North Atlantic climate far more predictable than models imply.

Quantifying signals and uncertainties in climate models is essential for the detection, attribution, prediction and projection of climate change1-3. Although inter-model agreement is high for large-scale temperature signals, dynamical changes in atmospheric circulation are very uncertain4. This leads to low confidence in regional projections, especially for precipitation, over the coming decades5,6. The chaotic nature of the climate system7-9 may also mean that signal uncertainties are largely irreducible. However, climate projections are difficult to verify until further observations become available. Here we assess retrospective climate model predictions of the past six decades and show that decadal variations in North Atlantic winter climate are highly predictable, despite a lack of agreement between individual model simulations and the poor predictive ability of raw model outputs. Crucially, current models underestimate the predictable signal (the predictable fraction of the total variability) of the North Atlantic Oscillation (the leading mode of variability in North Atlantic atmospheric circulation) by an order of magnitude. Consequently, compared to perfect models, 100 times as many ensemble members are needed in current models to extract this signal, and its effects on the climate are underestimated relative to other factors. To address these limitations, we implement a two-stage post-processing technique. We first adjust the variance of the ensemble-mean North Atlantic Oscillation forecast to match the observed variance of the predictable signal. We then select and use only the ensemble members with a North Atlantic Oscillation sufficiently close to the variance-adjusted ensemble-mean forecast North Atlantic Oscillation. This approach greatly improves decadal predictions of winter climate for Europe and eastern North America. Predictions of Atlantic multidecadal variability are also improved, suggesting that the North Atlantic Oscillation is not driven solely by Atlantic multidecadal variability. Our results highlight the need to understand why the signal-to-noise ratio is too small in current climate models10, and the extent to which correcting this model error would reduce uncertainties in regional climate change projections on timescales beyond a decade.

Novel concepts and nanostructured materials for thermionic-based solar and thermal energy converters.

Thermal and concentrated solar solid-state converters are devices with no moving parts, corresponding to long lifetimes, limited necessity of maintenance, and scalability. Among the solid-state converters, the thermionic-based devices are attracting an increasing interest in the specific growing sector of energy conversion performed at high-temperature. During the last 10 years, hybrid thermionic-based concepts, conceived to cover operating temperatures up to 2000 °C, have been intensively developed. In this review, the thermionic-thermoelectric, photon-enhanced thermionic emission, thermionic-photovoltaic energy converters are extensively discussed. The design and development processes as well as the tailoring of the properties of nanostructured materials performed by the authors are comprehensively described and compared with the advances achieved by the international scientific community.

Thermoelectric Analysis of ZnSb Thin Films Prepared by ns-Pulsed Laser Deposition.

Zinc antimonide (ZnSb) is a promising thermoelectric material for the temperature range 300­ 600 K. ZnSb thin films were prepared by nanosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) to evaluate the performance of nanostructured films for thermoelectric conversion by the determination of the Power Factor. A study of the influence of structural, compositional and thermoelectric properties of thin films is reported as a function of different deposition parameters, such as repetition rate, pulse energy, and substrate temperature. The evaluation of a thin film ZnSb compound with excess Sb has been performed to verify the variation of the thermoelectric properties. The obtained results are reported and discussed in the 300­600 K temperature range.

Charon's size and an upper limit on its atmosphere from a stellar occultation.

Pluto and its satellite, Charon (discovered in 1978; ref. 1), appear to form a double planet, rather than a hierarchical planet/satellite couple. Charon is about half Pluto's size and about one-eighth its mass. The precise radii of Pluto and Charon have remained uncertain, leading to large uncertainties on their densities. Although stellar occultations by Charon are in principle a powerful way of measuring its size, they are rare, as the satellite subtends less than 0.3 microradians (0.06 arcsec) on the sky. One occultation (in 1980) yielded a lower limit of 600 km for the satellite's radius, which was later refined to 601.5 km (ref. 4). Here we report observations from a multi-station stellar occultation by Charon, which we use to derive a radius, R(C) = 603.6 +/- 1.4 km (1sigma), and a density of rho = 1.71 +/- 0.08 g cm(-3). This occultation also provides upper limits of 110 and 15 (3sigma) nanobar for an atmosphere around Charon, assuming respectively a pure nitrogen or pure methane atmosphere.

Risk factors and disease prevalence in 3331 personal check-ups performed in preventive medicine between 2006 and 2011. cross-sectional and follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: The present data results from a retrospective analysis of 3331 check-ups made in the preventive medicine department of the "ZithaKlinik", named "ZithaGesondheetsZentrum". These check-ups are done for the employee's of several firm's and institutions. According to gender and age, several tests and examinations are performed and the results are given to the person's general practitioner or another doctor of his choice. We will present a global synthesis of all the results but also a follow-up study of persons having performed 2 check-ups or more over a 5-year period. POPULATION: In the cross-sectional part, the analysis is done on 3331 individual check-ups (1447 woman, 1884 men). The average age is 50.3 years +/- 11.4. In the follow-up study, 478 persons (191 women, 287 men) had at least 2 (maximum 5) check-ups in the 5-year period of our observation. Initial age was 54.1 +/- 10.9 years for woman and 51.4 +/- 11.4 for men, respectively 56.4 +/- 10.9 and 53.7+/- 11.2 at their last check-up. RESULTS: An alarming number of persons present with a weight or obesity problem (according to age ranging from 22.0% overweight and 7.3% obese from 18-29 years, respectively 37.5% and 11.3% from 30-49 years, finally 44.0% and 20.6% in the range 50-69 years). Associated risk factors and pathologies (Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, NASH, diabetes type 2 and complete metabolic syndromes) are extremely frequent and getting more so with growing age. Furthermore, physical activity is insufficient in grossly 2/3 of the studied population. The only positive point is a tendency of decreasing tobacco use in all age groups. The follow-up study is frustrating because most of the examined criteria get worse in-between check-ups instead of getting better with changes in lifestyle in an informed population. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic diseases or risk factors for non-communicable diseases are extremely frequent in the population examined. The follow-up data shows that huge parts of this group are not sufficiently conscientious of their problems to act up and change their life-style or seek adapted pharmacological prevention. Absolute number of risk factors (prevalence) or pathologies rise evidently with age but incidence (newly discovered pathologies after a first, second or a record of 21 check-ups with our services) rises less. Life-style changes are rare or insufficient to change the pathological value back to normal or therapeutically range. Even with several biases (retrospective design, selection bias, ...) our study puts similar problems forward in the population as ORISCAV. The astonishing (better than national records) results in tobacco use is probably due to a selection of more health-oriented patients and of a higher socio-educative-economic level. Alcohol abuse was very low but probably due to inadequate screening methods. A better health promotion advocating healthier living must be associated with better communication and new motivational tools. Therapeutical education for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases will be the challenge of the near future as their prevalences increase due to ageing of the population and worse individual lifestyles. In this task, efforts must be made on the personal level (health-team with the individual patient) but also on the national level (legal frame work for patient education by multi-professional teams as they exist already in neighbour states).

Mechanism of sodium modulation of glomerular angiotensin receptors in the rat.

Specific binding of 125I-angiotensin to high affinity glomerular receptors varies directly with the level of dietary sodium. To investigate the mechanism of sodium regulation of glomerular angiotensin receptors, groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on one of three levels of sodium intake for at least 5 d: high sodium (7.39 meq/24 h), moderate sodium (0.88 meq/24 h), and low sodium diets (0.01 meq/24 h). An additional group was given low sodium diet with daily injections of furosemide (1 mg/kg i.p.). To dissociate the effects of dietary sodium from those of circulating angiotensin II levels on glomerular receptor regulation, a fifth group was placed on high sodium diet and given a continuous infusion of angiotensin via an implanted minipump (100 ng/min) for 21 d. There was a strong negative correlation (r = -0.98, P less than 0.01) between plasma angiotensin II and glomerular angiotensin receptor density. Dietary sodium, potassium, or water consumption did not correlate with angiotensin II receptor concentration. The affinity constant did not vary in any of the groups (2.33 +/- 0.30 X 10(8) M-1). The time course of sodium regulation of glomerular angiotensin II receptors was studied in rats switched from a moderate sodium to either a high sodium diet or a low sodium diet plus furosemide. Receptor density was unchanged at 24 h, varied directly with sodium intake for 1-5 d when induction was maximal, and remained constant for at least 21 d. The time course of receptor regulation closely paralleled changes in plasma angiotensin II. Additional studies were undertaken to demonstrate that glomerular angiotensin II receptors are down-regulated by circulating hormone. Rats maintained on moderate sodium intake were killed 2 min after the induction of anesthesia with pentobarbital (50 mg/kg i.p.) or by rapid decapitation. Despite a 50-fold elevation of plasma angiotensin II in anesthetized rats (424 +/- 154 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.0 pg/ml, P less than 0.001) angiotensin receptor density was unchanged (anesthetized, 1,016 +/- 126 vs. unanesthetized, 1,290 +/- 84 fmol/mg). The infusion of angiotensin II (100 mg/min) for 15 min or 2 h into anesthetized rats maintained on moderate sodium intake resulted in a 50% reduction in specific angiotensin binding that could not be reversed by the dissociation of endogenous angiotensin. These data are compatible with modulation of receptor density by circulating hormone and can not be accounted for by prior receptor occupancy.

Normal pituitary hypertrophy as a frequent cause of pituitary incidentaloma: a follow-up study.

Enlargement of the pituitary gland is a frequent cause of incidentaloma and of referrals to endocrinologists for hormonal evaluation and therapeutic advice. In neuroradiological series, 25-50% of healthy women who are 18-35 yr old have a convex superior pituitary contour, but pituitary height exceeds 9 mm in less than 0.5% of cases. This study was performed to provide thorough clinical and hormonal data and long-term endocrinological and imaging follow-up data on subjects with incidentally discovered pituitary hypertrophy (height > 9 mm). Seven eugonadal nulliparous women, 15-27 yr old, referred between 1989 and 1998 with incidentally diagnosed pituitary gland enlargement (height > 9 mm) and a suspected pituitary tumor, were studied. At presentation and at yearly intervals, PRL plasma levels and corticotropic, somatotropic, and thyrotropic pituitary function were measured; and pituitary dimensions and signal on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), before and after iv gadolinium-diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid injection, were assessed. PRL plasma levels were normal; and corticotropic, somatotropic, and thyrotropic pituitary function was considered normal in all cases. In all the women, the upper boundary of the pituitary was convex, on MRI, and touched the optic chiasm in four cases. The width and anteroposterior diameter of the gland were normal. The pituitary itself seemed normal, with a homogeneous signal, on plain and dynamic studies with iv contrast injection. Despite normal initial hormone values, two women underwent surgery, by the transsphenoidal approach, in another center. During surgery, the pituitary seemed normal in both cases, with no evidence of tumoral or inflammatory processes. Biopsy specimens showed the morphologic characteristics of a normal, nonhyperplastic pituitary gland. All seven women were seen at yearly intervals for 2-8 yr (median, 4 yr). Clinical and hormonal status remained stable, as did the structure and size of pituitary, on serial MRI. No tumor formation occurred, supporting the diagnosis of physiologic hypertrophy of the pituitary gland. In conclusion, these observations suggest that careful examination of MRI results may help to distinguish physiologic pituitary hypertrophy from pituitary tumors and infiltrating lesions. The former diagnosis is confirmed by normal baseline pituitary function in extensive hormonal tests. Correct identification of such patients is important to avoid unnecessary pituitary surgery and costly MRI surveillance.

Metoclopramide decreases renal plasma flow.

Intravenous dopamine has been shown to increase renal plasma flow in man. The role of endogenous dopamine in the maintenance of renal plasma flow has not been described. We speculated that if endogenous dopamine activity is important in the maintenance of renal plasma flow, then high doses of a potent dopamine blocking drug such as metoclopramide would decrease renal flow. To test this hypothesis, we measured renal plasma flow using a single-injection technique with 131I-labeled orthoiodohippurate. Measurements were made before and after the administration of high doses of metoclopramide (1 to 2.5 mg/kg) to 20 patients receiving metoclopramide as an antiemetic before chemotherapy. Seven control subjects underwent sequential measurements of renal plasma flow without intervening metoclopramide dosing. Mean (+/- SD) renal plasma flow did not change in the control population (from 441 +/- 198 to 437 +/- 117 ml/min), but declined significantly in the patients who received metoclopramide (443 +/- 115 ml/min before metoclopramide and 387 +/- 137 ml/min after metoclopramide; P less than 0.001). In 25% of our study population the decline in renal plasma flow was greater than 20% below baseline levels. The magnitude of the effect did not appear to correlate with the pretreatment creatinine clearance, age, or sex of the patients. We conclude that high doses of metoclopramide decrease renal plasma flow in man. These data suggest a role for dopamine in the maintenance of renal plasma flow in patients receiving intravenous hydration. Changes of the magnitude we observed may well be of clinical importance. These findings therefore also suggest the possibility of metoclopramide potentiation of cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

Predictors of survival in patients undergoing dialysis.

Survival and risk analyses were performed on all 532 patients in whom long-term dialysis was started from 1970 through 1985. During this 16-year period, starting age increased from 47 to 60 years (p less than 0.001), and the incidence of diabetes mellitus and renal vascular disease increased. Survival analysis showed age, renal diagnosis, type of dialysis, and year starting dialysis to be important predictors of survival. There was a fourfold rise in the risk ratio as starting age increased from 25 to 65 years. The risk was 1.5 times higher for those patients who did not start dialysis in 1978 through 1981 than for those who did. Risk decreased fivefold for patients choosing home hemodialysis. Home hemodialysis patients survived longer compared with patients utilizing other dialysis modalities, possibly because of a younger average age and a lower incidence of diabetes mellitus and renal vascular disease. There was greater than a threefold rise in risk ratio with the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus compared with either chronic glomerulonephritis or polycystic kidney disease. Older patients and those with diabetes mellitus formed the high-risk group; these two characteristics have been increasing during the last eight years of the study. It is concluded that although patients with high risk have an increased and a high mortality, overall survival has improved.

The selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib suppresses brain inflammation and protects cholinergic neurons from excitotoxic degeneration in vivo.

Brain inflammatory processes underlie the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a protective effect in the disease. The aim of this work was to study in vivo whether attenuation of brain inflammatory response to excitotoxic insult by the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, may prevent neurodegeneration, as a contribution to a better understanding of the role inflammation plays in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. We investigated, by immunohistochemical methods, glia reaction, the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway with an antibody selective for the phosphorylated form of the enzyme and the number of choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons and, by in vivo microdialysis, cortical extracellular levels of acetylcholine following the injection of quisqualic acid into the right nucleus basalis of adult rats. Seven days after injection, a marked reduction in the number of choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons was found, along with an intense glia reaction, selective activation of p38MAPK at the injection site and a significant decrease in the extracellular levels of acetylcholine in the cortex ipsilateral to the injection site. The loss of cholinergic neurons persisted for at least up to 28 days. Rofecoxib (3 mg/kg/day, starting 1 h prior to injection of quisqualic acid) treatment for 7 days significantly attenuated glia activation and prevented the loss of choline acetyltransferase-positive cells and a decrease in cortical acetylcholine release. The prevention of cholinergic cell loss by rofecoxib occurred concomitantly with the inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation. Our findings suggest an important role of brain inflammatory reaction in cholinergic degeneration and demonstrate a neuroprotective effect of rofecoxib, presumably mediated through the inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation.

Experimental brain inflammation and neurodegeneration as model of Alzheimer's disease: protective effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Epidemiological studies indicate that long-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduces the risk of Alzheimer Disease and may delay its onset or slow its progression. Neuroinflammation occurs in vulnerable regions of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain where highly insoluble beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide deposits and neurofibrillary tangles, as well as damaged neurons and neurites, provide stimuli for inflammation. To elucidate the complex role of inflammation in neurodegenerative processes and the efficacy of selective COX-2 inhibitors in AD, we examined whether the attenuation of brain inflammatory reaction by selective COX-2 inhibitors may protect neurons against neurodegeneration. The data reported in this review show that in in vivo models of brain inflammation and neurodegeneration, the administration of selective COX-2 inhibitors prevent not only the inflammatory reaction, but also the cholinergic hypofunction. Our data may help elucidate the epidemiological findings indicating that anti-inflammatory agents, in particular NSAIDs, reduce the risk of developing AD and may slow its progression.

Comparison between flurbiprofen and its nitric oxide-releasing derivatives HCT-1026 and NCX-2216 on Abeta(1-42)-induced brain inflammation and neuronal damage in the rat.

Brain inflammation is an underlying factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD). We investigated, in vivo, whether differences exist in the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of flurbiprofen and its two nitric oxide-donor derivatives, HCT-1026 and NCX-2216, and the ability of these two derivatives to release nitric oxide in the brain. In adult rats injected into the nucleus basalis with preaggregated Abeta(1-42) we investigated glia reaction, the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway and the number of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive neurons and, in naive rats we investigated, by microdialysis, cortical extracellular levels of nitrite. Injection of Abeta(1-42) induced iNOS and activation of p38MAPK 7 days after injection and an intense microglia and astrocyte reaction along with a marked reduction in the number ChAT-positive neurons, persisting up to at least 21 days. Flurbiprofen, HCT-1026 and NCX-2216 (15 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the Abeta(1-42)-induced glia reaction, iNOS induction and p38MAPK activation 7 days after treatment and astrocytes reaction 21 days after treatment. On an equimolar basis, HCT-1026 resulted the most active agent in reducing the Abeta(1-42)-induced microglia reaction. The cholinergic cell loss was also significantly reduced by 21 days of HCT-1026 treatment. No differences in body weight were found between the animals treated for 21 days with 15 mg/kg of either HCT-1026 or NCX-2216 and the controls. Oral administration of HCT-1026 (15 mg/kg) or NCX-2216 (100 mg/kg) to naive rats was followed by significant and long lasting increases in cortical nitrite levels. These findings indicate that the addition of a nitric oxide donor potentiates the anti-inflammatory activity of flurbiprofen in a model of brain inflammation.

Renal function in the elderly.

A variety of anatomic abnormalities in the aging kidney have been identified, including decreased kidney size, increased glomerular sclerosis, and arteriolar vascular changes. Physiologic changes, including decreased renal blood flow, decreased glomerular filtration rate, altered renal tubular function, and altered renal endocrinologic function, have also been described. The clinical consequence of these changes is an altered ability of the aged kidney to respond to stress, either due to illness or due to therapeutic interventions by physicians. Extra caution and vigilance is therefore needed when caring for the elderly.

Survival estimates for 683 patients starting dialysis from 1970 through 1989: identification of risk factors for survival.

Survival estimates were performed on 683 chronic dialysis patients who started dialysis from 1970 through 1989 and followed through 1991. Patients were grouped by dialysis type, renal diagnosis, start-year group and age at start. During these 20 entry, years, the median starting age rose from 47 to 61 years. Patients with a renal diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or renal vascular disease increased to 41% of those starting dialysis during the last 8 years of study. Survival analysis for all of the 683 patients revealed a 51-month median survival and a 43% and 23% 5- and 10-year survival estimates, respectively. There was nearly a fourfold rise in the risk ratio as age increased from the youngest to oldest age groups. Home hemodialysis patients had the longest survival, 89% at 5 years; patients on CAPD had a 56% 5-year survival. In-center hemodialysis patients had a median survival of 48 months and a 5-year survival of 39%. Pairwise comparisons of the renal diagnostic groups found patients with polycystic kidneys, interstitial disease and chronic glomerulonephritis to have better survival than patients with diabetes mellitus, renal vascular disease or the "other" diagnoses (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Survival analyses showed age, renal diagnosis, race, type of dialysis and dialysis modality switch to be important predictors of survival. The results of the survival estimates, gross mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios were used as guides to the adequacy of dialysis and quality of care delivered for the years 1989 through 1992.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis of gingiva: a case report.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis is an extremely rare inherited condition, probably resulting from an inborn error of metabolism. It is characterized by cutaneous nodules, gingival hypertrophy and joint contractions. It affects children but usually it is not present at birth, and is microscopically characterized by a conspicuous hyalinization of the connective tissue.

The impact of co-morbid risk factors at the start of dialysis upon the survival of ESRD patients.

By using a computerized database, we have catalogued the presence of 29 co-morbid risk factors in 683 patients with end-stage renal disease who started dialysis from 1970 through 1989, with follow-up through 1992. The authors hypothesized that current end-stage renal disease patients have more serious co-morbid risk factors impacting upon their mortality rate. Quantitation of dialysis patient co-morbidity, as a measure of patient illness, is lacking in the general nephrology literature. Seven co-morbid risk factors have been reserved for new dialysis patients: hypertension, low albumin, cerebral vascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, pre-existing cardiac disease, abnormal EKG/old myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. Except for low serum albumin, the proportion of patients with the six other co-morbid risk factors has increased significantly over this 20-year period (p < 0.0001, chi-square test for hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, pre-existing cardiac disease, abnormal EKG/old myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure, and p < 0.006 for cerebral vascular disease). In addition, the co-morbid risk factors of hypertension, low serum albumin, and pre-existing cardiac disease at the start of dialysis were strongly prognostic of survival. The Cox proportional hazards regression model identified these three risks, among other factors, that were significantly associated with a decreased survival, with risk ratios ranging from 1.40-1.66. These results support the authors' hypothesis that incoming end-stage renal disease patients, who recently start dialysis, are sicker than in the earlier years of the authors' program. If the authors' patients reflect the national end-stage renal disease population, the presence of co-morbid risk factors may, in part, explain the continuing high mortality of dialysis patients.

Counteraction on experimentally induced diabetic neuropathy by levocarnitine acetyl.

The effect of levocarnitine acetyl on diabetic peripheral neuropathy induced by a single injection of streptozotocin or alloxan was studied. Levocarnitine acetyl was administered intraperitoneally one week after induction of diabetes at the dose of 50 mg/kg/day for five and ten weeks. At the end of treatment, neuromuscular conduction velocity (m/sec) was evaluated by stimulating the sciatic nerve and recording the soleus muscle potentials evoked, and the muscle contraction force (mm) by measuring the isometric muscular tension. Motor coordination was evaluated on the Rota-rod apparatus. Treatment with levocarnitine acetyl fully prevented the reduction (20%) in the neuromuscular conduction velocity observed in both experimental models of diabetes. The decrease (30-33%) in muscle contraction force was prevented partially in streptozotocin-induced diabetes and fully in alloxan-induced diabetes. Levocarnitine acetyl also improved the concomitantly reduced motor performance. The results of the present study suggest a beneficial effect of levocarnitine acetyl on peripheral neuropathy and muscle performance.

Morphological and electrophysiological changes of peripheral nerve-muscle unit in the aged rat prevented by levocarnitine acetyl.

The effects of levocarnitine acetyl on structure and function of the sciatic nerve and neuromuscular junctions of the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles were studied in the aged rat. To that end, neuromuscular conduction velocity (NMCV) was measured in vivo and morphological and morphometric evaluations were performed. Treatment with levocarnitine acetyl, 150 mg/kg day for six months, restored NMCV values to the levels measured in the young rat; significantly reduced the number of degenerating elements; and increased the number of myelinated fibres having normal structural features. In the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles, levocarnitine acetyl increased the complexity of neuromuscular junctions. These experimental findings suggest a neurotrophic action of levocarnitine acetyl on the peripheral nervous system that might have therapeutical applications in age-related peripheral nerve changes.

Polycystic hydatid disease (Echinococcus vogeli): clinical and radiological manifestations and treatment with albendazole of a patient from the Brazilian Amazon region.

We present a case of polycystic hydatid disease produced by Echinococcus vogeli in a tapper of rubber trees from the State of Acre, Brazil. The most relevant clinical data were pain, increased abdominal volume caused by palpable painful masses, fever and poor clinical condition. Laboratory tests showed anemia, eosinophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia and increased plasma levels of alkaline phosphatase. Computerized tomography revealed diffuse cysts throughout the peritoneal cavity up to the pelvis, and inside the liver, pancreas and spleen. Anatomopathological examinations of cysts obtained by laparotomy confirmed the etiological diagnosis. Treatment with 10 mg/kg Albendazole for 6 months caused complete regression of the disease.

[A rare case of a giant intra-abdominal mesocolic liposarcoma]. / Su di un raro caso di liposarcoma gigante intra-addominale mesocolico.

Intra-abdominal liposarcomas (IALS) represent a rare localization compared to other liposarcomatous (LS) sites such as the lower extremities and the retroperitoneum. The authors report their experience in a case of giant liposarcoma (weight: Kg 8.2) presenting a massive intra-abdominal extension. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems related to this type of neoplasm as well as a literature review are reported.