Tuning Star Polymer Architecture to Tailor Secondary Structures and Mechanical Properties of Diblock Polypeptide Hydrogels for Direct Ink Writing.

Hydrogel three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a highly valuable fabrication tool for applications ranging from electronics and biomedicine. While conventional hydrogels such as gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid satisfy biocompatibility requirements, they distinctly lack reproducibility in terms of mechanical properties and 3D printability. Aiming to offer a high-performance alternative, here we present a range of amphiphilic star-shaped diblock copolypeptides of l-glutamate and l-leucine residues with different topologies.

Digital Light Processing of Thermoresponsive Hydrogels from Polyproline-Based Star Polypeptides.

The first report of star poly(L-proline) crosslinkers is disclosed for digital light processing 3D printing of thermoresponsive hydrogels. Through chain end functionalization of star poly(L-proline)s with methacryloyl groups, access to high-resolution defined 3D hydrogel structures via digital light processing is achieved through photoinitiated free radical polymerization. Changing the poly(L-proline) molecular weight has a direct influence on both thermoresponsiveness and printability, while shape-morphing behavior can be induced thermally.

A comparison of clinical assessment with common diagnostic tools for monitoring concussion recovery in adolescent rugby union players.

Objectives: To characterise the incidence, severity and recovery of sport-related concussion (SRC) in schoolboy rugby players and explore whether the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), Cogstate Brief Battery (CBB) and the King-Devick test (K-D test) can be used to monitor concussion status through to full recovery.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Rugby union has a high rate of SRC; however, there is little research investigating how concussion affects adolescent rugby players.

Characteristics of a later life population in a general adult community mental health service setting.

Objectives: Globally, increasing life expectancy has escalated demands on psychiatric services caring for a later life population. It is recognised that those with enduring mental illness may have specific needs with advancing age. In this study, we describe the characteristics of a population aged over 60 years attending a general adult community psychiatric service and compare demographic and clinical features across age and diagnostic categories.

Outcomes of patients commencing peritoneal dialysis with and without back-up arteriovenous fistulas.

Background: Transitions from peritoneal dialysis (PD) to haemodialysis (HD) are often unpredictable and central venous catheters (CVCs) are frequently required. Early studies found few back-up arteriovenous fistulas (bAVFs) were ever used. The PD population's characteristics have changed over time which may have altered the likelihood of bAVFs being used.

The epidemiology of concussion in professional rugby union in Ireland.

Objectives: To determine incidence rates, severity and the nature of concussion in professional rugby union in Ireland.

Design: Retrospective observational study of time-loss concussion.

Setting: Professional rugby union in Ireland.

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in primary care: a survey of general practitioners in Ireland.

Background Management of neuropsychiatric symptoms is a challenging task in primary care. Aims To assess self-reported confidence and knowledge of general practitioners (GPs) regarding the identification and management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).Methods A self-designed two-page paper questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 160 GPs practising in north Dublin.

High morbidity and mortality associated with an outbreak of influenza A(H3N2) in a psycho-geriatric facility.

In spring 2008, an influenza A subtype H3N2 outbreak occurred in a long stay psycho-geriatric ward and two wards in the intellectual disability services (IDS), part of a large psychiatric hospital. The attack rate in the index ward was 90% (18/20) for patients and 35% (7/20) for staff. It was 14% (1/7) and 17% (2/12) in the affected IDS wards for patients and 0% (0/20) and 4% (1/25) for staff.

Quality of end-of-life care for dementia patients during acute hospital admission: a retrospective study in Ireland.

Objectives: To examine the quality of end-of-life care received by patients with and without dementia on acute medical wards during their final hospitalization.

Methods: A retrospective clinical case note review of patients aged over 65 who had died on acute medical wards within a 6-month period in a general hospital in Dublin was conducted. Seventy-five multidisciplinary clinical notes were available for scrutiny in order to identify cognitive status, measure the frequency of invasive procedures undertaken and examine the quality of palliative care as benchmarked with the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) program.

Recommendations on end-of-life care for people with dementia.

Objective: To establish, in collaboration with national Alzheimer Societies in Europe, practical and consensual recommendations for the end-of-life care of people with dementia. The aim of these recommendations is to provide a basis for understanding and action with regard to end-of-life care not only for family caregivers but also for professionals, policy makers and anyone with an interest in palliative care.

Design: A literature review was carried out by Alzheimer Europe in collaboration with a working group comprised of people from different backgrounds such as family caregivers, physicians, palliative care nurses and members of Alzheimer associations, who also prepared the draft recommendations during 4 sessions.

Dementia in people with Down's syndrome.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dementia in an Irish sample of people with Down's syndrome (DS) and to examine associated clinical characteristics of dementia in this group.

Method: 285 people with DS (Age 35-74 years, mean age +/- SD 46.5 +/- 8.

Age at onset of dementia and age of menopause in women with Down's syndrome.

Menstrual status and the age of menopause were investigated in 143 Irish females with Down's syndrome (DS). The average age of menopause in 42 subjects (44.7 years) was younger than in the general population.

Presenilin 1 and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin polymorphisms in Down syndrome: no effect on the presence of dementia.

As people with Down syndrome (DS) age, they are at greater risk for Alzheimer disease (AD) than the general population. It has been suggested that polymorphisms at the genes for presenilin-1 (PS-1) and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) confer an increased risk for AD in the general population, and therefore potentially to AD in people with DS. We obtained DNA from 231 individuals with DS and 233 population controls.

Determinants of aggression, and adaptive and maladaptive behaviour in older people with Down's syndrome with and without dementia.

In a cross-sectional study of aggression, and adaptive and maladaptive behaviour in 128 subjects with Down's syndrome (DS), 29 of whom had dementia, the current authors found that the presence of dementia was not predictive of aggression or maladaptive behaviour. However, the level of adaptive behaviour was shown to be lower in subjects with dementia, and in those with lower levels of cognitive functioning, as measured on a rating instrument, the Test for Severe Impairment. Although the presence of aggressive behaviours is not higher in subjects with dementia and DS on cross-sectional review, it remains to be seen whether aggression will increase in individual cases with the onset or progression of dementia.

Cognitive decline in Down syndrome: a validity/reliability study of the test for severe impairment.

The utility of the Test for Severe Impairment was studied with 60 older persons who had Down syndrome. Construct validity, test-retest reliability, and interrater reliability were established for the full study group and for subgroups based on degree of mental retardation and dementia status. There was no difference in scores by gender.

A protective effect of apolipoprotein E e2 allele on dementia in Down's syndrome.

Background: The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) e4 allele has been associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease, whereas the e2 allele has been shown to be protective. Similar effects in Down's syndrome (DS) have been postulated but not yet demonstrated.

Methods: We obtained DNA from 221 DS individuals and from 162 population controls, and 77 DS children.