Assessing the profile and utility of diplomates in occupational medicine.

Background: The utility of the occupational medicine diploma in the UK is yet to be explored. The NHS 'Growing Occupational Health (OH) and Wellbeing' programme provides opportunities for diplomates to increase their OH work.

Aims: To assess what proportion of diplomates carry out OH work, the type of work being undertaken, to identify obstacles impeding OH work, to capture their interest in future work opportunities and what additional support they require.

Microbubble cavitation restores Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic susceptibility in vitro and in a septic arthritis model.

Treatment failure in joint infections is associated with fibrinous, antibiotic-resistant, floating and tissue-associated Staphylococcus aureus aggregates formed in synovial fluid (SynF). We explore whether antibiotic activity could be increased against Staphylococcus aureus aggregates using ultrasound-triggered microbubble destruction (UTMD), in vitro and in a porcine model of septic arthritis. In vitro, when bacterially laden SynF is diluted, akin to the dilution achieved clinically with lavage and local injection of antibiotics, amikacin and ultrasound application result in increased bacterial metabolism, aggregate permeabilization, and a 4-5 log decrease in colony forming units, independent of microbubble destruction.

Concurrent versus delayed exposure to corticosteroids in equine articular tissues cultured with local anesthetic.

Objective: To determine the effect of concurrent versus delayed treatment with corticosteroid on equine articular tissues also treated with local anesthetic in vitro in the presence of inflammatory mediators.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Animals: Five geldings, one mare (aged 3-18 years).

Single-incision drilling technique to achieve hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal metacarpus - complications and outcome in 207 foals with metacarpophalangeal varus deformities.

Objective: To report the outcome of foals treated for metacarpophalangeal varus deformity with a single-incision drilling technique for hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal lateral metacarpal physis.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control cohort study.

Animals: Thoroughbred foals (n = 207), 171 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings.