bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valuing historical context of three individuals exhumed from desecrated historic graves in Zeerust, North West Province
Authors: Van Vollenhoven Anton C.
Published: August 2023

Since the promulgation of heritage legislation in 1999, under the new government after the end of Apartheid, stricter rules and regulations determine the management of cultural heritage in South Africa. This includes the processes related to the exhumation and reinterment of human skeletal remains. However, from time to time, projects are experienced where the rules are discarded, resulting in extraordinary circumstances. These need to be handled in a different way in order to protect and preserve the cultural heritage as well as the dignity of the buried individuals. Such an example is that of three desecrated historical graves from the town of Zeerust, in the North West Province. Despite the legislation, and the fact that the three graves were visible, the developer continued with the development. Only when members of the public complained, the heritage authorities were consulted. By this time the development had almost been completed. It was unfortunately impossible to preserve the graves in situ. Negotiations with different stakeholders were necessary and, based on the legislation, a solution accepted by all, was reached.Although the discussion to follow stems from a mainly archaeological study, the aim is to provide and value historical background research on the graves and the three individuals buried there. Also the value of the larger historical context is pointed out. This would provide information on the deceased which would to some extent restore their dignity. Apart from the archaeological methods that had to be utilized to exhume the graves, methods include a literature survey and archival search on the property, as well as on the graves and the individuals buried there. The article will also briefly discuss relevant aspects of heritage legislation in South Africa.It will be debated that historical context is extremely important, and perhaps could contribute in restoring the dignity of buried individuals. Though not ever complete, it does provide a legacy of the life of the three people to be discussed.
Askari: A story of collaboration and betrayal in the anti-apartheid struggle
Authors: Moore Wendell
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Ons Japie. Die boereoorlogdagboek van Anna Barry
Authors: Oelofse Marietjie
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
The riddle of Rosalind Ballingall: Poster girl for hippie counterculture in Cape Town in the late 1960s
Authors: Grundlingh Albert
Published: August 2023

This article examines the short-lived hippie phenomenon in Cape Town during the late 1960s through the lens of the disappearance of a young woman from the University of Cape Town in the Knysna forests in 1969. It seeks to explain the dynamics of a particular kind of emerging culture and the way it was infused by public mystifications and conceptions of hippies. In doing so it has two aims in mind, namely to account for an apparent historical puzzle and to cast light on a largely forgotten dimension of white social history.
Paul Kruger – toesprake en korrespondensie 1881-1900
Authors: Strauss Piet
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Adapting to survive – Water management and aquatic science in the Kruger National Park
Authors: Van Vuuren Lani
Published: August 2023

The availability of water has been a prime consideration for the management of the Kruger National Park (KNP) since its establishment in 1926. While the park is fed by five, historically perennial, river systems, its location at the downstream end of these systems has left the park vulnerable to external influences, which have compromised the integrity of its water resources. This article is based on a Masters of Arts study completed at North-West University in 2017, and provides a historical overview of water management in the KNP and its role in the development of aquatic science in South Africa. A specific focus is placed on the KNP Rivers Research Programme, a collaborative, multidisciplinary aquatic research programme, which was conducted in three phases between 1988 and 1999. The article explores the influence of this programme on changes in water management in the KNP as well as its role in the development of aquatic science in South Africa.
Editorial Vol 80 (2018)
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Hidden Histories of Gordonia, land dispossession and resistance in the Northern Cape, 1800-1990
Authors: Field Sean
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Decolonising urban space: Observations from history in urban planning in Ruwa town, Zimbabwe, 1986-2015
Authors: Muzorewa Terence T. , Nyawo Vongai Z. , Nyandoro Mark
Published: August 2023

This article calls for a shift of attention from the colonial urban planning methods to a focus on the post-colonial planning methods being adopted in new towns such as Ruwa. The core of the studies on urban planning in Zimbabwe has been centred on colonial established urban centres tending to promote the reproduction of spatial disparities in urban areas. This article argues that the only way to decolonise urban space in Zimbabwe is through establishing new towns which are not linked to the colonial planning system. All of the major towns in the country except Ruwa were established during the colonial era based on a planning system which segregated the African population. The colonial planning methods produced uneven development between areas occupied by Europeans and Africans. Although urban policies were deracialised during the post-colonial era, the physical nature of the built environment remained the same. While it was possible to change colonial urban policy, it was impossible to change, fundamentally, the spatial physical structures such as buildings, roads, water reticulation and sewerage systems. The spatial form of today’s Zimbabwean urban areas is an embodiment of colonial planning as this change entailed enormous financial costs. Ruwa town, therefore, demonstrates how modern urban development in the southern African country has been achieved on the basis of a totally different experience from the colonial established towns. Using insights from the town, the article illustrates the importance of studying post-colonial planning methods as a way of promoting the decolonisation of urban space.
Writing the Ancestral River. A biography of the Kowie
Authors: Engelbrecht Christo
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Enkele perspektiewe rakende die organisasie van die Oranje-Vrystaatse burgermag in Oktober 1899
Authors: De Bruin Jaco , Wessels André
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this article is to discuss the structure and organization of the Orange Free State (OFS) Boer republic’s citizen force army in October 1899 (that is when the Anglo-Boer War or South African War broke out). A basic question is whether the structure of the OFS armed forces was indeed effective as far as the organization of these armed forces was concerned. It will be indicated how and why the OFS citizen army command structure was adapted, and what legal consequences it had. A review is given of the OFS military laws (known as the Krijgs- en Commandowet; representing the military and commando law); the legal position of the OFS State President is explained (namely the role and functions of MT Steyn, last OFS President); the role of the Military Commission is discussed; as well as the role of the war councils and war meetings.
Challenges arising from ethnic internal boundary determination in Ethiopia since 1991
Authors: Mokgopo Tshehledi I.
Published: August 2023

Like any other African country, Ethiopia has different ethnic groups with different languages. The Federal Constitution of Ethiopia guarantees all its ethnic groups including ethnic minority the right to self-determination. The constitution has also acknowledged the existence of different ethnic minorities at the regional level. The majority of these regions have also designed the institutions of local government as the primary mechanism of protecting sub-national ethnic minorities. In this article the deduction can be made that though ethnic minority status is guaranteed in the constitution there are still ethnic tensions in the country resulting from the use of ethnicity in determining internal boundaries in Ethiopia. Furthermore, it finds that Ethiopia is sitting on an ethnic time bomb and it must come up with a possible solution. This therefore left open the questions of whether ethnicity is a panacea for curbing ethnic tension and conflict when determining and demarcating municipal boundaries. In answering this question reference is made to Ethiopia where both regional and internal (local government) boundaries were demarcated using ethnicity as a factor. The discussion to follow analyse ethnicity in demarcating boundaries. It also highlights the challenges of demarcating boundaries using ethnicity.
More on Soviet military personnel in Angola Cuito Cuanavale: Frontline accounts by Soviet soldiers
Authors: Darch Colin
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Memory against forgetting: Memoir of a time in South African politics 1938-1964
Authors: Benneyworth Garth
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Guanopreneurs and the dynamics of policymaking in the Cape Colony, 1843-1845
Authors: Snyders Hendrik
Published: August 2023

Having identified an opportunity to extract significant income from selling guano, a popular and profitable natural fertiliser, from individual islands within its territorial waters, the Cape colonial administration established loading infrastructure and promulgated a new policy to prevent an uncontrolled rush during the mid-19th century. Given the uneven power relations between the administration and its citizenry and the lack of genuinely representative institutions, the new measures generated significant conflict between the authorities and business community that turned the policy-making process into an acrimonious affair. Individual businessmen with networks in London, the Cape legislative council, judiciary and the Cape Town municipality and who desired free access to the source for trading purposes, opposed the attempt of the authorities to monopolise access to the product through Ordinance 4 of 1845 (the so-called Guano Ordinance) in order to generate income for governance purposes. A complicating factor was the fact that the expenditure connected to the new policy regime (infrastructure, customs control, and policing), still had to be sanctioned by the Imperial Government. Similarly, the new ordinance had to be aligned with and sanctioned by the imperial authorities, allowing politically-connected businessmen to use their influence in London and the Colonial Office, to force the Cape government into a process of bargaining, persuasion and compromise. With seabird guano declared Crown property, Cape Town’s prospective wealthy guanopreneurs had to pay for guano freight while effectively removing their resource-poor counterparts from the race. On an international scale, the Cape Guano Ordinance provided the basis for similar legal measures in other parts of the world and trade during the next decade.
Short-lived tolerance. An euphoria of the 1938 Voortrekker Centenary as in the editorials of a local newspaper: The George & Knysna Herald
Authors: Maritz Loraine
Published: August 2023

There have been many studies on the Voortrekker Centenary of 1938 and the unforeseen consequences it had, including the subsequent surge of Afrikaner nationalism and political developments. As the wagons moved across South Africa, the processions infused Afrikaners with pride in their heroic past. Afrikaner nationalism, the ideology that focused on protecting Afrikaner culture, the striving to regain an independent republic and, importantly, affirmation that they were God’s chosen people, were rekindled.The event also generated a widespread sense of connection. It was not only Afrikaners who were swept up in the euphoria of the celebrations, but also many non-Afrikaners were emotionally affected by the event.This article narrows the focus down to George, a small town in the Western Cape Province, where Charles Sayers, the editor of the local newspaper, the George Knysna Herald, a firm supporter of the United Party and a fierce critic of the Reunited National Party, seems to have been swept up for a short period by the fever of the celebrations. A year later, in 1939, when war broke out in Europe, Sayers loyally approved of the United Party’s decision to support the war effort in Europe on the side of the Allies and became harshly critical of Hertzog and those Afrikaners nationalists who refused to join a war on Britain’s side.With the George Knysna Herald as the primary source, this article attempts to determine what led the editor to undergo such an about-turn in his political views in 1938 and to be temporarily supportive of the celebrations that embodied the spirit of Afrikaner nationalism.
Principle of Utis Possidetis and challenges of sitting at the frontier in Africa: The Yoruba in the Old Ilorin province and the politics of identity and belonging in post-colonial Nigeria
Authors: Saka L. , Amusan L.
Published: August 2023

For communities that sit at the fringe of ethnic, cultural and linguistic divide, the twin questions of identity and belonging often remain issues of concern. The remoteness of such communities from the mainstream of sociocultural and political processes, the straddling of ethno-cultural boundaries and the dilution of cultural beliefs, values system, practices and language often reinforce the notion that they belong to the peripheries of the nationalities. This in turn can generate crises of marginalization of such communities as is the case of the Yoruba’s of the old Ilorin Province. Through the circumstance of history and the geographical location of Ilorin at the fringe of the Yoruba nation, the people of the Old Ilorin Province have come to be seen as a community that is of less importance to the socio-cultural, political and economic development of the Yoruba nation at large. Thus, the issue of where to place Ilorin has remained an enigma for the people of the community and the Yoruba nation. This has generated a crisis of identity and belonging for the Yoruba of the old Ilorin Province. To this end, this study examined how frontier communities experience and navigate the complexity of identity politics and belonging using Ilorin as a point of reference. The study made use of archival, historical documents and other qualitative data to weave its narration of the crisis of identity and belonging facing the Yoruba of the old Ilorin Province as a common phenomenon in Africa because of colonial legacy.
White identity development at the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) from 1965-1968 through the use of language and religion
Authors: Klee Juan
Published: August 2023

The primary goal in the establishment of RAU in 1968 was the educational advancement of the white Afrikaans speaker on the Witwatersrand. A secondary goal was the development of white Afrikaans identity in higher education through the use of the Afrikaans language and Christian religion. This was done by means of academic and scientific programmes. The Afrikaner culture in its entirety had to be nurtured. Although the RAU, for the majority of white Afrikaans speakers, represented a momentous time in terms of its creation history and architectural design it also had its main aim the moulding of a new modern Afrikaans identity. The perceived struggling “Boer” – “proletarian” and working class character of the white Afrikaans speaker had to make way for an emerging middle class: modern and sophisticated. In this article, light is shed on the role of especially language and religion in developing a modern white Afrikaans identity at RAU, later renamed the University of Johannesburg.
Some New Contree changes and website excitement
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
“The idea of beautifying the surroundings”: Bloemfontein’s (Mangaung) Batho location a “garden location”? (ca. 1918-1939)
Authors: Du Bruyn Derek , Oelofse Marietjie
Published: August 2023

In 1918, the Municipality of Bloemfontein saw the establishment of Batho as the new location for the town’s black and coloured people as an opportunity to not only establish a so called model location but also a garden location. Batho’s founding must be viewed within the historical context of British-style town and urban planning, as well as the racist and segregationist policies implemented by the Union Government. The model location ideology not only encompassed proper layout and improved amenities but also meant striving towards aesthetic ideals. Such ideals implied the beautification of Batho by means of laying out domestic and public gardens, as well as the mass planting of trees. In order to turn Batho into a garden location, the Town Council implemented certain initiatives which included efforts to secure a reliable water supply and to introduce special water tariffs; the allocation of allotment gardens; the provision of a fresh-produce market for location residents; the distribution of trees free of charge, and other tree-planting initiatives; and, finally, the provision of a public “park” for Batho. While some of the motivations behind these initiatives were, indeed, driven by aesthetic ideals, others were deeply rooted in segregationist thinking and ideology. The municipality’s efforts and initiatives, as well as the Batho residents’ reactions to these, were key factors in the quest to turn Batho into a garden location. These efforts, initiatives, and reactions are investigated and critically assessed in order to determine whether the municipality’s attempts to create a garden location were “successful”. This article focuses on the period considered to be Batho’s “golden age”, that is, 1918-1939.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange returns, political developments and economic forces: A historical perspective of the 1990s
Authors: Keyser Nico , Van der Merwe Ivan , De Beer Jesse
Published: August 2023

To contribute to economic growth and development, a stock market, as a leading economic indicator, should reflect the macroeconomic fundamentals of a country. The reflection of political and economic developments in the returns of companies listed on a stock market indicates the risk profile of those companies and the stock exchange. The objective of this article is to provide a historical perspective on how political and economic developments reflected in the returns of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) during the nineties. The history of the JSE during the nineties can be divided into four periods: a pre-1994 era, the 1994 election, the 1995 big bang, and the post-1995 era. The study concludes that the JSE was exposed to extraordinary political changes and political events, eventually cumulating in a peaceful democratic election and a new political dispensation in 1994. Uncertainty surrounding future macroeconomic policy, global events such as the emergence of the Internet and the new economy, as well as an emerging market crisis, also impacted on JSE returns during the 1990s.
Political myth and historical reality in Nelson Mandela’s Long road to freedom
Authors: Peires Jeff
Published: August 2023

P Bonner, “The headman, the regent and the ‘Long walk to freedom’”, Journal of Southern African Studies (2019); DS Yekela, “Unity and division: Aspects of the History of the AbaThembu chieftainship, c.1920 to c.1980” (PhD), University of Cape Town, 2011); DS Yekela, “AbaThembu politics: The era of the regents (1920-1954)”, Bulletin of the National Library of South Africa, 73(1), June 2019.
Botswana-Bophuthatswana relations in the context of Lucas Mangope’s quest for international diplomatic recognition, 1977-1994
Authors: Makgala Christian J.
Published: August 2023

This article is an account of the relations between independent Botswana and her South African Black homeland neighbour of Bophuthatswana, whom Botswana steadfastly refused to recognise as a sovereign state. Bophuthatswana was used by South Africa to punish Botswana for assisting liberation movement groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) in their struggle against apartheid. Lucas Mangope, president of Bophuthatswana, tried to pressurize Botswana into recognising Bophuthatswana through diplomatic relations. Initially, he tried to capitalise on the common Tswana cultural heritage between Botswana and Bophuthatswana and their long common border to achieve his objective. The paper also looks at how Mangope sought to use PanTswana links and soft power on the main opposition party, Botswana National Front (BNF), to get the international recognition for Bophuthatswana. The focus then shifts to how a failed military coup that sought to oust Mangope in 1988 further strained the relations between Botswana and Bophuthatswana. Finally, the article discusses Botswana’s response to the demise of apartheid and Bophuthatswana in 1994. The paper adds to the corpus of literature on the contribution of Botswana to the liberation of South Africa and the Southern African region generally which President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana rather mistakenly lamented in late June 2021 that it has been neglected in terms of documentation. This points to the need for teaching of the history of Botswana in the country’s education system which is currently very limited.
The Vhambedzi origin and the expansion of Zimbabwe stone building tradition south of the Vhembe River
Authors: Nemaheni Tshimangadzo
Published: August 2023

The Vhambedzi clan is one of the earlier Vhavenda sibs that settled south of the Limpopo (Vhembe) River before the arrival of the Masingo group that later conquered and subjugated them. The Masingo is the ruling elite of Venda. The Vhambedzi claim authorship and occupation of various Zimbabwe-type stone-walled sites (which the Masingo also occupied) in the eastern Soutpansberg area of South Africa. The Vhambedzi represents a segment of the earlier Vhavenda groups that predominantly settled south of the Vhembe River in an area known as Vhambedzi, extending to Tshituzi, Malungudzi (Marungudzi), and Hamatibi in southern Zimbabwe. The dominant legend states that Vhambedzi originated in Malungudzi. Conflicting justifications exist regarding this concern. Other counter-traditions associate them with other known earlier Vhavenda groups, the Vhangona. These earlier groups are autochthonous. The research for this article focused on unfamiliar Zimbabwe-type sites and oral legends clarifying the status of these sites concerning the known Vendaungubwe, Great Zimbabwe, Thulamela, Makahane, and Khami stone building traditions. The cultural continuity transcending the geographical divide, which the Vhambedzi represent, is of great significance.
Editorial Vol 87 (2021)
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Salvaging Migrated Lumen Apposing Metal Stent During Necrosectomy for Walled off Pancreatic Necrosis in Disconnected Pancreatic Duct Syndrome
Authors: Zanwar Shankar , Chawhare Shailesh , Thorat Akshay
Published: August 2023

Migration of the lumen apposing stent can be a routine problem during stent placement or necrosectomy and can be a significant source of apprehension for the performing endoscopist. We present our case of walled off necrosis with disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome where the stent migrated during the necrosectomy and was salvaged by replacement. This can be a useful piece of information for endoscopist working in limited resource setting where inserting a new stent could be cost inefficient.
Toll-Like Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Indian Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Baskaran Kirankumar , Pugazhendhi Srinivasan , Ramakrishna Balakrishnan
Published: August 2023

Background:

Defective innate immune recognition of gut microbes may be one reason for the genesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Genetic defects in IBD show considerable variation between populations. This study evaluated three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the toll-like receptor (TLR) genes in patients with IBD and healthy controls.

Methods:

DNA isolated from peripheral blood of 200 IBD patients (100 Crohn's disease and 100 ulcerative colitis) and 100 healthy controls were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion for three SNPs in TLR4 (D299G, rs4986790), TLR5 (392 stop codon, rs5744168) and TLR9 (-1486 T/C, rs187084) genes, and genotypes assigned according to the restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern.

Results:

Minor allele frequencies for the 3 polymorphisms were not significantly different between IBD patients and healthy controls. The TLR4 rs4986790 minor allele (G) frequency was 27/200 in controls compared to 48/400 in IBD (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52–1.44, P = 0.6007). The TLR5 rs5744168 minor allele (T) frequency was 19/200 in controls compared to 45/400 in IBD (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.63–2.12, P = 0.5132). The TLR9 rs187084 minor allele (C) frequency was 71/200 in controls compared to 129/400 in IBD (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.61–1.26, P = 0.4261).

Conclusion:

These three polymorphisms in the TLR genes were not associated with IBD in the Indian population.
Managing Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ramakrishna Balakrishnan S.
Published: August 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has paralyzed the world now for 20 months. SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to result in a number of inflammatory, thrombogenic, and immune events in susceptible individuals. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are on chronic immunosuppressive medication. Furthermore, they have relapses of disease that requires intensification of their immunosuppressive treatment. Our understanding of the management of such patients during a viral pandemic has significantly improved due to the scientific exchanges that have taken place, through print publication and virtual sharing of experiences among IBD caregivers. This brief review provides an overview of the basic immunology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, how it impacts patients with IBD and current guidelines on managing therapy for IBD patients during a pandemic.
Ureteral Stent Placement as a Treatment Option of Ureteral Stenosis in Comorbid Patients: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Stamatakos Panagiotis Velissarios , Papadimitriou Evangelia , Moschotzopoulos Dimitrios , Paizis Theodoros , Papadopoulos Georgios , Dellis Athanasios , Fragkoulis Charalampos
Published: August 2023

Background:

Ureteral stenosis consist a medical condition characterized by high percentage of morbidity index causing refractory urinary tract infections, lithiasis as well as renal impairment and as a result, it is associated with poor outcomes regarding patients’ quality of life. Cold-knife, electrocautery, laser incision as well as surgical reconstruction are different options of treatment. However, in comorbid patients unfit for surgery permanent ureteral stent placement should be an alternative approach.

Aims and Objectives:

Assessing success rate and safety profile of ureteral stenting in comorbid patients with ureteral stenosis.

Materials and Methods:

In this retrospective study data was collected from patients underwent ureteral stent placement in our department. Personal history, laboratory examination and frailty assessment was documented in each case. Meanwhile, complications and success rate of the procedurewere recorded.

Conclusion:

Ureteral stent placement consist a safe treatment approach in patients with ureteral stenosis and many comorbidities. However, urologists should inform patients about the risk of stent withdrawal.
From “Micro-“ Diagnosis to “Macro-“ Treatment, a Road Full of Colors
Authors: Iliopoulou Maria , Mourmouris I. Panagiotis , Nikolaidou Eleni
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

From 1878 when the first working cystoscope was presented to today’s era of big data and artificial intelligence, colorful biomarkers remain one of the urologists’ strongest allies. We hereby review the current research frontiers in “color” informatics and their clinical translation in urology through methodologies and applications of visual augmentation of molecular feedback and theragnostic.

Results:

The multi-dimensional data approach involves firstly lasers’ rapid progress as an omnipresent part of modern urology in a variety of diseases, while color Doppler assists the depiction both of the urinary tract and the male genital tract. Both in molecular and systemic level screening, unique techniques using light, histochemical stain enabling color, and fluorescent tracers are improving morphological discrimination between malignant and benign cells, as well as providing anatomical and functional information preoperatively and intraoperatively.

Conclusion:

Technologies by exploiting the various lengths of the spectrum of light, which clinically it is translated, and it is evident as different color shades, have significantly toward improved our ability to both diagnose and treat urological entities. Thus, improving the management of light’s and color’s unique attributes could provide urologists with more effective clinical tools.
The Role of Urologist in Ovarian Cancer Debulking Surgery
Authors: Koritsiadis George , Giannakodimos Ilias , Miltiadis Seferlis , Nomikos Michalis , Athanasopoulos George , Papanikolaou Sarantis , Kouranos Thodoris
Published: August 2023

Although spread of advanced ovarian cancer (OC) into the urinary tract was considered a contraindication for surgery until the last decade, advancement of oncological centers tries to perform these radical surgeries. Urologist plays a significant role during these surgeries in order to obtain an optimal cytoreductive surgery (CRS). The aim of debulking surgeries is to achieve radical resection of involved organs by eliminating macroscopic disease. If urinary organs are involved, patients’ survival depends on tumor resection with free postoperative margins and without residual disease and the incidence of postoperative obstruction. Preoperative evaluation of the extent of tumor into the urinary tract or dilation of the renal tract caused by ovarian spread is considered challenging. First, urologists should aim to the decompression of the lower urinary tract by placing either ureteral stents or nephrostomy tubes. After initial decompression of ureteral obstruction, urinary surgeries should follow aiming to initial identification of ureters and reconstruction of ureteral lesions. Optimal CRS in cases of OC invading the urinary bladder can be achieved either by radical or by bladder-sparing surgical procedures. Furthermore, urologists should aim to the surgical management, pre- and postoperative evaluation of patients with advanced OC involving the kidney. Due to restricted knowledge on this topic, there are no current guidelines concerning the surgical approach of urinary organs during debulking surgeries for OC, while surgical treatment of these patients should follow guidelines for the management of advanced OC invading other types of organs.
A Simple Algorithm to Facilitate Improved Diagnosis of Nocturia
Authors: Stamatiou Konstantinos , Simatos Georgios , Valasis Georgios , Bleibel Alexander , Zavradinos Dimitrios
Published: August 2023

Introduction/Aim:

Traditionally, nocturia is considered a bothersome storage symptom, associated with prostatic enlargement. However, nocturia occurs also in a range of urological and non-urological conditions. Some other authors consider nocturia as a disease rather than a symptom. The aim of this article is to present the clinically relevant features of nocturia and to suggest a simple algorithm to facilitate its investigation.

Material and Methods:

A database and a manual search were conducted in the MEDLINE database of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and other libraries using the key words “nocturia”, “nocturnal frequency”, “nighttime voiding”, in various combinations with the terms “etiology”, “pathophysiology” “risk factors”, “causes”. We included reviews metanalyses and clinical studies. We considered full-text written papers. Bibliographic information in the selected publications was checked for relevant records not included in the initial search.

Results:

According to current litterature is a very common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The rate of people affected increases with age. About 1 in 3 adults over the age of 30 experience nocturia. There is a predominance of female gender among younger patients however occurrence of nocturia is equal between men and women aged 50-59 years. Nocturia occurs in more than 50% of individuals over 60 years of age and the prevalence is greater in men than women. The impact of nocturia in overall health is highly significant. Additionally, to the decrease in quality of life due to the inconvenience that it causes, nocturia can be associated with long-term sleep deprivation and the subsequent exhaustion, mood changes, somnolence, impaired productivity, increased risk of falls and accidents, fatigue, lethargy, inattentiveness, and cognitive dysfunction. Despite its high frequency and significance, nocturia remains under-reported, and under-treated. The most usual reasons explaining the above is the variety of contributing factors and conditions.

Conclusions:

It is paramount that clinicians are aware of the multiple potential contributing factors in any given patient. A simplified algorithm may help to identify the underlying etiology (such as diabetes or nocturnal polyuria) leading to better treatment outcomes, improved quality of life scores, and substantial symptom resolution.
Congenital Urethral Polyp as Cause of Urinary Retention in the Pediatric Population. Presentation of a Rare Case
Authors: Tatanis Vasileios , Kallidonis Panagiotis , Liatsikos Evangelos , Zoupanos Georgios
Published: August 2023

Urethral polyps (UPs) constitute a rare congenital disease in the pediatric population. They are benign lesions that are associated with a great variety of symptoms including dysuria, decreased urine stream, urinary retention, urinary tract infections, vesicourethral reflux, and even enuresis. The aim of this study was to present one case of a UP in a 20-month-old boy. The boy was referred to the emergency department of a pediatric hospital due to acute urinary retention. The performed ultrasound detected an increased bladder wall and the presence of a bladder diverticulum. In addition, in the voiding cystourethrogram, a filling defect in the posterior urethra was noticed. The performed urethrocystoscopy detected one polypoid lesion of about 1 cm in length which was excised using an 11F resectoscope. The patient was followed up for 6 years without recurrence or additional symptoms.
Quetiapine-Induced Chronic Priapism Needing Surgical Intervention
Authors: Pogula Vedamurthy Reddy , Galeti Ershad Hussain , Reddy Sandeep , Rasool Mustaq
Published: August 2023

Priapism is an uncommon but serious adverse effect of psychiatric medicines. Priapism is a urologic emergency defined by a prolonged, painful penile erection in the absence of sexual stimulation. It is seldom associated with the use of nonerectile dysfunction drugs. According to the findings, priapism can be caused by a variety of illnesses, including psychiatric medicines. One mechanism through which antipsychotics are thought to cause priapism is alpha 1-antagonism. This is distinctive and does not rely on long-term usage. The majority of the time, priapism resolves on its own or responds to conservative therapy. We discuss a rare instance of undiagnosed persistent priapism that required surgical intervention.
Is there a link between mesh implantation and systematic autoimmune disease?
Authors: Li Junsheng , Shao Xiangyu , Cheng Tao , Ji Zhenling
Published: August 2023

Autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)/“Shoenfeld’s syndrome” corresponds to a spectrum of immune-mediated diseases triggered by exposure to various materials. Polypropylene (PP) mesh has become the standard for nearly all kinds of hernia repair. There are conflicting reports on the link between ASIA and PP mesh implantation for hernia repair. We reported a typical ASIA/“Shoenfeld’s syndrome” after inguinal hernia repair with PP mesh, and the patient's systematic syndrome was completely alleviated after mesh removal. The present case highlights that there is a link between ASIA/“Shoenfeld’s syndrome” and hernia repair with PP mesh, although not frequently. Both surgeons and patients should bear in mind this disease, and patients should be fully informed before surgery, and registry is an important and possible tool to evaluate and determine the frequency of ASIA after hernia repairs with PP meshes.
A comparative study of abdominal wall hernia surgery before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a 2-year observational period
Authors: Ergenç Muhammer , Uprak Tevfik K
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

Abdominal wall hernia surgery is among the most common procedures in general surgery. It is thought that postponing elective hernia surgeries due to the pandemic will increase emergency presentations of hernias, but different data have been published in the literature.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on emergency and elective hernia operations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Patients who underwent hernia surgery in the Istanbul Sultanbeyli State Hospital between March 2018 and March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. March 11, 2018–March 11, 2020, and March 12, 2020–March 12, 2022, were categorized as prepandemic and pandemic periods, respectively, and were evaluated as 1-year periods. All abdominal wall hernia operations performed in the hospital were examined.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,644 patients underwent hernia operations. Patients’ ages ranged from 18 to 87 years; the mean age was 47.5 ± 13.6. A total of 1,319 (80%) of patients were men. There was a 50% decrease in the number of surgeries during the pandemic, but there was no significant increase in emergency surgeries (P = 0.49). Incisional and ventral hernia procedures declined dramatically over the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period, whereas inguinal hernia surgeries increased proportionally (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS:

While a decrease was observed in total abdominal hernia surgeries performed during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period, no significant increase was found in emergency abdominal hernia surgeries. Patients with ventral and incisional hernias can be followed up to be operated on under optimal conditions.
Outcomes in the surgical management of giant inguinal hernias
Authors: Oyewale Saburi O. , Ariwoola Azeezat O.
Published: August 2023

Giant inguinal hernia presents a range of unique challenges in its treatment. Detailing the potential complications and outcomes of treatment can motivate patients with giant inguinal hernias (GIH) to seek an early surgical intervention and raise awareness of the risks of neglecting the condition. The aim of this review is to identify the rates of complications, especially the abdominal compartment syndrome, and the causes of mortality encountered in the treatment of GIH. Furthermore, a new classification system for GIH is proposed. The search resulted in 1,926 papers, and 10 papers were included in the study. The majority of the studies were conducted on subjects living in sub-Saharan Africa. The most frequently performed procedure was Nylon Darning, accounting for 46.5% and only 53 (12.5%) were laparoscopic repair. There were four deaths reported in two studies. Two were caused by pulmonary embolism, whereas renal failure and abdominal compartment syndrome were the causes of one death each. After a proportional meta-analysis, the pooled complication rate of the surgical interventions was 39% (95% confidence interval: 0.18–0.59) with a random effect model I
2 = 82.6%. There was no recurrence in any of the studies. The complication rate for treating giant inguinal hernia is high but mortality is low. There was zero recurrence despite some subjects undergoing modified Bassini repair. Further research is needed to identify predictors of abdominal compartment syndrome and intra-abdominal hypertension. The proposed classification also requires further study on a large scale.
Do the costs of robotic surgery present an insurmountable obstacle? A narrative review
Authors: Eckhoff Jennifer A , Müller Dolores T , Brunner Stefanie N , Fuchs Hans F , Meireles Ozanan R
Published: August 2023

With increasing market size and rising demand, the question arises whether the high cost impedes accessibility to robotic surgery. Despite all the apparent advantages robotic surgery offers to surgeons and patients, it is imperative for healthcare providers to weigh the insufficiently documented evidence for robotics against the exorbitant price. Aside from the high acquisition cost of robotic systems, the cost of instruments and accessories, maintenance, as well as the need for training, and the impact on procedural dynamics in the operating room factor into any cost–utility analysis. However, current perspectives provide an insufficient overview of available systems and their cost. And the lack of transparency and incomplete information provided by manufacturers impose a significant challenge to informed decision-making. This article gives a short overview of the cost of robotic surgery, what additional costs to consider, where to obtain information, and attempts to elaborate on the question of whether cost impedes the worldwide establishment of robotic surgery.
A combined laparoscopic and open delayed repair of a rare traumatic abdominal wall hernia
Authors: Dorpmans Dries , Dams Anne
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Traumatic abdominal wall hernias (TAWHs) are uncommon and result from a high-energetic blunt trauma to the abdomen. These hernias are not always apparent in initial trauma evaluation. No consensus exists regarding optimal timing and surgical approach.

Case Presentation:

A 68-year-old Caucasian woman was involved as a passenger in a high-energetic head-on collision motor vehicle accident. In the initial assessment a sternal fracture, four rib fractures, a small pneumothorax, and a medial malleolus fracture were found. A small abdominal wall hernia was missed. Six months later she presents with a painful mass in her left flank. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large hernia containing colon. An elective hybrid repair was done. Laparoscopically, a preperitoneal mesh was placed. Afterward, using open access, the abdominal wall musculature was re-fixated on the iliac crest.

Discussion:

Emergent surgical management of TAWH is often preferred due to high incidence of associated intra-abdominal lacerations. These settings are not always favorable for mesh placement. Some data suggest a higher recurrence rate for hernias without mesh augmentation and repair within the acute posttraumatic period. Conservative management poses the risk of incarceration and hernia defect enlargement. A delayed repair can be considered if the patient is hemodynamically stable, no associated visceral lacerations are present and the defect is large enough to reduce the risk of incarceration. It has the advantage of mesh placement in healthy tissue.

Conclusions:

A delayed laparoscopic repair seems a safe and valid option allowing larger mesh placement. Additional fascia closure of muscle fixation can be done granting more reinforcement and smaller incision needs and thus less postoperative pain.
A study to evaluate and compare the apical sealing ability of MTA, Biodentine, and TotalFill BC RRM Putty in simulated immature teeth
Authors: Raju Neetha , Kumar Paluvary Sharath , Jayashankara C. M. , Girish S. A.
Published: August 2023

Background:

Adequate seal of the root canal is necessary to prevent recontamination and ensure long-term clinical success. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sealing ability of ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and Total Fill Bioceramic Root Repair Material Putty as the root canal obturation materials using the dye penetration test.

Materials and Methods:

In this in vitro study, a total of All 68 human teeth were mounted on an experimental setup. Teeth were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 – A 4 mm apical plug of premixed TotalFill BC RRM Putty; Group 2 – A 4 mm apical plug of hand-mixed MTA; Group 3 – A 4 mm apical plug of mechanically mixed MTA was placed; and Group 4 – A 4 mm apical plug of mechanically mixed Biodentine was placed.

Results:

There is a statistically significant difference between Group II and Group III along the root canal wall (P < 0.05). There is no significant difference between Group I and Group IV along the root canal walls (P > 0.05). The lowest mean value of microleakage was recorded by Group I, whereas the highest mean value of microleakage was shown by Group II.

Conclusion:

Within the limitation of this study, none of the root-end filling materials were free from microleakage. Among these materials, TotalFill BC RRM Putty showed the least microleakage along the root canal walls. However, the validity of this in vitro study could be appreciated only through further clinical trials.
A Review of Community-Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases Studies from India
Authors: Marwaha Drishti , Pillai Ashvin , Ravindran Vinod , Ajithkumar N.
Published: August 2023

Background:

Community-Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) is a global community-based program, emphasizing prevalence data. In India, it has been headed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR), and the Bone and Joint Decade (BJD), India. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also utilized the COPCORD methodology. This study aimed to review Indian COPCORD data.

Methods:

PubMed, COPCORD website, conference proceedings, and citations were searched from inception to 2022. Search terms included WHO-ILAR, COPCORD, and India. Studies conducted in India and available in English were included. Abstracts from journal supplements or conference proceedings were included if they studied the Indian population.

Results:

Bhigwan, Pune, Bikaner, Lucknow, Calicut, and Trivandrum studies were published as full-length articles. Soft-tissue rheumatism showed a higher prevalence than most diseases everywhere. The appraisal checklist found a few lacunae in the description of the study setting and statistical analysis clarity. Bhigwan had a high prevalence of “ill-defined diagnosis” (6.25%). Osteoarthritis (OA) knee had a prevalence of 10.6% in Lucknow urban. RA prevalence was 2.54% in Bikaner. Pune exhibited the highest OA prevalence (6.25%). Age and gender were important risk factors in the Calicut study. Trivandrum found that functional impairment impacted workability and finances. Malappuram reported higher rheumatic musculoskeletal disease (RMSD) in women (70%).

Conclusion:

COPCORD studies were the first to highlight the burden of RMSD in India. Nonclinical aspects such as architecture and living conditions have been described. Further research regarding functional ability, work disability, and psychosocial factors is recommended. Future scope to look at economic aspects and environmental risk factors remains.