The Forest Observation System, building a global reference dataset for remote sensing of forest biomass

Forest biomass is an essential indicator for monitoring the Earth's ecosystems and climate. It is a critical input to greenhouse gas accounting, estimation of carbon losses and forest degradation, assessment of renewable energy potential, and for developing climate change mitigation policies such as REDD+, among others. Wall-to-wall mapping of aboveground biomass (AGB) is now possible with satellite remote sensing (RS). However, RS methods require extant, up-to-date, reliable, representative and comparable in situ data for calibration and validation. Here, we present the Forest Observation System (FOS) initiative, an international cooperation to establish and maintain a global in situ forest biomass database. AGB and canopy height estimates with their associated uncertainties are derived at a 0.25 ha scale from field measurements made in permanent research plots across the world's forests. All plot estimates are geolocated and have a size that allows for direct comparison with many RS measurements. The FOS offers the potential to improve the accuracy of RS-based biomass products while developing new synergies between the RS and ground-based ecosystem research communities.

Topical steroid therapy in oral lichen planus: review of a novel delivery method in 24 patients

Lichen planus is a chronic mucocutaneous disorder of unknown etiology. The natural progression of oral lichen planus (OLP) is long and can extend over a number of years. Although many patients with OLP remain asymptomatic, some experience periods of marked inflammation with breakdown of the lesions, and require treatment. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for oral lesions, but delivery to affected mucosal sites can be problematic. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the results of topical steroid therapy in a group of patients with OLP, using a novel delivery method. The records of 33 patients with biopsy-proven OLP were reviewed and the relevant clinical features were noted at minimum review intervals of one, six and 12 months. Of this group, 24 patients had been treated using a standardized treatment protocol consisting of a corticosteroid ointment applied topically to mucosal lesions using cloth strips. Gingival lesions were treated using a steroid preparation in an adhesive paste. Nine patients remained asymptomatic and were not treated. In the treated group, 14/24 (58 per cent) of patients showed an improvement in symptoms by one month. The remainder showed no change or a worsening of their symptoms. Repetition of the treatment protocol resulted in improvement in all the non-responders, and by one year 23 of 24 (96 per cent) of the patients had experienced improvement or control of their symptoms. Long-term failure to control the symptoms in the single non-responding case was related to poor patient compliance. Results from this study show that a novel delivery method and treatment protocol for the application of topical steroids onto lesional mucosa is useful for the symptomatic control of oral lichen planus.

Tactics and general principles in the treatment of polytraumatized disaster victims

The authors reviewed their experiences of treating masses of victims after disasters in Arzamas, Armenia, and Ethiopia. To handle these vast numbers of victims, local hospitals were reorganized into specialized clinics with appropriate equipment and medical personnel. Some of the patients were evacuated to multispecialized clinics or rear hospitals. A complex of diagnostic and treatment modalities were used on these patients, including intrabone injections, immunoprophylaxis for purulent complications, skin and bone grafting and external fixation systems designed in Russia. The overwhelming majority of the patients was discharged with good results. To prevent common tactical, treatment, and surgical mistakes, it is necessary to improve medical education to train multispecialized teams in disaster medicine prepared to work under extreme conditions.