A Digital Library of Folklore Songs and Keyword-Based Search Engine

ACM Computing Classification System (1998): H3.3, H.5.5, J5.We present a full text search engine in a digital library of Bulgarian folklore songs - in the lyrics and scores of the songs. The deployment of the digital library on the cloud as well as the technical requirements for providing our data to Europeana are discussed.This work is partially supported by Grant of the Bulgarian National Science Foundation under number DTK-02-54/2009

Digital library and search engine of Bulgarian folklore songs

We present a full text search engine in a collection of lyrics(text of songs) and coded notes (symbolic melody) as a part of digital library of Bulgarian folklore songs

An alternative technique to achieve mesorectal excision in upper rectal cancer in a narrow pelvic cavity

PURPOSE: Appropriate partial mesorectal excision (PME) is extremely important for prevention of local recurrence in rectal cancer. However, it is not always easy to conduct PME in the narrow pelvic cavity. We used a new surgical technique that involves a rectal transection followed by PME.MATERIAL AND METHODS: After rectal mobilization in the layer targeted for total mesorectal excision, only the rectal wall was bluntly dissected at an appropriate distance from the tumor. Initial transection of the rectum draws the rectum toward the anal side so that the mesorectum can be excised in a good visual field. Excision of the mesorectum was easy, and it could be resected in a short time.RESULTS: This technique was conducted on twenty patients with upper rectal cancer and on eight patients with rectosigmoid cancer. Separation of the rectal wall was comparatively easy. The average distance from the rectal stump to the distal mesorectum in the freshly resected specimen was 15 mm, indicating satisfactory PME.CONCLUSION: This easily performed method is a promising procedure for achieving sufficient PME in upper rectal cancer.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(4): 56-58

Analysis of the possibilities and limitations of the system man-machine in the manufacturing

Presented in this article are the author's research on opportunities and restrictions arising from the current level of production equipment and the possibilities of the human operator. The studies are realized on the basis of consultation experience in respect the problems of achieving quality in manufacturing. The classification is proposed on the base of system “man-machine”. Restraint factors are reviewed. Relational to the modern concepts of sustainable development, recommendations are presented to achieve quality in the production process and the preservation of knowledge in the organization

Diagnostic role of C-reactive protein in colorectal anastomotic leakage

Colorectal anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery is a relatively common and life-threatening complication. In the present survey, some results from recently published foreign investigations devoted to the clinical application of C-reactive protein for diagnostic purposes in the patients with this leakage have been presented. It deals not only with a single examination but also with a postoperative monitoring of the concentrations of this proinflamnmatory cytokine in patients’ serum and drainage fluid.  Colorectal anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery is a relatively common and life-threatening complication. In the present survey, some results from recently published foreign investigations devoted to the clinical application of C-reactive protein for diagnostic purposes in the patients with this leakage have been presented. It deals not only with a single examination but also with a postoperative monitoring of the concentrations of this proinflamnmatory cytokine in patients’ serum and drainage fluid

Application of fluorescence angiography for prevention of colorectal anastomotic leakage

Colorectal anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery requires a timely and precise diagnosis. In the present survey, some results from recently published foreign studies on the diagnostic significance of fluorescence angiography in patients with this leakage have been systematized. Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography is becoming more and more popular in clinical practice. The use of infrared light during this contemporary imaging examination represents an interest, too.Colorectal anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery requires a timely and precise diagnosis. In the present survey, some results from recently published foreign studies on the diagnostic significance of fluorescence angiography in patients with this leakage have been systematized. Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography is becoming more and more popular in clinical practice. The use of infrared light during this contemporary imaging examination represents an interest, too

Assessment of Operative Risk in Colorectal Oncologic Surgery

The objective of the present study is to elaborate a prognostic index for qualitative assessment of the operative risk in the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).The documentation of 150 CRC patients, 91 males and 59 females, operated on in the Clinic of Surgery, Marko A. Markov Specialized Hospital of Oncological Diseases of Varna during the period from June 2008 till April 2009 was analyzed. Mean patients` age was 64,2 years (range, 34-84 years).Seventy patients presented with colon cancer, 76 - with rectum cancer while 4 patients presented with multiple tumour localizations. The risk factors included the following: patient`s age and gender; ASA stage; CRC localization according to ICD of WHO; surgical procedure according to OPCS4 system; emergency; CRC stage according to TNM classification; resection type, and hematocrit level. There were 55 patients with TNM stage I, 80 patients with TNM stages II-III, and 15 patients with TNM stage IV. The most common interventions were anterior resection (in 48 patients), right hemicolectomy (in 41 patients), and sigmoidectomy (in 23 patients). Thirty-day operative lethality rate was zero.The created data-base can successfully be used for the purposes of CRC prognostication with the patients forwarded to operative treatment

Assessment of the compost from the methane fermentation of litter from broiler production with a view to its utilization in organic plant production

The aim of the present research is to make an ecological assessment of the compost obtained from litter from broiler production /LBP/ according to the requirements of Ordinance №22/2001 for the MRL/Maximum Residue Level/ values of toxic elements and according to the Norms of the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture /2002/ with a view to its utilization in the organic production of plants. This research is necessary because, unlike broiler dung and domestic organic waste, LBP is heterogeneous in content and it includes different sources of cellulose / in Bulgaria hay is the most common as well as some part of the fodder/

Comparative effectiveness of endoscopic and microscopic adenoma removal in acromegaly

IntroductionSomatotropinomas are the main cause of acromegaly. Surgery is the primary and most efficient method of treatment. The study aimed to compare the radicality of small-sized and medium (<30 mm) somatotropinoma removal and the incidence of postoperative complications in patients with acromegaly when using microscopic and endoscopic techniques.MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, a total of 83 patients with acromegaly underwent transspheroidal endoscopy or microscopic surgery. Somatotropinoma was the cause of acromegaly in all cases. Patients were randomly divided into two comparison groups depending on the applied surgical technique. Group 1 (n = 40) consisted of patients who underwent adenomectomy with transnasal transsphenoidal access by a microscope. Group 2 (n = 43) included patients who underwent the same surgical procedure with an endoscope. The following indicators were assessed: radicality of tumor removal, treatment effectiveness, postoperative complications, and remission rate.ResultsThe study has shown that removal of somatotropinoma in patients with acromegaly using endoscopic technique increases the radicality of tumor removal in comparison with microscopic technique. Total removal of somatotropinoma was successful in 88.4% of cases when using the endoscopic technique. Secondly, the segmentation of patients according to their tumor characteristics poses challenges, primarily owing to the rarity of acromegaly as a disease. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (p=1.02). There were no statistically significant differences in basal GH level and IGF-1 level between groups (p=0.546 and p=0.784, respectively).DiscussionEndonasal transsphenoidal endoscopic adenomectomy is proven efficacy, a less traumatic degree, and higher somatotropinoma removal radicality. Both surgical methods lead to disease remission

A new concept for the bioaccumulation of lead and cadmium along a food chain with farm animals

The term bioaccumulation defines the selective accumulation of toxic substances/chemical elements and compounds/ along the food chain. During the period after the 60’s the bioaccumulation of some pesticides was researched. Hebel & Wrigt /1996/ indicate that if the content of DDT in lakes is 1 unit then it reaches 10 million units in predatory fish. This phenomenon, for some unknown reasons, is mechanically transferred to the accumulation of toxic chemical elements. In scientific literature it is admitted that the degree of bioaccumulation of toxic chemical elements is comparable with that of xenobiotics. In this research we set our aim to study the degree of bioaccumulation of lead and cadmium and to formulate a concept for the bioaccumulation of these elements, which have an increased technogenic klarck in many regions of Bulgaria. The reason we carried out the research in this direction is our first study/together with Krynski/, which indicated that in ecotopes with increased klarck of lead and cadmium, the content of the two toxic elements is higher in liver and kidneys of rabbits, but the degree of bioaccumulation is considerably lower in comparison with pesticides