Effects of environmental conditions associated to the cardinal orientation on the reproductive phenology of the cerrado savanna tree Xylopia aromatica (Annonaceae).

The Brazilian cerrado has undergone an intense process of fragmentation, which leads to an increase in the number of remnants exposed to edge effects and associated changes on environmental conditions that may affect the phenology of plants. This study aimed to verify whether the reproductive phenology of Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart.

[Action of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and cisplatin on two models of human digestive, esophageal and colonic, cancers].

A combined therapy using a colony-stimulating factor and a chemotherapeutic agent has been designed, in vitro and in vivo, on digestive tumor cells to assess the effects of these agents administered alone or in combination, on the cells' or the tumor's growth rate. A recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) and Cisplatin (CDDP) has been administered at various concentrations in vitro on oesophageal (ECYO) or on colonic (COLO 205) cell lines and in vivo on oesophagal tumor transplanted in Nude mice. In vitro, the oesophagal model is sensitive to G-CSF.

[Utero-ovarian actinomycosis and intrauterine contraceptive devices].

Up to now a rare affection difficult to diagnose in its abdominal localizations, actinomycosis is becoming of topical interest because of the appearance of a new form of the disease: utero-ovarian infection associated with an intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUD). A recent case, of surgical expression, is reported and used as a basis for an update of epidemiologic and pathogenic data concerning the affection. Diagnosis should be facilitated by regular cytobacteriologic examinations in women with the IUD, and simple preventive measures should limit the number of severe forms sometimes requiring more or less extensive excision.