OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess our clinical experience with single-port access (SPA) laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy and the surgical outcomes of those procedures at our institution. METHODS: The authors evaluated the surgical outcomes of SPA laparoscopic cystectomy in 293 patients and SPA laparoscopic myomectomy in 246 patients. The surgical outcomes comprised operation time, the amount of blood loss during the operation, the change in hemoglobin (before and after the operation), the change in hematocrit (before and after the operation), switching to the multi-port access method, complications, transfusions, and the duration of the postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation coefficient and the Spearman correlation coefficient between the operation time and the amount of blood loss were 0.312 and 0.321 for SPA laparoscopic cystectomy, respectively, and 0.706 and 0.674 for SPA laparoscopic myomectomy, respectively. The drops in hemoglobin and hematocrit were 1.33~0.78 g/dL and 4.14%~2.45%, respectively, in SPA laparoscopic cystectomy, while the corresponding figures were 1.34~1.13 g/dL and 4.17%~3.24% in SPA laparoscopic myomectomy, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study reported the surgical outcomes of SPA laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy and compared them to previously published findings on traditional laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy. No significant differences were found in the surgical outcomes between SPA and traditional laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy.
Cystectomy* ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Uterine Myomectomy

OBJECTIVES: We compared the effects of a 1,500 ppm fluoride-containing toothpaste and a 1,000 ppm fluoride-containing toothpaste, which were revised up to the recent revision, and evaluated their effects on the tooth surface after adding bamboo salt to the preparations. METHODS: Experimental early artificial caries specimens were subjected to one of four treatments (n=12 per treatment group): 1,500 ppm NaF, 2% bamboo salt+1,000 ppm NaF, 1,000 ppm NaF, and control treatment. The specimens were exposed to the experimental toothpaste, artificial saliva, and demineralized solution. The treated specimens were analyzed using Vickers surface hardness testing, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. RESULTS: The toothpaste with a high fluoride concentration (1,500 ppm NaF) showed more remineralization than did the toothpaste with a low fluoride concentration (1,000 ppm NaF). The 2% bamboo salt+1,000 ppm NaF group showed remineralization similar to the 1,500 ppm NaF group and higher surface microhardness than the 1,000 ppm NaF group. CONCLUSIONS: Toothpastes containing 1,500 ppm NaF have a higher preventive effect against dental caries than do toothpastes containing 1,000 ppm NaF. The addition of bamboo salt to fluoride-containing dentifrices improves their effectiveness in preventing dental caries.
Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel* ; Dentifrices ; Fluorides ; Hardness Tests ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Saliva, Artificial ; Tooth ; Toothpastes*

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with ovarian malignant germ cell tumor. METHODS: We reviewed records of women who had malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary from 1991-2000. RESULTS: Thirty-seven women had surgical resections of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors and most received adjuvant therapy. Twenty-five women (68%) presented with stage I disease, and 12 (32%) had more advanced disease. Histology subtypes were: immature teratoma (n=16), dysgerminoma (n=9), yolk sac tumor (n=8), choriocarcinoma (n=2), embryonal carcinoma (n=1), and mixed germ cell tumor (n=1). The frequency of positive tumor markers were aFP, CA-125, beta-hCG, CA 19-9 and LDH in decreasing order. The mean age of the patients at presentation was 23.9 years (4-58). Surgical management of the 32 patients consisted of unilateral oophorectomy, or salpingo-oophorectomy, 1 woman with stage III disease underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and 4 women underwent total abdominal hysterctomy, bilateral or unilateral adnexectomy. Thirty-two women were treated with adjuvant combination chemotherapy (BEP, VAC, VBP) according to indications. The 5-year survival rate was 100%, and 5-year disease-free rate was 91.8%. Among twelve patients who attempted pregnancy, 8 succeeded in it and delivered normal full term babies. CONCLUSION: Current therapeutic strategies can allow most women with ovarian malignant germ cell tumors to have conservative surgery without compromising survival and to preserve their reproductive potential.
Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Choriocarcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Dysgerminoma ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells* ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary* ; Pregnancy ; Survival Rate ; Teratoma ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Hyperkalemia is a common adverse effect of treatment for heart failure and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The cardiac manifestations of hyperkalemia include various electrocardiogram changes. We describe a case of a 74-year-old woman with heart failure and permanent atrial fibrillation who reverted to normal sinus rhythm during recovery from hyperkalemia.
Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia