Video-assisted thoracic surgery: Risks and benefits

Summary: Background: Thoracoscopy has been used throughout this century, especially in the treatment of pleural disease. The introduction of video-assistance and especially designed instruments such as stapling devices in 1992 led to a worldwide and enthusiastic application for the treatment of a variety of thoracic pathologies. Methods: This report summarizes our experience gained from 1013 consecutive VATS procedures performed since 1990 for various indications in order to clarify its role for surgery of thoracic pathologies. Results: 234 patients underwent VATS for pleural biopsy, 154 for talcage, 163 for pulmonary wedge resections in order to clarify interstitial diseasee or indetermined nodules, 126 for spontaneous pneumothorax, 91 for decortication of empyema, 63 for symphatectomy, 55 for biopsy of mediastinal lesions, 29 for pericardial effusions (fenestration), 25 for lung volume reduction surgery, 17 for excision of mediastinal cysts and 12 for excision of neurogenic tumors of the posterior mediastinum. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that VATS has gained established acceptance for several indications, however, caution in application of VATS is clearly indicated for some diseases, especially for thoracic malignancie

An Outline of a Progressive Resolution to the Euro-area Sovereign Debt Overhang: How a Five year Suspension of the Debt Burden Could Overthrow Austerity

The present study puts forward a plan for solving the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area (EA) in line with the interests of the working classes and the social majority. Our main strategy is for the European Central Bank (ECB) to acquire a significant part of the outstanding sovereign debt (at market prices) of the countries in the EA and convert it to zero-coupon bonds. No transfers will take place between individual states; taxpayers in any EA country will not be involved in the debt restructuring of any foreign eurozone country. Debt will not be forgiven: individual states will agree to buy it back from the ECB in the future when the ratio of sovereign debt to GDP has fallen to 20 percent. The sterilization costs for the ECB are manageable. This model of an unconventional monetary intervention would give progressive governments in the EA the necessary basis for developing social and welfare policies to the benefit of the working classes. It would reverse present-day policy priorities and replace the neoliberal agenda with a program of social and economic reconstruction, with the elites paying for the crisis. The perspective taken here favors social justice and coherence, having as its priority the social needs and the interests of the working majority

3D Analysis of chromosome architecture: advantages and limitations with SEM

Three-dimensional mitotic plant chromosome architecture can be investigated with the highest resolution with scanning electron microscopy compared to other microscopic techniques at present. Specific chromatin staining techniques making use of simultaneous detection of back-scattered electrons and secondary electrons have provided conclusive information on the distribution of DNA and protein in barley chromosomes through mitosis. Applied to investigate the structural effects of different preparative procedures, these techniques were the groundwork for the ``dynamic matrix model{''} for chromosome condensation, which postulates an energy-dependent process of looping and bunching of chromatin coupled with attachment to a dynamic matrix of associated protein fibers. Data from SEM analysis shows basic higher order chromatin structures: chromomeres and matrix fibers. Visualization of nanogold-labeled phosphorylated histone H3 (ser10) with high resolution on chromomeres shows that functional modifications of chromatin can be located on structural elements in a 3D context. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Land Cover Based on Geophysical Characteristics in the Mount Sirimau Protection Forest Group, Ambon City, Maluku Province

The protected forest as life support ideally has a good performance in this case its vegetation, so that its main function can run well. However, as a forest with various functions, the protected forest of Ambon City, especially the Mount Sirimau Protection Forest Group as a strategic protected forest is located upstream of Ambon City which is very influential on the activities of Ambon City as its downstream, because it has a social and economic impact. The performance of a forest area can be seen from its land cover. In addition, the geophysical characteristics of an area will also affect the land cover of the area. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the condition of land cover in the Mount Sirimau Protection Forest Group based on its geophysical characteristics. The research method used was the survey method and the data analysis method was descriptive analysis. The land covers in the Mount Sirimau Protection Forest Group consisted of seven land covers, spreading over soil types, rock types, topography, and slopes. Intensive management of protected forests is needed according to their geophysical characteristics so that the function of protected forests can be more optimal. &nbsp

Michallat, Wendy, French Cartoon Art in the 1960s and 1970s: Pilote hebdomadaire and the Teenager Bande Dessinée

Le livre de Michallat est le sixième de la collection « Studies in European Comics and Graphic Novels », publiée par les éditions de l’Université (néerlandophone) de Leuven (Belgique). Ces publications sont en anglais, ce qui leur permet d’être lisibles sur tout le marché européen linguistiquement divisé et d’atteindre l’immense marché américain, déjà bien servi par des presses universitaires qui ont des séries spécialisées sur les comics. Les cinq autres volumes parus depuis 2014 sont tous d..