Minerva

Invasive coronary arteriography remains the gold standard for defining the “road map” of coronary artery disease. Cardiologists exploring the use of non-invasive computed tomography have discovered that despite the advantages of using faster multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) scanners, the patient's resting heart rate remains a major obstacle to image quality. Their solution was to give people with a resting heart rate greater than 65 beats per minute a β blocker before the procedure. Analysis of the results showed a sensitivity and specificity for defining obstructive disease of 95% and 86% (Circulation2002;106:2051-4)

A study recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists found that white women with red hair required 20% more anaesthetic to block limb movement in response to a painful stimulus than women with dark hair. The investigating team says this has something to do with the genetic mutation in a receptor for hair pigment that only redheads have.

“To provide clinical care and education to children and adults with diabetes has been a privilege. To observe how such efforts can delay or …