A dynamic upper atmosphere of Venus as revealed by VIRTIS on Venus Express.

The upper atmosphere of a planet is a transition region in which energy is transferred between the deeper atmosphere and outer space. Molecular emissions from the upper atmosphere (90-120 km altitude) of Venus can be used to investigate the energetics and to trace the circulation of this hitherto little-studied region. Previous spacecraft and ground-based observations of infrared emission from CO2, O2 and NO have established that photochemical and dynamic activity controls the structure of the upper atmosphere of Venus.

South-polar features on Venus similar to those near the north pole.

Venus has no seasons, slow rotation and a very massive atmosphere, which is mainly carbon dioxide with clouds primarily of sulphuric acid droplets. Infrared observations by previous missions to Venus revealed a bright 'dipole' feature surrounded by a cold 'collar' at its north pole. The polar dipole is a 'double-eye' feature at the centre of a vast vortex that rotates around the pole, and is possibly associated with rapid downwelling.

Assessing Wolf motor function test as outcome measure for research in patients after stroke.

Background And Purpose: The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is a new time-based method to evaluate upper extremity performance while providing insight into joint-specific and total limb movements. This study addresses selected psychometric attributes of the WMFT applied to a chronic stroke population.

Methods: Nineteen individuals after stroke and with intact cognition and sitting balance were age- and sex-matched with 19 individuals without impairment.

[Type III entrapment syndrome of the popliteal artery. Presentation of a clinical case with diagnostic and therapeutic discussion].

Following a short review of the various types of possible abnormalities in the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, a case is presented which was misdiagnosed for more than 2 years. Problems concerning the differential diagnosis are discussed together with details of the surgical approach performed using the medial incision and the PTFE prosthesis.

[Echography in the study of thoracic pathology. I--Indications and limitations].

The role of echography in the study of the thorax is evaluated: after reporting the technical limits due to the peculiar anatomy of this region, personal experience is presented. This method extremely precise to define the solid or liquid nature of tightly adherent to the chest wall lesions, but it is non specific to assess their benign or malignant behaviour. Ultrasounds have their on limits in drawing the extension of such lesions; these limits have been overcome by CT and MR.

[Computerized tomography in Peyronie's disease. Clinico-radiological comparison].

The diagnostic capabilities of Computed Tomography (CT) in the study of Peyronie's disease are assessed. Twenty-four patients, with different symptoms and a variety of findings on physical examination (from normal to large painful plaques), were studied with third-generation CT equipment. CT defined the normal pattern of the albuginea, as a hyperdense (ranging from 80 to 100 HU) thin and regular line on the periphery of the corpora cavernosa.

Lymphocyte transformation test in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT) to drugs remain widely used in drug reactions, despite controversies about their real usefulness. We tested the lymphocytes of 12 patients recovering from a drug-induced Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). There was no difference between the amounts of thymidine incorporated when patients' lymphocytes were cultivated with culprit or innocent drugs.

[Value of ultrasonics and computerized axial tomography in the staging of renal neoplasms].

Sonographic (US) and computed tomographic (CT) images obtained in 47 patients with renal cancer have been reviewed; attention was paid to detection of neoplastic spread to structures surrounding the tumor, presence of lymph node metastases and of thrombosis of renal vessels and to identification of distant metastases. The results of the revision process were then compared with surgical or autoptic findings. In a relatively high number of patients, a complete examination of the upper abdomen could not be performed by US, due to patient habitus or bowel gas; on the contrary, a diagnostic study could be obtained by CT in virtually all cases.