Feasibility of transthoracic echocardiographic imaging in non-sedated ovine subjects using a commercial restraint device.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a valuable non-invasive imaging research technique. In ovine models of cardiac disease, restraint for TTE often involves sedation even with currently available restraint equipment; our goal was to determine the feasibility of using a commercial restraint device, commonly known as the sheep chair, in minimizing animal stress and the need for sedation while achieving a complete TTE examination. A total of 10 healthy adult Dorset sheep were restrained in a sheep chair for TTE and observed for signs of stress.

Improving regional and rural cancer services in Western Australia.

Objective: This paper examines health reform which has been designed to improve cancer services across Western Australia.

Setting: Western Australia is a large state divided into nine regions each with differing demographics. The diversity of the state and the distribution of the population over a large area of land create significant challenge in ensuring equality in service delivery.

Detailed review and analysis of complex radiotherapy clinical trial planning data: evaluation and initial experience with the SWAN software system.

Aim: Contemporary radiotherapy clinical trials typically require complex three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning. This produces large amounts of data relating technique and dose delivery for correlation with patient outcomes. Assessment of the quality of this information is required to ensure protocol compliance, to quantify the variation in treatments given to patients and to enhance the power of studies to determine correlates of patient outcomes.