Factors affecting radiation exposure in patients undergoing endoscopic treatment for urolithiasis.

Imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy, are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis. There is increasing concern regarding the cumulative radiation dose associated with medical imaging and its adverse effects. This study aimed to assess radiation exposure in patients undergoing endoscopic management of urolithiasis and to identify factors associated with increased exposure.

Comparing times of self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments in children, adolescents, young adults and adults: a national registry study 2007-2019.

Purpose: The few studies that have explored self-harm presentation times at hospital emergency departments (EDs) - an important factor that can determine if a patient receives a mental health assessment - primarily focus on adult samples. This study examined the times of self-harm presentations to EDs, self-harm methods used, mental health assessments, and admission data across different age-groups.

Methods: Using data from the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland over a 13-year timeframe (2007-2019), this study compared times, days, seasons, methods of self-harm, and admission data for children (8-12 years), adolescents (13-17 years), young adults (18-25 years) and adults (> 25 years).

Core competencies in applied infectious disease epidemiology: a framework for countries in Europe.

In 2009, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) developed a competency framework to support European Union countries and the European Commission in ensuring a competent public health workforce for Europe. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic emphasised the importance of harmonised public health strategies and competencies across international boundaries, specifically for infectious diseases. This perspective presents the process to update the competency framework for applied infectious disease epidemiology, highlighting ECDC's efforts to support countries with using the framework.

'Communication, that is the key': a qualitative investigation of how essential workers with COVID-19 responded to public health information.

Objectives: To understand how essential workers with confirmed infections responded to information on COVID-19.

Design: Qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews conducted in collaboration with the national contact tracing management programme in Ireland.

Setting: Semistructured interviews conducted via telephone and Zoom Meetings.

Numbers of close contacts of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their association with government intervention strategies.

Background: Contact tracing is conducted with the primary purpose of interrupting transmission from individuals who are likely to be infectious to others. Secondary analyses of data on the numbers of close contacts of confirmed cases could also: provide an early signal of increases in contact patterns that might precede larger than expected case numbers; evaluate the impact of government interventions on the number of contacts of confirmed cases; or provide data information on contact rates between age cohorts for the purpose of epidemiological modelling. We analysed data from 140,204 close contacts of 39,861 cases in Ireland from 1st May to 1st December 2020.

Estimation of the serial interval and proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission events of COVID- 19 in Ireland using contact tracing data.

Background: The serial interval is the period of time between the onset of symptoms in an infector and an infectee and is an important parameter which can impact on the estimation of the reproduction number. Whilst several parameters influencing infection transmission are expected to be consistent across populations, the serial interval can vary across and within populations over time. Therefore, local estimates are preferable for use in epidemiological models developed at a regional level.

Physical activity and emotional-behavioural difficulties in young people: a longitudinal population-based cohort study.

Background: There is growing concern around youth mental health. A population health approach to improve mental health must address, among other issues, economic insecurity, access to housing and education, harm reduction from substance use. As a universal public health intervention, increasing physical activity at a population level may have an important role in our approach.

Characteristics and attitudes of first round invitees in the Irish National Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme.

Background/objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is proven to reduce CRC-related mortality. Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT)-positive clients in the Irish National CRC Screening Programme underwent colonoscopy. Round 1 uptake was 40.

Primary appendicular soft-tissue sarcoma resection: What tumour parameters affect wound closure planning?

Wound closure after wide, local excision of an appendicular soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) can be challenging. This study evaluates the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based tumour parameters in planning wound closure. A total of 71 patients with a primary limb-based STS, excluding vascular or osseous involvement, excluding the shoulder or hand and hip or foot were included.

Community first responders for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults and children.

Background: Mobilization of community first responders (CFRs) to the scene of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) event has been proposed as a means of shortening the interval from occurrence of cardiac arrest to performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, thereby increasing patient survival.

Objectives: To assess the effect of mobilizing community first responders (CFRs) to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest events in adults and children older than four weeks of age, in terms of survival and neurological function.

Search Methods: We searched the following databases for relevant trials in January 2019: CENTRAL, MEDLINE (Ovid SP), Embase (Ovid SP), and Web of Science.

Management of type 1 diabetes in primary schools in Ireland: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Parents reported experiences of support for diabetes management in schools are variable. Recent data from European countries are sparse and experiences in the Irish primary school setting have not been described previously.

Aim: To describe parents' experiences of support for diabetes management in primary schools in Ireland.

Physical activity and mental health in an Irish population.

Background: Physical activity represents a modifiable behaviour which may be associated with increased likelihood of experiencing positive mental health.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the association between self-rated physical activity and subjective indicators of both positive and negative mental health in an Irish adult population.

Methods: Based on data from a population-based, observational, cross-sectional study, participants were categorised using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) into those who reported that they did and did not meet recommended physical activity requirements.

Chemsex, risk behaviours and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Dublin, Ireland.

Background: Drug use for or during sex ('chemsex') among MSM has caused concern, because of the direct effects of the drugs themselves, and because of an increased risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of chemsex, associated behaviours and STIs among attendees at Ireland's only MSM-specific sexual health clinic in Dublin over a six week period in 2016.

Methods: The questionnaire collected demographic data, information on sexuality and sexual practice, self-reported history of treatment for STIs, and chemsex use.

Randomized controlled trial of honey versus mupirocin to decolonize patients with nasal colonization of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Mupirocin is used specifically for the eradication of nasal meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but increasing mupirocin resistance restricts its repeated use. The antibacterial effects of manuka honey have been established in vitro; antibacterial activity of other honeys has also been reported.

Aim: To describe the learning experience from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the efficacy of medical-grade honey (MGH) with mupirocin 2% for the eradication of nasal MRSA.

Describing the implementation of an innovative intervention and evaluating its effectiveness in increasing research capacity of advanced clinical nurses: using the consolidated framework for implementation research.

Background: Despite advanced nursing roles having a research competency, participation in research is low. There are many barriers to participation in research and few interventions have been developed to address these. This paper aims to describe the implementation of an intervention to increase research participation in advanced clinical nursing roles and evaluate its effectiveness.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors in people with HIV: an Irish cohort study.

Background: Considering the chronic and debilitating nature of HIV infection, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important patient-reported clinical outcome to better understand the effects of this infection and its treatment on patients' lives. The purpose of this study was to assess the HRQoL and its association with sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, nutrition-related factors and social support in an Irish HIV cohort.

Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study using the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health survey assessed the 10 dimensions of HRQoL and summarised as Physical Health Summary (PHS) and Mental Health Summary (MHS) scores.

Elevated plasma CXCL12α is associated with a poorer prognosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Rationale: Recent work in preclinical models suggests that signalling via the pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory cytokine, CXCL12 (SDF-1), plays an important pathogenic role in pulmonary hypertension (PH). The objective of this study was to establish whether circulating concentrations of CXCL12α were elevated in patients with PAH and related to mortality.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD-PAH) attending two pulmonary hypertension referral centres (n = 95) and from age and gender matched healthy controls (n = 44).

Educational influences on early retirement through disability in Ireland.

Background: Studies suggest a higher prevalence of early retirement through disability among older people with lower educational attainment. There have been no national studies in Ireland on the factors that affect early withdrawal from the labour force through disability or long-term illness.

Aims: To identify and analyse potential impacts of education on early retirement through disability in the over 50 age cohort of the Irish Labour force.