Clinical evaluation of a method for detecting superficial surgical transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder by light-induced fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX following the topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In bladder cancer, conventional white light endoscopic examination of the bladder does not provide adequate information about the presence of "flat" urothelial lesions such as carcinoma in situ. In the present investigation, we examine a new technique for the photodetection of such lesions by the imaging of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence following topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several hours after bladder instillation of an aqueous solution of ALA in 34 patients, a Krypton ion laser or a filtered Xenon arc-lamp was used to excite PpIX fluorescence. Tissue samples for histological analysis were taken while observing the bladder wall either by means of a video camera, or by direct endoscopic observation. RESULTS: A good correlation was found between the PpIX fluorescence and the histopathological diagnosis. On a total of 215 biopsies, 143 in fluorescent and 72 in nonfluorescent areas, all visible tumors on white light cytoscopy appeared in a bright red fluorescence with the photodetection technique. In addition, this method permitted to discover 47 unsuspected carcinomatous lesions on white light observation, among which 40% were carcinoma in situ. CONCLUSION: PpIX fluorescence induced by instillation into the bladder of 5-ALA is an efficient method of mapping the mucosa in bladder carcinoma.

Superficial Acral Fibromyxoma involving the nail's apparatus. Case report and literature review.

Superficial Acral Fibromyxoma is a rare tumor of soft tissues. It is a relatively new entity described in 2001 by Fetsch et al. It probably represents a fibrohistiocytic tumor with less than 170 described cases. We bring a new case of SAF on the 5th toe of the right foot, in a 43-year-old woman. After surgical excision with safety margins which included the nail apparatus, it has not recurred (22 months of follow up). We carried out a review of the location of all SAF published up to the present day.

Evaluation de la qualité de vie après prélèvement de la veine fémorale superficielle lors de reconstructions infra-inguinales [Quality of life after superficial femoral vein harvest for infra-inguinal reconstructions]

BACKGROUND: The superficial femoral vein (SFV) is a well-established alternative conduit for infra-inguinal reconstructivenous hypertension after SFV harvest may however result in significant morbidity. This study reports the efficiency of SFV as conduit for infra-inguinal reconstructions and characterize the anatomic and physiologic changes in harvest limbs and their relationship to the development of venous complications. METHODS: From May 1999 through November 2003, 23 SFV were harvested from 21 patients undergoing infra-inguinal reconstructions. Bypasses were controlled by regular duplex-ultrasound. The venous morbidity was assessed by measurements of leg circumferences, strain-gauge plethysmography and quality of life, investigated by the VEINES-QOL scale. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 10.4 months (range 1-56), primary, secondary patency and limb salvage rates of infra-inguinal bypasses using SFV are 71.4%, 76.2% and 85.7% respectively. No patient had major venous claudication. Oedema was significantly present in nine patients. Strain-gauge plethysmography showed outflow obstruction in all patients. The VEINES-QOL assessment showed no limitation in social and domestic activity, moderate complain about leg heaviness despite presence of oedema. CONCLUSION: The SFV harvest is a reliable conduit for infra-inguinal reconstructions and results in moderate venous morbidity in terms of functional consequences and quality of life.

The risk of subsequent cancer and arterial cardiovascular events in patients with superficial vein thrombosis in the legs.

Although it has been clearly demonstrated that venous thromboembolism is associated with an increased risk of subsequent overt cancer and arterial cardiovascular events in comparison with control populations, whether this association also applies to patients with isolated (ie, without concomitant involvement of the deep vein system) superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) in the legs is unknown. In 737 consecutive patients with isolated SVT not involving the sapheno-femoral junction, we conducted a retrospective investigation to assess the rate of cancer and that of arterial cardiovascular events occurring during follow-up. The event rates were compared with those occurring in 1438 controls having comparable characteristics. Both cases and controls were followed-up for an average period of 26 ± 8 months (range, 3-45). Malignancy was diagnosed in 26 cases (3.5%) and 56 controls (3.9%), leading to a hazard ratio of 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.55%-1.35%). Arterial cardiovascular events occurred in 32 cases (4.3%) and 63 controls (4.4%), leading to a hazard ratio of 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.63%-1.50%). We conclude that the occurrence of isolated SVT in the legs does not place patients at an increased risk of malignancies or arterial cardiovascular events. Whether this conclusion also applies to patients whose thrombosis involves the sapheno-femoral junction remains to be demonstrated.

Variaciones estacionales del viento superficial frente al Perú entre enero 1982 y junio 1987

Estudio de las variaciones del viento en el Callao durante enero de 1982 y junio 1987. Comparación del periodo caliente de 1982 y 1983 y los periodos normales.

Características del fitoplancton superficial en Paita, Chimbote, Callao, Pisco e Ilo (MOPAS 9510) 21 - 27 de octubre de 1995

Informa sobre los volúmenes de plancton superficial así como la distribución y composición especiológica de la comunidad fitoplanctónica, teniendo en consideración a los indicadores biológicos.

Structural covariance of superficial white matter in mild Alzheimer's disease compared to normal aging.

INTRODUCTION: Interindividual variations in regional structural properties covary across the brain, thus forming networks that change as a result of aging and accompanying neurological conditions. The alterations of superficial white matter (SWM) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are of special interest, since they follow the AD-specific pattern characterized by the strongest neurodegeneration of the medial temporal lobe and association cortices. METHODS: Here, we present an SWM network analysis in comparison with SWM topography based on the myelin content quantified with magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) for 39 areas in each hemisphere in 15 AD patients and 15 controls. The networks are represented by graphs, in which nodes correspond to the areas, and edges denote statistical associations between them. RESULTS: In both groups, the networks were characterized by asymmetrically distributed edges (predominantly in the left hemisphere). The AD-related differences were also leftward. The edges lost due to AD tended to connect nodes in the temporal lobe to other lobes or nodes within or between the latter lobes. The newly gained edges were mostly confined to the temporal and paralimbic regions, which manifest demyelination of SWM already in mild AD. CONCLUSION: This pattern suggests that the AD pathological process coordinates SWM demyelination in the temporal and paralimbic regions, but not elsewhere. A comparison of the MTR maps with MTR-based networks shows that although, in general, the changes in network architecture in AD recapitulate the topography of (de)myelination, some aspects of structural covariance (including the interhemispheric asymmetry of networks) have no immediate reflection in the myelination pattern.

El fitoplancton superficial durante el crucero de evaluación hidroacústica de recursos pelágicos en el invierno 1998

Describe los volúmenes de plancton, la distribución, composición e indicadores del fitoplancton de superficie el Crucero de Evaluación Hidroacústica de Recursos Pelágicos 9808-09. Los volúmenes de plancton estuvieron en un rango de 0,01 a 23,3 mL/m3; el primero en la estación costera al norte de Pimentel y el otro al frente de Matarani, con un promedio de 1,16 mL/m3. Se apreció un elevado porcentaje (73%) con valores menores a 1,0 mL/m3. La comunidad planctónica fue muy variada, destacando diferentes organismos del zooplancton. En el fitoplancton resaltaron especies neríticas y de alta tasa de reproducción; diatomeas oceánicas predominaron a distancias mayores de 60 mn. Los dinoflagelados no abundaron pero se distribuyeron ampliamente con mayor riqueza de especies termófilas a distancias mayores de 30 mn.

Fundações de edifícios – Fundações superficiais

Nesse último século, tem-se vindo a se preocupar com a construção civil em relação às fundações de edifícios, que é uma das partes que tem maior relevância a uma estrutura e se por ter falhado nessa parte será a maior preocupação dos profissionais da construção civil. Assim, para que haja maior segurança e qualidade em geral, deve-se encarar a construção do início da fundação até ao fim, porque os principais problemas surgidos nos edifícios são sobretudo assentamento de fundações, por não se ter a preocupação de preparar de uma certa forma o terreno de fundação. Neste trabalho abordamos a problemática da qualidade de fundações de edifícios, no eu caso fundações superficiais. Primeiramente abordamos os princípios e conceitos básicos a ter em conta na elaboração de um projecto de fundações. Seguidamente apresentamos estudos que evidenciam a importância da qualidade de fundações em edifício e são apresentados os principais erros cometidos na elaboração do projecto de fundações e os principais factores que influenciam a sua qualidade e alguns princípios a ter em conta com a qualidade do edifício. O trabalho realizado, foi com o intuito de se adquirirem conhecimentos no que se disrespeito as fundações a cerca da sua resistência e consistência em relação aos edifícios de habitação. Por último, apresentamos uma aplicação prática de um estudo de uma fundação superficial que demonstra a aplicação dos procedimentos na elaboração de uma fundação com garantia de qualidade e segurança do edifício. Os dados e resultados dessa aplicação são apresentados e analisados, sendo retiradas algumas conclusões acerca dos procedimentos em relação aos edifícios.

Cartas mensuales de temperatura superficial del mar frente a las costas de Ecuador, Perú y Chile durante el año 1969

Presenta datos de barcos mercantes y de la marina que operan frente a la costa peruana, así como de estaciones y plantas industriales distribuídas a lo largo del litortal, los cuales facilitan información sobre la temperatura superficial del mar y otras complementarias, con el fin de orientar a la actividad pesquera e industrias conexas para un aprovechamiento efectivo de los recursos, haciendo prediucciones a corto y largo plazo sobre las condiciones del mar.

Cartas de temperatura superficial promedio del mar, frente a las costas del Perú, durante Agosto y Setiembre de 1970

Brinda información sobre la temperatura superficial del mar, con el fin de orientar a la actividad pesquera e industrias conexas para un aprovechamiento efectivo de los recursos, haciendo predicciones a corto y largo plazo sobre las condiciones del mar.