Biomonitoring in the protected areas of the Czech Republic.

The purpose of the biomonitoring project in the Nature Conservancy in the Czech Republic is to obtain information on long-term development of some selected living components of ecosystems in protected areas. A survey of methods was conducted to select the monitoring areas as well as to study birds, epigean, vegetation and water communities (a minimal programme). A system for the monitoring areas and data storage and processing (to gather a body of evidence) was established.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus. Report of a case and review of the literature.

A case of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus is reported and a total of 15 cases was reviewed. There were 9 men, although earlier reports indicated the disease was more common in women. The lesion was located in the middle third of the esophagus in 10 cases.

Extrathoracic axillary-iliac bypass substitution of a resected descending thoracic aorta.

Resection of a dissecting aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta (Type III) was accomplished in a uremic patient on hemodialysis with reconstruction of blood flow through extrathoracic bilateral axillary-subclavian-iliac Dacron grafts. Review of the literature revealed no similar operation reported before. Other potential uses for this operation, such as infected aortic grafts and resections of the arch and descending thoracic aorta in high-risk patients, are discussed.