Temporal complexity of terrestrial ecosystem functioning and its drivers.

The development of non-linear dynamics theory showed that simple processes can lead to high complexity in the functioning of nature, with ecological studies showing that non-linear dynamics are common across populations of different taxa. However, whether the energy and matter fluxes of entire ecosystems follow non-linear dynamics, and how complex these dynamics are, is still unknown. We investigate the drivers of- and trends in the temporal complexity of ecosystem functioning by calculating the correlation dimension of gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration, and net ecosystem production.

Cardiac tamponade by peripherally inserted central catheter in preterm infants: role of bedside ultrasonography and therapeutic approach.

Objective: to determine the incidence of pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade in preterm infants in a pediatric intensive care unit, with emphasis on the relationship between pericardial effusion and peripherally inserted central catheter, and to evaluate the role of bedside ultrasound in approaching these cases.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit between July 2014 and December 2016, who presented pericardial effusion with hemodynamic repercussion, evaluated by ultrasonography.

Results: we studied 426 patients admitted to the five beds of the neonatal unit.

Video-thoracoscopic approach, without suture, of late thoracic esophageal perforations.

Objectives: to evaluate the use of video-thoracoscopy, in the treatment of late perforations of the thoracic esophagus, without suture or organ resection.

Methods: retrospective analysis of patients with late diagnosis (> 12 hours) of thoracic esophageal perforation treated by video-thoracoscopy, without suture or organ resection, over a 15-year period.

Results: sixteen patients were operated on, ten men and six women, aged between 48 and 66 years, with time between the diagnosis of the perforation and the surgery ranging from 16 to 26 hours.

Maternal malnutrition during lactation in Wistar rats: effects on elastic fibers of the extracellular matrix in the trachea of offspring.

Objective: To investigate the effects of maternal protein malnutrition during lactation on the elastic fibers in the tracheas of Wistar rat pups.

Methods: At delivery, 12 male pups of two Wistar rat dams were equally divided into two groups: control, in which the dam received water and standard rat chow ad libitum during lactation; and protein-restricted (PR), in which the dam received water ad libitum and an isoenergetic PR diet (8% protein). At 21 days of age, the pups were killed and their tracheas were excised.

The revised tumor-node-metastasis staging system for lung cancer: changes and perspectives.

The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system for lung cancer has been modified since its first edition in the late 1960s. Its seventh edition has been recently published and, for the first time, a truly worldwide database was analyzed in order to propose modifications in the staging. Significant changes have been made in the tumor and metastasis descriptors.

Endotracheal inflammatory pseudotumor: the role of interventional bronchoscopy.

We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with recurrent pneumonia. A chest roentgenogram, a chest computed tomographic scan, and a rigid bronchoscopy revealed a mass in the left mainstem bronchus, which was protruding into the trachea and right mainstem bronchus, with no extraluminal component. Endoscopic biopsies confirmed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.

Asymptomatic giant mediastinal mass: a rare case of thymolipoma.

Thymolipoma is a very rare benign neoplasm of the thymus. We present the case of a 42-year-old male with a massive mediastinal tumor discovered on a chest X-ray after a motorcycle accident. The patient had no complaints, and his physical examination was unremarkable.