Publications by authors named "Shirli Homburg"

Laparoscopic removal is widely accepted as the treatment of choice for dermoid tumors. However, the spillage of dermoid content with the laparoscopic approach is very high compared to laparotomy. The potential malignancy of dermoid tumors and the rare, but difficult to treat, chemical peritonitis in cases of spillage of dermoid content should lead to an adaptation of procedures during an endoscopic operation on a dermoid tumor to comply with the precautions of the "open" technique.

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We have recently reported that human soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme with a novel phosphatase enzymatic activity. Based on a structural relationship with other members of the haloacid dehalogenase superfamily, the sEH N-terminal phosphatase domain revealed four conserved sequence motifs, including the proposed catalytic nucleophile D9, and several other residues potentially implicated in substrate turnover and/or Mg(2+) binding. To enlighten the catalytic mechanism of dephosphorylation, we constructed sEH phosphatase active-site mutants by site-directed mutagenesis.

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We investigated the feasibility and outcome of adhesiolysis in patients with severe and reccurent adhesions using lift (gasless) laparoscopy and a SprayGel adhesion barrier at the Institute for Endoscopic Gynecology (EndoGyn). The design included a prospective evaluation of lift (gasless) laparoscopic adhesiolysis in combination with a SprayGel adhesion barrier. A new score for bowel adhesions was developed and applied.

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The objective of this Chapter was to investigate the feasibility and outcome of gasless laparoscopy under regional anesthesia. A prospective evaluation of Lift-(gasless) laparoscopic procedures under regional anesthesia (Canadian Task Force classification II-1) was done at three endoscopic gynecology centers (franchise system of EndGyn(r)). Sixty-three patients with gynecological diseases comprised the cohort.

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In this study, laparoscopic hysterectomy was done with a special lift system that elevates the abdominal wall without carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation. During this procedure, bipolar diathermy scissors also were used, which disconnected the uterus from its vessels and ligaments. The uterus was then removed through the vagina.

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The mammalian soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is an enzyme with multiple functions, being implicated in detoxification of xenobiotic epoxides as well as in regulation of physiological processes such as blood pressure. The enzyme is a homodimer, in which each subunit is composed of two domains. The 35-kDa C-terminal domain has an alpha/beta hydrolase fold and harbors the catalytic center for the EH activity.

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