Thoracoscopic versus open lobectomy debate: the pro argument

Introduction: Controversy persists about the role of VATS lobectomy for patients with lung cancer. This is particularly true in Europe, where VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) lobectomy is performed for lung cancer less often than in the USA or Japan. This article reviews existing data comparing the results of VATS vs. open lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer in order to provide a scientific basis for a rational assessment of this issue

Evaluation and Treatment of Stage I and II Thymoma

Abstract:Thymomas are relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, an accumulation of studies (mostly retrospective, single-institution series) have made it important to approach this disease in a knowledgeable, evidence-based fashion. This begins with the approach to evaluation of a patient with an anterior mediastinal mass, in whom a reliable clinical diagnosis is usually possible in experienced centers. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, and every effort must be made to achieve a complete resection

South African choral music (Amakwaya) : song, contest and the formation of identity.

Thesis (Ph.D.-Music)-University of Natal, 2002.Amakwaya refers to the tradition and performance practice of choirs in South Africa that emerged from the mission-schools in the nineteenth century and is manifest today in the annual competitions held by various Teachers' Associations or company-sponsored events like the National Choir Festival. This choral practice, combining Western music styles with African tradition, bears the marks - both social and aesthetic - of colonial and missionary influences, and is closely linked to the emerging black middle class, their process of negotiating identity, and their later quest for a national culture. Many aspects of contemporary amakwaya performance practice, it is argued, including the recent interest of many members of the amakwaya community in opera, can be understood through an analysis of the social dimensions of these choirs. Particular attention is given to the role played by competitions and the sectionalised repertoire. The criticisms made in this regard flow from an understanding of the social meaning and aesthetic thrust of the tradition, from the author's practical involvement with the choirs, and from extensive discussions with choristers and conductors. The first part of the thesis is concerned with identifying the role played by European values such as those of education and progress, in the self-understanding of the emerging missioneducated black South African elite in the second half of the nineteenth century. An initial tendency towards uncritical imitation and attempts at assimilation ended in the experience of rejection by the settler community and isolation. It was followed, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, by a complex negotiation between traditional and modern values. With political, social and economic mobility restricted in white South Africa, the black middle class turned towards artistic expression such as choral singing in order to define and express a distinctively African concept of civilisation. In this process, amakwaya performance developed into a powerful means whereby class identity and consciousness could be constructed and communicated. The second part looks into the framework of amakwaya, and at the mission schools and colleges they attended and the competitions they organise. As a result of the practice of hymn singing, participation in a choir soon became an important part of the leisure time activities of the early mission converts. This formative phase of amakwaya is illustrated in a case study of one of the most influential schools in Natal, Adams College, near Amanzimtoti, where the first black South African School of Music was established. In order to promote the values important to the missionaries as well as their converts - discipline, progress, and success - competitions were encouraged at the mission stations. These became models for the competitions which today are the main feature of amakwaya practice. The voices of various members of the community are used to present a critical evaluation of the positive and negative aspects of present-day competitions. The last part of the thesis concentrates on amakwaya repertoire, particularly as it is represented at important choral competitions such as the National Choir Festival. This part also attempts to facilitate an understanding of the genesis, structure and aesthetic of the sectionalised repertoire, which consists of neo-traditional songs, Western compositions, and choral works composed by mission-educated musicians. Strict adherence to the sectionalised repertoire is a unique feature of amakwaya performance practice to the present day

Anachronic Renaissance

Book Review of Anachronic Renaissance, by Alexander Nagel and Christopher S. Wood. ISBN 9780853319894. Reviewed by Kimberly Detterbeck

Anatomy, Biology and Concepts, Pertaining to Lung Cancer Stage Classification

AbstractThe proposed lung cancer stage classification system remains grounded in anatomic characteristics, although the large patient database contributing to this revision has dramatically expanded our body of knowledge. Predictably this has led to increased complexity due to the identification of an increasing number of subpopulations of patients. Patterns of clinical presentation characterizing these subgroups may provide clues about the propensity of tumors within a subgroup toward a particular pattern of biologic behavior. This article explores concepts regarding tumor biology that can be applied to the anatomically based new staging system

Von der Kieferabformung zum virtuellen Modell: Eine Pilotstudie zur Genauigkeit industrieller CT-gestützter Messungen von Abformmaterialien

1. Background and Aims With computed tomography scans impressions can be saved and edited as virtual data. Aim of the study was to evaluate influence parameters of different impression materials and trays and their relevance related to accuracy and dimensional stability. 2. Material and Methods Two alginate impressions (Zhermack Hydrogum® 5, Kaniedenta Tetrachrom) and a polyether impression (3M Espe Impregum™) were each combined with two acrylic trays (3M Espe Position Tray™, Profimed Opti-Tray) and CT-scanned directly after impression at the Fraunhofer Institute Development Center X-ray Technology EZRT in Fürth. Each impression was digitized ten times at the same day, three times after two days and twice after six days. Thus a determination of dimensional stability was enabled. As reference for determining precision of the impression materials an acrylic model was digitized with a high-resolution μCT-scanner. For graphic and statistical analysis VGStudio Max® was used. 3. Results Both alginate impressions were less stable in dimension than the polyether impression material. The alginate impression Zhermack Hydrogum® 5 resulted in more deviation (151 μm) after six days than the Kaniedenta Tetrachrom impression. The polyetherscans showed a mean deviation of 73 μm. Precision of both alginates were similarly exact. (Arithmetic mean: Hydrogum® 5 0.129 mm ± 0.021 mm, Tetrachrom 0.137 mm ± 0.002 mm). The kind of tray had a limited influence on the results of alginate impressions, while precision of Impregum™ depended on the chosen tray combination. 4. Practical Conclusion Precision of alginate impressions is sufficient for clinical use in orthodontics and showed after correct storage even after two days acceptable results. Hydrogum® 5 impressions proved to be slightly more precise compared to the reference, but less dimension stable than the Tetrachrom impressions. The impression tray 3M Espe Position Tray™ seemed to be more practicable due to better retention effect compared to Opti-Tray of Profimed.1. Hintergrund und Ziele Mittels computertomographischer Aufnahmen können Abformungen als virtuelle Datensätze gespeichert und bearbeitet werden. Ziel der Studie (unterstützt vom Wissenschaftsfond der DGKFO), war die Evaluation der Einflussparameter bei unterschiedlichen Abformmaterialien und Abformlöffeln und deren Relevanz im Bezug auf Genauigkeit und Dimensionsstabilität. 2. Methoden Zwei Alginatabformungen (Zhermack Hydrogum® 5, Kaniedenta Tetrachrom) und eine Polyetherabformung (3M Espe Impregum™) in Kombination mit je zwei Kunststofflöffeln (3M Espe Position Tray™, Profimed Opti-Tray) wurden direkt nach Abdrucknahme am Fraunhofer Entwicklungszentrum Röntgentechnik EZRT in Fürth, mittels CT-Scan digitalisiert. Jeder Abdruck wurde noch am selben Tag zehnmal digitalisiert, nach zwei Tagen folgten drei und nach sechs Tagen zwei weitere Aufnahmen. Dadurch war eine Bestimmung der Dimensionsstabilität der unterschiedlichen Materialien möglich. Als Referenz für die Genauigkeitsermittlung der Abformmaterialien wurde ein Kunststoffmodell mit einer hochauflösenden μCT-Forschungsanlage digitalisiert. Für die graphische und statistische Analyse wurde VGStudio Max® verwendet. 3. Ergebnisse und Beobachtungen Die beiden Alginatabformungen waren weniger dimensionsstabil als das Polyether-Abformmaterial. Die Alginatabformung Zhermack Hydrogum® 5 ergab nach sechs Tagen eine größere Abweichung (151 μm) als die Kaniedenta Tetrachrom-Abformung. Die Polyetheraufnahmen zeigten eine mittlere Abweichung von 73 μm. Die Genauigkeit der beiden Alginate war ähnlich exakt (Mittelwerte: Hydrogum® 5 0,129 mm ± 0,021 mm, Tetrachrom 0,137 mm ± 0,002 mm). Die Art des Löffels beeinflusste das Ergebnis der Alginatabformungen nur bedingt, während die Genauigkeit der Impregum™ Abformungen von der gewählten Löffelkombination abhing. 4. Praktische Schlussfolgerungen Die Genauigkeit der Alginatabformungen ist in der Kieferorthopädie klinisch ausreichend und weist bei korrekter Lagerung auch nach zwei Tagen noch akzeptable Ergebnisse auf. Hydrogum 5-Abformungen erwiesen sich minimal präziser gegenüber der Referenz, aber geringer dimensionsstabil als die Tetrachrom-Abformungen. Der Abformlöffel 3M Espe Position Tray™ erschien aufgrund besserer Retentionswirkung gegenüber dem Opti-Tray von Profimed als praktikabler

Effect of Harvest Frequency, Seed Extraction Time Point and Post-Harvest Cooling on Organic Tomato Seed Production

In light of the continuous increase in organic agriculture, the availability of organic seeds has gained a lot of importance. Especially since the new EU organic regulation came into force on 1 January 2022, proposing reducing the possibility of using untreated conventional seeds in the absence of organic seeds in the future. At the same time, the breeding of tolerant, resistant and adapted varieties is at the basis of organic production as is research to improve seed production and seed quality. In this study, we investigated seed production of 8 tomato genotypes. The aim was to see whether different fruit harvesting frequencies affect seed quality and germination rate. The hypotheses we tested were (i) whether regularly removing fruits from the field would affect total fruit and seed harvest, (ii) whether storage of fruits and (iii) their ripening stage at harvest, had an impact on seed germination. Our results show that while seed production differs between genotypes and extraction time-points, different harvesting procedures, and with that different fruit maturity levels, did not affect thousand-seed weight and seed germination; these findings benefit both small and larger-scale seed producers