While these issues are being addressed, genomic pursuits in zebra

While these issues are being addressed, genomic pursuits in zebrafish can focus on modalities that are more robust to nuances in alignment, such as genomic copy number changes and transcriptome profiles based on RNA-seq. The latter strategy provides the additional advantage of capturing a wider range of aberrations — important given the heterogeneity — that together GDC-0199 purchase converge on a single expression phenotype. This and optimization of available tools will provide researchers far greater scope for evaluating the relevance of zebrafish cancer

and in prescribing new targets and strategies for investigating the human disease. The zebrafish field has seen major growth over the past 10 years, as rapid application of transgenic and chemical screening techniques

Dasatinib mouse have placed the fish in a unique category of cancer models. But while creating and analyzing models of human cancer is useful, it ultimately is not significantly advantageous to that done in mouse models. For the fish to offer truly novel and important insights into human cancer will require major innovations in technology and scale. Several areas are particularly amenable to study in the zebrafish, as outlined below (Figure 1). It is increasingly recognized that most human cancers are wildly heterogeneous at genetic, and likely, epigenetic, levels. To fully capture this complexity will require in vivo models that can express not just one to four altered genes, but potentially dozens. The increasing sophistication in making knockouts Lepirudin using TALENS [ 49 and 49] and the Cas9/CRISPr [ 50] genome editing system has made it possible to target nearly any candidate cancer gene in the in vivo setting. Although CRISPr was initially thought to be primarily useful for generating germline mutations [ 50 and 51], more recent work has highlighted its capacity for inducing somatic, biallelic disruptions in the F0 injected fish [ 52]. This is a tremendous advantage in zebrafish, since thousands of embryos per day can be generated, each of which can conceptually be injected with a CRISPr and phenotypes directly assessed without going to the

next generation. In a typical fish facility containing 2000–10 000 adult pairs of fish, the capacity to test hundreds of candidate genes serially or in parallel dwarfs what can be achieved in mouse models. It seems likely that large-scale genetic screens using this methodology in zebrafish will be forthcoming in the near future, complementing what has been done using ENU screens. Traditionally it has been difficult to perform large-scale chemical screens in vivo. However, numerous studies have now shown that the zebrafish is highly amenable to large-scale screens, testing thousands of compounds using detailed, in vivo phenotypic readouts. Although the majority of these screens have relied upon ‘proxy’ embryonic phenotypes (i.e.

While the temperature maximum appears to be more delayed in the m

While the temperature maximum appears to be more delayed in the model, also the two years of observations show different timings, with an earlier arrival of ASW in 2011 (December/January) then in 2010 (February/March). Furthermore, the model and the observations click here show a consistent time lag of about two months between the arrival of ASW at M1 and M3, likely being caused by the blocking effect of the Jutulstraumen ice tongue that leads to more accumulation of surface water on the eastern side of the FIS (Zhou et al., 2014). The correspondence between the simulations and the sub-ice shelf observations suggests that the model captures the main dynamics of the ice shelf/ocean interaction

at the FIS, and we now analyze the characteristics and variability of basal melting in the ANN-100 experiment. A map of temporally-averaged basal melting and freezing rates from the last year of the ANN-100 experiment is shown in Fig. 7(a). Cabozantinib molecular weight Black contours indicate

ice draft, with the northernmost border corresponding to the 140 m contour in Fig. 2(a). The area average basal melt rate is about 0.4 m year−1, accounting for a net mass loss of about 14 Gt year−1. Note that for calculating average melt rates in this paper, we omit the ice front region that is attributed to the topographic smoothing described in Section 3.2, and only include ice thicker than 140 m (thick magenta line in Fig. 2(a)). Areas of sloping ice shallower than 140 m, where the simulations show unrealistically high rates of melting and freezing over an artificially enlarged area, account for about 9% of the total ice shelf area in the model, contributing ID-8 an additional 0.1 m year−1 to the average basal mass loss in the ANN-100 experiment. While

these model artifacts add considerable uncertainty to the absolute melting estimate in our study, they are of minor importance for the conclusion that our simulations provide a substantially lower estimate than earlier coarse resolution models, which suggested melt rates of a few meters per year for the FIS (Smedsrud et al., 2006 and Timmermann et al., 2012). Instead, our results are similar to recent remote sensing based estimates of 0.57 m year−1 (Rignot et al., 2013) and consistent with earlier observational studies that suggested generally low basal mass loss at the FIS (Pritchard et al., 2012 and Price et al., 2008). The spatial pattern in Fig. 7(a) shows stronger melting of deeper ice draft, also seen in previous simulations of Smedsrud et al. (2006), but with lower overall magnitudes in our study. In particular along the deep keel of Jutulstraumen, high melt rates of several meters per year occur, while the large uncolored areas in Fig. 7(a) indicate nearly zero melting over most of the ice shelf between 200 m and 300 m depth.

, 2005) The Chahanwusu and Naijin Rivers located in the southeas

, 2005). The Chahanwusu and Naijin Rivers located in the southeast also showed large increasing trends during 1957–2000; however, the Bayin River situated in the north CQB exhibited a slightly decreasing trend during 1957–2000 (Table 3; Yan and Jia, 2003). CTB is located to the south

of the Kunlun Mountains and the Tanggula Mountains, and to the north of the Gandise Mountains and the Nianqing Tanggula Mountains. CTB consists of numerous isolated sub-basins and does not have confluence. Smad inhibitor In CTB, most sub-basins are sized only in hundreds of square kilometers except for the Zhagen Zangbu, Zhajia Zangbu, Cuoqin Zangbu and Bocang Zangbu basins for which the sizes are over 10,000 km2 and are located in the south; most rivers are ephemeral; GSI-IX clinical trial about 90% of the annual total discharge concentrates in June–September (Chen and Guan, 1989). Annual total precipitation in CTB is only about 150 mm and mostly occurs as snow, which is the reason that the major part of the annual streamflow comes from melt water and groundwater (Table 2; Chen and Guan, 1989). Streamflow characteristics and long-term changes are essentially unknown in CTB

due to lack of long-term observations. In summary, streamflow on the TP is concentrated during the flood season of May–October and peaks in July–August (Guan and Chen, 1980), due to the coexistence of the wet and warm acetylcholine seasons, and the dry and cold seasons. In general, the major contributor to the annual total streamflow is rainfall in the north (QMB), the east (YLR and YTR), and the southeast (SWR) of the TP; while melt water or groundwater or their combination dominates in the central (CTB) and west (TRB and IDR) of the TP. BPR and CQB show more complex patterns (Table 2). These regional variations in streamflow contribution are to a large extent related to the climate

systems that prevail over the TP. In the eastern and southeastern TP where the East and South Asia monsoons exert strong influence and where precipitation occurs mainly in the warm season of May–October, precipitation is the major contributor to streamflow, and streamflow peaks with precipitation and temperature. In the westerly controlled western TP (e.g., TRB) where precipitation exhibits double peaks in early spring and summer, respectively, melt water is the major contributor to streamflow and melt water peaks when temperature evolves to the seasonal high. On the other hand, in the central TP (e.g., CTB), a westerly dominated area where precipitation is not only low but also solid for the most part of the year, both melt water and groundwater, which peak in the warm season, become important for streamflow. Based on previous studies, for example Yan and Jia (2003), Zhou et al. (2005), Cao et al. (2005) and Ding et al.

The scale parameter, λλ, was estimated from the GESLA (Global Ext

The scale parameter, λλ, was estimated from the GESLA (Global Extreme Sea-Level Analysis) sea-level database (see Menéndez and Woodworth, 2010) which has been collected through a collaborative activity of the Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Australia, and the National Oceanography Centre Liverpool (NOCL), UK. The data covers a large portion of the world and is sampled at least hourly Navitoclax research buy (except where there are data gaps). The database was downloaded from NOCL on 26 October 2010 and contains 675 files. However, many of these files are near-duplicates provided by different agencies. Many are also as short as one or two years and are therefore not suitable for the analysis of extremes

(it is generally considered that ARIs of up to about four times the record length may be derived from tide-gauge records (e.g. Pugh, 1996) so that, for example, the estimation of 100-year ARIs requires records of at least 25 years duration). Hunter (2012) check details performed initial data processing, resulting in 198 tidal records, each of which was at least 30 years long. However, one of these is from Trieste in the Mediterranean, which is poorly

resolved by the ocean components of the AOGCMs (the Mediterranean is omitted altogether from Meehl et al., 2007, Fig. 10.32, which shows the projected spatially varying sea-level change due to change in ocean density and dynamics). The data from Trieste was not therefore used in the present analysis, which is therefore based on 197 global sea-level records. Prior to extreme analysis, the data was ‘binned’, so as to produce files with a minimum sampling interval of one hour, and detrended. Annual maxima were estimated using a declustering algorithm such that any extreme events closer than 3 days were counted as a single event, and any gaps in time were removed from the record. These annual maxima were then second fitted to a Gumbel distribution using the ismev   package ( Coles, 2001, p. 48) implemented in the statistical language R   ( R Development Core Team, 2008). This yielded the scale parameter, λλ,

for each of the 197 records. It is assumed that λλ does not change in time. Allowances for future sea-level rise have generally been based on global-average projections, without adjustment for regional variations (which are related to the land-ice fingerprint, GIA, and change in ocean density and dynamics). Fig. 2 shows the vertical allowance for sea-level rise from 1990 to 2100 for the A1FI emission scenario, at each of the 197 tide-gauge locations. The allowance is based on the global-average rise in mean sea level and on the statistics of storm tides observed at each location (Section 4). The uncertainty in the projections of sea-level rise was fitted to a normal distribution. The use of a raised-cosine distribution, which has thinner tails, yields a smaller allowance. Fig. 2 shows effectively the same information as Fig.

The number of photons used in a single run varied from 106 for pl

The number of photons used in a single run varied from 106 for plane parallel cases to 2 × 109 for most non-uniform cases. This section presents the surface distributions of the modelled relative irradiance (transmittance) and spectral cloud radiative forcing at the fjord surface and nadir radiances at the TOA over the fjord and the anomaly in domain-averaged

irradiance due to the assumption of surface uniformity. Their dependence on spectral channel, cloud optical thickness, cloud base height and solar zenith angle is discussed. In order to analyse the influence of various factors on the surface distribution of the surface irradiance and TOA radiance, 14 test plots were selected in the fjord and the adjacent ocean (Figure 4). Plot 1 is the Hornsund station area. It is a land plot, shown here for comparison with the modelling results for the fjord. Solar radiation measurements have been carried out at the station for many PD0325901 years. Plots 8–11 lie along the southern shore of the fjord. Plot 10 (Gashamna) is an embayment with over 700-metre high mountains to the east and the receding front of the Gasbreen

glacier to the south. Plot 9 abuts the over 600 metre-high cliff of Rasstupet. Plot 8 is a fjord with a north-south axis (Samarinvagen) bordered by mountains and terminated by glaciers. These areas have their equivalents along the northern shore: an embayment (Isbjornhamna with Hansbukta – 2), fields adjacent to the mountain cliff (Gnalberget – Sofiebogen – 3, Adriabukta – Hyrnefjellet – 6)

and glacier-ended fjords (eastern Burgerbukta selleck screening library – 4 and western Burgerbukta – 5). Western Burgerbukta is surrounded by mountains with 700–900 metre-high peaks. Plot 7 is the easternmost part of the Hornsund bordered by glaciers. Plot 11 represents the central part of the western Hornsund. Plot 12 is the ocean area, where terrestrial influences are few if any. The increase in irradiance (transmittance) in this plot can, at least partly, result from the cyclic borders of the ‘broad’ domain. The broad domain is the working domain with the buffer belts. The bias in the results due to the cyclic borders of the domain does not exceed the difference in irradiance (transmittance) between a horizontally uniform atmosphere over a horizontally uniform ocean (open ocean conditions) and plot 12. Figure 5 shows examples of the relative downward irradiance or irradiance transmittance TE distribution Gemcitabine concentration at the fjord surface for a cloud layer of τ = 12 with its base at 1 km above sea level for the spring and summer albedo patterns for λ = 469 nm (MODIS channel 3). The solar position, the zenith angle ϑ = 53° and the azimuth α = 180°, are for noon on 21 June. The solar zenith angle ϑ = 53° is the smallest such angle in the Hornsund area. The irradiance transmittance on the open ocean surface under the same conditions is 0.40. Under spring albedo conditions an increase in transmittance is observed over the whole fjord. The greatest enhancement ΔTE = 0.15–0.

5 Da peptide

mass tolerance, and ±0 5 Da fragment mass to

5 Da peptide

mass tolerance, and ±0.5 Da fragment mass tolerance. Mascot identifications required that at least the ion scores must be greater than the associated identity scores, and 20, 30, 40 and 50 for single, double, triple and quadruple charged peptides. Furthermore, Mascot searches were followed by manual interpretation of MS/MS spectra to eliminate false positives with the help of the PepSeq tool (MassLynx 4.1 software, Waters, USA). The antimicrobial activities were determined using a modified microtiter broth dilution method. The antimicrobial activity was monitored by a liquid growth inhibition assay against gram positive bacteria Micrococcus luteus A270, gram negative Escherichia coli SBS 363 and yeast Candida tropicalis

BKM120 order MDM8, as described by Bulet et al. (1993) and Ehret-Sabatier et al. (1996). Pre inocula of the strains were prepared in Poor Broth (1.0 g peptone in 100 mL of H2O containing 86 mM NaCl at pH 7.4; 217 mOsM for M. luteus and E.coli and 1.2 g potato dextrose in 100 mL find more of H2O at pH 5.0; 79 mOsM for C. albicans) and incubated at 37 °C with shaking. The absorbance at 595 nm was determined and one aliquot of this solution was taken to obtain cells in logarithmic growth (A595nm ∼ 0.6), and diluted 600 times (A595 nm = 0.0001). The venom, mucus and fractions were dissolved in sterile Milli-Q water, at a final volume of 100 μL (10 μL of the sample and 90 μL of the inoculum in PB broth). After incubation for 18 h at 30 °C the inhibition of bacterial growth was determined by measuring absorbance at 595 nm. For hemolytic studies human red blood cells from a healthy donor (type A) were collected in 0.15 M citrate buffer, pH7.4, and washed 3 times by centrifugation with 0.15 M phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4.

To determine the hemolytic activity, protein samples were PtdIns(3,4)P2 assayed in triplicate and tested up to 100 μM: 1.563, 3.125, 6.250, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μM in a 3% suspension of erythrocytes incubated for 3 h at room temperature. Hemolysis was determined by reading the absorbance at 595 nm of each well in a plate reader. A suspension of erythrocytes incubated with water was used as a positive control (100% hemolysis). Male Swiss mice (5–6 weeks old) were obtained from a colony at the Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. Animals were housed in a laminar flow holding unit (Gelman Sciences, Sydney, Australia) on autoclaved bedding, in autoclaved cages, in an air-conditioned room under a 12 h light/dark cycle. Irradiated food and acidified water were provided ad libitum. All procedures involving animals were in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Brazilian College of Animal Experimentation. The dynamics of alterations in the microcirculatory network were determined using intravital microscopy by transillumination of mice cremaster muscle after subcutaneous application 10 μl of protein dissolved in sterile saline.

In addition, CXCL12 may promote the survival of NSPCs

as

In addition, CXCL12 may promote the survival of NSPCs

as an alternative explanation for why more of these cells were detected in the combined treatment group [45]. No therapeutic effect of NSPC transplantation alone selleck kinase inhibitor on brain tumors was observed in the present study. This may be due to only a few NSPCs migrating toward sites of ENU-induced brain tumors with low or undetectable CXCL12 levels to exert tumor-inhibitory functions (Figure 3). Stronger CXCL12 and CXCR4 expressions were detected in the CXCL12-NSPC group than in the CXCL12-only group (Figure 3, CXCL12 and CXCR4), which may have resulted from the interaction between NSPCs and CXCL12. When the level of CXCL12 is high, it has been shown to act synergistically with NSPCs [46] and [47] to upregulate CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling of astrocytes [48], endothelial cells [49] and [50], and tumor cells [51]. The scarce CXCR4 expression in the CXCL12-only group is probably attributable to CXCL12 alone at the given dose not forming a gradient that was sufficiently strong to attract CXCR4-expressing cells toward tumor sites. In contrast, the combination of CXCL12 and NSPC exerted significant effects in recruiting CXCR4-expressing cells into the tumor, thereby elevating CXCR4 levels at the tumor site. Furthermore, CXCL12 not only elicits migratory responses but also increases the proliferation

selleck chemicals [10] and CXCR4 expression [46] of grafted NSPCs. The grafted NSPCs would be activated by CXCL12, and the NSPCs may tend to be closely associated Doxorubicin with endothelial cells and astrocytes (which express CXCR4), which would support their survival and growth [10], [52] and [53]. This is another possible source of the CXCR4 expression seen in the CXCL12-NSPC group. The chemokine CXCL12 and its cell surface receptor CXCR4 are vital mediators of NSPC migration toward brain tumors. Murine NSPCs inoculated into established intracranial GL26 tumors

have demonstrated significant tumor-specific migration away from the site of inoculation to the proximity of the disseminating tumor cells [54]. Cells that had demonstrated tumor-tracking behavior showed significant staining for CXCR4. In the same study, both murine and human fetal NSPC migration toward tumor-conditioned medium could be impaired by using anti-CXCL12 and anti-CXCR4 neutralizing antibodies. Intravascularly injected murine NSPCs have been shown to migrate to and infiltrate subcutaneous and intracranial glioma tumors in nude mice [55]. CXCL12 expressed by a tumor-derived endothelium may attract NSPCs to migrate to the site of the tumor [53] and [56]. Furthermore, NSPC-to-glioma tropism was increased through up-regulation of CXCR4 on NSPCs and CXCL12 on glioma cells under a hypoxic condition [57]. All of these findings indicate the importance of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in the tumor-specific migration of NSPCs.

05% bromophenol blue (v/v) and 4% β-mercaptoethanol (v/v), follow

05% bromophenol blue (v/v) and 4% β-mercaptoethanol (v/v), followed by heating at 100 °C for 5 min. The fibronectin hydrolysis was analyzed by 7.5% SDS-PAGE. The Spectra multicolor broad range protein ladder (260–10 kDa) was used as a molecular mass standard. A stock solution of laminin (4 μg/μL) was prepared in 50 mM Tris–HCl pH 7.4, 10 mM NaCl and 2 mM CaCl2. The substrate was incubated with Batroxase at a molar ratio of 1:50 at 37 °C for 2, 6, 12 and 24 h. After incubation, 20 μL of stop solution containing

1 M urea, 4% ß-mercaptoethanol (v/v) and 4% SDS (w/v) was added, and the material was heated for 15 min at 100 °C. The extracellular matrix component digestion was analyzed by 7.5% SDS-PAGE. The Spectra multicolor broad range protein ladder (260–10 kDa) was used as the molecular mass standard. To evaluate

the proteolytic activity of Batroxase on fibrin, a clot was induced by incubating a fibrinogen solution http://www.selleckchem.com/products/Gefitinib.html (10 mg/mL in HEPES) with thrombin at 37 °C for 1 h. The clot was then dissolved and transferred in 100 μL aliquots to glass tubes and incubated with 5 μg of Batroxase at 37 °C. The reaction was interrupted at different time points (0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min and 12 h) by adding 20 μL of a solution containing 1 M urea, 4% ß-mercaptoethanol (v/v) and 4% SDS (w/v), and it was left to incubate overnight. The digestion products were analyzed by 7.5% SDS-PAGE. The Page ruler pre-stained protein ladder (170–35 kDa, Fermentas, USA) was used as the molecular mass standards. Human plasminogen (30 μg) was incubated with Batroxase (5 μg) in SRT1720 order 10 mM Tris–HCl buffer containing 10 mM CaCl2, pH 8.5, for different time intervals at 37 °C. The reaction was stopped by adding sample buffer containing a reducing agent. The digestion was analyzed by 10% SDS-PAGE. As a positive control, urokinase (625 U/mL) was used as a known plasminogen activator. A 100 μL aliquot of Matrigel (BD Bioscience) in 50 mM Tris–HCl buffer containing 20 mM CaCl2, pH 7.6, was incubated with 10 μg Batroxase at 37 °C,

for different time intervals. The reaction was stopped by adding sample buffer containing a reducing agent, and the digestion was analyzed by SDS-PAGE in a 4–15% gradient gel under reducing conditions. As a negative control, Matrigel was incubated with the sample buffer only for 180 min. Idoxuridine As a positive control, the Matrigel was incubated with 10 μg B. atrox crude venom for 180 min. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was prepared from freshly collected human plasma by centrifugation of whole blood at 1000 × g for 10 min. Plasma-poor platelets (PPP) were obtained from PRP by centrifugation at 1000 × g for 15 min. Platelet aggregation was monitored turbidimetrically using an aggregometer (Chrono-Log Corporation). The PRP presented a platelet count of 3 × 105 cells/μL. For each assay, 10 or 20 μg Batroxase was added to 500 μl of PRP, and the aggregation was monitored for 2 min at 37 °C with stirring.

Some of the above indicators require investigating the functionin

Some of the above indicators require investigating the functioning of ecosystems (Cardoso et al., 2010 and Borja et al., 2011). One of the ways to analyse functioning is the use of biological traits analysis, which requires information on species, not of families (Bremner et al., 2006). Hence, obtaining biological

information to lower degree of taxonomic separation, reducing the needs of current monitoring (e.g. for the WFD), will result in the need to invest more money in the future to monitor the new issues required by new monitoring programmes (e.g. for the MSFD) or result in the monitoring being not fit-for-purpose. However, in the meantime, we will lose long-term monitoring series, which are necessary to find more study the effects of human activities on those descriptors, and especially the recovery of ecosystems, after human intervention (Borja et al., 2010b and Verdonschot

et al., 2013). Hence, the consequence of the choices made now, during times of economic crisis, mainly focusing on a selection of structure elements (and reducing them to high taxonomic levels), with only an indirect link to functioning and with the perceived aim of reducing as much as possible the cost of the monitoring programme (as stated also by De Jonge et al., 2006), is that the European countries will not able to meet the requirements as formulated by new directives, such as the MSFD, in terms of functioning of ecosystems. Here we are L-gulonolactone oxidase not calling for monitoring at all costs, or for unrestricted or Androgen Receptor Antagonist poorly defined monitoring in which data are collected just as a ‘security blanket’. Almost two decades ago, we complained that monitoring was being done without thought, merely to give the impression that something was being done irrespective of whether the data were being used (Elliott and De Jonge, 1996). Our fear then, and needless-to-say

many of those messages given then still apply, was that poor monitoring and/or poor use of the resulting data, would eventually give environmental managers the ammunition to remove monitoring on the basis that it was not and could not deliver useful information but really was a ‘job-creation exercise’ for marine scientists and technicians and so it could be cut without consequence. Now we feel that such a ‘pruning’ has gone too far and is reaching (or has already reached) the point when it cannot provide useful information for management. Hence, we are arguing, still, for a rigorous but scientifically defendable approach. De Jonge et al. (2006) acknowledged that there is insufficient funding to measure and monitor everything and so there is the need to achieve cost-effective monitoring and thus to rely on surrogates for detecting change.

5%), E coli (18 1%), Staphylococcus species (10 5%) and Klebsiel

5%), E. coli (18.1%), Staphylococcus species (10.5%) and Klebsiella (9.2%) 1. E. coli is the most organism in abscesses of biliary or portal origin while Gram-positive cocci account for most cases of hematogenous or

cryptogenic disease. Abscesses are usually present in elderly patients with history of diabetes and they are multiple in many cases. Jaundice, low albumin and pulmonary complications (pleural effusions) are common. In ultrasound they may appear as a cavity with thick or irregular borders and hypoechoic or hyperechoic content. They Selleck TSA HDAC may be unilocular or with internal septa. In CT scan the fibrous tissue around the abscess is often a centimeter or thicker and gradually merges into the liver parenchyma. A common finding is the presence of air in the cavity. After intravenous CDK inhibition contrast administration there is a faint, thin, rim enhancement and perilesional edema. Conservative treatment alone usually fails as mortality fluctuates between 45% and 95%, unless abscesses are solitary or small enough. Treatment should include antibiotics’ administration (usually cephalosporins or quinolones plus metronidazole and/or aminoglycosides) and simultaneous surgical intervention (aspiration and drainage seem equally effective and have substituted surgical resection except for serious cases with multiple abscesses and/or sepsis). 2 Combined treatment shows encouraging results as overall mortality

for Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II multiple abscesses fluctuates from 0% to 22% in different series. 3 and 4 Indications for surgical intervention are: age > 55 years, size ≥ 5 cm, involvement of left or both lobes and duration of symptoms more than 7 days. 5 and 6 Mortality is increased among elderly

patients and those with co-morbidities, such as cirrhosis, chronic renal failure or malignancy. Amoebic abscesses usually present as solitary lesions of the right lobe. Patients are younger, more acutely ill than with pyogenic abscesses and from high-prevalence areas. Serum antibodies may be negative in acute disease (but positive after 7–10 days) or false-positive if the patient had amebiasis in the past. In ultrasound they appear as round or oval lesions with hypoechoic content, thin wall and well-defined margins, in contrast to thick and ill-defined borders of pyogenic abscesses. In CT scan they appear as well-circumscribed lesions, encapsulated by thick wall with intermediate density between abscess and adjacent parenchyma. Intravenous contrast administration depicts a characteristic thick enhancement (isodense or slightly hyperdense relative to hepatic parenchyma) with a peripheral zone of edema.7 and 8 The central abscess cavity may show multiple septa. Extrahepatic extension is relatively common and involvement of pleural cavity, pericardium and adjacent viscera has been reported. They respond promptly to metronidazole alone.