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Biomedical subjects

D Minh

Publications and source records attributed to D Minh.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

[Laparoscopic surgery in urology: Taining and education].

Relatively long learning curves and, therefore, initially longer operating times compared to conventional procedures are still a matter of debate. Today, there are numerous possibilities for learning laparoscopic techniques and establishing one's own laparoscopic programs, including various pelvitrainers and virtual reality computer programs. One useful and realistic way involves "wet lab" training programs for ablative and reconstructive procedures using the pig model. Today, laparoscopic urological surgery includes procedures with low (e.g. laparoscopy for undescended testicles), intermediate (laparoscopic pyeloplasty) and high level (laparoscopic/endoscopic prostatectomy) complexity. Therefore, laparoscopy should be an integral part of training in urology. A defined number of possibly multi-institutional training centers with well structured educational programs are needed. The main goal should be the standardization of surgical procedures as well as educational training programs in order to shorten individual learning curves and generate common quality standards.

Animals↗

Depressed classical complement pathway activities in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Haemolytic activities of the classical and alternative complement pathways, and levels of C1, C4, C3, factor B and C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) were measured in 85 serum samples from 46 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Significantly decreased mean C1 and C4 levels were found, and the haemolytic activities of these components were low or low normal in more than 50% of the sera tested. In 15 sera from 5 patients a complement profile characteristic of acquired C1-IHN deficiency was observed. These results indicate that the depression of the activity of the classical complement pathway is a frequently occurring feature in CLL.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Acquired C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency and recurrent herpes infection in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Profound hypocomplementemia was observed in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. On the basis of the results of complement measurements performed in nine serum samples taken in a period of 6 mo it was demonstrated that the patient had an acquired form of C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency: marked reduction of CH50, C1, C4, and C1-esterase inhibitor levels with normal alternative pathway, C3, and factor B activities were found. The patient had no typical attacks of angioneurotic edema; however, angioedema-like facial swelling was observed on several occasions in connection with recurrent severe herpes simplex eruptions. The possible association of the marked and long-lasting hypocomplementemia with the clinical course of the herpes infection is discussed.

Angioedema↗