere Endophyte from Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. patagonica.

Pseudomonas sp. strain RGM 3321 is a phyllosphere endophyte from Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. patagonica that harbors genes associated with plant growth promotion pathways, as well as genes typically found in plant pathogens.

Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with spinal neurostimulation systems.

BACKGROUND: The safety of performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems needs to be documented. A prospective in vivo study in patients with SCS, exploring the changes produced by MRI and the associated side effects, was performed. METHODS: After ethics committee approval and patient consent, 31 consecutive patients with SCS at different spinal levels requiring a scheduled MRI evaluation were studied during an 18-month period. All MRIs were performed with a 1.5-T clinical use magnet and a specific absorption rate of no more than 0.9 W/kg. Frequency tables were used for the descriptive study, whereas comparative evaluations were made with the chi-square test for qualitative variables and single-factor analysis of variance for quantitative variables. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 49 +/- 9.5 yr; 67.7% were women (n = 21), and 32.3% were men (n = 10). None of the patients experienced hemodynamic, respiratory, or neurologic alterations. Reported changes were as follows: increased temperature in the generator's area (n = 2, 6.5%); increased in the intensity of the stimulation (n = 1, 3.2%); impedance greater than 4,000 Omega on several of the electrodes in the leads (n = 1, 3.2%); telemetry not possible (n = 2, 6.5%). Radiologic evaluation after MRI revealed no spatial displacements of the SCS leads in any case. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of the described protocol, MRI in patients with SCS systems resulted in few complications. None of the recorded problems were serious, and in no case were patients harmed or the systems reprogrammed. Maximum patient satisfaction was reported in all cases.

Manejo de síntomas en el paciente oncológico en una unidad de cuidados paliativos / Symptoms management in the oncologic patient in a hospice care

Los cuidados paliativos son indispensables para aliviar el sufrimiento de pacientes con múltipls síntomas producto de enfermedades terminales como el cáncer. Se revisaron 401 historias de los pacientes ingresados a la Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos del Instituto Oncológico Luis Razetti de Caracas y se valoraron 1472 consultas sucesivas de septiembre 2001 hasta julio 2002 para evaluar los síntomas presentes en la enfermedad y describir el principal. El tumor de mayor incidencia es el del pulmón en 21 por ciento. El dolor evaluado mediante la escala visual análoga en el 98 por ciento fue EVA: 10/10, Fueron manejados como sugiere la Organización Mundial de la Salud con la escalera analgésica. La vía de administración de preferencia fue la vía oral. Entre los efectos secundarios de los opioides el estreñimiento obtuvo un 98 por ciento y una incidencia del 20 por ciento en el síndrome de compresión medular como complicación de la enfermedad. El 32 por ciento de los pacientes permanecieron menos de 1 mes en la unidad por fallecimeinto. Se concluye que el cáncer es una enfermedad con múltiples síntomas devastadores y son los cuidados paliativos oportunos los que pueden ofrecer mejor calidad de vida al paciente por lo que es indispensable crear unidades.