The Making of Amazonian Diversity The biodiversity of the Amazon Basin is legendary, but the processes by which it has been generated have been debated. In the late 20th century the prevalent view was that the engine of diversity was repeated contraction and expansion of forest refugia during the past 3 million years or so. Hoorn et al. (p. 927 ) analyze findings from a diverse range of disciplines, including molecular phylogeny, ecology, sedimentology, structural geology, and palaeontology, to offer an overview of the entire history of this region during the Cenozoic era (66 million years ago). The uplift of the Andes was a pivotal event in the evolution of Amazonian landscapes because it continually altered river drainage patterns, which in turn put a variety of pressures on organisms to adapt to changing conditions in a multiplicity of ways. Hence, the diversity of the modern biota of the Amazon has more ancient origins than previously thought.

Mountains are key features of the Earth's surface and host a substantial proportion of the world's species. However, the links between the evolution and distribution of biodiversity and the formation of mountains remain poorly understood. Here, we integrate multiple datasets to assess the relationships between species richness in mountains, geology and climate at global and regional scales. Specifically, we analyse how erosion, relief, soil and climate relate to the geographical distribution of terrestrial tetrapods, which include amphibians, birds and mammals. We find that centres of species richness correlate with areas of high temperatures, annual rainfall and topographic relief, supporting previous studies. We unveil additional links between mountain-building processes and biodiversity: species richness correlates with erosion rates and heterogeneity of soil types, with a varying response across continents. These additional links are prominent but under-explored, and probably relate to the interplay between surface uplift, climate change and atmospheric circulation through time. They are also influenced by the location and orientation of mountain ranges in relation to air circulation patterns, and how species diversification, dispersal and refugia respond to climate change. A better understanding of biosphere-lithosphere interactions is needed to understand the patterns and evolution of mountain biodiversity across space and time.

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The Andes are the world's most biodiverse mountain chain, encompassing a complex array of ecosystems from tropical rainforests to alpine habitats. We provide a synthesis of Andean vascular plant diversity by estimating a list of all species with publicly available records, which we integrate with a phylogenetic dataset of 14 501 Neotropical plant species in 194 clades. We find that (i) the Andean flora comprises at least 28 691 georeferenced species documented to date, (ii) Northern Andean mid-elevation cloud forests are the most species-rich Andean ecosystems, (iii) the Andes are a key source and sink of Neotropical plant diversity, and (iv) the Andes, Amazonia, and other Neotropical biomes have had a considerable amount of biotic interchange through time. HighlightsWe present an evolutionary and floristic synthesis of Andean plant diversity and evolution across time and space.Uplift of the Andes varied across time and space. Particularly, the fast uplift rates between 8 and 5 Ma in the Northern Andes may have favoured plant diversification.Using online specimen databases, we suggest that the Andean flora comprises at least 28 691 species. We identify North Andean montane forests as the potential species richest area.Using a biogeographic analysis on a dataset of 14 501 Neotropical species in 194 clades, we reveal that the Andes are both a key source and sink of Neotropical vascular plant biodiversity. We unveil strong biogeographical links between the Andes, Amazonia, and Central America.We highlight a number of critical research gaps, notably major Andean plant groups are still understudied, and fewer studies exist for the Central and Southern Andes. Filling these gaps will allow a more holistic understanding of Andean floras and provide essential tools for their conservation.

Sardi JE, Sananes CE, Giaroli AA, Bermúdez A, Ferreira MH, Soderini AH, Snaidas L, Guardado N, Anchezar P, Ortiz OC, di Paola GR. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical carcinoma stage IIB: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 1998; 8: 441–450. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Nch), used before Wertheim Meigs operation (S) and conventional radiotherapy (RT) in Stage IIB cervical carcinoma. Two hundred ninety‐five patients were randomized into four groups: first control group (N = 73) received RT of 50 Gy to whole pelvis + 35–40 Gy to point A, in one or two brachytherapy applications; the second control group received (N = 75) S + adjuvant RT to whole pelvis (50 Gy) the third group (N = 71) received Nch + RT; the fourth group received (N = 76) Nch + S + RT. The VBP scheme was used (3 courses of vincristine 1 mg/m2 on day 1, bleomycin 25 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3, and cisplatinum 50 mg/m2 on day 1, at 10 day intervals). No differences were found regarding age, tumor volume, parametrial involvement or response to Nch. Disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated according to Kaplan‐Meier tables and log‐rank test. After seven years follow‐up, statistically significant differences were found in OS between Nch + S (65%) and RT (48%, P < 0.005) or S (41%, P < 0.001). No differences were obtained comparing both Nch groups, or between Nch + RT (54%) and RT groups (48%). In surgical groups resectability increased from 56% in the S group to 80% in Nch + (P < 0.001). OS was respectively 80% vs 54% in resected patients in Nch + S and S groups (P < 0.001). Also, in the Nch + S group pathological high‐risk factors were decreased compared to the S group (lymph nodes metastases, parametrial and vascular space involvement, P < 0.009). OS was improved in surgical groups regardless of initial tumor size; in RT groups OS was only increased in tumors >5 cm from 36% in RT to 66% in Nch + RT (P < 0.05). In both Nch groups no grades 3 or 4 toxicity was observed and OS was statistically better in chemotherapy responders. Nch + S is feasible, with no grades 3 or 4 toxicity. It is an alternative treatment to conventional radiation therapy with an increase in OS.