Outcomes of out of hospital cardiac arrest in First Nations and non-First Nations patients in Saskatoon.

Introduction: One in nine (11.7%) people in Saskatchewan identify as First Nations. It is known that First Nations people have a higher burden of cardiovascular disease, but not whether outcomes of out of hospital cardiac arrest are different.

Characteristics and residence of First Nations patients and their use of health care services in Saskatchewan, Canada: informing First Nations and Métis health services.

Rationale: In Canada, Aboriginal people, particularly First Nations experience significant health disparities and a lower health status compared with the non-Aboriginal population.

Aims And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of First Nations patients admitted to hospitals in Saskatchewan, and the acute care services used by First Nations compared with non-First Nations, specifically hospital length of stay. Primary residence of patients was also mapped to determine geographic patterns that would inform health service provision.

Effects of seeding rate, nitrogen rate and cultivar on barley malt quality.

Background: Crop management tools have been shown to affect barley kernel size and grain protein content, but the direct effect on malt quality is not well understood. The present study investigated the effect of seeding rate, nitrogen fertilisation and cultivar on malt quality.

Results: Higher seeding rates produced barley with less grain protein and smaller, more uniformly sized kernels.

Treatment of previous decentered excimer laser ablation with combined myopic and hyperopic ablations.

Purpose: Decentration of the ablation zone is an occasional complication of excimer laser refractive surgery. We describe a technique to recenter the ablation zone without changing the refractive status obtained by the first surgery.

Methods: Sixteen eyes of 14 patients had moderate or marked ablation decentration after previous excimer laser surgery for myopia, but with only minor residual refractive error.

Retreatment to enlarge small excimer laser optical zones using combined myopic and hyperopic ablations.

Purpose: We describe a retreatment technique using a combination of large-diameter myopic and hyperopic excimer laser ablations of a near equivalent diopter value to enlarge previous small ablation zones without altering the refractive result obtained by the initial surgery.

Methods: Eight eyes of six patients were retreated with a Technolas Keracor 217 laser in order to enlarge the optical zone. All patients had a good refractive result after the initial surgery, but reported halos under low light conditions.