Forty relapsing multiple sclerosis patients with 1-15 gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing lesions on screening brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores 0-6.5 were randomized to receive short-term induction therapy with mitoxantrone (three monthly 12 mg/m(2) infusions) followed by 12 months of daily glatiramer acetate (GA) therapy 20 mg/day subcutaneously for a total of 15 months (M-GA, n = 21) or daily GA 20 mg/day for 15 months (GA, n = 19). MRI scans were performed at months 6, 9, 12 and 15. The primary measure of outcome was the incidence of adverse events; secondary measures included number of Gd-enhanced lesions, confirmed relapses and EDSS changes. Except age, baseline demographic characteristics were well matched in both treatment arms. Both treatments were safe and well tolerated. M-GA induction produced an 89% greater reduction (relative risk (RR) = 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04-0.36, p = 0.0001) in the number of Gd-enhancing lesions at months 6 and 9 and a 70% reduction (RR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.11-0.86, p = 0.0147) at months 12 and 15 versus GA alone. Mean relapse rates were 0.16 and 0.32 in the M-GA and GA groups, respectively. Short-term immunosuppression with mitoxantrone followed by daily GA for up to 15 months was found to be safe and effective, with an early and sustained decrease in MRI disease activity.

Patients with NSCLC who were admitted to our institution presented with histopathologic and clinical characteristics that were similar to previously published series in cancer hospitals. The best prognosis was associated with complete tumor resection with lymph node dissection, which is only achievable in earlier clinical stages.

Umbilical nodes are rare. The metastatic involvement of the region was first described in 1846. Sister Mary Joseph was the first observer to establish the correlation between carcinomas and umbilical nodes. The umbilical node may be the sole presenting sign of cancer and is usually associated with advanced disease and poor prognosis. A 64-year-old woman, previously healthy, presented vague abdominal discomfort and a hard umbilical nodule for 1 week, which was first diagnosed as an incarcerated umbilical hernia. She underwent a new clinical assessment and biopsy. After immunohistochemical analysis and computerized tomography, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The clinical staging showed advanced disease with distant metastasis. She received palliative chemotherapy. After 8 months, she was alive in poor clinical condition. Clinical suspicion should lead to a careful additional evaluation whenever an umbilical nodule presents with malignant signs.

Endovascular surgery has presented a high evolution since 1960 with Charles Dotter, who changed the concept of catheter utilization as a mean to diagnose and introduce therapeutic in interventionist vascular environment. The first reports of bleeding control of gastrointestinal and transluminal angioplasty input the development of new techniques for endovascular access, and new materials use, such as microcatheters and embolic agents, become this procedure effective and viable for treatment of several pathologies. The embolization of several organs of human body is a procedure carried out for more than 30 years all over the world showing safety, efficacy and of simple execution. In obstetrics and gynecology, particularly, the first reports refer to pelvic hemorrhage control of varied etiology, including pelvic trauma, bladder and gynecology neoplasia, anteriovenous fistulas and puerperal hemorrhages. The embolization of uterine myoma appears in the 1990's as an alternative for treat of uterine leiomyoma, and a number of studies try to clarify the risks and benefits of this procedure. It is a multidisciplinary technique, with diagnostic and indication performed by gynecologist and the procedure done by interventional vascular radiologist. This review is a critical analysis of interventionist vascular radiologic methods and its main therapeutic indications in gynecology.

Hypertonic saline is an effective and safe initial therapy for hemodiluted rats undergoing hemorrhagic shock, with an overall outcome comparable to blood replacement or high volume isotonic saline administration.