Aortic Stenosis and Patent Ductus Arteriosus: Pressure Gradients Pre- and Posttranscatheter Ductal Occlusion

Three patients with patent ductus arteriosus and moderate aortic stenosis had a marked reduction in aortic valve gradient following transcatheter ductal occlusion. The hemodynamic effects of an aortopulmonary shunt on the severity of left ventricular outflow obstruction and the implications on intervention are discussed.     

Angle grinder injuries: a cause of serious head and neck trauma

Over the past 12 months, the Victorian Trauma Centre at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, has dealt with serious head and neck injuries associated with angle grinder use. Three cases are presented, documenting the circumstances and severity of these injuries and subsequent management. Angle grinder injuries are a source of serious morbidity and mortality, much of which is preventable.     

Treating Anger and Aggression in Military Populations: Research Updates and Clinical Implications

Anger is a common symptom among military populations with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); yet, anger treatment has received relatively little attention in the literature. This discrepancy is surprising given that excessive anger is a key predictor of treatment outcome in PTSD. This study seeks to (a) build a case for the importance of a more explicit approach to understanding and treating anger in our military and veteran populations, (b) summarize the current literature base on treatment factors and treatment outcomes for treating anger and related symptoms among veterans, and (c) offer clinical and research implications and recommendations based on current findings and on the expertise of the authors in completing a large‐scale study of anger treatment with veterans.     

Multimodality Imaging of a Giant Right Coronary Artery Aneurysm

We describe a case of a 54-year-old woman who had a right cardiac mass found on coronary angiography. Echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging characterized it as a thrombosed giant right coronary artery aneurysm. This was confirmed on pathology. We present the role of multimodality cardiovascular imaging in the diagnosis and characterization of a giant coronary artery aneurysm.     

Field efficacy of praziquantel oral paste against naturally acquired equine cestodes in Ethiopia

The efficacy of an oral formulation of praziquantel (Equitape, Horse paste, Fort Dodge) in the reduction of cestode egg counts and serum antibody level against Anoplocephala perfoliata was assessed in 44 donkeys under field conditions. The donkeys were confirmed both by faecal examination and serum antibody assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to have natural infection with tapeworms. The donkeys were randomly allocated into treatment (n?=?22) and control (n?=?22) groups. The treatment group was treated with both praziquantel and ivermectin (Ivomec, Merial) at a dose rate of 1 mg/kg and 200 μg/kg, respectively while the control group was treated only with ivermectin. Faecal samples were collected before treatment (day-0) and 2, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks post-treatment while blood samples were collected before treatment and 8 and 16 weeks after treatment and analysed. The results of the study demonstrated that praziquantel paste was highly effective in reducing cestode eggs in donkeys and had an efficacy of more than 99 % until week 16 (day?112). No cestode egg reappearance by 16 weeks post-treatment in any animal in the treatment group was observed while donkeys in the control group continued shedding cestode eggs. The immunological assay also showed a significant reduction in serum antibody level against A. perfoliata in treated donkeys compared to the control group (p?=?0.0001). This marked decrease in serum antibody level indicates reduced risk of cestode-associated colic and other gastrointestinal disorders and clinical diseases. No adverse reactions or clinical effects were encountered in any animal within either group throughout the trial period.