Erratum to: Efficacy and safety of piascledine 300 versus chondroitin sulfate in a 6 months treatment plus 2 months observation in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee

Clinical Rheumatology -     

Reactivity of white blood cell flux to hyperoxia in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Purpose: The aetiology of the apparently vasoocclusive phenomena in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐related retinopathy is not well understood. Several hypotheses, including infectious damage of the retinal vasculature and altered retinal haemodynamics, have been postulated. Direct measurement of oxygen tension in the retina is not possible in vivo and indirect methods have to be employed. The objective of this study was to investigate the retinal vascular response to 100% oxygen breathing in patients with HIV. Methods: Twelve patients infected with HIV and 12 healthy individuals, matched for age, sex and smoking habits, were studied in an open study using the blue‐field entoptic technique for the measurement of retinal white blood cell (WBC) flux. Reactivity in retinal blood flow during 100% O₂ breathing over 15 min was measured and expressed as percentage change over baseline. Results: WBC velocity during oxygen inhalation decreased over baseline by 9.0 ± 5.8% in HIV‐infected patients and by 18.6 ± 5.4% in healthy participants (p < 0.04 between groups, anova ). The decrease in WBC velocity was paralleled by a decrease in WBC density. This decrease tended to be more pronounced in healthy participants (13.6 ± 7.9%) than in HIV‐infected patients (8.0 ± 10.8%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.1 between groups, anova ). WBC flux decrease was 16.2 ± 11.4% in HIV‐infected patients and 29.5 ± 9.5% in the control group and was significant between groups (p = 0.007 between groups, anova ). Conclusion: Our results indicate a reduced reactivity of WBC flux to systemic hyperoxia in patients with HIV. Whether abnormal retinal haemodynamics in HIV‐infected persons contributes to the pathogenesis of HIV‐related microvascular diseases or is a consequence of the structural changes associated with the disease is unknown.     

Ovarian tumor in a 12‐year old female with severe hypothyroidism: A case of Van Wyk and Grumbach syndrome

We report a 12‐year‐old female presenting with an abdominal tumor. Diagnostic workup revealed giant bilateral ovarian cysts, severe hypothyroidism as well as an elevation of CA 125. We refrained from ovariectomy, which would be necessary for a malignant tumor, in view of an evident Van Wyk and Grumbach syndrome. The patient promptly responded to L ‐thyroxine with complete regression of all symptoms. Hypothyroidism should be considered in the evaluation of ovarian cysts. Although the Van Wyk and Grumbach syndrome is rare, it is crucial to rule it out in order to avoid unnecessary ovarian surgery when thyroid replacement is completely sufficient. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:677–679. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Review on aspects of artificial tactile feedback in laparoscopic surgery

Since direct manual tissue palpation is not possible in laparoscopic surgery, feedback information on tactile tissue properties is considerably diminished. Restoring part of the surgeon's sense of touch through devices capable of providing artificial tactile feedback (ATF) is an active field of applied research and development.Despite more than two decades of research, technical development of such devices is still basic, and pre-clinical as well as clinical experience is limited. This article provides an overview of the technological aspects of ATF in laparoscopic surgery, gives background information on principles of human perception of related feedback information, and reviews current research attempts in the field of ATF systems in laparoscopic surgery, broken down into three main system components: tactile sensor, display, and data processing.Tactile sensors have been developed to measure tissue compliance, reveal hidden structures or foreign bodies in tissue through measurement of pressure distribution, and to identify and locate arteries by detecting their pulsation. Furthermore, different solutions for presenting tactile data to the surgeon have been developed. Visual and auditory displays are easy to implement into the operating room equipment, while tactile displays still suffer from difficulties concerning their performance and requirements for clinical usability. The role of the data processing system as the linking component in an artificial tactile feedback system has been identified as crucial for effectiveness of the system and easy reception of tactile data by the surgeon.The investigations on theoretical and technological foundations of ATF have led to an extensive database in recent years. An application-driven development approach will likely be a driving factor in the future evolution of this field.