The incidence, risk factors, and clinical relevance of stenosis of stapled colorectal anastomosis (CRA) were studied prospectively. Anastomotic stricture was defined as the inability of traversing the anastomosis with the rigid proctoscope. The population studied consisted of 179 patients (94 males) with an average age of 59.3 years (range: 20 to 91 years). The main indication for surgery was colorectal cancer in 59% of the cases, followed by diverticular disease in 23%. The first endoscopic control was performed before 4 months in 25% of the patients, between 5 and 10 months in 50%, and during the following 10 months in 25%. Stenosis was verified with the rigid instrument in 21.1% of the cases and with the flexible colonoscope in 4.4%. The barium enema performed in 12 cases confirmed a punctiform stenosis in 5 patients, 4 of whom had been asymptomatic. An endoscopic dilatation was performed on 5 of the 8 symptomatic patients, with one relapse that required an additional dilatation. In the univariate analysis only the lesser 4-month interval was statistically significant (p = 0.033; odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; confidence interval (CI) 95% = 1.06 to 4.97). Male patients (p = 0.057; OR = 2.08; IC 95% = 0.97-4.44) show a tendency to CRA stricture that does not reach statistically significant levels. In the multivariate analysis, only sex (p = 0.04; OR = 4.11; IC 95% = 1.03 to 5.41) and the time interval (p = 0.012; OR = 2.87; IC 95% = 1.25 to 6.57) appear as independent variables in stenosis risk of a stapled CRA. The incidence of this complication depends on the criteria used for defining it. It is clinically relevant in no more than 5% of the patients. Five out of eight patients in category II were treated successfully with an endoscopic dilatation, while the other three improved spontaneously. Early stenosis, although frequent, is generally asymptomatic and disappears spontaneously. Considering the lack of correlation between the degree of stricture and its symptomatology, it is convenient to combine both the anatomic and the clinical criteria in the selection of candidates for an eventual therapeutic procedure.

We apply the theory of Bruhat-Tits trees to the study of optimal embeddings of two and three dimensional commutative orders into quaternion algebras. Specifically, we determine how many conjugacy classes of global Eichler orders in a quaternion algebra yield optimal representations of such orders. This completes the previous work by C. Maclachlan, who considered only Eichler orders of square free level and integral domains as sub-orders. The same technique is used in the second part of this work to compute local embedding numbers, extending previous results by J. Brzezinski.

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In the present series, PPE prolonged operative time, increased postoperative complications and showed a trend toward poor prognosis in recurrence and survival. However, PPE offers the only hope for cure to patients with a primary rectal cancer that is adherent or invades reproductive organs.

For over half a century, the upward trend to rather demonize the use of the first language (L1) has led to its complete disregard and interdiction by many language institutions around the world due to the ever-so-trendy idea that any use of the L1 will be seen as counter-productive and even damaging to one’s intent on the acquisition of the second language (L2) (Carreres, 2006). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate what students believe as beneficial or unfavorable when it comes to using translation in the classroom either by the teacher, the students themselves or within the lesson in general. A total of 115 Ecuadorian students were surveyed with simple true or false statements regarding their opinion on translation. The students were arranged in two groups: A1 level and B1 level students. The answers from the survey were then averaged out in percentage form. The study suggests that there are indeed different opinions as to the use of translation in class. However, in general, it is perceived that lower-level students believe that normal use of translation in the classroom is a good method of or essential to learning, while most upper-level students prefer either solo use of the L2 or at least minimal use of the L1 in class.

Of the world's five flamingo species, the rarest and least known are the Puna Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) and the Andean Flamingo (P. andinus). These two species coexist with the more common Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) throughout much of their range. We conducted four simultaneous surveys from 1997 to 2001 (two in summer and two in winter) to estimate the distribution and abundance of all three species in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, at a regional scale. Of 224 wetlands surveyed, 179 had flamingos; 63% of these were in the high Andes (above 4000 m), 25% were in the puna (3000 to 4000 m), and the remainder were in lowlands (below 3000 m). Maximum counts were 64 000 Puna Flamingos (summer 1998), 34 000 Andean Flamingos (summer 1997), and 83 000 Chilean Flamingos (winter 1998). In summer, Puna Flamingos congregated at wetlands in the high Andes, with 50% of the population in just three lakes: Colorada, Grande, and Vilama. Andean Flamingos were more uniformly distributed across a broader elevational range (2500 m), and Chilean Flamingos showed a heterogeneous distribution pattern. In winter, all species moved to lower latitudes within the high Andes and to lower altitudes on the central plains of Argentina. The most important nesting wetlands were Colorada, in Bolivia, for the Puna Flamingo, Surire and Atacama, in Chile, for the Andean Flamingo, and Surire for the Chilean Flamingo. We recommend continued monitoring through simultaneous summer surveys, and a conservation strategy that considers the large spatial and temporal scales at which these species operate, including their seasonal migrations.

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