Estimating carbon dioxide fluxes from temperate mountain grasslands using broad-band vegetation indices.

The broad-band normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the simple ratio (SR) were calculated from measurements of reflectance of photosynthetically active and short-wave radiation at two temperate mountain grasslands in Austria and related to the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) measured concurrently by means of the eddy covariance method. There was no significant statistical difference between the relationships of midday mean NEE with narrow- and broad-band NDVI and SR, measured during and calculated for that same time window, respectively. The skill of broad-band NDVI and SR in predicting CO2 fluxes was higher for metrics dominated by gross photosynthesis and lowest for ecosystem respiration, with NEE in between. A method based on a simple light response model whose parameters were parameterised based on broad-band NDVI allowed to improve predictions of daily NEE and is suggested to hold promise for filling gaps in the NEE time series. Relationships of CO2 flux metrics with broad-band NDVI and SR however generally differed between the two studied grassland sites indicting an influence of additional factors not yet accounted for.

General state of health and psychological well-being in patients after surgery for urological malignant neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the general state of health and the psychological well-being in a group of 155 patients after surgery for urological malignant neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgery was performed in 55 patients for renal cell carcinoma, in 54 for invasive bladder carcinoma, in 30 for adenocarcinoma of the prostate, and in 16 for squamous penile carcinoma. All patients were invited to self-compile the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) - 12 items according to Goldberg and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results were compared with those in a group of patients who underwent retropubic prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The general state of health was significantly more impaired in neoplastic patients than in the control group. Levels of anxiety were significantly higher but depression levels were similar in both groups. As far as the type of tumor is concerned, patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder carcinoma and those treated with partial penectomy for squamous penile carcinoma showed a significant impairment of the general state of health compared with controls. Higher levels of anxiety were observed in patients who underwent ileal conduit after radical cystectomy, in those treated with radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and in those who underwent partial penectomy. Significantly higher levels of depression than in the control group were observed only in patients with ileal conduit.

Prognostic value of renal cell carcinoma nuclear grading: multivariate analysis of 333 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the independent predictive value of the nuclear grading system according to Fuhrman in relation to the disease-specific survival of patients with renal clear cell carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 333 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for renal clear cell carcinoma between 1983 and 1999 were evaluated. In all patients we retrospectively studied nuclear grading, average tumor size, multifocality, pathologic stage of primary tumor, vein invasion, lymph node involvement and distant metastases. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to evaluate disease-specific survival rates. The log rank test was used to compare survival curves and for univariate analysis. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Histologic grade was G1 in 83 cases (25%), G2 in 117 cases (35%), G3 in 110 cases (33%) and G4 in 23 cases (7%). Our data showed that nuclear grading according to Fuhrman is related to medium tumor size (p < 0.0001), pathologic stage of cancer (p < 0.001), venous system invasion (p < 0.001), lymph node involvement (p < 0.001) and distant metastases (p < 0.001). The disease-specific survival after 5 and 10 years was 94 and 88%, respectively, in patients with G1, 86 and 75% in patients with G2, 59 and 40% in patients with G3 and 31% in patients with G4 (log rank p value < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear grading by Fuhrman has a prognostic independent predictive value (hazard ratio = 1.8461, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear grading is an important independent predictive factor of disease-specific survival in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy in the treatment of varicocele: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of our experience in correcting primary varicocele using a modified technique of antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From December 1997 to February 2000, 201 patients with primary varicocele underwent antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy. Before treatment all patients were evaluated by a physical examination, colour Doppler ultrasonography of the spermatic cord, and abdominal and scrotal ultrasonography. Sperm samples were analysed only in patients aged > 18 years. The treatment was administered using a special venous catheter system with a Y-adapter. Complications after treatment and the rate of persistence of reflux were assessed 3 and 6 months after the antegrade scrotal treatment, by clinical examination and colour-Doppler ultrasonography of the spermatic cord. RESULTS: The mean operative duration was 15 min; there were no significant complications during treatment and all patients were discharged within 4 h. Complications after treatment occurred in 10 of the 201 patients (5%); four patients had epididymo-orchitis, three a scrotal haematoma, one a surgical wound infection, one persistent scrotal pain and one persistent flank pain on the same side as the surgery. Reflux was persistent in 12 patients (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Antegrade scrotal sclerotherapy is a simple, minimally invasive and highly effective technique for blocking spermatic vein reflux, with a low rate of complications. The technical changes simplified the cannulation of the spermatic vein and facilitated antegrade phlebography and sclerotherapy using the air-block technique.