Multiple spontaneous isolated arterial dissections: a rare case report.

Spontaneous dissections in multiple arteries are a rare condition with clinical presentation varying from asymptomatic conditions to sudden death. We present a rare case where a routine thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed a type B aortic dissection. Medical records showed that the patient previously had been diagnosed with bilateral spontaneous isolated internal carotid artery dissections, which caused an attack of amaurosis fugax a few months earlier.

Is dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation affected by a bystander's emotional stress state in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?

Aim: The study aimed to investigate whether a bystander's emotional stress state affects dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The primary outcome was initiation of chest compressions (Yes/No). Secondarily we analysed time until chest compressions were initiated and assessed how dispatchers instructed CPR.

HbA screening for new onset diabetes following acute coronary syndrome: is it a worthwhile test in clinical practice?

Background: Diabetes and pre-diabetes are prevalent in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and relate to adverse outcomes. This study used HbA to screen for degrees of glucose intolerance amongst patients without known diabetes presenting with ACS.

Methods: Over a 1-year period (June 2014-2015) consecutive patients admitted to a single centre cardiology unit with an initial diagnosis of ACS without prior diabetes diagnosis were electronically referred to our diabetes team.

Vegemite and chocolate sprinkles: Dutch medical students in rural Australia.

The Primary Health Care (PHC) working group of the Department of General Practice of Maastricht University in the Netherlands was founded in 1998 specifically to introduce students to patient care, research and education in primary health care settings outside the Netherlands. Rural health care in Australia is appealing to international medical students because of its unique setting. In the past 5 years, 42 medical students from Maastricht University have pursued a medical elective in rural Australia, supervised by the PHC working group.

Isolation of the Mycobacterium avium-M. intracellulare-M. scrofulaceum complex from tank water in Queensland, Australia.

Disease-associated serotypes of Mycobacterium intracellulare and M. avium have been isolated from 32 of 141 rainwater tanks situated in the basin of the Fitzroy River and its tributaries in central Queensland, 7 of 32 tanks situated in the hinterland of the coastal city of Rockhampton, and 2 of 32 tanks sampled repetitively in the southeastern Queensland city of Toowoomba. M.