Breast cancer outcomes in a private hospital appear better than national outcomes in a country with a mixed public/private healthcare model.

Background: Ireland has a mixed model of healthcare delivery with a public healthcare system funded by general taxation and a large private healthcare insurance system, covering 43% of the population in 2012 and 2016. We set out to examine disparities in outcomes among patients with breast cancer treated in a private hospital compared to national outcomes over a comparable period.

Methods: Medical records of patients diagnosed with early (Stage 1-3 as per AJCC version 5) breast cancer between 2010 and 2015 at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland were reviewed.

Objectively Assessing Sports Concussion Utilizing Visual Evoked Potentials.

A portable system capable of measuring steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEP) was developed to provide an objective, quantifiable method of electroencephalogram (EEG) testing following a traumatic event. In this study, the portable system was used on 65 healthy rugby players throughout a season to determine whether SSVEP are a reliable electrophysiological biomarker for concussion. Preceding the competition season, all players underwent a baseline SSVEP assessment.

A regional analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutated lung cancer for HSE South.

Background: EGFR mutated lung cancer represents a subgroup with distinct clinical presentations, prognosis, and management requirements. We investigated the survival, prognostic factors, and real-world treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation in clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective review of all specimens sent for EGFR analysis from December 2009 to September 2015 was performed.

Hollow mesoporous carbon nanocarriers for vancomycin delivery: understanding the structure-release relationship for prolonged antibacterial performance.

Mono-dispersed mesoporous hollow carbon (MHC) nanospheres with comparable structures have been designed as nanocarriers for the delivery of vancomycin (Van) to inhibit bacterial growth. It is demonstrated that MHC materials possess a Van loading capacity of 861 mg g, much higher than that of any Van nanocarrier in previous reports. By comparing the drug loading, release and antibacterial performance of MHC nanospheres with controllable structures, it is shown that MHC with a pore size of 5.