Improving Prenatal Diagnosis of Coarctation of the Aorta

Background

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between fetal echocardiographic measurements and the need for intervention (primary coarctation repair, staged coarctation repair, or catheter intervention) in prenatally diagnosed coarctation of the aorta.

Multiple dimensions of caring for a patient with acute necrotizing fasciitis.

Critical care nurses within acute care settings are responsible for providing healthcare to a wide variety of patients and, consequently, knowledge regarding how to care for a patient with acute necrotizing fasciitis is imperative. A case study is presented to evidence the need for a multidisciplinary approach. Necrotizing fasciitis is defined and treatment options are presented. Caring for this patient is very challenging and demands a multidisciplinary team to coordinate all aspects of care to promote better patient outcomes.     

Predictive value and limitations of animal models for human transplantation: do we need more models for facial transplantation?

Animal models have traditionally provided the basis for preliminary investigation of new techniques prior to trials taking place in human subjects. The timing of when to proceed with human trials is difficult, as the accuracy of preclinical models can only be determined with hindsight. This review outlines the progression from transplantation in animal models to man. Now that many transplant procedures are well established, it is possible to assess the predictive value and limitations of animal models. These results are of great importance in the current debate about composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) and in particular facial transplantation. This progression of CTA from animal models to man is outlined and compared with early renal, cardiac, and liver transplants. There is some evidence to suggest that animal models may have been misleading in CTA and that this has effectively delayed the transition to humans. The role for animal models in facial transplantation, which is currently making the step to clinical trials, is discussed.     

Hospital Episode Statistics and trends in ophthalmic surgery 1998 – 2004

Background  

Hospital episode statistics (HES) is a UK national database for the National Health Service (NHS), now available online. The purpose of this study was to observe trends in ophthalmic operations performed during the period from 1998 to 2004, using this data.     

Retrospective comparison of taping and ankle stabilizers in preventing ankle injuries

The effectiveness of taping and the effectiveness of wearing a laced stabilizer in preventing ankle injuries and reinjuries over six seasons of collegiate football practices and games were assessed retrospectively. For 1 1/2 years the players all had taped ankles, and for the remaining 4 1/2 years the players chose their type of ankle support. Over the entire period, the players chose high-top or low-top shoes as preferred. During 51,931 exposures to injury (46,789 practice-exposures and 5,142 game-exposures), the 297 players sustained 224 ankle injuries and 24 reinjuries. Tape was worn during 38,658 exposures to injury (233 players), stabilizers during 13,273 exposures (127 players). Tape had been worn when 159 of the injuries and 23 of the reinjuries occurred; a stabilizer had been worn when 37 of the injuries (P = 0.003) and one of the reinjuries occurred. The combination allowing the fewest injuries overall was low-top shoes and laced ankle stabilizers.