Does thromboprophylaxis reduce symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients with below knee cast treatment for foot and ankle trauma? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Our aim was to determine the evidence for thromboprophylaxis for prevention of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adults with foot or ankle trauma treated with below knee cast or splint. Our secondary aim was to report major bleeding events.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized controlled trials from inception to 1st June 2015.

Can we use biomarkers of coagulation to predict which patients with foot and ankle injury will develop deep vein thrombosis?

Background: Our aim was to determine whether plasma levels of Tissue Factor (TF), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) or D-dimer after foot and ankle injury could predict which patients would develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Methods: Patients aged 18-60 years with acute foot and ankle injury had venous blood sample to measure TF, VCAM-1, IL-6 and D-dimer within 3 days of injury. Patients had bilateral lower limb venous ultrasound to assess for DVT on discharge from clinic.

Face and content validity of the virtual reality simulator 'ScanTrainer®'.

Background: Ultrasonography is a first-line imaging in the investigation of women's irregular bleeding and other gynaecological pathologies, e.g. ovarian cysts and early pregnancy problems.

The effect of active toe movement (AToM) on calf pump function and deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute foot and ankle trauma treated with cast - A prospective randomized study.

Background: Patients with foot and ankle trauma treated with cast are advised to perform toe movements to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our aim was to determine the effect of active toe movement on asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and venous calf pump function.

Methods: Patients aged 18-60 years with acute foot and ankle trauma requiring below knee non weight bearing cast were randomized to intervention (regular active toe movement) or control groups (n=100).

Retrospective analysis of suspicious pelvic masses using the Pelvic Mass Index (PMI) scoring system from 2007 to 2014.

Objectives: This study aims to validate the accuracy of the Pelvic Mass Index (PMI) by comparing it with Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) in a large patient cohort.

Study Design: This retrospective study used data of women with ovarian masses collected from 2007 to 2014, referred to the Pelvic Mass Clinic (PMC) at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. The locally developed PMI was used to triage patients for surgery, surveillance or discharge.

Erectile dysfunction: a window to the heart.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an early marker of coronary artery disease (CAD) and often manifests before the development of symptomatic CAD. In this case report, we present a 60-year-old man with ED, who demonstrated limited response to the standard management strategies and was subsequently treated with percutaneous pelvic intervention (PPI) of the internal pudendal artery. While on the table for PPI, the patient described a classical history of angina, on which basis he underwent coronary angiography and was found to have narrow proximal left anterior descending stenosis.

The effect of lower limb cast immobilization on calf muscle pump function: a simple strategy of exercises can maintain flow.

Background: We have investigated the role of the calf muscle pump in casted patients. An audit of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in casted patients showed that the thrombosis occurred in the casted leg; this has not been previously assessed. We postulated that local factors play a major role, and we set out to assess the calf muscle pump in casted patients and to determine whether this can be optimized despite below-knee cast immobilization.

The volume of the neovascularity and its clinical implications in achilles tendinopathy.

Thirty-seven pathologic Achilles tendons from 27 patients were investigated by a three-dimensional (3-D) power Doppler ultrasound system. Both the volume of the neovascularity (VON) and the volume of Achilles tendon (VOAT) were investigated. VON-VOAT index (VVI), as the normalization of the neovascularization, was accordingly calculated.

A novel 3-D power Doppler ultrasound approach to the quantification of achilles tendon neovascularity.

To investigate the amount of neovascularization in the symptomatic Achilles tendon, we developed a novel three-dimensional (3-D) power Doppler ultrasound scanning system to prospectively examine 10 patients with 12 symptomatic Achilles tendons, as well as 20 asymptomatic Achilles tendons as a control group. The mean volume of neovascularity (VON) in the whole Achilles tendon was calculated during the phase of the cardiac cycle displaying maximum vascularity and also during the phase of the cardiac cycle displaying the minimum. The mean VONs in the control group were found to be 0.

Panoramic ultrasound to measure in vivo tendo Achilles strain.

Background: The tendo Achilles (TA) is a tendon very susceptible to injury. Biomechanical methodologies for exploring tendon strain are limited, however, as they are typically performed in vitro or by indirectly measuring the displacement of reference markers. By using panoramic ultrasound, this study reports a novel approach to acquire direct, in vivo tendon extension data.

Quantifying the motion of Kager's fat pad.

Kager's fat pad is located in Kager's triangle between the Achilles tendon, the superior cortex of the calcaneus, and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscle and tendon. Its biomechanical functions are not yet established, but recent studies suggest it performs important biomechanical roles as it is lined by a synovial membrane and its retrocalcaneal protruding wedge can be observed moving into the bursal space during ankle plantarflexion. Such features have prompted hypotheses that the protruding wedge assists in the lubrication of the Achilles tendon subtendinous area, distributes stress at the Achilles enthesis, and removes debris from within the retrocalcaneal bursa.

Perifollicular blood flow and pregnancy in superovulated intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles: an observational comparison of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and urinary gonadotropins.

The group of patients who received urinary gonadotropins (n = 117) for follicular stimulation had a significantly higher incidence of high perifollicular blood flow compared with that of the group who received recombinant FSH (n = 114; 46.3% vs. 22.

Pre-operative long saphenous vein mapping predicts vein anatomy and quality leading to improved post-operative leg morbidity.

Long saphenous vein harvesting for coronary bypass surgery is associated with significant morbidity. Furthermore, vein quality is often variable sometimes requiring incisions in both legs. This prospective randomised control study assessed the usefulness of pre-operative long saphenous vein mapping in terms of conduit quality and location, incision lengths and post-operative morbidity.

Spatial-temporal display of colour-flow ultrasound for the assessment of the effects of intermittent pneumatic compression in limbs.

Colour-flow M-mode ultrasonography in three dimensions (two spatial, one temporal) was used to assess the effects of intermittent pneumatic compression on the blood flow velocities in the common femoral vein and artery. The linear array of a standard 3-D system was held in place over the vessels, to record while a calf and thigh cuff compressed to 60 mmHg. The data was reconstructed in 3-D and, subsequently, sliced in different planes.