Digital Foetal Scalp Stimulation Versus Foetal Blood Sampling to Assess Foetal Well-Being in Labour: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objective: To establish whether digital foetal scalp stimulation (dFSS) performs better than foetal blood sampling (FBS) in terms of reducing the rate of caesarean section (CS) in labour, without adversely affecting perinatal outcomes.

Design: A multicentre parallel-group randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Maternity centres in Ireland.

Assessing the impact of cannabis use on freeway driving performance and practices: A comparative analysis with placebo and alcohol-influenced driving.

Objective: The objectives of this study were 1) to identify the effects cannabis has on driving performance and individual motor practices when on the freeway compared to placebo and 2) to bring context to the effects of cannabis on driving by comparing effect sizes to those of alcohol.

Methods: Data for analysis was collected from a study of fifty-three participants with a history of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis use who completed three visits in randomized order (placebo (0% THC), 6.18% THC, and 10.

The IRELAnD study-investigating the role of early low-dose aspirin in diabetes mellitus: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Background: Although aspirin therapy is being increasingly advocated with the intention of risk modification for a wide range of pregnancy complications, women with prepregnancy diabetes mellitus are commonly excluded from clinical trials.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine the effect of aspirin therapy on a composite measure of adverse perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial was conducted at 6 university-affiliated perinatology centers.

Predicting changes in driving performance in individuals who use cannabis following acute use based on self-reported readiness to drive.

Objective: It is unclear to what extent individuals who use cannabis can accurately assess their ability to drive safely following cannabis use, and lack of understanding as to what factors influence changes in driving performance following cannabis use. This research explores whether self-reported readiness to drive (RTD) and previous experience (PE) using cannabis within 2 h of driving can predict observed changes in driving performance following acute cannabis use.

Methods: Individuals who used cannabis at least monthly completed a baseline simulated drive, were dosed with cannabis of approximately 6.

Early Metformin in Gestational Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Gestational diabetes is a common complication of pregnancy and the optimal management is uncertain.

Objective: To test whether early initiation of metformin reduces insulin initiation or improves fasting hyperglycemia at gestation weeks 32 or 38.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 2 centers in Ireland (one tertiary hospital and one smaller regional hospital).

Perceived effects of cannabis: Generalizability of changes in driving performance.

Objective: The objective of this analysis was to determine the generalizability of the relationship between different samples of a driver's perceived state after cannabis use and related performance while operating a motor vehicle.

Methods: Data were collected from 52 subjects in a study examining the effects of cannabis on driving performance. Data were analyzed using the SAS GLM Select procedure, using stepwise selection, with subjective effects, dosing condition (placebo vs.

Digital fetal scalp stimulation (dFSS) versus fetal blood sampling (FBS) to assess fetal wellbeing in labour-a multi-centre randomised controlled trial: Fetal Intrapartum Randomised Scalp Stimulation Trial (FIRSST NCT05306756).

Background: Cardiotocography (CTG) is a screening test used to detect fetal hypoxia in labour. It has a high false positive rate resulting in many potentially unnecessary caesarean sections. Fetal blood sampling (FBS) is a second-line test of the acid-base status of the fetus.

Undertaking a face-to-face objective structured clinical examination for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction And Aims: Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) play a pivotal role in medical education assessment. The Advanced Clinical Skills (ACS) OSCE examines clinical skills in psychiatry, general practice, obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics. This study examined if the 2020 ACS OSCE for fourth year medical students attending the National University of Ireland, Galway, was associated with any significant result differences compared to the equivalent 2019 OSCE.

A study of self-reported personal cannabis use and state legal status and associations with engagement in and perceptions of cannabis-impaired driving.

The objectives of the current study were to (1) characterize predictors of perceived risk of driving within 2 h of cannabis use and driving after cannabis use in a sample of adults who have used cannabis in the past year and (2) determine whether the influence of these predictors vary by state legalizations status. Data for this study were from online surveys. Study participants from Colorado, Iowa, and Illinois were included if they reported being between 25 and 40 years old and had a history of cannabis use.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Families' Home Literacy Practices with Young Children.

The practice of shared book reading is a nurturing support for early language, literacy, and socio-emotional development within young children's typical care. However, the closures of childcare, early education programs, and centers for family activities in the Spring of 2020 due to COVID-19 brought many sudden changes to the everyday lives of families with young children. In order to explore the impact of COVID-19 on shared reading, we surveyed parents of children between the ages of 2 and 5 ( = 85) about their children's frequency of shared reading engagement in February and October, 2020 as well as the frequency of screen-mediated reading, the number of readers their children read with, and book preferences at both time points.

Perceived effects of cannabis and changes in driving performance under the influence of cannabis.

Objective: Reports indicate that cannabis users will adapt their driving to compensate for the perceived drug effects of cannabis. This analysis examined the relationship between driver perceptions of their state contrasted with objective measures of their performance while operating a motor vehicle.

Methods: Data was collected from ten subjects in a study examining the effects of cannabis on driving performance.

Knowledge, beliefs and management of childhood fever among nurses and other health professionals: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: Fever phobia, the unfounded fear regarding the potential harms of fever in children, has been internationally documented among parents. This fear causes anxiety in parents and health professionals are regularly consulted for advice.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, beliefs and recommended treatments among Australian nurses, pharmacists, general practitioners and paediatricians in the management of febrile children.

Assessing the impact of fine sediment on high status river sites.

The European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD) designates as "high status" rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters that are close to natural status and relatively un-impacted by anthropogenic activities. These high status water-bodies (HSWs) are sensitive areas that require special attention. Ireland had a globally important distribution of HSWs (10.

Impact of cannabis and low alcohol concentration on divided attention tasks during driving.

Objective: To assess divided-attention performance when driving under the influence of cannabis with and without alcohol. Three divided-attention tasks were performed following administration of placebo, cannabis, and/or alcohol.

Methods: Healthy adult cannabis users participated in 6 sessions, receiving combinations of cannabis (placebo/low-THC/high-THC) and alcohol (placebo/active) in randomized order, separated by washout periods of ≥1 week.

EEG biomarkers acquired during a short, straight-line simulated drive to predict impairment from cannabis intoxication.

Objective: As cannabis use becomes more widely accepted, there is growing interest in its effects on brain function, specifically how it may impact daily functional activities such as driving, operating machinery, and other safety-related tasks. There are currently no validated methods for quantifying impairment from acute cannabis intoxication. The objective of this study was to identify neurophysiological correlates associated with driving simulator performance in subjects who were acutely intoxicated with cannabis.

Early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes compared with GDM diagnosed at 24-28 weeks gestation despite early treatment.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated+ with adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with women with normal glucose tolerance in pregnancy. The WHO recommends screening at 24-28 weeks gestation for GDM. Women who are diagnosed before 24-28 weeks gestation have a longer intervention period which may impact positively on pregnancy outcomes.

Investigating the role of early low-dose aspirin in diabetes: A phase III multicentre double-blinded placebo-controlled randomised trial of aspirin therapy initiated in the first trimester of diabetes pregnancy.

Background: Preeclampsia, preterm birth and low birth weight represent key contributing factors to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Pregnancies complicated by type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of these complications, which are purported to be largely attributed to placental dysfunction. Studies investigating a potential role for aspirin therapy in optimizing perinatal outcome have consistently failed to demonstrate a benefit among women with pre-existing diabetes, and yet widespread aspirin administration has become common practice in many centres.

Correlation of EEG biomarkers of cannabis with measured driving impairment.

The objective of this study was to use electroencephalogram (EEG) biomarkers derived from a short, easily administered neurocognitive testbed to determine acute cannabis intoxication and its effect on driving performance in a driving simulator. The data analyzed were from a study examining the relationship between psychomotor task performance, EEG data, and driving performance in a simulator. EEG data were collected using a STAT® X-24 EEG Wireless Sensor Headset, which was worn during the psychomotor and driving tasks.

Variability of baseline vehicle control among sober young adult cannabis users: A simulator-based exploratory study.

The objective of this study was to compare the variability in vehicle control for sober young adult drivers (18-23 years old) who either use cannabis but are not acutely exposed or do not use cannabis. The data analyzed in the study were from 4 prospective driving simulation studies (completed at the National Advanced Driving Simulator at the University of Iowa) that examined vehicle control metrics in cannabis users and nonusers across high-fidelity simulated urban, interstate, and rural driving environments. Data were collected for segments of consistent driving environments including urban driving, urban curves, interstate, interstate curves, dark rural, and rural straight.

Evaluating drugged driving: Effects of exemplar pain and anxiety medications.

Objective: Distracted and drug-influenced driving presents a major risk for traffic safety morbidity and mortality. As part of an ongoing research program, we examined the effects of a commonly prescribed combination of medications for pain relief: alprazolam, a benzodiazepine, and a hydrocodone preparation, a combination opiate and acetaminophen, on a simulated driving protocol.

Methods: Utilizing a within-subjects design, we recruited 8 healthy experienced drivers without major physical and psychological histories.

Measuring the attitudes of novice drivers with autism spectrum disorder as an indication of apprehensive driving: Going beyond basic abilities.

For some individuals with autism spectrum disorder, driving apprehension may interfere with the acquisition and application of driving privileges. The Driving Attitude Scale Parent-Report provides an indication of novice drivers' positive and negative attitudes toward driving. Responses were compared for parents of 66 autism spectrum disorder and 166 neuro-typical novice drivers.

Can Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder Use Virtual Reality Driving Simulation Training to Evaluate and Improve Driving Performance? An Exploratory Study.

Investigate how novice drivers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) differ from experienced drivers and whether virtual reality driving simulation training (VRDST) improves ASD driving performance. 51 novice ASD drivers (mean age 17.96 years, 78% male) were randomized to routine training (RT) or one of three types of VRDST (8-12 sessions).