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Selected AbstractsRobotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: Learning curve of first 100 casesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 7 2010Yen Chuan Ou Objective: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is gaining popularity for treating localized prostate cancer. We aimed to analyze the learning curve of a single surgeon using RALP in Taiwan. Methods: Medical records of 100 consecutive patients who underwent RALP were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative, perioperative and postoperative parameters between patients in the first 30 cases (Group I), the second 30 cases (Group II) and cases 61,100 (Group III) undergoing RALP were analyzed. Results: Console time was shorter and blood loss was reduced in Groups II and III compared with Group I. Significant differences were found in vesicourethral anastomosis time (46.38 min for Group I vs 31.0 min for Group II vs 27 min for Group III, P < 0.01). Postoperative stay became statistically significantly shorter, from 7.33 days for Group I to 3.93 days for Group II to 3.0 days for Group III. Positive surgical margin of pT2 was reduced (13.3% for Group I, 7.1% for Group II and 0% for Group III) but not of pT3 (86.7% for Group I, 75% for Group II and 62.9% for Group III). Continence rate at 3 months was higher in Groups II (95%) and III (96.6%) than in Group 1 (76.7%, P < 0.05). Conclusions: For every 30 cases of RALP, vesicourethral anastomosis time and postoperative stay were significantly shorter. However, the incidence of surgical margin in pT3 prostate cancer was not significantly reduced. A learning curve of more than 100 cases is required to decrease the positive surgical margin in pT3 tumors. [source] Impact of Systematic Isolation of Superior Vena Cava in Addition to Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation on the Outcome of Paroxysmal, Persistent, and Permanent Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Results from a Randomized StudyJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010ANDREA CORRADO M.D. Impact of the Systematic Isolation of the Superior Vena Cava.,Background: Pulmonary veins (PVs) have been shown to represent the most frequent sites of ectopic beats initiating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, additional non-PV triggers, arising from different areas, have been reported as well. One of the most common non-PV sites described is the superior vena cava. Aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact resulting from the systematic isolation of the superior vena cava (SVCI) in addition to pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) on the outcome of paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent AF ablation. Methods: A total of 320 consecutive patients who had been referred to our center in order to undergo a first attempt of AF ablation were randomized into 2 groups. Group I (160 patients) underwent PVAI only; Group II (160 patients) underwent PVAI and SVCI. Results: AF was paroxysmal in 134 (46%), persistent in 75 (23%), and permanent in 111 (31%) of said patients. SVCI was performed on 134 of the 160 patients (84%) in Group II. SVC isolation was not performed on the remaining 26 patients either because of phrenic nerve capture or the lack of SVC potentials. Comparison of the outcome data between the 2 groups, after a follow-up of 12 months, revealed a significant difference in total procedural success solely with patients manifesting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (56/73 [77%] Group I vs. 55/61 [90%] Group II; P = 0.04; OR 2.78). Conclusions: In our study, the strategy of the empiric SVCI in addition to PVAI has improved the outcome of AF ablation solely in patients manifesting paroxysmal AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 1,5, January 2010) [source] Optical and infrared photometry of new very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the , Orionis clusterASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 9 2004V. J. S. Béjar Abstract We present an RI photometric survey covering an area of 430 arcmin2 around the multiple star , Orionis. The observations were conducted with the 0.8 m IAC-80 Telescope at the Teide Observatory. The survey limiting R and I magnitudes are 22.5 and 21, and completeness magnitudes 21 and 20, respectively. We have selected 53 candidates from the I vs. R,I colour-magnitude diagram (I = 14,20) that follow the previously known photometric sequence of the cluster. Adopting an age of 2,4 Myr for the cluster, we find that these objects span a mass range from 0.35 M, to 0.015 M,. We have performed J -band photometry of 52 candidates and Ks photometry for 12 of them, with the result that 50 follow the expected infrared sequence for the cluster, thus confirming with great confidence that the majority of the candidates are bona fide members. JHKs photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) is available for 50 of the candidates and are in good agreement with our data. Out of 48 candidates, which have photometric accuracies better than 0.1 mag in all bands, only three appear to show near-infrared excesses. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Increased testicular 8-hydroxy-2,-deoxyguanosine in patients with varicoceleBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2007Tomomoto Ishikawa OBJECTIVES To assess immunohistochemically 8-hydroxy-2,-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a sensitive biological marker of oxidative damage and stress) in testicular tissue from patients with varicocele, to determine whether 8-OHdG is related to spermatogenesis, as oxidative stress in testicular DNA is associated with poor semen quality and reduced fertility. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS Testicular tissue samples were collected from the testes of 36 patients with varicocele and five normal volunteers. The mean (sd) age of the patients was 35.3 (5.4) years. The prevalence of immunostained germ cells among all the germ cells in >20 seminiferous tubules was calculated. RESULTS The mean (sd) sperm concentration and Johnsen's score in the varicocele group was lower than in the normal group, at 27.6 (11.8) vs 80.4 (21.7) million/mL (P < 0.001) and 7.6 (1.1) vs 9.0 (0.7), respectively (P < 0.05). In all patients, 8-OHdG was mainly expressed in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubule. Immunostained germ cells correlated negatively with sperm concentration (r = ,0.48, P = 0.01) and Johnsen's score (r = ,0.46, P = 0.02), but not with follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone or testosterone level. Immunostained germ cells were significantly more prevalent in the varicocele group, at 53.6 (5.7)%, than that in the normal group, at 14.3 (2.3)% (P < 0.001). The prevalence of immunostained germ cells and clinical grades were positively related; the ratio recorded for varicocele grades I, II and III was 38.0 (10.0)%, 41.0 (9.1)%, and 57.0 (9.3)%, respectively (grade I vs grade III, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Increased 8-OHdG expression in the testis was associated with deficient spermatogenesis in infertile men with varicocele. [source] Histological assessment of augmented jaw bone utilizing a new collagen barrier membrane compared to a standard barrier membrane to protect a granular bone substitute materialCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2002A randomized clinical trial Abstract: Successful bone augmentation requires predictable space maintenance and adequate exclusion of those cells that lack osteogenetic potential from the defect area. Natural bone mineral is considered to be osteoconductive and is used as space maker in combination with membrane barrier techniques. The aim of this study was to compare qualitative histological results achieved by using deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) as a space maintainer and a new collagen barrier (OssixÔ, test group) vs. the same bone substitute and the standard e-PTFE membrane (Gore-Tex®, control group). Twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to the test or the control group. Seven months after augmentation procedures, biopsies were obtained at reentry and were analysed histomorphometrically. In all, 14 specimens of group I (test group, OssixÔ) and 13 specimens of group II (controls, PTFE-membranes) showed close qualitative similarity of their histologies. Histomorphometrically, total mineralized bone area was 42% ± 18% in group I vs. 39% ± 15% in group II. The unmineralized tissue area was 44% ± 15% vs. 46% ± 12% and the area of DBBM remnants 14% ± 9% and 15% ± 12%, respectively. The differences were statistically nonsignificant (Mann,Whitney test). The occurrence of barrier exposure did not interfere with the histological outcome either in the test or in the control group. The new collagen barrier combined with the DBBM provided qualitative bone regeneration comparable to the standard e-PTFE material combined with the same mineral. [source] |