Correction to: Influence of oral anticoagulation on success rates and risk of bleeding events after iStent inject implantation combined with phacoemulsification

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - The published online version contains mistake as the author's first name and last name have been interchanged as "Hild...     

Aluminiumoxidkeramik in der rekonstruktiven Nasenchirurgie. Histologische Untersuchungen am Kaninchen

Summary In cases where a reconstruction of defects in the larynx, oral cavity, the pharynx or in the ear region has been performed using skin flaps, a temporary fistula is formed at the point of entry.This fistula can be closed later after the flap has taken and the flap pedicle dissected.We would like to demonstrate with some examples that with the use of deepithelisation it is possible to achieve a primary wound closure. This way no temporary fistula results and additional surgery is avoided in many cases.Furthermore flap deepithelisation offers a way to bring good vascularised tissue under the skin and cover subcutaneous defects, for example those after radiotherapy.

---

---

Die Veröffentlichung des Manuskripts soll in Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg) erfolgen     

Extension to the ultrasonic study of supra- and subphrenic spaces of plate-shaped probes initially destined for intracavitary sonography. Research on thoraco-abdominal fluid collections in non-mobilizable patients

The authors describe an original application of real time transducers--initially intended for intracavitary sonography--in thoraco-abdominal scanning. The stic-form probe can be easily slipped under the patient. It is then possible to realize a scan with an upward beam. In the postero-anterior scan, the patient is placed in a supine position. He is motionless. We achieve a better visualization of the liquid collections, since their accumulation is declivious. The method allows a wider sonographic window for thoraco-abdominal and diaphragmatic investigation in sonography.     

Effectiveness and Prognostic Factors of Radiotherapy for Painful Plantar Heel Spurs

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The efficacy of radiation treatment (RT) for plantar heel pain has been reported repeatedly. Yet, the results referring to the pain relief rate, to long-term effects and prognostic factors are not consistent. In this paper, the effectiveness (pain relief rate and long-term results) and prognostic factors of RT for plantar heel pain have been investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to October 2000, 62 patients (73 heels) with painful plantar heel spurs and a minimum pain history of 3 months were treated and evaluated in a prospective study. Mean age was 54 years (range 28-84 years). All patients were treated with a total dose of 5 Gy in seven fractions (= one series), given twice a week at a single-dose sequence of 0.25-0.25-0.5-1.0-1.0-1.0-1.0 Gy (10-MV photons, source-skin distance [SSD] 100 cm, direct portal, field size 12 x 17 cm). The mean duration of heel pain before RT was 26 weeks (= 6.5 months; range 3-120 months). By means of a visual analog scale (VAS) the patients had to self-assess the quantity of their heel pain once before, three times during and four times after RT at a longterm median follow-up of 28 and 40 months. Additionally, the patients had to assess their mechanical heel stress extent during RT. Effectiveness was estimated according to the patients' judgment of pain reduction. RESULTS: A significant reduction of heel pain extent measured by VAS has been observed already during the RT series (before RT: 6.3 +/- 1.5 vs. 3.8 +/- 2.1 at the end of RT; p < 0.001). 6 weeks after RT (FU 1) pain reduction (> 20%) was achieved in 60 heels (82.3%; n = 73), in 64 heels (91.4%; n = 70) after a mean follow-up of 28 months (FU 2), and in 61 heels (89.7%; n = 68) after a mean follow-up of 40 months (FU 3), respectively. Sufficient pain relief (> 80% compared to initial extent) was observed in 18/73 heels (24.6%) at FU 1 (FU 2: 42/70; 60.0%; FU 3: 37/68; 54.4%), including 13/73 heels (17.8%) with complete pain relief (FU 2: 39/70; 55.7%; FU 3: 36/68; 52.9%). Partial improvement (50-80% pain reduction) was observed in 27/73 heels (37.0%) at FU 1 (FU 2: 14/70; 20.0%; FU 3: 15/68; 22.1%), and minor partial improvement (20-50% pain reduction) in 15/73 heels (20.5%) at FU 1 (FU 2: 8/70; 11.4%; FU 3: 9/68; 13.2%), respectively. No change was seen in 13/73 heels (17.8%) at FU 1 (FU 2: 6/70; 8.6%; FU 3: 7/68; 10.3%). Older patients (p = 0.04) and patients who avoided heel stress during the period of RT (p < 0.01) demonstrated a better short-term response (FU 1); both effects were lost 28 and 40 months after RT. Moreover, significant differences in the extent of heel pain reduction by RT were observed in dependence on previous pain duration (at FU 2-3). CONCLUSION: The results confirm the high efficacy of RT in painful plantar spur and add new aspects to formerly published data concerning the time course of changes in heel pain reduction. Pain relief can be expected during and shortly after RT. In addition, the initial success can be transformed into effective long-term results > 2 years after RT; however, further improvement is not to be expected. As a new prognostic factor, the reduction of mechanical heel stress during RT may ameliorate the short-term results, whereas short heel pain history improves the long-term results. Especially for older patients, RT should be taken into consideration as primary treatment.     

An XPS and SEM evaluation of six chemical and physical techniques for cleaning of contaminated titanium implants

The purpose of the present study was to analyse clinically failed and retrieved implants prior to and after cleaning by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as compared to unused controls. Six different chemical and physical techniques for cleaning of contaminated titanium implants were evaluated: 1) rinsing in absolute ethanol for 10 min, 2) cleaning in ultrasonic baths containing trichloroethylene (TRI) and absolute ethanol, 10 min in each solution, 3) abrasive cleaning for 30 s, 4) cleaning in supersaturated citric acid for 30 s, 5) cleaning with continuous CO2-laser in dry conditions at 5 W for 10 s, 6) cleaning with continuous CO2-laser in wet conditions (saline) at 5 W for 10 s. SEM of failed implants showed the presence of contaminants of varying sizes and XPS showed almost no titanium but high carbon signals. XPS of unused titanium implants showed lower levels of titanium as previously reported, probably due to contamination of carbon which increased with time in room air. Cleaning of used implants in citric acid followed by rinsing with deionized water for 5 min followed by cleaning in ultrasonic baths with TRI and absolute ethanol gave the best results with regard to macroscopical appearance and surface composition. However, as compared to the unused implants the results from an element composition point of view were still unsatisfactory. It is concluded that further development and testing of techniques for cleaning of organically contaminated titanium is needed.     

Screening for major depression in persons with HIV infection: the concurrent predictive validity of the Profile of Mood States Depression‐Dejection Scale

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is among the most prevalent but underdiagnosed psychiatric disorders in persons with HIV infection. Given the known adverse impact of comorbid MDD on HIV disease progression and health‐related quality of life, it is important both for research and for efficient, effective clinical care, to validate existing screening measures that may discriminate between MDD and the somatic symptoms of HIV (such as fatigue). In the current study, we evaluated the concurrent predictive validity of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Depression‐Dejection scale in detecting current MDD in 310 persons with HIV infection. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (SCID) diagnosis of MDD and the Cognitive‐Affective scale from the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐CA) served as comparative diagnostic and severity measures of depression, respectively. Results demonstrated that the POMS Depression‐Dejection scale accurately classified persons with and without MDD SCID diagnoses, with an overall hit rate of 80%, sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 84%, and negative predictive power of 91% using a recommended cutpoint of 1.5 standard deviations above the normative mean. Moreover, the POMS performed comparably to the BDI‐CA in classifying MDD. Findings support the predictive validity of the POMS Depression‐Dejection scale as a screening instrument for MDD in persons with HIV disease. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

IgE and atopy in perinatally HIV-infected children

Elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and increased prevalence of atopy is reported in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The elevated serum IgE may be attributed to polyclonal stimulation of B cells or IgE production against allergens, viruses, fungi and bacteria. This study investigates the prevalence of atopy in perinatally HIV-infected children, and the relationships between serum IgE (and other serum immunoglobulins) with atopy, CD4+ cell count and HIV-disease stage. Serum immunoglobulin levels, epicutaneous skin test for common aeroallergens, clinical Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification, CD4+ cell counts and allergy history were extracted from the charts of perinatally HIV-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy. The prevalence of atopy (52%) and the pattern of aeroallergen sensitivity were comparable with the US pediatric population. Serum IgE levels did not correlate with clinical disease stage. However, in non-atopic patients, serum IgE levels increased with disease progression (p = 0.02). There was an inverse relationship between the prevalence of elevated serum IgE levels and atopy with progression of disease (p = 0.019). Serum IgE did not correlate with atopy, CD4+ cell count, or duration of HIV infection or levels of serum immunoglobulins. This is the first study to show no increased prevalence of atopy in perinatally HIV-infected children compared with the general population. In advanced stages of HIV, elevated serum IgE may be specific for antigens other than those known as allergens.     

Development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the determination of vinpocetine in human plasma.

An Enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of vinpocetine (CAS-42971-09-5) in human plasma has been developed. The lower limit of quantification is 0.1 ng/ml plasma. The assay shows no cross reactivity with the major metabolite apovincaminic acid. Because of a strong unspecific binding of vinpocetine to plasma proteins an extraction step was necessary. The inter- and intra-assay reproducibility of the test (coefficient of variation) is in a range of 1.1 and 18.3%.