Some unusual cases of multiple-victim, multiple-offender child sexual abuse (1980-2020).

AIM: To assess the pattern of some unusual cases of child abuse, including their trial and subsequent appeal outcomes, over the last 40 years. METHOD: Cases of multiple-victim, multiple-offender child abuse, occurring in a pre-school or similar setting, without physical evidence of abuse, from developed, English-speaking countries were collected. RESULTS: Thirty cases fulfilled the study criteria: 26 from the US and one each from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK. The first was in 1983 and the most recent in 1994. Of 81 people accused, 43 (53%) were female. One or more defendants were convicted in 19 of the 30 cases (63%). The verdict was subsequently overturned in 13 of 19 (69%) convictions, up to 30 years later. Three additional cases occurred in Europe between 1992 and 2006conclusion: These cases, relying upon children's testimony and evidential interviewing techniques overseen by law enforcement officers, occurred in a cluster from the early 1980s until the mid-1990s, with almost none since. This highly unusual pattern, combined with two thirds of convictions being overturned, supports doubts regarding whether abuse occurred in these children.

The impact of a national COVID-19 lockdown on acute coronary syndrome hospitalisations in New Zealand (ANZACS-QI 55).

BACKGROUND: Countries with a high incidence of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) reported reduced hospitalisations for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) during the pandemic. This study describes the impact of a nationwide lockdown on ACS hospitalisations in New Zealand (NZ), a country with a low incidence of COVID-19. METHODS: All patients admitted to a NZ Hospital with ACS who underwent coronary angiography in the All NZ ACS Quality Improvement registry during the lockdown (23 March - 26 April 2020) were compared with equivalent weeks in 2015-2019. Ambulance attendances and regional community troponin-I testing were compared for lockdown and non-lockdown (1 July 2019 to 16 February 2020) periods. FINDINGS: Hospitalisation for ACS was lower during the 5-week lockdown (105 vs. 146 per-week, rate ratio 0•72 [95% CI 0•61-0•83], p = 0.003). This was explained by fewer admissions for non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS; p = 0•002) but not ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI; p = 0•31). Patient characteristics and in-hospital mortality were similar. For STEMI, door-to-balloon times were similar (70 vs. 72 min, p = 0•52). For NSTE-ACS, there was an increase in percutaneous revascularisation (59% vs. 49%, p<0•001) and reduction in surgical revascularisation (9% vs. 15%, p = 0•005). There were fewer ambulance attendances for cardiac arrests (98 vs. 110 per-week, p = 0•04) but no difference for suspected ACS (408 vs. 420 per-week, p = 0•44). Community troponin testing was lower throughout the lockdown (182 vs. 394 per-week, p<0•001). INTERPRETATION: Despite the low incidence of COVID-19, there was a nationwide decrease in ACS hospitalisations during the lockdown. These findings have important implications for future pandemic planning. FUNDING: The ANZACS-QI registry receives funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Coronary balloon catheter tip damage. A bench study of a clinical problem.

OBJECTIVES: To confirm clinically that coronary balloon catheter tips may be damaged during bifurcation treatment with side-branch access through the side of a stent. On the bench, we aimed to assess the susceptibility of different balloon designs to damage. We compared catheter tip widths. We tested whether balloon tip flaring can cause stent distortion. BACKGROUND: We had observed that balloon catheters that failed to cross to a side-branch frequently exhibited tip damage. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined microscopically for damage 82 balloon tips after clinical side-branch access. In a bench study, the forces required to compress catheter tips 0.5 mm were compared to assess susceptibility to damage. We compared tip widths of balloons of different nominal inflation diameters. We examined stents after side-branch access for distortion. In 42 of 48 (88%) of balloon tips from patients with resistance to or failure to cross through the side of a stent there was tip damage. Even when the balloon crossed without perceptible resistance, tip damage occurred in over half of balloons 18/34 (53%). Some balloon designs were more resistant to damage than others. Tips from balloons of different nominal diameters from the same manufacturer had the same width. Stent distortion caused by damaged balloon tips is improved by kissing balloon post-dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon tip damage is common with crossing between stent struts. This is one cause of failure of a balloon to access a side-branch and a new balloon should be used. If stent distortion is suspected, it should be corrected with kissing balloon post-dilatation.

Clinical practice and implications of recent diabetes trials.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetes is an increasingly prevalent risk factor for coronary and other vascular disease. Recent trials in patients with diabetes have examined the effects of intensive glycemic control on cardiovascular outcomes, and treatment of common concomitant risk factors, in particular hypertension and dyslipidemia. Optimal revascularization strategies have also been examined. RECENT FINDINGS: Intensive glycemic control has a beneficial effect on microvascular but not macrovascular endpoints, with one major trial reporting increased mortality out to 5 years with intensive treatment. Similarly, aggressive lowering of SBP to below 120 mmHg produced no advantage over treatment to 130-140 mmHg. Statins are the best treatment for diabetic dyslipidemia, with little benefit from adding a fibrate. Medical treatment may be appropriate for many with diabetes and stable coronary disease. When revascularization is needed, coronary bypass graft surgery has an advantage over percutaneous coronary intervention in those at the severe end of the coronary disease spectrum. SUMMARY: Patients with type 2 diabetes often have multiple cardiovascular risk factors and require multiple cardiac and diabetes medications. Caution over aggressive glucose and blood pressure lowering is needed, at least with currently available drugs.