Recent advances in the treatment of myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction is the result of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, and currently there is no cure for atherosclerosis and little hope of retarding its progression. However, much work has gone into the reduction of its acute cardiac manifestations as there is no specific therapy for acute myocardial infarction.Diseases of the coronary arteries are responsible for about 30% of all deaths among middle-aged men and it is increasing, the increase involving those under 45 years at a faster rate than in the older sections of the population.A study in the USA, the Framingham study has shown that more than half of those who die from acute myocardial infarction do so within one hour, and only just over half of those with an initial attack of acute infarction are admitted to hospital, This high frequency of sudden death emphasises the importance of preventing the development of ischaemic heart disease

Algometry to measure pain threshold in the horse's back - An in vivo and in vitro study

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to provide information on algometric transmission of pressure through the dorsal thoracolumbar tissues of the equine back. Using a commercially available algometer, measurements were carried out with six different tips (hemispheric and cylindrical surfaces, contact areas 0.5 cm2, 1 cm2, and 2 cm2). In nine live horses the threshold of pressure that lead to any reaction was documented. In postmortem specimens of five euthanized horses the transmission of algometer pressure onto a pressure sensor placed underneath the dorsal thoracolumbar tissues at the level of the ribs or the transverse lumbar processes respectively was measured. Results Algometer tips with a contact area of 1 cm2 led to widely similar results irrespective of the surface shape; these measurements also had the lowest variance. Contact areas of 0.5 cm2 resulted in a lower pressure threshold, and those of 2 cm2 resulted in a higher pressure threshold. The hemispheric shape of the contact area resulted in a higher pressure threshold, than the cylindrical contact area. Compared to the thoracic region, a significantly higher pressure threshold was found in the lumbar region in the live horses. This result corresponds to the increased tissue thickness in the lumbar region compared to the thoracic region, also documented as less pressure transmission in the lumbar region on the in vitro specimens. Conclusions Algometry is an easily practicable and well tolerated method to quantify pain but it is important to consider the many factors influencing the results obtained