New generation geostationary satellite observations support seasonality in greenness of the Amazon evergreen forests.

Assessing the seasonal patterns of the Amazon rainforests has been difficult because of the paucity of ground observations and persistent cloud cover over these forests obscuring optical remote sensing observations. Here, we use data from a new generation of geostationary satellites that carry the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) to study the Amazon canopy. ABI is similar to the widely used polar orbiting sensor, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), but provides observations every 10-15 min.

Primary Malignant Lymphoma Originating from the Chest Wall without Preceding Pleural Disease.

An 84-year-old woman presented to our hospital with dyspnea on exertion and left back pain. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an irregular pleural mass invading her left chest wall with rib destruction and pleural effusion. CT-guided needle biopsy revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Concomitant Systemic Sclerosis and Sarcoidosis with Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema.

A 75-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with the chief symptom of dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed lymphadenopathy, emphysema, and honeycombing. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed due to an elevated serum ACE level and the findings of a lymph-node biopsy.

Elevated plasma ghrelin level in underweight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ghrelin, a novel growth hormone-releasing peptide, has been shown to cause a positive energy balance by reducing fat use and stimulating food intake. This study investigated whether plasma ghrelin is associated with clinical parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Plasma ghrelin was measured in 50 patients and 13 control subjects, together with anabolic and catabolic factors.

[Effect of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) on nutritional status in patients with COPD].

The beneficial effects of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) on patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on pulmonary function and exercise performance has been established. However, the impact on nutritional status and prognosis has not been demonstrated. In the present study, we investigated the changes in nutritional status in COPD patients undergoing bilateral thoracoscopic LVRS and also analyzed the relationship between nutritional status and postoperative complications and prognosis.

[A case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation treated by transcatheter embolization using coils].

The patient was a 21-year-old woman who, at 16 years old, had had no subjective symptoms. She was referred to our hospital because of abnormal shadows in the middle of the left lung that were seen on a chest radiograph during a school medical screening. In her first examination at our hospital, CT revealed tumor-like shadows with diameters of 2.

[An elderly case with Listeria monocytogenes sepsis and pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection].

A 88-year-old woman, who had lived in a nursing home, was admitted to our hospital because of the suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis. She had a cough, fever and diarrhea on admission. She suffered from sepsis because Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from only the blood culture twice.

[A case of pleural malignant lymphoma associated with chronic tuberculous pyothorax].

We report a case of pleural malignant lymphoma associated with chronic tuberculous pyothorax. A 67-year-old male was hospitalized because of left lateral chest swelling and pain. He had suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of six and tuberculous pleurisy at the age of 24.