The results from the current series show single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy to be a promising technique. A variety of patient demographics appear suited to this approach. The operative time in this series compares favorably with that for the standard four-port operation. The feasibility of single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now established. However, routine application of this novel technique requires an evaluation of its safety and cost effectiveness in larger studies. In addition, its superiority over standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of postoperative pain, cosmesis, and overall patient satisfaction requires further study. Refinements in instrumentation will enable wider use of this novel minimally invasive approach.

Looks at the implementation of total productive maintenance (TPM) at one South African mill and attempts to establish the influence that this journey has had on productivity, employee development, quality improvement and organisational change within the manufacturing unit. A literature survey was undertaken into the methodologies, including a look at the so-called``soft issues'' or people issues to evaluate the benefits of adopting a TPM strategy. Questionnaires were also sent out to a sample of selected people at all levels of the organisation to find out their views on the methodology being used. Concludes that this journey has been successful in spite of the difficulties specific to South Africa. The final objective of this research was to establish whether the implementation of this process had resulted in change within the mill. Increases in productivity, quality and a reduction in the cost of producing the product resulted in the mill winning a gold award from the National Productivity Institute.

Mutations at the cytokinin biosynthesis locus (tmr) of Agrobacterium tumefaciens usually result in strains that induce tumors exhibiting the rooty phenotype associated with high auxin-tocytokinin ratios. However, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Havana 425) leaf disc explants responded to t m f mutant strain A356 by producing rapidly growing, unorganized tumors, indicating that these lines can grow in a cytokinin-independent fashion despite the absence of a functional tmr gene. Severa1 methods have been used to characterize the physiological and cellular basis of this phenotype. The results indicate that tmr-tumors have a physiologically distinct mechanism for cytokinin-independent growth in comparison to tumors induced by wild-type bacteria. l h e cytokinin-independent phenotype of the tmr-transformants appears to be cell autonomous in nature: only the transformed cells and their progeny were capable of cytokinin-independent growth. Specifically, the tmr-tumors did not accumulate cytokinin, and clonal analysis indicated the tmr--transformed cells were not capable of stimulating the growth of neighboring nontransformed cells. Finally, the cytokinin-independent phenotype of the tmr-transformants was shown to be cold sensitive, whereas the wild-type tumors exhibited a cold-resistant cytokinin-independent phenotype. Potential mechanisms for this nove1 form of cytokinin-independent growth, including the role of the dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucosides found in both tumor types, are discussed.

This injury pattern is uncommonly reported in the literature. An appropriate index of suspicion must be maintained or there may be a delay in diagnosis. Management of these injuries requires coordinated care between the trauma service, urology, and physical therapy.