bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polyethylene wear of mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee replacement at 20 years
Authors: Kendrick B. J. L. , Simpson D. J. , Kaptein B. L. , Valstar E. R. , Gill H. S. , Murray D. W. , Price A. J.
Published: April 2011

The Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) was designed to minimise wear utilising a fully-congruent, mobile, polyethylene bearing. Wear of polyethylene is a significant cause of revision surgery in UKR in the first decade, and the incidence increases in the second decade. Our study used model-based radiostereometric analysis to measure the combined wear of the upper and lower bearing surfaces in 13 medial-compartment Oxford UKRs at a mean of 20.9 years (17.2 to 25.9) post-operatively.

The mean linear penetration of the polyethylene bearing was 1.04 mm (0.307 to 2.15), with a mean annual wear rate of 0.045 mm/year (0.016 to 0.099). The annual wear rate of the phase-2 bearings (mean 0.022 mm/year) was significantly less (p = 0.01) than that of phase-1 bearings (mean 0.07 mm/year).

The linear wear rate of the Oxford UKR remains very low into the third decade. We believe that phase-2 bearings had lower wear rates than phase-1 implants because of the improved bearing design and surgical technique which decreased the incidence of impingement. We conclude that the design of the Oxford UKR gives low rates of wear in the long term.
Socioeconomic status affects the early outcome of total hip replacement
Authors: Clement N. D. , Muzammil A. , MacDonald D. , Howie C. R. , Biant L. C.
Published: April 2011

This prospective study assessed the effect of social deprivation on the Oxford hip score at one year after total hip replacement. An analysis of 1312 patients undergoing 1359 primary total hip replacements for symptomatic osteoarthritis was performed over a 35-month period. Social deprivation was assessed using the Carstairs index. Those patients who were most deprived underwent surgery at an earlier age (p = 0.04), had more comorbidities (p = 0.02), increased severity of symptoms at presentation (p = 0.001), and were not as satisfied with their outcome (p = 0.03) compared with more affluent patients. There was a significant improvement in Oxford scores at 12 months relative to pre-operative scores for all socioeconomic categories (p < 0.001). Social deprivation was a significant independent predictor of mean improvement in Oxford scores at 12 months, after adjusting for confounding variables (p = 0.001). Deprivation was also associated with an increased risk of dislocation (odds ratio 5.3, p < 0.001) and mortality at 90 days (odds ratio 3.2, p = 0.02).

Outcome, risk of dislocation and early mortality after a total hip replacement are affected by the socioeconomic status of the patient
Influence of patient activity on femoral osteolysis at five and ten years following hybrid total hip replacement
Authors: Lübbeke A. , Garavaglia G. , Barea C. , Stern R. , Peter R. , Hoffmeyer P.
Published: April 2011

We conducted a longitudinal study including patients with the same type of primary hybrid total hip replacement and evaluated patient activity and femoral osteolysis at either five or ten years post-operatively. Activity was measured using the University of California, Los Angeles scale. The primary outcome was the radiological assessment of femoral osteolysis. Secondary outcomes were revision of the femoral component for aseptic loosening and the patients’ quality of life. Of 503 hip replacements in 433 patients with a mean age of 67.7 years (30 to 91), 241 (48%) were seen at five and 262 (52%) at ten years post-operatively. Osteolytic lesions were identified in nine of 166 total hip replacements (5.4%) in patients with low activity, 21 of 279 (7.5%) with moderate activity, and 14 of 58 (24.1%) patients with high activity. The risk of osteolysis increased with participation in a greater number of sporting activities. In multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and the inclination angle of the acetabular component, the adjusted odds ratio for osteolysis comparing high vs moderate activity was 3.6 (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 8.3). Stratification for the cementing technique revealed that lower quality cementing increased the effect of high activity on osteolysis. Revision for aseptic loosening was most frequent with high activity. Patients with the highest activity had the best outcome and highest satisfaction.

In conclusion, of patients engaged in high activity, 24% had developed femoral osteolysis five to ten years post-operatively.
The low contact stress patellofemoral replacement
Authors: Charalambous C. P. , Abiddin Z. , Mills S. P. , Rogers S. , Sutton P. , Parkinson R.
Published: April 2011

The low contact stress patellofemoral replacement consists of a trochlear component and a modular patellar component which has a metal-backed mobile polyethylene bearing. We present the early results of the use of this prosthesis for established isolated patellofemoral arthritis in 51 consecutive patellofemoral replacements in 35 patients. The mean follow-up was 25 months (5 to 60). The estimated survival rate at three years was 63% (95% confidence interval 47 to 80) with revision as the endpoint and 46% (95% confidence interval 30 to 63) with revision and ongoing moderate or severe pain as the endpoint.

The early results of the use of the low contact stress patellofemoral replacement are disappointing with a high rate of revision. We cannot therefore recommend its use.
Neuropathic pain following hip resurfacing due to a transneural suture
Authors: Marchese M. , Sinisi M. , Anand P. , Di Mascio L. , Humphrey J.
Published: April 2011

A 60-year-old man developed severe neuropathic pain and foot-drop in his left leg following resurfacing arthroplasty of the left hip. The pain was refractory to all analgesics for 16 months. At exploration, a PDS suture was found passing through the sciatic nerve at several points over 6 cm and terminating in a large knot. After release of the suture and neurolysis there was dramatic and rapid improvement of the neuropathic pain and of motor function.

This case represents the human equivalent of previously described nerve ligation in an animal model of neuropathic pain. It emphasises that when neuropathic pain is present after an operation, the nerve related to the symptoms must be inspected, and that removal of a suture or irritant may lead to relief of pain, even after many months.
Dropped-head syndrome resulting from injury to the central spinal cord at the upper cervical level
Authors: Rust C. L. , Ching A. C. , Hart R. A.
Published: April 2011

There are many causes of paraspinal muscle weakness which give rise to the dropped-head syndrome. In the upper cervical spine the central portion of the spinal cord innervates the cervical paraspinal muscles. Dropped-head syndrome resulting from injury to the central spinal cord at this level has not previously been described. We report two patients who were treated acutely for this condition. Both presented with weakness in the upper limbs and paraspinal cervical musculature after a fracture of C2. Despite improvement in the strength of the upper limbs, the paraspinal muscle weakness persisted in both patients. One ultimately underwent cervicothoracic fusion to treat her dropped-head syndrome.

While the cause of the dropped-head syndrome cannot be definitively ascribed to the injuries to the spinal cord, this pattern is consistent with the known patho-anatomical mechanisms of both injury to the central spinal cord and dropped-head syndrome.
Comparison of total hip replacement with and without cement in patients younger than 50 years of age
Authors: Kim Y.-H. , Kim J.-S. , Park J.-W. , Joo J.-H.
Published: April 2011

There have been comparatively few studies of the incidence of osteolysis and the survival of hybrid and cementless total hip replacements (THRs) in patients younger than 50 years of age. We prospectively reviewed 78 patients (109 hips) with a hybrid THR having a mean age of 43.4 years (21 to 50) and 79 patients (110 hips) with a cementless THR with a mean age of 46.8 years (21 to 49). The patients were evaluated clinically using the Harris hip score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis score and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score. Radiographs and CT scans were assessed for loosening and osteolysis. The mean follow-up was for 18.4 years (16 to 19) in both groups.

The mean post-operative Harris hip scores (91 points versus 90 points), the mean WOMAC scores (11 points versus 13 points) and UCLA activity scores (6.9 points versus 7.1 points) were similar in both groups. The revision rates of the acetabular component (13% versus 16%) and the femoral component (3% versus 4%), and the survival of the acetabular component (87% versus 84%) and the femoral component (97% versus 96%) were similar in both groups.

Although the long-term fixation of the acetabular metallic shell and the cemented and cementless femoral components was outstanding, wear and peri-acetabular osteolysis constitute the major challenges of THR in young patients.
Outcome following surgical treatment for regional metastases from cutaneous cancers of the head and neck in patients aged 80 and over
Authors: Khandavilli Sunil D , Lloyd Christopher J , Jones Huw B
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

Population demographics and disease epidemiology is resulting in more elderly patients presenting with regional metastases from cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck region. Surgery remains the most appropriate primary treatment option.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analysed consecutive patients aged 80 and over who developed regional metastases from cutaneous cancers of head and neck and underwent a neck dissection over a two-and-a-half-year period. Data were obtained from the cancer database and patients’ notes. A Kaplan-Meier survival graph was constructed.

RESULTS

Our study demonstrated a low postoperative morbidity but one patient died from medical complications with in the first 30 days post surgery. The median survival time following surgery is nearly two years.

CONCLUSIONS

We continue to advocate primary surgery for cutaneous metastatic malignancy from the head and neck area but patients need multidisciplinary team discussions, thorough assessment and counselling.
Hospital mortality under surgical care
Authors: Aziz O , Fink D , Hobbs L L , Williams G , Holme TC
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

The ‘hospital standardised mortality ratio’ (HSMR) has been used in England since 1999 to measure NHS hospital performance. Large variations in reported HSMR between English hospitals have recently led to heavy criticism of their use as a surrogate measure of hospital performance. This paper aims to review the mortality data for a consultant general surgeon contributed by his NHS trust over a 3-year period as part of the trust's HSMR calculation and evaluate the accuracy of coding the diagnoses and covariates for case mix adjustment.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The Dr Foster Intelligence database was interrogated to extract the NHS trust's HSMR benchmark data on inpatient mortality for the surgeon from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2009 and compared to the hospital notes.

RESULTS

30 patients were identified of whom 12 had no evidence of being managed by the surgeon. This represents a potential 40% inaccuracy rate in designating consultant responsibility. The remaining 18 patients could be separated into ‘operative’ (11 patients) and ‘non-operative’ (7 patients) groups. Only 27% in the operative group and 43% of the non-operative mortality group respectively had a Charlson co-morbidity index recorded despite 94% of the cases having significant co-morbidities

CONCLUSIONS

Highlighting crude and inaccurate clinician-specific mortality data when only 1-5% of deaths under surgical care may be associated with avoidable adverse events seems potentially irresponsible.
One hand is better than two: conversion from pure laparoscopic to the hand-assisted approach during difficult nephrectomy
Authors: Mahesan Nishanthan , Choudhury Sirazum M , Khan M Shamim , Murphy Declan G , Dasgupta Prokar
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of conversion from a laparoscopic to an open approach during nephrectomy is reported at 6-8%. 1 Conversion to an open procedure may be necessary to control haemorrhage or allow progress in dissection but the well established benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) are obviously lost. Hand-assisted laparoscopy (HAL) also offers the benefits to the patient of MIS. We have used HAL to convert from the pure laparoscopic approach during difficult nephrectomies, rather than converting to traditional open surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of our prospective database was carried out to identify any conversions from the pure laparoscopic approach during nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy for benign or malignant disease.

RESULTS

A total of 87 laparoscopic nephrectomies (LNs) were identified over a 3-year period. There were five conversions to the HAL approach (5.7%) and no conversions to open surgery. The reason for conversion was failure to progress in all five cases. Operative times averaged 190 minutes with blood loss of 180ml. Histology revealed xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in four cases and renal cell carcinoma in one case. The median postoperative stay was 4 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Conversion to HAL during LN maintains the benefits of MIS in difficult nephrectomy and should be considered prior to converting to open surgery.
Endoscopic anatomy of the ulnar nerve: a useful adjunct to teaching anatomy
Authors: Matteucci Paolo , Lagopoulos Menos , Southern Stephen
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

There has been a shift away from gross anatomy teaching and hands-on cadaveric dissection. This has been replaced by a variety of teaching modalities including problem-based learning, models and prosections, and computer-assisted learning. We aim to pilot a technique of endoscopic visualisation of upper limb anatomy, to produce a video that can be incorporated into anatomy teaching and to assess the video qualitatively as an adjunct to anatomy teaching.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single, previously undissected, formalin preserved cadaver was used and views were obtained of the left arm. The video was shown to 10 surgical trainees who were then asked to complete appraisal forms anonymously.

RESULTS

The endoscopic views were thought to be useful and helped the trainees to appreciate the in situ anatomy and potential sites of nerve compression. 70% of respondents would recommend the system to others.

CONCLUSIONS

We feel this represents another method to help in the understanding of a complex area of anatomy in a way that is unique to endoscopy.
Parotid cancer treatment with surgery followed by radiotherapy in Oxford over 15 years
Authors: Shah Ketan , Javed Faisal , Alcock Chris , Shah Ketan A , Pretorius Pieter , Milford Chris A
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

Primary parotid malignancies represent a rare diagnosis, making high-quality comparative research unfeasible. There is little UK-based evidence to guide practice. A review was therefore undertaken of a large series of patients treated by a multidisciplinary team in a National Health Service tertiary referral centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective patient record review at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford identified 401 patients who had undergone parotidectomy between 1995 and 2010, of whom 50 subjects were given a definitive diagnosis of primary parotid malignancy, treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Case notes, histology and imaging were reviewed by the study team.

RESULTS

The median follow up for the cohort was 60 months (range: 1-108 months). Facial nerve function was preserved in all patients undergoing partial or total conservative parotidectomy. Although histology showed microscopically close or positive margins in 82% of cases, all patients underwent postoperative radiotherapy and locoregional recurrence was identified in only two (4%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The data presented demonstrate a reasonable and practical multidisciplinary approach to a complex management problem. Facial nerve sparing surgery and postoperative radiotherapy result in good control of locoregional disease.
Laparo-endoscopic resection for extensive and inaccessible colorectal polyps: a feasible and safe procedure
Authors: Wood JJ , Lord AC , Wheeler JMD , Borley NR
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

Polypectomy at colonoscopy may be difficult or dangerous. In such instances colonic resection may be indicated. Novel combined laparoscopic-endoscopic procedures have the potential to allow safe extensive extramucosal resection, thus avoiding resection. Laparoscopic colon mobilisation provides a more favourable orientation for endoscopic mucosal resection and facilitates identification of possible perforation sites with immediate laparoscopic repair or resection if necessary. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of laparo-endoscopic resection (LER) of colonic polyps.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were collected prospectively on consecutive patients undergoing LER. The mode of presentation, referral pattern, lesion site and size, hospital stay, procedural details, complications, histology and further treatment were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 13 patients underwent attempted LER (16 polyps in total) and this was completed for 10, with a median hospital stay of 2 days. Five polyps were removed whole and eight piecemeal. Excision was clinically complete in all cases. Three procedures were converted to colonic resection. One lesion appeared malignant, indicating a conversion to laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Two polyps were not amenable to LER and resection was performed. One patient underwent subsequent colonic resection based on the histological findings. There were no perforations or serious complications.

CONCLUSIONS

LER is a safe and effective treatment for large and inaccessible colonic polyps that would otherwise be treated by colonic resection.
The NHS Outcomes Framework: An Interview with Bruce Keogh
Authors: Worrall Matthew
Published: April 2011

In December 2010 a new set of yardsticks by which quality is to be measured in the NHS were published by the government. Out go the controversial process targets of recent years and in their place comes the NHS outcomes framework, a new set of broad indicators focused on general patient outcomes. What will they mean for surgeons? And how will they differ from what we had before? The Bulletin met Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director and former RCS Council member, to get his view.
Surgical gowns
Authors: Casey Heather
Published: April 2011

Working in the Royal College of Surgeons press office, I've heard numerous pitches from writers and producers eager to mix elements of surgical practice with anything and everything en vogue in order to create an 'original angle' on surgery. At the end of last year, when five glossy fashion images from junior doctor-cum-designer Dr Laura Beard landed on my desk, I was intrigued to find out how someone had successfully blended the worlds of fashion and surgery.
Optimising services in tough times: getting it right
Authors: Beard LA , Hannaway N , Monkhouse SJW
Published: April 2011

The NHS is facing tough economic challenges now and in the near future. There is a pressure to rationalise services at a local and national level. Existing services need to be optimised to ensure best outcomes for patients and best financial rewards for the trusts.
The value of intraoperative ultrasound and preoperative imaging, individually and in combination, in liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Lordan Jeffrey T , Stenson Katherine M , Karanjia Nariman D
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

Liver resection is proved to offer potential long-term survival for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Accurate radiological assessment is vital to enable an appropriate surgical approach. The role of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) has been controversial. This study was designed to analyse the accuracy of IOUS compared with that of preoperative imaging (POI) in these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective analysis of 51 consecutive patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM was undertaken. The accuracy of POI and IOUS were correlated and compared with histopathological analysis. Statistical analyses included t-tests, to compare continuous variables, and chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests to compare categorical variables. p<0.05 was considered significant

RESULTS

POI correlated with histology in 35 patients (68.6%). The sensitivity and specificity were 82.4% and 86.3% respectively. IOUS correlated with histology in 31 (60.8%) patients. The sensitivity and specificity were 84.3% and 76.5% respectively. There was no difference in accuracy between modalities. The accuracy of POI combined with IOUS correlated with histology in 40 patients (78.4%). The sensitivity and specificity were 88.2% and 84.3% respectively. The accuracy of combined modalities was significantly greater than IOUS or POI alone.

CONCLUSIONS

POI combined with IOUS may significantly increase the diagnostic accuracy of patients undergoing liver resection for CRLM.
Clinic-based nerve conduction studies reduce time to surgery and are cost effective: a comparison with formal electrophysiological testing
Authors: Bourke Henry E , Read Jeremy , Kampa Rebecca , Hearnden Anthony , Davey Paul A
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compression neuropathy affecting the upper limb. Clinical diagnosis is not always clear and electrophysiological testing can be indicated when considering a patient for decompression surgery. The downside of electrophysiological testing is cost and increased time to surgery. Newer methods of performing nerve conduction studies in clinic have become available.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated the use of a clinic-based, handheld, non-invasive electrophysiological device (NC-stat®) in 71 patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome presenting to our hand clinic in a district general hospital. We compared this to a similar cohort of 71 age-matched patients also presenting to our unit in whom formal nerve conduction studies were performed at a local neurophysiology unit. Our outcome measures were time from presentation to carpal tunnel decompression, the cost of each pathway and the practicalities of using the device in a busy hand unit.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The NC-stat® proved to be a successful device when compared with referring patients out for more formal nerve conduction studies, shortening the time from presentation to surgery from 198 days to 102 days (p<0.0001). It was also cost effective with a calculated saving to the hospital of more than £70 per patient. The device is easy to use and acceptable to patients and no adverse effects were noted.
Long-term clinical outcome following lower limb arterial angioplasty
Authors: Morris-Stiff G , Moawad M , Appleton N , Davies G , Hicks E , Davies C , Lewis MH
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcome of lower limb arterial angioplasty in a busy district general hospital practice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All angioplasties performed from January 1999 to December 2004 were identified and data collected included cardiovascular risk factors, indications for and complications of angioplasty, limb salvage and patient survival rates, and clinically significant re-stenoses.

RESULTS

471 interventions were performed in 385 patients (231 men, 154 women). The median age was 67.9 years (range: 39-93 years). Indications for angioplasty were critical ischaemia (n=247, 52%) and lifestyle-limiting intermittent claudication (n=224, 48%). Stenotic lesions accounted for 378 (80%) cases and occlusion for 93 (20%). Radiological success was obtained in 417 (88.5%), improving to 93.6% if only those in whom access was achieved were included. Post-angioplasty complications were observed in 42/471 (9.1%) of interventions. The actual patient survival at 1,2, and 3 years was 87.4%, 85.1% and 83.2% respectively. Indication for angioplasty and the number of lesions present were identified as risk factors for outcome on multivariate analysis. The cumulative post-angioplasty patency rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 86.0%, 83.1% and 81.6% respectively. The only factor associated with patency was the mode of presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Angioplasty for lower limb peripheral vascular disease can be performed safely and efficaciously with a high technical success rate and a low complication rate. The patient survival and post-angioplasty patency data reflect the progressive and multi-site nature of the underlying disease process.
Reaction rates as virtual constraints in Gibbs energy minimization
Authors: Koukkari Pertti , Pajarre Risto , Blomberg Peter
Published: April 2011

The constrained Gibbs energy method has been developed for the use of immaterial entities in the formula conservation matrix of the Gibbs energy minimization problem. The new method enables the association of the conservation matrix with structural, physical, chemical, and energetic properties, and thus the scope of free energy calculations can be extended beyond the conventional studies of global chemical equilibria and phase diagrams. The use of immaterial constraints enables thermochemical calculations in partial equilibrium systems as well as in systems controlled by work factors. In addition, they allow the introduction of mechanistic reaction kinetics to the Gibbsian multiphase analysis. The constrained advancements of reactions are incorporated into the Gibbs energy calculation by using additional virtual phases in the conservation matrix. The virtual components are then utilized to meet the incremental consumption of reactants or the formation of products in the kinetically slow reactions. The respective thermodynamic properties for the intermediate states can be used in reaction rate formulations, e.g., by applying the reaction quotients.
The Development of Political Themes in Min-Thuwun's Poetry
Authors: Tun U Saw
Published: April 2011

Min-thuwun is perhaps the greatest of living Burmese poets. Over the past 70 years he has published more than 100 poems covering a broad range of topics, including young love, the hardships of village and student life, and Burmese nationalism. Following a brief biographical sketch of the poet, this article presents a series of readings of selected poems that show Min-thuwun to be a passionate promoter of Burmese culture and an astute and subtle social commentator whose political messages are conveyed in figurative verse notable for its depictions of the victims of injustice. By framing his discussion within the periodization of 20th-century Burmese literature put forth by the poetcritic Mya Zin, the author demonstrates how Min-thuwun's career can be taken to exemplify the development of modern Burmese literature as a whole.
Sacred Buildings for an Arid Climate: Architectural Evidence for Low Rainfall in Ancient Pagan
Authors: Cooler Richard M.
Published: April 2011

This article examines unusual features of various religious buildings located at Pagan, such as below-ground monasteries and brick-lined water-catchment basins, to establish that low rainfall of less than 24 inches annually was a constant in the local climate throughout the Pagan period. Confirming this fact sheds light on the critical role the construction of religious structures played in linking the inadequately watered capital to outlying irrigated agricultural lands, thus ensuring the necessary provision of food to the city. As the population of Pagan grew, the need to increase food supplies from the outlying areas created an incentive for focusing the practice of the Merit Path to Salvation on the erection of still more religious buildings, thus creating the "forest of temples" seen at Pagan today.
Robert Talbot Kelly and "Picturesque" Burma
Authors: Pollak Oliver B.
Published: April 2011

Robert Talbot Kelly, through his art and his 1905 publication, Burma Painted and Described , provides a visual and textual account of colonial Burma that was subsequently marketed in England and America. Travelogues served as a form of voyeuristic education about the exotic for the stay-at-home adventurer. Postcolonial scholarship, to some degree assisted by Edward Said's Orientalism , now permits a reanalysis of both the art and the written texts of travel literature for what they say about cultural attitudes during the age of high imperialism, and in particular about Kelly's use of the word picturesque as a literary and artistic descriptor.
Footnote to Burmese Economic History: The Rise and Decline of the Arakan Oil Fields
Authors: Longmuir Marilyn
Published: April 2011

After the annexation of Upper Burma in 1886, the modern Burmese oil industry expanded at Yenangyaung, the long-standing center of handdug wells worked by twinza . An earlier attempt to establish a commercial industry in Arakan in the late 1870s was thereby eclipsed. On the islands off the Arakan coast—Ramree, Cheduba, and the Boronga Islands—British explorers had drawn attention to oil pools and seepage. In 1878, the first modern oil well in Burma was drilled on Eastern Boronga Island. However, the eager oil speculators had not done their homework, and the Arakan oil industry declined because the oil-fields were poor producers and thus not economically viable for mass production. The Arakan experience nonetheless influenced the early commercial exploitation of the Yenangyaung fields.
Kingship in Pagan Wundauk U Tin's "Myan-ma-mìn Ok-chok-pon Sa-dàn"
Authors: Bagshawe L. E.
Published: April 2011

This paper analyzes the attitudes toward kingship expressed in the Myan-ma-mìn Ok-chok-pon Sa-dàn ["The Royal Administration of Burma"], written by Pagan U Tin (1861-1933) and first published shortly after the author's death. Following a brief biographical account of Pagan U Tin, the discussion considers four perspectives on Burmese kingship appearing in the work: 1) the king as judge; 2) the king as guarantor of regularity; 3) the king as descendant of the Sun (and of Mahasammata, originator of civil society); and 4) the king as Buddha-to-be. The Burmese monarch was predominantly a symbolic figure who affirmed the kingdom's past and guaranteed its future. Although U Tin reports on the questionable morality of Kings Mindon and Thibaw, he nevertheless addresses both as "Excellent King" and admonishes his readers against offending the dignity of the throne.
Pottery in the Chin Hills
Authors: Reith Charlotte
Published: April 2011

During my research on contemporary pottery villages in Burma, I was given the name of one such village, Lente, by a native now living in the United States. Lente is located in the Chin Hills, a remote area of western Burma difficult to access, inhabited by many tribes speaking a large number of languages. Foreigners are rarely given permission to visit the Chin Hills, and although I obtained permission to travel to Lente, I was ultimately prevented by the authorities from going further than nearby Falam. I was nevertheless able to collect data from Lente in three ways: first, my guide Daw Moe Moe was able to visit Lente and take photographs of the potters there; secondly, Daw Moe Moe was able to return to Falam with a potter from Lente village and with enough of the proper kind of clay to facilitate a demonstration which I photographed and documented; and thirdly, I was given a copy of a videotape showing the potters working in Lente village. This tape was taken by a young man from Falam who is interested in recording local crafts processes. The tape allowed me to observe a process of making pots with which I was totally unacquainted, and which has otherwise escaped recent photographic or video documentation. This was a true "discovery" concerning the ways in which pots can be made, and still another indication of the imagination and ingenuity of humankind.
Sariputta and Moggallana in the Golden Land: The Relics of the Buddha's Chief Disciples at the Kaba Aye Pagoda
Authors: Daulton Jack
Published: April 2011

In this article, the author reconstructs and documents the story of the relics of the Buddha's chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, at the Kaba Aye Pagoda in Burma. Using previously unpublished archival materials, including first-hand archaeological reports and internal museum documents, as well as contemporary newspaper accounts, the author details the discovery of the relics by British military officers in 19th-century India, the subsequent removal of the relics to England where they were placed on museum exhibition, and their eventual reenshrinement in Burma and India 100 years later.
The Fall of Ayutthaya: A Reassessment
Authors: James Helen
Published: April 2011

Conventional views of the 1760-1767 Burmese attacks on Ayutthaya contend that the Burmese were taking advantage of an opportunity to attack a politically and economically weak kingdom. This article adduces evidence from the Burmese chronicles, from accounts by contemporary foreign observers, and from economic history to argue that Burma's campaigns against Ayutthaya were part of an epic struggle between the two polities that began in the 1500s and continued until the Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-1826. Control of trade was one of the central factors motivating this centuries-long conflict. It was the very strength and wealth of the Siamese kingdom, not its alleged weakness, that motivated the Burmese invaders, who hoped to strike a blow that would knock Ayutthaya out of contention as the trading hub of mainland Southeast Asia.
Yenangyaung and Its Twinza : The Burmese Indigenous "Earth-Oil" Industry Re-examined
Authors: Longmuir Marilyn
Published: April 2011

In the early nineteenth century, the indigenous oil industry at Yenangyaung may have been the largest in the world. The article summarizes and evaluates the descriptions of nineteenth and early twentieth century European observers, with special attention to the pre-colonial uses of the oil, the legends about the site, the local institutions governing ownership of the wells, the indigenous methods of oil extraction, and the Europeans' estimates of production levels.
Venerating the Buddha's Remains in Burma: From Solitary Practice to the Cultural Hegemony of Communities
Authors: Schober Juliane
Published: April 2011

The veneration of Buddha relics and images is a neglected, yet central organizing principle of Theravada culture and religious practice. My essay is informed by a historised understanding of Eliade's hierophany, a manifestation of a universal Buddhist sacred reality that defines and identifies cultural orders at the centers of local, historical contexts. I further rely on Bells' work on ritual and Gramsci's writings on hegemony to describe Burmese veneration of the Buddha's remains in diverse social and religious contexts. These range from the solitary practice, meditation and personal service in the Ananda mode to the Royal mode that defines social hierarchy in public rituals and expresses socioreligious aspirations of individuals and communities through culturally salient metaphors.
A Glimpse into the Traditional Martial Arts in Burma
Authors: Martin Michael F.
Published: April 2011

The traditional martial arts are an aspect of Burmese culture that has been virtually ignored by Burma scholars. Yet these martial arts have a rich heritage dating back to the early days of Burma. Historic events, religion, political necessities, and, more have shaped them recently into economic realities. The traditional martial art came close to extinction during the British colonial period, but was revived during the Japanese occupation. In past times, they were utilized for warfare and self-defense. Today the self-defense element remains, while the combat element has been transformed into sports and artistic cultural expression. The present economic conditions and the spread of foreign martial arts pose a current threat to the survival of the Burmese traditional martial arts and require the attention of Burma scholars to document this important component of the historic cultural identity of Burma.
Germans in Burma, 1837-1945
Authors: Zöllner Hans-Bernd
Published: April 2011

This article gives an account of the Germans who lived in Burma or who visited the country between the beginnings of British rule in 1826 and the end of World War II. After surveying German-Burmese relations from 1826 until today, the manifold German engagement in Burma before World War I is detailed. This engagement was followed by a sharp decline in the number of Germans living in the country other than for short periods between the two great wars. After World War II, on the German side, there was almost no memory of German activities in Burma left. By contrast, the Burmese kept and keep this memory very much alive.
A Preliminary Study of Burmese Prophetic Sayings
Authors: Tun Saw
Published: April 2011

The Burmese people are known to be superstitious in many ways. One is a belief in prophetic sayings known as tabaun [inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="01i" /]. This paper explains how in the past, people placed importance on these prophetic sayings. It describes how learned Buddhist monks have reminded people not to be influenced by them. Rather, they should be concerned with their kamma .
The Coming of the "Future King": Burmese Minlaung Expectations Before and During the Second World War
Authors: Prager Susanne
Published: April 2011

Throughout the history of Burma we come across rebellions often led by so-called "future kings," minlaungs . In western historiography, minlaung -movements are usually attributed to the pre-colonial past, whereas rebellions and movements occurring during the British colonial period are conceived of as proto-nationalist in character and thus an indication of the westernizing process. In this article, the notion of minlaung and concomitant ideas about rebellion and the magical-spiritual forces involved are explained against the backdrop of Burmese-Buddhist culture. It is further shown how these ideas persisted and gained momentum before and during World War II and how they affected the western educated nationalists, especially Aung San whose political actions fit into the cultural pattern of the career of a minlaung .
Min Ko Naing, "Conqueror Of Kings" Burma's Student Leader
Authors: Clymer Megan
Published: April 2011

During the democracy uprising in 1988, Paw Oo Htun, whose nom de guerre , Min Ko Naing, means Conqueror of Kings, emerged as one of the movement's most prominent student leaders. Together with other student leaders, he revived the umbrella students' organization, the All Burma Federation of Student Unions. Today, while serving out a twenty year prison sentence, Min Ko Naing remains a symbol of the Burmese student movement. In this essay, interviews with close friends and student colleagues help document his story.
The Self-Conscious Censor: Censorship in Burma under the British, 1900-1939
Authors: Larkin Emma
Published: April 2011

It is often assumed that censorship was not used to any great degree by British authorities in Burma. Yet, by looking at the way the British colonial government reacted to a variety of media including traditional Burmese drama, western blockbuster movies, and Burmese political pamphlets agitating against colonial rule, it is possible to see that censorship was very much a part of the British administration. British authorities censored pamphlets, books, dramas, and movies not only to contain political thought contrary to colonialism, but also to control the image of British officials as seen in the eyes of the Burmese.
Deep Change?: Burmese Wall Paintings from the Eleventh to the Nineteenth Centuries
Authors: Green Alexandra
Published: April 2011

This article will compare the narrative constructions of early (eleventh to thirteenth centuries) and late (seventeenth to early nineteenth centuries) Burmese wall paintings to determine whether or not "deep change" has occurred. Although many of the same stories were depicted in the murals during both time periods, the method by which the visual stories were portrayed changed from an emphasis upon iconic imagery to an exploration of narrative process. By analyzing the narrative modes employed during the two periods, the emphases of each are revealed. The changes that occurred in the Burmese murals most likely relate to the increasing orthodoxy of Burmese Theravada Buddhism and strengthening crown control over the country. Because the teleological purpose of the murals remains virtually identical, however, it is argued that no "deep change" occurred in the murals between the eleventh and nineteenth centuries.
The 'Traditional' High Status of Women in Burma: A Historical Reconsideration
Authors: Ikeya Chie
Published: April 2011

This article traces the genealogy of a persistent cultural stereo-type that has long defined and constituted academic and popular knowledge about Burma and, more broadly, Southeast Asia: the "traditional" high status of women. Although Southeast Asia scholars today generally concur that claims about the high status of women in the region are oversimplified and problematic, postcolonial scholars of Burma largely have perpetuated the discourse of gender equality, which has deterred any attempt to complicate conceptualizations of gender relations and hierarchies in historical Burma. This study investigates the process whereby the "traditional" autonomy of Burmese women was constructed in opposition to the likewise "traditional" subordinate status of women in South Asia and in contestation of the superiority of European culture and society. It argues that this "tradition" is a product of the multivalent representational practice by colonizing and colonized women and men in unequal relations of power who coauthored essentially and powerfully gendered discourses of colonialism, modernization, and nationalism. This article concludes by suggesting possible ways to move beyond the practice of enshrining persistent and monolithic cultural stereotypes as essential components of Southeast Asian history and to engender scholarship of the region firmly located within, not isolated from, specific and complex historical contexts.
Specialists for Ritual, Magic, and Devotion: The Court Brahmins ( Punna ) of the Konbaung Kings (1752-1885)
Authors: Leider Jacques P.
Published: April 2011

Though they formed an essential part of Burmese court life, the Brahmins have hitherto attracted no scholarly interest outside Burma. Based on a study of royal orders and administrative compendia as well as recent Burmese research, this article1 gives for the first time an overview of the origins, the ritual and ceremonial functions and the organization of the punna. The main section is preceded by an overview of sources and research questions. Special emphasis is given in the last part to the noteworthy role played by punna in King Bodawphaya's reform policies.
Two Bullets in a Balustrade: How the Burmese Have Been Removed from Northern Thai Buddhist History
Authors: McDaniel Justin
Published: April 2011

This article questions the way the Burmese period of Northern Thailand has been depicted by Thai and international scholars. The Burmese have generally been described as violent invaders whose rule ushered in an era of decline in Buddhist practice and learning. This period of more than two hundred years (1551-1772) has been classified as one of destruction, oppression, and intellectual stagnation. The Burmese, it is stated repeatedly, destroyed the "golden age" of Northern Thai Buddhist literature. However, epigraphic, codicological, economic, and archaeological evidence does not indicate that the period of Burmese rule in the region was particularly devastating, especially for Buddhist practice and the production of manuscripts. I ask us to question the history of Burmese violence that has been written by historians of Thailand. I argue that scholars need to refrain from a study of regional history that employs sweeping periodization, ethnic branding, and a selective gathering of evidence from Burmese, Yuan, or Siamese sources primarily. We also need to refrain from seeing Burma as one place and its military, monks, nuns, and laity as a single entity. In the postscript, I offer a short reflection on the way violence toward the Burmese is depicted at a Thai Buddhist monastery.
'It Has Now Passed For Ever Into Our Hands': Lord Curzon and the Construction of Imperial Heritage in Colonial Burma
Authors: Keck Stephen L.
Published: April 2011

Lord Curzon's ultimately successful effort to save the Palace of Mandalay from misuse and neglect constitutes a good example of imperial heritage building. The palace itself had already been the site for the construction of heritage as the Konbaung dynasty drew upon earlier models of Burmese kingship and Buddhist cosmology to use the palace (and royal capital) to help proclaim its power and legitimacy. However, after the Third Anglo-Burman War, the combination of the removal of the Konbaung dynasty and the British occupation of the palace resulted in the decay of the buildings, leading British travel writers to complain about their condition. In 1901, Lord Curzon evicted the British over substantial objections and began the process of preserving the palace. Curzon's aims reflected both his experience in India and the debate over historic preservation and restoration. Ultimately, Curzon came down on both sides: restoring some features of the palace while preserving others. Preserving the palace was a means of making the positive aspects of British rule visible; it also had the effect of removing the Konbaung dynasty from the present and consigning them to history.
Festivalizing Thingyan, Negotiating Ethnicity: Burmese Chinese Migrants in Taiwan
Authors: Lu Hsin-chun Tasaw
Published: April 2011

Cultural performances at ethnic festivals in an immigrant context are often seen to represent the ideologies of ethnic identity tied to the performers' ancestral homeland. This article examines how Burmese people of Chinese descent (hereafter Burmese Chinese) in Taiwan negotiate their ethnic identity between pan-Burmese and pan-Chinese models as exemplified in their presentation of a Burmese festival called Thingyan. The author's objective is to pinpoint some issues in the representation of diasporic ethnicity and the politics of return migration. Return migrants have returned to their ancestral homeland after having been settled in foreign countries for generations, entangling complex ethnic politics, in which the identification with a home is frequently contestable. The issues discussed touch on a range of domains, in particular the study of diaspora, performances, and cultural tourism, with a primary disciplinary orientation in ethnomusicology. The emphasis on "festivalizing" is on the festive and celebratory aspect of these events through which Burmese Chinese have successfully promoted their ethnic identity in their new home: Taiwan. By analyzing the festival's performances, this case study aims to theorize the ethnic politics of returning migrants, as well as to examine the ethnic performances at sites where identities are negotiated and shaped. These identities are indeed subject to the ever-changing representations and interpretations of groups and individuals within ethnic politics at the different levels embedded in their double diasporic experiences.