Complete removal of heart-compressing large mediastinal lipoma : a case report

An 83-year-old man presented with worsening of respiratory discomfort and underwent close examination, which revealed a large mediastinal lipoma measuring 15 × 10 cm. The patient showed heart failure symptoms due to heart compression by tumor. The tumor was completely removed safely and reliably by cutting the ascending aorta, main pulmonary artery and superior vena cava. Although preoperative examination could not determine whether the tumor was lipoma or liposarcoma, we selected an invasive surgical therapy because neither radiation therapy nor chemotherapy was considered effective for either type of tumor. We report here a very rare case of heart-compressing mediastinal tumor

Downward shortwave radiation trends in Europe since the 20th century: what we know from direct measurements and sunshine duration records?

The first part of this work presents results based on the longest series measuring downward shortwave radiation (DSR) available at the Global Energy Balance Archive (GEBA) over Europe, some of them available since the 1920s. Particular emphasis is placed upon the quality control and homogenization of the dataset, which has been checked for temporal homogeneity by means of different relative homogeneity tests. The mean annual DSR series show an increase from the 1930s to the early 1950s (i.e. early brightening period), followed by a reduction until mid-1980s (i.e., dimming period), and ending with an increase up to the present (i.e., brightening period). Overall, the trend from the 1930s to the present is negative and significant on annual basis. Unfortunately, there exists a substantial gap in direct measurements of DSR as few stations in Europe provide records before the 1960s. To overcome the lack of direct measurements, the analysis can be supported with other proxy variables more widely measured, such as sunshine duration (SD) records. Thus, in this work we also present the reconstructed DSR variations since late 19th century in Europe based on the SD series over Europe with around one century of records, some of them starting in the 1880s. The reconstructed DSR variations have been estimated by using the relationship found between the SD sunshine duration series and a satellite-derived DSR dataset (0.03 x 0.03 of spatial resolution), provided by the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF), during the common 1983-2005 subperiod. The reconstructed records have been validated by using the GEBA series described in the first part of this work. The temporal evolution of the mean DSR annual series since the 1950s is characterized by the well-known dimming and brightening periods. Moreover, an early brightening period is also detected during the first half of the 20th century, although regional differences are observed with areas over Europe where the DSR show no increase in this subperiod. Interestingly, the reconstructed DSR also highlight an absolute minimum in 1912, which should be the signal of the Katmai volcanic eruption (i.e., largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century) as the consequence of the direct effect of the volcanic sulphur aerosols released in the volcanic eruption. The results highlight the suitability of SD records to detect changes in DSR under all-sky and clear-sky conditions (e.g., due to aerosol changes)

Synchronous bilateral epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland: case report and review of the literature

Synchronous bilateral malignancy in the parotid glands is extremely rare. The English literature reveals nine case reports. The most common synchronous bilateral malignancies are acinic cell carcinoma. Epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm comprising 1% of all salivary gland tumours. In this case report, we describe, to our best of knowledge, the first case of a patient with a synchronous bilateral epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland. The clinical histopathological and immunohistochemical peculiarities are elucidated. Imaging studies like ultrasonography are mandatory for both parotid glands and upper necks in the clinical presence of a unilateral parotid gland tumour

Delayed neuronal cell death in brainstem after transient brainstem ischemia in gerbils

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Because of the lack of reproducible brainstem ischemia models in rodents, the temporal profile of ischemic lesions in the brainstem after transient brainstem ischemia has not been evaluated intensively. Previously, we produced a reproducible brainstem ischemia model of Mongolian gerbils. Here, we showed the temporal profile of ischemic lesions after transient brainstem ischemia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Brainstem ischemia was produced by occlusion of the bilateral vertebral arteries just before their entry into the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae of Mongolian gerbils. Animals were subjected to brainstem ischemia for 15 min, and then reperfused for 0 d (just after ischemia), 1 d, 3 d and 7 d (n = 4 in each group). Sham-operated animals (n = 4) were used as control. After deep anesthesia, the gerbils were perfused with fixative for immunohistochemical investigation. Ischemic lesions were detected by immunostaining for microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2). Just after 15-min brainstem ischemia, ischemic lesions were detected in the lateral vestibular nucleus and the ventral part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, and these ischemic lesions disappeared one day after reperfusion in all animals examined. However, 3 days and 7 days after reperfusion, ischemic lesions appeared again and clusters of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1(IBA-1)-positive cells were detected in the same areas in all animals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that delayed neuronal cell death took place in the brainstem after transient brainstem ischemia in gerbils.</p

Measuring global ocean heat content to estimate the earth energy imbalance

The energy radiated by the Earth toward space does not compensate the incoming radiation from the Sun leading to a small positive energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere (0.4–1 Wm–2). This imbalance is coined Earth’s Energy Imbalance (EEI). It is mostly caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and is driving the current warming of the planet. Precise monitoring of EEI is critical to assess the current status of climate change and the future evolution of climate. But the monitoring of EEI is challenging as EEI is two orders of magnitude smaller than the radiation fluxes in and out of the Earth system. Over 93% of the excess energy that is gained by the Earth in response to the positive EEI accumulates into the ocean in the form of heat. This accumulation of heat can be tracked with the ocean observing system such that today, the monitoring of Ocean Heat Content (OHC) and its long-term change provide the most efficient approach to estimate EEI. In this community paper we review the current four state-of-the-art methods to estimate global OHC changes and evaluate their relevance to derive EEI estimates on different time scales. These four methods make use of: (1) direct observations of in situ temperature; (2) satellite-based measurements of the ocean surface net heat fluxes; (3) satellite-based estimates of the thermal expansion of the ocean and (4) ocean reanalyses that assimilate observations from both satellite and in situ instruments. For each method we review the potential and the uncertainty of the method to estimate global OHC changes. We also analyze gaps in the current capability of each method and identify ways of progress for the future to fulfill the requirements of EEI monitoring. Achieving the observation of EEI with sufficient accuracy will depend on merging the remote sensing techniques with in situ measurements of key variables as an integral part of the Ocean Observing System

Vegetation type is an important predictor of the arctic summer land surface energy budget

Despite the importance of high-latitude surface energy budgets (SEBs) for land-climate interactions in the rapidly changing Arctic, uncertainties in their prediction persist. Here, we harmonize SEB observations across a network of vegetated and glaciated sites at circumpolar scale (1994-2021). Our variance-partitioning analysis identifies vegetation type as an important predictor for SEB-components during Arctic summer (June-August), compared to other SEB-drivers including climate, latitude and permafrost characteristics. Differences among vegetation types can be of similar magnitude as between vegetation and glacier surfaces and are especially high for summer sensible and latent heat fluxes. The timing of SEB-flux summer-regimes (when daily mean values exceed 0 Wm(-2)) relative to snow-free and -onset dates varies substantially depending on vegetation type, implying vegetation controls on snow-cover and SEB-flux seasonality. Our results indicate complex shifts in surface energy fluxes with land-cover transitions and a lengthening summer season, and highlight the potential for improving future Earth system models via a refined representation of Arctic vegetation types.An international team of researchers finds high potential for improving climate projections by a more comprehensive treatment of largely ignored Arctic vegetation types, underscoring the importance of Arctic energy exchange measuring stations.Peer reviewe