Quality assessment of thyroid ultrasound and implementation of a standard reporting template to be used in training hospitals

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Diagnostic Radiology, Johannesburg, 2017Ultrasound is the conventional and best imaging modality used to visualize the thyroid and thyroid-related disease. An adequate ultrasound report can significantly influence clinicians in making management decisions in these patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to critically assess the quality of thyroid ultrasound reports generated at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), a training hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed. The quality of thyroid ultrasound reports was determined by using a data collection sheet that included items that should be contained in a thyroid ultrasound report. The contents of the data collection sheet was guided by current literature (including Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS); Thyroid, Head and Neck Cancer Foundation (THANC); American Thyroid Association guidelines (ATA), British Thyroid Association guidelines (BTA) and the Society for Endocrine, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA)). The data collection sheet was designed by the principal investigator and supervisors. The quality of reports of training radiologists, sonographers as well as qualified radiologists were documented. Comparisons of the quality of reports was made between the above groups of reporters.XL201

Improving corporate governance in state-owned corporations in China: which way forward?

This article discusses corporate governance in China. It outlines the basic agency problem in Chinese listed companies and questions the effectiveness of the current mechanisms employed to improve their standards of governance. Importantly, it considers alternative means through which corporate practice in China can be brought into line with international expectations and stresses the urgency with which this task must be tackled. It concludes that regulators in China must construct a corporate governance model which is compatible with its domestic setting and not rush to adopt governance initiatives modelled on those in cultures which are fundamentally different in the hope of also reproducing their success

Extended CT scale overcomes restoration caused streak artifacts for dental identification in CT--3D color encoded automatic discrimination of dental restorations

OBJECTIVE: Besides DNA, dental radiographs play a major role in the identification of victims in mass casualties or in corpses with major postmortem alterations. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly applied in forensic investigations and is used to scan the dentition of deceased persons within minutes. We investigated different restoration materials concerning their radiopacity in CT for dental identification purposes. METHODS: Extracted teeth with different filling materials (composite, amalgam, ceramic, temporary fillings) were CT scanned. Radiopacities of the filling materials were analyzed in extended CT scale images. RESULTS: Radiopacity values ranged from 6000-8500HU (temporary fillings), 4500-17000HU (composite fillings) and >30710HU (Amalgam and Gold). The values were used to define presets for a 3D colored volume rendering software. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of filling material caused streak artifacts could be distinctively reduced for the assessment of the dental status and a postprocessing algorithm was introduced that allows for 3D color encoded visualization and discrimination of different dental restorations based on postmortem CT data

Why a diversified portfolio should include African assets

We employ parametric and nonparametric cointegration approaches to investigate the extent of integration between African stock markets and the rest of the world. Long-run correlation estimates imply very low association between these two. The two distinct cointegration approaches confirm the latter through recursive estimation. The implication is that global markets have little impact on African stock markets. However, including African assets in a mean-variance portfolio would be beneficial to international investors.