Hybrid technique to bail out an unsuccessful transfemoral TAVR attempt.

The most common route to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is via the transfemoral access. The success of this technique hinges on the successful passage of guidewires across the stenosed aortic valve. Although this is possible in the majority of cases, this case illustrates an occasional anomaly.

Post-operative ventricular flow dynamics following atrioventricular valve surgical and device therapies: A review.

Intra-ventricular flow dynamics has recently emerged as an important evaluation and diagnosis tool in different cardiovascular conditions. The formation of vortex pattern during the cardiac cycle has been suggested to play important epigenetic and energy-modulation roles in cardiac remodelling, adaptations and mal-adaptations. In this new perspective, flow alterations due to different cardiovascular procedures can affect the long-term outcome of those procedures.

Comparative Genomics Shows That Mycobacterium ulcerans Migration and Expansion Preceded the Rise of Buruli Ulcer in Southeastern Australia.

Since 2000, cases of the neglected tropical disease Buruli ulcer, caused by infection with , have increased 100-fold around Melbourne (population 4.4 million), the capital of Victoria, in temperate southeastern Australia. The reasons for this increase are unclear.

Treatment outcomes of vitiligo in Asian children.

This retrospective study aimed to identify factors that predict treatment response in a cohort of Asian children with vitiligo. Shorter duration of vitiligo was associated with better repigmentation. Patients with focal vitiligo of short duration have a good chance of achieving repigmentation with topical agents alone.

Evaluating the risk of appendiceal perforation when using ultrasound as the initial diagnostic imaging modality in children with suspected appendicitis.

Background: Ultrasound scan has gained attention for diagnosing appendicitis due to its avoidance of ionizing radiation. However, studies show that ultrasound scan carries inferior sensitivity to computed tomography scan. A non-diagnostic ultrasound scan could increase the time to diagnosis and appendicectomy, particularly if follow-up computed tomography scan is needed.

Bone-mediated anteroinferior glenohumeral instability : Current concepts.

Recurrent anterior shoulder instability is commonly associated with defects of the anterior glenoid rim. Substantial osseous defects significantly diminish the glenohumeral stability and require a bony augmentation, either by a coracoid transfer or free bone grafting procedure. Both reconstructive techniques have been applied for a long time and evaluated biomechanically and clinically.

Gender differences in tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in Victoria, Australia, 2002-2015.

Background: Gender has a significant impact on tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and outcomes in many settings worldwide. We explored gender differences in Victoria, Australia, a low-incidence setting.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study: 2002-2015.

Safety and Antipruritic Efficacy of a Menthol-Containing Moisturizing Cream.

Itch is frequently associated with dermatoses characterized by a defective skin barrier. We formulated an itch-relieving moisturizing cream containing 3% menthol and ceramides. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and antipruritic efficacy of application of this cream in volunteers with and without skin diseases.

Two Novel Susceptibility Loci for Prostate Cancer in Men of African Ancestry.

Prostate cancer incidence is 1.6-fold higher in African Americans than in other populations. The risk factors that drive this disparity are unknown and potentially consist of social, environmental, and genetic influences.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in Asia.

The use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to treat severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis has increased exponentially in the last decade. This rapid expansion was seen predominantly in Western developed nations and has been fuelled by favorable results reported from a plethora of well-publicized randomized controlled trials, large retrospective series and national registries. Now, TAVI has become the standard of care for inoperable patients and an alternative to open surgery in patients who are at intermediate to high risk for open surgery.

Glaucoma classification from retina optical coherence tomography angiogram.

This paper presents a new method for classification of retina into glaucoma and non-glaucoma cases based on optical coherence tomography angiogram (OCTA). The key idea here is to analyze the retinal microvasculature in the optic disc area of an enface OCTA for glaucoma classification. To facilitate this analysis, we propose a way to extract a so-called "optic disc microvasculature" region and then propose several features that will be extracted from this microvasculature region.

Design and Development of Novel Transcatheter Bicaval Valves in the Interventional Treatment of Tricuspid Regurgitation.

The concept of heterotopic implantation of transcatheter tricuspid valve is new and has shown promising results thus far. While the Reynolds shear stress values measured in the vicinity of this valve are relatively low, the values at some time points are higher than the threshold of platelet activation. Hence, in this study, we aim to reduce these values with an innovative stent design.

Experimental Study of Right Ventricular Hemodynamics After Tricuspid Valve Replacement Therapies to Treat Tricuspid Regurgitation.

The increased understanding of right heart diseases has led to more aggressive interventions to manage functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR). In some cases of FTR, prosthetic valve replacement is typically considered when concomitant organic components or significant geometrical distortions are involved in the pathology of the tricuspid valve. However, little is known of the performance of current devices in the right heart circulation.

The location of Australian Buruli ulcer lesions-Implications for unravelling disease transmission.

Background: Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is increasing in incidence in Victoria, Australia. To improve understanding of disease transmission, we aimed to map the location of BU lesions on the human body.

Methods: Using notification data and clinical records review, we conducted a retrospective observational study of patients diagnosed with BU in Victoria from 1998-2015.

TMPRSS2:ERG Gene Fusions in Prostate Cancer of West African Men and a Meta-Analysis of Racial Differences.

The prevalence of fusions of the transmembrane protease, serine 2, gene (TMPRSS2) with the erythroblast transformation-specific-related gene (ERG), or TMPRSS2:ERG, in prostate cancer varies by race. However, such somatic aberration and its association with prognostic factors have neither been studied in a West African population nor been systematically reviewed in the context of racial differences. We used immunohistochemistry to assess oncoprotein encoded by the ERG gene as the established surrogate of ERG fusion genes among 262 prostate cancer biopsies from the Ghana Prostate Study (2004-2006).

Latent profile analysis of students' motivation and outcomes in mathematics: an organismic integration theory perspective.

The purpose of the current study was to identify the motivation profiles at the intraindividual level using a latent profile analyses (LPA) approach. A total of 1151 secondary school students aged 13 to 17 years old from Singapore took part in the study. Using LPA, four distinct motivational profiles were identified based on four motivation regulations.

Comparing tuberculosis management under public and private healthcare providers: Victoria, Australia, 2002-2015.

Background: Private healthcare providers are important to tuberculosis (TB) management globally, although internationally there are reports of suboptimal management and disparities in treatment commencement in the private sector. We compared the management of TB patients receiving private versus public healthcare in Victoria, an industrialised setting with low tuberculosis (TB) incidence.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study: 2002-2015.

Recurrence of tuberculosis in a low-incidence setting without directly observed treatment: Victoria, Australia, 2002-2014.

Setting: Victoria, Australia, is an industrialised setting with low tuberculosis (TB) incidence and universal health care. Individually tailored adherence support for self-administered daily anti-tuberculosis treatment is provided. Directly observed treatment (DOT) is very rarely used.